You want everything to look perfect when you move into your new home. The place you call home is supposed to be a sacred space, which makes you feel at peace and safe. You equip it with all the facilities you desire and decorate it in a way that pleases you. Sadly, many of us begin to neglect the condition of our home after a while. We forget the concept of maintenance and much-needed upgrades. We allow ourselves to get accustomed to a deteriorating environment and let the habit of procrastination win.  If you continue to ignore the problems around the house, they will grow and resolving them later is going to be much more expensive. 

Your home needs to be renovated or remodeled at least once every decade, as it is an important part of estate planning. Whether you want to sell it or transfer it to an heir in the future, it should be habitable either way. The following symptoms are proof that a home renovation project is overdue:

1.    The Kitchen and Bathrooms make you Cringe

The kitchen and bathroom are key aspects of a home, and they are also most susceptible to water damage. If these two parts of your real estate look disgusting, selling it is going to be the biggest challenge ever. You can easily increase the market value of your home by upgrading these areas, whilst recouping about 70% of what you spend (even more if you’re clever enough). 

2.    Your Roof tells you every time it Rains

If you’ve noticed water dripping from your roof now and then, get it fixed before it’s too late. This signifies a structural problem, which could become increasingly dangerous if left unattended. If the roof collapses in an extreme weather situation, it may cause harm to life and property. 

3.    The house has shrunk over the years

The size of the house is the same; it is the residents that have outgrown it. Once upon a time, your place may have looked spacious and even huge. However, everything changes after you start a family and bring in tons of new stuff. It is time you increase the square footage of your living space, or even add another story. You also need to get rid of the things that have been lying around unused since forever. 

4.    Your designated Plumber/Electrician lives in the House

We all have someone in the house who is the designated handyman (it might be you). We rely on quick fixes to save money, without thinking of the long term impact. When our tricks and hacks don’t work anymore, calling in a professional is the only rational solution. 

5.    The Walls tell the story of a Massacre

Cracks, fissures, chipping rubble, and peeling paint on the wall are an unpleasant sight. If you can relate, you may consider yourself a reincarnated sloth. If you’re facing a budget issue, you may opt for a DIY approach. You can even out and paint your walls with the help of unlimited tutorials online. 

6.    The Exterior stands out on Halloween

If the exterior of your home looks like the haunted house from ‘IT’ or some other horror movie, Halloween is the only time of the year when you can pretend to be proud of it. Curb appeal is crucial to attract buyers and make your place look welcoming; investment in landscaping goes a long way. 

7.    Creepy Crawlers are part of the Family

If bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, and other tiny crawlers in the house don’t make you flinch anymore, that is bad news. This means your house is officially bug infested and they might evict you at some point. You should call it a professional for deep cleaning and application of insecticide.

8.    You use ‘Retro’ to explain your home décor

If everything in your home was contemporary at the time you moved in, but now it looks ancient, you know it’s not by choice. You can pretend to be pulling off the retro vibe, but in your heart you crave for change and innovation. Leave your past behind by giving a modern makeover to your space. 

9.    The Carpets serve as a cover-up

The luxurious hard wood floors may have been one of the main reasons you bought this house in the first place. Don’t be surprised if it’s rotting away and looking nasty after so many years. You may have concealed the truth with carpets, but deep down you stifle embarrassment. 

Guest Contributor: John Adams