Putting Your Best Façade Forward

We’ve all heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Well, this does not always hold true in home buying, where many buyers purchase a house based on its curb appeal.

If you were thinking about upgrading the exterior of your home, you would do well to focus on exterior remodels according to the 2007 Cost vs Value Report. This report comes from Realtors who provide their insight into resale data for Remodeling Magazine report.

In 2007, upscale siding replacement was the most profitable project on a national level, recouping an average 88 percent of costs upon resale. Here on the Pacific coast it was 64 percent recoup. Wood deck additions and wood window replacements returned 85 and 81 percent of costs, nationally and 108 and 103 percent respectively in northern California.

The Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 29 midrange-upscale remodeling projects in 60 markets across the country. This is a valuable resource to check out—particularly if you plan to be a Seller in 2008.