Home Repair and Home Improvements |
People
are sometimes baffled by the terminology used when discussing home maintenance.
People frequently use the terms "home improvements" and "home
repairs" interchangeably. However, there is a distinction to be made
between home repairs and home improvements. In its most basic
form, home repairs typically consist of work done to maintain the function,
performance, and aesthetic appeal of the particular topic of discussion. Home
improvements, on the other hand, usually involve a change to the property that
is intended to improve the design, functionality, aesthetic look and feel, and
so on.
Home
repairs and improvements are both important for your
home's long-term value, enjoyment, and marketability. Home repairs include a
laundry list of tasks that, when completed properly, keep your home in pristine
condition and allow you to enjoy living there. Home improvements usually
involve changing something, such as adding new living space by expanding the
footprint or finishing a bonus room or basement space. A complete kitchen or
bathroom remodel is considered a home improvement.
What
kinds of things fall into which categories, and what are the advantages of
each?
That
is an excellent question, and the answer is frequently the impetus for lively
debate. There are obvious tasks that fall into the home maintenance category,
such as maintaining a nice yard, keeping the exterior of your home pressure
washed and mildew free, keeping the roof water tight, keeping the house
properly painted, and appliances and systems working properly.
Finishing
a basement or bonus room into living space is an obvious home improvement, as
is a complete kitchen or bathroom renovation, which may include rearranging the
flow or design layout of the kitchen or bathroom in addition to new materials.
Then
there are categories of items that generate the most heated debate about which
category they should fall into. These include the installation of a new roof, a
new heating and air-conditioning system (HVAC), new paint on the interior or
exterior of the house, the installation of a new water heater, new carpeting or
other flooring, and so on. In general, these types of repairs are intended to
improve your home's continued aesthetic beauty, functionality, and usability.
These types of repairs typically do not increase the value of your home in the
eyes of a real estate appraiser. Why? An appraiser expects a house to have a
current and functional roof, HVAC system, water heater, and flooring. However, no subject can be encapsulated into
a single definitive statement. The appraiser may assign additional value to
these types of repairs depending on the condition of the comparable properties
used for an appraisal. A new roof made of high-quality materials, exotic
flooring, a highly efficient HVAC system, and other features may persuade the
appraiser to increase the value of the home on the appraisal form.
Regardless
of an appraiser's instincts, these repairs have a significant impact on the
increased enjoyment you will have while living there as well as the marketability
of your home when you decide to sell. Buyers appreciate and value a house with
new flooring, paint, roof, HVAC system, and so on, which increases the
marketability and value of your home in the eyes of the potential buyer. Houses
that are well-maintained sell faster and for more money when they are properly
marketed for sale.
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