I have a client who is looking for a $1.3-$1.6  priced home.  They have 40% down and have been pre-qualified.  However they work a lot of hours and want something in "move-in" condition.  It doesn't have to be new or over 3000 square feet or even have a huge yard.  They just want a nice house that doesn't need a lot of work. 

Sounds pretty reasonable doesn't it.  We have looked at a number of homes that sound perfect only to find that when the home was updated an architect was not part of the process.  Many homeowners are afraid that using an architect will cost too much money.  The truth is that using an architect and obtaining permits  for the work being done are two of the most important and cost effective steps an owner should consider before beginning a project.

A home that has been poorly remodeled with a strange addition will have a harder time selling then one that hasn't been remodeled.  One of the remodel No-No's  is the Walk-Thru bedroom.    Homeowners do it because it is a less expensive initial  choice then other concepts.   However a walk-thru bedroom is rarely a good idea...especially when you are trying to market the home as a 3 bedroom and one of the bedrooms is a walk-thru. Think about it... would you want to sleep in a room that everyone must pass through to get to the rest of the home.  Transitioning from room to room is extremely important in the overall flow of a home.  A good floor plan is worth a lot of money... a bad floor plan will cost you a lot of money.

Even a project as simple as updating a kitchen usually benefits from some expert advice.  Sorry, but  the cabinet people at Home Depot do not qualify.  A good architect can give you excellent advice and make a few changes that can change a kitchen from OK to WOW.  Those are changes that translate to big bucks when you sell and make your home more enjoyable while you live there. 

I recently showed a home with a large "great room" off the kitchen.  The great room was great but you could barely turn around in the kitchen.  Had they widened the kitchen by two feet it would have changed the entire feel of the home and still had space to spare for the great room.   My clients were ready to buy the house but finally decided against it as remodeling the space would now be prohibitively expensive because of other changes done to the property.    

 You will be surprised to find how reasonable the fee is for a small project.  Many large firms give these projects to young architects who are supervised by more experienced members of the firm.  Just a few changes can make a space feel better.  However a bad remodel can last forever.