In Kansas City, we've often seen homeowners at a crossroads where they are unsure if they should remodel the home they have or put it on the market and move on. At Dusty Rhodes Homes, we know that this is not a simple question. We've been building and remodeling homes in Overland Park and Johnson County for decades, and we've seen every side of this decision.
From what we've seen, for many, the thought of packing up their lives and competing in a competitive housing market while paying today's prices makes moving less than appealing. Often, remodeling is the easier and smarter choice in the right circumstance.
However, if you're on the fence about remodeling vs moving in Kansas City and are not sure which to remodel vs move, we've outlined everything you need to know. Let's break down when remodeling makes more sense, and when moving might still be the better option.
- Why Remodeling Carries More Weight in Kansas City
- Is It Better to Remodel or Move? The Advantages of Remodeling
- Staying Rooted in a Community You Love
- Designing Around Your Needs
- Financial Perspective
- Protecting Your Investment
- When Is Moving Better Than Remodeling?
- Renovate a House or Buy Another? Let Dusty Rhodes Homes Help You Decide
Why Remodeling Carries More Weight In Kansas City
When clients come to us and ask, "Should I renovate or move?" we could be biased in our answer, but we prefer being transparent. That's why we tell them why remodeling carries more weight. For example, Kansas City's housing market has unique characteristics that make remodeling more practical. In this city, inventory is tight in areas like Fairway, Prairie Village, and Mission Hills, so finding a home to move to can be incredibly challenging.
In addition, updated homes in these neighborhoods and others are often far more expensive than you might expect. So if you decide to move, you could be competing with multiple offers, which further drives up the costs, making securing a home far more unattainable depending on your budget. That's why many homeowners find the smarter path is right under their roof.
In our professional opinion, if you're someone who loves your neighborhood and is deciding between remodeling vs moving, it might be best to invest in your current home rather than jump into bidding wars for a new home you might never love as much.
Moreover, remodeling your Kansas City home is the better choice and carries more weight because you get to adapt your home to suit your current lifestyle without leaving behind the place you've put down roots.
To put it into perspective, many Prairie Village ranches, for example, were designed with compartmentalized layouts and small kitchens. A whole-home remodel or main floor reconfiguration can completely change how those homes live, without requiring a family to leave behind everything they know and love.
Is It Better to Remodel or Move? The Advantages of Remodeling Over Moving
When looking into when to remodel vs move, it's understandable that you want to learn why remodeling might be the better choice. To help you with your decision and find the answer to: 'Is home remodeling worth it?', we've shared a few advantages of renovating. Let's dive into our reasoning below:
Staying Rooted in a Community You Love
Something we hear often is that homeowners don't want to leave the neighborhood they've grown to love. There's no denying that in Kansas City, many of us get attached to our communities, so the choice between whether to remodel or buy a new home can be incredibly difficult.
This is especially true for those living in Prairie Village, Overland Park, and Leawood, which are areas well known for their strong communities where people look out for one another. The short of it is that moving often means starting over. On the other hand, remodeling lets you keep your relationships, your routines, and your sense of place while improving the home around you.
Designing Around Your Needs
Buying another house often means making compromises, but remodeling, on the other hand, allows you to design for the way you actually live.
What we mean by this is that if you want a bigger kitchen for entertaining or need a finished basement that doubles as a guest suite, for example, remodeling can help you achieve these goals. Or, if you're looking for a primary suite on the main floor or need aging-in-place upgrades, a renovation can help you make these wants a reality.
Ultimately, remodeling with the right builder like us at Dusty Rhodes Homes gives you the flexibility to change your home to meet how you live now and in the future.
Financial Perspective
Is remodeling a house worth it from a financial perspective? When you move, you're not just paying for a new home. You're also covering realtor fees, closing costs, inspections, and moving expenses. Add in the premium on updated homes in Kansas City's most desirable neighborhoods, and the numbers climb quickly.
When you choose remodeling, you're directing that same investment into your current home, improving its livability and improving its resale value at the same time.
Protecting Your Investment
Kansas City's most desirable neighborhoods, like Mission Hills and Prairie Village, hold their value because of location, schools, and established character. What this means is that by remodeling instead of moving, you're improving an asset that's already in high demand.
When you update your kitchen, add living space, or refresh an outdated or cramped layout, it not only makes your home more comfortable today, but it also positions it competitively if you ever do decide to sell.
So with this in mind, you should be able to answer yourself if you've had questions like: "Should I renovate my home before selling? Because the answer is evident.
When Is Moving Better Than Remodeling
When asking yourself, 'Should I remodel or move in Overland Park, KS, or elsewhere?' the answer isn't always remodeling. There are cases where moving is the right call. For example, if your lot size simply doesn't allow for the addition you need, remodeling might not deliver the square footage you're after.
Additionally, if your job has shifted and your commute has doubled, location may outweigh the appeal of staying put. And for some, a desire for a completely different lifestyle, like downsizing after children leave home or moving closer to the city's cultural core, makes moving the better fit.
The important thing is to weigh those factors honestly. In many cases, what drives the urge to move — needing more space, a modern layout, or an updated design — can be achieved through remodeling. At Dusty Rhodes Homes, we can help you make the best decision based on your needs in the present and the future.
Renovate A House Or Buy Another? Let Dusty Rhodes Homes Help You Decide
For Kansas City homeowners, the choice between a home renovation vs buying new isn't always black and white. But in our experience, remodeling often gives you the best of both worlds: a home designed for the way you live today, and the community ties you've worked hard to build.
And although moving has its place, especially when space or location truly no longer fit, for most of our clients, remodeling provides greater value, less disruption, and a more rewarding outcome. So, if you're ready to consider renovating, it might be time to speak with us at Dusty Rhodes Homes.
Our team has spent decades helping homeowners across Overland Park, Prairie Village, Leawood, and the surrounding area discover what's possible within their own four walls. If you're standing at this crossroads, we'd be glad to share our expertise and show you how remodeling can turn the home you already love into the home you've always wanted.
