Avoiding “The Bowling Alley” Effect First, a caveat: unless there’s also a detached garage in the back of the house (typically, off an alley), converting a one-car garage into something else is a non-starter. That’s because going from a one-car garage to a no-car garage is guaranteed to destroy much more value than it creates....Read More
Avoiding “The Bowling Alley” Effect First, a caveat: unless there’s also a detached garage in the back of the house (typically, off an alley), converting a one-car garage into something else is a non-starter. That’s because going from a one-car garage to a no-car garage is guaranteed to destroy much more value than it creates. But, assuming that that’s not the...Read More
Nosy Neighbors, Take #14 Long before the Buyer’s home inspector lays eyes on it, or the Buyer’s title company checks for closed permits, wanna guess who (else) knows whether the Seller’s recent Kitchen Remodel is high-end? (or not, as the case may be). The neighbors. In the course of the months-long project, it’s a good...Read More
Avoiding “The Bowling Alley” Effect First, a caveat: unless there’s also a detached garage in the back of the house (typically, off an alley), converting a one-car garage into something else is a non-starter. That’s because going from a one-car garage to a no-car garage is guaranteed to destroy much more value than it creates. But, assuming that that’s not the...Read More
When To Apply a Cost-Benefit Criterion — and When Not To Clients frequently ask me if it’s possible to open up a wall, do an addition, add a dormer, etc. My answer is always “yes” — because anything is possible to do, for enough money. However, whether it makes economic sense to do something — that...Read More
In general, I’m a HUGE fan of bay windows: there’s no better way to open up a room, admit light, and punch up a home’s curb appeal. But, it has to be the right home. I don’t know for sure, but I’ve got a hunch that the bay window in this 1924 South Minneapolis home...Read More