Start here · Essential guide
The 30 Rule for Home Renovation
The 30 rule for home renovation has two common meanings: a spending cap near 30% of home value, or a contingency buffer. Here is how each works and where it falls short.
Style & Planning
7 guides, starting with The 30 Rule for Home Renovation.
Start here · Essential guide
The 30 rule for home renovation has two common meanings: a spending cap near 30% of home value, or a contingency buffer. Here is how each works and where it falls short.
Update a 1990s home with practical ideas for lighting, flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, stairs and layout, plus how to prioritise work across different budgets.
Buying new construction? Learn which builder design center upgrades are often poor value, which are worth choosing early, and how to decide where your money goes.
Do custom closets add value to a home? Learn how closets affect buyer appeal and bedroom count, when walk-ins help, what they cost and when to skip them.
Do quartz countertops add value to your home? See how buyers view quartz versus granite, the downsides, and when replacing counters before a sale makes sense.
Do shutters add value to your home? Compare interior plantation, exterior and hurricane shutters, their costs and downsides, and when they may help at resale.
Compare ways to add square footage to a home: converting existing space, building out, or building up. Covers permits, cost factors and whether extra space adds value.
Related topics