Should I remodel?

It's time to MOVE when….

1. you can buy the vacant lot next door, or a lot in an equivalent neighborhood and build a new home for about the same price per square foot that you can sell your existing home.

2. your existing living area floor slab is located BELOW the required flood elevation and your home is too small for your needs. Call your local building department and find out the requirement. This frequently applies to older, waterfront homes. Specific restrictions apply to the addition.

3. most of the older homes in the neighborhood have been torn down to build newer, larger more modern homes, probably due to Number 2 above.

4. you are impatient, busy and allergic to dust and confusion.

5. the basic structure (walls, foundation, roof framing) of the home has been severely damaged or is of inferior quality.

6. the value of your existing home plus the cost of the proposed improvements is far more than the cost of purchasing another equivalent home in the neighborhood.

It's worth it to STAY and REMODEL or ADD ON when….

1. the comparable vacant lot next door costs more than the market value of your existing home and lot. Get your existing home appraised.

2. when your property is unique in it's location, size, mature trees, water features, design qualities, view etc.

4. when the existing living area floor slab is located AT or ABOVE the required flood elevation.

5. you have another place to live while the remodeling and addition is underway. Or, you are VERY patient and tolerant of messes and like construction.

6. you have extra space between your exterior walls and building setback lines. Call the building department ask for your front, side and rear setbacks. Setbacks sometimes change over the years giving more buildable area for older homes. Or, when…

Mary Elen Bundschu Burnup, Architect
Pinebrook Park #207; 12995 S. Cleveland Ave.; Fort Myers, FL 33907
Phone: 239-437-6733; Email: ME@MEBBarchitect.com
www.MEBBarchitect.com

Located North of the Bell Tower Shops; turn east on Big Pine Way
Second floor over The French Roast Cafe