27 Oct 3 Questions Before You Start Your HGTV-Inspired Home Remodel
Photo credit: HGTV
Who hasn’t seen an episode of HGTV’s Fixer Upper and thought “I need that”? There’s something about open floor plans and bright kitchens that attract homeowners like moths to a flame. And we all love the Cinderella story of a dramatic remodel.
But while obtaining your dream home is a worthy goal, those types of major remodel projects are also expensive and pretty risky. If a project goes sideways – or just doesn’t end up looking like it did on HGTV – you just may end up with a case of home improvement remorse.
Instead of jumping right into a new project, take your time and do serious research first.
There are a lot of things to consider, but just three major questions that you MUST answer before you get started. If you can answer each question well, you’ll be off to a really good start.
The 3 Most Important Questions To Consider Before Starting A Home Improvement Project:
Do you know – really know – what you want?
So many times homeowners begin a big project without a clear idea of what they want in the end. Or they think they know what they want, but once it’s coming together they realize they don’t like it after all.
This is completely understandable, so don’t feel bad if this is you. Humans are visual creatures. It’s hard to truly envision something if you haven’t seen it firsthand.
But when you are investing thousands of dollars (or more) in a home remodel, you don’t have the luxury of changing your mind and deciding as you go. That will be a good way to waste money and time, and end up very frustrated with your project.
There’s a very practical way to get around this dilemma: surround yourself with photos of what you want, or better yet, experience the real thing. For example, let’s say you have a small, cave-like kitchen with walnut cabinets in your 1960-era home. You want to take down the wall between the kitchen and the living room to open up the space, and you want to brighten up the kitchen cabinets. Go onto Pinterest or Google Images and save all the examples you can of kitchens like the one you want.
And then take it to the next level by looking for houses similar to yours that have already done a remodel like what you’re planning. That way, you can be as certain as possible that your vision will actually result in a positive change to your home.
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Think that’s impossible? If you don’t personally know someone who can let you in to see the results of their remodel, try searching for homes on the market built in the same era as your home, and then flip through them until you find one with a kitchen like the one you want. Go to the next open house and see it for yourself.
The important thing is that before you even begin the project you have a very clear understanding of the end goal, and you are able to convey that goal to your contractor with pictures in addition to words so everyone is on the same page.
Do you know how this remodel will impact your home value?
Some remodel projects will be make your home a lot more convenient and enjoyable for your family, but will actually scare off potential buyers when you eventually put your home on the market. For example, let’s say you have several family members fighting over the shower each morning. So you want to remodel the half bath downstairs so you have another shower. Well, when buyers tour your house one day, they are going to feel pretty weird about the shower next to the living room!
There are reports out there that tell you the average impact of various types of remodels on your home value, depending on your state. But the truth is everything depends on the unique characteristics of your home and the project you’re considering. So to be safe, just talk to a trusted real estate agent. Even if it’s someone you worked with years ago to purchase your home, they would be happy to give you some advice about your project and your home value.
Do you have a high quality, reliable, and trustworthy contractor?
Here’s a sobering thought: the contractor you choose will make or break this project.
Not only are you depending on them to do good quality work without cutting corners, you need their expert advice. After all, they have most likely worked on many other projects like yours. They know where things will get tricky and they know what decisions you might be likely to regret.
Make sure you have a contractor you trust – ask for referrals from friends, or do some reference checking from a contractor you’ve found online.
Then take some time to get your contractor’s advice about the project. If they think something you want to do might be a bad idea, it would be smart to listen. Who knows, they might even give you some new ideas that will make the project even better.
Planning A Home Improvement Project?
If you are considering a home improvement project in the near future, why not reach out to us and get a bid? C&C Construction is a fully licensed and insured general contractor serving the greater Seattle area, especially Mercer Island, Seward Park, and Mount Baker. We would love to see how we might be able to help make your next project truly excellent.
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