Updating kitchens, bathrooms, major mechanical systems and roofing are the best smaller renovations that can make a big difference for home resale value, according to Amie Riggs, co-owner of RIGGS Construction.
“A clean home goes a long way. One way to get your home ‘cleaned up’ is by painting,” she said. “Local paint supply stores, such as Reineke (Decorating Center in Des Peres) have people on staff to assist in your color choices, for interior or exterior painting. Curb appeal is important.”
Paint can freshen the most dated of spaces, she added.
Team members working at the RIGGS headquarters at 333 Leffingwell Ave. in Kirkwood know many helpful tips for homeowners, based on the company’s historical knowledge. In 1959, Bill and Helen Riggs created RIGGS Construction company to provide carpentry services for home remodelers, homebuilders and commercial general contractors. The couple’s son, Tom, and daughter, Pam, grew up in the business and took over operating the company in 1981.
Tom Riggs then bought the business in 1985 and transformed it into a full service, design-build firm. His daughter, Amie Riggs, and his son, Bill Riggs, are the third generation of the family to lead the business after purchasing the company in 2011.
Front façade makeovers and kitchen facelifts are some of the less costly home renovations that homeowners can take to make their homes more attractive to buyers, according to Amie Riggs.
“Front door units and brightening up a foyer create instant curb appeal and sets the tone for a home,” she said. “In the kitchen, a quick revarnishing will freshen tired cabinetry. Or, homeowners can take it a step further and change the color entirely on the existing cabinetry, changing out countertops, sinks, faucets and backsplashes … and voila, you have an updated, relevant kitchen.”
However, he said homeowners with limited funds for remodeling should start with whatever areas need the most attention.
Amie Riggs said during 2023, the most requested remodeling project from RIGGS clients was elevating existing spaces, such as taking a kitchen to the next level or a master bath to “grown up status.”
“Elevating spaces look different in each clients’ home,” she said. “For example, we completed a kitchen during a whole-house renovation 10 years ago; beautiful kitchen, but I would say the homeowner didn’t do everything they wanted at that time, because money only stretches so far.
“So now we’re adding the most exquisite backsplash tile and changing out the island top with a rare onyx, adding a coffee machine and changing out all the electrical devices with high-end modern devices,” added Amie Riggs.
When she referenced “growing up status,” she said for bathrooms it could mean changing to heated floors, creating storage and functional vanity spaces with custom cabinetry designs, plus getting showers and tubs spaces ready for aging in place.
Amie Riggs said most of the company’s clients are currently having RIGGS complete full renovations, but said the company does a lot of space facelifts as well.
Regarding renovations for historic buildings, such as often found in the Kirkwood and Webster Groves areas, Amie Riggs said RIGGS loves handling historic renovation projects.
“Historic restorations or overhauls are a totally different animal,” he said. “The structures dictate what building materials and methods we’ll use. There are more rules around historic buildings in some areas. In the city of St. Louis, we deal with a lot of front porches that need to be rebuilt to their original charm, based on the Preservation Society. We work with them on our clients’ efforts to blend old charm with modern technology and products.”
Amie Riggs confirmed RIGGS can work projects or additions year-round, so it’s possible for homeowners to do renovations during any season.
Regarding home improvement costs for 2024, Amie Riggs said the company sees the cost of building materials still fluctuating.
“Some costs are coming down, some are still on the rise,” he said. “The demand will start to fall with the interest rates at what they are, and is projected to be in six months, so the cost of materials will flatline or decrease some. However, labor will continue to rise in this industry, especially if we don’t get more young people into the trades.
Amie Riggs said what she enjoys most about the business is “making people’s ideas come to life.”
“Often homeowners have specific ideas of what they want, but they can’t draw or sketch or even have the right words for the ideas or materials they’re talking about,” she said. “Our job is to decide that for them, then lead a small army to bring it to life.”