Los Gatos: Small, exterior home improvements best value investments

By Rose Meily, for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers

Just as they did last year, Realtors rated small and exterior projects as the most valuable home improvement projects in the 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Compiled annually in collaboration with Hanley Wood's Remodeling Magazine, the report compares changes in home improvement project costs with Realtors' perceptions of what those projects contribute to a home's price at resale.

"First impression counts. The curb appeal of a home can make all the difference in the world in whether a prospective buyer might consider entering that home or not," said Chris Isaacson, 2015 president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. "Some small projects need not break a budget, but can make a difference in the look and feel of a home."

HouseLogic.com, the National Association of Realtors' consumer website, highlights the results of the report. Top 10 projects in terms of cost recouped include:

1--Steel entry door replacement was again identified by Realtors this year as the project expected to return the most money, with an estimated 101.8 percent of costs recouped upon resale. The steel entry door replacement is consistently the least expensive project in the annual Cost vs. Value Report, costing little more than $1,230 on average. This was the only project on this year's list to recoup more than 100 percent of its cost at resale on a national level. Not only does this replacement enhance curb appeal, it also boosts energy efficiency.

2--Manufactured stone veneer (92.2 percent ROI) has an average cost of $7,150 and offers a top return in remodeling dollars. Lightweight stone veneer is easy to install and creates good curb appeal.

3--Siding replacement with fiber cement (84.3 percent ROI) is long-lasting because it protects the house from termites, moisture, rot and fire and does not need frequent repainting. This improvement has an average cost of $14,014.

4--Replacing garage doors, especially with one that is insulated, adds value to a home. The national average cost for midrange steel is $1,595 (88.4 percent ROI) and average cost for upscale insulated steel is $2,944 (82.5 percent ROI).

5--Vinyl siding is lightweight, low maintenance and easy to replace. Insulated vinyl also cuts energy costs. The national average cost for midrange vinyl is $12,013 (80.7 percent ROI) and average for insulated vinyl is $15,184 (77.6 percent ROI).

6--Wood deck addition (80.5 percent ROI), with a national average cost of $10,048 (about $30 per square foot), extends the homeowner's living area at a fraction of the price of an enclosed addition and is good for dining, relaxing and entertaining.

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Los Gatos: Small, exterior home improvements best value investments