REMODEL SMART: 3 things you should and shouldn’t do...

Remodeling your home is an investment of your time and money so considering what you want to focus should be taken seriously. To make it a bit easier, the Team at Thomas Designs came up with a list of the 3 things you can do to your home that will increase its resale value and three things you could put at the bottom of your to-do list. ​

1. Kitchen

Kitchens are one of the more complicated and expensive things to renovate in a home but the outcome and future resale value for that effort is shown to be very profitable. We love creating kitchens with innovative storage solutions and energy efficient appliances. Effective kitchens are usually at the top of any potential home buyers list and also great to enjoy before you sell. Who doesn’t love a brand new kitchen?

2. Curb Appeal

Home Buyers are looking for something that gets their heart pounding and the best place to start is before they even step in the home.  The power of a fresh coat of paint, strategically placed stepping stones or low maintenance/ drought friendly greenery are quick fixes that could add a lot of value to your home in a rather short amount of time. Working with a designer to pull together an eye grabbing front yard will definitely be worth it in the future for selling purposes. ​

3. Bathrooms

Everyone wants to have a beautiful and functional bathroom. Taking the time to invest in a classic, crisp/clean design will definitely be a crowd pleaser. Bathrooms are a great opportunity to add eco-conscience plumbing fixtures that will help with the cost of running your household.

If you are concerned about budget and need to keep the list down to a minimum, the cost to benefit ratio for the options below are not so great, so keeping these off your priority list may be a good option:

1. Pools - To some potential home buyers this could be seen as something that detracts from the home. The cost of upkeep and time it takes often is a turn off. Unless this is a part of your dream, don't worry about putting a pool in to increase home value.
   

1. Wine Rooms/Cellars - Not everyone is a wine drinker or would ever be one to the extent that requires a whole room dedicated to it. Creating an extra living/play space would be more beneficial. Working with a designer to figure out how to create a wine space for yourself while living in the home is always something you can inquire about.
   

1. Minor additions/expansions - Making a room 40 sq feet bigger or expanding a bathroom a bit may make the space more comfortable for everyone but you may not see that actually raise the value of the home. The more cost effective thing to do is to add another bathroom or bedroom on to the home if you have the space.