Let's say you got married, bought a house and started a family. Now, several years later, your children have grown and your family is now cramped in your once spacious home.
Your first inclination may be to start looking for a bigger house. But, before you uproot the family and move them away from what they know and love, you might consider remodeling the home you live in now.
According to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, Americans spent $233 billion fixing up their homes in 2005.
Choosing whether to remodel is not simple. There are many factors to consider. So, where do you start?
Do The Math
There are cost advantages to staying put and renovating.
When home prices are rising, you may be able to add on for less
than it would cost you to buy a bigger house. You also kitchen
avoid the costs associated with selling your home, buying a new
one and moving, which can drain away 10 percent or more of the
value of your home each time you move.
Farm House Total Remodel
The slides here show a start-to-finish remodeling of a farm
house from a single story to a full two story with new windows
and French doors, and a wrap around covered porch. The
finished project is also shown below.
Remodel in Progress
Finished Remodeling Project
If you are torn between moving and remodeling, crunch some numbers. Find out what your home is worth. Check out the real estate market and find out what it will cost to buy a home with the amenities you want. Also, find out what it would cost to renovate your current home. Allow us to create an estimate based on your needs. Ask yourself: Will the expense of an addition keep us happy for a decade? Or is it a shorter-term solution for our needs?
Log Home Remodeling
Log Home Remodeling
Log Home Remodeling
Log Home Remodeling Complete
Log Home Kitchen
Log Staircase
Log home Garage
Log Home Garage
Start thinking about the things you wish your current home included. Do you dream of a playroom for the kids or a yard with room for entertaining? Do you yearn for a second bathroom or a gourmet kitchen?
Ask yourself: Can I change my existing property to accommodate those features? Can I add a room over the garage? Are there structural issues or zoning regulations that will have to be addressed in the event of renovation?
Then decide: If I make those changes, would my home fit my needs or would I be trading one problem for another? If adding a room improves your floor plan without eating up too much of your yard, then the project is worth the investment.
Tub with Fireplace
Den