Published: May 15, 2008 EST
(ARA) - The persistent rise in home prices over the past decade has given a substantial boost to homeowners' equity. You'd think a lot of people would be cashing out and moving to bigger, more expensive homes; but according to a study done by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, that is not the case.
People like their neighborhoods, their neighbors and the schools their children are going to; so rather than spending that money on a move, many Americans are taking out home equity loans and using the money for renovations.
Among the most popular updates, remodeling the kitchen, bathroom, master suite or basement; adding a bathroom, family room or second story; and replacing windows, roofs and siding. All these projects have tremendous return on investment. Not only do they make the home more comfortable for the current owners, when it comes time to sell, they increase the resale value.
Increasing property value wasn't the main motivation when Richard and Faith Krueger of Moorhead, Minn., decided to replace their siding. They just wanted their house to look good. They started looking into low-maintenance options and decided to call the company that had replaced their overhang a few years back. ABC Seamless, just as the name implies, specializes in seamless siding.
"The process was really magical," says Faith. "First the workmen covered our old siding with insulation, then we watched as they unrolled a huge sheet of steel and cut it to fit our house. It was almost like watching a big present get wrapped."
"The Kruegers really are getting a present. One of the biggest benefits offered by our product is its longevity," says ABC Seamless spokesman Scott Seiler. "The fact that there are no seams eliminates the cracks where moisture, dirt and bugs can get in. Plus there's virtually no maintenance. The siding never has to be painted or stained; and the color looks great year after year."
How do you know if seamless siding is right for you? For more information, log on to www.abcseamless.com.
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