Should you remodel or just move?
It’s not easy to decide whether you should remodel your home or if it makes more sense to move.
As you contemplate the advantages and disadvantages of moving vs. remodeling, there are definite factors to consider. These factors will depend on several things including your age and the age of your children if you have a family, proximity to activities that you and your family enjoy, and the neighborhood itself. If you have children in school, you may want to avoid disrupting them. This is a strong incentive for remodeling instead of moving.
There may be other advantages to staying in your current home. These could range from the actual block you live on, the tranquility or busyness of the area, the proximity to transportation or even your immediate neighbors. You tend to notice those things that you don’t like, but it is equally important to not overlook the advantages to staying where you are. You may find that there are significant advantages to staying in your current home. In that case, remodeling will be a better choice for you and your family.
Larry Abbott of Abbott Contracting, who services the Southwest Houston area, said, “I often hear from homeowners that upon getting an estimate they were intimidated by the cost of remodeling and decided to move from the neighborhood they love. Unable to find the home of their dreams at the price they could afford, they often return to the idea of remodeling, which proves to be the more cost-effective option to get exactly what they desire.”
John Gillette of Craftsmanship By John, who services the Memorial and surrounding area, said “Renovating is the best way to get everything you want in a house. Even if you do plan to eventually move, some renovations will increase your home’s value and improve the quality of your life right now. A master suite addition or kitchen and bath renovation will make your house more desirable, as long as you don’t over-improve for your location.”
Dennis Hart of Be Okay Services in Pearland said, “It’s no secret that the better the condition of a home, the higher the selling price. In most cases, making the right improvements can dramatically improve the value of the home by two to three times the cost of the home improvements. Not having funding for improvements shouldn’t be an obstacle; there are ways to fund your improvement projects until closing.”
Michael Souter of Caliber Construction Group/Certified Restoration located in the north Houston area said, “Sometimes mother nature forces decisions for us as in the case of flooding. It may be necessary after a
flood to restore the home. As you tear things out, your home becomes a blank slate for your imagination. This is the ideal time to make your desired changes. It is helpful to work with a company that has the knowledge and expertise to handle both types of jobs.”
Whether you choose to remodel or to relocate it is vitally important that you choose to work with professionals who will help you optimize your future living arrangements.
This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. For information on this article, contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, visit www.ghba.org.