Depending upon the extent of your home remodel, you may need a building permit. Don’t worry, any reputable contractor has pulled plenty of permits and likely has fantastic relationships with inspectors as well.
If you’re adding square footage, for example, your renovation will require a building permit. Major plumbing and electrical work also trigger a permit. And building permits mean that plans need to be submitted and approved by the town.
“When electrical or plumbing work is to be done, a licensed professional must be added to the permit as well. Permitting offices do this for safety reasons to comply with the state’s department of insurance regulations as well as to calculate taxes.” Divitia Realty
How Much Will Building Permits Cost?
Are you worried about the associated costs for pulling permits? According to Home Advisor, building permit fees can run anywhere from $424 to $2,234. Contact your local zoning department to find out more.
“If you intend to take on a building project or remodel a home, permits are serious requirements upheld by state and local authorities to ensure compliance with building code safety.” Home Advisor
It’s not recommended that the homeowner pull permits, unless they are also acting as the general contractor. You want a reputable contractor to be on record for the construction. Fly-by-night contractors often ask the homeowner to submit plans, but that may indicate a lapse in their license or insurance. Be careful with that.
Curb appeal. It’s all the rage. Ha! It’s always been important. Why? Because first impressions matter. It sets the stage for how you’ll feel when you enter the home. This is why haunted homes during Halloween are decorated with dark colors, have boarded-up windows, dead lawns, and missing floorboards in the stairs and porch.
When you decide to sell your home, increasing your curb appeal becomes about selling faster, receiving offers above the listing price, and the return on your investment. If you don’t plan to sell in the immediate future, then the purpose of increasing your home’s curb appeal provides hospitality and homeowner pride.
Your home is your solace from the world, your safe place, and your kingdom in many respects. You can’t control the decor at restaurants or your workplace, but when you come home and see a beautifully landscaped yard, a friendly porch, and a clean roof, it’s hard to not feel proud of your investment — and yourself.
Tip 1 – Remodel Your Porch
If your home’s façade doesn’t have a porch, let’s design-build one for you. This is a simple way to create a welcoming area. Include a walkway to the front door, a new door with sidelights, upgraded sconces, and landscaping at the walkway and you’ll fall in love with your home all over again.
Photo: Better Homes & Gardens
Increasing the lighting along the path and on the porch also allows guests to walk up to your home without walking around the vehicles in your driveway as well as help with security. Okay, guests could mean the Amazon delivery person, unless you opt for Key by Amazon.
“Replacing your exterior lighting fixtures is a great way to update your home’s look and make your house look more welcoming. After updating the exterior’s lighting fixtures, make sure to leave the entryway lights on at night to illuminate your yard and keep your home aglow.” ROCKET Mortgage
Tip 2 – Update Your Roof
The average home costs about $7,000 for a new roof and, oftentimes, that cost can be financed as low as 0% interest. Well, you could put it on your Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card and gain some travel points, but we’re not your accountant.
With that said, according to Landmark Home Warranty, updating your roof gains 105% ROI. It seems like protecting your home from water damage while increasing your home’s curb appeal is a win-win.
Tip 3 – Relandscape Your Front Yard
You knew we were going to mention landscaping, didn’t you? That’s because you’ve been thinking about it ever since the neighbors moved in and relandscaped their yards. It’s okay. The best day to start is today. We can add flower beds, trim your trees, and add hardscaping. If you don’t want to spend time watering, we can talk about sprinklers and drip irrigation. Landscaping adds 14% to your home’s resale value and allows your home to sell 6 weeks faster.
Photo: Meyer Landscaping
“When thinking of an overall plan to attack the outside of your home, whether painting trim, adding flowers boxes, or landscaping the yard, don’t be shy and go for some pops of color and other interesting architectural flourishes that will make your home stand out and be more noticeable from the street.” Best Life
Get Your Estimate Today!
Are you getting ready to sell your home or would you like to increase your home’s curb appeal? For whatever reason, we’re here for you. Let’s schedule an appointment and talk about your remodel.
With the workplace landscape’s evolution significantly thrown forward by the pandemic, more and more knowledge workers are opting to work from home. Because of this, many homeowners are adding on to their homes, converting garages, and closing in lofts — if they’re not buying a new house to suit their needs.
The short answer is, yes, you can convert a bedroom into an office. There are a few things to consider, however. The bedroom you shouldn’t use as an office isn’t the one you sleep in. This is a big mistake as it affects your sleep hygiene, mental health, and can cause issues with your partner. And you’ll want your home office to fit in with the overall decor of your home. That’s one of the main benefits of working from home — to create a space you feel at peace.
“Home office furniture should complement other rooms in your house instead of screaming ‘soulless cubicle.’” HGTV
What Are Considerations for Choosing A Bedroom to Convert?
Jack and Jill bedrooms have come back in fashion and, with the bathroom between them, one of those bedrooms as an office could be an issue. You won’t want someone showering or flushing the toilet (so much no) while you’re on a client call or Zoom meeting with your team. If, however, the other bedroom is a guest bedroom, that could definitely work (until your adult son moves back in and then you need to have a conversation — but that’s another blog post).
