Design

 

If you are thinking about embarking on a home remodel, there are a few things you should keep in mind. We came across an article that offers a few great tips before construction gets started.

Think ahead. While you will be able to book an initial consultation quickly, that doesn’t mean construction can start the next day. Many contractors are booked out for several months, so plan ahead. TV shows make home remodels look as easy as ordering a pizza. This isn’t the case! It takes many months of planning.

Do your homework. Ask friends and family for referrals. Check out reviews and photos of prior work on Angie’s List, Yelp, and social media. Be sure to prepare a list of questions for your consultation. And be skeptical of someone with a “We’ll figure it out later” mentality. That will cost you in the long run.

Get it in writing. Insist on contracts. Do not subscribe to any handshake agreements. Contracts protect both sides of the deal. Customers know what to expect, and contractors know their milestones and when they can expect payment.

Insist on the best. Only use licensed and insured contractors. Anything less is risky at best and downright dangerous at worst. We’ve seen McDonald’s wrapper used as insulation and shoddy electric lines that were in danger of starting a fire.

Now that we’ve gotten the serious stuff out of the way, let’s shift gears to some fun stuff. Backsplashes are like the cherry on top of an cool kitchen. Apropos of nothing, here are some photos of some very cool, and very inexpensive, backsplashes.

Have a good week!

 

At MK Remodeling & Design, we understand that the budget is the main concern for our customers. If you are in the market for a kitchen update but don’t want to break the bank, CBS News offers this article on several options available to you under $25,000.

Refacing your cabinets will cost around $400 per cabinet. Flooring depends on square footage and the type of flooring options, but there are many ways to do a mid-range job under $4,000. Adding a backsplash, can really make things sizzle for around $2,500. Replacing appliances can also bring your kitchen up to date, all for around $1,000 per appliance.

If you are curious about the costs of different jobs, check out homewyse.com. There you can play with the size and scope of remodeling jobs to get the ballpark cost of a renovation according to your zip code. Of course, a contractor will provide specifics, but this is a good starting point. So, mix and match till your heart’s content and figure what works best for your home and your budget.

No matter what size or what part of your house you are remodeling, be sure to use a licensed contractor and thoroughly vet them. Several families in Philadelphia recently got burned by a contractor who failed to pull permits for their work. Now these homeowners have a litany of problems, and are left to pick up the tab.

While social media, Yelp or Angie’s List are a good start when reading up on a remodeler, don’t be afraid to ask around and talk to former clients. Places like the Better Business Bureau will also have useful information for potential customers.

Have a great week!

People getting their homes remodeled are primarily concerned about two things: 1) Getting the job done right, and 2) Getting the right price.

In pursuit of the latter, some homeowners will look into a cost-plus contract. This is the topic of a recent blog post on Markup and Profit.

Essentially, a cost-plus contract means a contractor is paid for allowed expenses plus a little extra to allow for a profit. In theory, it sounds like a good idea. In practice, it’s another story.

First, customers don’t know what the final price will be. In a standard, fixed-price contract, the buyer and seller agree to a price, put pen to paper, and work goes until completion. Both parties agree to what work will be done, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. Everything is clearly defined and both parties know what to expect.

Under a cost-plus agreement, those parameters are not crystal clear. A job will start at one point, but then might take a different direction due to customer input, such as haggling over supply costs or the like, and delays will occur, leading to more costs.

This leads to a second major criticism of cost-plus contracts: a collapse of efficiency. Jobs under cost-plus contracts take more time because there is no true deadline, no incentive to deliver efficiently. This hurts both parties. Contractors are hamstrung by customers signing off on approved costs. Both parties will agree on what needs to be done, but might have different ideas on how to complete it. A contractor may want to use a certain product for a variety of reasons, but a customer might not approve it because he or she is strictly operating on dollars and cents. That can lead to a subpar job, making both parties unhappy.

Finally, cost-plus contracts require more oversight on contract details by both parties. In addition to killing efficiency, the constant back and forth between a client and contractor can lead to resentment. A client might think a contractor is wasting time, and a contractor could be frustrated that his or her expertise is not trusted. As the blog notes, it comes as no surprise that more cost-plus contracts result in litigation.

A fixed-price contract allows for a healthy dose of communication. The dynamic is different in a cost-plus job. And it’s always a costly one.

Have a good week!