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.
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!
Thanksgiving is next week and, if you are like me, you are already making a mental note of what dishes you prefer on your plate.
When it comes to our industry, it turns out people prefer remodeling compared to new construction, according to a new study by BuildFax.
The study was based on “more than 23 billion data points on property history and condition,” the release says.
Some of the other notable figures from the study include:
- Residential remodeling activity has gone up 30 percent since 2010.
- Remodeling investment is outpacing new construction, suggesting renovations are fueling home price increases.
- Spending on remodeling fell 10 percent in 2016, suggesting people are opting for smaller projects.
A stat on stress
Now, even if you opt for a smaller project, remodeling can be very stressful, as we’ve written before.
That fact of life was backed up by new evidence from Houzz co-founder and CEO Adi Tatarko, who said 12% of couples consider divorce when remodeling their home.
So, be sure to read up on our blog and ensure your remodeling experience is a good one.
Child’s play
It’s not just adults whose home design needs evolve. Children’s housing needs change over the years too.
Here’s a slide show for inspiration on what design elements to incorporate in your next remodel so that your children are accommodated.
Have a great week!
