Waukesha County Home

HOME MAY 2018 4 with a purchase of 50 yds of Carpet -OR- 30 yds of Sheet Vinyl 260335030 4820 W. Loomis Rd. 414.744.9400 Greenfield 2142 E. Moreland Blvd. 262.524.1455 Waukesha F R E E F R E E B A B A T H R O O M T H R O O M F L O O R I N G F L O O R I N G * * Come in and SAVE on our HUGE SELECTION of • Carpet • Vinyl • Hardwood • Laminate • Tile & Stone • Luxury Vinyl & Tile *Material & Residential Only. Not valid with any other offer, sale or prior purchase. See store for details. Expires 5-31-18 FREE Estimates FREE Financing with approved credit When granite countertops or shiny, stain- less steel appliances beckon homeowners from the display areas of home improve- ment stores, it's tempting to gear remodel- ing thoughts toward the items that will add flair and decorative appeal to a home. Even though most improvements add some meas- ure of value, deciding which are the best investments can be difficult. Return on investment, often referred to as "ROI," varies depending on the project. Fre- quently, the projects that seem like the best investments don't bring the greatest rate of return, while those that seem like smaller projects bring substantial returns. Real estate professionals routinely weigh in with their expert advice, and homeowners can couple that advice with Remodeling maga- zine's annual "Cost vs. Value Index" to reap the greatest financial impact from their renovations. The following were some of the projects that garnered the greatest ROI in recent years. ■ Open the door to improvement. Region by region across the United States, installation of a new steel door on the front of a home can have a large impact on the resale value of a property. The ROI ranges from 123 percent at the highest, to 86 per- cent at the lowest, which is still a consider- able investment return for such a simple project. Match the door's style with the style of the house for the best value. ■ Turn up the kitchen heat. An attrac- tive kitchen can encourage buyers to over- look some of a home's less attractive com- ponents. In the kitchen, replacement coun- tertops, wall color changes, new cabinetry and flooring offer the biggest ROI. ■ Dreaming of a new bedroom: Remod- eling magazine also points to creating an attic bedroom to increase home value. The ROI of an attic remodel that adheres to code can garner an 83 percent ROI. ■ Home maintenance projects should be first priority. There's little good to improving the aesthetic appeal and func- tionality of a home if there are existing structural or maintenance issues, warn experts. Siding replacement, HVAC system repair or replacement, a new roof, and base- ment dampness prevention solutions can be smarter investments before other flashy remodels. Many buyers have a strict budget for a house, and those buyers may be more likely to buy a house with little or no main- tenance issues. Such buyers will then upgrade the kitchen or baths themselves, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. ■ Worthy window replacement. Angie's List, a home services review and referral resource, has found that the aver- age ROI of new windows is 77 percent. The cost of installation and energy savings tend to offset at around the 10-year point. If remodeling is on the horizon, home- owners should give strong consideration to ROI before choosing a project. Home improvements that increase value (BPT) — Home safety is one of the top priorities of homeowners and renters alike. Your home should be a place to relax, play and enjoy spending time with family and friends. Here are a few of the latest trends in home security so that you can make yours a home sweet home that's equally safe. Home automation and controls Home automation and controls is exact- ly what it sounds like: automating the abil- ity to control items around the house — from window shades to pet feeders — with a simple push of a button or voice com- mand. Homeowners now have the ability to make sure they really did lock the back door or turn off the lights. This trend is taking a security system and turning it into a smart home device, and consumers are loving it. Solatube Daylighting System with Integrated NightLight Solatube Daylighting Systems have got- ten even more innovative. They harvest sunlight on the roof and shoot it down a tube of the most highly reflective material made and into the home environment. Not only do the residents experience natural light during the day, with the NightLight they get the soft glow of the moon at night. You won't have to turn on lights for trips to the bathroom or navigate dark hallways any longer. Video monitoring Having a good indoor security camera is now the cornerstone of any good home security system. This allows homeowners to watch live video footage of their home from their smartphone anytime, any- where. It also takes the stress away when leaving pets at home for any amount of time. Owners can monitor and speak to their animals while they are away. This trend is convenient, offers peace of mind and may deter burglars. Geofencing You can think of geofencing like an invis- ible fence serving as a virtual perimeter. With it, homeowners can draw around any location on a map and trigger actions from their smartphone when they enter that location through an app. A great example would be an electronic notification sent to mom's or dad's cellphone when their child arrives home from school, triggered by the child's cell phone. This technology also allows parents to establish a "safety" zone outside of which their child is not allowed to venture. The geofence sends mobile alerts the moment their loved ones enter or exit the area established, tracking their children's whereabouts. Overall, this trend is making homes safer, smarter and more efficient. The latest home trends Metro Keep return on investment in mind when envisioning home improvements.

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