Want to Boost Your Property Value? These 6 Home Improvements Can Help

Are you thinking of selling your home in the Newtown and Yardley area? If you are planning to sell and want to find ways to raise property value before you put your house on the market, you may be dreading the process of getting everything back in tip-top shape to impress potential buyers. That is especially true if you’re not very familiar with home improvements and don't have the tools or equipment you need, let alone any clue about where to start.

Whether you are gearing up to sell your house, or you have no intention of moving and just want to keep your home looking and functioning at its very best, there are some Newtown home improvements that will go a long way towards boosting your property value. The best way to increase your property's appeal, inside and outside, is with hassle-free Newtown home improvements from a skilled local handyman.

Homeowners in Newtown can always count on expert workmanship and courteous customer service from our team of Newtown handyman professionals at Mr. Handyman of Newtown and Yardley. Our technicians have decades of experience in repair and home improvement trades, and our happy customers tend to request them by name once they see our quality of service and professionalism for themselves.

1. Exterior Door Repair or Replacement

Your exterior doors, especially your front door, are the first point of contact for anyone who is visiting your property, so they have a big impact on visitors' impressions of your home — and that impression will be decidedly negative if your door is in rough shape. You don't want to start out on the wrong foot with prospective buyers, or guests for that matter, so it is important to make sure your exterior doors are looking their best.

Appearances are important when it comes to Newtown home improvements, but they aren't everything. An exterior door in good condition will help prevent energy loss and keep out unwelcome intruders, from people to pests such as insects. So, if your door is in great condition, it will signal that your house is secure and energy efficient.

Your local handyman can take care of repairs for your exterior doors, such as:

• Peeling, flaking paint or wood stain

• Rust and other signs of corrosion

• Loose door hinges

• Squeaky hinges

• Holes or rips in mesh on a storm door or screen door

• Deteriorated or missing weather stripping

• Rotting wood on door or jamb

• Your door is difficult to open and close

If the damage to your door is more severe or widespread, door replacement may actually be a more cost-effective home improvement than repairs. Signs that you need our door replacement services include:

• Air drafts coming into house

• Visible light around edges of door

• Insect damage

• Glass in your door is foggy due to condensation trapped between panes

2. Drywall Repair

Drywall tends to get overlooked, and that is completely understandable. It isn't a very exciting or noticeable building material, so it rarely crosses homeowners' minds. But problems such as cracks, holes, water stains, and even just smaller cosmetic issues such as scuffs can set off warning alarms for a Newtown home buyer that could cause them to cross your property off their list of considerations. That is why drywall repair is one of the most critical home improvements for increasing the value of your home.

Damaged drywall can be an indication of hidden problems and a serious need for home improvements, such as water damage or even structural stability issues. It increases your utility bill by allowing warm and cool air to escape inside the walls, so your HVAC system has to use more energy to get the house to your desired temperature. It can also encourage rodent and insect infestations by providing access points to the interior of the house, and decrease sound separation so you can hear every bump and whisper from the next room.

Our drywall experts will take care of every step in the repair process, including:

• Preparation to keep mess contained, such as putting down drop cloths

• Removing damaged drywall

• Hanging new panels of Sheetrock

• Taping corners and joints between panels

• Applying joint compound over top of tape

• Sanding down dried joint compound to create a smooth, even surface

• Painting wall so the repair is invisible

• Cleaning up after ourselves

• Rehanging curtains and framed photos for the finishing touches

What Caused the Drywall Damage?

With certain types of damage, like a hole in the wall caused by an overenthusiastic amateur karate move, it is glaringly obvious what caused the problem. But in other situations, the source of the damage is a big mystery. It may be something less blatant, like steam from the shower in a poorly ventilated bathroom condensing on the walls and seeping into drywall, causing it to soften and become stained. If you are not sure what caused the problem in the first place, we will track the damage back to its source and get that repaired as well, so you don't have to worry about needing another service appointment for the same Newtown home improvements.

3. Siding Repair

Damaged siding is another red flag to home buyers who are looking at your property. It lowers curb appeal, but damage such as holes, cracks, and missing pieces of siding can also let moisture into the interior of your walls. If you’re planning to sell, you’ll definitely want these home improvements, but you should also consider getting them even if you’re not.

When water festers inside the wall, it encourages the growth of mold or mildew, which can pose a hazard to the health of you and your family, and can cause issues such as wood rot that threaten the stability of the structure. The damage also lets in air drafts that change the temperature in your home, so your HVAC system has to operate for longer to heat or cool your house, and damage also gives rats, mice, cockroaches, termites, carpenter ants, and other destructive, unsanitary pests a way to infest the property.

Siding is constantly exposed to the elements — in fact, it is your home's first line of defense against everything from harsh weather to wildlife damage. It is meant to withstand a lot, but it doesn't last forever without maintenance and repairs. That’s why siding repair is also one of the more essential Newtown home improvements.

Here are some of the warning signs that indicate you need siding repair:

• Increased charges on your energy bill

• Holes, cracks, and gaps

• Missing sections of cladding

• Rotten patches on wood siding

• Rusty, corroded patches

• Warping and bulging

• Faded colors

• Interior moisture damage

Are Soffits & Fascia Boards Part of Siding?

They generally fall into the same category as siding, and our Newtown home improvement services also include soffit and fascia repairs. Fascia is the board that runs along the edge of your roof eaves, parallel to the exterior wall, and it is usually where rain gutters are attached. Soffits are the boards that cover the underside of the roof eaves — they are what you see if you stand next to an exterior wall and look straight up — and they are ventilated with holes or slats to allow excess heat and humidity to vent out of the attic or roof crawl space.

4. Cabinet Repair or Replacement

Kitchens are one of the most common targets for home improvements. It is the most utilitarian room with a very important purpose, but it is also a family gathering place and the figurative heart of many Newtown homes. When potential new homeowners are looking at a house for sale, an attractive, highly functional kitchen is almost always high up on their list.

Kitchen remodeling services are definitely one of the key Newtown home improvements for increasing property value, but you don't necessarily need to do a full-blown kitchen remodel to make a difference in how prospective buyers feel about your house. Cabinets take up a huge amount of physical and visual space in a kitchen, and they are, of course, very important to keep all the many items that are needed in a kitchen tucked out of the way. Expert installation of new cabinets or repairing damaged and outdated components will make a surprisingly dramatic difference to the look of the whole room.

Replacement involves removing the entire structure of the cabinet and installing a brand-new one in its place. Replacement is a good option for cabinets that have suffered a significant amount of damage, or in situations where you want to change the positioning and layout of the cabinetry. If your cabinet boxes are still in good condition and you are happy with their location, but they could use some sprucing up, replacing just the cabinet doors and drawer fronts may be the perfect option to get an entirely new look while saving some money. Switching out the door handles and drawer pulls can also make quite a difference for such a small change.

5. Tile Installation

You probably already have tile in your home, but whether it is a brand-new installation or a replacement for old tile that has seen better days, tile installation should be on your Newtown home improvements list. Just like with the kitchen, you don't necessarily need an entire bathroom remodeling project to brighten up a bathroom and make it feel fresh — in some houses, new tile is pretty much all you need for a beautiful bathroom.

Tile comes in a huge variety of colors, materials, shapes, sizes, patterns, and styles, so the sheer number of choices can feel overwhelming at first. But if you are preparing to sell your house, it makes sense to choose a classic, neutral look for home improvements that will allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there.

All-white bathrooms are increasingly popular for their crisp, clean, modern aesthetic, but other neutral tones such as beige work for neutral home improvements too. If it feels too bland for your taste, remember you can spice it up with textiles and decor that offer a pop of color. Need more info about choosing the right tile? Check out our FAQ on planning tile installation and repair.

6. Deck & Porch Repair

The backyard deck and front porch are not typically included in square footage calculations when a property goes on the market, but that doesn't mean your outdoor living space isn't important. You should still think about those areas when it comes to Newtown home improvements.

A house with a deck or a porch — or both — feels more finished, and that is something the majority of buyers in Newtown are looking for. But your deck or porch is only an asset if it is in great condition. Problems such as rotting deck boards and popping nails are unsightly, and they are also hazardous.

The signs that indicate you need deck repair services to increase property value and boost curb appeal include:

• Rotten, decaying deck boards

• Weathered, splintery wood

• Water pooling around deck footings or posts

• Wobbly railings

• Creaky or bowed steps

• Insect infestations

Why Are Decks Vulnerable to Wood Rot?

Wood rot is a form of decay caused by wood-eating fungi. The fungi thrive in timber with a moisture content of 20% or higher, and wooden decks or porches are constantly being soaked by rain and snow melt. With proper care and maintenance — and plenty of water-resistant sealant, a wood deck in Newtown can stay dry enough to avoid wood rot fungi, but as it suffers wear and tear over time it will eventually deteriorate and need wood rot repair.

Call Mr. Handyman of Newtown and Yardley for Expert Home Improvements That Can Raise Your Property Value

Whether you are in Newtown, Yardley, Southampton, or a nearby community, you can trust the team at Mr. Handyman of Newtown and Yardley to take care of your current home improvement needs by providing the highest standard of workmanship and customer care.

Pick up the phone and call our friendly office staff to schedule a convenient appointment for Newtown home improvements, or to find out more about our wide range of reliable handyman services.