Health & Fitness
Top 5 Home Improvement Trends in 2011
Landscaping, going green, and more--what are the top concerns in the home improvement area this year?
Whether you’re a home seller trying to spruce up your home so it’s in top selling shape, or a homeowner checking off the projects on your list toward transforming your home into your dream house, there’s a good chance that you’re involved in home improvement projects involving the following trends:
1. Landscaping. According to this article, citing research released earlier this summer by consumer and media research group Scarborough Research, landscaping is the number one most popular home improvement project among American homeowners this year.
2. Going Green. I’ve written about this before, but tax credits, money-saving potential, and saving the environment are all motivating American home owners to incorporate eco-friendly options into their home improvement projects this year. Many sellers also see the potential to increase the value of their home and appeal to buyers. US News Money has a great article about green home improvement trends in 2011. An excerpt: “The National Association of Realtors’ 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that nearly 90 percent of buyers considered heating and cooling bills important, and more than 70 percent wanted high-efficiency appliances.”
Find out what's happening in Northvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
3. Forbes Magazine’s 2010-2011 list of best home improvements for cost vs. value puts a steel entry door replacement and a mid-range garage door replacement at the top of the list of best home improvements you can make to your home. The list focuses on improvements that ‘pay for themselves’ and increase a home’s value for buyers. The article notes that overall, exterior improvements have the best ROI.
4. Apps. In 2011, there’s an app for everything. Foxnews.com’s list of top home improvement apps includes a ruler app, the iHandy Carpenter app that has a digital level, protractor and plumb bob, and the Handyman DIY, which helps with the initial planning and measuring stages of any home improvement project.
Find out what's happening in Northvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
5. Practical Improvements. While you may be dreaming of granite countertops or bamboo flooring, the truth is that any money you’re able to spend on improving your home should be spent on the basics first: heating and cooling, roofing, plumbing, and any structural problems that need to be resolved. If you’re trying to sell your home, you don’t buyers to pass up your home because of something as simple as a leaky roof or inconsistent furnace.
