No doubt about it, the U.S. housing market is hitting the brakes laborious. In its newest launch, The National Association of Realtors (NAR) acknowledged its Pending Home Sales Index, based mostly on signed contracts, fell 10.2% to 79.5 in September.
With high-interest charges tamping down homebuying exercise, Americans who in any other case might put their properties up on the market might wind up staying put.
But that doesn’t imply they gained’t be energetic.
More actual property consultants say that given the slowdown in homebuying exercise, owners will take the chance to construct extra worth into their properties by participating in main transforming and renovation initiatives.
“With the recent rate hike, we have seen a slowdown in new construction of residential homes. When this happens people tend to stay longer in their current houses and spend money remodeling or rebuilding it,” stated Constructo chief govt officer Yuri Galeev.
Another challenge vexing potential patrons is that even the price of shopping for a fixer-upper has gotten out of hand.
“As more and more people become interested in “fixer-uppers”, the cost of purchasing a run-down home is on the rise,” stated The Luxury Pergola’s co-founder and actual property knowledgeable Stacy Elmore. “This means that people are starting to see more value in renovating their current homes than in buying a new one.”
Additionally, expertise has made it simpler than ever for owners to finish do-it-yourself renovations themselves.
“Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s now offer online tutorials on how to complete various projects, and there are countless YouTube videos that can teach you everything about remodeling a home, “ Elmore told TheStreet.
Getting the Best Deal From a Contractor
Homeowners getting ready to dive into a home renovation project should read cautiously if they’re bringing a contractor on board. Take these tips to the table when choosing a home renovation contractor.
Ask around. After reading online reviews, homeowners should ask their friends and family if they know of any good contractors. “Homeowners can also look for contractors who have a long lead time,” Elmore stated. “This means that the contractor is booked up for a while and is likely doing good work.”
Protect your self. There are a number of strikes owners could make to guard themselves from being ripped off by contractors on a house renovation.
“First, always ask to put more payments at the end of the project, rather than upfront,” Elmore famous. “This will help ensure that you’re not out a lot of money if the contractor takes off with your money or does a terrible job.”
Secondly, do not pay an excessive amount of upfront. “A good rule of thumb is to never pay more than one-third of the total cost upfront,” Elmore added. “This will help ensure that you’re not out any money if the contractor does a bad job or walks away with your money.”
Get a bid first. Once you’ve got a number of contractors in thoughts, remember to get bids from each earlier than making your remaining resolution.
“This will help ensure that you are getting the best price for your home renovation project,” stated The Home Buying Company proprietor Shaun Martin. “Always get at least three bids from different contractors before making a final decision. This will help ensure that you are getting the best price for your project.”
Be crystal clear about your transforming plans. Make positive that you’re clear about what you need earlier than signing a contract with a contractor.
“Once the work begins, it can be very difficult and expensive to make changes mid-project,” Martin famous. “Be sure you know exactly what you want before work begins.
Buyer Beware on DIY
Homeowners who take the “do it yourself” strategy on a house renovation mission ought to consider carefully about going ahead.
“Depending on the project, your tools, knowledge, materials available, and skills in the trades, DIY is not always the most cost-effective or time efficient,” stated Splitero CEO and actual property gross sales veteran Michael Gifford. “Check with a local home renovation professional before you start the project.”
Source: www.thestreet.com
