The best thing about home ownership is that it is yours and you can do as you please.
Over the weekend I found myself at a friend’s parents’ house that he and his dad had built by hand this past year. As we were taking the tour of their beautifully modern kitchen and bathrooms, his mom mentioned the end goal for this home:
“This is the house I’m going to die in.”
No small statement to make, but one that got me thinking… yeah, that really should be the end goal for a home.
Maybe not that brash, but a home should be designed as a lifelong commitment to your property. To ensure that the space you have created is to be as loving and comforting to your lifestyle as possible. So, when/how often should you remodel your home?
How often?
Now unfortunately, the downside in life is that things change. Like have you heard the music kids are listening to now-a-days? Exactly, not as good as the stuff we listened to growing up (this brought to you by a cynical guy in his late 20’s).
But life needs change! Otherwise, we’d all still be cavemen.
Technology changes, design trends are always being reinvented and layouts just get dated. Think about your grandparents’ house when you were little. What was once a revolutionary approach to home architecture becomes an inefficient hassle to your daily routine.
According to American Real Estate Society, if your home is in a well-kept state, you should remodel every 15-20 years. This way your home stays up to date on all the latest developments, building technology, and architectural trends.
When should I?
Kind of a loaded question as to there are many factors to take into consideration. Not all homes are the same, while some may require major renovations due to natural wear and tear, others may only require specific improvements.
Each room also has different lifespans. A kitchen for example will usually have a longer design lifespan so maybe once every 20 years. A bathroom however, a room that has more dampness, plumbing, and hvac may need every 10-15 years.
The main factor as to “when” is the condition of the room in question. As functionally fades, the technology and layout become outdated then perhaps it is time to remodel. If I can drive any point home, it is: If the room has become inefficient to your lifestyle, then it is time to remodel.
Of course, while being the main reason, that is not the only reason. Some people are looking to just keep up with the trends, which are ever changing. If that is the case, then for strictly budgetary matters I suggest every 5 years. However, it is worth mentioning that “trends” will always come at a cost.
While the “so & so” design may be a popular trend for the time period, the most popular design is the timeless style. The timeless style is one that has a much longer shelf life and sustains itself for decades to come. This includes muted colors; neutral contrast and an open layout that will help to ensure the space will never be lost to time.
The final answer to this question is the obvious one, whenever you want! While important to consider the topics above, the most important thing is do what you want. It’s your house, you can remodel if you want too.
Where do you start?
If you are going to remodel then, where do you start remodeling? In my professional opinion, the first room to remodel should be the room that needs it. As previously mentioned, it all starts with what condition the room in question is in.
Is the roof leaking? Is the wall paint chipping? Are there termites? Start there.
However, if these are not concerns and you’re simply looking to update the layout, then the first room any homeowner should remodel is the kitchen. It is the busiest room in any home, whether it is hosting a party or just day-to-day life, the kitchen sees 3x as much foot traffic as any other room. Kitchen renovations also yield the highest ROI of any room in the home. So, you get the most bang for your buck out of upgrading your kitchen.
G2 has an entire Blog post on which room to remodel first. Read the more In-depth article here: https://g2homeservices.com/blog/first-room-to-remodel/
In conclusion
The timeframe on when and where you remodel is entirely up to you. However, if you’re curious the professionally recommended average is every 15-20 years. Consider the factors; does the condition of this room need improvement, when was the last time this room was remodeled, is it up to date, is it efficient?
And as always, consult with your contractor before making any decisions.
G2 home services is a Residential contractor based out of Port Richey, FL. Servicing homes across the Tampa Bay, G2 is here for you!
2 Comments
Good job Gary as always.
Ian Chase
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it
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