If you’re thinking that selling your home may be in your future you’ve probably started going over everything with a fine-toothed comb, right? You’ve started thinking about what things you need to do to sell, which ones you can skip, and which ones are going to increase your resale value. Which is where you may be wondering ‘does a new garage door increase home value?’
The short answer is that it absolutely can increase your home value. But there’s more that you should know than just this basic answer.
What You Need to Know About Your Garage Door
If your current garage door is functional you may be wondering if it’s even worth it to replace. After all, the buyers are just going to want something that works, right?
The truth is, they may want something a little better than that. And while we’re currently in a pretty good seller’s market, that doesn’t mean you should skimp out on some of the more cosmetic things that might be less than stellar about your home.
If your old garage door is really old or doesn’t function all that well, or if it’s completely broken, it’s probably a good idea to replace it. After all, functional but old is one thing. But not functional is definitely something else.
No one wants a broken appliance in their home, right?
So, take a close look at the garage door on your house. Then, open and close it a few times. Does it open and close smoothly? Does it easily stay on the track? Is it easy to open and close? Does it look okay when it’s open or closed (meaning no cracks, bends, etc.)?
If you can answer yes to all of those questions you may be able to get away with just cleaning it up and selling your house as-is. But … you should still think about the options.
How Does a new Garage Door Increase My Home’s Resale Value?
Are you ready for this? A new garage door could give you an ROI of 102.7% according to a report by Remodeling National.
What does that mean in numbers? Let’s break it down.
What this means is that for every dollar that you spend on a new garage door you get approximately $1.02 cents back. It may not sound like a lot, but when you’re talking about a rather large and sometimes expensive purchase, that money can definitely add up.
Not to mention having a new garage door can increase the curb appeal of your home, which means you’re more likely to get an offer. And you’re more likely to get a higher offer. So you’re going to get a whole lot of benefit for your effort.
As a comparison, two of the most common upgrades that are made to homes when someone is looking to sell are kitchens and roofs. How much ROI can you expect from those? According to reports approximately 85.7% and 61.1% respectively.
That’s definitely not a good way to spend your money.
What About an Insulated Door?
There are some different factors to consider when you’re looking to replace your garage door. For one thing, you want to make sure that you’re not just putting in the cheapest option you can find. You want something that is high quality and built to last.
An insulated door, especially if the one you currently have isn’t insulated, can be a great investment. And it can help you get top dollar for your ROI.
That’s not to say that insulated doors are going to get you paid more. But they are going to be a modern option that people are going to like, even if they’re only looking at the aesthetics of the option. You’ll also be increasing the energy efficiency of your home, which is definitely going to be a benefit as well.
While you’re still waiting to sell your house (no matter how long that may be) you’re going to be reaping the benefits of that new insulated door as well. You will be the one getting those lowered energy bills, and who doesn’t love saving money?
Keep in mind that insulated garage doors aren’t a necessity when you’re asking will a new garage door increase home value, but it does mean you’re getting something new and high quality, and that’s what gets you the better ROI.
Why You Need to Jump In
Even knowing that the ROI is pretty good on new garage doors you might still be debating your options and thinking about leaving your current garage door alone. After all, maybe you’re thinking about staying in your house for a while longer. Maybe you’re not sure it’s going to sell right away or you’re waiting to list for a little while. But that’s definitely not what you want to do. That new garage door is going to be worth it to you as well as to your potential buyer.
That’s because a new garage door gives you a whole lot, both when you’re planning on selling immediately, and when you’re planning on sticking it out for a while to come. Some of those benefits include:
- Better security
- Lower maintenance needs/costs
- Brand new warranty
- Better aesthetic
If all that sounds pretty good to you, it definitely should. Overall, that new garage door is going to make your house look great, feel great, function great, and be worth more, all while costing you less to operate. So why wouldn’t you want to go for it?
If you’re looking to sell your home then there’s going to be a lot that you’re thinking about and focusing on. But that new garage door should definitely be one of them. So don’t hesitate. Take a good, hard look at your current garage door and then start looking around for the garage door that’s going to improve your home in a multitude of ways.