Lauri wrote:
On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:44:24 GMT, "Craig"
wrote:


"Lauri" wrote...


I'm struggling with the decision whether I should remodel my current
home or sell it and buy something newer with more of the features I
want...
Lauri in WA

I'm shocked. Shocked, mind you, and almost unsure if this is still USENET
;-) Here we have an original post, several sensible replies, quick
re-replies from Lauri...and not a troll or know-it-all to be seen. Just
joking--if only this was not the exception in newsgroups!


Haha, well, you never know....perhaps I'm just stealthily gathering
names for my new SPAM business! Gotta pay for these remodels somehow,
ya know!

One potentially final reply from me, Lauri.

If going the remodel route (which sounds scary to me given all you've said
in your first post), take a look at some solid kitchen counter tops rather
than just replacing with new laminate. When on sale, the
less-expensive-than-granite options like Silestone or Corian will really add
to a kitchen renovation.

(snip countertop recommendations)

Thanks...I'll save this post to refer to. A friend recently had
granite tiles done on his kitchen counter, and that looks nice. Plus,
it's tons cheaper than a slab of solid polished granite.

Why does my remodel sound scary? Just because of the size of it? The
scary part, to me, would be if I did the downstairs
bathroom/laundry/kitchen gut job. Mostly because it would involve
changing the roofline, which is major. And I know kitchen cabinets
can be expensive.


Sell/Buy As another has said, maybe avoiding the Realtor in your home
is smart right now as there is a lot you can do on your own. You can
certainly visit open houses and check your local MLS on the internet for
newer homes to buy. Also, if your area is like mine, homes often sell in a
very narrow range of dollars/sq.ft. of living area. Armed with your area's
price per sq. ft., a quick measurement of your home could estimate what you
could sell it for.


I went to an Open House today. The home was built in the 1940's and
had been remodeled/trimmed out by a master carpenter. It was
beautiful from top to bottom--vintage doors, perfect 50 year old
hardwood floors, built-in oak bookcases, crown molding, baseboard,
trim, etc. 3000 square feet of beautifully restored home for a mere
quarter of a million dollars. Gahhh. It's going to take me awhile to
forget that house, as it was gorgeous and so well cared-for.

What I'll probably end up doing is having the wiring re-done (as much
as possible without wrecking my plaster) and then doing some cosmetic
work in the basement. If I do those things, and repair the upstairs
bath, that'll go a long ways towards making me happy for now.

Thanks for all the input!

Lauri in WA
Hmm,
1/4 mil. will buy a little dingy shack on a palm sized lot here in
Calgary. That house sounds nice for looking but what's underneath,
between walls, above the ceiling? Wiring, plumbing, whole shebang of
things to check out.
Tony