Add on or Sell? What is Most Cost Effective in Virginia?

Home owners in Virginia are dealing with the age old question that every home owner has faced at one point or another. Should I add onto my home or sell it? The answer to these questions is yes to both.

Why It’s The Right Time To Add On

During the current economic recession the construction industry has been one of the hardest hit industries. All types of construction are down compared to just a few years ago and with new projects scarce for contractors this means that more contractors will be willing to do projects well below what they would have bid just a few years ago.

Finding the right contractor takes time and every home owner should seek out as many bids as possible and take the time to review each contractor’s record with the Better Business Bureau before hiring anyone.

The best additions that any home owner can make to their home is expanding their kitchen, expanding or building new bathrooms and installing new energy efficient doors or windows. It’s also important to consider installing new energy efficient appliances during the construction process like an energy efficient water heater, dish washer and stove. These improvements will help to increase a home’s value.

Why It’s The Right Time To Sell

In spite of many economic reports that point to sluggish home sales across the country homes it’s a seller’s market in Virginia right now. Homes prices were up ten percent in Arlington and twelve percent in the district so all indicators point to it being the right time for home owners to sell.

Before a home owner decides to sell their home they should make small improvements that will help their home to sell quicker like cleaning up the landscaping and planting new flowers, repainting, replacing old out dated doors with newer doors and replacing old windows.

When an add on has been put on a house with out getting extension planning permission the house may not pass inspection and hold up escrow.