In todays declining housing market it is more important than ever to make your home stand out to potential buyers. It is also even more important to add value to your home by upgrading a few key areas of your home and land.

First, by replacing old roofing materials with new fire resistive materials you will not only help to prevent the loss of your home to wildfire, it will help as a selling point for potential buyers who are worried about losing their investment to wildfire. Not to mention the added value of having a brand new roof on the home is very appealing to buyers who want a turn-key home with little or no “fixing” to do.

The next most critical safety measure to be taken that will add un-believable appeal to your home is to replace old siding with no fire resistive materials. This will really grab potential buyer’s attention when it really matters most. Right when they first see it. From a wildfire safety standpoint, siding is the second most important factor to your homes ignitability factor. Installing fire resistive or non-combustible siding will assist in the overall defense of your home by battling radiant heat and direct flame contact.

In my mind, the number one factor to consider when trying to increase your property value by implementing fire safety measures is to manage your defensible space and vegetation. As a potential home buyer, I am more likely to buy a home in the country that has had all the brush removal, tree trimming and thinning done than one that has not. Thinned, trimmed and clean is what you should be looking for when purchasing a home in the country. This “Defensible Space” will slow the approaching wildfire, reduce its overall size and intensity and allow firefighters to get in and protect your home. Homes without a good defensible space will most likely be left to fend for themselves if firefighting resources are thin. That means your home will not stand a very good chance of surviving a wildfire.

When you are looking to purchase a home in the country, insist on getting a Defensible Space Evaluation. Firescape can conduct these inpsections and they will potentially save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Please give us a call at (707) 894-2008.

Happy New Year