Should You Remodel Your Home In Tallahassee?

With all the current home renovation TV shows, magazines, blogs, and social media accounts out there, it’s no surprise that more people than ever are remodeling their homes. While remodeling may have slowed down a little in 2023 after a massive boom post-pandemic, the numbers are still rising, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies.

But should you remodel?  Before you commit to remodeling your Tallahassee home, consider the following 7 reasons why a remodel may not be the best move for you and your family.

A well designed home makes daily tasks easier, gathering with friends and family more enjoyable and provides a sanctuary to relax and recharge. 

Every home needs remodeling eventually, most homes get a major kitchen or bath remodel every 20 years.

But there are some times when your should not remodel you home. 

#1. Don’t Remodel if You’re Selling Your Home Soon

If you plan to sell your home within the next year or two, a remodel may not make sense for you. While it might increase the value of your home, in many cases, the expense and hassle of dealing with a home renovation isn’t worth it.

Remodeling for ROI isn’t the best idea. Studies show that you only get back about 60% of what you spend on a remodel. They exception to that is if your home is very very outdated and has not kept up with other homes in the neighborhood. 

The best reason to remodel is to make your home a happier and more comfortable place for you and your loved ones. 

Unless your home has significant issues (a very outdated or damaged bathroom, for example), a remodel is probably not the best decision.

Besides, if you go to the trouble of remodeling, don’t you want to get to enjoy the finished product?

#2. Don’t Remodel If You Don’t Have the Budget

A home remodel is not something you want to skimp on. If you don’t have an adequate budget available to do the job well, it’s better to wait and save until you do.

Don’t compromise on inferior materials, shoddy construction, and construction workers who aren’t at the top of their field. If you do, you may end up spending more to repair or replace work that wasn’t done well the first time.

It’s just not worth it. (Click here for information on remodeling costs in Tallahassee.)

#3. Don’t Remodel if You Have Other Pressing Home Repairs

While it’s so tempting to upgrade your kitchen, renovate your bathroom, or add square footage with an addition, if your home is in disrepair, you need to take care of those issues first.

It’s not nearly as fun to replace your water heater as it is to select new countertops, but it’s the right move. Curb appeal has the highest impact on home value so even things like expertior painting and landcaping should be tackeled first.

Wait to begin a remodel if:

• your home’s exterior needs repairs (painting, pressure washing, woodrot)
• you need landscaping
• your roof needs to be replaced
• the HVAC, water heater, or other systems are failing
• your electrical panel needs to be updated (unless you are updating electric as part of your remodel) 
• you need new pipes or have other plumbing issues (unless you want to repipe as part of your remodel). 

Not only can these repairs become urgent and cause damage to your home if not handled promptly, but sometimes they need to be upgraded to support whatever renovation you have planned in the future.

Want Some Inspiration In Your Inbox? 

#4. Don’t Remodel if You’re Stressed

Home renovations are stressful. Of course choosing the right contractor can lower that stress but even the best run projects are a disruption to your daily routine.

If you’re at a time in your life when adding more stress would be detrimental to your physical or emotional health, you may want to delay your remodel.

At McManus Kitchen and Bath, we work very hard to keep the remodeling process as easy and low-stress as possible. But a remodel, by its nature, will be somewhat disruptive to your life for a while. 

#5. Don’t Remodel to Keep Up With the Joneses

If your primary reason to improve your home is because your neighbors did it, you might want to consider your plan a little more.

You want your home to be beautiful and welcoming, homey and spacious, but make sure you want those things for yourself. Otherwise, you might make decisions that, while trendy or fashionable, you don’t love. Your home should reflect you and your family, not your neighbors. 

The flip side of that is you don’t want your home to be outdated. If your house is one of the few in the neighborhood that has not been remodeling is can really hurt your resale value. 

#6. Don’t Remodel to Solve a Short-Term Problem

If your boss has you working from home temporarily, you probably don’t need a home office.

If your teenager will be moving out soon to go to college, you may not need to give them more space in their bathroom.

A playroom may solve the problem of toys underfoot, but that problem may be short-lived as your toddler grows up a little and would rather play in his room.

A remodel may be the solution to a lot of pain points you have–just make sure those pain points won’t be solved with the passing of a few months.

#7. Don’t Remodel if a Small Update Will Do

Sometimes we all get tired of our houses. Especially in this post-covid world, we’re at home a lot more than we used to be, and we can get antsy staring at the same four walls.

But maybe a small update is all you need for your home to feel new again. Paint a wall. Move some furniture. Buy fresh flowers for your table, or plant some container gardens for your porch.

Make sure your home is ready and in need of a remodel before you go for it. If you want to explore options without committing to a project our design and budget consult is a great way to do that. 

If a Remodel is What You Need

If you decide that the time is right, your house is ready, and your budget is prepared, we’re ready to help you! McManus Kitchen and Bath is here to answer your questions and to help you design and perfect the home of your dreams. Contact us today for more information.