Probable the most important bit of advice anyone will impart to you when you are thinking about selling your house is to “remodel your kitchen”. Just the words “remodel your kitchen” are scary. You immediately envision dollar signs, $$$$$$$. Kitchen cabinets do play a huge role in remodeling your kitchen. But, in most cases, you don’t really have to replace the entire cabinet. You can simply reface your kitchen cabinet doors.
Refacing the kitchen cabinet doors, what does that mean? This simply means that if your existing kitchen cabinets are structurally sound, the kitchen cabinets doors can be easily removed and replaced with new doors. Immediately some of those dollar signs floating around in your mind should disappear. Refacing your kitchen cabinets eliminates the sometimes ugly process of damaging your walls, flooring, plumbing or electrical systems that is usually associated with the replacing of the entire kitchen cabinet. Your kitchen will always be totally functional. There is hardly any mess at all that is associated with refacing your kitchen cabinets.
The most taxing aspect in refacing your cabinets will probable be trying to select just one of the many varieties of doors that are available today. The multitude of colors and designs can become overwhelming; but pick one you must. The rest of the process is fairly uncomplicated. You simply remove the hardware that is securing the existing doors to your cabinets. The kitchen cabinet frames are then painted with the same color as your new refacing doors. New cabinet hinges should be used to attach your new kitchen cabinet doors. Now the only thing left is to choose your favorite door knobs and bingo, your kitchen cabinet refacing is done.
Deciding to reface your cabinet doors has saved you time, frustration and most of all a lot of money. By the way, recycling your old doors to an organization that helps the poor could also entitle you to a charitable tax exemption.
By: Jonathan R Richards
If you want to remodel your home or fix some things up, some of the greatest resources you can get your hands on are home improvement how to books. While you might have to shell out a couple of hundred dollars to buy these books from a bookstore, the time and money you’ll save in finding and hiring skilled laborers can make it more than worth the investment. Plumbers, for example, can charge up to $150 per hour, plus travel time to and from your house. Of course, this $150 per hour fee does not include the materials the plumber will need to repair or improve your plumbing. Electricians can charge just as much, and you also have to deal with inviting a relative stranger into your home. Also, if they make mistakes you might have to rehire somebody else to fix the problems.
Home improvement how to books help you to teach yourself the ins and outs of what skilled laborers and contractors already know. Depending on which books you choose to buy, some even come with diagrams that will show you (as well as provide written instructions) how to rewire things or work on pipes. If you have enough time to search for the right books and then spend the hours required to learn what they’re trying to teach you, you can save a ton of money.
In addition to picking up some home improvement how to books, you might want to head over to your local home improvement warehouse store and pick the brains of the people who work there. Unlike people found in general stores, most of the time they know what they’re talking about and can help you with any problems that you’re having. From making suggestions to the right materials to buy to best suit your needs to suggesting which books to buy, they can be an awesome tool to use.
By: Jeff Bagley
At any point in the life of your New York home, the need to hire contractors will inevitably arise whether for emergency repairs or a grand remodeling project. In fact, one of the keys to a successful home improvement is craftsmanship and to afford your project one of the essentials to an efficient completion, it is important that you give much attention to which service you choose. Whether you are in Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, or Manhattan; give the best bang for every remodeling buck by choosing the right contractors.
Finding Contractors
Looking for professionals is not so hard a task but finding the most qualified one to handle your project in the most time and cost-efficient manner is what’s hard. Knowing where to look is crucial to avoid getting ripped off by cons.
The most effective as well as most damaging form of marketing is word of mouth, so try and look around for well-reputed contractors. The best resource there is are referrals from your circle of trusted people from your close family to friends and neighbors who have worked successfully with the same home improvement.
Other sources are your local building department, contractors’ websites, and your local associations of homebuilders and renovators. Be wary about referrals that you get from home improvement stores. They might have been mentioned out of some referral-fee-scheme.
Factors to Consider
Choose contractors that have everything that it takes to make a success out of your home improvement including the skill set when it comes not only to technical matters but interpersonal and business as well. Other than these qualities, here are other things to check on:
· Membership and good reputation at your local BBB or Better Business Bureau.
· Valid and proper coverage of insurance
· Appropriate licenses and trainings that make them qualified to take on tasks, especially if the renovation involves areas needing specific expertise such as electrical systems and plumbing
· Satisfied referrals to backup quality of work and professionalism
Taking the time to make sure that your contractor candidate has all these will avoid problems along the way that can be both disastrous as well as costly. Make sure that you work with someone who has the experience and has already established a name in the industry. Other than knowing how to go about the actual remodeling, the experience and network helps professionals know what to do when problems arise as well get subcontractors and immediate professional help when necessary.
Getting Multiple Bids
To land only with the best contractors, it is important to get multiple bids from at least three qualified candidates. By doing so, you can further evaluate what each of them has to offer other than skills, experience, and quality results. With the different bids at hand, compare the scope of work they will be covering, the timeline and rates inclusive of the service. Comparing such would help you decide who offers the best deal as well as spot scams such as hidden fees and other project cheats.
By: Eugene G. Makeev
What can home remodeling contractors help you to accomplish?
The housing market in Portland is not what it used to be. While it is not as bad as some other cities further south or east it is still a challenge to sell a home here. The market is loaded with homes for sale and currently there are more sellers than there are buyers.
It is a far cry from the way it used to be in the earlier part of this decade when homes would be bought, at close to full price without much negotiation, within a matter of weeks. That all started to change by the end of 2007 and really took a turn in 2008 with the housing market meltdown.
If you are trying to sell your home you may want to consider hiring a local remodeling contractor who works in the Portland, OR area.
These people have the task of either making your home look a lot more aesthetically pleasing or creating the home of your dreams. They can make interior improvements, some large and some small, that will change the whole look and feel of your residence.
You tell your remodeler what you want and he/she makes it happen. It could be a new bathroom, kitchen, basement, or you want to spruce up your interior by dry walling the walls.
A good Portland remodeler knows the current trends and is able to create an interior theme based on the homeowner’s budget. A contractor in this particular niche must be skilled at many different types of construction trades. Carpentry, laying tile, electrical, painting, plumbing, and framing are all some of the skills a good remodeling contractor must at least know something about.
Keep in mind that they do not have to be experts on every home improvement niche but they must know a little about a lot of things.
For really complex projects, such as building a new room, your contractor may have to sub-contract out various jobs.
Spending several thousand dollars on some basic remodeling can really improve the value of your home. With the volume of homes currently on the market buyers are looking for something different.
You are going to have to impress them to set your place apart from the others. Gone are the days when any home would sell for near top dollar. One actually has to work hard to sell his real estate and getting the home remodeled is the best area to start.
Take a look at your kitchen, bathroom, wallpaper, and living room. Could something different be added? Could you use new curtains? What about simple things like faucets and light fixtures. Could they be changed to add a different feel to your house? These are all questions you should ask the remodeling company about and they should be able to tell you what you can have done within your budget.
To get a feel about what you may possibly want start by taking a look at some magazines and brochures.
Write down what you like and do not like. If you want to get an exact look nearly copying what you see buy the magazine and show it to the contractor. Be specific about what you want if you know you are picky person and are looking for a precise theme.
The right home remodeling contractor can turn a bland house into a rockin’ one.
By: Wesley A Barras
Home improvement contractors cannot legally take up projects and otherwise work as contractors unless they are licensed. There is one license issuing authority in every state of the USA. Note the following points:
- The license is proof of the competence and capability of the license holder to work as a home improvement contractor.
- If you employ an unlicensed home improvement contractor, the work carried out shall be considered illegal.
- If such a person is utilized to install a product, the owner of the product faces the risk of losing the advantages of all warranties and insurance policies on the product. If something goes wrong during the installation, the owner shall have no protection whatsoever.
- Any person desirous of starting a home improvement business should contact the proper authorities to obtain the licenses and registrations.
The process is a time consuming one and should be commenced at least six months prior to the planned date of commencement of business. So plan ahead.
Home Improvement Is Not As Easy As It Seems
It is dangerous to think that home improvement is an easy task with no further specializations in the field. The truth is that each home improvement contractor, sooner or later, chooses to specialize in a particular aspect of his work.
The general areas of specialization are:
a. designing
b. plumbing
c. electrical work
d. engineering work
e. joining work
f. interior designing
You may notice that your home improvement plans stretch over multiple areas. Hence, simply employing one home improvement contractor to do the entire job irrespective of his specialization may lead to shoddy work. Rather, it makes sense to employ different contractors for doing different works so that you get the best quality work done. At the end of the day, quality matters.
The worst mistake that you can make is to presume that anybody can do the work of a home improvement contractor. That is not true. Pulling down parts of your home and rebuilding it or adding new parts to it is a specialist’s job.
Do not be penny wise and pound foolish!
Avoid undertaking home improvement works on your own. Search for efficient and reliable contractors. Spread the work among your friends and relatives.
Get them to recommend a contractor they know. You can get good quality work done at very affordable prices. Your house will look good and your wallet will not end up empty. Many people employ specialists to build or modify their houses but choose to do the interior designing on their own. All your efforts at home improvement will go waste if your house looks ugly from the inside.
If you know nothing about interior designing, get a specialist to do it. These specialists will do a good job in making your house look pretty from the inside as well. However, they tend to be expensive and the cost of the consultation, materials and labor can weigh down your budget. Prefer specialists only if you can afford them.
When a home improvement chore comes up, honestly appraise your abilities and ask whether you can do the job yourself. Unless you are totally certain, do not do it yourself. If you decide to employ home improvement contractors, make sure you choose licensed contractors only. Irrespective of whether the job is big or small, quick or lengthy, cheap or expensive, never choose an unlicensed contractor.
By: Jim Ames
Planning on building a rec room in your basement or in that extra bedroom that you have? Sure, that’s a great idea if you want to be just like every other homeowner that’s hiring general contractors to update their living space. If you’ve got a lot of desire but limited home space for making a rec room or media room for your family then turn your attention elsewhere – like the garage.
A finished garage is a hip way to revitalize your home and create an entertainment “addition”. It’s a natural choice because the architecture and framework is already in place and in many cases – so is the electricity. The cost of finishing a garage is relatively cheap depending on your overall plans for the space and in some cases can cost less than finishing your basement. There’s also less worry about water damage and moisture in a finished garage. Not sure of what you could do with your garage space? Check out some of these design ideas from general contractors around the nation:
Start with Basics
Shoot for the things that mean the most when it comes down to style and design in a finished area. With a garage, you want to have the option to turn it BACK into a garage from the new living space. A drop ceiling is a good choice, as are insulated walls and wiring for media. Plumbing is a great option because it’s within the walls and won’t interfere with a working garage at a later time.
An insulated and well-constructed subfloor can even be installed. If properly installed, it can support the weight of vehicles in the future. With the subfloor in place you can use any flooring you like – just base your decision on whether or not this is a permanent change in your garage.
A Space for Appliances
You don’t have to make a space in your media room for a full size fridge (unless you’re the party type) but it pays to make a spot for an under-counter fridge when you put some counter and cabinet systems into your rec room. This is especially true if you’re planning to add any kind of a wet bar. Having a fridge in your media room means you and the family won’t have to jog into the house for cold bottled water or a drink during the game.
Add the Right Doors
Most garage spaces aren’t designed for much more than a vehicle or two and some workspace. If you have a smaller garage you may be limited in your floor plan so using the right doors will give you the most benefit to your design. For the garage door, keep that wall open and use French doors and simple wall panels when finishing the space. This makes it easy to change things back over to a garage in the future. For other access, such as to a patio or pool area, use pocket doors that eat up less floor space.
Custom Cabinetry and Entertainment Centers
The limited floor plan can get gummed up quickly with cabinets and wet bar space, an entertainment center, book storage or console, movie and game storage. Instead of investing in additional furniture, have a general contractor install custom cabinets for each area. The cabinets can function for entertainment purposes and – if need be at a later time – be turned into normal garage storage.
Think smart when you’re working with a general contractor to design a new space in your home. When you get creative, such as turning a rarely-used garage into a rec room – you’re investing in your living space. The return comes when it’s time to sell the property and perhaps relocate. Should you never sell, you have a great place to get away from the norm of the house and settle into a nice secluded area perfect for you or the whole family.
By: Steve Kayhill
It is essential for you to take good care of your home, the most valuable asset you have. The home improvement do it yourself projects can produce great results with fewer costs. That is why it is perfectly normal for you to choose this option. Before you get to the actual work, you have to be extremely well prepared first.
Knowing your capabilities, skills and level of expertise is important. You have to make sure that you can do the work effectively and safely. The refurbishing and painting do it yourself projects are extremely easy, but this is not the case with plumbing and electrical ones. Check what you have to do first. Find out whether you may cause any serious damage or injury, if you make a mistake. You should not start a project, if you are hesitant about your ability to complete it safely and successfully.
After making sure that you can do the work, you need to look for practical and creative ideas. You certainly want to make your home more functional as well as cozier and more beautiful. That is why you should be on the look out for projects that are in line with the latest style trends, irrespective of whether you are looking for new tiles for the bathroom or antique furniture.
The key to the success of your do it yourself home improvement project is the instruction guide. You must have straightforward and reliable instructions with helpful explanations at hand. That is why you should gather as much information and advice as possible. It is a good idea to use visual aids, such as pictures and videos. You have to know how to fix any possible mistakes. Irrespective of whether you rely on your knowledge or use ready instructions, you should have them at hand in a written form.
You have to have all materials and tools ready before you start the project. If you do not have some of these at home, you should purchase them well in advance. This is applicable to the protective materials and accessories as well. You need to protect the rest of the items in the room or outside. More importantly, you have to use all proactive accessories, required for the specific task.
You need to make a detailed plan of the project and schedule all activities. Keep strictly all important time frames, especially the ones related to painting and finishing wood.
Finally, perform every step of the home improvement do it yourself project in line with the instructions.
By: Emma J Frost
For homeowners, there is nothing quite as exciting as new home construction. From choosing the ideal house on plans and walking through model homes, to selecting design and decor options, new home builds can create an entirely new living environment because they are custom-made to buyer specifications.
While the notion of “new” should equate with “problem-free”, it is never that simple in the construction industry, and certainly doesn’t exempt your home from future improvement or repair, especially if your builder adheres to quantity over quality. So before you sign off on your pre-delivery inspection (PDI), make sure you know what you are agreeing to and that your home has been built according to both the builder’s site plans and your specifications.
A smart homeowner is a prepared homeowner; do your homework. Your pre-delivery inspection is your first opportunity to see your new home in its final stage before taking occupancy. You should consider:
- Main operating systems: heating, ventilation and plumbing. You will want to understand how these systems work, if they are functioning properly, have any defects, damage, incomplete or missing parts.
- All upgrades are accounted for, functioning properly and not damaged, missing or incomplete.
- If you question your judgment or think the process may be too overwhelming for you alone, hire an outside home inspector to represent you. Your builder will have their own inspector on-hand the day of your pre-delivery inspection, and while they are an objective third party, they are there to represent the builder, not you.
- Limit the inspection to yourself, spouse, partner or a family member but avoid bringing extended family and children along. This inspection is your opportunity to ensure your home has been built according to your specifications. Your undivided attention is necessary in order to properly inspect and understand all aspects of the house.
- Dress accordingly. Remember you will be at a construction site so flat, comfortable shoes are recommended especially if you will be climbing stairs, inspecting attics, basements and the home’s exterior, which may not be graded or grassed.
By: Kamla Wray
