Design

In pop culture, being basic isn’t always a good thing. But when it comes to home remodeling, being basic can serve as a great guide to achieving your remodeling goals.

With this in mind, we came across a great article about the five basics of home remodeling. It has great advice that serves as a jumping off point for your next remodel. We’ll spotlight our favorites.

The first tip has to do with style. Too often, the article notes, people will want a home to be in one overarching style, when in reality, their home will be more of a melting pot with elements of several styles. To truly transform a standard home into a bungalow or Victorian style will up your costs. Incorporating a few of those elements will not.

A related tip has to do with design. The article preaches better design, not bigger design. Too many times a homeowner will immediately think they need an addition to solve their space issues. That’s an expensive path. Instead, enlist the help of professionals who can help find ways to reclaim unused space or evaluate the layout of a home. Taking down a wall or converting a closet can change the flow of a home, and is less invasive than adding a boxy addition.

Lastly, the article suggests creating a master plan and creating a budget. The two are hand in hand. A master plan outlines construction milestones and protects both the customer and builder. A budget creates an understanding between the customer and contractor. The article also suggests budgeting 5% to 10% in wiggle room.

Have a good weekend!

It’s September already? If you’re struggling to cope with the fact that we are two-thirds through with 2016, come over and take a seat with us!

Even in small ways, it’s tough realizing you are running out of time. For instance, we’re looking back at all the articles that caught our eye and wondering why we didn’t write about them.

Case in point, our favorite tips from realtor.com about how to save money when you remodel. All six of the tips hold up, but here are our Top 3.

First up, make sure you speak to a few contractors, and compare and contrast their estimates. Don’t be afraid to ask pointed questions about costs. Good contractors will be happy to elaborate on their estimates. Bad contractors will hide behind excuses.

Next, consider your timing. As the article notes, most contractors are not as busy between January and March. That could lead to some big deals! Also, since that is right around tax season, you could get a boost in the budget department from a tax refund.

Finally, don’t be afraid to go bargain hunting. Don’t marry yourself to a certain type of tub or flooring. Instead, ask the contractor if there are comparable materials from a previous job, or if he or she knows where they can locate some clearance items. Seek deals and ye shall find them!

Enjoy the long weekend!

With the Olympics winding down, we are thinking a lot about gold medals and all the hard work that goes into winning one.

If remodeling and design was in the Summer Games, we think we’d have a good shot at gold. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Just read some of our reviews, and you’ll see why we average 4.5 stars on Facebook.

“Remodel has gone great,” says Dana, who had work done on her kitchen. “Constant communication, attention to detail and they actually listened to me and what I wanted. Super quality cabinetry. I would not hesitate to use them again for another job.”

And Dana is not alone. Plenty of people trust us for second and third jobs.

“Great job, pleasant to work with,” Pam says. “This is our second job using MK and we will definitely continue to use them in the future. Good communication, a great team!”

In addition to our communication skills, Nancy has high marks for our attention to detail.

“This is an excellent team of professionals who do top notch work and don’t give up until everything is done just right,” she says. “They are courteous and prompt in their communications and accommodating with scheduling.

“We had gotten several estimates on repairing a leak in a patio roof under a walk deck, and the two other estimates included entire replacement of the walk deck. This turned out to be work we didn’t actually need. Mike gave a a much more pragmatic and honest solution and saved us thousands of dollars. We had some warranty issues with replacement sliders and the MK team, James and Mike have stayed on top of it through resolution. We recommend this company highly and without reservation.”

So there you have it. When you add up all the scores, MK Remodeling & Design is as good as gold.