Home Reno - Architect Help

5 years ago

Hello. I'm considering doing some home improvements in my home, which includes expanding the size of my home. Before reaching out to my bank and refinancing I wanted to consult with an architect to get a real like reality of what improving my home would look like to help manage expectations and even to get a rough draft on what truly can be done in the space and help me gauge the true cost of what I want to do.

I say all that to say, do architect do this type of consultation?

Featured Answer

PRO

User

5 years ago

Yup. HGTV lies. You don’t get to do a 400k renovation and “add that” to a 400K’s home’s value, and have a 800K house in a 500K neighborhood. Remodels cost much more to do than they add in value. You need to remodel because it gives you a better family house to live in, for a long time.

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Comments (6)

3onthetree
5 years ago
Don't wait to go to the bank, interest rates are rising. Figure your budget, and if you are still of the age where income will keep increasing, with current rates sometimes best to maximize your cash-out from your refi based on that budget.

Do some homework as to what are your specific needs or house problems. Make a parallel list of shoot-for-the-moon items. An architect can definitely conceptualize whatever you have on your lists, but a practical starting point is best, then inspiration may arise from delving into the project. Their budget guide will only be ballpark, but that is comensurate with the conceptual stage. A realtor can help guide you whether there will be ROI for those concepts.

Some here will disagree, but if you don't even know what you are going to do, bringing in a G.C. at this point will just muddy the concept. Their cost advice will just be ballpark as well, with a huge cushion (and their price never seems to go down as you go through the design process).
Jasmine Lopez thanked 3onthetree
PRO
User
5 years ago
Renovations start at a ballpark at double the cost of new builds. As a rough reality check, figure up how much square footage you want to add tones the cost per square footage of a house you’d actually buy. Then add in the costs of the other spaces you want to touch. It doesn’t take much to price yourself out of your neighborhood, and into another one that you take that 400K wish list and add to the cost of the existing house.
Jasmine Lopez thanked User
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Jasmine Lopez
Original Author
5 years ago
@3onthetree: I'm going to call my bank tomorrow and see what I'm told. Thank you.

@User: So, what I'm hearing is that it just may be in my best interest to buy a new home as oppose to renovating, especially if the renos are extensive?
Jasmine Lopez
Original Author
5 years ago
@User, luckily it's not my goal to do a 400K remodel. I'm looking at a much smaller scale and it is to improve the home am in for my family. We've been here for 7 years and with 4 kids and only 3 bedroom we don't fit in this space. Buying a new home at the current prices that they are going isn't going to work. I'll call a few pros and see what is possible within my budget. I'm not looking to have an HGTV home. Just a home that fits my family.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
5 years ago
" I'll call a few pros and see what is possible within my budget."

Much smarter than starting with an architect.