Mar 20 2010
Why Am I Doing This?
Whenever a homeowner decides that it is time to add a few major improvements to the property, there is one very important factor that should always be given some deep thought. The all important question should be “why am I doing this; is it for me and my family or am I simply trying to add some extra resale value to my house?” This question is vitally important because the answer to it will automatically point to the type of remodeling project that should or should not be considered.
For example, a family that has several small children may indeed appreciate the installation of a very fancy backyard playground that is complete with the new style shredded rubber flooring. But, on the other hand, a family that is comprised of older children may really prefer to have an in ground swimming pool. Therefore, if you are thinking of selling your home sometime in the near future, maybe neither one of these things are worth spending your hard earned money on.
On the other hand, almost everyone appreciates having a garage that is attached to their home. The addition of this structure will not only provide a safe place to park the family car, but it will also create a whole lot of extra storage room. This is something that almost every family desperately needs. Expensive garden tractors, snow cleaning machines and sit down lawn mowers all require shelter from all of the harsh weather elements if they are expected to continue to operate properly. This is definitely an investment that will add a great deal of resale value to every piece of property.
Another great modernization project concerns the laundry room. Simply relocating the washer and dryer from the basement area of the home to a suitable place on the first floor of the house is a tremendous improvement. Many people just have a problem going up and down a whole flight of stairs. Maybe it is because of the onset of arthritis, dealing with the very debilitating effects of chemotherapy treatments, or perhaps a heart condition that is severely limiting their physical activities. At any rate, this is one change that everyone will be delighted to see.
Therefore, if constructing a playground, swimming pool, or tennis court will increase the quality of life for you and your family, by all means go for it. However, if you are just trying to make your home a lot more valuable to any of the future potential buyers that may enter the picture, it may be a much better idea to stick to the improvements that most people desire; especially a large garage.
Jonathan is the owner of Chicago Flat Fee Listing, a Flat Fee MLS company that specializes in placing For Sale By Owner (FSBO) properties on the Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a low one time flat fee. Please visit Chicago Flat Fee Listing to learn more about their services and the Flat Fee MLS packages they offer.