Maybe something’s missing in your home. Like living space! Or, perhaps your home’s problem is a nagging “something” like a kitchen that needs a stylish upgrade that will allow you to start inviting people to your home for dinner again.

Here are just a few signs that the “something” you need might be a home renovation:

1. Home life isn’t as comfortable as it once was.

There’s a multitude of good reasons to renovate your home. Sure, it’s a good idea to renovate your home with future real estate prices in mind. But, unless you’re planning to sell soon, you may end up feeling like your living in a showhome. Your comfort and enjoyment are more important than anything else.

2. You’re considering selling your home within the next few years.

While your comfort and enjoyment should be the top reason for a home renovation, if you’re like most homeowners, you’re probably giving at least some thought to selling your home in the future. Home renovation is an especially important consideration if you’re planning to put your home on the market within the next five years or so. When the time comes to list your home, potential buyers will appreciate the home renovations– and you’ll have a chance to enjoy them for the next few years. Recent improvements can appear to be done just to make a quick sale. Savvy buyers notice this and tend to back away from a home that looks it’s had recent renovations for a quick sale.

3. You want (or need) to make your home accessible.

Making your home more accessible benefits everyone, especially family members and guests with challenging accessibility or mobility needs. If you have wheelchair users in your home, you’ve probably already made simple do-it-yourself renovations, such as removing doors from their hinges or removing carpeting in favour of tile or hardwood floors.

Making a home more accessible can be challenging, but it can also be a creative renovation adventure– and with the right professional help, a positive one!

Need some visual ideas to make your home more accessible? Take a look at the Reid-built home that won the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association 2015 Ovation Award for Best Accessible Renovation for our work in the redesign and renovation of Eton, a two-story Vancouver heritage home. We renovated this Craftsman Style home with barrier-free, unlimited access to every floor, a three-foot house lift, new top floor addition, a sauna, and an elevator in the centre of the home for easy mobility for all abilities. (View the photo gallery for some spectacular “before and after” photos.)

Creating a more accessible home often means kitchen renovations for open-concept floor plan and varying kitchen counter heights, allowing everyone to participate at mealtimes. It may also mean widening hallways and doorways and creating curb-less shower access. (Reid has done all that too, in the same house we just mentioned.)

4. You’re stressed about buying a new home.

Searching for a new home can be stressful and time-consuming. Seriously, do you need a new home, a possible move out of your existing neighbourhood, and the change in lifestyle that a new home requires? There may be excellent renovation potential in your current home. Identify those features that you’ve outgrown or have become unappealing. Is it just a bathroom upgrade you need, or a wall that’s cramping your style? Even if you feel you need more extensive changes involving every room and space, it may still be more advantageous and less burdensome to renovate rather than going on a months-long search for a new abode. It’s at least worth exploring the possibility of a renovation.

Whatever your reason for wanting to renovate your home, Reid Developments will work with you from planning to finish. You can expect the highest quality of craftsmanship and completion of your renovation in a timely and professional manner. Call us at 604-612-0149 or message us here.