Home remodels offer a lot of bang for the buck

Investing in your home is a financially sound - and very satisfying - way to enhance your quality of life. Relatively simple and straightforward projects can help you turn your existing home into your dream home, and you can often recoup almost all of your costs in enhanced value.

Doors & Windows

The entryway is the focal point of your home's exterior. It's a statement about what lies beyond that door.

"It's the entryway to the way (you) live," says Brad King, owner of Lakeview Millworks in Sisters.

A beautiful custom entryway greatly enhances the impression your home makes from the curb - something that really appeals to Realtors if you plan to sell your home. But the main reason to install a custom entryway is to make the portal to your home reflect who you are and how you live.

It doesn't have to cost a fortune, either.

"You can get into an economically designed door system for $800 - that looks nice," he says.

According to Remodeling Magazine, you'll recoup as much as 95 percent of the cost in enhanced value.

Windows should be thought of like furniture, King says. They are a big part of the aesthetic appeal of your home, inside and out. Wood windows offer a sense of warmth and elegance - but they cost more. Vinyl windows are less expensive and can be very efficient and attractive in their own right. King notes that many clients will mix the two, with wood windows in front and vinyl windows in back.

There are also aluminum-clad windows that look like trim and offer the advantage of zero to very low maintenance. (Modern high-performance wood finishes can also reduce maintenance.)

The type of window you choose can also have an impact on cost. Determine your budget and get some expert advice on how to maximize it in a window upgrade that will add a lot of visual appeal and probably quite a bit of energy efficiency to your home.

Kitchens

Kitchens get perhaps the most attention of any room in the house when it comes to remodeling - and a kitchen remodel is often cost-effective.

"Kitchens are always at the top of the list for return for the dollar," says contractor Bruce Merrell of Laredo Construction.

Popular projects include taking down walls or partial walls to open up living space, and replacing countertops.

"We do a lot of solid surfaces, a lot of granite," Merrell says.

Merrel also notes that, "updating the appliances is huge."

Modern, energy-efficient appliances save money and make cooking more pleasant. They're also often more attractive.

Improved lighting, particularly task-lighting, is also a high-benefit project.

According to Remodeling Magazine, homeowners can recoup 90 percent of the cost of a minor kitchen remodel in increased home value.

Decks

In the Pacific Northwest, a deck addition is perhaps the most cost-effective remodeling project available. Homeowners can recoup 96 percent of the cost of a wood deck addition.

According to Bob Walker of Cascade Carpentry, "cedar is still the best bang for the buck." Some folks shy away from wood because of the maintenance requirements. Walker says maintenance is not such a big deal if you stay on top of it - and do it right. Educate yourself to avoid damaging your deck through improper maintenance or neglect.

"People screw up decks all the time by cleaning them the wrong way, or they think they don't need to clean them at all," he says.

For all the home-value benefits and return on investment, the main reason to build a deck is to enjoy it while you can.

"We have a short season here for living outdoors," says Merrell. "You want to be out there soaking it up."

A deck project can include installing a hot tub and privacy fencing and planter boxes to turn the deck into a garden spot.

General Room Remodel

Relatively minor and low-cost projects can do a lot to enhance the feel of your home.

Some thoughtful planning and budgeting can yield good results without flattening your wallet.

"You don't just blast in there and throw money and materials at it and hope it's going to come out," Walker says. "That's the wrong approach."

Simple things like trim, a chair rail, wainscoting, all can have a major effect on the feel of a room. Walker advises putting careful thought into theme and color to create the feel you want, sometimes with small, discrete changes.

Turn your existing house into the home you truly want with a remodeling project. You can do things one project at a time or all at once, go big or go small, and figure out how to keep it all within your means. Your home's value will be enhanced along with your enjoyment.