Updating Your Home
October 15th, 2009
Whether you’re a first time home buyer, new to the area, or finally getting around to the laundry list of home improvement changes you’ve been wanting to get to over the past 5-10 years, there are two looming questions to ask yourself; “Will the market value of my home hold up to the money I plan on investing, and who can I turn to make these improvements?”
For the first question, if you are planning a large renovation project, your best option is to talk to a local Realtor who is knowledgeable in your area. They can give you a free market analysis of your home’s value and the value of the homes in the surrounding area.
If it makes financial sense to do the renovations, then there are several places to turn to. If you’ve lived in the area for a long time, the most obvious answer is to ask your friends and neighbors for their recommendations. Even if you are new to the area, keep an eye out for local service vehicles, such as, landscapers, plumbers, electricians, painters, etc. This can lead you to someone who does a lot of work in the area with satisfied customers. When you do contact a company, always ask for several recommendations and follow-up with them. A little due diligence beforehand will save a lot of aggravation later.
Local magazines are a great source of professionals in your area as well.
Design NJ, Hometown Quarterly, Summit, and Jersey Living are a few that are delivered to local homes. But again, these are paid advertisements, so make sure to ask for references.
If you are looking for free help with design tips, your local Pottery Barn usually holds periodic seminars. Local furniture stores may also offer design advice and the rate will be subtracted against your purchase. If you’re in need of some basics, I’ve found IKEA can be a surprisingly good choice for lighting, bedding and small accent pieces i.e. vases and picture frames. There are two in NJ, both within driving distance.
Feeling adventurous? Take a trip to N.Y.C. to ABC Home and Carpet which is always a wonder to explore. Ten floors of space offer a vast array of items ranging from antiques to modern day items. It’s worth the day trip for the design ideas alone!
Posted by: 
Nadine Gelinas-Coffey
