Alder cabinets for custom basement bar, a photo by Somerset Hills Doors & Millwork on Flickr.

Drinks are being served as the bar is open….

Custom Alder Wood Bar, a photo by Somerset Hills Doors & Millwork on Flickr.

Recently built and installed alder wood bar in Rockaway, NJ

Dutch Door, a photo by Somerset Hills Doors & Millwork on Flickr.

A custom dutch door in Westfiled, NJ

Five Great Home Improvement Projects That Will Yield The Greatest Return

Every home improvement project is different. Some will be beneficial only to you, the homeowner, and others will boost the appeal or value of your home down the line if you decide to sell. This article is going to show you five different projects you can do that will not only make your home look and feel great but will also increase your home’s resale value when it comes time to put it on the market.

Your front door is the gateway to your home. It is not only a focal point for someone who sees it from the outside, but it is also your first line of defense when it comes to protecting your home from intruders. For this reason, you should replace your front door with a new steel door. Make sure that it is painted in a color that complements the style and decor of your home. It should be a bright color if possible, as that attracts new buyers. A steel door is much more secure and not as easy to manipulate for those who wish you harm or want to rob your home.

A wood deck, anywhere on your property, adds a feeling of serenity, calm and relaxation to the atmosphere. A deck invites you to have a party in the summer and to sit outside and read on a warm spring day. If you have the ability to add a porch or deck to the front of your home, do it, but the back is also a great place, as it gives you privacy for those parties, BBQs or even just a calm day by yourself.

If you have an unfinished attic, you can transform it into a cozy little living space. It doesn’t have to be big enough for a bedroom or office, but even just having it as a cute storage spot, reading room or other non-essential room can make the value of your home go sky high. These unexpected little things are what really gets a buyer licking their lips and wanting more.

Vinyl siding has come a long way since it was first introduced. While some people are still fighting with the stigma of that old saggy vinyl siding, others understand that this means never having to paint your home again. The cost of painting the exterior of a home every five years or so really adds up. That can be tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a homeowner. Not having to incur this expense can be a huge selling point to those potential buyers. Not to mention that your home will always look great!

If your home still has old wood or aluminum windows, replace them with more modern, energy efficient ones. It is amazing how much charm new windows can really add to a home. It is also amazing how much you can save on your energy bills with new windows! You can get back most of your investment in the windows when you decide to sell, but until then you can enjoy the extra insulation for yourself.

When you have time and money, home improvement is always a wise decision. These five projects should be somewhere towards the top of your list if you have any ideas of selling in the future.

Improving Your Home For Yourself And Potential Buyers

Your home is comfortable and you are glad to stay in it for now, but there may be some improvements that your family will appreciate.  Also, if housing prices improve, or if you need to move, you want to know which upgrades could add to the value of your home if you do decide to sell.  Check the following tips to see which ones can help you.

The kitchen is the most worked-in room of your house.  It may also be the most lived-in room, if you eat at a kitchen table.  Your kitchen needs to be functional.  But you also want it to be beautiful.  It is also crucial to re-sale value.  Buyers often are most influenced by whether they like your kitchen or not.  Are the appliances up-to-date and adequate in size?  Are the counters in good shape and durable?  Are the sinks functional?  Is there a dishwasher?  Those who enjoy cooking, especially, will place great emphasis on the kitchen when buying a home.  Making sure your kitchen is both practical and beautiful will definitely increase the value of your home and its appeal to buyers.

Depending on the size of your family, an extra bathroom may be the most appreciated addition you can make.  When everyone is getting ready for work or school in the morning, another bathroom can reduce the stress level and help everyone get out of the house on time.  It will also help when you have guests staying with you.  You will need to look at the plumbing outlay in your home to see if there is a place where it is practical to add a bathroom.  But even if it is in the basement, it can be a valuable addition. However, you will want to take into account the cost of hiring a professional plumber.

If your home is small, adding a finished area in the basement or attic enlarges your home and makes it more valuable.  A finished basement can be a space where your teenagers can play their music without disturbing others. It can be a game room or entertainment room, adding to the enjoyment you find in your home.  The extra living space in the basement or attic will definitely increase the value of your home and its appeal to a large family.  It may also be work you can accomplish as a do-it-yourself project.

Installing windows that are efficient at keeping out cold and heat will definitely pay off in lower energy bills.  The salesman you talk to should be able to give you a projection of how long it will take the new windows to pay for themselves. Even better, they may qualify you for a tax credit. Financially, new energy star windows are a good deal.  They are also something to brag about to prospective buyers.

Adding insulation in the attic may be an easy decision to make.  Again, a professional should be able to estimate the new “R” value and what it will save you in heating and cooling costs. Make sure your attic ventilation is adequate also. It may be a job you can do yourself.  But it is a good idea to start with a professional opinion on where you should add insulation, how much, and the pay-off in energy costs.

A new deck is not a necessity, but it can add greatly to pleasurable time at home.  It is an add-on that will certainly appeal to buyers.  It should add to your home’s value, though it may not pay for itself as improved energy efficiency does.  Still, it is worthwhile if it increases your own enjoyment of your home.

These are the basic areas you want to consider if you are contemplating a home improvement project.  Evaluate them in terms of your family’s needs.  Priority should go to projects that improve your own enjoyment of your home and also add to its re-sale value.

Kitchen Cabinet Choices

Your kitchen’s focal point is the cabinetry; the rest of your kitchen decor will build on its style and color. You will need to consider how much you are able to spend on your update before your project begins. Installing all new cabinets can cost a lot, so your best option may be to work with what you now have.

If your existing cabinets are configured the way you want them and are solid, your best choice may be to reface them. You can do the work yourself or hire an expert to do the job. Your decision will depend on how much time, talent and money you have available. Whatever you decide, your cost savings can be considerable.

Many times, older cabinets can be stripped and refinished with beautiful results. The basic cabinets are often of better quality than cabinets you might purchase, and new cabinet doors and drawer fronts can completely change the style.

Completely replacing your cabinets will disable your kitchen for at least a few days, so make plans for a temporary kitchen or eat out during that time. A nearby bath with adequate counter space can work as a temporary kitchen space for a short time.

Updating your kitchen will involve expense no matter which choice you make, but some money can be saved when you do the updates yourself. The most economical course of action would be stripping and refinishing both the cabinets and doors you already have. You can avoid paying a contractor and purchasing any materials if you have the knowledge and time to do the work yourself.

If your kitchen has adequate cabinet space and you are satisfied with how functional it is, an update only changes the overall look. The total cost of your kitchen remodel can be greatly reduced by working with the existing cabinets and minimizing your expense and inconvenience.

Should you decide you remove the old cabinets from your kitchen, be very careful to avoid damaging your floors and walls. A lot of damage can be done by just ripping the cabinets off the walls without removing screws and nails carefully. If you are inexperienced at basic construction methods, you should hire a professional contractor to remove the old cabinets and install new ones. The added expense of replacing floors and repairing walls can add up substantially if they are damaged.

In the end, your decision will depend on how much your cabinets need to be changed to create a kitchen which functions for you. Everyone would like a completely remodeled kitchen, but a better choice may involve working with what is already there.

When You Should Get New Windows

You may not know when it is time to replace the windows in your home. This project is not really something that is at the front of someone’s mind; usually people think about other things and so getting new windows keeps getting pushed back over and over again. However, there are some obvious signs that your windows should be replaced as soon as you possibly can. Replace your windows if you notice any of the following symptoms.

If your windows have frost or condensation buildup it is time to consider getting new ones. Too much of either of these damage your windows but more importantly they completely fog them up so you cannot see out of them anymore. Most of all, it means your home is not being well-insulated. Your home will either be hotter than it needs to be when it is warm outside or your home is cooler than it needs to be when it is cold outside.

You should also replace your windows if the winter makes the interior pane cold or if the summer makes it hot. If either of these happen, it makes your air conditioner or heater work too hard, which costs you extra money. It would be worth the initial investment to get new windows so you can save on utilities.

Hold a candle up to the window frame. If the candle’s fire flickers a little bit, that means you have a draft coming in. Again, this would mean your heater or air conditioner is overworking itself.

If you feel like it is colder when you stand next to the window, that means outside air is getting into your house. This once again means the window is not insulating your home well enough.

If the windows have cracked, missing, or rotting trim on the outside, that is a subtle sign that you should replace them.

If glass is broken or cracked you really should replace the window quickly. In addition to the draft and insulation problems that this causes, cracked glass is really dangerous. People can get hurt because of your unsafe window. This is even more important if you have children around the house.

If your windows are showing any of these signs, you should probably replace them. Even if you do not feel like you have the money to replace a window, making sure your windows are energy-efficient will eventually save you a lot of money on utilities.

Let Somerset Hills Doors help with your window replacement. We carry JELD-WEN Windows in wood, clad and vinyl to fit all budgets.

JELD-WEN Fiberglass with speakeasy, a photo by Somerset Hills Doors & Millwork on Flickr.

This is a fiberglass door. This door comes out of the factory pre-finished and is as realistic to wood as they come.

Knotty Alder Door, a photo by Somerset Hills Doors & Millwork on Flickr.

JELD-WEN Knotty alder door in a walnut finish with Nobilus Hardware

Fiberglass Entrance Door, a photo by Somerset Hills Doors & Millwork on Flickr.

JELD-WEN fiberglass door with (2) wood sidelights.