If they love their home and want to stay there because of schools and neighbors, I caution them not to overbuild for the neighborhood. The rule of thumb is that it doesn't pay to be the most expensive house on the block. Ideally, you should undertake significant remodeling only if your home is of average or below-average value for your area. Even then, you should limit your remodeling in order to stay within the overall profile of the neighborhood - if you expect to get a significant part of your investment back at resale. According to building contractors, real estate agents and industry associations alike, it's hard to beat remodeling your kitchen.
People seem to want a private area away from the rest of the house for lounging and relaxation.
Unfortunately, most of us spend more time looking for a good hair stylist or auto mechanic than we do checking out contractors. But spending a little time at the outset of your project can save you a lot of money down the road and keep your dream house from turning into a nightmare. A key part of this process is soliciting and comparing bids from remodeling contractors, and here's where it pays to spend extra time. But that has absolutely nothing to do with this business. This is a service business and not a product business.