Secret Compartments

Protip: Trust remodeling pros; they are experts for a reason

By on October 13, 2017   /   Accessible design, Aging in place, Awards, Bathroom, Blog, Cabinets, Customer Service, Design, Finding A Remodeler, Flooring, Going green, Hiring A Remodeler, Kitchen, Licensed Contractors, Outdoor, Remodel, Secret Compartments, Shop, Showers, Storage, Universal design   /   Leave a comment

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Happy Friday the 13th, everyone!

Hopefully, you haven’t seen anything spooky today, or won’t in the lead up to Halloween.

If you want to avoid remodeling scares, our advice is simple: Trust the professionals.

That’s the topic of a recent column in the Seattle Times titled “HomeWork: Nothing can replace the expertise of a remodeling pro.”

Experts are experts for a reason. They have the experience to back up what they are saying.

I’m sure you’ve seen a DIY reality TV show or the simple processes outlined on your favorite Pinterest board and have been inspired to take actions into your own hands. That’s great hustle, kid.

But, like the article says, you need to realize even the most seemingly straightforward projects are filled with sequences and traps that can cost lots of time and money.

The article offers this questionnaire for people thinking of taking on a project:

1) How much do you really know?

2) What if it the project doesn’t work?

3) Are there any unintended consequences?

4) How do you know if it’s right for your home?

If you can’t answer those questions confidently, then it’s time to give us a call. We promise only treats, no tricks.

Master bathroom trends

Our friends at Houzz offer a wealth of information when it comes to home remodeling. They recently completed the 2017 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Survey, and the results were outlined in an article on Forbes.

For starters, the average cost of a major remodel to a small master bathroom (under 100 square feet) was $12,300. The average cost of a major remodel to a large bathroom (over 100 square feet) was $21,000.

As for the things people wanted to change, most chose to address faucets, wall finishes, countertops, and flooring.

When it comes to splurging, most homeowners upped the ante on showers (42 percent on respondents) or on cabinets and vanities (40 percent).

Have a great week!

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2017 is ‘boom year’ for remodeling, Houzz survey says

By on August 11, 2017   /   Aging in place, Awards, Bathroom, Blog, Cabinets, Customer Service, Design, Finding A Remodeler, Flooring, Going green, Hiring A Remodeler, Kitchen, Licensed Contractors, Remodel, Secret Compartments, Shop, Storage   /   Leave a comment

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While a lot of us are preparing for weekends full of bone-crunching tackles, it appears the remodeling industry is still laying the smack down on 2017.

According to a recent Houzz survey, 2017 is on track to be a “boom year” for the remodeling industry.

The annual Houzz & Home survey says homeowners plan to spend an average of $27,300 on home renovations in 2017.

That number is 3.4 percent higher than the 2016 figure of $26,400. (The article rounds up to four percent, which is not accurate.)

The report says both recent buyers and repeat buyers are driving the spending, with repeat buyers spending twice as much as their counterparts.

One expert quoted in the article says a lack of affordable homes is leading many first-time buyers to purchase homes that require more than cosmetic upgrades.

If you are following the trend and getting ready to embark on a remodel, we’ve tracked down some tips for hiring the best contractors.

All seven tips are from the Better Business Bureau and run the gamut from the obvious (get a contract, don’t pay everything up front) to the less thought of (ask about insurance, licenses, bonding).

Have a good week!

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More on aging-in-place, one of our passions at MK Remodeling & Design

By on July 6, 2017   /   Aging in place, Awards, Bathroom, Blog, Cabinets, Customer Service, Design, Finding A Remodeler, Going green, Hiring A Remodeler, Kitchen, Licensed Contractors, Remodel, Secret Compartments, Shop, Storage   /   Leave a comment

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At MK Remodeling & Design, our passion is helping people realize their housing dreams.

Hand in hand with that passion is our joy in helping retrofit homes to allow seniors to live in worry-free comfort. That style of remodeling is called aging-in-place.

We stumbled across a New York Times article about the subject, titled “For old folks at home, remodeling is in order,” and it offers a comprehensive look at the motivations behind why many seniors are looking to remodel.

As the article points out, about 80 percent of older people own their homes, but less than four percent of all U.S. housing stock offers the most important features of home accessibility. This lopsided equation is the driving force behind many aging-in-place projects.   

The projects outlined in the article range from the inexpensive (relocated outlets at around $100; two grab bars for around $200), to the moderate (tub conversion to roll-in shower for around $10,000), and the expensive (universal bathroom remodel for $25,000).

If this is all starting to sound familiar, you are totally on to us. We wrote about the subject not too long ago, but it bears repeating: Aging-in-place projects are driving remodeling spending.

So, hop aboard the aging-in-place remodeling train, and let us unlock your home’s potential!

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