Ranch Remodels.com

Those considering making renovations to their homes are often plagued by doubts. They know what they want, and yet they’re afraid that their dream home may not have resell value in the future.

Many people will suggest that you renovate raised ranch homes to suit yourself rather than worrying about how well it will sell years down the road.

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Knowing ahead of time how long you plan to remain in your home may make renovation decisions easier to make. If you plan on remaining in the home for a number of years, you’ll feel freer to make changes to suit yourself.

When you’re relatively sure you won’t be staying in your home more than a year or two, you may be less willing to make changes that won’t necessarily bring higher dollars on the sale.

If you plan to add on to your ranch house, try to use similar materials that were originally used in the house unless you plan on completely redoing the exterior. This will help maintain the character of the original house as well as keeping some of the outside elements.

Remember the basics.

When you renovate raised ranch houses, it is probably better to avoid thinking horizontal if you want to add on. Instead, try adding onto the rear of the house especially if the visual from the curb is already a long box. It would also be better to have an additions offset rather than plunked down at one end or the other.

photo credit: Simon Davison

In some cases it is alright to add onto the end of a raised ranch if it is a true split level house. It would be best, if you’re going to add onto one side of the house, that you also increase the window size nearest the addition. This will help the curb appeal and make the house not look lopsided.

Another option for adding onto the length rather than onto the back of the house is to incorporate the built-in garage into the actual living space. You can then build a new garage onto the opposite side of living area which will create a more of a symmetrical look rather than an asymmetrical one. Of course, if you move the garage, don’t forget to redo the driveway as well.

Check with the local building ordinances in your city or town. They may have restrictions to the type of additions that can be made on particular models of homes. It is also a good idea to have an idea of what you would like to do and then talk with an architect.

Your primary goal is to maintain the curb appeal when you renovate raised ranch houses in addition to giving you more space. Talk with an architect and listen to their suggestions. The ideas you have may be great, but then again they may be better left on the paper.

When you renovate raised ranch homes you want to maintain the integrity of the house without destroying the look of it. There are ways to make renovations that will help the curb appeal and things that you can do to destroy it. Your best bet is to look, listen, and then decide what is best for your renovate raised ranch style house.

Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling Ranch Homes

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Remodeling a ranch house seems to be common these days. People all across the country are taking these familiar houses and remaking them into something new and exciting. Some people are remodeling a ranch house for their own family to enjoy, others are renovating to sell the home and move to something else.

When you’re remodeling a ranch house with plans to sell it, it helps to know which areas of the home will bring you the most return on your investment (ROI). In nearly all cases, it is best to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms before heading to other rooms of the house.

If you can do some of the work yourself by providing “sweat equity,” you will save yourself a good deal of money. You will also be more familiar with what has actually been done in the home whereas you may not be sure if you use outside contractors. To be sure the plumbing and electrical systems remain working, it would be best if you left those elements of the remodel to the professionals.

Ranch Style Home Kitchen Remodel

You may not want to spend a fortune renovating a house just to turn around and sell it, but there are some things that you can do that can greatly increase your chances of interesting potential buyers. Starting in the Kitchen, here are some changes you can make:

• Update the counters. Ranch style homes of the 60s and 70s had Formica countertops which were state-of-the-art at the time. Now people would prefer something more durable than laminates. Look into replacing the countertops with soapstone, tile, stainless steel, or even concrete.
• Uncover the cabinets. It has been a common practice to paint over hardwood cabinetry. Strip the paint off the cabinets and it will give your kitchen an updated and desirable look.
• Replace sinks and faucets. Older sinks may have a certain charm to them but most people want sinks and faucets that are beautiful as well as functional.

Ranch Style Home Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms are another area of the home that will give you back a good percentage of the money you spend in the renovation.

• Replace the tub. If you can afford it, replacing the bathtub with a spa or whirlpool will appeal to most potential buyers.
• Update the bath fixtures with something beautiful. Nickel and bronze are commonly used today in place of stainless steel and brass. Be aware that some of the bath fixtures can be quite expensive.

Don’t forget that one of the simplest ways of remodeling a ranch house is to paint each room, add new molding, and new flooring. Whether done in the kitchen or bathroom, remodeling a ranch house with plans to sell can be accomplished with the assurance that you will most likely recoup your expenses.

Home Staging: Creating Buyer-Friendly Rooms to Sell Your House

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Replacing ranch style house front doors can be tricky business, especially if you’d like to retain the look and feel of the original house. It’s not always easy to find ranch house front doors that are original. You may be able to find a new one that you like if you know where to look.

To find mid-century ranch doors, you may want to check out architectural elements at area flea markets, second-hand stores, salvage yards, and antiques stores. With people renovating older homes, more and more people are looking for architectural items to add to their homes. You may just luck out, but don’t count on it.

photo credit: berbercarpet

If you live near a door manufacturer, you may be able to commission them to create a door based on a design you like. This option may be very costly, however.

You may want to try your hand at making a door in the style you prefer, if you’re handy with woodworking equipment. Be sure to double check your measurements if you choose this option. Remember to measure twice and cut once.

Your best option, however, might be to do some research online. Go to your favorite search engine and type in “custom mid-century door” and you should come up with a number of links. You may find companies that already create custom mid-century doors that would be perfect for your ranch house front door.

One place to look at is Crestview Doors. Located in Austin, Texas, this company has spent a good amount of time researching the door styles of mid-century ranch houses. They use the designs of the past and combine them with the manufacturing materials and methods of today. When they’re finished, you have a great looking door that matches your home’s original style.

This site has the coolest tool! You take a picture of the front of your house… upload the picture… and then you can try different doors on your house to find the perfect solution! How cool is that? Here is the link to the tool: Ranch House Front Door Tool

Simpson is another manufacturer of custom-made doors. They have dealers all over the United States, so it may be easier to find one near you rather than having to send off to Texas to get a door. The cost may also be more reasonable since you won’t have as many shipping charges to contend with.

When replacing the front door to your home you may also want to keep in mind the décor inside the home. Obviously you won’t choose an Oriental style front door if the interior of your home is decorated in a classic or country style.

You may also consider how much privacy you want in regard to your door. Doors of the period had small inset glass windows. If you want more privacy, you may want to have a frosted glass rather than clear glass.

No matter which option you use to replace your ranch house front door, remember that the front door is the place to make a great first impression. You can create a personal statement by the design and color of the door you choose.

Installing and Hanging Doors