| Remodeling a home starts with a dream. A | | | | intention of remodeling and raising the home |
| gourmet kitchen! Skylights! A gigantic | | | | value, be sure to investigate the zoning |
| walk-in closet! But, the dream may turn into | | | | restrictions and environmental regulations. |
| a nightmare if you don't plan ahead. Buying a | | | | Many older homes come with zoning |
| home will arguably become your most important | | | | restrictions, including pre-determined |
| financial investment, as well as a major | | | | setbacks from property lines, limits on roof |
| emotional investment. And, remodeling that | | | | height, etc. If the home is on a municipal |
| home can make it better suited to your | | | | historic register, regulations will likely be |
| lifestyle and increase the house value. | | | | even more stringent in order to preserve the |
| However, the remodeling process can seem | | | | house's historic character. If the home you |
| overwhelming at times. If you're buying a | | | | are buying is in an environmentally sensitive |
| home that you plan to remodel, here are some | | | | area-adjacent to wetlands or protected open |
| issues to consider. | | | | space, for example-or contains a significant |
| | | | natural resource, additional regulations may |
| It's always important to make home | | | | limit your remodel plans. Such regulations |
| improvements to satisfy your needs and | | | | can impede on house size, paving, grading |
| desires, not just to raise the house value. | | | | soil, cutting down trees and removing native |
| After all, you're the one who will be living | | | | plants. |
| in the home and enjoying the improvements. | | | | |
| However, if you're making improvements in | | | | Your attorney can help you determine zoning |
| order to increase the resale value of the | | | | and environmental regulations and determine |
| house, be careful not to overdo it. It is | | | | if you have the correct permits to begin any |
| possible to add too much house value in | | | | home improvement project. In most parts of |
| relation to the other homes in your area, and | | | | the world, a legal permit is required before |
| can be difficult to recover these improvement | | | | you make structural changes to your home. The |
| costs when you sell the home. Also, some | | | | building permit and associated inspections |
| expensive choices, like particular fixtures | | | | and approvals can provide assurance that the |
| or flooring, may actually make your home more | | | | remodeling project meets local building codes |
| difficult to sell. Talk with your Coldwell | | | | and safety regulations. If you live in a |
| BankerÂ(R) real estate professional about | | | | historic district this process may also |
| your remodel plans before putting on your | | | | provide assurance that exterior changes to |
| work gloves. | | | | your home are in keeping with neighborhood |
| | | | guidelines. |
| While the specifics of the home you are | | | | |
| buying will determine your remodel plans, | | | | Lastly, before buying a home that requires a |
| certain improvement projects have | | | | remodel, be aware that some problems simply |
| historically provided high ROI's, or Return | | | | can't be fixed. Whether the desired |
| On Investments. According to Remodeling | | | | improvement is prohibited by local |
| Magazine, improving the quality of a | | | | regulations, or can't be undertaken with your |
| kitchen-whether upgrading appliances, | | | | budget or timeframe, it's important to |
| changing the layout, counters and cabinetry, | | | | recognize the limitations of your home's |
| or simply painting and swapping out drawer | | | | potential. |
| pulls-provides the highest ROI of any remodel | | | | |
| project. Also, remodeling or adding a | | | | The staff at Coldwell Banker Real Estate |
| bathroom is a proven way to increase house | | | | Corporation writes select articles about |
| value. | | | | important topics related to real estate. For |
| | | | more information about buying a home or |
| Before you purchase a house with the | | | | selling your current property, visit today. |