Discovering Dollars in Your Home Improvement Design

When remodeling or renovating, it is important to consider the project’s ultimate influence on your home’s worth. Well chosen improvements add value, sometimes greatly exceeding the cost of the labor employed and materials implemented. Sometimes the value added is tangible, resulting in another bedroom or additional bath. Other upgrades are more subtly nuanced. As agents, we see first hand which improvements have the greatest impact on area home buyers. Here is a bit of advice from our perspective:

1. Let the experts take the lead. Hire a designer and/or architect to be involved in the project. Good design is often the number one key to getting the highest return on your investment. Modest materials look more expensive if the design is thoughtful and well-articulated. Conversely, we have seen homeowners lose money spent on quality materials when they scrimped on the critical planning stage. When buyers are turned off by the layout or aesthetic, they will subtract the expense of future remodeling from their perception of value. Design consultants can work within all budget constraints and can be worth their weight in gold.

2. How long you plan to live in your home is an important consideration.

· If you plan only to be in the home for less than five years, improvements should be budget conscience with an eye toward splurging on a few key elements that will have the most universal appeal. Buyers will notice a well chosen focal point (like that great chef’s range), which in turn can bring up the value of remodel. Ask your agent what features current buyers are gravitating towards.

· If you plan to stay for ten to fifteen years, your emphasis should change to a more timeless design and the use of quality long-lasting materials. Now the focal points are less important because the fixtures can be changed out at a future date. In the kitchen, spend your money on high quality cabinets, good flooring and solid surface countertops that remain sensitive to (or improve on) the original architect’s design. Later, new appliances and fixtures may be all it takes to reinvigorate your investment.

· If you plan to stay for twenty years or more, you can more easily throw caution to the wind. Long range plans factor in a higher value for your years of “use and enjoyment.” Even unconventional alterations may now be worthwhile if they please you and your family. Chances are, many of today’s improvements will need to be re-evaluated at a later date.

3. Every year (in December) the National Association of Realtors comes out with a Cost vs. Value Report, which tries to reign in the areas of improvement which recoup the highest cost percentage. Such statistics can help, but are never as good as first-hand expert advice. Ask your agent to take a look at your individual project in light of the local market place.

This Old "Green" House - An Environmentally Conscience, Period Sensitive Kitchen Remodel

Modern sensibilities are easily honored and reinterpreted with today's "green building" materials and techniques. Eco-friendly materials such as recycled glass, cork and bamboo look great in a mid century or contemporary homes. But, is it possible to do a sensitive restoration on a historic home and still inject green practices? Although there is always more that could have been done, here is how we met the challenge during a recent kitchen remodel:

1. We installed low formaldehyde insulation while the walls were open to increase the rooms energy efficiency and minimize off-gassing. We also opened up the floor plan through the mud room; with a screen door on the far end, a casement window (which cranks out to capture bay breezes) in the middle, and large opposing crank windows ( equipped with simple shades rated to block heat and UV rays) at the table end. This increases cross ventilation through the kitchen which is sufficient to cool the room sans air conditioning in the Summer.
2. We purchased formaldehyde free solid wood cabinetry: No off-gassing and durability for a longer useful life.
   
3. We Installed recycled oak floors (purchased from a demolished barn) and used low VOC water-based stains.
   
4. We strove for a "forever" kitchen by choosing finishes with longevity in mind and honoring the original architecture over current trends. Appliances were the exception because they tend to have a serviceable life that is relatively short, and we expect they will need to be swapped out at some point. Modern appliances also help a historic kitchen appeal to a wider audience.
   
5. We looked for energy star ratings on all appliances. Ranges do not appear on the www.energystar.gov list because there is no agreement on what to test. We bought a high-end range top, because its longevity will likely out serve all the other appliances in the kitchen. Also consider whether a new appliance will make you a better cook, or if the manufacturer of the appliance is just selling you the idea that it will make you a better cook. We opted not to have any fancy warming drawers or wine refrigerators that use extra energy.
   
6. For the most part, we used florescent lighting for all task and overhead illumination. We cheated a bit, and used two incandescent fixtures as accents over the sink and table (but they get the least amount of use.)
   
7. Our counter tops are marble with a low-VOC sealant done by Green Envirotek. This isn't a super green surface, but we hope they will go the distance in our "forever kitchen." The new earth friendly sealants take away most of the maintenance issues and the marble can be re-polished down the road to bring back its original luster. Marble also gets extra points for its timeless beauty.
8. At the prep sink, we opted for a roll-out composting bin instead of a garbage disposal. The main sink accommodates both trash and recycling bins.
9. Every project has its concessions: I started a search for recycled glass for the back splash along the range wall. I fell in love with an Ann Sacks, Glace tile, which is not made of recycled glass instead. I like how the hand made quality of the tile speaks to a home with history, and the shape feels reminiscent of old subway tiles. Later, I found a 100% recycled alternative at Bedrock Industries, BlazeStone Tile. Too late for me to mend my ways, but maybe this can benefit someone else.
   
10. Recycling gave history to some of the room's accessories. The artwork is old crate labels that we found at an antique shop and the kitchen chairs were re-purposed from an old dining room set.

Useful Resource:
2007 Home Remodeling
Green Building Guidelines