When homeowners weigh which upgrades best improve their property values; remodeling kitchens and expanding bathrooms are almost always top of the list. But what about installing a new driveway?
A dirt or gravel parking area turns into a veritable quagmire during bouts of heavy precipitation, which could mean you end up tracking more mess into your home than you bargained for. A new driveway can cure this inconvenience and possibly raise your real estate's value.
Dirt, gravel or driveways in significant decline tend to have an inhibited attraction, which can turn new homebuyers off your property. Rather than eager buyers competing for the highest offer, sellers may face a lackluster pool of potential buyers. Like beautiful gardens and manicured lawns, driveways matter.
Although homeowners typically think either concrete or asphalt, there are a wide range of materials leveraged for a new driveway. Some of the less known materials include tar-and-chip and exposed aggregate. These usually require a contractor who does niche work, however.
Handy DIY homeowners can install a mid-range driveway using interlocking pavers of concrete. Many of the same colorful and textured concrete pavers employed for patios and walkways serve equally well in driveways. When leveraged in this capacity, the products typically need to be four to six inches thick to support the weight of a car, truck or SUV.
Pouring concrete slabs is also a project DIY property owners can learn and complete with little to no professional asistance. Concrete driveways should run at least four inches thick and include rebar to increase their strength.
These projects require preparation similar to pouring a slab foundation, such as digging down to the firm ground and building 2x4 forms. Concrete remains a favored material in hot weather areas because it deflects heat more effectively than asphalt. Although asphalt delivers superior curbside appeal, it generally requires professional installation.
The return on investment of a new driveway often depends on items such as size, design and the materials used, among other factors. Some experts peg a new driveway's impact at upwards of $10,000 to $20,000. Others took a more cautious approach by estimating it improves listing value by about 10 percent. What's essential for homeowners to keep in mind is: a driveway makes a first and lasting impression.
With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.
She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.
Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”
Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com