house& home | May 2012 | house and home on l ine . com18

Turn taxes into a good thing by using your refund totackle at least one project this year. According tothe IRS, the average American family receives a taxrefund of $3,000. Those bucks can take a lot of thebite out of home improvement projects you’ve beenputting off.

Anthony Rodio, CEO of the contractor referral websiteRedbeacon.com, shares his expert observations of what’s doable andwhat’s worth it when it comes to projects for homeowners.

1. Replace your windowsRodio’s top recommendation is replacing windows—even if it’s just afew of them. “Get rid of your drafty windows and stop losing cooledair,” says Rodio. “An average-sized window replacement runs about$300 per window—so this project will take up most, if not all, ofyour tax return. The good news is that you’ll see the ROI not only inthe ‘saleability’ of your home, but also in monthly energy savings.”

2. Paint“Spring’s mild temperatures are great for exterior paint projects, andthe weather makes indoor painting easier to ventilate through openwindows,” says Rodio. “The size of your home will dictate howexpensive this project is, but budget between $1,500 and $3,000 forfull painting and priming.”

3. Landscape“Now that spring’s here and summer is on the horizon, it’s time topay attention to your lawn and yard,” he says. “You can easily

Smart ways to invest in your home

From Refundto Remodel

Replacing windows improves your home’s appearance and energy efficiency. Photo courtesy of Andersen.

Replacing outdated kitchen or foyer flooring with hardwoods, such as this Armstrong Century Farm hand-sculpted wood floor, improves the beauty and durability of high-traffic areas.Photo courtesy of Armstrong. Available at Roberts Carpet & Fine Floors.

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house& home | May 2012 | house and home on l ine . com20

spend some or all of your tax return on things like planting flowers,nursing your lawn back to health or hiring a landscaper to give yourfront yard a makeover. The biggest reward on maintaining your out-door property is that you’ll want to spend more time outside.”

4. Get a tankless water heater“A tankless water heater can cut your water-heating energy by nearlyhalf, and that means a lot since 30 percent of your energy bill is forheating water,” says Rodio. “Tankless water heaters will cost more,but they’re more energy efficient and can save you money in the longrun.”

5. Replace outdated flooring“Most people walk into your home and immediately look down, sofloors make a huge impression,” says Rodio. “My wife says ‘you livein your home every day, so make it easy for you.’ When you replacethe floors in your foyer or kitchen you can enjoy your home a lotmore. That makes a big difference in how your home looks and feels.Hard surfaces, such as tile and wood provide durable beauty.”

6. Update the bathroom “At my house, with my kids, most of the house is like a team sportszone, but the bathroom is your private sanctuary,” says Rodio. “Anew shower head or vanity can dramatically improve your enjoymentof this space. When you do your own demolition you can save a lotof money on bathroom projects, which add durable value to yourhome and you get to enjoy it every day.”

7. Replace your siding “Siding often covers as little as one third of your home’s exterior,” hesays. “When you replace siding on just the front façade it makes itfeel like a new house. The cost to purchase your own vinyl siding isabout $1 per square foot, so if you’re pretty handy and have sometime this project can be very affordable.”

8. Replace front door “A front door upgrade makes a big impression, especially glassdoors,” says Rodio. “This is a long-term investment that, given thelatest materials, yields lasting beauty, energy efficiency and security.”

9. Add a deck“Much like landscaping, adding a deck brings you outdoors more soyou can relieve stress and get your vitamin D,” he says. “It also addsoutdoor living space—that dramatically increases the appeal and sat-isfaction factor for the homeowner.”

10. Repair your gutters and roofing “Protect your home from water damage by repairing roof leaks andcorrecting drainage of your gutters and downspouts,” says Rodio. “Besure to look at the wash-out points of downspouts. The water shouldflow away from your foundation; if it doesn’t that’s an easy fix that isgood preventive care for your home.” Adding rain barrels at down-spouts save your foundation as well and provide free water duringdry spells.

Replacing your front door, repainting your home or upgrading your landscape provide dramatic improvements at a reasonable cost.

Photos courtesy of Benjamin Moore.

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