Find out how effective a house remodel is

Did you know that you can take a house and completely change the interior and exterior? You may want to sell your house because it is old, outdated and inefficient; but you like the area. Whole house remodels are more cost effective than one might think.

Contemplating the option of tearing down, rebuilding, remodeling your home or selling your home?

Here are some things to consider:

Some homes built prior to 1950 have significant historical value such as trim details, custom solid-core doors, antique brick or distinctive architectural detail, etc.

In a one-story home, moving walls and raising ceilings are not as costly as most people might think and can change the look and feel of a home dramatically.

Smaller homes can be made to look and feel much larger, after remodeling, without adding to the home’s footprint.

Removing all Sheetrock allows you to assess insulation, electrical, plumbing, structural framing issues and/or any termite or water damage that might be present.

You can change a small threebedroom, two-bathroom home into a nice-sized four-bedroom/ three-bathroom by the addition of a master bedroom and bathroom.

You usually can find a place for a stairwell and add a second floor if more space is needed.

Sometimes a couple or family will look at several homes and none of them seem to fit all of their criteria. Most people don’t realize they can call a reputable design/ build firm, that specializes in remodeling, to recommend design changes and get a rough estimated cost to facilitate — before they purchase.

These are a few additional items to consider:

You should prioritize what you are looking for: lot size; views; location; size of home; one, two or three stories; number of bedrooms/baths; school district; and

Photo courtesy of Envision Design Build This whole house remodel by Envision Design Build included raising the ceiling and replacing the windows with doors. Shown are before (left) and after photos.