When Did you Remodel your house?

**disneysteve** · 03-12-2010, 05:22 PM

You say "remodel" like it is a one-time event. Remodeling is an ongoing process that never really stops. When we first bought our house, we replaced the carpet in two rooms because it was in really bad shape and the previous owners had a dog - enough said. We've been here 16 years and over the years we have repainted a couple of rooms, gotten new windows, new siding, new roof, new doors, new window treatments, new AC, new heater, new furniture and done many other smaller changes and renovations. This coming week, we're getting a new roof on the family room and having some work done inside that will require opening up one wall, repaneling and repainting that room. So remodeling never really ends.

**mdcrim** · 03-13-2010, 04:26 AM

I agree with disneysteve. I look at "remodeling" as an ongoing process. We recently covered our necessary maintenance items (new furnace/ ac/ water heater/ roof). Windows will be next. I would LIKE to redo my kitchen at some point but that would entail much more than the kitchen itself (new flooring for the whole main level) so I may just do counters and cabinets and then, when I can afford it, new flooring.

**cschin4** · 03-13-2010, 06:08 AM

Yes, it never ends! It helped me though to STOP watching HGTV! But, if you are going to remodel, figure out what things need done versus what you want done and go from there.

**rob62521** · 03-13-2010, 06:26 AM

It's an ongoing process for us, too! We bought this house almost 12 years ago and remodeled stuff as we could afford it. My word of caution is don't overimprove your home for the area it is in. We replaced the counter tops 3 years ago and although we could have afforded granite (small kitchen), no homes in our area have granite. And, we're never done...we look at it as a way of investing in our property.

**cptacek** · 03-13-2010, 08:36 AM

Both times I remodeled previous homes, it was to sell it. It definitely helped to sell both houses (one sold in 2 weeks after sitting on the market for 3 months without the painting, etc, and one sold for $30,000 more than the house in the same cul-de-sac with the same floor plan).

But, when I was done, I looked around and thought...I should have done for me, instead of the next owner!

I've done one room in our current house, and am looking to do another two soon. Of course, mostly cosmetic things like paint, flooring and making curtains that I can do myself.

**Ima saver** · 03-13-2010, 08:48 AM

My husband built our house brand new 15 years ago. We have never had to do anything to the house other than a little touch up paint. He builds every house as tho he was going to live in it. That way, he never has to go back and fix anything.

**disneysteve** · 03-13-2010, 10:25 AM

Julie, remodeling isn't just about fixing. Sometimes, your needs change or tastes and style changes. For example, when we bought our house, the spare bedroom was partly storage and space for crafts. My wife also used it to get dressed in the morning because she used to get up a lot earlier than me. Then, our daughter came along and we had to remodel it to be the baby's room. New paint, new carpet, new furniture.

Then there was our dining room. For years, it was a formal dining room. Eventually, we realized we hardly ever used it for dining. When we had big family dinners, we did it in the living room which is much larger. So we decided to convert it to a sitting room. We sold the furniture, took down the wall paper, painted, got new furniture and a fish tank and totally changed the room.

**PatientSaver** · 03-14-2010, 09:58 AM

I do a little at a time, as finances allow! I would never go into debt for home improvements, though.

**Snodog** · 03-14-2010, 12:42 PM

In the 15 years we have lived at our house we have put in new carpets, flooring, central AC, a few new appliances, sink, toilet, landscaped, new paint, new siding, new garage door and finished the basement.

If we don't decide to move I think we will constantly be doing stuff until we drop as there is still so much that needs done.

I'm afraid replacing the 45 year old furnace may be next as the last 10 years the oil guy has been trying to sell me a new one.

**disneysteve** · 03-14-2010, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by Snodog View Post

I'm afraid replacing the 45 year old furnace may be next as the last 10 years the oil guy has been trying to sell me a new one.

You should definitely do this. A 45-year-old furnace is incredibly inefficient. We replaced our 40-year-old gas furnace and our monthly gas bill dropped IN HALF. If you plan to stay in the house, you will recoup the cost in a few years.

When Did you Remodel your house?