Come see what we have been working on at the 2017 Remodel Omaha Tour! Our remodel is located at 16050 S 120th St. in Springfield, we hope to see you there.
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Design Trends for 2017
According to the 2016 Houzz & Home Report, people remodeling their laundry rooms of 150 square feet or more will spend an average of $2,700. Take away appliances, and that’s a sizable budget to splurge on tile and other details.
Sometimes all it takes is a small area to feature a fun piece of wallpaper, a statement mirror or a narrow table with a tray for shoes underneath. After all, first impressions matter.
7 Reasons To Remodel In The Winter
1. Convenient Project Scheduling
It is usually easier for contractors to schedule work in winter months especially if painting, replacing flooring, updating lighting and plumbing are involved because there is a lot less exterior work being done. This will free up a contractor’s schedule for interior projects such as painting, replacing flooring, repairing drywall, updating lighting and replacing cabinetry.
2. Contractor Availability
During the winter you may find that your contractor may have more time to work with you in planning and designing your project. This would be a good time for refining the details before the work begins. This process may take longer as work picks up for your contractor in the spring with outdoor projects.
3. Avoid Manufacturer Spring Price Increases
Now is the time to look for and take advantage of reduced prices. If you’re remodeling your home, you may find close-out prices on appliances and be able to purchase materials before manufacturers increase prices. Typically, we experience price increases for lumber products, windows and cabinet lines in the spring. During the winter, manufacturers may feature special offers to reduce inventory.
If you’re planning a basement remodeling project that includes a kitchenette, winter is the time to take advantage of pricing on appliances and cabinets before spring increase arrive.
4. Clean-up
While some homeowners will wait until spring to remodel because of concerns about dust, fumes and areas for staging the work, current technologies and clean up methods do control these problems. Fans with negative pressure, plastic zip doors, and sealing off heat ducts with a filter will contain dust, debris and fumes to the work area.
Remodeling a basement can provide a place for activities during winter months. This multi-purpose basement conversion includes a kitchen and living area.
5. Permit Approvals
Government agencies are usually less busy in winter, which makes it easier and quicker to obtain necessary permits.
6. Outside Projects
If the weather cooperates, you may be able to work with your contractor on outside projects to get ready for spring. While we wouldn’t recommend outside painting during the winter, we have built decks, porches and additions for our customers in winter.
This sun-room addition was completed during winter months.
7. Vacation Time
If you are planning a vacation this winter, it may be an optimal time to have work done in your home to avoid disruption of your daily activities.
Why You Should Hire A Contractor For Your Home Renovations.
Home renovation is not a simple task and it gets even more complicated if you are a first time homeowner. A single mistake, such as using the wrong tools, can even cost you more money. If you want your home remodeling project done properly with cost-efficient and sustainable methods, it is recommended that you hire a professional home remodeling contractor.
Here are some of the reasons why you should hire a contractor for your renovation project.
Contractors understand building codes and building requirements.
Perhaps this is the most important reason why you should really hire one, most especially for large projects. Home contractors know the rules and professional standards set by the industry for your safety. If you entrust your home renovation/building project to the expert hands of a professional home contractor, you won’t have to worry about building requirements. This will also save you from getting into legal troubles later on. Remember that most especially in cities, there are building requirements to comply with and if these standards are not followed in your project, you could be fined or get your project re-done.
Home contractors have a team of experts and professionals.
You are guaranteed of quality results, most especially if you hire a contractor who has been in the business for a long time. These contractors have professional networks who know how to do the jobs right. And because they can bring in the best professionals in the industry, you can expect your home renovation project delivered in a timely and more organized manner.
Home contractors use the best tools.
Another reason is that home contractors have or use the best tools and equipment for construction projects. If you do the renovation yourself, it might either even cost you more if you have to buy some power tools to do the job right or not buy tools and sacrifice the quality of the work.
Home contractors know sustainable and cost-efficient construction methods.
Another good thing about hiring home contractors is that they know many cost-efficient and sustainable construction methods. For instance, they can give you advice on some techniques on how you can save money on energy with your renovation project. They can also give you advice on the different materials to use on your project so you can achieve the results you want
Kitchen Remodel Blog
“Replacing old elements, such as doors, windows and siding, in general yielded a better financial return than bigger remodeling projects, such as additions. But real estate agents and remodelers say updated kitchens and baths still bring a significant payoff, especially at resale time. The report found that kitchen projects yielded a higher return than bath projects, with a minor kitchen remodel adding 82.7 percent of the project’s cost back to the home’s value. Kitchens are important, Aaron says, because would-be buyers often overestimate how much they would cost to update.
“If you have a dated kitchen … and a buyer walks into that kitchen, they’re going to think that in order to redo that kitchen, they’re going to have to spend $40,000 or $50,000,” Aaron says.
But the average cost of a minor kitchen remodel – new cabinet doors, appliances, countertops, sink, faucet, paint and hardware – was $18,856 nationwide, according to the Cost vs. Value report. Savvy shoppers can do it for less than the buyer assumes.
But, like the front door, it’s important to do the right kitchen remodel. Adding a $75,000 kitchen to a $100,000 house is unlikely to yield $75,000 in value, although it may make you a happy chef. As a general rule, look to spend about 25 percent of the home’s value for a new kitchen and 12 percent to 15 percent for an updated bathroom, says David Pekel, president and CEO of Pekel Construction in Milwaukee and a master certified remodeler.
Putting an ultramodern kitchen into a 100-year-old Tudor home isn’t smart, either. “Whatever your home improvement is … I strongly discourage designing new spaces in a fashion that’s incongruous with the rest of the house’s architectural vernacular,” Pekel says. “It doesn’t really add value. It detracts.”
Whether certain improvements will pay off varies not only regionally, but also neighborhood by neighborhood, based on who is going to live in the house. For example, a pool adds more value to homes in some Los Angeles neighborhoods than in others, Aaron says. In cities with colder climates, a pool may not add any value. (Pools are not included in the Cost vs. Value report.)
Renovations within the existing envelope of your home – those that don’t require you to build an addition or expand the roof and foundation – often return more value than building extra rooms onto your home. For one thing, they’re much cheaper.”
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/03/06/which-home-remodeling-projects-are-worth-your-money