In a recent market analysis, MetroMonitor ranked Salt Lake City and Ogden among the 20 strongest markets in the U.S. primed for an economic recovery. (MetroMonitor tracks the economic recession and recovery in America’s 100 largest Metropolitan Areas.)
There is purpose in improving your home say professionals whose advice will make your money count for more.
Brent murray
Most people have been hit hard by the economy, so it is nice to hear some good news on the topic. However, even though a strong recovery is predicted for our region, people are still very conscious of where their dollars are going.
As architects, we hear a lot of people say, “We are going to have to hold off on the project.” In this economic turmoil, it isn’t hard to understand that line of reasoning. However, doing nothing relative to home improvement comes with some inherent problems. One is that our lives and family situations keep changing, regardless of the economy. Babies are still born, aging parents become less independent, boomerang adult children still move back home and second marriages still blend families — even if there isn’t enough room for everyone.
The second problem with a do-nothing mentality is that of maintenance. Roofs get to the point that they cannot go through one more winter, the bathroom shower is leaking or that sagging front porch becomes a hazard to health and safety.
So, if circumstances demand we take action, should we view each repair separately or take a longer, broader view to help prioritize and organize how to use limited funds to solve the problems? This somewhat rhetorical question returns us to the concept of master planning.
One common scenario: Clients come into our office for a consultation. Let’s say they want to add curb appeal to their home — a sensible goal that can add real value to their property.
So, we look at pictures of their existing home, talk about styles and finishes. They state that they favor Craftsman or Tuscan styles that use natural materials such as stained wood and stone. A picture of their dream home begins to emerge.
Then comes the bombshell: They just replaced all the windows — white vinyl sliders, double-pained and very efficient. There goes the hope of anything Craftsman or Tuscan. The white vinyl windows are probably a deal-breaker.
It’s not that we can’t work with them — or make their house look more attractive — but think how much better it would have been had they come to talk to us before the window replacement. They have figuratively tied one of our hands behind our backs and limited the possibility of what their home could be.
The point is that perhaps the one thing you have to do right now is replace your windows. It is a smart move; there are energy savings and rebates to be had. But with all the styles and types of windows out there, how do you know what kind to pick if you aren’t thinking ahead to your long-term design goals? Vinyl? Fiberglass? Wood clad? Sliders? Double hung? Casement? Grids or no grids? Color? Do you just stick new windows in the existing holes or consider moving, enlarging or adding any?
Windows are only one example. Would you buy a new back door today if you knew in two years you would be changing it to French doors or blowing out that wall to add four feet to your kitchen? Would you redo that bathroom now if you knew it would become a powder room when you add a second bath for your new master suite? Would you replace the kitchen floor with sheet vinyl now if you had a plan to open the area to create a great room?
Basically, your effort to be financially responsible now may backfire in the long run if your decisions are made in a vacuum. Sitting down with a professional to make a master plan is the sensible thing to do. The money you spend will be saved several times over as you work on your home in an orderly manner to achieve comprehensive design goals intended to add function, beauty and value to your home.
Architects Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer are the founders of Renovation Design Group, www.renovationdesigngroup.com, a local design firm specializing in home remodels.