Home is actually a deeper concept than just the simple and short word we hear. It’s not just walls that you raise in a part of the land, it’s not just the street number and the city name, convenient location, or square meters. So what can actually describe a “home”? It’s the feeling, the space that you live in, the people that are around you. It’s all a part of your life and it’s more than just material objects. But, even though the home is created with more than just physical things, there is a need for them to function correctly. If something breaks, you’re losing the ability to use and enjoy a part of your home as you’re used to, and you need to have it repaired. Is it worth renovating your home when everything works correctly? Is it worth to buy an old home and refresh its look?
Is Renovating A Home The Answer To Everything?
To buy or not to buy?
Should you buy or not buy? There are many old houses on the market that require a major refurbishment. They’re built with a different standard than today and the technologies might be different. Is it worth to spend a fortune on a renovation? If you want to save some coins and buy an older mansion, you have to remember about the additional costs of renovation. The sum heavily depends on the state of the house. If it was renovated, you might only need to modernize and refresh the appearance. If no one really cared about refurbishments, you will spend some time trying to bring it back to the standard you want or need.
So is it worth to invest money in the reconstruction of a house from about 40-50 years ago? It may turn out that it’s unprofitable, as it can even exceed the costs of demolition and setting up a new home. But that is very difficult to determine. The quality and standards changed a lot in the last fifty or so years. It might turn out that the materials are in a terrible state. Very old houses may, in fact, turn out to be a ruin, but they might just need some renovation. Houses built about ten to fifteen years ago might need only renovations. It’s up to you what you choose and which building style you like, you have to be careful about what you buy.
Should I renovate if everything works well?
When you live in an apartment or a house long enough to be sure, that everything works and all you need to do is just paint the walls or change up furniture, you probably don’t really take the time to think about renovations at all. But you should. Why?
First of all, the great state of the building raises its value. If you’d like to sell it in the future, you can get a higher price just for keeping everything up to date. Even though you have to make an initial investment, the overall value will raise proportionally more than you put in. It’s worth to make the time and money to get future profits.
Things that serve you every day, like pipes, taps, showers, dishwashers, furniture, beds or doors get worn out after some time. Some of them might be used for five, ten or even twenty years, but eventually, they will need a replacement. Make sure that you won’t oversee the first stages of things going wrong. If you miss out the first signs of a leaky roof, you can get yourself flooded.
Should You Renovate the Windows?
Renovating your old windows can be a wise decision even if you have an older house. It helps increase your energy savings and helps you recoup the costs in the long term. Replacing the old windows also help in increasing your home’s value. Besides, the latest windows can also help in increasing interior comfort. They can provide protection against heat and UV radiations from the sun. The protection provided extends not just to your family but also to your flooring, furniture, furnishings, and walls.
So eventually the choice of renovation depends on the condition of your home. If it is an old house, you should consider other more economical alternatives. On the other hand, if it was built more recently, it may be much more cost-effective to renovate it. There are, however, steps like windows replacement that can make your home more efficient and increase interior comfort in almost all scenarios.
I renovated my home, things I would do differently would be to complete the reno before moving in. It seems after you move in it takes for ever to get thinks done.
Yes, this is what is happening to us too. Still part of the basement that is unfinished.
I’m pretty attached to my old and broken house. if I were to come into some money, I would probably choose to renovate.
Totally understandable!
I would love to do a renovation, but it is quite overwhelming to think about. Happy Easter!
Might be forced to renovate, or maybe just slight mortification to the gutters this summer, as there are small leaks
I think I would rather buy a home that has already been renovated, and well, rather than doing it myself. I’ve watched my parents go through renos with their 40 year old home and I know how much work it can be.
I have been renovating piece by piece. First the bathroom, then siding, doors & new windows. Then some living room upgrades. The Kitchen is what I really need.
We bought a (new to us) home last year. The kitchen had been recently renovated and it’s easily my favourite room in our house. I repainted most of our home as I wasn’t crazy about the colours. Next up is the downstairs washroom. It needs some serious renovating! New sink and cabinet going in this week. New toilet and shower to come.
You look like you will be busy this summer! It’s great that you are making the home more to your taste:)
It’s always a difficult choice to make. After having bought a new house 7 years ago, I’d now want to buy an older house and just renovate it. Tons and tons of things wrong with our house, money had to be invested to get the heating fixed in the basement and insulate the water pipes so that they no longer froze in the winter! Still lots of little things that are immensely annoying.
Sorry to hear about this!