Many people consider building some type of outdoor space to add to their home. There’s nothing better than being able to enjoy nature right from the comfort of your own home. The outdoors become an extension of your home when you build these spaces. A deck is one of the simplest ways that you can add something to the house and be able to make use of outdoor spaces at the same time. The important thing to know is that a deck is an investment. Before you decide to add a deck to your home, you’ll need a budget in place as you don’t want any home improvement project to become financially overwhelming. With that budget, keep the returns you could make along the way in mind

Curb Appeal

Really, adding a deck to a home is about buyer appeal. It probably goes without saying that a deck is something that can add a lot to a home and add to the overall value of your home in the case that you are looking to sell it in the near future. The best improvements that you can make to a home are in fact those that add value. It’s estimated that the return you’ll get on building a deck is about 65-90%. The bottom line is that the investment of building a deck does add to both the monetary value and the pleasure of a owning home.    

Consider The Area You Live In

Obviously the region or state that you live in has a big impact on just how much value a deck can add to a home. Especially in nicer climates, a deck will be great for just about any neighborhood. In regards to area, you should also think of the construction costs. Some areas will be more expensive than others to build in, but the overall investment could be worth it for the region.

How Will You Build It

The amount of return that you get from a deck depends upon how you build it. If you’re a DIY homeowner, you’ll get the most return by far. If you hire a contractor, the return will be less, but you may avoid hiccups in the building of the deck itself. The more complicated you make the deck, the more it will cost. These extras don’t necessarily mean that you’ll get as much of a return as you’d expect. 

Focus On Your Needs

No matter what you decide, building a deck has to match your own personal preferences. You want to make the most use out of your new space with you and your family. Build a deck that works for you. Even if your goal is to add value to your home, you don’t want to undertake a project that you don’t love in the end. Keep all of this in mind when you build your deck, or any other outdoor space in your home and you’ll be able to enjoy your home in bliss.              

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Homes in New England date back to the late 1600s. Some of these earlier, historic homes remain in good operating condition. Places like the Sarah Orne Jewett House, Castle Tucker, Gedney House and the Coffin House have become national landmarks. Four stories tall and large and expansive, covering several thousand square feet,these beautiful homes offered a glimpse into what lay ahead for housing in New England. Today, popular homes throughout the region, like those depicted below,continue to attract individual and family home buyers.

Historic to Modern New England Homes

Colonial homes in New England are large wood structures that are designed with lots of windows. Front sides on these homes are flat, absent shutters or eaves. Roofs on colonial homes are long and pointed at the top. These spacious residences offer lots of rooms, historic value and interior design options. A good way to distinguish your colonial home from other neighborhood colonials is by choosing a home that is painted in an appealing color.

Cape cods are seen throughout New England. A single walkway leads to the front porch, if the home has a porch, as not all cape cods have a front or back porch. Look for a chimney at the middle of the roof. It’s common to find shingle siding on a cape cod. These homes come with closed and open floor plans.

Georgian homes in New England are similar in style to colonial homes in that they are designed with a relatively flat front. Windows on these homes generally do come with shingles and are larger than those typically found on a colonial home. Another difference between a colonial and a Georgian home is the shape of the roof. Think of a triangle when envisioning the roof on a Georgian home.

Victorian homes are built with wraparound porches. Roofs on these homes are steep and multi-leveled. Some Victorian homes have one tall roof, its tip pointing toward the sky like a steeple. Other homes are built with two or more tall roof tops. It may be the expansive wraparound porches and multi-entrance ways into the homes that make these houses a win.

New England also boasts homes with contemporary or modern designs. Chic in style,these homes are constructed of field stone, wood or brick. They tend to be one level and uniquely shaped. As with historic designs, modern and contemporary homes offer lots of space and opportunity for you to exercise your interior design creative skill.

Major events that impacted America’s earliest beginnings happened in New England. One of the widest known and taught about events is the American Revolution. That period put cities like Boston and Lexington, Massachusetts and Groton, Connecticut at the forefront of American politics. It also helped to define early American culture. Homes early trendsetters, educators, business leaders, artists and activists lived in served as a model for future home builders. Popular New England homes continue to take on features found in some of the region’s early,popular homes.

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It's easy to dream about the ideal house, harder to describe that home to a realtor. But, you've got to know the details that make up your dream home if you expect to find that perfect place. Identifying the details of your dream home may take a bit of work, but you don't have to do it alone. If you have a partner and children, definitely get their input. Work to ensure that everyone who's going to live in the house gets amenities and style elements that they want. Also, factor in your favorite colors, textures and personal aspirations when thinking about your dream home, including where the house is located. If you love surfing, swimming and fishing, a country home near the beach might be the right choice. Ask yourself questions to find out what you really want Do  you want to live in a small town, the type of place where traffic jams rarely, if ever, form? Is access to reliable public transportation important to you, especially if you prefer not to drive? Are older homes more to your liking than modern, contemporary houses? And what about arts and entertainment? How important is it for you to be near major sports and concert venues? You can gain clues about your dream home when you visit extended family and friends. You may love the open living room, dining room and kitchen concept at a friend's single family home. The round, marble tub at your grandparents' house might give you a warm feeling every time you soak in it. Don't rule out how carefree, courageous and happy you felt as you ran across the back lawn at your aunt and uncle's three story bungalow. After you narrow down the location, size and type of house that you want, start to create a wish list of amenities that you want your dream home to have. Sample items that you could add to your wish list include whether you want a front and back porch, small or large yards and whether you want a home office and, if so, how big do you want the home office to be. Other wish list items are window styles, how much street noise you'll tolerate, numbers and sizes of bedrooms, whether you want a finished basement and how many cars you want to fit in the driveway and garage. You may also want a dream home that's only a 10 minute drive to work. If you identify features that you want in your dream home before you consider how much you can afford to pay for a house, you might be surprised at your options. By focusing on features or amenities, you could also help your realtor to look for a house that fits your wish list instead of zoning in on a house based mainly on price. Stay open. Finding eight out of ten things that you want on your dream home list could prove to be very rewarding.

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