Are you in love with your home?

We welcome our guest blogger, Michael Spreckelmeier, president of Progressive Builders in Naples, FL. He is a state certified general contractor and building inspector, a member of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), the Remodelers Council, the Remodelers Advantage and has studied design and architecture with the Institute of Classical Architecture.  Are you in love with your home? I mean, when you come home do you say, “Wow I can’t believe I live here!”In my opinion, your home should give you a nice, warm hug when you walk through the door, but if it doesn’t, you’re not alone! A lot of people admit that they just aren’t in love with their home anymore and feel it may be time to part ways.You may be thinking that since remodeling seems expensive, moving would be a safer bet. But the truth is that in moving there is no payback, it’s just pure expense. On average, people end up writing about $30,000 worth of checks during the moving process and that money does not increase your net worth, it’s just gone!Creating a space that you love doesn’t have to be complicated. Maybe the only thing standing between you and the home of your dreams is a wall that needs to be knocked down! If you are happy with the area that you live in, but wish your home added more joy to your life, here are a few tips that might help you determine whether you should move or remodel.

Create a Dream List

Start by imagining everything it would take to make your home perfect and create your “Dream List” based on that. Next to each item label whether it is a NEED or simply WANT. Consider your lifestyle to help you identify which things are truly going to add the most value to your life. For example, turning your closed off kitchen into an open and inviting place to entertain family and friends might be more rewarding to you than creating a spa-like master bathroom where you can relax and recharge at the end of the day. Everyone’s list will look different depending on what they truly value in life.

Create a Budget

Consider how much you are willing and able to spend to make the most out of your home. When you’re developing a budget, keep in mind how much the return on your investment will be on your project. Remember the money you spend will not only benefit your life, from an enjoyment stand-point, but it will also raise the value of your property. Research what types of improvements make the biggest impact to your bottom line. This can vary depending on where you live.

Get Professional Help

No, not the kind that wants to talk about your feelings! Seek professional help from a licensed remodeling contractor. Ideally, one who’s familiar with your type of home and even the community or development that you live in. This can be helpful because they may be aware of association rules that could affect the scale of your project. An expert remodeler will review your Dream List and let you know if your expectations are in alignment with your budget, and if they’re really good, they’ll also present some ideas you would have never dreamed of on your own. Interview several contractors and don’t be afraid to ask to see their license. Anyone who has one, should be happy to present it to you.Deciding whether the relationship you have with your home is worth saving, or whether you need to move on isn’t easy, but if you do some research and base your decision on that, you’ll be able to move forward worry free! Life is too short not to enjoy your home to the fullest, so don’t be afraid to make a change and create the lifestyle you deserve!