We all have a “to do” list when it comes to home renovation projects. The key to investing in your home is doing it wisely, making sure you recoup at least some of the cost upon the sale of your home. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Remodeling Magazine recently released their 2012 Remodeling Cost Vs. Value Report, and the findings show you don’t have to spend a ton of money to add to your home’s resale value.

Exterior renovations dominated the list of cost-effective projects. This year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report shows the value of putting your home’s best facade forward. Exterior replacement projects are not only crucial to a home’s regular upkeep, but are also expected to recoup close to 70 percent of costs.

If you want to recoup about 78% of your investment, high quality siding is the way to go. Siding replacement is already part of long-term home maintenance, so go for the good stuff and reap the rewards upon the sale of your home.

Replacing your current entry door with a strong steel door pays for itself in more than one way. You see more than 70 percent of your cost returned, and you will know you and your family are safer than you would be with a flimsy wooden exterior door.

Next up, replace your garage door. You can expect a good return when you replace your old garage door with an upscale or mid-range model. Also, you can’t ignore your old, leaky windows forever. As with many of the projects on this list, window replacement is part of long-term home maintenance for many people. By replacing your old windows with newer vinyl models, you’ll recoup some of your cost and save yourself money on utility bills over time.

Lastly, local realtors say, nothing turns a buyers off more than an old, falling apart, asphalt roof. More and more homeowners are making the switch to a metal roof because they last three times as long, and they are energy efficient. Erie Construction, of Evansville, Indiana is a leader in the industry and can show you why many homeowners are reaping the rewards of metal.

So we all know that our current housing market is definitely a buyers market. But the big question is: Do buyers want fixer uppers or homes that are move in ready? Local realtors say, the majority want homes that will require light cosmetic repairs. Buyers who gravitate toward fixers are those who either don’t qualify to buy a more expensive home or those who want to make a profit by fixing the home themselves. Most fixer buyers are willing to do simple repairs such as paint the walls, put in new carpeting or replace light fixtures. They typically don’t want to rebuild a foundation or move walls, or deal with residential roofing problems. This means that sellers need to make sure their roofs will not only pass inspection but that they are solidly constructed and newer, rather than older. Realtors say, buyers also love it when they look at a home with a metal roof because they know it means they won’t have to mess with it. Erie Construction of Evansville, Indiana has been helping homeowners make the switch from asphalt to metal for years, and would love to show you all the pros of metal.

If you have an old roof that needs repairs, keep in mind that fixer-upper buyers will discount the price of the home to allow for the repairs and, for the inconvenience, a bit more. Say, a home is worth $100,000 fixed up, but it needs a new roof. A new roof might cost $10,000. A buyer most likely will not offer $90,000 for this home. Otherwise, they could buy an identical home with a new roof for $100,000 and not have the hassle. A buyer for this type of home might offer $75,000, or even less. In this scenario, a seller would be smarter to pay for a new roof and sell the home for $100,000.

We’ve all been there. You know, the moment your heart falls in love with the most perfect house you’ve ever seen. Of course, in your head your already rearranging the furniture and deciding which bedrooms would be perfect for your kids. Local real estate experts say, you really should try not to fall head over heels in love with a house until after the inspection. Whether you think you’ve found the perfect house, the classiest neighborhood or the friendliest neighbors, be sure to step back and look at the big picture when you’re shopping for a new home. Was there something you missed along the way because of your enthusiasm?

Real estate experts say, a lot of first-time homebuyers fall in love way too fast, and then look for reasons to fall even more in love instead of the other way around. Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few neighborhoods, don’t fall for the first bargain that sweeps you off your feet. Some people are blinded by just the value and are not stopping to consider whether or not they have the money to fix it up. Just because the price is right doesn’t mean the home is. Even if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, remodeling costs add up quickly. If the home you’ve fallen for has flaws that you can fix down the road, you can hope you’ll have enough equity in the home within a few years to take out a home-equity line of credit. Even experienced homebuyers aren’t immune from love at first sight, but they might be more aware of signs that could signal a deal breaker.

Local realtors say, the biggest problems with a home that causes the most buyers to back out are foundation issues and bad roofs. Both of these problems are costly and most homeowners do not want to deal with them right when they move in. Because asphalt roofs have such a short shelf life, more and more homeowners are choosing to invest in a metal roof. They are incredibly strong and will last four times the length of a traditional asphalt roof. Erie Construction of Evansville, Indiana is a leader in the industry and can show you why many are going metal, and not looking back!

Once you become a homeowner, your “to do” list starts. If you don’t stay up on projects your home will soon start looking worn. Not a good image, especially of you are trying to sell your house. Even if your not trying to sell, you need to act like you are. If not, your home will start to look like it hasn’t been cared for. Before the cold weather really sets in, experts say it‘s a good time to inspect your deck. Start by cleaning the surface with soapy water and a soft-bristled brush. Then check for splinters and popped nails; break off splinters, sand sharp edges, hammer nails, and tighten screws. Finally, check the structure for rotten boards, broken railings, and wobbly steps. If you discover extensive damage to the deck, consider a replacement.

Next up, how does your front door look? A fresh coat can transform your home’s facade for the cost of a quart of paint. Choose a color that’s appropriate to the architecture. Traditional homes calls for historically correct hues, say a red or black door on a white Colonial-style home. For a Federal-style brick building, earth tones, including brown and green, are the best complement, or you can pick up the neutral hue of the mortar.

Another critical area that often scares homebuyers away is a problematic roof. A leaky roof allows water to penetrate inside, where it can ruin insulation and drywall, and create opportunity for mold. On a sunny day, use binoculars to spot cracked, curled, or missing shingles, which are signs that the roof is near its end of life. Also check flashing around chimneys, skylights, and roof valleys, and the rubber boots around vets for cracks. Many homeowners are sick and tired of having roofing issues every few years so they are opting to invest in a metal roof. That’s right, metal isn’t just for commercial properties anymore! Erie Construction of Evansville, Indiana is a leader in the industry and can show you why metal is fast becoming such a popular roofing option.

What most residential homeowners want out of a roof is one that will not only last a long time, but won’t cost an arm and a leg to install. Most roofs are replaced, or at least repaired, every ten years. By carefully choosing your residential roofing material, you can help reduce the cost of replacement or push it far into the future. In the long run, you’ll use less building material, fill up less landfill space with discarded material, and put less demand on our natural resources.

You can also realize environmental benefits from your choices. For example, if you select a light-colored surface or a material that doesn’t absorb heat from the sun, you significantly reduce your home’s cooling needs. Remember, when your attic stays cooler, your cooling bills go down.

If you are looking for a long term roofing option, you should consider a metal roof. Erie Construction of Evansville  is a leader in the industry and can show you why many businesses and homeowners are ditching asphalt and going metal. For starters, metal is durable, fire retardant and almost maintenance-free. They are also energy efficient; metal reflects heat and blocks its transfer into the attic. Coatings with high reflective values to steel sheeting increase the thermal efficiency of buildings in high temperature areas. Research shows that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills!