REMODELING YOUR HOME IN CRESTED BUTTE

Are you considering remodeling your mountain home in Crested Butte? With the market being limited right now with how hot the current real estate market is. Has this led you to the realization that remodeling an existing home is the best option for you? Below are a few tips to consider before embarking on your journey into the world of remodeling a mountain home. Always remember there are going to be highs and lows and possible setbacks.

Getting Started Remodeling Your Home In Crested Butte

There are many homes available in every market at various price points and with lots of amenities. Some homes are brand new, some are only a few years old, and some may be more than 100 years old. Many mountain towns have old miners’ cabins that have been remodeled and added onto.

Or they may have been updated numerous times, creating a home with lots of “character.” In Crested Butte, there are certainly some very old homes, but it is rare to see the home scraped. First, be sure you check the zoning and ordinances in your town. You may have a Historic District overlay or stringent architectural guidelines that could restrict how you are wanting to remodel your home. Many times the home cannot be torn down, but instead can only be remodeled with tight specifications (a great reason to hire a LOCAL architect who knows the code and the approval committees).

Getting Started Remodeling Your Home In Crested Butte

There’s sometimes an opportunity to buy homes and remodel to bring them up to current desirable standards and finishes. I have seen nice older homes (built in the late 1980s) that many buyers passed on because they did not want to buy into a project and had no interest in remodeling a mountain home. Although there was nothing wrong with these homes. They were state-of-the-art twenty-five years ago and still very functional. The downside for some people was that they had smaller living areas and the materials, appliances, and finishes were outdated. Sometimes I see buyers initially pass on these homes.

Then they come back after exhausting the market and decide that remodeling a mountain home is their best choice. They see the remodel as a great opportunity to buy a home at a reduced price in a great location, make personalized updates, and add on to the home to meet their style and tastes in finishes and décor. In these cases, I typically introduce an architect and builder to my clients to discuss options, costs, timelines, etc.

Timeline Of Remodeling Your Home In Crested Butte

If you’ve never lived through a remodel or renovation, you’ll be tempted to underestimate how long it will take. It is a mistake to think of renovation time in terms of how much labor you think it requires. For many projects, labor time is the least amount of time spent on the project. A large number of projects require far more non-physical-labor time than the actual construction work. You need to think about the approvals, plans, permits, shipping time for materials, weather delays, insurance certificates, and myriad other preparations required far in advance of taking a sledgehammer to the walls.

Most of the time, remodeling a Crested Butte home will also uncover hidden surprises that will affect the original plans, time, and cost, and may expand the project. The nice thing about a remodel of your Crested Butte second home is that you can have the contractors start working after you leave. With some luck and the right planning, they can be finished before arrival for your next visit.

Personal Experience Of Remodeling Your Home In Crested Butte

There is a historic home in town that was built in 1890 that the owner wanted to remodel. They first had to jack it up and put in a proper cement foundation. The total remodel meant taking it down to the studs on the inside (the outside was subject to historical restrictions, and so very little was done to change the exterior). Once they got to the studs, they nicknamed the home “the House of Pain,” because at every turn they found another issue that required a painful and costly resolution.

The studs were not on 18-inch centers and they were not 2x6s; instead, they were 2x4s and on 30-inch centers. It was a miracle it had not caved in over the years from heavy snow loads. The cost of the remodel was far more than the budgeted amount due to many unforeseen issues. They re-framed the home from the inside, added all new electrical, new plumbing, new everything. The home still looks like a historic 1890 on the outside with new paint and trim, but has very nice, new, and efficient use of space on the inside.

How Can I Help?

This article on Remodeling your home in Crested Butte helpful when it comes to knowing what is best for you and your Crested Butte home? This is the same type of drive you will get out of me being your Realtor. If you are considering buying or selling – I have been in your shoes. My wife and I were second homeowners for 10 years prior to moving our family here full time.

I am consistently among the Top Real estate agents in Crested Butte and among the top 1% of all Coldwell Banker Agents in North America, and I strive to exceed client expectations. Especially now in these crazy covid times you need a trusted advisor to help you sort out your next steps. Call or Text me: (970) 209-5405

You May Be Wondering… What is My Home Worth?

Do you wonder what your home is worth in the current market? Do you desire a specific Property Valuation Report that I routinely prepare for my clients? Please contact me.

If you are considering me to represent you, I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business (or that of a friend you think I could help).

Visit www.chriskopf.com. Phone: (970) 209-5405, or Chris.Kopf@CBMP.com