The Voice of San Diego Real Estate Suggests That the Purpose of Home Remodeling has Changed
Over the decades past we have seen neighborhood revitalization take place first starting with a homeowner remodeling the home to increase the value. Today, we are seeing more and more remodeling being done out of necessity with less emphasis for increased value and more to fulfill the family's needs.
And interestingly, many of the improvements and additions are not adding to the value like times past. And depending on neighborhood and the very localized market, many of the additions are making little difference in the overall value while if they were to come to market, would make them at least more desirable to purchase.
Much of the remodeling being done is now for older or retiring homeowners that are buying more energy efficient appliances and other " green" improvements such as water conservation but also adding features that would allow them to remain their home well into their senior years. So many of the remodeling dollars are to improve functionality and safety especially in bathrooms.
Other improvements include more efficient windows and roofs that reduce energy costs. Remodeling costs that stay within certain boundaries of aging in place are becoming the new norm. Aging in place may include grab bars in bathrooms, widening doorways for easier mobility, more user friendly floors and surfaces that make maintenance much easier.
One of my senior clients recently renovated their kitchen and two baths with easier to maintain surfaces, grab bars at toilets and in the showers and tubs, and will be resurfacing patio areas and adding a patio cover to help reduce cooling costs. While budget was one of the guiding principles, they also carefully considered the cost savings in their new energy efficient appliances and the re-landscape to be more efficient, facilitating a major cut back in the water usage.
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