Facts to consider before remodeling your home. Consider costs, planning, return on investment & other important issues before commencing a project on your house.

Remodeling: Facts To Consider

• Is the remodeling project to get your home ready to sell or improve your family’s living space? If it’s to improve the living space for your family, and you’re planning to stay in the house for several more years, it’s probably worth spending a little to achieve what you want.

• Are you planning to sell soon? You stand less a chance of recouping your investment
if you’re planning to move within the next few months or year.

• What is the typical resale price of homes in your neighborhood? Return depends on what’s typical for your neighborhood. With a little research, you can see what the average sale price is for homes in your area and determine what your “ceiling” is for investment. Go above your ceiling and you are less likely to recoup your investment.

• If your home only has one bathroom, but all your neighbors have two, adding a second bath may be a good idea. What do other homes in your neighborhood have?

• How much can you afford to spend? This again speaks to the personal nature of the decision, and is impacted by whether you’re planning to sell or stay in the house. If you’re planning to stay for a while, you may consider breaking the project into phases so you can spread the cost out over a few years.

Here are a few additional things to keep in mind when it comes to your remodeling project:

• You shouldn’t necessarily expect to get a dollar-for-dollar return on a project. A $15,000 kitchen remodel doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get $15,000 more for your home.

• Converting existing space into usable space, like an attic into a bedroom, finishing a basement or adding a deck, will bring a better return than adding actual square footage in the way of a new family room. The upfront costs are usually nowhere near as high.

• If you are going to be in your house at least five more years kitchens and baths are a good area to concentrate on. These are the more costly remodeling projects, but you’ll be living in the home long enough to enjoy the upgrades and are more likely to recoup the investment.

• Remember that improvements that increase the house’s integrity, such as a new roof, won’t garner the kind of return that homeowners might expect. Buyers expect these things to be in good shape on a home.

• A common remodeling mistake is a pool. The majority of the market rejects this because of the maintenance requirements and safety issues for children. Exception: If your home is the only one on the block that doesn’t have one, it could be a factor when it comes time to sell.

• Don’t put big bucks into extra landscaping. Keep it simple. Add some mulch and brightly- colored flowers, don’t drop several hundred dollars on brick pavers. Let the buyer do that.


If you do decide to go ahead and remodel remember that it can be a difficult time for relationships.

 Every remodeling project is challenging and carving out individual space can add more than routine stress. You may find yourselves arguing about money, expectations and mistakes. Those who’ve survived this journey, however, report that their relationships are the better for it.

Before your contractor starts tearing down walls, talk in great detail about the project and how it will affect the rest of the house. Any project can send temperatures rising if couples don’t communicate effectively.

5 ways to keep couples happy during a remodeling project:

• Develop a budget. Remember that even the most careful budget will change. Discuss what your options are if your remodel project appears to cost more than you planned.
• Make decisions together. Before you begin talking with contractors, pick up remodeling magazines. Search the Internet for information on designs and materials, and then put your ideas on paper.
• Do your homework. Ask for references from contractors. Don’t just hire based on a conversation. Check the performance record of the contractor you plan to hire through Angie's List the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) www.nari.org and the Better Business Bureau.
• Communication is key. Talk about your expectations with your partner. Discuss how you will make decisions that will involve different tastes and viewpoints.
• Prepare for the disruption. The noise and dirt of a project will likely disrupt your daily routine. Talk with your contractor about the areas of your home that are off limits, and agree on the hours the crew will actually be onsite.