Home Owners Remodel to Increase Living Space - 3/1/2004 - Home Remodeling Interior Decorating Design

Home Owners Remodel to Increase Living Space

Prime candidates for remodeling are home owners between the ages of 34 and 54. Some of them are sending children off to college; some are preparing for children; and some finally have the time and money to put into their home — to create an exercise room, enlarge the kitchen, turn an extra bedroom into a hobby room. But all of them want their house to support and grow with their changing lifestyles and needs, according the Remodelors™ Council’s 2003 fourth quarter Remodeling Market Index (RMI).

“We are returning to a time where the home is once again the family focal point,” said 2004 Remodelors™ Council Chairman Doug Sutton, Sr., of Sutton Siding & Remodeling in Springfield, IL. “The empty nesters are entertaining more now that their children are out of the house, so they need a different kind of space than before; the baby boomers finally can afford to have the home they always wanted, which includes top appliances and media and game rooms; and Generation X’ers want separate play areas for themselves and their children .”

The leading reason why home owners remodel is to gain more space, according to the most recent RMI survey.

The most popular room addition is the master bedroom suite, which can include amenities such as mini-bars and kitchens, reading areas, his and her bathrooms/vanities and walk-in closets. Other popular major additions include great rooms (some with home theatres), sunrooms off the kitchen and home offices complete with teleconferencing capabilities.

The second most important reason people remodel is so that they can stay in their current residence. Most people like their current home and will spend time and money on remodeling rather than deal with stresses of moving.

The most common remodeling jobs people undertake to improve their surroundings are kitchen and bathroom projects.

Sixty-six percent of consumers say they remodel to increase the amenities in their homes. The top amenities consumers ask for include: granite countertops, multiple shower heads/steam showers, soaking/spa bathtubs, commercial grade appliances and his and hers separate baths/vanities.