Quality remodeling can be beneficial in both a buyers and sellers market. In a sellers market you the seller should be able to recoup more of your investment. In a buyers market a good remodeling/addition will help the seller get the property sold faster. Well designed and professionally done remodeling projects will make a home easier to market, resulting in a quicker sale and higher sales price. 

    Someone considering a remodeling project should think about the needs and wants of their family. Studying the existing neighborhood for similar improvements will be beneficial to determine paybacks. Value most increases on a home when the project is appropriate to the neighborhood and if other parts of the home have also been updated. One big consideration when building an addition is to determine whether the existing heating and air condition system is adequate to handle the added square footage.

    In San Antonio and Texas the recovery percentage of remodeling costs when you sell your home has been historically a bit lower than many parts of the country. Most likely this may be due to the more severe weather conditions and colder climates in other areas. Also in areas such as the Northeast, homes, on average are much older, and major renovation on those older buildings tend to bring a better return to the remodeling investment.  Remodeling cost vs. value is the biggest thing to take into consideration when planning a home improvement project.

    Bathroom additions are a sure bet, especially when adding a bath onto a one or one and a half bath home. In San Antonio and Texas for that matter a 100% plus return can be expected on a well done bath addition. Careful consideration must be taken on the location of the newly added bathroom.

    Kitchen and Bathroom remodeling projects with quality updated features, such as new appliances, fixtures and cabinets are also home improvements offering a good bang for the buck. Close to 88-90% can be expected as a return on well done Kitchen and Bath improvements in your Texas home. National averages vary slightly. The kitchen is the number one room in selling a home and a well done kitchen remodel can help sell a prospect the home and a shiny new bathroom will only be a turn on for buyers.

    Adding a family room or master suite will bring about a 80-85% return on investment. Open family rooms to the kitchen, dining or living rooms can add a sense of contemporary spaciousness. Dramatic, luxurious master suites are in. In a added master suite, large walk-in closets, over sized whirlpool tubs, separate large tile showers along with double vanities are some good features to be included. Fireplaces in family room and master suite additions are cozy and popular options.

    Deck and Sun Room additions offer a 70-73%  recovery nationally but only 65-68% in Texas. Decks should be located off of family rooms and master suites. Decks are a continuous maintenance item but new affordable, non wood products can cut down on these issues. A Sun room addition is most appealing if it works with the traffic flow of the rest of the home.

    Window and siding replacement is another home improvement project that can update your home. In Texas the recovery rate for these items are around 50%, while nationally you can expect a higher return of 65-70%. In Texas we don't benefit as much from maintenance free vinyl and aluminum siding with insulation as much as they do in the Northeast and Midwest. Even though the return on siding and window replacement isn't as high as other projects, they will help show better and sell faster when your home is on the market. 

    With everyone being energy conscious these days adding insulation especially in the attic area of older homes may have a good return, or at least show well when the home is inspected by a purchaser.

    In ground pools are of course a nice place for family gatherings but don't expect more than a 52-60% return, depending on your area.

    There are many home improvement projects for an existing home. These were some of the larger, most common ones discussed here. 

    Unfortunately, some remodeling projects end up being an eye sore and don't add as much value to a home as a well planned, functional and visually appealing project, which does add a competitive edge when selling a home. Good planning and design will help prevent alot of potential problems and help assure good results with the project.

    If you are thinking of doing your own project (being your own contractor), don't do it!! Hire a pro. There is nothing worse then a home improvement that looks like it was done by an amateur. There are many good Home Improvement Contractors in the San Antonio area. Use due diligence when deciding on the Contractor, check them out.

    It is also well worth the extra time and expense for the additional cost of a plan designer or architect. A good plan designer will usually be less expensive and just as effective as a licensed architect.

    For the greatest payback, the importance of quality products and workmanship is of the greatest essence and should not be compromised.

Joe Keresztury of JWK Inspections is available for Home Inspections Monday thru Saturday for San Antonio, Schertz, Garden Ridge, New Braunfels, Boerne and all South Texas surrounding areas. Commercial Inspections, Consulting and Construction Management services  available.
Build your own Home services also available.