What One Home Improvement Gives You The Greatest ROI?

Homeowners may be surprised by how much they can increase their home’s value if siding contractors install fiber cement siding on their homes rather than vinyl. The pros and cons of vinyl and fiber cement are compared in this eye-opening article.

Remodeling magazine has been rating the most popular and costly home improvements consumers undertake for over a decade now, comparing the Return On Investment, or ROI, that most homeowners will get when they eventually sell the house they’ve remodeled. There is a consistent pattern within their results that has become a trend. When comparing the ROI of exterior upgrades, fiber cement consistently wins the day.

Understanding ROI

To better understand why the magazine rated fiber cement as better than vinyl siding, you need to understand what ROI is. The return on an investment takes into account not only the initial cost, but the labor involved as well any incidental expenses. It then compares that initial outlay against the actual added value of the home, usually determined by the list price or sales price of the home in the local market. While you may pay less for vinyl, you’ll also get less out of the home than if siding contractors had installed fiber cement siding instead. The somewhat higher up-front cost of installation more than pays for itself in the long run.

How Does It Stack Up Against Other Home Improvements?

The magazine also compared fiber cement siding to several other popular home improvements to see how each fare. Perhaps most surprising was the conclusion that adding an additional bathroom didn’t give you as good a return. In fact, your return could be up to 25% better. Other startling results concluded that you wouldn’t get as good an ROI with either roofing or windows despite the popularity of installing newer, more energy efficient windows and modern roofing materials.

Why Is The ROI Better With Fiber Cement Siding?

There were several advantages that made fiber cement a definite leader over vinyl despite its higher initial cost and the need to having professional siding contractors who are factory trained to install it, including:

• Newer technology. You can’t compare the same color-fastness, durability and maintenance-free beauty with any other product.
• The durability of fiber cement is legendary. Some companies offer warranties up to fifty years for the installation and up to fifteen years for the color. You won’t find that with any other exterior upgrade.
• Better insulation means lower fuel bills. When homeowners are selling their house, showing potential buyers just how low the heating and air conditioning costs are can close the deal.
• Easier care. Today’s homeowners are incredibly busy with careers, families, friends and commitments to others. They simply don’t have time to paint a wood sided house, but they won’t tolerate the faded looks of vinyl that quickly fades over time due to exposure to ultraviolet light.
• Many of today’s upscale homeowners’ associations specifically state that homes won’t allow vinyl siding on any homes.

There is no more accurate gauge of the true value of a home improvement project than its Return On Investment. Talk to a real estate agent or siding contractor in your area to learn more. You may be surprised by how enthusiastic they are about fiber cement siding.