Whether you’re considering selling your home or you plan on staying there a good long time and you want to get it exactly the way you like it, embarking on home improvements can be stressful. Even if you’re taking a thrifty approach, you’re probably still spending a substantial amount of money and making a big change, and you might wonder whether it’s all worthwhile. Below are a few things to consider about the project you have in mind.
Future Proofing
Future proofing is about making sure that what you’re doing now is still viable in the future or leaves room for improvement. A very trendy kitchen or bathroom design might date in a few years. Another thing to consider is future technology; those who are doing heavy structural renovations may want to leave space to run cables. A home that is more sustainable may age better than a less energy-efficient one.
Future proofing can also mean thinking about your own future. You may live alone now, but do you want space for a family someday? You might consider as well whether you’d like to stay in your home as you age. For some, this can be a problem in a house with stairs, but ultra-slim residential elevators may fit easily into many different types of homes and make this scenario possible. Whatever it is you hope to do in the future, or you think the future inhabitants may want to do, keep it in mind as you move forward with your home improvements.
Return on Investment
If you hope to live in your house for a long time or the rest of your life and you desperately want a new kitchen or to add a home office, it may well be worthwhile even if it’s costly. However, if you’re considering renovations primarily to increase the sales potential and value of your home, make sure that you’re going to get what you pay for. The increase in value should be significantly more than the cost of whatever you are doing. You may want to talk to one or two local real estate professionals if you’re unsure about what changes would be best.
Thinking Small
There are all kinds of big projects you can do like planning an addition to your home, but whether you’re hoping to spruce up the place for a sale or just for your own comfort, don’t underestimate the difference that small changes can make. Painting, new carpet, or some careful landscaping outside don’t cost a lot but can entice buyers or just make you feel better about the place where you live.
DIY Versus the Professionals
Don’t assume that doing improvement projects yourself is always the cheapest way to go. First, consider how much time it will take. In addition, if you do it wrong, it will cost you even more to have a professional come and undo your mistake and fix it. That’s not to say that DIY is always a mistake, but make sure that it’s something that you’re genuinely interested in doing for its own sake. It can easily take over all your free time if you aren’t careful.