It’s the first day of Fall, so hopefully temperatures in the Valley will continue to drop to something a little more comfortable.
If you’ve taken a spin through a grocery store or Target lately, you’ve no doubt seen the festive displays of costumes, candies, and other trinkets. The first day of Fall means one thing: Winter holidays are coming.
Since Phoenix’s mild winter climate allows construction to go on unimpeded, many people may be wondering what it’s like to remodel during the holiday season.
The truth is that holiday season remodels require the same things as any other remodels. But you don’t have to take our word for it. We found an article titled “5 ways to reduce stress during holiday remodels,” and the advice is applicable to any remodeling project.
First, hire an experienced contractor that is familiar with high-quality specialists (*cough, cough*), not one who just promises to beat everyone’s price. Cutting corners doesn’t pay off in the long run.
Next, make sure the lines of communication are open. Discuss all goals, the budget, a timeline, and get a signed contract.
Finally, organize your space. Clear out furniture and storage ahead of time, so that no work is impeded. And if your remodel is going on during the holidays, make sure you grab all of your holiday party decorations for the rest of the house.
More on universal design
Here’s a great story about a young, active couple that uses wheelchairs and their process of building an accessible house in the St. Louis area.
Note that while they opted for a new build and not a remodel, they enlisted the help of a firm with a special passion for universal design. (*cough, cough*)
Have a great week!
We’ve all been there. After shelling out big bucks on one single purchase, a wave of remorse hits, indicating that perhaps you should have contemplated your recent transaction more thoroughly. Most items can (fortunately) be returned, but what happens when you devote most of your savings toward something that has no exchange policy whatsoever?
Like any other procurement, home purchases are vulnerable to deferred regret. In fact, over half of all homeowners today feel remorseful over their current home or the process they went through to get it, according to a recent Trulia survey. One-third (33 percent) wish they had chosen something more spacious while a lesser segment (9 percent) feel guilty they didn’t select a smaller home. Over a quarter of all homeowners regret their remodeling decisions, whether going overboard or completely skipping renovations altogether.
Homeowners unhappy in their current residence have two remedies worth contemplating: remodel the current house or move to a new place in the same neighborhood. Consider how the primary two methods of eliminating buyer’s remorse theoretically score for Mesa-area homeowners.
Remodeling Your Phoenix Home
Your renovation choice largely depends on which aspects of your home disappoint you the most. That doesn’t mean you should overlook the importance of resale value. Bathroom and kitchen renovations typically have a positive impact on your home’s price point no matter the location. In the Phoenix metro area specifically, projects that are more likely to generate strong returns include attic insulation (179 percent ROI), basement remodels (84.3 percent ROI), manufactured stone veneer (88.7 percent ROI), and minor kitchen remodels (85.2 percent). Not only do these projects have the potential to satisfy many homeowners’ need for a change, but the initial investment will most likely generate a home price boost down the road.
Moving in the Phoenix Metro
Remodeling costs vary considerably depending on the size of the project, but home prices in the greater Phoenix metro area are also on the rise, making the costs of moving too steep for some. For example, the Gilbert real estate market has been on a steady climb since prices bottomed out in 2012, thanks to the lingering effects of the recession. The median sales price is now $275,000, up from $199,000 just five years ago. Home prices in the Phoenix metro jumped significantly over the past year alone, particularly in the communities of Camelback East (up 7.3 percent), Paradise Valley (up 8.9 percent) and Ahwatukee Foothills (up 7.1 percent). Such progress ordinarily benefits sellers, but homeowners looking to relocate to the same neighborhood might have a difficult time finding a new home within budget. Plus, low housing inventory and highly competitive home buying conditions makes finding your dream home even more problematic.
Rather than relocating and risking lost ROI, homeowners can update their abodes to suit their lifestyle needs to a tee. In addition to the concepts listed above, check out MK Remodeling & Design’s portfolio of past home design projects that could bring a better sense of comfort and harmony to your current residence. To speak with a Mesa remodeling expert, contact MK Remodeling & Design today.
About the author: This post was written by Jennifer Riner of Trulia. To read more about some of the statistics cited in this post, check out Trulia’s blog.
While summer is winding down across the country, the heat is still going strong in the Valley.
Summer people usually fall into two types. The first stays inside most of the time and waits for cooler temperatures. The second makes lemonade out of lemons and spends time by the pool or on a patio.
The reality is that there’s an outdoor summer remodeling project for everyone, regardless of what camp you belong to.
Realtor.com has a couple of good articles on this topic. The first, “9 Clever Tricks to Make Your Outdoor Space Look Expensive,” offers a collection of smaller tweaks that can really bump up your outdoor profile.
For example, the article suggests adding a brick, cobblestone, or concrete pathway with contrasting colors to make a spectacular first impression for guests arriving at your front door.
For larger backyard spaces, the article suggests creating sections with purpose, like a bar area, a grill and kitchen area, and seating area with similar color schemes and lighting concepts to give it the proper flow. That way you avoid one big, lifeless space.
The second Realtor.com article, “7 Great End-of-Summer Home Improvement Upgrades to Do Now,” offers insight for larger outdoor projects.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but shopping around for a pool this time of year can yield big savings, considering demand isn’t at its peak, the article says.
One pool-related project you might not have thought of is adding an outdoor shower, as the article notes. An outdoor shower is a great way to class up your pool area; just remember to pick a size appropriate to the space and add storage for towels and clothes.
Have a good week!
