Put Your Home's Best Face Forward

December 2008
(484 words)

The axiom, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” is true in many cases but perhaps not for consumers who are in the market to buy a home. In fact, for the second year in a row, the 2008 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report has found that homeowners get the best return on investment through exterior remodeling projects, according to [full name of your local association of Realtors®].

With lots of competition in the market for buyers, a well-maintained “outside” can be just the thing to get home shoppers “inside”…for the long term.

“Today’s buyers have much more inventory to choose from, so it’s important for a home on the market to make a positive first impression,” [full name and title of your local spokesperson] said.

According to [last name], Realtors® understand what catches their buyer clients’ eyes. The Cost vs. Value report revealed that wood deck additions and siding replacements returned more than 80 percent of their project costs upon resale. Upscale fiber cement siding recouped 86.7 percent of costs, followed by wood decks at 81.8 percent, midrange vinyl siding at 80.7 percent and upscale foam-backed vinyl siding at 80.4 percent...