As a professional interior designer, I’m always happy to talk you into remodeling. It can prevent the sale of a home you love, add usable square footage to a small space and will re-energize an outdated or bland home design. At the same time, I am the first one to admit that remodeling or renovating a home should only take place when the owners have a clear set of goals or a vision for what is about to take place.
3 Examples of When Remodeling Your Home is NOT a Good Idea
Believe it or not, there are times when my recommendation to clients is,”take a pass on the remodel this time around.” While creating beautiful and functional living spaces is a passion of mine, so too is leaving behind a design that is truly suited to my clients’ needs and will serve them well in the long-term. The following are three examples of when that simply isn’t possible.
You simply don’t have the budget for it. A cheap or poorly executed remodel is akin to a cheap or poorly executed cosmetic procedure. It’s so worth it to save a little longer so you can afford the professional who can do the best and most lasting work for you. If you want a $50,000 kitchen remodel but you only have $25,000 to spend, you will wind up going cheap in all the wrong places, which leads to a kitchen that is frustrating and can’t hold up to daily wear-and-tear. Instead, I am happy to consult with you in order to design temporary fixes that will help you enjoy your current design a little longer while you prepare to save and/or finance a remodel that brings 100% satisfaction.
It won’t add enough value to your home. If you plan to age-in-place, remaining in your home for the next several decades, resale value is less of an issue. However, if there is any chance you will be selling your home in the next decade, you want to think very carefully about your remodeling plans. While its a rare remodeling project that will recoup 100% of the investment, the right interior design will definitely add value to your home. However, if the scope of your project can’t come close to being returned to you via a future home sale, I highly advise scaling your design back a bit so it makes financial sense.
You’ve remodeled your home more than once in the past 10 years. Just like the shopaholic is convinced that world peace is possible if he or she can just find the right wardrobe combination, I have met a few serial remodelers in my time. Sometimes, clients approach me to remodel their homes and, when I arrive for the consultation, I’m greeted by a beautiful, obviously fresh remodel or renovation that completely suits their needs. This raises a red flag for me. Are you just trying to keep up or compete with neighbors or friends? Do you find yourself bored and remodeling or redecorating is something to fill the space? Either scenario can result in an empty or vapid design experience, which is unsatisfying and always a challenge for the designer-client relationship. If you have invested in multiple remodels in a relatively short period of time, it might be time to meet with a designer who can implement a timeless design that you can redecorate more frequently and easily as your tastes and current trends continue to cycle.