Gutters generally don’t add much monetary value to your home. They’re simply not a prominent enough feature to have that much of an effect on your house’s final selling price, and certainly not something that will dazzle potential buyers. But even if they don’t have monetary value, gutters have functional value.
Functional value is the value that something adds based on its utility. In this case, gutters add functional value to your home by protecting it from serious issues such as water damage, foundation damage, and basement flooding, all of which can cost a boatload to repair.
Therefore, even if gutters don’t directly increase the monetary value of your home, they still can help a homeowner, and the homebuyer, save a great deal of money.
Not Having Gutters Hurts Your Home Value
Gutters may not add that much value to your home, but they can certainly subtract it. Since it’s such an important part of the house, especially in areas that get a lot of rain, not having a gutter system (or worse, having one in poor condition) can negatively affect the value of your home.
If you live in a house without a gutter system, or if you have one but it’s in less-than-ideal condition, you’ll want to fix it up. Full gutter installation hopefully won’t be necessary, but if you do need new gutters, make sure they’re installed properly so that your gutters don’t develop rust or other problems.
The Bottom Line: Good Gutters Are Important
Even if a gutter system won’t add monetary value to your home or give a good return on your investment, it can still help you make your house more attractive to potential buyers. A good-looking and functional gutter system can be a selling point when you’re trying to sell your house, especially if it’s new.
If you want to make your rain gutters more attractive and keep them in working condition, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Clean your gutters regularly to avoid clogging and buildup.
- Apply gutter protection, such as sealant or paint.
- Pick the right gutter material when installing new gutters. Aluminum gutters are good, but all types of gutters have their own pros and cons.
- Don’t ignore your fascia board. It supports the gutters and plays a part in keeping them in working order.
- Add gutter guards to help reduce the amount of cleaning you’ll have to do.
Other Ways to Add Value to Your Home
If you want to add value to your home, there are plenty of ways to do it that don’t involve your gutters. Here are a few home improvements you can use to increase your home’s value:
- Give your house a new coat of paint: Fresh paint will make your home look much nicer and increase its value.
- Install attractive outdoor features: Fire pits, pools, lighting, and other outdoor features are a big selling point that can greatly increase the value of your home.
- Make your home energy-efficient: Energy-efficient homes have more market value and are more attractive to potential buyers.
- Add usable square footage: Adding square footage to your home increases its value, and a larger home is more desirable to buyers.
- Increase curb appeal: Upgrading your home’s landscape and exterior is just as important as upgrading the inside.
- Upgrade your exterior doors: The doors are one of the first things potential buyers see when they tour your home. Upgraded doors can make a good first impression, helping your house sell faster and for more.
- Stage your home: Staging your home makes it more appealing to potential buyers and helps it sell faster.
FAQ About Gutters
Yes, gutter guards can increase your home’s value. Having gutters that need less cleaning can be a selling point and add on to the value of your home, even if it’s not by a lot.
Proper maintenance and gutter cleaning are the best ways to protect your gutters from rust. Applying paint or another sealant to your gutters can also help prevent rust from forming by keeping moisture from getting to the metal.
Absolutely. Gutters prevent serious water damage to your roof or foundation when they’re doing their job right, so spending the money to keep them in good shape can save you greatly down the line.
When to Hire a Gutter Pro
In conclusion, while gutters won’t add value to your home by themselves, they’re still an important part of the house, and play a part in ensuring you get the maximum return on investment when selling your home.
If you want to add gutters to your home, replace your gutters, or just want to hire someone to clean your gutters, we connect you to the best gutter professionals near you.
Main Image Credit: JamesBrey / Canva Pro / License
