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Balancing Need and Cost: The Economics of Home Remodeling

Remodeling a home should not be taken lightly. A homeowner should weigh the facts and figures of what the remodeling will do to ultimate value of the home before spending a lot of money on home improvements.

Remodeling is ideal for homeowners who are looking to boost their quality of life. However, if a homeowner is remodeling in order to increase the value of their home, they need to select their improvements wisely.

Remodeling vs. Selling

The common query that many homeowners face is whether to sell their home in order to purchase the home that has everything the family wants, or to remodel the home they are already in.

If the homeowner does decide to sell, what should they do to get the biggest profit out of the sale? According to the professionals, it is crucial to first determine what the needs of the family are, such as the amount of children vs. rooms needed. As an example, if the largest home in the neighborhood doesn't have enough rooms, and the homeowner decides to add onto the home, they probably won't get their money back if they sell, since the home is already one of the more expensive in the neighborhood. However if the home is one of the less expensive homes, adding on will most certainly increase the value of the home.

Before a homeowner decides to remodel, they should consult their mortgage lender to determine how much they money they can obtain for the remodel. They should then check with their realtor to establish the value of their home and the potential to add value in the future. After this the homeowner should have a better idea of what remodeling tasks are the most important to tackle.

Remodeling

In general, adding a room onto a home will help increase the value, because larger homes sell better than smaller homes. Remodeling a bathroom on the other hand, usually costs between $6,000 and $8,000 and will not be gained back in profit. A common misconception when it comes to home remodeling is that all money put into a home will be recouped in the future when it comes to selling the home. Adding a second story to a home can cost up to $90,000. It is most likely that it will not increase the home by $90,000 however. It will definitely increase the home's value, but not by as much as they spent.

The best way to remodel a home economically is to add square footage in the way of bedrooms, bathroom or kitchen enlarging.

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