Real Estate • August 16, 2023

5 Home Improvements That Will Boost Your Property Value

by Windermere MI

5 projects that will add value to your home.

A home is the largest investment most people will make in their lifetime, so when it comes time to sell, homeowners often wonder what they can do to get the most return on their investment. Many have the misconception that remodeling is the way to go, but that isn’t always the case. Rather than going all-in on upgrading your home, you should know which home improvements are worth it, and which ones aren’t.

We’ve sifted through the research and come up with a quick list of five home improvements that’ll help buyers fall in love with your home when it comes time to sell.

1. Add a little curb appeal

Curb appeal is critical. As the name suggests, it’s the first thing buyers see when pulling up to the front of any home so it needs to be in nearly pristine condition.

Landscaping can go a long way for a minimal upfront investment. Six rounds of fertilizer and weed control will set you back about $415, but when it comes time to sell, you’ll see a return on investment (ROI) of about $900 according to a 2023 survey by the National Association of Realtors.

Other improvements you can easily make to your curb appeal include:

Pressure wash the exterior
Liven up your front door with a fresh coat of paint
Replace hardware such as doorknobs and knockers
Install updated house numbers
Make your walkways pop with new greenery or flowers
Plant a succulent garden
Update your porch lights
Add a little charm with window flower boxes
Stage your porch

2. Convert your HVAC to an electric heat pump

According to the 2023 Cost vs. Value Remodeling Report, replacing an oil or gas furnace with an electric heat pump is one of the hottest trends (and offers an unusually high ROI of 104%). Their earth-friendly efficiency is especially appealing to younger buyers and those concerned about climate change. Additionally, they offer summertime cooling, which is a big bonus in the PNW given our recent hot and smoky summers!

3. Refresh your kitchen

While major kitchen renovations are costly and typically have low ROI, a little elbow grease and modest budget can give you big bang for your buck (see our article on simple kitchen makeover ideas).

Here are some smaller updates to boost your home’s value:

Clean
- Organize your pantry
- Use a little Murphy Oil Soap and hot water on all of your cabinets
  - Polish cabinets with Howard Feed-In-Wax
  - Tighten all hinges
- Clean grout and tiles
- Shine your sinks and hardware until you can see your face in it
- Deep clean your stove
Give your kitchen a fresh coat of neutral paint
Update lighting fixtures, and replace light bulbs
Add new and trendy door hardware to your cabinets
Consider replacing your countertops with a hard surface like quartz or quartzite
Upgrade your appliances

4. Go green

Today’s younger generations are embracing eco-friendly living, and millennials are leading the pack. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2022 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report, millennials make up the largest segment of buyers, holding strong at 43 percent of all buyers.

When it comes to attracting buyers who are willing to pay top dollar, going green makes sense. A Nielson study found that, of more than 30,000 millennials surveyed, 66 percent are willing to shell out more cash for conservation-conscious, sustainable products. Depending on where you live, consider installing solar panels, wind turbines, and eco-friendly water systems.

No matter where you live, attic insulation replacement and weather stripping are safe bets. Attic replacement costs can vary but typically have a good ROI. Weather stripping costs about $350 if you hire a professional, but you can easily DIY for a fraction of that cost.

5. Install hardwood floors

Installing or upgrading hardwood floors is pretty failsafe as most buyers love it. Ninety-nine percent of real estate agents agree that homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell, and 90 percent of agents say that they sell for a higher sale price, according to the National Wood Flooring Association. Similarly, a survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found that wood flooring was among the top 10 home features most desired by home buyers.

When it comes time to sell, I will help you get the highest possible ROI for your home. I can connect you with tried-and-true contractors, suggest strategic upgrades, and help you develop the right pricing plan based on up-to-the-minute market analysis. Reach out for a complimentary home value consultation.

© Copyright 2023, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
Adapted from an article that originally appeared on the Windermere blog November 12, 2018. Written by: Sarah Stilo with HomeLight.
Cost vs. Value data ©2023 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Complete data from the 2023 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.

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Trends & Living • June 13, 2022

10 Tips for Sustainable Gardening

by Windermere MI

Sunny days are finally here, the flowers are in bloom, and the timing is perfect to give your garden some love. Having a healthy garden is one of the best ways to create a sustainable home and reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Below are some eco-friendly tips that will help to make your garden even more sustainable…

1. Compost Your Waste

Composting, which puts your natural waste to good use, is the cornerstone of any sustainable garden. All grass clippings, dead leaves, plants, flowers, and the like are rich in nutrients. By composting, you provide your garden with a natural fertilizer, free of contaminants. Not only will this provide nourishment, but it will also help to produce healthier and tastier food. Here’s how to do it.

2. Try Mulching

If having a sustainable garden is your goal, it’s important to treat your soil with care. Laying down a couple of inches of mulch in mid- to late spring (think: grass clippings, wood chips or chopped leaves) enriches the soil and ensures it’s as healthy as can be. Mulch also conserves soil moisture, reduces weed growth and naturally moderates the temperature of the soil. You can cover either bare dirt or freshly planted food and flowers. Find more tips here.

3. Optimize Your Garden Design

It’s natural to want to accentuate the beauty of your garden when designing it, but the sustainable gardener will prioritize giving plants what they need. Take into consideration which plants need direct access to sunlight, which need the most space in the garden, and any special requirements a plant may need to inhabit optimal growing conditions.

Companion planting (choosing plants that benefit each other) will attract pollinators and deter pests. For example, peas & beans feed the soil with nitrogen, and nasturtiums can lure aphids away from other plants. Plant basil and tomatoes together, too–basil boosts the flavor of the tomatoes while scaring away pests.

4. Use Natural Weed Killers

One of the pillars of organic gardening is to reduce the use of chemicals whenever and wherever possible. Preventing weeds naturally by using landscape cloth, mulch or corn gluten meal is a great way to start. You can also make your own DIY weed killer from household items like vinegar or even boiling water as an effective substitute for harmful, chemical-based weed killers. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to weed by hand often.

5. Water Wisely

Substantial watering is critical to keeping your garden healthy, but overwatering is a common practice and leads to an unsustainable garden. Research the amount of water your plants and flowers need to make sure you aren’t overwatering. In our rainy climate, rain barrels are a useful tool as their function is to catch and conserve the water from your downspouts. Here’s a charming Canadian video on how to make and install a rain barrel.

6. Repurpose Poop

It’s time to get down and dirty. For a more sustainable garden and even healthier soil, consider adding animal manure. Chicken, sheep, and cow manure are all popular choices. Rich in nutrients, it can be used both as a fertilizer and as a soil conditioner. Make sure the manure you purchase is free of pathogens and ask about the recommended window of time from application to harvest before you begin using it.

7. Go Local

Planting natively is a fast ticket to sustainable gardening. Native plants are innately acclimated to local climate conditions, making them easier to grow and maintain. Native plants often require less water to grow due to their familiarity with the soil and rainfall in your region, which cuts down on your garden’s total water intake.

8. Collect Dried Seeds

YES, you can save your seeds and sow them next year. Wait until the seed is fully ripe before you collect it. It’s important to gather seeds when the weather is dry and to store them in a dry place. To produce healthy plants in the future, the seed must be completely dry. Here are some great tips on collecting & storing seeds.

9. Stop Garden Slugs

Slugs love wreaking havoc on gardens, eating through leaves and fruit, leaving a trail of destruction. Fortunately, there are also many things they hate…coffee grounds, for example. Chickens. Rosemary. Fennel. Drowning in beer traps. Check out these awesome tricks for making eco-friendly slug repellant…you can use these to replace traditional slug baits, which contain chemicals that are highly toxic to other animals.

10. Replace Your Gas Mower

How else can you reduce your garden’s carbon footprint? Replace your gas mower with a more sustainable alternative. Electric mowers and push mowers are functional and more eco-friendly replacements. They’re also quieter and you never have to mess with those stinky gas cans again. For added sustainability, consider replacing your other gas-powered equipment, such as trimmers and leaf blowers.

Pssst…Need a bigger yard for the garden of your dreams? I can help with that.

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mercerisland@windermere.com