5 Do's and Don’ts of Choosing to Renovate Your Home

But before you hire a contractor, you should be sure you are renovating for the right reasons. Why? Remodeling for the wrong reasons could exacerbate your troubles. To help you determine the best time and ways to renovate at home, consider these dos and don'ts of when to remodel.

Have your kids grown up and moved out? Are you planning to retire? Are you starting a family? If your needs have definitely changed since you moved into the house, it may be time to remodel your home to better fit your current lifestyle.

Look at your needs for the next five to ten years before deciding what to change. The remodel plan should increase your enjoyment and comfort in the home as well as its functionality for the foreseeable future.

Do you have renovation envy? It can be difficult to watch other friends, family, or neighbors getting their houses updated or build additions. But jumping into a remodel project just because someone else's home looks newer than yours now is not always a good plan. If you're primarily motivated by what others do with their homes, you may waste money or get upgrades you won't fully enjoy.

Instead, focus on your own family's style of living. Look honestly at your own home's pluses and minuses. Try to tune out other people's priorities and formulate your own.

Have you outgrown your current home? Moving to a new property can disrupt your life and your finances. And for most people, it's just a prolonged, unpleasant experience. If you like where you live but just don't like the house any more, consider doing an addition to the home to make it more functional.

Look for targeted renovations that address the biggest issues with the smallest disruption. A large family might consider adding a bathroom or another bedroom. Either project can often be done without taking over the entire home for the duration. Even a simple remodel could help you find more satisfaction with your home for many more years.

Trendy designs and features come and go. Before you commit to the latest house fad, consider how long it will really last. Some trendy designs, like built-in vacuum systems, quickly prove a waste of money. Others, like sunken living rooms, make the room too easily dated. And others, like a particularly hot color one year, could quickly become a sore point the next year.

Instead, look for reliable, long-lasting changes that will stand the test of time.

While you shouldn’t remodel your home just because other people are doing it, you should keep your home’s value in mind. If your house has become the oldest one on the block in appearance or function, bring it up to date to maintain its appeal.

However, you don't want to overshoot the neighborhood by adding too many fancy upgrades that make the home stick out. A house that simply doesn't fit into its surroundings is unlikely to actually retain the value it should.

As you ensure that your remodel plans are done for the right reasons, you will surely have more success. And an experienced contractor can help. With their vast knowledge of home design, trends, and how to create lasting value, a quality residential construction service is an asset throughout the renovation process. Call the pros at Genuine Home Builders, Inc., today to make an appointment to discuss your needs.