Springtime is just around the corner, and for many Santa Fe homeowners that means it’s time for some good old fashioned home maintenance, repair, and upgrades. Not only will maintenance and upgrades keep your home in tip-top shape, they will also add value. The following are tips on how to increase the value of your home with maintenance and upgrades.

Bigger Projects

1) Re-stucco your home: Nearly every home in Santa Fe has a stucco exterior, and ALL stucco exteriors need routine maintenance.  Parapets need re-stuccoing often, and cracks all around the house should be repaired when needed.  For a larger project you can re-stucco your entire home. This will certainly add value to your and keep pesky leaks and drafts out.

2) Remodel your kitchen: O.K., this isn’t the easiest task, but it will increase the value of your home significantly.  It will take a bit of a budget, and it will take a bit of time, but if needed, it is well worth it. If you do enter into a kitchen renovation project upgrade as much as you can.  Home buyers don’t like to see a brand new kitchen will all new appliances, except for the beige fridge from the 1980s.

3) Remodel your bathroom(s): See kitchen (above).  Another good “bang for your buck” project.

4) Install new windows: Green is in, and even if you’re not into that, saving money is! Windows continue to get more and more efficient, saving significant amounts of energy and money in the winter and summer time.  If your budget is low, consider doing this one room at a time.

Smaller Projects

1) Landscape: It is incredible what improvements to the outdoor spaces can do for a home.  Often times just adding a few plants, a few pots, and a tree can make a huge difference.  This is a great way to add significant value and curb appeal without breaking the bank.

2) Maintain your roof and canales: At 7000 feet the sun really can take a toll on your roof. Every year clean debrit off the roof of debris and unclog canales. Repairs on both of these items should be addressed immediately as well.

3) Install a water catchment system: This can be easier than you think.  All around Santa Fe you can buy water catchment cisterns at reasonable prices.  Full blown water catchment projects require burying cisterns and installing pumps, but it is also possible to find portable ones that a hose can be hooked up to.  This is a great way to conserve water, provide irrigation, and add value.

Happy Spring!

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

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