Fall Home Improvement Projects and their ROI

home title Posted by on Sep 30th, 2019 home title

Fall is the season for spending your weekends enjoying the autumn air and scenery whether it be — apple-picking, hayrides, or pumpkin patches. While beautiful, fall is also the perfect time to tackle those home improvement projects and to-do lists we put off during the summer. So what’s on your list? Below is a list of home improvement projects that give you more bang for your buck.

  • Paint the front door (ROI: 80% – 140%) A freshly painted front door helps your home stand out from the block, and it can be finished in less than an afternoon. Exterior painting should be done at a time when the temps are at least 50 degrees or so and aren’t dipping below the 40s at night.
  • Refresh (or repair) the deck (ROI: 80% – 120%) A deck is only as good as its condition. If the wood is splintering, the finish faded, or the rails shaky, call in the experts.
  • Enhance the exterior (ROI: 60% – 100%) If your exterior paint job is in decent shape, a few touch-ups could suffice. But for those with chipping paint or a 1970s color scheme? Call the pros immediately.
  • Replace or repair your roof (ROI: 50% – 110%) A new roof can be basic or with details that enhance curb appeal, but its main value comes from instilling confidence that it is functionally sound. And that is invaluable.
  • Power-wash the exterior (ROI: 40% – 110%) The ROI for this project can vary based on just how dirty your home was  before the wash. If the home was merely a little dirty, the ROI may not be as great as it is for one that will look almost new after the wash. If your home falls into the latter category, it can be worth it to hire a pro.
  • Window Replacement (ROI: 50% – 80%) Windows can be hit-or-miss investments, mainly because they are expensive to replace and almost invisible to buyers.
  • Clean the gutters (ROI: Priceless) Here, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A mere 30 minutes of routine rain gutter maintenance could prevent thousands of dollars in damage to the foundation of a home.
Andy’s Helpful Fall Fire Safety Tips!

As summer turns to fall, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory on fall fire safety tips. Some safety tips are the same regardless of the time of year, but many safety concerns are seasonal, particularly those that involve keeping your home warm.

  • General Safety:
    • Change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors every fall and spring when changing the clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
    • Also, verify that all fire extinguishers are fully charged and in working order when you adjust the clocks each season.
  • Home Heating:
    • Verify that everything you need to keep your home warm throughout fall and winter is in good working order before you experience the first cold snap of the season. Many things can go wrong with heating equipment during the spring and summer months.
  • Family Fire Safety:
    • Teach your kids how to respond in the event of a fire.
    • Make sure young children know how to dial 911.
    • Establish and practice a fire escape plan with your family that includes a designated meeting area outside the home.
    • Practice stop, drop and roll with your children so they learn how to escape beneath a fire.
    • Teach everyone in your family multiple ways to escape from every room in the event of a fire.
    • Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use a fire extinguisher.

If you need assistance or just don’t have the time to get the job done, contact ANDY ONCALL®!

Energy Efficiency

The fall season is the start of cooler weather and one of the most beautiful times of the year. Here are a few tips to remember in order to keep your home energy efficient as you transition to cooler temps and fewer daylight hours.

  • Wrap your water heater with an insulated blanket to reduce heating loss and save money on your energy bill.
  • Check your water heater temperature. For energy efficiency and child safety, set it no higher than 120°F.
  • Install a programmable thermostat that allows you to pre-set the temperature for different times of the day and week. By setting the thermostat lower at night and during times when no one is home, you can conserve energy.
  • During the day, keep shades and curtains open on the south side of your home (closed on the north side) to allow for solar heating and close them at night to retain heat.
  • Add insulation to your attic, crawl space, garage, and any accessible exterior walls.
  • Close your fireplace damper when not in use. Place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and the wall to reflect heat back into the room.
  • Make sure your furniture is not blocking any heating vents or radiators.
  • Use indoor appliance timers to turn lamps on and off. This saves electricity while giving your home a “lived-in” look while you are out.
  • Use the self-cleaning cycle of your oven right after you finish baking. That will give it a head start in heating up.

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