Remodeling: A rollercoaster of emotions but worth it in the end
With the Sioux Falls area being part of a strong seller’s market, many homeowners are grappling with the idea of remodeling their homes. Making the decision to remodel a home involves many variables.
Things like:
What part of my house makes the most sense to remodel?
Am I remodeling to increase the resale value of my home?
If I’m just updating, how much am I willing to spend?
Am I ready to commit to the stresses of the remodeling process?
Remodeling is a time-consuming and often stressful process. But most homeowners would agree that, through the hassle of it all, the decision to remodel is worth it.
A “before” photo — The old kitchen layout didn’t flow like they wanted.
Homeowners John and Janet Haines moved from Harrisburg to Sioux Falls in 1995. After living in one of their rental properties for a year, they moved into the house that would be their “forever home.” The house had been built in 1968, and although John and Janet had made updates over the years, the home was beginning to show its age. The couple had wrestled with the thought of moving into a different home or even downsizing into a townhome, but instead of selling, they decided to remodel their home to make it the most comfortable for themselves and their family.
In the fall of 2018, after they had thought of remodeling their kitchen, laundry room and half bath for many years, they decided it was time to finally do it. They were looking to modernize the space. Janet said, “The kitchen area was very dated and dark, and the floor plan didn’t utilize the square footage effectively.” Remodeling would allow them to make the most out of the area and provide them with a more welcoming and open space.
Considering they weren’t remodeling just one area of their home, but three, the remodel took some time. In total, the remodel of their kitchen, laundry room and half bath took around 6 months. The Haineses worked with local designers and various contractors to complete their remodel. Janet said, “We’re very pleased with the remodel and the work done by the contractors; the layout is very functional, and the new cabinets and quartz countertops are beautiful.”
One of the downsides of remodeling is you lose almost all access to that area. “Remodeling is a huge commitment of time and money... in our case, it meant no kitchen or laundry facilities for almost 6 months,” Janet said. When asked what their tips would be for people who are potentially interested in remodeling their home, they said, “Be prepared to have the noise of construction, people in and out of your home, and never really knowing when/if the crew will show up.” Your life drastically changes and becomes hectic very quickly!
It is a daunting process but is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a homeowner. “It did become stressful, but you have to keep your eye on the prize... it’ll all be worth it in the end!” By keeping their eyes on the prize, it made their new kitchen, laundry room and half bath even better.
One intimidating aspect to home remodeling is having to live with the decisions you make. Janet knows this very well, saying, “You will be making a lot of important and expensive decisions! It’s hard to know if you’re making the right ones, but you’ve just got to go with your gut.” While there were many decisions made on the spot, the Haineses found no downsides to their remodel. “Everything turned out the way we wanted it to; we’re so happy we finally decided to do it!”
