| You have a great idea for improving your home. You | | | | money. Replacing your kitchen is a big project, not |
| want to get started right away, but your practical | | | | one to be taken lightly. It is also very costly. Kitchen |
| side wants to know if the home improvement cost is | | | | cabinets can run into the tens of thousands of dollars |
| justified. There are many ways to think of return on | | | | depending on the type of construction and |
| investment. There are the intangible benefits like how | | | | dimensions. So as a rule of thumb, if you have an old |
| you will feel if you upgrade or add something new to | | | | kitchen, upgrading it will add to the value of your |
| your space. | | | | home. |
| Let's take an example and see. What if you replace | | | | There are lots of other projects that can increase |
| an old tiny window in your den with a giant picture | | | | your home's value. Adding a bedroom can increase |
| window. In terms of dollar value, your home won't | | | | the value of your home, especially if you have a |
| jump in value because you replaced a single window. | | | | home with only 2 bedrooms to begin with. In this |
| If, however, you are really happy because you can | | | | case, the home improvement cost is outweighed by |
| look out at the sunset every day after work then | | | | the fact that you need more space for children, a |
| the cost is certainly justified. | | | | home office, etc. |
| How about if you decide to replace your kitchen? Is | | | | Before you start any construction, be sure you know |
| the home improvement cost justified then? Well, as | | | | the costs involved. Find at least 3 reputable |
| it turns out, the condition of your kitchen has a very | | | | contractors and get estimates from them for |
| large impact on the resale value of your home. One | | | | comparison. Also, find out if your home improvement |
| real estate agent once told me that it can account | | | | project will raise your taxes. This will factor into your |
| for a ten percent swing in the price. That's a lot of | | | | final costs. |