1. Starting a low-cost project.
If you build a standard pressure-treated porch for around $35,000, you’re likely to see close to that 75% figure, but if you invest in a high-end model with fancier materials and features at the same size for $50,000, then you may see an ROI of 50% or even lower.
2. Think about what size you want first.
What matters most is the total new useable outdoor space you’re adding to the home, not the total finished look. When deciding between making a larger porch or picking a fancier finishing, in most cases, the extra space is a better investment than the special feature.
3. Choose your location carefully.
If you live in an area where screened-in porches are typical and can be enjoyed several times of the year, then adding one to a home that doesn’t have one can be a great investment. But if you live in an area with year-round cold weather, where you’re unlikely to get much use of the porch, it’s probably not right for you.
4. Skip electrical.
If your goal is to get the maximum return on investment for the project, then features like recessed lights, low voltage lighting, and wall lamp lighting will just drive up the cost of your porch but not the resale value of your home.
5. Choose from pressure-treated wood.
High-end materials can help you get the most out of your porch over the next 20 to 30 years, reducing maintenance and extending the life of the porch. But if you plan to sell soon, you’ll simply be paying to benefit the next homeowner, who will have fewer maintenance costs. Pressure-treated wood projects can be just as useful and just as beautiful, and you’ll save money.
6. Think about the concerns in Delaware, and Maryland Area.
In the Delaware, and Maryland area, one of the most popular reasons that people want a screened-in porch over an open deck is protected from bugs. Flies and Mosquito’s can be really bad with the farms around here. If that’s the case in your area, you want to ensure that your porch is bug-free. For instance, you want to ensure your screen is too small for bugs to enter and that the floorboards are also protected from letting critters in. The best way to determine what people are looking for in a porch for your area is to ask a local real estate agent or your contractor.
7. Don’t worry about the view.
If you have a beautiful backyard or live near a lake, forest, or another amazing view, you may be concerned with how the screen itself will affect your enjoyment of the scenery – and also the value of your home. New screen porch screens are nearly invisible, so you’ll still be able to see the outdoors just the same. But now you will be able to sit outside and enjoy the sunrise, sunset, and watching your kids play in the outdoors. And that can actually increase the value of that beautiful view as also.
A screened-in porch is a good bet as a homeowner, but so are most other outdoor remodeling projects that add usable space for your home, such as a deck or a porch that’s not screened in. Screened-in porches are good for areas where bugs, privacy, and rainy weather are concerns. Think carefully about your own needs and what type of outdoor project will give you the most use out of your backyard throughout the year.
Other Articles you might be interested in:
- 10 Tips for building a new home
- 10 Things You Should Consider Before Remodeling Your Bathroom.
- Screened-in porches require careful planning.
