Wednesday, October 2, 2002

Home remodeling: An investment for the future

Homeowners interested in investing in an unstable economy are looking to home remodeling as an option. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in 1995 home equity accounted for 44.4 percent of the typical household's total net worth -- far more than any other investment.

Housing has outperformed most other investments, making remodeling an even more popular choice for homeowners. Home prices have more than doubled in the last two decades. The continual gains in home value and historically low interest rates are two strong factors in homeowner's decisions to remodel.

Investing in your home may be an easy decision. Deciding where to start can be another story. Homeowners look to update the interior of their homes and improve the exterior. A great place to begin your investment is on the most maintenance intensive part of the home, the exterior.

Older homes did not have the siding options we have today. Most were painted or sided with cheap materials to keep the cost down. After years in the elements, the exterior of many homes need to be repaired or replaced. Here are some things to look for if you think your home is in need of a makeover:

1. Does the home need to be scraped and painted more often?

2. Is the current siding rotting, chipping or flaking off?

3. Is the current siding warping or fading?

4. Does the siding require more maintenance than it once did?

5. Has dirt and moisture gotten between the seams or behind the siding?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to look into a home inspection from a professional siding company. ABC Seamless, for example, offers a free home inspection to answer any questions homeowners may have about their current siding needs.

Siding companies today offer alternatives to scraping and painting. ABC Seamless has been improving home exteriors for almost 30 years. It manufactures maintenance-free seamless steel siding, which offers added insulation to make the home more energy efficient. Seamless steel siding has many advantages over other siding products. Because it is steel it has the strength to withstand significant changes in temperature. Vinyl siding, on the other hand, expands and contracts at an alarming rate. It needs to be overlapped to allow for the movement of the siding creating ugly seams. ABC Seamless steel siding is measured and cut to the exact length of the home giving it a clean, seamless look.

Like any other investment, it is important to research your product. When investing in steel siding ask for references of previous customers. A list of completed projects will help the customer decide what colors and styles they like the most. Homeowners should contact the Better Business Bureau, who can research a company and inform the homeowner if that company has received complaints and what kind they were. Last but not least, a homeowner should ask the siding professional if they carry workers compensation insurance. If not, and if there is an accident on the property, the customer's homeowner insurance policy will be responsible for the cost.

Professionally installed seamless steel siding will save time and money.

Your home will look freshly painted year-after-year, be more energy efficient and virtually maintenance-free.

For more information, visit the ABC Seamless online showroom at www.abcseamless.com.

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