Nobody needs to tell you it’s a wise idea to start saving as much money as possible no matter what point in life you find yourself. If you are one of the smart ones that has suddenly found yourself with a financial surplus, one of the best investments you can make is putting money back into your home.
There are 3 main reasons for undertaking a remodeling project:
- No Choice – A bathroom has been flooded or a kitchen that experienced a fire have to be fixed up regardless.
- Increase Quality of Living – The addition of a swimming pool or adding an outdoor kitchen don’t necessarily offer huge upside in market value but they do increase the fun you can have at home.
- For a Return of Investment – Some remodeling projects like the installation of hardwood floors are done mainly to earn more return when the time comes to sell the home.
Depending on which type of remodeling project you’re looking to get in to, these jobs might just be more work then they’re worth:
Home Office Conversion
According to the 2015 Cost vs Value Report the remodeling of a home office seems to want to make it able to host customers and conferences with commercial grade flooring, rerouting of wires, adding walls, etc. The truth is a home office just isn’t needed anymore. It’s nice to have a dedicated work space especially if employed from home but with the conveniences of tablets and laptops most people switch up where they do their computing during the day. A person working from home is just as likely to operate from a breakfast bar with the TV on in the background than they are in a home office.
Adding a Sun Room
Even though the Florida ROI is better than the national average, a sun room still isn’t a major benefit. When the weather is nice we’ll sit outside and when it’s too hot we like to be in the air-conditioner. The truth is a sun room is more fitting for a Midwestern Fall day rather than a Florida Winter.
Swimming Pool
A pool is strictly a quality of life upgrade because there’s nothing more relaxing than a cool dip on a scorching day. Any pool owner will tell you though that swimming pools are a lot of work from keeping the chemicals checked to updates to property like fence height to comply with insurance regulations. To a potential buyer down the road a pool may be a reason more not to purchase rather than an incentive to.
Second Bathroom Conversion
Converting a usable room into a second bathroom is a slippery slope. On one hand if you have a large family where bathroom scheduling is a conflict the second restroom can bring much needed relief. That being said, the room might better be used as an extra bedroom or storage. Plus, what happens down the line when a potential buyer is empty nest retirees that have no need for a second bathroom and instead would like that space for their grandkid’s playroom? To many, the value of a second bathroom doesn’t necessitate the cost and the money is best put for other projects.
As the most popular rooms in any home, kitchens and bathrooms traditionally get the most attention when it’s time for a remodel. But let’s take a moment to remember the rooms and spaces that connect every room together, the living area that makes the whole house worth living in. The hallways and foyers. Read More
Top 5 Questions to Ask Before you Remodel
To remodel or not to remodel, that is the question. If you’re debating with yourself and your loved ones over the answer, you might not be ready to take the plunge into a lengthy renovation project. Based on our almost two decades of remodeling experience, clients who answer YES to these 5 questions get the most satisfaction and the least discomfort out of their renovation.
1. Are you ready to bring your home up to date?
Technology, style trends and materials have all come a long way since the early 1960’s and ‘70’s. If your home was built during those decades, chances are you’re still using the same appliances and amenities that were new in the last century. Remodeling may give you access to the smart technology and upgraded flooring, lighting and appliance options that are available today.
2. Does your home say ‘quiet night in’ but you’re saying ‘party, party, party?’
Entertaining friends and family can be the motivating factor behind upgrading your floor plan. A closed-off kitchen and boxed-in floor plan are the enemies of a household that wants to be the center of the social scene. Remodeling can create an open flow through the kitchen and main floors, allowing for increased comfort and accessibility.
3. Have you had a change in your life circumstances?
Universal design – accommodating disabled or special needs residents and guests – is becoming a must-have for aging or physically challenged homeowners. Wheelchair ramps, no threshold showers and safety rails are a few of the most common requests. In addition to designing for convenience, remodels are often necessary to accommodate blended families. Today, multi-generational homes are more common than ever before. If your house has gotten more crowded recently, a remodel can make bedrooms bigger, bathrooms more service-oriented and living spaces maximized.
4. Are you interested in maximizing your investment?
According to the 2014 Cost vs Value Report, a major kitchen remodel can recoup up to 75% of its cost when you sell your home. Costs of a bathroom remodel may be recouped up to 72 percent. A smart remodeling strategy can increase your investment in your home significantly. Before undertaking an investment-related remodeling project, speak with your licensed contractor about managing material expenses and expectations for the end result.
5. Do you have a survival plan for the construction phase?
Depending on the scope of the project, if you can be out of the home for most of the construction timeline, we recommend it. However, moving into a temporary residence is not realistic for most people, which is why most professional contractors will work with homeowners to develop a manageable timeline for the phases of the construction project so you can work around it. Know what you’re going to do with pets to keep them out of the way of the work, and develop a schedule for you and your family so you can stick to a routine as closely as possible.
If you can say yes to at least four out of five of these questions, you’re ready to get started on a remodeling project. If you’re still not sure, please contact us or stop by our Naples Remodeling showroom at 1410 Pine Ridge Road. We offer free consultations and carry luxury remodeling materials to help you finalize your project.
Remodeling your living space is very different than building a new home or transforming the exterior of your home. Always hire a professional remodeling team with verifiable skills as well as intangible qualities such as integrity, respect and professionalism. After all, a remodeling job is usually done while you’re still living in the home so you may literally have to live with the company you hire. Read More
Summer is the outdoor celebration season. Is your kitchen ready to be the life of the party? Weddings, graduations, new arrivals and summer holidays come fast and furious over the next few months, followed by even more holiday gatherings.
Adding an outdoor kitchen or renovating your main kitchen space into a multi-function open area that is the heart and soul of the home ensures that your house is always ready for a celebration, no matter when.
The kitchen should be a top priority if you have a limited remodeling budget.
Kitchens and baths are the areas in a home “where you can tell if money has been well spent or not,” says architect Steve Straughan, a partner in Los Angeles-based KAA Design Group. “They’re the most expensive areas of the home in terms of construction. And they’re where people spend time in their homes.”
According to the Remodeling Magazine 2012-13 Cost vs. Value Report, the national average cost for a high-end kitchen makeover was $53,931. And that cost will change according to the materials you choose.
According to Remodeling Magazine, “a properly remodeled kitchen can return about 75 cents on every dollar spent. A kitchen remodel gives you one of the highest returns you can get on any remodeling project.”
So exactly what should you improve when you remodel your kitchen? Think about maximizing your workflow while enhancing the overall appearance.
Kitchens that are the centerpiece of the home are the most popular with home buyers. Include kitchen islands that provide space for entertaining friends and family while food is being prepared, or for chatting with the kids after school. Depending on your budget and housing market, you may also want to include a kitchen island cooktop, commercial-grade appliances and recreational upgrades such as a pizza oven. Create a kitchen space where everyone wants to gather.
Standard kitchen remodels should include tall wood cabinets that reach to the ceiling, stone or solid surface counters such as quartz or corian and most importantly, accessible storage solutions such as pull out shelving, pantry built-ins, and and under-cabinet LED lighting . Floors should be natural wood or stone.
If you know your kitchen needs an overhaul, but you’d like a fast fix to start celebration season off with a bang, you should spend your money remodeling in a way that you’ll most enjoy. Instant upgrades such as new backsplash, paint or flooring can update your kitchen’s look without breaking the bank.
Call us today for a free consultation to get your kitchen celebration ready or stop into our Kitchen and Bath Showroom at 1410 Pine Ridge Road in Naples, Florida today.
Long considered a refuge from hectic schedules, the bathroom is the only place where privacy is guaranteed and you can be alone for a moment of peace. For such a small room, it has big importance to our state of mind. And to the sale of your home. After the kitchen, the bathroom is the most remarked on room in the house by home buyers. Whether you’re trying to sell your house in 2015 or remodeling, you need to know these top bathroom trends for the new year and beyond.
Why should you care if your bathroom is more fun than functional – or just the opposite? According to Encyclopedia.com, we spend the equivalent of almost two years in the bathroom over the course of a lifetime.
Which makes it even more important to spend your time and budget to remodel your bathroom according to future trends.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s style report, as reported in the Huffington Post “more than 400 designers agreed there is a move toward simplicity in a cleaner, more contemporary way. That’s not to say they are going to completely lose their cozy, rustic charm for all-out glamour, but they will have cleaner lines and more minimalist modern vibe.”
We couldn’t agree more. This is a bathroom remodel we did recently for a Gulfshore bayfront condo. We took it from cozy to contemporary, with this bathroom and the kitchen as the most dramatically transformed rooms.
The report also emphasizes a switch from the shower – bathtub combo into (our preferred) separate shower and soaking tub layout. In fact, of all the bathroom appliances you can upgrade, the most impact on style will come by upgrading your bathtub with relaxation, quality and visual appeal in mind.
Our kitchen & bath showroom features Victoria & Albert volcanic limestone baths for homeowners who are renovating with one goal in mind: to create a spa-like environment with timeless style and quality. With tubs ranging from minimalist contemporary to classically roll-topped, this Britain-based company uses volcanic limestone to create each piece to make them beautiful, strong and naturally white.
We feature the IOS freestanding bathtub in our Kitchen & Bath Remodeling showroom. This model has an amazingly compact design, making it ideal for a luxury condo bathroom remodel project.
The bathtub is the focal piece that will set the tone for the style of the bathroom. We recommend making eco-friendly selections for your toilet, fixtures and décor to maintain a balance between luxury and environmental sensibility that will appeal to future buyers as well as your family. Green is another kitchen trend for 2015.
According to Energy Star, approximately 30 percent of household water consumption comes from the toilet. High efficiency, low-flow toilets conserve water and provide a more calming hygienic experience. Toto® is a US-based company that designs gravity-based toilets, low-flow shower heads, automatic sensor faucets, and sinks treated with a patented glaze to prevent debris, mold and bacteria from sticking to porous, ceramic surfaces. Replacing traditional fixtures with green technology such as the Toto® designs, your bathroom is quickly transformed into a high-tech, environmentally friendly oasis.
As you shop for eco-fixtures, look for the Water Sense certification. This partnership program of the Environmental Protection Agency, makes it easy for consumers to save water and protect the environment by identifying high efficiency products that perform well.
Maintain a clean, healthy environment naturally by regularly spraying fixtures and tile with an all-natural cleaning product such as a simple mixture of lemon and water or apple cider vinegar and water. Regular cleaning with prevent mold from forming, which is not only unsightly but also extremely dangerous to your health.
Don’t forget the toilet paper! According to the National Resources Defense Council, if every household in America replaced one four-pack of traditional “virgin fiber” bath tissue with recycled toilet paper, it would save around 1 million trees per year.
Talk to us: Are you ready to remodel your bathroom so it retains its appeal in 2015 and beyond? See the Victoria & Albert volcanic limestone bathtub in our Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Showroom at 1410 Pine Ridge Road in Naples, Florida, and schedule your renovation today.
The millennial generation — home buyers born between 1980 and 2000 — comprises the largest segment of home buyers, according to a 2014 National Association of Realtors study. Any renovations you make to your home should be geared toward attracting the eye of these young and savvy buyers. Read More
Professional integrity leads to quality results. That’s the philosophy we’ve formed our business around for more than a decade. Unfortunately, integrity is the exception not the rule for most contractors in southwest Florida. Choosing the lowest bid comes with a high cost. Legitimate contractors invest time and money into maintaining insurance coverage, hiring reputable sub-contractors, and keeping projects moving forward as scheduled. Yes, you can save money by hiring a cheap remodeling company, but are you prepared to handle the dangers and risks that come with saving a few dollars now? Read More
Hardwood flooring has come a long way in recent years, much to the delight of home owners who want the look and feel of wood in traditional and non-traditional living and working spaces; it’s just a question of what kind of wood floor you’ll need. Read More
