Recently, there came across my desk from the various web sites about the current housing situations in this country two articles about making improvement changes to one’s residence before retirement, the value increases resulting from taking such actions, and the affects these changes would make on the sell ability of such houses.

The outstanding thing about these two reports is that they directly contradict each other.

Improvements such as adding decks, swimming pools, master suites, smart systems, specialized areas, designer kitchens, larger baths, landscaping, et cetera which would generally be considered enhancing a house, increase it’s value, and of which much of the cost of doing would be recovered upon selling were advocated by one position.

The other position stated that these “enhancements” would make it more difficult to sell these residences because many prospective buyers don’t want and are turned off by these properties.

” What is a mother to do? “

The housing market is primarily massed produced for mass consumption.

Yet, not all people are the same and do not fit into ” one size fits all. “

Where does such leave us about making decisions about our own residences?

Perhaps the best choice should be based on why we choose where we live and what we do with our houses.

Do we want to live in a residence where we express our likes, functions, and life styles and manifest our houses accordingly? Or, are our residences exclusive a financial investment upon which all decisions about it are based exclusively upon potential mass market financial returns?

It’s your life and your decision.

Food for thought.