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Home & Garden Renovation Guide
A Few Key Upgrades That Can Really Pay Off
Although the housing market is in a unique position with alltime low mortgage rates and rising home prices , Pittsburgh is considered one of the most affordable U . S . metro areas to buy a home , according to the National Association of Home Builders / Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index . In addition , millennials , falling in the prime first-time homebuying age of early 20s to late 30s , are now the largest generation in America and eager to take advantage of the low mortgage rates . If you ’ re looking to sell your house now or in the not-too-distant future , you might want to check out the following generational roadmap of four upgrades experts say are worth it to help attract potential buyers .
Cross-generational : a new steel door . The only thing that beat it on Remodeling magazine ’ s annual Cost vs . Value Report was loose-fill attic insulation , but this project — with a 90.7 percent return on investment — speaks directly to the report ’ s main takeaway : “ Curb appeal projects , by and large , generated higher returns on investment than work done inside the home .” Plus , as far as millennials go , while their ideal interiors may differ from older generations — for example , they prefer open floor plans and hardwood floors — Architectural Digest says they ’ re still into “ traditional ” exteriors .
Millennials : Smart-home tech . Yes , there are boomers and Gen X-ers who are super tech-savvy , but millennials especially crave homes that allow them to control their heating , air-conditioning , home security , and lighting systems from their phones . They want to use their brains for other things , not for remembering whether they adjusted the heat or closed the garage door .
Cross-generational : A new roof . It ’ s the ultimate curb appeal enhancer , and buyers pay a premium for one already in place . So , if the first thing prospects notice — even before exiting their cars — looks like something out of the movie “ Twister ,” you ’ ve got a problem .
Millennials : All-new appliances . Realtors will tell you that major kitchen ( and bath ) upgrades aren ’ t generally worth their high costs , in terms of return on investment , since prospective buyers ’ tastes can clash with yours . However , millennials love , love , love all-new stainless steel appliances . So much so that what RealtyTimes . com called “ an astonishing majority of 75 percent ” of survey respondents chose to spend their hypothetical home buying budgets on them .
Do-It-Yourself Landscaping That Doesn ’ t Look Like It
If you ’ ve ever attempted to transform your backyard into a beautifully designed paradise , then you have probably planted , trimmed and dug your way into a few minor frustrations along the way . While good landscaping can vary by degrees including budget , skills and climate , there are a few easy things you can do in order to be proud of your landscaping without paying an expert .
The following tips will guide you on the right path to do-ityourself landscaping :
• Always layer your planting beds . Layering in three rows , begin with your tallest plants in the back row , next tallest in the middle and shortest plants in the front . And don ’ t just plant one bed — put another elsewhere in your yard to help provide a sense of harmony .
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