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Great Ideas for Your Home
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Homeowners are updating their houses with new products and added space
in record numbers. There are a number of factors driving this increase
in remodeling activity. To start with, houses are getting older. The
median age of a Utah Valley home is 30 years old. Another factor that
differentiates new homes from their older counterparts is size. Most
homes built in the 1980s had an average of 1,800 square feet compared
to today's average homes of 2,200 square feet.
Another factor driving the demand for remodeling in Utah County is
the sharp increase in housing values over the last decade. With home
prices escalating, more homeowners are turning toward remodeling, first
and foremost to add to their enjoyment of living in their home, but
also to boost the value of their original investment.
What improvements will add the most value to your home? To answer
that question, it is important to understand that remodeling is
different from other investments. What's unique about housing is that
the "investor" or owner receives the immediate benefit of being able to
occupy and enjoy their investment. Stocks and bonds don't deliver on
this aspect.
Consider the following guidelines for increasing the return on your
remodeling investment.
- Maintaining your home in good repair is the most critical of all
investments.
- The quality of work you have done on your home is a factor that
can't be ignored. Hire a professional who is committed to keeping the
structural and esthetic integrity of your home.
- Remodel for yourself and your own family. It is a gamble to
predict what the likes and dislikes of the next owner might be.
- Kitchens and bathroom remodels are the two most popular
remodeling projects. Minor kitchen remodels tend to recoup more of
their costs than any other remodeling work.
- Extra space in the right place offers a high rate of return since
existing homes tend to lack the roominess of new homes.
The real value of remodeling is the comfort and pleasure it adds to
the years we spend living in our home. As simple as this all sounds,
turning a home into what you envision is not always an easy task.
Sometimes people think that they can save time and money by doing it
themselves; however, if they don't know what they are doing they can
open themselves up to a lot of problems. Homeowners need to educate
themselves by contacting a professional. The professional can help the
project stay on schedule by planning and making sure they do not go
over budget. Quality workmanship of a licensed contractor will improve
your chances of recouping your financial investment.
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