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Plantation shutters will cost me about $10,000, since I have a lot of large windows, and am trying to figure out what the return on investment for them will be. E.g. I'll be able to pull out 90% in 10 years. Obviously, if I can get more than 100% out of them, then that's even better.
Here's the factors involved.
1. While they are in style now, they may not be in 5 or 10 years.
2. I am not sure how long we are going to stay here. Minimum is probably 5 years.
3. Wood vs. vinyl. Is this comparable to laminate vs. wood floor?
4. If wood, the need for refinishing, and warping over time may eliminate their value.
5. If vinyl, these have a limited lifetime too.
6. R-value / home energy savings factors. Supposedly insulate much better than drapes, but no idea how much. Even regular blind could work though.
If your house and an identical house were on the market at the same time, I would not pay $10,000 extra because of your plantation shutters (and I love plantation shutters). Maybe $1,000 or so, but not much more than that.
I had plantations installed in 1997 when they were still FAIRLY new on the trend-meter. Here we are in 2010 still talking about them, so I think they have pretty good staying power. I had good quality vinyl ones and was very pleased with them and had no problems whatsoever. You could not tell the difference between them and wood unless you looked really hard.
I'd leave the installation to professionals but that's just me.
You should also post this on the Real Estate sub forum if you want to talk ROI. But I'm pretty sure the answer is no, you probably won't see more than 100% and I'm not even sure about 90%. It will definitely be a plus though in many buyer's eyes. Just my two cents.
Oh and like Okey Dokie, I'd probably pay only about $1000 more for them than an identical house without.
Love the plantation shutters. Had them in my home in Canada. Get the vinyl - you can take them outside and give them a good, thorough cleaning with a hose.
I was going with them in my home in Chicago-area, but the way my windows are constructed (stupidly, imho), I couldn't get them. The function of the window would have been modified.
I wouldn't look at them as a ROI - if you like them, get them.
One way to save costs is to install the PS in the downstairs/public part of home (LR, DR, Kitchen, FR) and install less expensive wood blinds upstairs/in the private areas of the home.
I've put plantation shutters in my last 3 houses and never recouped a dime of them. That's ok by me though because I love them and enjoyed them. I think that plantation shutters are timeless. They aren't for everyone though.
I've put plantation shutters in my last 3 houses and never recouped a dime of them. That's ok by me though because I love them and enjoyed them. I think that plantation shutters are timeless. They aren't for everyone though.
I agree, they are more of a personal decorative preference item and will add little or no value to the house. If i had 10K to throw around, it would go allot further in a different area (or just keep it!)
If you don't like them, there will be no return on your investment at all, because you'll have to look at them every day.
If you do like them, the return on investment will be your enjoyment of them every day.
Fretting over a return on your investment five years or longer down the line is just pointless.
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