Great Ideas for Your Home






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.
  1. Maintaining your home in good repair is the most critical of all investments.

  2. 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.

  3. Remodel for yourself and your own family. It is a gamble to predict what the likes and dislikes of the next owner might be.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.