LIFamilies.com - Long Island, NY


RSS
Articles Business Directory Blog Real Estate Community Forum Shop My Family Contests

Log In Chat Index Search Rules Lingo Create Account

Quick navigation:   

If are the same price, which is more worth the $$?

Forum Opinion Poll
(This poll is closed.)
House A - needs updating but has a rear dormer 37 66.07%
House B - nothing to do except dormer for additional bedrooms down the road 19 33.93%
 

What adds more value to a house?

Posted By Message

Jessee
LIF Adult

Member since 3/06

1260 total posts

Name:
Jessee

What adds more value to a house?

We are torn b/t 2 houses.
They are exactly the same layout wise, and next door to each other (so same area), but here are the differences:

House A:
*Needs updating in kitchen
*Only 1 bathroom but rough-in for 2nd
*4 bedrooms (one would be converted into formal DR)
*Bathroom needs updating
* Old carpeting & wallpaper throughout

* REAR DORMERED ALREADY

House B:
*Updated kitchen with extension out the back(small but it's there)
*Deck in the yard (sliders from the kitchen extension lead to deck)
*Same lot size as house A but it's cleared so it looks bigger and more tamed
* Two FULL bathrooms
* 3 bedrooms - so if one is converted into FDR, we only have 2
* Laminate flooring (house A would need them installed)
* Newer boiler
* Skylights

* NO REAR DORMER


So, essentially, they are the same but house A needs updating (it's clean but old). House A has a rear dormer and an additional bedroom. DH is handy, so if the houses are the same price - is it more cost effective to update the kitchen and add the second bath, or dormer out the more updated house? You see my dilemma?

Message edited 8/25/2006 4:23:24 PM.

Posted 8/21/06 3:47 PM
 

charon54
My two boys!

Member since 5/05

7279 total posts

Name:
Rebecca

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Dormers are REALLY expensive and while kitchen's aren't cheap to fix, they are defintely cheaper than dormers.

Still I think it depends on if you think you will actually do the dormer. In my situation, I bought an updated house with no dormer. I don't plan on living here long enough to need the dormer as it's a starter house. However, if I was going to need the space, I probably would opt for Option A.

I voted for B, based on my own case.

Posted 8/21/06 3:50 PM
 

Jessee
LIF Adult

Member since 3/06

1260 total posts

Name:
Jessee

Re: What adds more value to a house?

We planned on front dormering house A down the road anyway. So, house B would obviously need to entire shell (DH can take it from there).

Posted 8/21/06 3:57 PM
 

Eva Luna
Be kind...life's hard!

Member since 8/05

4750 total posts

Name:
God, bless & heal my DH, JenG's DH Rob & DebG

Re: What adds more value to a house?

I think 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (since one is rough in) is much more appealing.

Posted 8/21/06 4:04 PM
 

Jackie24
~We Did it~

Member since 7/06

6718 total posts

Name:
Jackie

Re: What adds more value to a house?

i think i would go with house A .....good luck!

Posted 8/21/06 4:15 PM
 

Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses

Member since 5/05

15952 total posts

Name:

Re: What adds more value to a house?

For what you want to do House A will be cheaper.

Keep in mind, when you expand you need CO's and your taxes go up as well.

Message edited 8/21/2006 4:17:48 PM.

Posted 8/21/06 4:17 PM
 

anjerandunder
Positive thoughts worked!!!

Member since 6/06

1909 total posts

Name:
J

Re: What adds more value to a house?

I picked A. Good luck with your decision!!

Posted 8/21/06 4:18 PM
 

schnapy
LIF Adolescent

Member since 9/05

766 total posts

Name:
Diana

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Id go with A

Posted 8/21/06 4:36 PM
 

MrsA
.............................

Member since 1/06

2012 total posts

Name:

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Id go w/ A also.

Posted 8/21/06 4:37 PM
 

Jessee
LIF Adult

Member since 3/06

1260 total posts

Name:
Jessee

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Really? I'm surprised really. I though B was the more appealing, but I guess I'll appreciate having that dormer down the road.
I guess it's also a matter of whether or not we want move-in ready or to do the work.
DH is excited to do the work. I just get nervous that we'll allot a certain amt of time & $$ and before you know it - double the price & amt of time!

Posted 8/21/06 4:49 PM
 

MABLE03
I <3 SATC

Member since 6/06

4563 total posts

Name:
Fabulous

Re: What adds more value to a house?

A

Posted 8/21/06 5:53 PM
 

SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!

Member since 12/05

20105 total posts

Name:
Lauren

Re: What adds more value to a house?

I am a little confused... I thought a dormer was a window... so what advangtage exactly does a dormer have?
I think in terms of which house - it depends on how long you plan on being there and how much money you want to put into it. If you buy the fixer, you can be there for a long time... but if you don't have the money to fix it, it might wind up being very frustrating.
If this is a starter home, and you plan on being in for 5-7 years, then I would go with the move in ready house.

Posted 8/21/06 6:25 PM
 

charon54
My two boys!

Member since 5/05

7279 total posts

Name:
Rebecca

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Posted by SweetTooth

I am a little confused... I thought a dormer was a window... so what advangtage exactly does a dormer have?
I think in terms of which house - it depends on how long you plan on being there and how much money you want to put into it. If you buy the fixer, you can be there for a long time... but if you don't have the money to fix it, it might wind up being very frustrating.
If this is a starter home, and you plan on being in for 5-7 years, then I would go with the move in ready house.



A dormer is when you raise the roof on a house that has a slanted roof. The slanted ceilings on the inside become high and you usually end up with a lot more space to create new rooms.

The window you are referring to is called a dog ear. When you dormer just around a window, that's a dog ear.

Posted 8/21/06 6:44 PM
 

Elizabeth
Mom of Three

Member since 9/05

7900 total posts

Name:
"MOMMY!!!"

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Id go with "A" First, redoing a house will be cheaper than a dormer in most cases. Second, you can redo completely to your own taste.

Posted 8/21/06 7:55 PM
 

BikerGrl
Merry Christmas!

Member since 5/05

2875 total posts

Name:
It's not the destination....it's the journey!

Re: What adds more value to a house?

I voted A. I would rather update to my liking. Money wise you will probably have to spend close anyhow, so less disruption to update then dormer I feel!

Posted 8/22/06 7:47 AM
 

BabyAvocado
Happy New Year

Member since 5/05

17334 total posts

Name:

Re: What adds more value to a house?

For me it would be House B with no question.

Here are the problems I see with House A:

What's UNDER the carpeting? You'll probably have to get new flooring.

Wallpaper = new sheetrock i.e. gutting the rooms with wallpaper (well, at least that's what I'd do)

Need to add a bathroom, means taxes will go up

New kitchen

Sounds like House A is almost a total gut to me. Not worth it IMO unless the price difference is that much better.

How much sq. footage is that rear dormer adding to House B?

Posted 8/22/06 10:07 AM
 

MegZee
My bunny

Member since 5/06

8777 total posts

Name:
Meaghan

Re: What adds more value to a house?

I would choose A. Even if B is updated, you dont know how shoddy it might be!

Message edited 8/22/2006 10:18:49 AM.

Posted 8/22/06 10:18 AM
 

Jessee
LIF Adult

Member since 3/06

1260 total posts

Name:
Jessee

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Well, actually went back to House B last night, and it wasn't as great as I recall. The kitchen, while more updated than A, still needs new appliances - ALL new appliances. The laundry room is pretty much unfinished. The "master suite" upstairs has no closet. B/c there is no dormering, DH has to duck up there. Plus, the deck I thought existed outside was actually a cement slab with wood around it - like a big play pen. A is def. the better choice. If we have to do work in both, I'd rather have the dormer in place, and update at our leisure. We'll do the kitchen immediately and go from there.

Thanks for your feedback!

Posted 8/22/06 10:26 AM
 

Palebride
I am an amazing bakist

Member since 5/05

13673 total posts

Name:
Lori

Re: What adds more value to a house?

So are you going to put an offer in on the house? Chat Icon

Posted 8/22/06 10:29 AM
 

Jessee
LIF Adult

Member since 3/06

1260 total posts

Name:
Jessee

Re: What adds more value to a house?

We're going with House A Chat Icon

Posted 8/22/06 5:26 PM
 

nyteacher13
Three Under Four!!! :-)

Member since 8/06

6405 total posts

Name:
~ THERESA ~

Re: What adds more value to a house?

house A sounds more appealing...

Posted 8/25/06 2:26 PM
 

BabyAvocado
Happy New Year

Member since 5/05

17334 total posts

Name:

Re: What adds more value to a house?

Posted by Jessee

Well, actually went back to House B last night, and it wasn't as great as I recall. The kitchen, while more updated than A, still needs new appliances - ALL new appliances. The laundry room is pretty much unfinished. The "master suite" upstairs has no closet. B/c there is no dormering, DH has to duck up there. Plus, the deck I thought existed outside was actually a cement slab with wood around it - like a big play pen. A is def. the better choice. If we have to do work in both, I'd rather have the dormer in place, and update at our leisure. We'll do the kitchen immediately and go from there.

Thanks for your feedback!




After hearing all that - yes House A sounds like the better option

Posted 8/25/06 2:52 PM
 
 

Potentially Related Topics:

Topic Posted By Started Replies Forum
Does a front porch add value to a house? julz33 8/26/05 26 Home
 
Quick navigation:   
Currently 244344 users on the LIFamilies.com Chat
New Businesses
1 More Rep
Carleton Hall of East Islip
J&A Building Services
LaraMae Health Coaching
Sonic Wellness
Julbaby Photography LLC
Ideal Uniforms
Teresa Geraghty Photography
Camelot Dream Homes
Long Island Wedding Boutique
MB Febus- Rodan & Fields
Camp Harbor
Market America-Shop.com
ACM Basement Waterproofing
Travel Tom

      Follow LIWeddings on Facebook

      Follow LIFamilies on Twitter
Long Island Bridal Shows