Written by Judi Russell
Realtors say they hear it all the time: “I love my house, but …”
It seems that many of us are like the participants on the popular HGTV show “Love It or List It.” We don’t want to leave our home or neighborhood, but some aspect of our house is driving us bananas.
Greater Des Moines contractors and designers say you can satisfy your longing for an updated home without moving or spending a bundle. Those appearing at the Des Moines Home & Garden Show Feb. 6-9 share the five top reasons homeowners want to put their houses on the market, and some easy ways to get those homes back into the “Love It” category.
1. My kitchen needs updating.
One of the fastest, least expensive ways to love your kitchen again is to reface your cabinets. The process includes covering existing cabinets and replacing doors and drawer fronts. It’s quick—often taking less than a week—and much less expensive than replacing cabinets, says Raymond Lyon of Nu-Life Cabinets. Lots of color and wood choices are available, along with glazings to lend depth and textured glass fronts for interest. Add modern pulls, a glass-tile or natural stone backsplash and quartz or granite countertops, and your kitchen is cooking again. Another quick fix is removing the scalloped wood trim that so many older kitchens have. It looks dated and bars light, says Bruce Pierce of Concepts in Design. Install pendant lights or recessed can lighting instead.
2. My master bathroom needs a makeover.
The trend in bathrooms today is a spa-like atmosphere. If you have a bathtub elsewhere in your home, replace the master bath with a large walk-in tile shower; few adults want a tub anymore. Replace the tiny tile on the floor with at least 12-inch tiles, and lay them in a diamond pattern to make the space seem larger, says Lucas Herrick of Modern Touches. Get rid of exposed-bulb “Hollywood lights” and replace oak vanities with cherry, alder or antique white. Lyon also recommends raising the height of your vanity, which adds storage space and eliminates so much bending over.
3. I need better storage.
A simple way to solve storage woes is to get rid of all those bulky, opaque plastic storage bins, says Steven Hacker of Custom Closets and Cabinetry. They’re awkwardly sized and don’t allow you to see what you have. Just emptying out all your bins and totes and getting rid of unused “stuff” can free up space. Custom-fitted shelves, cabinets and closets pay off in the long run because items are better displayed. In kitchens, well-thought-out pantry solutions can replace two shelves with 10, from floor to ceiling, Hacker says. Don’t overlook corner cabinets.
4. My house is cramped.
Open floor plans are seldom found in older homes, leaving many of us with closed-off rooms. Removing a wall between the kitchen and either the dining room or the family room opens up the circulation, Pierce says. Use the same paint color and flooring in both parts of the newly created space, and use similar light fixtures and cabinetry throughout. Replacing interior fixed doors with pocket doors eliminates visual barriers. Skylights also help; today’s skylights are better designed and shouldn’t leak, he says. Other tips include replacing solid doors with frosted glass or French doors and using under-counter or up lights. If you have the lot space, consider adding a sunroom, says Paul Despenas of Midwest Construction. Connecting it to the kitchen or dining room gives you a bright, inviting place for entertaining.
5. My energy bills are huge.
Replace your energy-eating heating and cooling system with a modern one, and you can cut your electricity and gas bills in half. Generous tax credits plus rebates from your energy provider can make the purchase price much more attractive, say Linda and Dan Sprague, owners of Green’s Appliance, Heating & Cooling. Save even more with a thermostat that automatically adjusts to your family’s needs, they recommend. Replacing leaky windows can reduce your energy bills by 30 percent to 40 percent, Despenas says, and most can be easily installed without destroying walls. Newer vinyl siding products give houses greatly improved insulation, which shrinks energy costs without sacrificing good looks, he says.
THE REMODELING EQUATION
Deciding whether a remodeling project makes sense financially is a tricky proposition, says Michael Swaim, an appraiser for Swaim Appraisal Services Inc. in West Des Moines. Several factors go into the equation, including the average home price in your neighborhood and the expectations house hunters have when they look for homes in your part of town. You can’t just plug in your street address, the cost and type of remodeling project, and see what percentage of dollars you’ll recoup.
For example, Swaim says, most buyers seeking homes in Beaverdale don’t expect open floor plans or finished basements. If you add those touches to your Beaverdale brick and price it accordingly, shoppers might hesitate paying for improvements they weren’t looking for.
But if your house is competing with nearby new construction, updating might give it the boost it needs. Potential buyers might believe that buying a slightly older home that’s been remodeled will given them the features they want at a better price.
To help you decide whether to remodel, consider who will do the work. If you are handy, or you have relatives who can give you a good price, making the improvements might make financial sense, Swaim says.
Equally important, consider how much your family will enjoy the improvement. If having a finished basement for the kids to play in during winter or entertaining friends in a whiz-bang kitchen adds to your family’s quality of life, the improvement is probably worth the money, Swaim says, especially if you plan to live in the house for years to come.
Des Moines Home & Garden Show
Feb. 6-9
Iowa Events Center
Admission: $9-$11 adults;
$4 children ages 7-12;
free for children age 6 and under.
More information: 244.5456; desmoineshomeandgardenshow.com
