6 Trends That Increase The Value of Your Home

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Contributed by Susan Mackey

Let’s start with the good news: The real estate market in Connecticut is heating up. Home values bottomed out in 2012 and 2013, but they’ve been climbing since. If you’re looking to increase the value of your home, and if you make a few improvements, you’re more likely to see some return on the investment. Here are six trends that increase the value of your Connecticut home.

Shut the Front Door

Your front door is what makes the first impression on a potential buyer, whether they show up at an open house or they are just driving by. You likely still have the front door that was on the house when you moved in, so a new front door is a cost-efficient update that will increase the value. You can spend anywhere from $150 to thousands of dollars on a new door. Before you spend the cash, make sure the door complements the rest of the house and that it’s similar to doors on homes in your price range. You may also consider painting your existing door. If so, black is trending right now and can increase the price of your home by as much as $6,000.

 

Don’t Let Your Window Panes Hurt

Old, drafty windows will decrease your home’s value right away. To a buyer, all they see is work that needs to be done or high energy bills. Don’t give prospective buyers a good reason to lowball you. If your windows are original to the house, you should consider replacement windows. New windows — although they can get pricey — can match that new front door for a completely updated look.

The Envy of the Neighborhood

Even if you don’t win “Lawn of the Month” prizes, the time to keep your yard in tip-top shape is when your home is on the market. Take a hard look at your lawn. Is it brown? Untrimmed? Full of weeds? Or is the grass struggling to grow? Don’t put off hiring mowing, weeding and fertilizing. You can hire a professional, or pick up some weed and feed at a local gardening store. Make sure you prune the trees and shrubs. You won’t regret it at closing.

Light It Up

Combine wellness trends with home improvement trends and you’ve got circadian rhythm lighting. The idea is to limit the impact of artificial lighting on the people who live in the home. It combines warmer lights (no more ghastly white LED bulbs!) with home automation to more closely match the lighting found in nature. If that sounds like too much of a project, consider changing all your interior light bulbs to a warmer, natural light color. Brighter light makes people feel more positive, so improving the light inside your home can help leave buyers with a good impression.

Clean Up the Kitchen

Your bathrooms and your kitchen can make or break an offer on your home. You don’t have to go crazy updating your kitchen to bring in a sale. You can spend just a few hundred dollars repainting the walls to a more buyer-friendly color. Update the hardware on the kitchen cabinets to give the space an updated feel. Or you can spend thousands on quartz or marble countertops and new stainless steel appliances.

Smart Technology

Buyers want to see high tech upgrades, such as remote control thermostats and doorbell video cameras. You probably won’t get a big return on investment if you go overboard by installing an expensive audio-visual system for the house. But high tech upgrades that save money or time, or those that increase security, add interest to your home. A Ring or Nest doorbell camera costs just a few hundred dollars. A programmable thermostat you can control from your phone isn’t expensive either.

You don’t have to go overboard to increase your home’s value in the current upward trend in real estate in Connecticut. Bigger improvements are always a selling point, but they’re not always going to bring in bigger offers. Think about what would make you fall in love with a home, and what would make you increase your offer. Let common sense — and your bank account — be your guide.

Susan Mackey is an interior designer and home stager as well as a freelance writer who focuses on the latest home fashion trends. She loves taking older homes and turning them into the envy of the neighborhood.

Ways to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

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There are several ways that you can improve your home’s energy efficiency with services from Peter L. Brown. Getting better energy efficiency will not only save you money but will improve indoor air comfort and reduce drafts.

Replacing Your Home Windows

Vinyl window replacement Hartford CT is a great home improvement to get when you are looking to save money on energy. The windows are made from a durable vinyl application which makes them damage proof and least for years. The low maintenance windows are a great addition to any home, bringing in natural light, style and sophistication.

Insulating Your Home

Insulation and ventilation applications are important because they help keep your home running at its peak efficiency.

A home should be properly ventilated or it can lead to many issues such as:

  • Increased moisture
  • Pests
  • Mold
  • Allergens
  • Damage to roof systems
  • Creating ice dams in roofs

If your home is not properly ventilated, it can create condensation and can lead to a roof leak. If you have inadequate insulation, you can either have a mold buildup or holes in the insulation that allow for air to get through. Fix your insulation before it ends up becoming a more expensive problem!

For CT home improvement contractors that can help with energy conservation, contact Peter L. Brown today. From new windows to new insulation, you can have low maintenance materials that create a better performing and energy efficient home.

The perfect Exterior Renovations for Your Home

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If you are looking to remodel the exterior of your home, Peter L. Brown is the roofing, window and siding expert in the Hartford, CT area. You can have a beautiful, custom-made  piece for your house within a short period of time. You can increase the curb appeal of your home, without spending a lot of money.

Windows and Doors

A great material for windows and Doors would be vinyl siding because it is durable and easy to maintain. Other materials for windows like wood need to be repainted, are hard to maintain and often are exposed to mold and pests that can make the wood rot. Like wood, vinyl siding is just as energy efficient. You can likely save a lot of money on your energy bills within a few years with vinyl siding. Homeowners who use vinyl windows and doors find that they truly last a lifetime. They resist scratching, damage, mold and dirt – which will show up on wood.

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If you are looking for an alternative to moldy and dirty roofs, then Atlas Roof shingles with Scotchgard Protector. They prevent streaking from algae and discoloration. If you want a strong roof, visiting a professional roofer for yearly inspections will help you to protect your investment for years to come. The dimensional shingles used at Peter L. Brow come in 13 different colors and are much more attractive looking than asphalt shingles. For superior resistance to weathering, try Atlas Roof Shingles today.

Siding

If you need to upgrade your siding to a newer, more secure material – then vinyl siding is the choice for you. It is very low maintenance, and only requires a light cleaning with soap and water annually. Many types of siding show where the siding ends, which creates an ‘overlapping’ effect. With Peter L. Brown vinyl siding, it is seamless and you will just have a smooth finish.

So if you are interested in upgrading your exterior to reliable materials, contact Peter L. Brown today. For reasonably priced materials that will have a long life, try any of our vinyl siding materials. In the past 30 years, the vinyl siding industry has boomed and has shown to be a reliable material and easier to manage material over the years.

 

The Siding, Roofing and Window Professionals of Hartford, CT

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If you are looking for roofing services in the Hartford County area, Peter L. Brown is the right contractor for you. With years of experience as a siding, roofing and window company, we can provide you with the best technological advances in the industry. As a home improvement company that homeowners can trust, we know that we will be able to help you create the home of your dreams.

Mastic Vinyl Siding is the Perfect Choice for Homeowners

Here at Peter L. Brown, we are the leader for seamless vinyl siding in Hartford CT, to make your home have a dramatic change and curb appeal. The low-maintenance application will help you to achieve the desired look in little to no time. The affordable mastic vinyl siding has been trusted by homeowners and contractors alike for over 70 years. Mastic comes custom made in many different colors that compliment vinyl windows.

Roof Designs that Prevent Streaking and Algae

pexels-photo-280221For our roof designs, we like to use Atlas Roof Shingles with Scotchgard Protector which prevents streaking, damage or discoloration for residential roofing in Hartford, CT. Many roofs in high humidity areas, including Connecticut, have problems with algae growth. But, the Atlas Roof shingles prevent algae from forming with a material inside called copper granules. You do not need to power wash or chemically clean your roof, as these shingles prevent streaks and algae growth. You can expect your roof to look just as good ten years down the road from being installed.

Replacement Doors that Are More than Just an Entryway

If it has been a while since you have replaced something on your home, why not replace your door? First impressions with homes are very important, especially if you are looking to sell in a few years. A new door not only adds curb appeal, but also will help to lower energy bills. With our Provia Entry Doors, you secure your home, lower energy bills, and improve interior comfort with its Energy Star Certification. Choose from different woods, styles and colors to add character to your home to set your home apart from others for years to come. Contact Peter L. Brown today to improve your home with exterior solutions that improve the reliability and beauty of your space.

Window and Gutter Installation in Hartford CT

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If you are looking for exterior renovation services for your home in the Hartford, CT area – then Peter L. Brown is your home remodeling solution. From windows and doors to gutters and siding, a company could not be more versatile in home exterior projects. Since 1960, Peter L. Brown has dedicated their business to helping customers in the hartford area give their home a great curb appeal with a more efficient design.

Window Replacement

One of our specialties here at Peter L. Brown is window replacement. Our vinyl replacement windows are made with Mastic Vinyl that not only look professional but also uphold to weathering. They will last for years without color fade or wear – and will maximize your home’s curb appeal.

Gutter Installation and Repair

Gutters are often a feature of the home that goes unnoticed. gutterPeople do not often see the consequences of a clogged gutter, and often brush it to the side as not being a serious issue. If the clogged gutter is ignored for enough time, it will cause water to leak into the interior of your home and cause rot and moisture – a breeding ground for pests. By installing a gutter system that prevents materials to get in to cause it to clog, you will be able to better protect your home. With either the Berger Seamless Gutter or Klean Gutter systems – you can prepare your home for the harsh elements that invade a gutter system.

So if you are looking to upgrade your exterior to better and more efficient products, contact Peter L. Brown today. By upgrading old windows and gutters, you can help to save your home on energy and future repair bills. Prevention is the best way to avoid costly repairs, and with new windows and gutters from Peter L. Brown, costly repairs are unlikely to happen.

How to Increase the Curb Appeal of Your Home

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When focusing on increasing the curb appeal of your home, realtors will often tell you that brand new appliances or a new kitchen are the best options. While this may be true for the interior of your home, the exterior has a lot of potential for increasing your home’s value.

 

The Exterior

The exterior of your home is the first thing people will look at when searching for homes, so make sure it is in good condition. If the people trying to buy a house do not like the exterior of a home, then what incentive do they have to go further and look into the interior of the home. The interior can be extravagant, with state-of-the-art appliances, but with a lacking exterior, your home’s value will go down.

 

Landscaping

Taking care of one’s lawn is not everybody’s forte, and that’s okay. Attempting to put a little extra effort into the yard with flowers in the spring, or shrubs and trees in the fall, will spruce up the look of your home from the outside. If you would like a professional opinion, go to your local home improvement store to ask about different costs of plants, and what will thrive best with the type of soil you have. You may also want to look into landscaping services to have your front lawn professionally done.

 

Power Washing

If your home has not had the exterior power washed in five years, it is important that you do so. Washing the exterior panels and the windows will make your house shine! According the the National Association of Realtors, “A pressure washed home can add $10,000 – $15,000 to the sale price.”

 

Replacing Exterior Doors and Shutters

The front door is an important door to start with since it is front facing to the view of the home buyer. A brand new door often appeals to customers, and an old, worn-down door would turn customers off from entering the home. Shutters that are broken can make the house look cheap from the outside. A brand new door or new shutters will appeal to customers, who will potentially be interested in your home!

 

Install New Windows
Old windows can turn off potential customers right away. Starting off with brand new front windows, will not only give your home a clean finish, but will also creative an attractive curb appeal to the home. Shutters that frame the windows will give your home a finished look from the exterior view. Adding a finishing touch of a flower box will add just enough curb appeal for the potential customers to want to see more on the inside!

Replacement Windows

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Windows last a long time, but in extreme weather conditions they are often damaged. Cracks can often result from extreme cold weather, and if not fixed right away, can create a lot of damage. High winds and projectile objects from storms can break windows, since glass is fragile. Tree branches can break branches can snap if they are covered in heavy snow, and crash into your windows. Be sure to trim your trees to get rid of dead or weakened branches.

Windows can become damaged from many elements, including mold and water damage. With the upcoming fall and winter, the weather changes quickly and becomes very cold. During these cold months, mold is capable of growing the most. Windows are often the top places that mold grows. Moisture around the windows allows for mold growth and water damage, that can damage the window frame. To prevent water and mold damage, you can caulk your windows. If you were not able to caulk in the fall, it is not too late by the winter to do it.p_0012


Windows that already survived water and mold damage should be replaced using our window replacement services. Window panes can also be affected from the cold weather. If your window is half in the shade and half in the sun, the window can get a thermal stress crack. This crack will happen when the two different temperatures make the window both expand and contract. When this happens, the glass must be replaced.  

In extreme weather, homeowners should be aware of the risks that weather can pose on a house. Windows can crack and shatter, which is dangerous and costly. Preventing window damage is the safest way to keep a window from having to be fully replaced. But if you need window replacement, it will not only change your home’s curb appeal, but will also provide safety through the seasons with extreme weather. To make an appointment for a free estimate, contact us here!

Repairs to do for the Fall

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Fall is the perfect time to start a new house project before facing roadblocks in the winter. If you are in need of any Roof Repair. Starting any projects before winter and the holidays is the ideal time for any project. Waiting until the winter to get a project done can be postponed by snow and bitter cold temperatures. Winter is the best time for staying inside and enjoying home improvement projects completed in the fall, so why not get your early start now?

 

  1. Roof Repair – The number one project recommended before the start of winter and the frigid cold is repairing roofs. You may not know about cracks or leaks in your roof until winter, when snow starts falling into your house. The best time to evaluate your roof now before the job expense multiplies. Summer is not an ideal time to do roofs, because the hottest part of the house is the roof – and excessive heat may extend the time frame of a project.
  2. Window Replacement – Window repair and replacement is another project to avoid doing in the winter at all costs. During the fall, you may feel drafts of cool air leaking through your windows. First, if there is a crack in the window, your energy bill will skyrocket in the winter. Next, the weather elements in the winter – including snow, sleet, hail and freezing rain can cause a lot of damage is you have a crack in your window. Repair in the winter is possible, but this would mean a temporary wall would have to be built to protect the interior. On the outside of the window, you may need a small frame to protect from the weather elements trying to enter inside the house. Contact us for a window evaluation this fall to avoid the frigid weather in the winter!

These repairs and maintenance will keep your home in peak condition throughout the winter. Let us service your house so it will not only last throughout the fall, but for many years to come!