Tips for Increasing Your Home Value
They provide more than just a roof over our heads and a place to store our possessions. They are even more than just a place where we grow and raise our families and take shelter from the minutiae of everyday life. They are our homes; be they ever so humble. Our homes are also an investment in our future and the most valuable asset many of us will ever own. They dwarf our cars, TVs and other durable goods in price but like these things they can depreciate in value over time. So what are some ways to increase the value of our homes amidst the fluctuations of the economy? Here are a few proven tips to increase your home’s worth: Add a Deck: Decks add curb appeal to homes and they are also places for our family and friends to gather. But having a deck goes beyond just having something nice to look at and place to gather. According to the HGTV, people who add a deck to their homes recoup 65% to 90% of their investment. However, because the cost of adding a deck varies, some people try this as a DIY project which can be costly if not done by someone who is trained. Decks by Ziec is one of the top custom deck builders in NJ because we are trained and experienced. We also handle deck repair in NJ. Replace Windows and Doors: More and more home owners are demanding that their homes be energy efficient. One of the main causes of high heating and cooling bills is drafty, inefficient windows and doors. Replacing doors and windows can greatly increase the value of your home as well as potentially earn you an energy tax credit. Get a New Paint Job: It sounds almost too simple to work, but a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any home. In addition to building curb appeal and increasing your home’s value, a fresh coat of paint on the inside and out builds you home’s showing appeal to potential buyers. Add an additional bathroom: The number of bathrooms a home has is of the utmost importance to many prospective buyers, especially those with large families. If your home has only one bathroom, consider adding another one. Remodel the kitchen: Many people consider the kitchen to be the nexus of the entire home. For only a few hundred dollars you can make relatively minor changes that can go a long way in increasing your home’s overall showing appeal. For example, you could replace the kitchen faucet sets, add new cabinet door handles and update old lighting fixtures. Yes, with a little effort we can increase the value of our homes in simple and affordable ways and decrease the rate at which they depreciate. Also, we can control how others view our homes and make them see the effort and care we put into them as valuable investments of our time and money. Why You Should Consider Adding a Screen Porch or Sunroom Every year – or perhaps more than yearly – you wrestle with the decision about whether or not to add a sunroom or screen porch to your home; maybe you even peruse Google for deck contractors in NJ, just to see what’s out there. You mull the decision over as you see other neighbors who have jumped right in and decided to make this addition to their homes. Perhaps, you only thought of the move in terms of being an expenditure of time and money and didn’t realize the benefits of owning an extra room. Perhaps you couldn’t find people you trusted enough with the job of making this transformation to your most sacred of possessions – your home. Whatever the reason you’ve hesitated is, it’s time to again to consider the advantages of adding a screen porch or sunroom to your home…
This may not be the season to search for custom deck builders in NJ, but this is definitely the season to be festive! Decks are wonderful, public additions to our home that neighbors and passersby can view as they can the rest our of home’s exterior, yet at the same time something about them is very intimate. From the deck we can gather to share special moments with our families. During the holidays in particular, a deck is a place where we can gather with friends and family and drink eggnog, sing carols and watch children build snowmen. Decks are also a way to show not just friends and family, but neighbors and passersby too our holiday spirit. Unlike the decoration we adorn the inside of our houses with, all can see the decorations we have on the outside. Decks in particular are a wonderful way to show our holiday sense of style, uniqueness and pride in our homes. To make your deck stand out, here are some tips for proudly decorating them this holiday season: · Wreaths: While this may seem like a cliché, wreaths can demonstrate a homeowner’s individual sense of style. A wreath can be made of almost any material from artificial flowers, to ornaments, to pine cones to paper mache, etc. Hang little ones all over your deck or find an extra-large one to display front and center. ·Decorative Plants: Try adorning your deck with artificial plants such as poinsettias. They can withstand cold winter nights unlike most natural flowers and you can even place them in decorative flower pots creating a welcoming floral arrangement. ·Christmas Garland: Wrap these around pillars, posts and handrails of your deck. They can be wrapped with lights or festive white and red bows. ·A Christmas tree for your deck: When you go shopping for a tree for the inside of your home, consider buying one to place on your deck as well. Simply secure the tree to the deck, cover it with lights and spray the branches with canned snow. ·Animate your deck: Try placing three dimensional, Christmas themed characters on your deck. Here you can be particularly creative in that you can include modern Christmas characters as well as classic ones like Frosty and Old Saint Nick himself. Yes, there are many ways to adorn your current deck this holiday season. If you don’t have a deck, Decks by Ziec can build you a lovely one that you will be proud of. We are custom deck builders in NJ who specialize in creating beautiful home additions that you will take pride in for as long as you own your home. Our sturdy, attractive decks have been featured on the popular site Houzz and are known for their intricate designs. We are Colonia, NJ deck builders who can not only build you a brand new deck, we also do deck repair in NJ. So this holiday season, whether you already have a deck or would like an addition to your home, give us a call to discuss our services. There are plenty of practical reasons to add a custom deck to your home. A new deck can increase the curb appeal of your home, it can increase your home’s value, it adds usable space to your home… the list goes on and on. But there is another, less obvious, reason to build a new deck on your home; and this reason is quite appropriate for the Halloween season: Ghosts don’t haunt brand new custom decks. Ok, ok this may seem silly to some of you, but bear with us; after all, this is the time of year for tricks, treats and spooky stories. So sit back, relax and get ready for the spine-tingling tale of Artie, the ghost who haunts the creaky old decks throughout New Jersey… We first heard about Artie quite a few years back, but the first story would certainly not be the last. It’s unclear who Artie was before he died but one thing’s for sure, he had—and still has—some kind of deep connection to New Jersey because he does not want to leave. You shouldn’t be too afraid of Artie. We know that all ghosts are scary on some level, but this little spirit seems pretty harmless so far. So back to the first Artie tale we ever heard (well, experienced)… We got a call from a nice couple looking for Westfield, NJ deck builders like us. They seemed ready to start construction before the first telephone conversation had even begun. We tried to convince them to take their time; the custom building process is not something that should be rushed. But they were adamant. They said that they saw our work, they liked it and they wanted to get started ASAP. As you can imagine, a rushed job always seems suspicious. But since we have never been in the business of turning away clients, we gladly took the job. Once the job was started, Peter and the others working on it started noticing strange things we’re happening. Peter’s lunch consistently had one mysterious bite taken out of something in it. Tools were misplaced. Boards were mysteriously creaky. Chairs were randomly turned upside down. Now, nothing ever felt too frightening. They just kept thinking that these seemed like strange pranks for homeowners to play on their deck contractors. Finally, the couple had to tell us the real reason behind their rushed job. That reason was Artie—they couldn’t even explain how they knew his name, but somehow they knew it was Artie. Anyway, they went on to tell us how Artie had been a mischievous pain in their butt since they moved into their home. Once they realized that he never messed with anything inside the house, but instead kept to haunting the deck, they decided a brand new deck might do the trick. Turns out this lovely couple was right! As soon as their new deck was in, Artie seemed to be gone. Since that job, our custom deck builders in NJ have come across Artie a few more times. It’s always the same story; mischief on the deck until the new deck is finished. We are starting to think that this silly ghost thinks he’s doing a public service. Wherever he sees an outdated deck he bugs the homeowners until they do something about it. So if you have a nagging feeling—or a nagging ghost—telling you it’s time for a new deck give us a call here at Decks by Ziec. We are the best deck contractors NJ has to offer and we are totally fine working side by side with Artie. There are a lot of deck contractors in New Jersey. A lot of these companies promise incredible projects for unbeatable prices, and some of them have the resources to deliver. A lot of these companies we greatly respect and admire; others not so much. This business is a competitive one, and every year it only gets more so. We like the competition, because we think it drives us to be the best we can be. But the point is, there’s a lot of pressure on us constantly to beef up what we can offer to you. And there are several ways to respond to this pressure.
One of them is to take shortcuts. Maybe it won’t be quite as sturdy, but it’ll cost us less on supplies. Maybe it won’t last as long, but it will mean one less employee on the job. If you’re good at using shortcuts, the customer doesn’t even notice— at least until it falls apart and they have to start over. At Decks by Ziec, our central principle is that we NEVER take shortcuts. Ever. Our motto: “It only takes a little longer to do it right.” We believe that our work represents us as a business and as craftsmen. If it doesn’t live up to the highest standards, then neither do we. It’s this kind of pride that brings about the highest quality. In fact, it’s why our founder left his old company and started the firm in the first place: to put his name on construction he was proud of. We build each project like it’s for our own home. Whether you’re looking for custom deck builders or deck repair contractors, we’ll bring you that quality. First, we’ll assess the situation and explain all of your options. How large, what layout, which material, what finish— each one requires careful consideration. Our experienced designers want to help you make sure you’re getting something you’ll be happy with for years to come. Once the plans are set, the execution is all about the details. Planning the deck frame so the surface will be smooth, keeping the railings not too short and not too tall… There are a lot of variables, and each one requires careful attention. The end result: a lasting addition to your home, sure to provide added value and a perfect place to relax and entertain. If you’re tired of dealing with contractors that oversell and under deliver, give us a call. For us, every project is personal. Earlier this year you may have gotten it in your head that you’d like to have a new deck built for summer. The idea of summer BBQs on your beautiful new deck probably sounded amazing; so maybe you started a few preliminary searches for custom deck builders in NJ. But then summer started approaching rapidly, then all of the sudden you were smack dab in the middle of summer, and now summer is coming to a close. So really, what’s the point now? Well I’m here to tell you there is still a point! Whether you’ve got a lot of space to work with or you’d like to create the illusion of space in your cramped backyard, there are a number of great reasons to add a gorgeous new deck to your home. I’ll go over just a few of them with you here…
Increased curb appeal: The most obvious reason to add a deck to your home is the aesthetic appeal of the addition. Whether you’re adding your new deck to the front or back yard, your home will get an instant facelift. And when you choose Westfield, NJ deck builders, Decks by Ziec you know the aesthetic appeal of your home will definitely skyrocket! And just think of how jealous your friends, family and neighbors will be when they come over for a party on your gorgeous new deck. Increased home value: The most practical—and advantageous—reason to add a deck to your home is the increase of property value. You will likely get back 70%-95% of what you pay to build a deck in the amount it will raise the overall resale value of your home. Generally, a deck addition allows you to get back much more than what you’d get back on an interior addition to your home. Adds usable space: If you have a hard time landscaping your yard—say the terrain isn’t exactly fertile or the ground is totally uneven throughout or your home is pushed up against a hillside—adding a deck is the perfect way to add usable space. A creative, experienced and talented custom deck builder like Peter Ziec will know exactly what to suggest and how to build you a beautiful, easily accessible new deck. Relatively inexpensive and convenient: When compared to interior renovations and home additions, deck additions are generally less expensive and the building process is usually quicker. Add to that the fact that the whole project is being done outside and you’ve got the most convenient home renovation a homeowner can take on. As I mentioned earlier, these are only a few of the reasons you should consider adding a deck to your home. So what are you waiting for? If you want to work with the best deck contractors NJ has to offer, give Decks by Ziec a call today! When is the right time to buy a new deck?
The time is now because Decks By Ziec offers you low costs and long lasting decks! Whether your deck is old and needs repair or you don't even have a deck, Decks By Ziec is here to help. They can create the perfect outdoor environment for you and guarantee you will be satisfied. Peter Ziec will restore, repair, or refinish any deck you need work on. Another post from a happy client! My name is Stacy Goins and recently I replaced my backyard deck. It was breaking into pieces and completely ruined by the weather. I had been referred to Decks By Ziec by a friend whose deck I absolutely loved. I called and made an appointment for a consultation. The owner, Peter Ziec came out to my house two days later to look things over. He met the whole family and asked us to tell him what we thought we would need in a deck. Peter really listened to what kind of outdoor space my family and I wanted. He then created a custom design based on our conversation. Somehow Peter took 5 different opinions (including, “a cool place for Trudy the Cat to watch birds”) and incorporated them all into one beautiful, cohesive design. My family and I can now enjoy dinner al fresco, watch the sunset, draw huge flowers with chalk, blow bubbles and make use of our outdoor Lego station(don’t ask!). We can hardly wait for fall so we can build a fire in our amazing new stone fireplace and maybe roast a few marshmallows. And in case you are wondering, Trudy the Cat has a magnificent, cat–sized balcony where she can view her feathered foes. I highly recommend Decks By Ziec to whomever is in need of deck restoration or a whole backyard transformation. Peter Ziec is an amazing craftsman who got the job done in the time frame promised, on budget and exceeded my expectations in every way. No matter the season you should always make time for Decks By Ziec. If promptness, details,and professionalism are important to you when looking for deck contractors and builders in Far Hills, Cranbury, Westfield, Chatham, Colonia, Short Hills, or West Windsor, New Jersey, Decks by Ziec will not disappoint. My wife and I searched and searched for the right crew to hire for our new deck project. It was a large project; I figured if I am going to pay for this big of a project, it better be done right. The people doing it would need years of experience. A friend suggested Decks by Ziec. The first thing I looked at was the testimonials on their website. This is not a company that has one happy customer review that they flaunt around. There are so many people raving about their new decks; you can even see the pictures of completed projects. Rashmi Rattan said, “Thanks for building beautiful deck for us! We are really enjoying it. Your expert level craftsmanship, top notch quality work and hard-work turned our useless backyard to an absolutely beautiful extended living space. We really appreciate it!” Peggy Glen Ridge said, “The Ziec brothers are truly the best there is and a pleasure to work with AND they are reasonably priced!!! You could not ask for a better combination. Andrew was the primary brother assigned to our job. He is a craftsman and extremely creative. Also, he is the nicest person ever, is very hard working and does not miss a day! We are extremely pleased with the deck they just built for us. Every detail was beyond our expectations. I can’t say enough good things about the Ziec brothers. We would definitely use them again. Thank you again for the wonderful deck you built for us!!!” Those words alone convinced me that this was the company to hire. A family business with great prices and friendly people that get the job done on time? Sign me up! I called and had one of their guys to my house the next day for a quote. The quote was a fair price and he looked into all of the approval process to get the work done in my area. It goes without saying that the deck turned out better than expected. I am truly impressed. When it comes time to build a deck around my pool, Decks by Ziec will be my only choice. When you are ready, the contact page of their website makes it so easy. Just fill out the information and submit it; you should get a call or email soon. Or just call them at (908) 275-7075. Do not make an extremely avoidable mistake of hiring someone else who has less experience and will not impress you. Pick Decks by Ziec. The word to sum up my experience with Decks by Ziec: WOW! They are great at what they do and I could not be happier because of it. Looking for deck contractors and custom deck contractors in New Jersey, like anywhere, can be stressful and can lead to buyer’s remorse. You never know if the work will even barely meet your expectations. Some contractors are just swindlers looking for as much as they can get for their less than satisfactory work. Will you end up paying double by having to hire a second contractor to fix the first contractor's mistakes? It seems to always be a huge gamble. Do not put yourself through that; hire Decks by Ziec to get the job done well the first time with peace of mind throughout the whole process. Whether you need Westfield, Chatham, or Colonia, or Short Hills NJ deck builders, this is the company to get your yard looking amazing. They take pride in their work and it shows through the finished product. What I needed done was no small task. Luckily this is a deck repair contractor in Cranberry New Jersey as well. I had a small dilapidated deck in my large back yard. I wanted to repair this and also have a large add on built. I looked at reviews online and saw people raving about Decks by Ziec. When I see such positive reviews, it really makes all the difference in the decision making process. “The Ziec brothers are truly the best there is and a pleasure to work with AND they are reasonably priced!!! You could not ask for a better combination. Andrew was the primary brother assigned to our job. He is a craftsman and extremely creative. Also, he is the nicest person ever, is very hard working and does not miss a day! We are extremely pleased with the deck they just built for us.” I thought maybe this is just one happy customer. But no, there are so many more happy customers on the testimonials page of their website; now I am just one more overjoyed and satisfied new deck owner. Needless to say, the reviews are what pushed me to make the call. I called the number on the website, talked to a friendly representative, and scheduled an appointment to get a quote within that same week. The quote he gave was reasonable and I felt comfortable having him work in my yard for the time it would take. He was professional, timely, and responsible. Do not waste any more time, go with Decks by Ziec! New Jersey Outdoor Living at it's Finest! Are you looking for an experienced and trustworthy company to build you a new patio, deck, or even restore your current deck? Look no further! At Decks By Ziec, we are recognized as one of the best deck contractors in New Jersey! Our job is not complete until our customer is satisfied with our work. By choosing us, you add value to your home and create an exciting new aspect to your property for your family and friends. Why would you go anywhere else? The experts at Decks By Ziec are second to none; no other company can do what we can! Over 15 years of experience has shown that this team gets the job done with excellent communication, no shortcuts, and a dedication to do the job right so that you can take pride in the work that was done. Decks By Ziec is committed to keeping our customers informed and within budget every step of the way. We pay attention to the big picture, as well as, the little details that can make all the difference to your new deck. Customer satisfaction is what we strive for. One happy customer writes, “He arrived promptly every day, provided expert craftsmanship and closed out each day with cleanup of all material. We could not be happier with our new deck. We would recommend Decks by Zeic to all of our family and friends.” Our focus is the customer and seeing every single project to completion. Providing all of this in a friendly, professional way is the only way we know how to do business! Do you need something outside of decks specifically? Ask us! Not only do our services include custom decks, but also gazebos, pavilions, planters, benches, and much more! We use composites and different woods to make your project look as clean and professional as the company you hired. An important part of this is making sure that each job is done right and always passes inspection according to each township's codes and regulations. We will do our research to make sure you will not run into any inspection problems. Why worry when we can take all of the worry away in order to make your experience with us as comfortable as possible, satisfaction guaranteed! Do not chance the look and safety of your new deck with a less than reputable company. Our experience, craftsmanship, and knowledge of this work are what keep our passion and our business long lasting for years to come. |
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June 2019
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