Home renovations might be a pain, but they do bring joy

Debating whether to add a bathroom to your Chicago condo or upgrade your city home’s aging kitchen? It’s probably worth it, both in terms of increasing your Chicago home’s value and boosting your enjoyment of it.

That’s the main point of the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS®.

According to the report, most homeowners who take on a home-improvement project say that the job was worth the investment and time. According to the report, 74 percent of owners said they had a greater desire to be in their home after finishing a remodeling project. The survey found that 65 percent of respondents said the renovations increased the enjoyment of their home. An additional 58 percent reported a feeling of happiness when seeing their completed projects.

But what renovations bring the most happiness? According to the REALTORS® Association, kitchen remodels top the list. This isn’t surprising: We spend a lot of time in our kitchens, and this room is often considered the heart of the home. Turning a kitchen into a bright, airy, efficient space will make homeowners happy.

What might be more surprising is the joy that closet renovations bring. This renovation also received a perfect Joy Score; as the association says, a cramped, disorganized closet brings a lot of inconvenience. Turning closets into bigger, more functional spaces, on the other hand, brings the joy.

If you’re considering a home renovation, make sure you have clear goals in mind. Some renovations might bring you plenty of joy but won’t boost the value of your Chicago condo or single-family home. That’s fine, if you understand this going in. If you want renovations that will increase your home’s value, focus on its kitchen and bathrooms or on providing more living space.