Replacing Siding Boosts Curb Appeal

Siding Replacement Still Hot Value for 2007 

No matter how stunning your home’s interior, most home buyers just can’t get past curb appeal.  If you don’t take care of the outside of your home, who’s going to believe you are taking care of the inside?  When it comes to selling your home, details count.  And your siding is a BIG deal.  It’s one of the first things prospective new home buyers see when they approach your home.  First impressions do matter and can also make a huge impact on your pocketbook … both in your house attraction factor and in home-improvement dollars. If the buyer sees other houses on your block with unsightly older aluminum or faded vinyl siding on the way to yours, he or she will take notice.

Not only can you give yourself an edge in a buyer’s market, you can charge a higher price for it. An upscale fiber cement siding replacement ranked number one on Remodeling magazine’s recently released Cost vs. Value 2006 report. The average cost of $13,149 for this home improvement job will boost your home’s resale value by $11,573, allowing you to recoup 88 percent of what you spent.  A more moderately priced upgrade of vinyl siding will cost you $9,134 and enable you to get nearly $8,000 more for your home when it’s time to sell, making it possible to put back into your pocket 87.2 percent of your investment. It’s important to note that these are “average” figures based on a comparison of construction costs and resale values across 60 U.S. markets. 

Be aware that a small change in project scope or direction and even local conditions can result in a much higher final cost. The actual cost you recoup is based on a number of factors including comp values, the overall condition of your property, housing demand and availability in your area.

 The new generation of siding is more attractive, durable, and easy-to-care for than ever.  Chipping and pealing is no longer a problem.  These new weather-proof materials repel water, protect against insects, and are generally non-combustible.  Today’s siding can even handle hurricane-force winds, which leads to another plus … your homeowners’ insurance company will likely provide a discount for installing certain types of siding. The newest siding is widely available in just about any hue, texture, or style you desire. If you love the look of wood siding but you think it’s too high-maintenance, no worry.  Duplicate the look you long for, whether that is shingles, board and batten, or stucco, without the arduous care and maintenance.  These extra-durable new siding products are typically “guaranteed for life” or for at least 20 years. 

To add that extra touch, remember to choose coordinating or complementary window, door, and corner trim. The two stars of the siding scene are ever-popular vinyl and up ‘n comer fiber cement.  Here’s a good article on fiber cement siding by Tim Carter from the Ask the Builder Web site. If you’d like to read the Vinyl Siding Institute’s two cents on the subject, here it is: The Truth About Vinyl Siding and Fiber Cement Siding. Just remember most potential home buyers will judge a book by its cover, so if your home  exterior is not picture perfect, upgrade if you need to.  A good-looking driveway, beautiful landscaping, gleaming windows, and one of this year’s hottest home improvement values, new siding, can create a compelling package for someone looking for a new home.

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