Selling a home inevitably means making some upgrades and doing some upkeep before you put the property on the market. Seeking the best possible price for your home means that you need to be sure that it looks its best before you list it for sale. The exterior of your home is the first thing that potential buyers will see when they walk up to take a look at the property. Having fresh new siding on the home that you have for sale can help improve curb appeal and make people eager to buy your home.
When it comes time to replace the siding on your home that you need to sell, you will of course want to save as much money as possible. You might also be unclear about the ROI related to this upgrade and wonder if it is worth your time and energy. Let’s talk about how to plan for the cost of new siding, how to calculate your square footage properly, and what the ROI will be for your efforts.
Figuring Out Square Footage
Homeowners often wonder how to figure square feet for siding. If you are not in the business of putting siding on homes, you have probably never needed to do the math on how much siding you will need to properly complete a re-siding project. There are some simple calculations that you need to have in mind as you are looking at the process of ordering siding for your home.
The wall area = width x height. This means that all of the elevations of your home need to be calculated to get the final total. You will also need to deduct from this total for the measurements of windows, doors, and other parts of your home that don’t need siding placed on or over them.
The other piece of the puzzle is ordering enough extra siding that you have some leeway if someone cuts some pieces to the incorrect length or if there are issues with the quality of some of the siding boards that arrive for the project. Be sure that you calculate at least 5-10% waste on top of your calculations for the total surface area of the home that needs new siding.
If your siding contractor is very experienced, they are much less likely to create waste or have to cut boards more than once. If you are re-siding your home all by yourself and have never done this kind of work before, you should err on the side of added overage just in case.
The Cost of New Siding
This is actually a really simple calculation to make. You just need to take the total surface area that you figured out when measuring your home, plus the overage percentage that you want to add to the order, and then multiply it by the cost per square foot of the siding you have chosen.
Keep in mind that there might be added fees for your siding that extend beyond the cost of the baseline purchase. If you cannot pick up your siding yourself, someone will need to deliver it. You might also need to add cost considerations to have waste removal taken care of when the job is complete. No matter how efficient your installation team is, there will be waste and if you are replacing the siding on an existing home, all of the removed siding will need to be taken away to be disposed of.
The baseline cost of your siding project will be the cost of the new siding itself, but there are various other fees and costs that might impact your total cost for the project from start to completion.
What is the ROI of New Siding?
So now to the biggest question associated with this entire project. You want to know how much return you will see on this investment, particularly if you are selling your home and want to maximize the money that you get back for your efforts.
Different kinds of siding are associated with high ROI. If you are using top-quality fiber-cement or even manufactured stone veneer, you might see an ROI of as much as 150%. There are many variables that impact ROI, but any realtor will tell you that replacing aging siding is a sure way to help sell your home faster and for a better price.
No one wants to buy a home that hasn’t been cared for properly. Even if the interior of your home looks great, if the exterior doesn’t meet expectations, people will be far less likely to hurry to buy your property or to offer full price. Ultimately, seeking as much or more than your stated sales price is the goal of investing in your property before you list it for sale, and new siding can help you meet that goal with ease.
Investing in New Siding Can Be Well Worth the Effort and Cost When You Are Selling a Home
New siding can be a great investment, and you can easily figure out the costs associated with having this upgrade done to your home. Knowing what your total cost for the project will be can allow you to calculate your ROI and the asking price for your property. Using the tips in this guide will ensure that you order enough material to cover your home entirely and that you don’t forget about calculating for overages.
Selling a home can be a stressful and time-consuming experience, but you can help ensure that you have no trouble selling your property by investing in the exterior of your home. New siding can reassure potential buyers that your home is in great condition, is well cared for, and is the perfect place for them to move to. You will be much more likely to get the full asking price for your listing if you are able to improve the curb appeal of your home so that it speaks for itself when potential buyers walk up to take a look.
