We like to purchase homes that suit our tastes and lifestyles. A home is usually a reflection of its owners and their personality. When considering improvement, additions, repairs, or redecorating, it is best to base your decisions on two factors. Will this decision be pleasing to you and will it be pleasing to potential buyers when the time comes to sell?
Most homeowners don’t think this way. All too often, they consider only their personal tastes without regard to the opinions of future buyers. Sometimes, this oversite can be extremely costly. If you want to install an inground swimming in your backyard, this could bring you enjoyment as long as you own the home and be very attractive to buyers if you live in a warm weather climate. This same decision made with a property area like Naperville with cold winters and prohibitive temperatures for much of the year could spell disaster upon resale.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t fix your home up the way you want, but it does say to be careful particularly when making large costly decisions that can’t be changed with a simple coat of paint. Major additions or costly landscaping can completely change the personality and attractiveness of a property and must be considered with the dual factors in mind.
An easy way to know how to make a decision is to ask an area Realtor who knows the current trends in housing and what buyers like and dislike. Also, an easy question to ask yourself is, “What feature so prospective buyers expect in my style of home in this area?”
Another important thing to keep in mind is the value of your home compared to those around you. Don’t invest so much money in your home that it becomes the most expensive property in your neighborhood. This result will certainly be quite costly upon resale.
ADVICE: Simply stated, please your tastes now and also try to protect your financial future. It is even all right if your decisions don’t make you money upon resale. Just try to be sure that they don’t cost you money when selling.
