Replacing outdated kitchen or foyer flooring with hardwoods, such as this Armstrong Century Farm hand-sculpted wood floor, improves the beauty and durability of high-traffic areas. Photo courtesy of Armstrong. Available at Roberts Carpet & Fine Floors.
From Refund to Remodel Smart ways to invest in your home
Turn taxes into a good thing by using your refund to tackle at least one project this year. According to the IRS, the average American family receives a tax refund of $3,000. Those bucks can take a lot of the bite out of home improvement projects you’ve been putting off. Anthony Rodio, CEO of the contractor referral website Redbeacon.com, shares his expert observations of what’s doable and what’s worth it when it comes to projects for homeowners. 1. Replace your windows Rodio’s top recommendation is replacing windows—even if it’s just a few of them. “Get rid of your drafty windows and stop losing cooled air,” says Rodio. “An average-sized window replacement runs about $300 per window—so this project will take up most, if not all, of your tax return. The good news is that you’ll see the ROI not only in the ‘saleability’ of your home, but also in monthly energy savings.” 2. Paint “Spring’s mild temperatures are great for exterior paint projects, and the weather makes indoor painting easier to ventilate through open windows,” says Rodio. “The size of your home will dictate how expensive this project is, but budget between $1,500 and $3,000 for full painting and priming.”
Replacing windows improves your home’s appearance and energy efficiency. Photo courtesy of Andersen.
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3. Landscape “Now that spring’s here and summer is on the horizon, it’s time to pay attention to your lawn and yard,” he says. “You can easily
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spend some or all of your tax return on things like planting flowers, nursing your lawn back to health or hiring a landscaper to give your front yard a makeover. The biggest reward on maintaining your outdoor property is that you’ll want to spend more time outside.” 4. Get a tankless water heater “A tankless water heater can cut your water-heating energy by nearly half, and that means a lot since 30 percent of your energy bill is for heating water,” says Rodio. “Tankless water heaters will cost more, but they’re more energy efficient and can save you money in the long run.” 5. Replace outdated flooring “Most people walk into your home and immediately look down, so floors make a huge impression,” says Rodio. “My wife says ‘you live in your home every day, so make it easy for you.’ When you replace the floors in your foyer or kitchen you can enjoy your home a lot more. That makes a big difference in how your home looks and feels. Hard surfaces, such as tile and wood provide durable beauty.” 6. Update the bathroom “At my house, with my kids, most of the house is like a team sports zone, but the bathroom is your private sanctuary,” says Rodio. “A new shower head or vanity can dramatically improve your enjoyment of this space. When you do your own demolition you can save a lot of money on bathroom projects, which add durable value to your home and you get to enjoy it every day.” Replacing your front door, repainting your home or upgrading your landscape provide dramatic improvements at a reasonable cost. Photos courtesy of Benjamin Moore.
7. Replace your siding “Siding often covers as little as one third of your home’s exterior,” he says. “When you replace siding on just the front façade it makes it feel like a new house. The cost to purchase your own vinyl siding is about $1 per square foot, so if you’re pretty handy and have some time this project can be very affordable.” 8. Replace front door “A front door upgrade makes a big impression, especially glass doors,” says Rodio. “This is a long-term investment that, given the latest materials, yields lasting beauty, energy efficiency and security.” 9. Add a deck “Much like landscaping, adding a deck brings you outdoors more so you can relieve stress and get your vitamin D,” he says. “It also adds outdoor living space—that dramatically increases the appeal and satisfaction factor for the homeowner.” 10. Repair your gutters and roofing “Protect your home from water damage by repairing roof leaks and correcting drainage of your gutters and downspouts,” says Rodio. “Be sure to look at the wash-out points of downspouts. The water should flow away from your foundation; if it doesn’t that’s an easy fix that is good preventive care for your home.” Adding rain barrels at downspouts save your foundation as well and provide free water during dry spells.
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