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Making the case for hardwood floors

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Congratulations! You have survived the holidays. Well most of them. Of course, there is one more to go, but New Year’s Eve feels like a one-off compared to the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

If you’ve taken our advice and used the holidays to take mental notes about what you’d like to improve in your home, then well done. If not, it’s not too late. Either way, we’re going to throw one more thing at you to think about: flooring.

We happened across an article extolling the virtues of hardwood flooring, and it certainly got us thinking about them more at length.

First, they offer great value. Most hardwood floors recoup 70%-80% of their value, according to the article. Getting their money’s worth is often the most important factor to consumers.

Second, they have universal appeal. If you plan on selling in the future, hardwood floors are in demand, according to the real estate pros in the article. One person in the article called them a “bling feature.”

Finally, they last a long time. With proper care, hardwood floors offer the longest life span versus other flooring materials, the article says. And that threshold for proper care is pretty minimal.

Now, we won’t deny that hardwood floors are pricey. The article estimates average cost of $5 to $10 per square foot and more for installation.

So, if the pros don’t outweigh the price tag, faux hardwood could be the way to go for you. They offer many of the same benefits at a lower price scale.

If these walls could talk

If you aren’t in love with our hardwood floors talk, then here’s a remodeling story that might tug at your heart strings.

A man’s love letter from 1944 was found in the walls of a Greenfield, Mass., home during a recent remodel. Local police uploaded a photo of the letter, written by a man only identified as Walter, in the hopes of figuring out the backstory and the post went viral.

Unfortunately, the intended recipient had already passed away, but her family was able to get the letter.

Have a great week and we’ll see you next year!

Best practices for your next kitchen remodel

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As the old adage goes, home is where the heart is. While that may be true, the heart of any home is in the kitchen.

Because of its versatility, traffic-heavy nature, and good return on investment, the kitchen is a popular remodeling job. And like any remodeling job, people want to feel good about every dollar they spend.

NerdWallet has a great article on the best ways to save money on your kitchen remodel.

The article is a great read, offering tips on planning, breaking down costs, and drawing statistics from places like Remodeling Magazine and the National Kitchen and Bath Association, but it is the affordability advice that caught our eye.

First, the article suggests, keep the same layout. Keeping electric wiring and plumping in the existing areas saves a lot of time and money versus the demolition and labor costs of relocating.

Second, think simple, the article says. Avoiding custom cabinets and fancy add-ons reduces a lot of costs. Instead, opt for stock models and reap the savings. Unless you plan to live in the home forever, a lot of the bells and whistles won’t resonate with buyers at resale.

The last tip in the article, doing a little bit of the job yourself, comes with a big caveat. You should only proceed with taking out the old cabinets, some small scale demo, or picking up supplies if your remodeler gives the green light. Most remodelers will factor those costs into their pricing, but it doesn’t hurt to iron out the details.

If you are unsure about pursuing a kitchen remodel, take a look at this article about the eight questions you should ask yourself before you get started.

If you are convinced you are ready to remodel, then give us a call!

Have a great week.

Use the holidays to plan your next remodel

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December is here, which means it’s one major holiday down and one to go.

Chances are you will be entertaining company over the next few weeks. If so, it’s a good time to take inventory of how your living space responds to all the guests.

This article has several great tips on what to keep an eye on while you are entertaining and using your newfound information to guide your next remodeling project.

First up, take a look at how the people move around the place, the article suggests. Are things too cramped in one place or too vacant in another? Maybe guests keep bumping into each other in a certain area? The flow of your house is a great place to start when it comes to planning your next home remodel.

Next, take a look at your storage situation, the article says. Do you have enough storage for your kitchen items? What about your guests’ coats and purses? Now, with that storage in mind, is there a more efficient place it could be? The best storage situation is adequate and convenient. If your house is one or the other, a remodel can bridge the gap.

Finally, since you will be cooking your face off over the next month, take a good look at your kitchen. Can you move effortlessly between the refrigerator and stove? Do you risk an accident every time you forget to close the dishwasher? Make notes of things you’d like to improve, and take those notes to a designer. The solution is out there.

Speaking of entertaining, here’s a cool party trick for your next get together.

Memorize this list of most popular home renovations by state Google data that we came across on Architectural Digest. The study the article is based on was conducted by Empire Today, and their results are available here. Then, when you are chit-chatting with someone from the Southwest, tell them you know they’ve thought of renovating their living room. You will be the toast of the room. Maybe.

Have a great week!