As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases you might make if you click any of the links on this page.
Your home is your castle, your retreat from the world. It’s natural you’d want it to be as comfortable as possible. It’s also likely that you could use more space. Just because you feel this way, it doesn’t mean that you will actually go through with it.
Here’s a list of questions that can help you decide when the time is right to renovate. You may be surprised at how this list shapes your thinking.
What’s the Condition of your Lawn?
If your yard looks lousy, it’s actually an excellent time to renovate. You won’t be losing anything. On the other hand, if you have invested thousands in planting the right shrubs and flowers, you may think twice before inviting workers and trucks onto your lawn. Construction crews can and should use composite or wood mats to protect your turf, but they may have to remove plants to reach the outside wall of the area they are renovating.
What Month will the Renovations Be Complete?
Few people will launch a big project in the dead of winter. However, they may accidentally launch a project that will stumble into bad weather months. You should study your weather patterns, looking at when it rains and what conditions will be. Then, if you talk to a contractor, you should make sure that the project will not only start in good weather, but it will end before bad weather has started.
How Much Do I Work from Home?
More and more people are working from home. If this describes you or your spouse, then you may need more space. On the one hand, you may want to build an office with its own door for visitors. If that’s not necessary, you may decide instead to build a new master bedroom suite or a larger living room. This will free up a bedroom or the old living room for exclusive use as an office.
When Do I Plan to Sell the House?
Many renovations are done to please the current owner. That’s completely understandable. You want to change your decor and your layout. However, you don’t want to do this if you are going to sell the house in the next two years. You want time to enjoy the changes, and you probably won’t recoup your costs if you sell too soon.
Do I Have Enough Money?
If you have enough money to pay for renovations outright, you definitely should consider it. Taking out a loan is what makes it much more complicated. You don’t want to get into debt. If possible, spend a year or more saving up for the renovation. Perhaps you skip big vacations and put that money into the savings account. When you do renovate, you’ll be glad you did it the right way.
Is My Family Growing or Shrinking?
Sometimes the itch to renovate is just an itch. There’s no need for more room. The family isn’t growing, and you don’t need extra rooms. On the other hand, if you have a new baby, have adopted a child, or have older relatives living with you permanently, it’s only natural to need more space.
How Ugly is It?
Overriding other concerns, the ugly factor is a big reason to renovate. Many of us are happy in our current home and neighborhood, but there’s one annoying aspect of our house that needs to be fixed. Rather than move away from friends or force the kids to move schools, it may be simpler to renovate the part of your house that looks so bad. That one change may make all the difference.
Now that you know the questions to ask yourself, hopefully you can start planning toward that renovation. You’ll have established your priorities and your limitations. Best of all, you can time it right and make sure your finances can handle it.