Merry Christmas! Today has been a wonderful time spent with my wife’s parents and family in Nashville. As we were sampling a table-full of holiday treats, my father-in-law posed this question: should he build a family room addition onto the rear of his home? If so, should he add a laundry room? A screened porch? Admittedly, a nice family room complete with fireplace, cathedral ceilings, and open to the kitchen would be a fantastic addition and a very desirable selling point for today’s buyer. He was also considering enclosing a small side porch to create a home office. There are countless changes, additions, and remodeling projects that he could undertake that would really make his home stand out in the neighborhood….but that’s the big question. What’s happening in this neighborhood? Are other homeowners adding on? Does a buyer looking in this neighborhood expect these features in a potential new home? And most importantly….will the money spent on these projects give a good return when the time comes to sell the house? The answers to those questions will vary from city to city, from neighborhood to neighborhood, and from street to street. I encourage him, as I do any homeowner, to do their “homework” before embarking on a major home remodel. Consult your trusted real estate professional to track the trends in your area. You want to make a wise investment in your largest investment…your home!