Staying Put Is Chic: Remodeling Options

(November 2010) - Should you sell your home, or stay put in the home you have? Should you consider making a move to a larger place, or add more space to your present home with an addition? Such decisions are not simple to make, and will require careful consideration. Money, time, and the present real estate market will all play roles in whether or not you decide to remodel or move.

Is it better to remodel your present home than try to find a new one? There is no cut and dry answer to this question; the answer is different for every family. If you love your home and the neighborhood, but are contemplating a sale to make room for a growing family, perhaps a simple home renovation would be a reasonable option. Here are just a few reasons why remodeling your current home may be a better investment.

Remodeling is Budget Conscious:

There is much involved with the process of selling a home and buying another. You have to have your home appraised, and hire a Realtor to help with marketing it. Dealing with prospective buyers can be exhausting; keeping your home perfectly presentable and the interruptions to your routine when asked to leave so that the Realtor can "show" your home is, at best, irritating.

Meanwhile, you have to look for a house comparable in price or cheaper than your home's asking price. Your house may sell quickly or it may linger, depending on the market. If you are able to sell swiftly, it may not be as easy to find the house you want. Depending on where you live, a new mortgage may lead you to tighten your belt for a while until you are able to get payments under control.

There are also closing costs, moving costs, and things such as utility transfer fees to consider. When you remodel your current home, however, the budget differs and may work to your advantage. Most times, it does not cost as much to renovate a home as it does to buy a new one.

In addition, you get to stay in the home where family memories have been created and traditions have been established. And best of all, you don't have to find a new place to put everything that has ended up in the kitchen "junk drawer."

Remodeling is 100% Your Creation:

There are many reasons that remodeling your home is an excellent idea. One great reason to remodel your home is to add a new sense of style. If you feel like you are living a few decades in the past each time you enter your home, remodeling will be a great way to update your home.

Another reason you may want to remodel your home is if you are beginning to have difficulties throughout the home, such as leaks, problems with fixtures, or other problems that tend to come along with age. In some cases, just wanting a change of scenery can even be a great reason to remodel your home.

At first glance, home remodeling can look like a huge task. With the right help, remodeling your home doesn't have to be as hard as you might think, and you can find the help that you need with a qualified remodeler. So the bathrooms and the kitchen in your present home are outdated. Buying into a new home may give you newer appliances and fixtures, but you may not get all the updates and features you desire.

When you remodel your current home, however, you are in control of the decor, and not subject to what you are offered elsewhere. Contractors may offer suggestions with regards to fixtures and cabinets, but ultimately, when you are remodeling you have more freedom in designing the home of your dreams. Fire up your imagination and go for it!

Remodeling is Increased Value:

Remodeling your home can be an expensive process. But when the work is done, you will have reaped the benefits of all of the expense and hard work. The primary benefit to remodeling is that you raise the value of your home. When you are ready to sell your home, you will command a higher final price because of your remodeling projects.

Having your kitchen remodeled and bathroom redone often get the largest return on investment, so keep that in mind when you are planning a remodeling project. Updated fixtures, floors, and cabinets are definitely more attractive to prospective buyers. Plus, the more improvements are made, the better the asking price.

You do not need to sell your home to reap financial benefits from a remodeling project. When you raise the value of your home, you increase the amount of equity you have in your home. This means that you can borrow more on a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit, if you ever need to. When it is time to send the kids to college, or if you feel that you need to consolidate your high interest credit card debt, you will get more money to work with, thanks to the remodeling you have done to your home.

There are many advantages to choosing to remodel instead of moving. Staying in a neighborhood near your friends, your church, and familiar shopping centers and keeping your children in common schools with their friends are just a few. Whether you decide to sell or renovate, make sure you take all options into consideration. Your home is your place for comfort, and a remodel or addition project can make it even more so.