Smart Strategies to Optimize Your Home Investment

Whether you are building a new home, putting in an addition, or simply renovating an outdated kitchen or bathroom, it’s important to plan strategically for your home investment. Homeworks Construction is a design-build general contractor that provides comprehensive design and construction services under one roof. Here, they offer insightful design and planning recommendations they often suggest to clients that add value and flexibility to their home investment while maximizing resources.

Photo: Courtesy of Homeworks Construction

Universal Design
“Universal Design is a concept to understand when a homeowner plans to stay in their home long-term,” says Marshall Hickox, President of Homeworks Construction. Universal Design incorporates materials and design principles that make a home usable and comfortable for people of all ages, including people with disabilities or other limiting factors. This approach is designed to “future-proof” your with home investment–ensuring accessibility and reducing the need for expensive modifications later.

Some examples include: wide doorways and hallways, adjustable height countertops, and non-slip flooring with smooth transitions. “A homeowner who had to make modifications for an older relative or an injured partner understands the benefits pretty quickly,” adds Hickox.

Photo: Courtesy of Homeworks Construction

Multifunctional Rooms and Flex Spaces
“We are designing more multifunctional rooms and flexible spaces for our clients than ever before,” shares Hickox. Guest bedrooms can also serve as a home office, for example. Kitchens with a breakfast nook can be designed to create a functional homework area, whereas a multipurpose space like a family room can also support a home gym.

“A flex space is one that’s easily reconfigured to accommodate different activities quickly and efficiently,” explains Hickox. These spaces are ideal areas to enhance in your home investment, as they utilize square footage more efficiently, are more adaptable to changing family needs, and are more cost-effective and convenient than most traditional home designs.

Photo: Courtesy of Homeworks Construction

Maximize Storage
“There can never be too much storage,” Hickox emphasizes. Building a new home or renovating with maximum storage in mind means understanding efficiency. Homeworks uses every possible inch to minimize dead space and use everything available. From using above-height areas and space under stairs to adding built-ins. “We work with clients to understand their needs today and in the future,” adds Hickox.

Plan for the Future
“Homeowners can plan for additional renovation phases later while addressing immediate needs,” states Hickox. Planning for a future renovation or addition often includes reinforcing structural elements to make future construction easier. “Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) provide independent living areas for adult children and kupuna, and are an ideal way to maximize your home investment. ADUs can be attached or detached from an existing home, providing multigenerational families space to grow and evolve. Understanding whether a homeowner can add an ADU and planning for it is something we discuss with homeowners more often now,” says Hickox.

Photo: Courtesy of Homeworks Construction

From incorporating universal design principles and adding flex spaces to maximizing storage and planning for the future, you can build your family the right home for today and tomorrow. To learn more about remodeling, additions, or the home construction process, contact Homeworks Construction at (808) 955-2777 or via email at mrh@homeworkshawaii.com. Head to their website homeworkshawaii.com, or visit Homeworks’ Honolulu office at 2111 S. Beretania St.

For additional insights, check out Homeworks Construction’s recent article, Maximize Your New Build or Home Renovation Project.