Nathan B. Chesebro is a Maine-based home builder and renovation contractor who helps his clients build their dream homes and increase their existing homes' values. Even when using an experienced contractor, though, it's easy to make renovation mistakes that sabotage your efforts to increase your home's resale value. For example, many clients come to contractors like Nathan B. Chesebro and they make their home renovation sound like it is just for them when they're actually looking to increase its value on the market. In cases like these, contractors will build an elaborate shower or turn a spare bedroom into a pricey theater room without question. If, however, the client would have told the contractor that they were renovating for resale, the contractor might have recommended something more reasonable and more likely to interest buyers.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when renovating their home for resale is to insist on stone countertops. Yes, stone countertops are desirable, but if they tack on an extra $12,000 cost to selling a $200,000 home, they're not worth it. New, cheaper countertops, on the other hand, can be worth every penny. Another issue that contractors like Nathan Chesebro frequently encounter is people who underestimate their budget. Unexpected costs pop up and, if you're not prepared, they can cause problems. Once you decide what a project will cost, re-evaluate it considering construction fees, and then add an extra 15 percent to allow for unexpected costs – the worst that can happen is that you'll have money left over after the renovation. Of course, there are many other mistakes that renovators see all of the time. These can include skimping on the necessities, making a home too modern, sticking with stagnant floor plans or assuming that everyone wants hardwood floors throughout the house.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when renovating their home for resale is to insist on stone countertops. Yes, stone countertops are desirable, but if they tack on an extra $12,000 cost to selling a $200,000 home, they're not worth it. New, cheaper countertops, on the other hand, can be worth every penny. Another issue that contractors like Nathan Chesebro frequently encounter is people who underestimate their budget. Unexpected costs pop up and, if you're not prepared, they can cause problems. Once you decide what a project will cost, re-evaluate it considering construction fees, and then add an extra 15 percent to allow for unexpected costs – the worst that can happen is that you'll have money left over after the renovation. Of course, there are many other mistakes that renovators see all of the time. These can include skimping on the necessities, making a home too modern, sticking with stagnant floor plans or assuming that everyone wants hardwood floors throughout the house.
