skylights — use reflective material to funnel natural light from a globe-capped hole cut in a rooftop down through a ceiling fixture and into a room. With tubular skylights, sunlight is nice and moonlight is even nicer. A few other ways to light things up: fix broken panes, make sure windows open (and do so quietly and easily), and consider installing lights that use motion detectors to turn themselves off. High-wattage bulbs make small spaces feel larger, and soft lighting can warm empty spaces. • Don’t put off maintenance. Before other value-enhancing improvements and remodeling projects, address the basics. Insulate the attic, repair plumbing leaks, replace rusty gutters, inspect the furnace, replace or repair leaky windows, install storm doors, and weed the flower beds. These kinds of fixes go a long way toward value. Investing in maintenance could also be crucial to a sale. • Go green. If your heating or air conditioning systems are outdated, new ones are a much better idea, with energy savings of up to 30 to 40%. Another example: spending $7,000 for the unit and installation of a solar-powered water heater, with $2,100 back in green tax credits, could save you as much as 80% on your water-heating bills. Research published by The Appraisal Journal
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