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SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023 - NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE 13 2023 PARADE OF HOMES - WWW.NWAPARADEOFHOMES.COM hair, dog hair and other things that con- ventional vacuums may not be able to pick up. e HDA advises vacuuming without the beater bar, as it can con- tribute to small scratches in the floor. Sweeping with a high-quality broom or microfiber cloth is another way to pick up dirt without damaging floors. • Use manufacturer-recommended cleaning products. Local home im- provement stores sell a host of hard- wood floor cleaning products, but the HDA notes that many flooring manu- facturers now sell their own hardwood floor cleaners designed specifically for their floors. ese products are likely homeowners' best bets. Homeowners who can't find them can seek rec- ommendations from a local flooring retailer. Hardwood floors are attractive for many reasons. And they look even more stunning, and last much longer, when homeowners make an effort to maintain them. e home improvement industry has been booming for years, but forecasters are projecting a deceleration in 2023 and perhaps beyond. Estimates from the Home Improvement Research Institute, which is the leading market research resource for the home and building products industry, indicate that growth in the home improvement products market is expected to decel- erate from 7.2 percent in 2022 to 1.5 percent in 2023. Inflation continues to affect consumer spending, and home- owners may be looking to spend less on renovations in the year ahead. Minor upgrades that aren't as costly as larger projects can still make a big difference, especially among prospec- tive buyers. When looking for minor upgrades that can help sell a home, homeowners can rely on Remodeling magazine's annual "Cost vs. Value Re- port." at report analyzes costs for an assortment of remodeling projects and determines the value of those projects at resale. ough resale value depends on a host of variables, including loca- tion, the following are some relatively minor exterior upgrades that impress buyers and provide a strong return for homeowners. · Garage door replacement: Garage doors matter more than sellers may rec- ognize, as various real estate profession- als note that buyers appreciate homes with updated garage doors. at's good news for homeowners, as the "2022 Cost vs. Value Report" indicated home- owners recoup roughly 93 percent of their garage door replacement invest- ment at resale. e average cost of such a job is right around $4,000, making this a budget-friendly remodeling project. · Window replacement: e cost of new windows will depend on just how many windows must be replaced. But there's no denying buyers like the idea of low emissivity (low-E) windows, which can cut energy bills by a signif- icant amount over time. e Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy estimates that heat gain and heat loss through windows is responsible for be- tween 25 and 30 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use, so sell- ers who can tell buyers they have new low-E windows can emphasize those savings in home listings. e "2022 Cost vs. Value Report" indicates that homeowners recoup roughly two-thirds of their investment in new windows at resale. · Landscaping: Well-maintained land- scaping is another home exterior com- ponent that can make a strong first im- pression on buyers. A recent survey of nearly 7,000 realtors conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that upgrading a landscape recouped roughly 83 percent of homeowners' initial investment at resale. In addition, 11 percent of realtors surveyed indicat- ed that an upgraded landscape was the decisive factor that closed the deal for the house. Updating a home's exterior doesn't have to bust homeowners' budgets. Many affordable projects also provide a substantial return at resale. Minor exterior upgrades that can help sell a home Bentonville Glass has provided the area with customized Heavy Glass Enclosures since 1971! Create a single-door installation or larger confi gurations with side panels, buttress panels and return panels. The minimal use of metal framing lends a contemporary, clean look. 479-273-5545 www.bentonvilleglass.com 507 S. Main Street Bentonville, AR 72712