CHAPTER 5 Don't Overdo It: Keeping Your Market Area in Mind ea in Mind For this chapter, the focus is on "The Goldilocks Principle"—making the home just right for your specific Northeast Florida neighborhood. Whether you are in a beach bungalow in Atlantic Beach or a sprawling estate in St. Johns, the "neighborhood ceiling" is your most important guide.
Don't Overdo It: Keeping Your Market Area in Mind
How much should you plan on upgrading during your remodel project? That depends entirely on your goal. You can spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands on the very same room. In this book, we approach this discussion with the understanding that you want a strong return on your investment (ROI) because you plan to sell at some point. If you plan to stay for ten or twenty years, ROI matters less than the "return on enjoyment." It seems intuitive to upgrade as much as your budget allows and make your home the "jewel of the neighborhood." However, in Northeast Florida, caution is required. While you might enjoy transforming a modest ranch-style home into an HGTV-ready showstopper, "over-improving" can backfire when it’s time to list. The "Neighborhood Ceiling" Look down your street. Observe the condition of the homes in your specific pocket of Jacksonville, Orange Park, or St. Augustine. Are they meticulously manicured or a bit "lived-in"? This is your 17
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