Remodel or sell?

Remodel or sell? If you have recently been asking yourself this question then I am pleased to tell you that you are not alone! Many people are now choosing to remodel their existing homes rather than take on the expense of buying a new one. As home costs skyrocket, Honolulu has topped the list for remodeling costs recouped upon resale at a whopping 110.8%, according to Realtor magazine. Honolulu, along with San Francisco, is outperforming the national average by more than 60%! So if you have been considering a remodel now is the time!

Ideas for a Green Home Remodel

Image Credit: The Venice Art Terrazzo Company

You've been thinking about remodeling your home. Consider an eco-friendly and health friendly remodel with green renovations. Take a look at our list of green home remodeling ideas.

• Reclaimed wood flooring, it's renewable, versatile and durable. Plus no new trees must be chopped down to create the floor. 
• Use low or no VOCs paints or adhesives.
• Terrazzo countertops, it's made from chips of recycled glass and cast into a concrete slap. It's durable, easy to clean and available in many different color schemes. 
• Replace your old appliances to Energy Star. These will help to save money in one herm.
• Use less water with installing flow reducers and low flow model toilets.
• Place windows and skylights is places to utilize natural sunlight.

Building Up Vs. Building Out

Image Credit: Honolulu Magazine

Thinking about adding on to your home but not sure whether to build a second story or just add on. Read below to find out which direction you should go.

One reason homeowners decide to build up is because they do not have enough land to build out or they choose for other reasons. When building up it’s important to check with your city to find out if there are limits on housing height in your area. Some locations will place limits on what you can and can’t do. For example, if your home is considered in a “historic” area, then there will be limitations as to what can be done to the outside of the home. An advantage to building up is that you are able to save space for a yard and potentially have an ocean view from your second story.

Homeowners may chose to build out for many reasons – expanding the kitchen, adding a family room, or simply to live in a one-story home. Building out may be a less intrusive project because your entire home will not be affected and there will be areas to still live in during the project. Building up will make it more difficult. If you have a large piece of property, building out might be your desired choice.