To Remodel Or Not to Remodel?

Aside from being the place we call home for most of us, our house is also our single largest financial asset. As a place to live, our home's layout, design and function affect our lives on a daily basis and, as an investment, looking for ways to enhance or protect its value are important as well.

So if you are still deciding whether or not a certain larger remodeling project is really worth undertaking, you do have to look at both sides of the equation to make the best final decision.

The best starting point is to examine your own needs and desires. How much better will your day to day existence be if you go ahead with this remodeling project?

For projects like adding a second bathroom, the benefits are clear and easy for anyone to understand. No more waiting in line outside the bathroom door, no more tripping over your kids' dirty clothes because they never remember what a laundry hamper is - they will still mess up their own bathroom but at least it won't ruin your own morning routine!

Other remodeling projects are harder to figure out though. Cork flooring looks nice in all the brochures and it's very green (and we all want to be green) but will it really be all that different to the ceramic tile you have now? Are you better off sticking with what you have a while longer and spending the money elsewhere? These trickier questions are the ones that are harder to answer clearly.

Then there is the financial half of the equation to consider. If your home is the only one in the immediate area that still has just a single bathroom then you would be at a disadvantage should you ever want to sell. Therefore that proposed bathroom addition makes a lot of sense in terms of adding to your home's overall market value as well as your continued sanity.

But that new cork floor? It depends. If your current kitchen flooring is in less than great shape and would be likely to put off any future buyers (the way a kitchen looks is always a very big deal to potential home buyers) then upgrading it makes sense. The fact that cork is a very eco-friendly and beautiful flooring option will add to the perceived value of your home as well.

On the other hand if the floor you already have is still in great shape and is a high end material like ceramic tile or laminate, then installing cork may make very little difference to the overall value of your home. It just might make you a little happier though, which can also count for a lot.

In the end though it is worth remembering that home remodeling is really all about making the home you currently live in a better place for everyone, whether you are going to stay in it for the next five or the next fifty years.

To help you make the final decision on the costs and benefits of remodeling your home, consult one of the qualified home improvement contractors in your area.

Ursula K Rose - Renovation Experts USA
You can find lots of helpful information about finding a suitable home renovation contractor at Renovation Experts and read our home Renovation with Renovation Experts Blog, which is updated several times a week with helpful home renovation articles.