Is a home with great character on your wish list?
In Sugarhouse, UT, there is a home for sale situated above 1500 East.
This south-facing brick home is nestled between picture-perfect properties and people that love 15th & 15th as much as you do. It’s on the market (probably not for long) and ready for you to bring your design expertise and personal touch. Located just around the corner from dreamy 15th & 15th, you’re literally steps away from fine dining, boutiques and one of the best bookstores in the city – King’s English Bookstore. Evenings at Paris Bistro and Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine await you. Or, stroll home with fine italian selection from Caputos Deli. Did we mention your morning (or evening) jog to Sugarhouse park less than a mile away? There you’ll find breathtaking views of the Wasatch front and easy freeway access to anywhere in the valley- including seven world-class ski resorts. This home is close to everything that makes Salt Lake City so special.
From our resident Interior Designer, Annie Wagner, we talk about key points to consider when deciding to take on a remodeling project, and how to go about it. Here are her top tips:
1. Think realistically about your lifestyle.
I like to know as much as possible about a client’s habits, likes, and dislikes. A lot of people have an unrealistic vision of how they live or how they imagine they’ll live once they have a new kitchen. We have to design for real life, not fantasy. We’re creatures of habit, and a renovated kitchen isn’t going to alter those habits.
Examine your family’s lifestyle. What fits how you live in your current home, and what doesn’t. Make a list and then prioritize it into your “wish list” (include what you really need, what you really want, what you’d like but could live without).
2. Figure out how much you’re willing to spend. Don’t get stuck on a fantasy wish list.
When picking out items to add to your home, you have to consistently ask yourself: Is this essential? A popular piece of kitchen eye candy is the pot filler, a faucet on the wall behind the stove. It can cost, say, $1,000. The installation, perhaps another $1,000. Do you really need it?
3. Select the right remodeler. For most families, working with a design/build remodeler (a company that handles everything from design to final construction like Icon Homes) or a remodeler that has a good working relationship with an independent architect or designer will serve their needs best. Unless you have construction experience, making sure your remodeler is responsible for coordinating the entire job leaves less chance for problems and errors.
5. The renovation won’t be fast.
In fact, it will take a lot longer than you thought. Most renovations take a minimum of six months — more likely nine months. If you can vacate your house during the construction, do it. Your life will be less chaotic, your nerves less frayed, and the job will go quicker.
And what about the Benefits?
1. A blank canvas
With a project home, you call the shots as to how the house will eventually look. You don’t have to settle for a home that reflects someone else’s taste. Plus, if you do some of the work yourself, you’re automatically awarded bragging rights.
2. Quicker equity
If you renovate the home shortly after you buy it, you may increase its value quickly. Equity provides many financial benefits, from raising your personal net worth to giving you an opportunity to refinance sooner, if needed.
3. Savvy as a clam
Buyers who want a nice home to live in or want a profitable home purchase often consider buying fixer-upper homes. Of course, these unique home buyers are usually bargain hunters who expect to pay considerably less than fair market value if the home were in near-perfect condition.
4. Charm
It is difficult to replicate the charm and character that comes with purchasing an older home. Many new construction designs reference design details from years ago… why not have the original?
