Have you ever taken a moment to look at your to-do list of jobs around the home and thought, “every time I complete one task, there are two more to do”?
This is an exhausting realisation and a sign that perhaps it’s time to look at an extensive remodel of your home, or to sell and move on.
For any homeowner, this can be a dilemma. Often, your financial position is the biggest factor in your decision, but other influences can push you towards action.
As an experienced real estate agent, I know there’s an array of options for you. If you love the area and the family are settled in their work and schools, the smart play is to either remodel, or find a more suitable property in the same neighborhood.
Don’t assume remodeling is a cheaper option. Large-scale projects are prone to building problems and blown deadlines that send costs skyrocketing.
If you’re not ready to commit to that risk, then I’d be delighted to show you suitable properties nearby that are on the market. We can also discuss buying trends and the prices that are being achieved right now.
It’s worth having this conversation before you go full-steam-ahead into a major remodel with all the upheaval it would create in your life, possibly for several months.
If you love your current home, then I have empathy for your resistance to move. If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of remodeling or moving, below is a quick list of signs that suggest that it’s time to action, regardless of which way you decide to jump.
- Big issues – If the foundations are rotting, the roof leaks or the chimney is falling off the roof, let’s face it: you’ve got issues. And these may only be the start of your problems. Major faults often create smaller ones. You shouldn’t let any of these issues drift.
- Cash at hand – Not many of us have piles of cash in our bank accounts with nothing to do. But if you’ve owned your property for a while, you will most likely have equity in your home. So, you should take a deep breath and consider dipping into this equity to pay for remedial work and the remodeling.
- You’re a stayer – You should only do a major remodel if you intend to stay in the home for several more years. It’s a crazy expense if you’re likely to move in the next three years. If that’s the case, the smart play would be to push your plans forward.
- It feels dated – It’s not unreasonable to yearn for a modern home with all the conveniences they bring. Interior design has come a long way in the past 20 years, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting open-plan living, a gorgeous kitchen and lots of light streaming through the windows.
- Cramping your style – If the family have outgrown the home – a common occurrence with teenagers or adult children around – you might be better off finding a bigger home rather than going to the expense of a costly extension. (Or a smaller home and kick them out. Hey, I’m not judging!)
- You’re still in love – Emotional ties to a home are strong and real. If you’re not ready to leave behind your treasured family memories, then investing in a remodel of your home is completely justified.
- Time for a makeover – As your life changes, so do your requirements in a home. Perhaps you’re finding the kitchen too small, or no one uses the dining room anymore. Have you got clutter everywhere because storage is insufficient? These are all signs that you’re home isn’t keeping up with your lifestyle. Either its design needs a dramatic makeover, or it’s time to go.
- Okay with chaos – If you can put up with the massive disruption of builders arriving at 6.30am every weekday morning for months on end, then hats off to you! Or if you have the budget to find temporary accommodation during construction – a more sensible option – then an extensive upgrade isn’t going to be so confronting.