Home Improvements Trending Downward

Why aren’t home office remodels as popular as they were 10 years ago? Probably because we’ve come to rely less on dedicated office space and more on mobile hardware that lets us conduct business from any room in the house. Cloud  storage puts documents a click away — not in a file  cabinet — and our smartphones keep us connected 24/7, not just when we’re in the office. That sensibility frees up spare rooms for other uses, especially bedrooms, bathrooms, and storage.

Another project, sunroom additions, appears to have gone the way of  sunken living rooms and parlors. They used to be fashionable, but today we know sunroom additions are difficult to heat and cool, and, at $300 to $400 per square foot, they’re expensive to construct. You’ll get almost the same benefits — and more fresh air — with a much cheaper to build deck or  patio.

The Bottom Line. It’s true: A rising tide lifts all boats. Over the past couple of years the stabilizing economy has helped produce better returns on most remodeling projects.  That’s good news for homeowners, who can be assured that their remodeling dollars are garnering better returns when it comes time to sell, and generating more enjoyment of their homes in the meantime.

Sources: Realty Times, Stovall Team