 | Marvin Niedens is owner of Texturite, LLC. He has been involved in every facet of the construction industry since his childhood when his father was a general contractor in the ‘50s and ‘60s. He enjoys working with his hands to create something people enjoy using, as well as being appealing to the eye. He also likes to work on projects often times neglected by others. Such was the case with ceilings and walls of residential and commercial structures. This is how his company, Texturite, came into existence. You may contact Marvin at 316-393-0836, or by e-mail at marv1096@msn.com. |
Home Improvement
2011-01-01 10:18:00
Marv’s 3 to 1 & more home value tips (for the first article in this series, refer to Dec. ‘10 issue)
Answer: That’s a great question and a great strategy. There’s more than one way for home values to go up and you’re on the right track. So often it takes so little to make a big difference in home value. Over the next several issues, I will give you a few tips. Some of these…for every dollar you spend…you can increase your home value by as much as $3 to $10 or more. Spend $1,000 and get your home value to go up by $3,000 to $10,000 or more. This will outperform most any market condition you can find.
This month…the front porch…
Do you worry about someone stepping on your front porch and falling and seriously injuring themselves? Are you looking to sell your home and realtors are telling you the home lacks curb appeal and getting a sale done might take a while? The reality is the front entrance is critically important in the safety, function, and appearance of your home. Here are 7 tips from Mike Foti, an advisor at www.ezinearticles.com, and other information, to give this area of your home a makeover which will make it shine:
Tip 1 - Begin with the end in mind. Have a plan. This is not a project you want to wing it. Since you’re altering the architectural look of your home, most cities and towns will require a building permit (and in some cases you might need to get approval from a local architectural review board). First develop a plan, (a bird’s eye view) and an elevation drawing of what you’re looking to do.
Tip 2 - “If it doesn’t fit you must acquit.” Make sure the design fits the home. The design of the porch, roof, and other components needs to compliment the rest of the home. If you have a small home you’ll want a small porch. For a larger home, you can have a larger structure (or even a wrap around design). See if there are architectural elements to “connect” your design to the home (for example if you have fluted millwork around the door you may want to use fluted columns).
Tip 3 - Choose low maintenance products. Here’s your chance. Don’t allow your home to be a future money pit (and time eater). Find low maintenance products and use them. Consider using fiberglass columns vs. wood columns. Evaluate a vinyl or composite soffit vs. wood bead board. Research metal shingles vs. asphalt.
Tip 4 - Create a safe universal design - “visitable,” accessible and secure. Now is the time to consider the future. If you plan to hire a builder or contractor ask them if the design can be wheelchair accessible. Is it possible to have the distance between the stoop and the door threshold 1/4” or less. Can the sides of the door openings be made more secure with a glass block sidelight?
Tip 5 - Don’t create a “porch Mahal.” Keep your budget and surrounding property values in mind. It’s not a good idea to design and build a palatial Taj Mahal front porch in a modest neighborhood. Estimate your costs, prices and budget. Keep the market value of the project in mind.
Tip 6 - Add some decorative touches. After the construction work is completed, go to a home goods store and look for decorative items for the front entrance. Consider a bench, flower pots, rocking chairs etc. If you’re unsure what would look best get feedback from an interior designer.
Tip 7 - Still unsure what to do? Hire a professional design/build contractor. Sometimes the smartest thing to do is hire a professional from the start. Choose reputable contractors. Check out their grades with the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List.
Now that you’re equipped with these 7 tips, you’re ready to get going on a front porch design that will add curb appeal and safety to your home. Next month, we will talk about the Front Door.
