Does your ranch style home have you feeling dated? Renovate! The long simple lines of a ranch home may not fit in with newer homes around you NOW but there are a lot of good bones to work with. An updated ranch will fit in better with the neighbors and bring in a better return if and when you decide to sell one day. If you are curious about the value of your home, get a Free Market Analysis here.
Ranch (also known as; American ranch, California ranch, rambler, or rancher) is a domestic architectural style originating in the United States. … The house style fused modernist ideas and styles with notions of the American Western period of wide open spaces to create a very informal and casual living style. 1 The concept sounds great right? Let’s just make a few changes to bring it to modern standards.
Changes made to your ranch style home should be designed around the good features of the home. Taking out walls and ceilings to expose beams will open up the rooms and make them more spacious feeling. If you take 15% of the cost of your house and put it into a renovation, whether it’s just redoing your basement or improving the shell of the house, you’re looking at 60% to 75% return on your dollars. People are pulling some of their money out of the stock market and looking for another direction to go with it. Right now, there’s no better choice than home improvements. 2
Facade
If your home has bricks that are only on the bottom half they will appear to cut the home in half. Using paint to update the look with one color from the ground to soffits will make your home appear taller. Ask your home supply or paint store for the appropriate primer and paint type based on your exterior. While your painting, don’t forget the front door. Use an updated color or go for a special custom option. No front porch? Add a portico. This will give the illusion of an entry. Wrap the front of the home with a walkway from the front door to the driveway or curb. If your budget allows, improve a simple roof design by adding front facing gables for a real “Wow” effect.
Turn Up the Heat
The typical ranch has a family room neighboring the kitchen. If the family room goes unused, utilize the kitchen side for an island workstation with bar stools, and then use the rest as a home office partly sectioned off by a clutter-hiding folding screen or more up-to-date frosted-glass sliding panels. When a complete kitchen overhaul is not an option, replace old, laminate countertops with recycled glass or granite. The lightness and depth provided by clear or translucent-glass upper cabinets make a small kitchen appear more open. You can improve off-white or oak cupboards with a high-gloss aqua, black, red or pure-white lacquer, or simply remove gaudy hardware for newer, sleeker brushed-nickel drawer pulls and cupboard-door knobs. 3
Gut Health
Wall to wall paneling with tall vaulted ceilings and sliding glass doors may bring back memories of your childhood but updates are available to bring your home into the current century. Paint is obviously an affordable way to start. If you aren’t a trained interior design expert, reading through a few of your favorite magazines will quickly help you uncover a color scheme to employ. Also, check out local real estate listings for luxury homes. They will be well appointed as they are trying to sell these expensive homes. You can get a feel for current trends. Before you paint, you will need to decide whether or not to remove the paneling. Drywall is a much better option for a modern feel but painted paneling can also be a great look if done well. Pull the carpet and opt for ceramic tile, hardwood, or even vinyl that looks like real wood. Vinyl has the benefit of not scratching like hardwood which makes it a great option if you have pets or children.
If remodeling does not sound like a job you wish to begin, talk to the professionals at Northern Arizona Pros. Find out what your home is worth and discover what houses are available in your area. We can help.