Good Reasons Not To Do Home Improvement

When you look at your home, you may or may not see ways it could be improved. If you are relatively satisfied with the way your home looks and feels, do not be tempted to join the home improvement crowd. There are always a few minor improvements that you could make, but steer clear of anything more unless the project makes good economic sense.

If your incentive to start a home improvement project stems from your desire to fit in with your friends or impress them, you may be spending unnecessary time and money. Before you decide to make any substantial changes in your home, research the time and cost in comparison to the possible added equity that will result from the finished project.

Take a look around your neighborhood and notice how your home fits in. If you have an older home in a neighborhood of relatively new houses, you may want to consider updating your windows and/or siding. If your home is smaller than the surrounding houses, it may look out of place. You can disguise the difference somewhat with strategically placed trees, shrubs and flower beds. A relatively inexpensive addition to your home could be a sunroom, which would give your house more living space without spending a lot.

If your home sticks out like a sore thumb in your neighborhood because the style is substantially different than the surrounding houses, you could consider making some changes to make it fit in better. An older farmhouse style home has charm but looks out of place as more modern homes are built in the same area. An updated front entry and new windows can create a more modern look for your older home.

In spite of the fact that electrical wiring and plumbing is not obvious, it is important to make sure those systems are updated for safety's sake. If you plan to remove, replace or add walls, that is a good time to make sure all your electrical wiring and plumbing is updated.

Before you make plans to begin a home improvement project, carefully check the cost of all the materials and work needed to complete it. It is a mistake to begin a project without having sufficient funds to finish it, and a partially done construction project can actually devalue your home should you need to sell it.

Make sure you have the ability to either do all the work on your own, or hire a contractor if you need to. It is a good idea to get an estimate of the total cost of the project from a few contractors before you begin. Some contractors allow homeowners to help with certain parts of the project to reduce the cost.

Check the appraisal value of your home as it is, and also how much the improvement would increase its value. If there is more cost involved than the resulting increased value, do not take on the project unless absolutely necessary.

Use the list provided in this article to determine if a home improvement project makes sense for you. Only you can make that decision, and you are the one who will live with the results whether they are good or not.