Do you try to make use of salvaged building materials whenever possible? We do too! But it’s important to use them smartly if you wish to enhance the value of your home. Here’s a bit of common sense advice on effectively using salvaged material:
Keep future sale in mind
If you regularly follow the practice of using reclaimed materials for adding character to your house, it’s important to look forward and think of circumstances where you might need to put up your house for sale in the marketplace.
Agreed, the benefits of upcycling are many. You’re doing planet earth a favor by lessening the load on landfills and saving substantially because you’re not buying brand-new material for construction.
Sometimes however, houses remodeled using salvaged building materials find the going tough when there’re put up in the market.
Everyone thinks differently
Most homeowners try to make the appearance of their homes unique – they like to go in for special personalization. But keep in mind, some quirky features like disorganized wood paneling or kitchens with mid-century style cabinets will not appeal to all prospective buyers. So when you plan to sell, you might have a big problem on hand.
An expert from the appraisals field suggests that you should always keep utility, functionality and marketability as the prime criteria before you go ahead with remodeling.
If certain materials appear too exotic, they might cause suspicions in an appraiser’s mind. If you’ve used building materials not considered acceptable in marketplaces, your home’s marketability can get detrimentally affected. There is a strong possibility of it being considered faulty in the secondary mortgage market.
Fixtures which are not permanent
According to experts, it’s possible to give a unique look to your home and keep a check on its marketability simultaneously. They say that if you’re planning a slightly quirky upgrade, keep adaptability in focus. Make sure that whatever you’re installing can be removed or easily hidden should you decide to move out later.
A friend of ours did just this. She created a staircase using wooden crates, but designed it in such a way that it could be effortlessly covered with a carpet. Smart!
What to keep in mind
A visit to a salvage shop is quite likely to bring your quirkiness quotient to the forefront – what with a variety of never-seen-before light fixtures, leaded glass windows, appliances and pedestal sinks.
But before going ahead without a critical examination, you need to keep a few things in mind if you want to preserve the value of your home. It’s best to consider quality over kitsch and keep utility and efficiency in mind always.
- In case of toilets, choose low-flow options. Steer clear of older models which use 2 gallons for each flush.
- When looking at kitchen sinks, go for a commercial or industrial model rather than something shallow and vintage.
- When selecting countertops, select granite or stainless steel instead of perishable surfaces like reclaimed wood or laminate.
If you want to add some character to your house, architectural accents like these offer value and charm without appearing out-of-place or quirky:
- Molding and trim
- Mantels of fireplaces
- Columns and railings
- Shutters and doors
The Home Loan Advisor is a tool that was built to provide homeowners with insight into opportunities available in the current market, without having to shuffle through all of the clutter on the Internet. Not only does the Home Loan Advisor analyze your property, current market conditions, local market comps, and other variables in our proprietary algorithm, but we match you with potential lenders who have products that may help you and provide you with a sense of stability.
As a homeowner, you should know the value of your home. You can get a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ to find out your home’s worth to help you decide if you should refinance now.
