Updating home - Big Bang or staggered?

[Anonymous]

Our house was built in 1999 with average quality materials - we'd like to do some updating but unsure what approach will give us the best value. We can either do a Big Bang approach to have all updates done at once or tackle smaller projects over time. The updates we'd like to do are kitchen (new cabinets, counters, appliances), new master bath and add built ins to master closet, update guest bathroom, update half bath, paint entire house (4000 sq ft).

Thoughts? If we do Big Bang we'd likely take out a loan for some of the cost vs doing smaller projects over next 5 years where we'd pay cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our house was built in 1999 with average quality materials - we'd like to do some updating but unsure what approach will give us the best value. We can either do a Big Bang approach to have all updates done at once or tackle smaller projects over time. The updates we'd like to do are kitchen (new cabinets, counters, appliances), new master bath and add built ins to master closet, update guest bathroom, update half bath, paint entire house (4000 sq ft).

Thoughts? If we do Big Bang we'd likely take out a loan for some of the cost vs doing smaller projects over next 5 years where we'd pay cash.

It makes sense to limit yourself to what you can comfortably pay (esp. since renos don't always go as expected), but when tackling a space you should do all of the related items at once. For example, it would make no sense to just replace the kitchen cabinets, planning to do the counters and appliances later.

In order, I would do the kitchen all at once -- cabinets, counters, appliances, etc. and also paint the entire house.

Then the master bath and closet built ins.

Then update guest bathroom and half bath.

[Anonymous]

I would NOT take out a loan to make updates on a house built in 1999. Like, absolutely never. I would make piecemeal updates, and I certainly wouldn't touch the kitchen for a few more years unless it was literally the ugliest kitchen I've ever seen.

[Anonymous]

All at once!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our house was built in 1999 with average quality materials - we'd like to do some updating but unsure what approach will give us the best value. We can either do a Big Bang approach to have all updates done at once or tackle smaller projects over time. The updates we'd like to do are kitchen (new cabinets, counters, appliances), new master bath and add built ins to master closet, update guest bathroom, update half bath, paint entire house (4000 sq ft).

Thoughts? If we do Big Bang we'd likely take out a loan for some of the cost vs doing smaller projects over next 5 years where we'd pay cash.

It makes sense to limit yourself to what you can comfortably pay (esp. since renos don't always go as expected), but when tackling a space you should do all of the related items at once. For example, it would make no sense to just replace the kitchen cabinets, planning to do the counters and appliances later.

In order, I would do the kitchen all at once -- cabinets, counters, appliances, etc. and also paint the entire house.

Then the master bath and closet built ins.

Then update guest bathroom and half bath.

I agree with these priorities. But I wouldn't do the whole thing at once especially if I had to take out a loan.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the piece by piece camp. A house built in 1999 might have builder-grade materials (unless you picked them out, which you didn't in this case). It's not necessary to replace them all at once, since you really do need to ensure that the upgrade - and that's what it is - has some ability to add to the value of your house. If the comps aren't showing much of an increase in value (e.g., at least $30k), then you might never see a return on your investment. A nicer bathroom at $12k-$15k could pay for a new(er) car, for which you might have a greater need.

Also, I have to ask - do you have an emergency fund of at least 6 months expenses, including a slight cushion for unexpected repairs? If not, skip the home improvements until you do.