Savannah Ga Homes - Remodeling or Something Else?

There are different scales of remodeling, and the terms remodeled and renovated seem to be interchangeable when referenced in real estate, so it wise to get a clear understanding when a home is advertised as remodeled.

I have seen homes in Savannah advertised as remodeled that basically have fresh paint on the walls and new carpet. And around Savannah, or any city that has many older homes, restoration is a totally different concept. Restored to original is a much larger project and in Savannah has to conform to guidelines set by the Historical Society. This should be documented and easy to verify. Verifying and inspecting “remodeling” will take a little more effort on the buyer’s part.

The term updated is also important, because to me that refers to systems, although some may be referring to updating in terms of modern tastes regarding things like colors, countertops and fixtures.

When I see “updated” I want to know about electrical, plumbing, A/C, etc.

Many home sellers will give a list of improvements and if they don’t, the buyer should ask for one. It takes a little time to research the quality and workmanship of improvements but it’s a smart thing to do - - while a list of improvements might look good on paper, it may be more like Bandaids on a serious wound, or, yes, lipstick on a pig.

The term re-built is being used more often lately to describe large-scale remodeling projects and usually encompasses the systems updates. The other meaning of re-built is when an older structure has been torn down and a new home built in its place. Large-scale re-modeling projects are usually done by professionals and they should be obvious – “like new”, as they say.

The point is that not all re-modeling is equal and not everyone’s definition of remodeling is the same. It pays to get a thorough list of improvements and do a comprehensive inspection of all claims, even if it costs a little extra – caulking and painting can create a nice appearance but they may simply be hiding the problems.

Mike from Savannah