5 Big Home Projects With Big ROI

Fall is the ideal time of year to take on a project in or around your home. Read on for ideas designed to add value without breaking the bank.

These five projects are designed to add value to your home, without breaking the bank at the same time. Tackling them now will make your home more comfortable for the coming months, while ensuring that you can get maximum ROI when the time comes to sell. 1. Fix Window Leaks. Old or leaking windows can cause you to lose as much as 20% of the energy you use to heat and cool your home, which can also make it less comfortable as well. There are two ways to fix window leaks: installing new replacement windows, or installing weatherstripping around your existing windows. While both will help you save money on your energy bills, replacement windows will also help you recoup about 73.9% ROI at time of resale. Cost: Weatherstripping your windows costs around $168 on average, while replacement windows cost between $650 and $1,500.

Money Saving Tips: Get an energy auditdone on your home before you start replacing windows. You may find that only a few need to be replaced, while the rest can be caulked or weatherstripped to save.

2. Replace Your Roof. Don’t wait until fall storms send water pouring in through your ceiling; have your roof taken care of at the start of the season to ensure that it’s in good condition for the rain to come. A new roof will help you recoup about 68.8% at time of resale as well. Cost: The average cost of a roof replacement is around $6,000.

Money Saving Tips: If the majority of your roof is in good condition, you may want to opt for a partial replacement or roof repair to save money.

3. Universal Bathroom Design. Universal design is one of the newest trends that’s recouping costs in a big way. In many cases, universal design costs less than a complete bathroom remodel, but can make your home easier to sell because it appeals to a wider group of people. This type of project also recoups about 68.4% at time of resale.

Cost: The average cost of universal bathroom design is around $9,000.

Money Saving Tips: Many things in a universal bathroom can be installed DIY for less, including lever handles on faucets and a universal height toilet.

4. Replace Your Siding. Siding is just as important as your roof when it comes to both protecting your home from the elements, and to giving it its curb appeal. Replacing your siding can recoup you as much as 76.4% at time of resale. Replacing your siding can also help you take care of other issues such as rotting fascia, and can improve the appearance of your home at the same time.

Cost: The average cost of replacing your siding is around $7,510 for vinyl siding.

Money Saving Tips: If your siding is in decent condition, consider making repairs to those areas that require it, and painting the entire exterior to give it a fresh look for less.

5. Basement Remodel. Remodeling your basement is a great way to increase your existing living space, without the hassle or expense of a major addition. A basement remodel featuring things like waterproofing or french drain installations can also recoup you about 70% at time of resale.

Cost: A full basement remodel including a new bathroom can cost around $50,000. However, waterproofing costs around $5,000, while installing a new set of stairs costs around $1,000 to $2,000.

Money Saving Tips: Simply waterproofing your basement will help make the area livable, allowing you to simply paint the concrete walls and floors, and begin furnishing the room for less.

We HEART It

The Gotta-Have-It Products for September

Nixplay Seed 10.1 inch Widescreen

$149.99; www.shop.nixplay.com

Share photos and videos from anywhere in the world using WiFi and the mobile app, then enjoy them on your frame.

UPPAbaby G-LITE

$179.99, www.uppababy.com

This is one of the lightest full-size umbrella strollers available, with a mesh sling seat that adds comfort with no extra weight.

My Audio Pet Splash

$39.99, www.myaudiopet.com

These adorable go-anywhere, waterproof speakers boast a rechargeable battery for up to 8 hours of play time, plus True Wireless Stereo Technology.

Honest Company’s Organic AllPurpose Balm

$12, www.honest.com

A blend of certified organic oils, extracts and beeswax, this versatile hypoallergenic salve helps soothe dry, rough skin.

The New Rules of Pregnancy: What to Eat, Do, Think About, and Let Go Of While Your Body Is Making a Baby

$19.95, www.workman.com

In this tribute to and celebration of moms to be, two leading OB-GYNs cover all aspects of pregnant life in an easy-to-digest and compassionate way. From Grandmaster Flash to Kendrick Lamar and Elvis Presley to David Bowie, this series from Silver Dolphin Books introduces little ones to the greatest musicians of our time.

All About Me at My Age

$34.99/hardcover, $24.99/softcover, www.iseeme.com

Create a keepsake gift for a special child in your life with the personalized birthday book. Fill in the blanks, draw your own pictures, and play fun seekand-find illustration games.

The Story of Rap and Rock Series $8.99, www.silverdophinbooks.com

Write to Me

An Australian brand entering the US for the first time, Write to Me started with just $400 by two friends. They create beautiful journals and keepsakes centered around family time, including family gratitude, pregnancy, wedding and baby, and even one for funny things your kids say!

These beautiful capsules are unlike anything you’ve seen with chic bindings and cases. Journal in your handwriting and create heirlooms to pass down to the people that love you the most. Handwriting keeps a piece of you alive long after you are gone with the ability to retell stories that are so important to capture.

Loog Guitars

In 2017, Loog Guitar’s Kickstarter was the best-selling guitar ever. Designed to make it fun and easy for all ages to play music, Loog is driven by a passion for music and sustainable design Flashcards and an app are integrated with 3-string guitars to gets kids (and adults!) playing songs on day one, making it fun and stimulating to learn music, especially for kids so they can develop the cognitive and social skills that help them live a better life. We recommend the Electric Pro for those 8+ and the and Acoustic Mini for kids ages 3-8.

Rockit Rocker

Say goodbye to driving around the block until the baby falls asleep and say hello to a free hand when out and about. The Rockit by Rockit Rocker was developed by three regular dads with seven children between them and is the solution to all parents’ tired hands. The Rockit Rocker is a portable baby rocker which attaches to any stroller to provide a gentle rocking motion - soothing babies and helping them sleep. This handy device can be purchased on Rockit Rocker USA and Amazon. Attach vertically to your stroller for best use. They even encourage rechargeable batteries which are also better for the environment.

Tinkering Labs

Toys with step-by-step instructions aren’t always kidfriendly. That’s why Tinkering Labs created a STEAM kit that gives children a way to build stuff without having to worry about getting it “right.” The Tinkering Labs kit, also called Electric Motors Catalyst (EMC), provides challenges to get kids out of a rigid, model-building mindset, and into open-ended play. It allows kids to build doodling robots, power electric model cars, add motors to legos, and more! For example, they can “make a machine that can scramble an egg,” or “build a creature with spinning arms.” Tinkerers are provided markers that can be used in the building process. Why? Because

the company learned that when kids feel stuck, having an artistic avenue helps them recalibrate and then solve the problem. There is even a Tinkering Camp that kids can attend, and they work with schools to integrate the kit into the curriculum. Great for girls and boys ages 8 and up, and tinkering adults!

Wishing Pixies

No gift can be better than the one that encourages kids to be better people, for themselves and others. Created by a teacher with over 20 years of experience in education, Wishing Pixies is the only child management and educational behavioral app designed to help parents raise calm, emotionally resilient and kindhearted children.

The Wishing Pixies app is specifically geared toward children from 2 to 10 and is coupled with Pixie Dolls; parents act as the Pixie Doll and kids can play with them. Win-win! What started this unique idea? One mom who pretended to be the tooth fairy with her child, writing notes back and forth. She learned more about her child than she ever would have as her mother. This is why her favorite feature is the chat section, where parents can talk to there kids as if they are the Pixies. Through the app, the parents can set personalized goals for the child, such as cleaning their room, taking the trash out or being nicer to their brother or sister. The child will receive these goals from the pixies via a notification on their tablet and they must complete them to ensure the happiness of the pixies. Once completed, they are awarded “fairy dust” and when enough dust is earned, the pixies can grant the child’s wishes. The wishes are customizable by the parent and can be anything from ice cream, to a sleepover with friends.

White Leaf Provisions

Healthy soil = Healthy food. Started by a husband and wife team in Charleston, White Leaf Provisions is a family run business bringing the first 100% regeneratively farmed, Biodynamic®, Organic & GMO-Free baby food line to market in the U.S. The result is pure, transparent, nutritious and delicious foods. Their line of baby food blends and applesauce transforms not only how we feed our children but also encourages farming methods that can help to heal the planet that our kids will inherit.