Remodeling Realities Make Home Makeovers Easier

If you’re like most homeowners who have lived in their home for several years, you’re likely to catch the “home remodeling itch.” Or, perhaps you’ve recently purchased a home and the avocado countertops and pink tile aren’t exactly what you had in mind in your dream kitchen. As the years go by, tackling a home remodeling project is an inevitable part of homeownership that you’re sure to consider. Whether making simple updates each year for budget reasons or undertaking a large project in one fell swoop, keeping your home on-trend and in-style can be a rewarding experience and increase the value of your home, no matter how long you decide to stay put.

Remodeling projects can be very overwhelming to most homeowners. Even with a clear vision in mind, just walking in to your local home improvement retailer can make your head spin.  From cabinetry to patio doors and everything in between, styles, finishes, colors and sizes abound.

Here are some tips for making the remodeling process more enjoyable so you can complete the project with ease and peace of mind:

Let Your Design Dreams Take You Away

Like most of us, you probably already have a vision for your dream remodel. For example, perhaps gleaming granite countertops, a custom glass tile backsplash in your favorite shade of blue, endless cherry cabinetry and a built-in wine refrigerator top your list for kitchen must-haves. Or, maybe you have always dreamed of a Jacuzzi tub and bamboo floors in your master bathroom. Wherever your design dreams take you, make note of it. Peruse home and fashion magazines, design blogs and Web sites and home improvement television shows to see which styles strike you. Keep a file folder with images and swatches for inspiration. The sky’s the limit, so for now don’t let budget and specifications squash your design dreams.

But Keep Your Budget Grounded

Eventually you will need to set a budget for your remodeling project. Staying on budget may be more challenging, however, since many projects tend to fall victim to “creep” and you end up adding more on than originally planned. Throughout the entire process, you should keep accurate records of estimates, costs and agreements and review where you are at frequently so there aren’t budget surprises. Sometimes you may have to compromise on your dreams for budget realities, but with proper planning you can achieve the right balance without leaving a hole in your wallet. Tapping a professional can help you determine where to splurge and where to save.

For example, if you are planning a typical kitchen remodel you should budget 10-to-15 percent of your home’s market value. Most of the cost of remodeling a kitchen typically can be recouped by increased market value should you sell your home even in a sluggish real estate market.

Think Futuristically

The longer we stay in our homes, the older we get, too. And over time, both homes and people tend to need a little more help. As long as you’re remodeling, plan ahead for changes in mobility, physical strength or eyesight. It’s especially important to keep the future in mind when shopping for cabinetry, plumbing fixtures and lighting.

Bathrooms

Many people don't realize the cost of remodeling a bathroom. When they think of remodeling a kithchen and the cost, they think that room of that size will comand a higher price than a small room like a bathroom. This is not always true. In fact per square foot a complete bath remodel will run several time more than a kitchen. This is just something to keep in mind when remodeling a bathroom. As that first price will most likely give you sticker shock.

 Manage Your Dollars and Sense During a Home Remodeling Project

Taking on a home remodeling project of any scale can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences a homeowner will undertake. With countless design choices, layers of dust and a revolving door of workers, just thinking about it can send even the most laid -back person to bed with a mind-numbing headache. Whether it’s truly your blood, sweat and tears going into the remodel or just in theory letting professionals take the lead, there’s no doubt about it, remodeling is complicated. The silver lining, however, is the sense of accomplishment and homeowner pride once the project is complete and your design dreams are realized.

One of the best ways to keep stress at a manageable level is by working with a professional. This especially holds true when planning for a kitchen or bathroom remodel — two of the most trafficked areas of your home with the highest potential for return on investment. Working with a professional can make the remodel process much smoother by avoiding budget pitfalls, schedule delays and a crushed design dream.

Here are just a few of the ways a professional kitchen and bath dealer can help:

Visualizing the possibilities

Most reputable kitchen and bath dealers have a showroom to best showcase their work and the products they specify. As a customer, you should expect a neat, organized showroom with friendly staff to listen to you, help get some of your upfront questions answered and show you your options. Kitchen and bath dealers specialize exclusively in these rooms and have knowledge of the latest trends. They have the tools and experience to walk you through the design process, set the budget and troubleshoot to meet your goals for aesthetics and function. In fact, many kitchen and bath dealers and their designers are certified by leading industry associations such as the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), among others.

Setting the budget

Nowhere will professional help pay off more than in setting the budget. If you’ve never done a major remodel, you probably don’t know how much to budget for. Or, perhaps you have a budget in mind and need help knowing where to save and when to splurge. Your dealer and design team will make this process much easier for you. Throughout the design and installation, they can work within your budget parameters, specify the best products and alert you of potential overages before it’s too late.

Doing the legwork

We’ve all heard the old adage, “measure twice; cut once.” Knowing how to take the right measurements is imperative in a successful remodeling project. The wrong measurement can set off an unfortunate chain reaction of very costly events. Professionals are skilled in this area and will get the job done right the first time so there aren’t delays in the schedule. Once the measurements are taken, a dealer will put the plans to paper and manage the ordering and installation steps.

Realizing your dreams

Eventually your remodel will be complete and you’ll no longer have to make do with your makeshift kitchen in the family room or fight with family members for time in your only functioning bathroom. After the dust has settled, the end result should be a beautiful space you and your family can enjoy for years to come. And, if you worked with a knowledgeable professional, you are left with both your dollars and your sense.

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you. Our showroom can help you make many choices. We have many year in the design and installation field.

Call or email today!