Number 1 Reason to Remodel: Simple Desire for New Amenities

According to remodelers who answered special questions on NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI) survey for the 1st quarter of 2014, a simple “desire for better/newer amenities” ranked as the number one reason customers choose to remodel their homes. On a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 indicates never or almost never, and 5 is very often), the average remodeler’s response was 4.3.

“Desire for better/newer amenities” edged out the second place “need to repair/replace old components” by one tenth of a point. These traditional market drivers were the only reasons to remodel with an average rating above 4.0. Another fairly traditional reason, “desire/need for more space” came in third at 3.7.
Reasons to remodel that are of special interest to particular stakeholders—like aging in place and energy efficiency—were further down the list, with average responses near the 3.0 center of the scale. Relatively low average ratings for increasing the home’s investment value or preparing it for a sale continue to support the idea that owners are more likely to remodel for themselves than for future owners. Getting a property ready for a distressed sale scored a particularly low 1.3 (very near the minimum possible 1.0).At the margin, of course, less common reasons to remodel can still fuel an increase in activity if they are on the rise. However, this is only the second time we’ve asked the “reasons to remodel” question on the RMI survey (the first being in the first quarter of 2012), and most of the answers on average changed very little in the intervening two years. Indeed, the average rating for 9 of the 12 categories changed by one tenth of a point or less.
One exception was an increase from 2.8 to 3.0 in the “desire to be able to age in place,” something many observers were probably expecting given the aging population. “Desire/need for more space” also increased two tenths of a point. “Desire for better/newer amenities” posted the largest gain, going from 4.0 to 4.3. A rise in remodeling projects motivated by desire for more space or better amenities is consistent with the general housing market recovery that many experts expect to continue.

Originally posted on Eye on Housing:

Guest Blog- Starting A Remodeling Project?

By Sharon Rooney Chair, PR Committee, Remodelers Council

Taking care of your home with maintenance and remodeling better insures the longevity, comfort and value of your most important personal investment. Homeowners often don't know where to start, even when it comes to choosing a remodeling project! Local remodelers will tell you that kitchens and baths are the most popular rooms to remodel, primarily because they get the most use, and are the most essential rooms in a home. In order to help you, the homeowner, make this important decision, we talked with members of the HBA of Greater Des Moines' Remodelers Council. Devan Kaufman of Kaufman Construction says, "Kitchens and baths are always your best investments, but another way to analyze investment potential is to look around your neighborhood and notice what things the nicer homes in your neighborhood have that yours doesn't. Bringing your home up to these standards will maximize its value. “Two questions I'm often asked," adds Barry Elings, owner of Remodeling Solutions by Elings, "will this remodeling project increase the value of my home and can I recover the costs?" Elings says that remodeling almost always increases the value because people are more reluctant to buy a home that hasn't been maintained or has an outdated kitchen or bath. "While payback value of your project is a consideration, it should be secondary to family needs, preferences and the enjoyment you will gain from living in a home that meets your lifestyle." Owner of Remodeling Contractors, Rollie Clarkson, echoes Elings remarks. "The cost vs. value ratio can be determined many ways, not always by a balance sheet. A more useful project, such as more room for kids to play-accomplished with a basement finish-may not yield the best financial return, but it may be the right project for your family. “The National Association of Homebuilders Remodelers Council suggests that homeowners develop an idea of what they want to do, and write a prioritized list of needs and wants. Look at magazines and websites and collect pictures of what you like. This will help you to more clearly envision the project and describe it on paper. Think about traffic patterns, furniture size and placement, colors, lighting and how you expect to use the remodeled space. If your decision to remodel involves creating better access for someone with limited mobility, you may want to consider contacting a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. Local council member Toby Tyler, owner of MarbleWorks, adds, "Along with the look, be sure to consider the ongoing maintenance when choosing the products that will go into your remodeled spaces. Envision yourself several years from now maintaining the item you are considering.

What We Do- Design

The services we provide for homeowners in the planning and construction phases of a job can seem overwhelming taken as a whole. In the next few blog posts I hope to break them into steps that will be easier to grasp.

You're ready for a Do It Yourself remodeling project but could use a little help getting started?

I can help guide you starting here.

Floor Plan

Design

Successful remodeling projects begin with good planning. Good design planning builds a solid foundation before the first load of lumber is delivered.

It is often difficult to envision the completed project. I can show you 3D renderings that can make it easier to see what the completed project might look like before you begin

Design planning can be as basic as project feasibility studies with sketches to as extensive as finished drawings and 3D renderings.

Drawings and 3D views help provide reality checks, accuracy and peace of mind before construction begins. This help ensures that your project will be on time, on budget and achieve the best possible result for you.

Overall 3d view

 During the design phase we will work together to determine your wants, needs and essentials to determine the final layout and ultimately choose the types, styles and colors of products used in your remodel. This planning and research will help you understand how your project will be constructed, what to expect during construction and most importantly at this point help you visualize the project before the remodeling even begins.

3d Kitchen Walk Through

With the preplanning, CAD generated floor plans and 3d walk through you can easily visualize and make changes before you even pick up a hammer, saving time and money would the hands on construction begins.   

Any Questions?

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Up next: Material Selection