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RISMEDIA, June 10, 2010—If you’re like most homeowners, there is never
a shortage of options when it comes to projects around the house. But
studies have shown that some of the highest return on household
improvements can come from those on the outside, not the inside.

A primary reason is that outside investments can produce curb appeal,
which is especially important if you are planning to sell your home.
Those same improvements can enhance the enjoyment factor if you and your
family plan to stay in your home.

For example, one national industry resource—the National Association
of Realtors, reported recently their experience shows a new wood deck
produces the second highest return on home improvement investment of any
common addition, remodel or replacement project.

However projects don’t have to be big to add value or enjoyment,
according to Jimmy Rane, president of Great Southern Wood Preserving, a
leading producer of pressure-treated lumber products and maker of
YellaWood brand products.

*The following popular outside improvement projects will increase the
curb appeal or value of a home:*

*Adirondack chairs*—Uniquely-American classic outdoor furniture is
made entirely of wood and has a straight back and seat, which are set at
a slant to sit comfortably on a hillside or mountain incline, but still
be comfortable at any angle.

*Gazebo*—A gazebo can be freestanding or attached to a garden wall,
roofed and open on all sizes to provide shade or shelter.

*Planters and window boxes*—Planters have become popular because they
are both functional and ornamental. Additionally, some can be moved
frequently to account for seasonal weather or just to create a change in
scenery.

*Picnic table*—Picnic tables go well on a patio or a deck, but equally
as well on the grass or under a tree in the yard. A traditional picnic
table is all in one piece so that it wears well without a lot of
maintenance.

*Trellis*—A trellis can function as a unique sun screen or it can be
the framework for an outdoor hanging garden. Building it with pressure
treated lumber can add life by minimizing rotting and other threats.

*Trash can corral or compost b*in—While many outdoor projects tend to
be cosmetic in nature, here are two ideas that are both practical and
pretty. With a trash can corral, you can hide unsightly trash cans and
with a compost bin, you can reduce your own carbon footprint in a way
that doesn’t take away from the visual appeal of the place.

For more information, visit www.greatsouthernwood.com

THINGS YOUR  BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters.

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com <http://faketv.com/> .)

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again.  If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

8. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com <http://crimedoctor.com/> ; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

You can also take this one step further for the rest of your house. Sure your knickknacks look great in your home and they are a part of what makes your home yours. But you will have to pack them away for the move anyway, so do yourself a favor and pack them up now. A clutter free home looks bigger and it will also create a space for the buyer to envision where their personal effects can be displayed.

If you don’t want to go through the expense of renting a storage facility just make sure these extra items are stored in a single, neat space. It may not seem important but keeping your home free of clutter is one of the key elements in showing a home effectively. If you have any questions about these suggestions please do not hesitate to call me in my office.

Sincerely,

Tim Barlow

Cornerstone Home Mortgage
www.timloans.com
Tel: (360) 570-0106
Fax: (360) 570-1001
Direct:(360) 250-3400
3604 Henderson Blvd. SE
Olympia WA 98501

On a national level, eight out of the top 10 projects in terms of costs recouped were exterior replacement projects that cost less than $14,000. Certain types of door and siding replacements, as well as wood deck additions all returned more than 80% of project costs upon resale. A steel entry door replacement-a new addition to this year’s list-recouped 128.9% of costs, followed by upscale fiber-cement sliding replacements at 83.6%. Wood deck additions recouped 80.6% of costs.

“Once again, this year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance of a home’s first impression,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz. “With exterior projects returning a high percent of project costs upon resale, Realtors can help give your home curb appeal while adding value to the real estate transaction.

The 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 33 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 80 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 12th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with Realtor Magazine, as Realtors provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets.

On a national level, the project with the biggest improvement from 2008 was the attic bedroom addition, recouping 83.1% of remodeling costs compared to 73.8% in 2008. The only other interior project that landed in the top 10 was a minor kitchen remodel with 78.3% costs recouped.

Other exterior projects in the top 10 include midrange vinyl and upscale foam-backed vinyl sliding replacements, which returned more than 79% of costs. In addition, several types of window replacements-midrange wood, midrange vinyl, and upscale vinyl-all returned more than 76% of costs upon sale.

Similar to last year’s report, the least profitable remodeling projects in terms of resale value were home office remodels and sunroom additions, returning only 48.1% and 50.7% of project costs.

Regionally, cities in the Pacific states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington once again outperformed the rest of the nation in terms of remodeling costs recouped upon resale. The West South Central region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; the East South Central region of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the South Atlantic region of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia also performed relatively well.

The regions that generally returned the lowest percentage of costs were New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin), West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota), and the Middle Atlantic (New York and Pennsylvania).

Golder commented that remodeling projects are just one of many factors that contribute to a home’s overall resale value. “As the first, best source for real estate information, Realtors are experts in providing insight into what projects and investments will make a difference in your house. It’s important to consult with a Realtor who can explain the variety of factors that affect a home’s value, such as location, condition of surrounding properties and the regional economic climate,” she said.

For more information, visit www.realtor.org