There is a lot of home remodeling going on in Northern Virginia and elsewhere.
By some estimates there may be over $125 billion spent this quarter in home remod projects. Yes, that is an incredible number.
You want to be real careful if you are doing this to get your home ready to sell.
Not all renovations are created equal. Some may not be “worth it”, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2011 Cost vs Value report.
The real kicker is that some projects should never be started — they may cause your home to be difficult or impossible to sell.
One quick example is installing a new toilet that requires the discharge pipes to run along the living room ceiling. Re-engineer that or forget it.
An article on CNNMoney.com mentions several others projects you should never do:
- Don’t add a 4th/5th bedroom to a home with just one bathroom.
- Don’t build a bedroom with no closet space.
- Don’t make common rooms disproportionately large or small to one another.
When working with sellers, I always provide my own view on factors that impact “salability” and when appropriate, we get other experts in to help the seller make sound decisions on remod projects. I also believe strongly in the need for proper home staging, so I work with a home staging professional to provide a free consultation and set of recommendations to my clients.
If you need referrals on local home improvement contractors, don’t hesitate to call me and I will be glad to share names of folks we have to be found reliable and quality service providers.
And of course, if you are considering the sale of your home and want a personal consultation, we are here for you.