Recent studies show that high-quality, professional looking landscaping can add 5-10% percent to a home’s asking price. Where to start? Best to start simple. Clean up what you have. Here’s a quick guide to a fresh looking home exterior.

1. Weed, Edge and Mulch Beds. Start by weeding existing beds. Then add a three inch layer of mulch to all beds to create a colorful, fresh look. Mulch helps hold in moisture, so your plants and shrubs will than you later. Cut fresh edges where grass meets the mulch for a more professional look.

2. Fertilize Your Lawn. For lush, green grass your neighbors will envy, start regular fertilizer treatments and continue with a regular weed & feed schedule each season.  Try and popular brand like Scott’s that is easy to apply. Spend a little extra money to buy a spreader, which quickly and evenly distributes fertilizer over your lawn.

3. Add a Pop of Color. For about $2 per plant, you add colorful petunias, begonias and impatiens to accent sidewalks and beds.

4. Trim Trees & Shrubs. Cut back dead limbs or old growth to encourage new growth. A clean, trimmed landscape looks much more appealing than out of control trees and shrubs.

5. Improve Your Entry. The first thing your guests see is the entrance to your home. If the door is made of wood and in good shape, then a new coat of paint or refinishing it may be enough. But if you have a steel door and you notice it is dented, replace it with a new inexpensive steel door, a fiberglass door or upgrade to a nice wood grain door. Installing a new door can give you home a secure and updated appearance.

6. Check Your Roof.  Your roof is a major part of your home’s exterior and highly visible when passing by.  If your roof has torn or missing shingles, it might be time for a roof repair or new roof. Most roofs last 15-20 years. Installing a new roof on your Indiana home will not only spruce up your home’s exterior, it’s an important part of weatherproofing and saving energy on utilities.

Consider talking with a professional landscaper or home improvement company for more ways on updating your home’s landscape and exterior and improving the curb appeal. Many of these improvements will also help increase the value of your home and make it easier to sell.

Trim A Seal installs energy efficient home windows and entry doors to improve the appearance of your home. Whether your Indiana home needs new vinyl siding, reroofing, awnings, seamless gutters or more – call the home improvement experts at Trim A Seal. We’ve been providing the best quality products and services for your home throughout Northwest Indiana for over 60 years.

Visit www.trimaseal.com for more information.

FT .WAYNE SHOW – FT WAYNE COLLESIUM
THURS. 3/1 & FRI 3/2 – 11 AM – 9 PM
SAT. 3/3 10 – 9
SUN. 3/4 11 – 5

PORTER CO SHOW – PORTER CO FAIRGROUNDS
FRI 3/9 & SAT. 3/1 – 9 – 7
SUN. 3/11 – 10 -5

MICHIANA SHOW (SOUTH BEND) – CENTURY CENTER
FRI. 3/9 – 5 – 9 / SAT. 3/10 – 10 – 9 / SUN 3/11 – 12 – 5

LAKE COUNTY SHOW – LAKE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (CROWN POINT)
SAT. 3/24 9 – 6 / SUN 3/25 10 – 5

PLYMOUTH SHOW – FITNESS FORUM SPORTS CENTER – 2855 MILLER DR. – PLYMOUTH, IN.
SAT. 3/31 9 -5
SUN. 4/1 10 – 4

Trim A Seal has been providing the highest quality home improvement products and services for over 50 years. We install vinyl replacement windows, entry doors, vinyl siding, replacement roofs, Sunsetter awnings and more. Call today for a free estimate 800-271-6355 or visit www.trimaseal.com today. Serving all of Lake, Porter, Will and Southern Cook counties.

Castlegate Entry Doors

Need new replacement windows, exterior doors or a new roof installed on your Indiana home? This is your last chance to take advantage of 2011 government tax credits. Install a new roof or new energy efficient windows or doors and receive 10% of the cost, up to $500 now through December 31, 2011.

There’s never been a better time to make energy efficient improvements to your home.  Save onutility and energy bills this winter and reduce heating costs when you install new windows, doors or replacement roofs, PLUS get up to $500 in tax credits. The federal tax credit can also be combined with state and utility incentives. See below for the list of tax credits available to homeowners this year:

• High efficiency furnaces and boilers – $150
• Air Conditioners and heat pumps – $300
• Main air circulating fans – $50
• ENERGY STAR Windows/Doors – $200
• Energy efficient water heaters – $300
• Roofing – $500

Energy Star approved vinyl replacement windows or doors qualify for this tax credit. The incentive has been reduced to the pre-Economic Recovery Act level. Consumers can claim a credit of 10% up to $200 of the purchase price of qualifying windows, and 10% up to $500 for qualifying exterior doors.

Visit the Energy Star website for information on available tax credits for roof replacements, then call the roofing contractor you can trust in Northern Indiana. Trim A Seal has been providing the highest quality home improvement products and services for over 50 year. Call today for a free estimate 800-271-6355 or visit www.trimaseal.comtoday. Serving all of Lake, Porter, Will and Southern Cook counties.

Tax credit limits and deadlines:
• 10% of expenditures, up to $500 for the year, for all energy improvements combined.
• Install a relevant roof by Dec. 31, 2011.
• Save receipts and labels.
• For roofs, installation isn’t covered.

Visit the Energy Star website for information on2011 available tax credits. Then call the roofing contractor you can trust in Northern Indiana. Trim A Seal has been providing the highest quality home improvement products and services for over 50 year. Call today for a free estimate 800-271-6355 or visit www.trimaseal.com today. Serving all of Lake, Porter, Will and Southern Cook counties.

Tax credit limits and deadlines:
• 10% of expenditures, up to $500 for the year, for all energy improvements combined.
• Install a relevant roof by Dec. 31, 2011.
• Save receipts and labels.
• For roofs, installation isn’t covered.

For official Energy Star guidelines visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index. It’s your safest bet for information on how to get the credit. Call the roofing contractor you can trust in Northern Indiana. Trim A Seal has been providing the highest quality home improvement products and roofing installation services since 1950. We carry Certainteed and many other top brands of shingles. Call today for a free estimate 800-271-6355 or visit www.trimaseal.com.

If you’re a homeowners who’s been wanting to replace your old windows and doors, now’s the time! Receive Up To $500 or 10% of the Cost of new energy star approved windows and doors by December 31, 2011

Tax credits have been extended to encourage energy-efficient home improvements. Energy Star approved window or door replacements and new roofing may qualify for this tax credit. Consumers can claim a credit of 10% up to $200 of the purchase price of qualifying windows, and 10% up to $500 for qualifying exterior doors and roofing. Installation costs are not included.

Check out the Energy Star website for guidelines on what exactly is covered. It’s your safest bet for information on how to get the credit. For a free estimate to have replacement windows or exterior steel or storm doors installed, contact Trim A Seal at 800-217-6355 or click here to request an appointment. We install a complete line of doors by Indiana doors, Albany, Gerkin, Fox Weldoor and steel security storm doors by Home Guard, plus energy efficient vinyl windows by Sunrise, Great Lakes and more!

Visit www.Trimaseal.com for more information today. We service all of Northern Indiana and South Chicago. Ask about our low price guarantee.

A Harvard University study estimates that Americans spend an average of $160 billion for home remodeling projects each year. A year ago, many remodeling jobs returned 80 percent of their cost or more when the owner sold the house, but those numbers are changing.

Some of the most profitable renovations, such as an upscale vinyl residing, actually paid off more – 103.6 percent – more than they cost. In the Middle Atlantic States, vinyl siding replacement returns 92.3 percent of its cost, well above the national average of 87.2 percent, while in the Southwest the same job returns just 80.9 percent of the cost. That makes residing your home the most profitable home renovation.

Other profitable renovations included midrange kitchen remodels, which paid off 91.7 percent, and vinyl window replacement, which paid off 89.6 percent, making it the third best remodeling investment.

The least profitable renovation – a home office remodel, which only recoups only 63.4 percent of its cost.

Trim A Seal of Indiana has been a home improvement leader in Northern Indiana since 1950. We offer vinyl siding, window replacement, entry doors, roofing, aluminum awnings and more – to help you get the most value from your home improvement dollars. Be sure to ask about our Low Price Guarantee. Call today for a free estimate on your next project 1-800-217-6355 or visit www.TrimASeal.com for more information.

Trim A Seal services the following areas: 

Indiana:
Huntington, South Bend, Gary, Fort Wayne, Mishawaka, Crown Point, Valparaiso, Hammond, Munster, Merrillville, Highland, Naperville, Warsaw, Portage, Griffith, St. John, Portage, Chesterton, Hobart, Schererville, East Chicago, Leroy, Huntington, La Porte, Hebron, Granger, Munster, Notre Dame, Milford

Illinois:
Orland Park, South Chicago, Wheaton, Mt. Prospect, Calumet City, Elmhurst, Lombard, Harwood Heights, Park Ridge, Lake Forest, Palatine, Oak Park, Lisle, Hindsdale,  Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village, Westmont, Des Plaines, Skokie, Des Plains, Hillside, Prospect Heights, Oaklawn, Homewood, Hoffman Estates, Lansing, Libertyville, Homewood, Mokena, Vernan Hills, Woodridge, St. Charles, Villa Park, Bradley, North Brook

Ohio:
Cleveland, Maple Heights, Bath, Bryan, Findlay, Akron, Aurora

“We are “VERY PLEASED” with Gutter Helmet.
You will be highly recommended by us.  Best
wished for your future.” – Ned W. Lantz
 
 ”Our gutters seem to be working wonderfully.  The
installer was very courteous and efficient.  They
explained the warranty and what to expect from
Gutter Helmet.  We are very pleased with the service.”

-Richard & Theresa Putz
 
“I was assured the installer was very able to do
a good job.  He was very polite.  Normally I stay
to make sure that the job is done to my satisfaction.
I left to run many errands not even worried that
he would not do an excellent job.  Thank you for
your consideration.” -Thomas N. Shopoff
  
“You can be very proud of the work all your people
conduct themselves and the work they did.”  -Earl Gumm
 
“It’s not often that you write a check for several thousands
of dollars and not feel some misgivings (i.e. “Buyers Remorse”)
but this was one of those rare instances.  We wish to extend
our deepest thanks to all the folks at Trim-A-Seal for a job
very well done.” -Robert & Linda Huse

Need work done on your home’s exterior? The home improvement experts at Trim A Seal help. Call today for a free estimate 800-217-6355. For more information about Trim A Seal of Indiana’s products and services, please visit www.trimaseal.com. Serving Northern Indiana and South Chicago.

Tax credit limits and deadlines:
• 10% of expenditures, up to $500 for the year, for all energy improvements combined.
• Install a relevant roof by Dec. 31, 2011.
• Save receipts and labels.
• For roofs, installation isn’t covered.

By mid-January, the official Energy Star site will be posting new guidelines on what exactly is covered. It’s your safest bet for information on how to get the credit.
Call the roofing contractor you can trust in Northern Indiana. Trim A Seal has been providing the highest quality home improvement products and services for over 50 year. Call today for a free estimate 800-271-6355 or visit www.trimaseal.com today.