About Global Home Improvement

Does it make sense to invest in home improvements in Philadelphia during a tough economy and a slow housing market? This is the question on the minds of many Philadelphia homeowners as spring approaches and thoughts turn to home maintenance, home repair and market value.

Your home is likely the single biggest investment you will make in your lifetime. Based on this fact alone, it makes sense to preserve that investment by maintaining your property. Ignoring needed repairs simply leads to costlier repairs, not to mention a decrease over time in home value.

Why Home Improvement Matters
There are more than one million people in Philadelphia alone. The home ownership rate as of 2000 was 59.3%. With so many homeowners, home remodeling projects in Philadelphia routinely take place. Unfortunately, many home repairs remain undone, especially with homeowner budgets stretched thin. Add in a shaky housing market, and spending money on home repairs in Philadelphia seems even more risky.

However, here is one fact you may not be aware of: Despite gloomy media reports about the current Philadelphia housing market, homes are still being bought and sold. On the other side of the housing market coin, homeowners who plan to stay in their homes for several years still want to live comfortably and enjoy their surroundings. Regardless of whether you plan to sell or stay in your home, there is nothing like a leaky roof or drafty windows to put a quick end to your personal comfort or your home’s resale value. For these reasons alone, home improvement in Philadelphia should be a top priority for every homeowner.

But what evidence suggests that replacing doors, windows, siding and roofing makes sense? Can you really recoup your costs, and what home improvement projects are most important?

Nothing tells the full story like statistics. Knowing that your investment in a new roof, windows, siding or doors will reap future rewards can be all the motivation homeowners need to get going. These useful statistics are based on predicted averages for the 2008-2009 Philadelphia home remodeling season:

Window replacement continues to rank well in terms of resale value and costs recovered. The Efficient Windows Collaborative reports a 39% increase in heating bills for a 2,000-square-foot home with high-performance, energy-efficient windows as compared to single-pane, aluminum windows. Out of the 4,000 advertising headings the Yellow Pages sees each year, the word "Windows" ranks 85th and generates 26 million references each year. October seems to be the most popular month for homeowners to consider replacing windows, no doubt in response to upcoming chilly winters.

Overall, remodeling is on the upswing for 2009, as homeowners follow the adage, "Don’t move. Improve!" But the homeowner’s dream of a backyard water park or adding a 5th bedroom may not be the improvements potential buyers are interested in. Before you decide to do any remodeling, determine whether you plan to stay in the home for many years or plan to sell in the near future. If you believe you will never leave your home, go ahead and paint the living room fuschia. But if there is a possibility you may sell your home in the next five years, put your hard-earned money into improvements home buyers will notice and appreciate. Energy-efficient windows, doors, siding and roofing- particularly since these improvements are more costly than a coat of paint- can help your home stand out among others in your neighborhood and can get your home sold more quickly.

In the Philadelphia area, Global Home Improvement has assisted thousands of homeowners with energy-efficient, budget-friendly home improvements that really make a difference. Please visit our website to learn how we can help you.