By Nissa Hallquist
Photo Courtesy of Bradley Builders
This is a question that many homeowners ask themselves at one time or another. The house that they loved when they first bought it now feels too small or out of date. It just doesn’t function well for the way they live now. You may love your neighbors, community, and location, but the home is just outdated.
Or you are ready to move to a new neighborhood but can’t find a house that meets your needs as well as your existing house. But looking for and buying a new home—and then the whole moving process—can be such a pain.
It is so common and compelling a dilemma that popular home improvement TV shows based on that premise have been on the air for years. If you’ve started to feel this way about your home, you really only have two options to remedy the situation: fix the problem or move. There are a number of factors that you need to consider when trying to decide which way you should go.
Most any problem you may have with your home is fixable…as long as money is no object. That is not often the case, of course. So, you need to determine if you can afford the changes that you desire, or at least afford to change the things that are really important to you.
You also have to ask yourself the same question when it comes to getting a new place. Can you afford the space, functionality and design elements you need in a neighborhood you like? It’s not uncommon for new home buyers to make changes immediately after they purchase. If the new home had a bigger master bed- room, modern gourmet kitchen, open floor plan, or an elegant
24 NARI 2025 |
WWW.NARISACTO.ORG
master bath, it could be your dream home. But can you afford to make these changes after the expense of purchasing a new home?
It’s one thing if you want to upgrade your kitchen cabinets and appliances, it’s another if you need to add another floor or move your entire kitchen. You have to decide if the upgrades will be worth the turmoil you and your family will have to go through.
You need to figure out if the scale of the changes you need makes sense or should you try and find the things you need already avail- able in a different house. Or maybe a different house may require a less invasive remodel to accomplish your perfect home.
If you aren’t happy with the state of your neighborhood, that’s not something that a remodel can fix. In that case, moving is pretty much your only option. If you find a not-so-great place in a great neighborhood, keep in mind that it is possible to make changes so that your new home is ultimately exactly what you want. Just be sure to consult a reliable professional before you lock in your dreams and find out it’s not financially or architecturally feasible.
On the other hand, if your home is in a great school district and you are friends with your neighbors, the idea of moving probably becomes less appealing. Those are things that can be difficult to replicate in a new home. Should this be the case, you’ll want to find a designer or contractor that can help you determine if you can make your current home the way you want it in the neighborhood you already love.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
