Should you renovate a NEW home?
Most people think I am crazy for wanting to reno my near new townhouse. But not you. No, if you are here and reading this lil' blog, it's because you (like me) have an insatiable need to experience home beautification and perhaps your mind (like mine) is always consumed with how you can make your space better. Or at least that's what I'll tell myself.
Is my home new-ish? Yes. Is it beautiful? I think so. Is it ME? Not yet. Each project I undertake is a small step toward making this builder basic home more custom, more tailored to moi! The ever present argument I get from friends and family is twofold: 1) If you're only going to be in a "starter" townhome for a few years, why put money and effort into customizing it, when you could save those resources for your next DREAM home? and 2) What if the design decisions you make are not favourable to buyers when you choose to sell?
Well, I have thought about the first one. I have thought about having to one day leave behind my gorgeous carrerra marble backsplash when we ultimately sell this home; about eventually spending some big bucks for my sparkly new white kitchen cabinets only to leave them behind with some other lucky homeowner. But truth is, I don't know when we will be selling. I see us here for at least another couple years, if not more. So why not enjoy this lovely home, the way I want it to look like, for the next few years instead of hoarding my design materials and ideas for the next one? Life if short. Live it and enjoy it!
And finishing off with the last and more controversial argument, I truly (truly truly) feel that the non-recoverable changes I make to this home WILL help sell it. There are almost 200 townhomes in our one community, surrounded by over a thousand within a 2 mile radius, so setting our home apart from the others CAN'T be bad. I do not condone breaking the bank to customize a generic townhome in the hopes of flipping it for a much higher price, however. Working in real estate, I know this is not how it works. BUT when we do go to sell, ours will stand out from the others. Ours will hopefully sell quicker, and for closer to our asking price. So if we spend $5000 over 5 years customizing this home, I do not think it will affect our ability to sell, and actually believe the opposite. I know there is a wifey out there just DYING to have a white kitchen with a marble backsplash..... and so am I!
Is my home new-ish? Yes. Is it beautiful? I think so. Is it ME? Not yet. Each project I undertake is a small step toward making this builder basic home more custom, more tailored to moi! The ever present argument I get from friends and family is twofold: 1) If you're only going to be in a "starter" townhome for a few years, why put money and effort into customizing it, when you could save those resources for your next DREAM home? and 2) What if the design decisions you make are not favourable to buyers when you choose to sell?
Well, I have thought about the first one. I have thought about having to one day leave behind my gorgeous carrerra marble backsplash when we ultimately sell this home; about eventually spending some big bucks for my sparkly new white kitchen cabinets only to leave them behind with some other lucky homeowner. But truth is, I don't know when we will be selling. I see us here for at least another couple years, if not more. So why not enjoy this lovely home, the way I want it to look like, for the next few years instead of hoarding my design materials and ideas for the next one? Life if short. Live it and enjoy it!
And finishing off with the last and more controversial argument, I truly (truly truly) feel that the non-recoverable changes I make to this home WILL help sell it. There are almost 200 townhomes in our one community, surrounded by over a thousand within a 2 mile radius, so setting our home apart from the others CAN'T be bad. I do not condone breaking the bank to customize a generic townhome in the hopes of flipping it for a much higher price, however. Working in real estate, I know this is not how it works. BUT when we do go to sell, ours will stand out from the others. Ours will hopefully sell quicker, and for closer to our asking price. So if we spend $5000 over 5 years customizing this home, I do not think it will affect our ability to sell, and actually believe the opposite. I know there is a wifey out there just DYING to have a white kitchen with a marble backsplash..... and so am I!
I say go for it! Set your space apart from all the others and put your incredibly creative and talented stamp on it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lo! I'm planning on it! :)
DeleteI agree!! And you have such style and good taste that what ever you end up doing will be favorable among buyers for sure!! I think you will get your money back from whatever you put in, especially with kitchens! They seem to be a major selling point in new homes these days.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, how I have the same debate run through my head often!!! I know we live within blocks of each other so we are in the same real estate market. I haven't done any big renos to our place and my only justification is that the size and layout of our townhouse makes it a true starter home. It won't attract the older market looking to downsize because of all the stairs (2 flights inside but no basement), and it's too small for the younger market to grow a family in (only 2 bedrooms).
ReplyDeleteI DREAM of ripping out my kitchen, bathrooms and floors... I would change so many things!!! But, we are hoping to be there for only another year max (fingers crossed that we dan afford to move on to something bigger) so it doesn't make much sense anymore. The next question is whether we can afford to upsize in our current neighbourhood. I love it where we are, but it's pricey. Which reminds me to pick up another lottery ticket. Lol. I love the updates you guys have made to your place, I think it is gorgeous!!!
Will you pick me up a lottery ticket while you're at it? If I followed my original plan, we'd ALREADY be in a house by now... but alas we are not. And it seems like it keeps getting further and further out of reach. I'm so very torn between staying in this neighbourhood which I love (which means staying in our townhouse), and buying a house somewhere "less desirable". I feel like I change my mind every day.
DeleteDo it!!! As long as you don't go overboard and keep selling in the back of your head, the changes will set your house apart from all the others. Love a white kitchen...
ReplyDeleteOh I feel you! We live in a newish home in a suburb of Vancouver. Our particular 'hood is filled with homes that are pretty much builder basic. I can walk into the house next door and see my back splash and my exact counters :: I like things to be different! The one thing I gave up when we moved into this house (which is 7 years old) was the kitchen, we have beautiful dark wood cabinets and cream counters, but oh! What I would do to get my hands on my old beautiful white kitchen! People do think we are crazy when we say we are going to be fixing up the house and re painting and adding new flooring so I totally understand where you're coming from!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. Too bad I can't convince my husband! My house is beautiful. We've lived here for 2 years and yet it doesn't feel like me. I have an amazing kitchen that some people would consider their dream kitchen but I want the white cabinets and white carrera marble! I want to make this 4 year old house feel more like me.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is not on board either - but I plan to work away at him until I change his mind! Glad I'm not the only one with dreams of white :)
Deletelove this! i couldnt agree with you more!
ReplyDelete