5 Questions to Ask Before Remodeling Your Home
October 15th, 2008 categories: Around the House
An article in the WSJ Real Estate Journal wisely recommends that you make sure you know exactly how big a renovation you can afford and whether it justifies the time you intend to spend in your revamped home. Before making any big changes to your home, The Nest, a home-improvement Web site, says you should ask yourself these big questions:
1. How long do I plan to stay in my house after the renovations?
The longer you plan to live there, the more creative you can be. But if you’re planning on selling the house in the next five years, keep potential buyers in mind with your choices.
2. Am I doing just cosmetic fixes or am I ready for an all-out overhaul?
It’s OK to make small changes one at a time, but think long-term about the next step. For example, if you know you’re going to buy new cabinets later, don’t replace the countertop with expensive granite now. The chances of reusing it are very slim.
3. Am I prepared for the home upheaval?
Be realistic about how long these changes might take. Renovations can go on for months, so you need to be prepared to make do without that bathroom, kitchen or bedroom. You’d be surprised how quickly a week can turn into a month.
4. Are the renovations keeping with the style of my home?
Any big changes you make to a home inside should reflect the style of the outside. If you live in a contemporary house, don’t make it too old-fashioned by using antique crown molding, for example. People who see a contemporary exterior will expect a contemporary interior, so stay true to the details.
5. Are my DIY choices reasonable?
You may consider yourself handy, but many do-it-yourself jobs demand a lot of your time. If you have a full-time job, are you capable of taking on a second one? For that reason, if you start any job yourself, try to sample it before committing to the whole thing.
A final tip: if you do plan to follow through with a large-scale renovation, do the smallest room in the house from start to finish — the insulating, rewiring, painting, refinishing, tiling — so you gain a sense of accomplishment.
