Common Remodeling Mistakes

Disregarding Functionality

The best home improvements not only make your home more attractive, but also make it easier to live in. While sometimes an improvement that makes your home more visually attractive can increase its value (homes with great curb appeal, for example, sell for more than homes with limited curb appeal), but this is not always the case. When you start losing functionality for the sake of appearance, you may just be losing out in the end.

Reducing Kitchen Work Space

Kitchens have come a long way in the past 30 years; what used to simply be the room where mom put together her well-loved meatloaf has evolved into the heart of the home. And while a lot of floor space is certainly necessary for the gatherings that make take place there, it's the counter and cabinet space that make the kitchen function well.

When you re-do your kitchen, think of creative ways you can increase your workspace by rearranging appliances or eati-in areas (a banquette is often a great space-saver that usually provides even more seating than a standard table and chairs set up) and don't forget to bring appliances up off the counters when possible (vented microwaves are fantastic for helping to keep your counterspace clear!).

Creating a Small Master Bedroom

There has been a trend in recent years towards a luxurious, spa-like atmosphere in master bedrooms and baths and buyers have started to expect them in moderate-to-upper-end homes.

While increasing the size of your master bedroom may not be as common as remodeling an outdated ktichen, it's one you want to do right if you decide to take it on. Take a look at new homes to get an idea of what buyers will be seeing when looking for a new home and try to emulate the look and feel if possible. Sumptuous bedding, reading nooks and granite counertops in master baths are all upgrades buyers will really notice.

Leaving Your Kitchen Closed Off

Perhaps this should have been included in the my earlier note on kitchens, but in my mind, this is really a separate issue.

Today's floorplans have a much more open feel than the floorplans of 15 or 20 years ago and buyers are gobbling them up. If you're taking the time and effort to upgrade your kitchen's surfaces and appliances, you should consider whether you could possibly open up your home's floorplan by removing walls separating the kitchen from the dining or living room.

While there are certainly those buyers who are fans of the older, more segmented floor plans, most of the buyers I work with today specifically ask for an open floor plan, so it's something to consider.

Getting Rid of the Home's Only Tub

In a home with a smaller full bathroom, homeowners are sometimes tempted to strip out the tub and replace it with a nice size walk-in shower, which makes the bathroom, technically, a three-quarter bath, not a full bath any longer.

Before you get out your jackhammer -- stop! Even if you and your spouse aren't fans of tubs, chances are that when you put your home on the market, many buyers will want at least one tub in the house. Couples with small children routinely bath them in tubs, so by taking out yours, you've completely eliminated it from their list of possible homes.

Crowding Rooms

Okay, this isn't actually a remodeling project (well, not usually) but one thing you can do to appeal to a much wider array of buyers is to try to keep large passageways between furniture and within each room. Don't install a kitchen island that leaves you only a foot and a half of walkway on the other side of it -- it will just make the room feel smaller.

And try not to cram too much furniture in each room, which is a common problem when people put their homes on the market -- most of us just have too much "stuff" and need to get rid of some to create an open, airy feeling throughout the house.

Using Bright Paint

I know, I know....one of the great things about buying a home as opposed to renting an apartment is the ability to paint the walls any color you like. But just because you CAN paint them any color under the rainbow doesn't mean you SHOULD paint them with Crayola colors.

It's not uncommon for me to talk to a client who's getting ready to sell their home and to find that the great new "fresh paint" they've been telling me about will need to be painted over in order to get the best price for the house.

Color choices people are looking for these days are earthtones and soothing, soft coors -- colors that are often "shaded" with a hint of black to keep them soft.

It's a good idea to ask your realtor before you paint which colors he/she suggests to save you both a lot of time and effort. Which brings me to my final point...

Not Getting Outside Advice

With so many choices facing you, it can be easy to get overhwhelmed and lose perspective while getting ready for a remodel of your home.

Remember that a decision you make in haste may still translate into a large investment of time and money, so allow yourself time to run your ideas by people who can offer you another perspective.

One of the easiest ways for you to get input on which remodel choices are likely to pay off is to simply contact me!

Date: Monday, September, 15th 2008 @ 03:56:20 PM
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