Fall Home Trends

Fall is a time when homeowners prepare their homes for the harsh winter months ahead and exterior home improvements are at the top of their list. This fall, consumer sentiment is high, unemployment has slowed and less-than-confident homeowners are choosing to improve their current home in lieu of upgrading to a new property. These signs point toward a fruitful home remodeling season, and it’s important to understand how the seasonal transition will dictate your customers wants and needs as the weather cools.

Homeowners have become poignantly aware of the importance of energy efficiency, home weatherization and home maintenance as the cost of home ownership rises. People who wouldn’t typically give energy bills a second thought are now seeking ways to save money, especially on the East Coast where the temperature changes so drastically from summer to fall. By planning ahead, homeowners can get ahead of home maintenance to lessen energy bills and prevent costly damage due to extreme winter weather.

Throughout the fall months, we typically keep the following points in mind when guiding homeowners through the best home solutions for the season:

• Upgrade windows to stop heat loss. It’s no surprise to home experts that warm air escapes outside through convective heat loss, but most homeowners aren’t fully aware of how drastically this common problem can directly affect their heating bills. Homeowners can keep heat in and noise out this winter by replacing old, drafty windows this fall before temperatures become frigid.
• Cut down on maintenance with a new door. A customer’s front door will be hit with lots of moisture throughout the winter and spring, so the fall is a great time for them to upgrade to a better quality entry door that will stand up well to snow, sleet and rain. A high performance fiberglass door is a great choice because of its overall strength, security and energy efficiency. Homeowners can feel good about the immediate return on investment they’ll see as a new entry door returns almost 130 percent of the installed cost.
• Replace shingles and clear attic vents to prevent major damage from snow and ice. Many homeowners aren’t familiar with the winter phenomenon known as ice damming. Back-to-back winter storms coupled with intervals of freezing temperatures cause the ridges of ice that prevent melting snow from draining off a roof. Replacing or at least repairing a roof now can save a homeowner from being saddled with thousands of dollars of damage due to ice damming if the problem is left untreated.

These projects can really help customers ease into fall without worrying about their older home weathering another season of extreme temperatures and increased moisture. Focusing on home maintenance this fall will pay dividends to your customers for years to come.

Jeff Kaliner is a founding partner of Power Home Remodeling Group, the nation’s fourth largest home remodeling company with more than 1,200 employees and $135 million in annual sales. Power provides windows, doors and other exterior remodeling products to homeowners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Georgia. Started in 1992, Power is a past Window & Door Dealer of the Year, as well as an Inc. 5000 company. Having served more than 50,000 homeowners, the company has also been recognized as a "Top Workplace" by The Philadelphia Inquirer.