A starter guide to kitchen and bath remodeling

A Starter Guide to Kitchen and Bath Remodeling


Part 1:Understanding What YoU Want

and need


Any home improvement project will be intimidating if you don’t have a proper plan. While a kitchen or bath may be smaller than most other rooms in your house, a remodel will still need plenty of advance prep. But before you get around to planning, it’s a good idea to have a clear understanding of what you really want and need to achieve through the project.

Are you looking for a more high-end bathroom? Do you want more storage space? Do you want your kitchen to be a huge selling point once you sell your home?

More storage space

More functional layout

Better lighting

More high-end finishes

Remodeling Goals

www.iovodesign.com


some Considerations→ Your must-hAves AnD nice-to-hAves. Personal preference is the number one consideration in a remodel because it will determine the level of satisfaction you will get out of the project. there are, of course, plenty of other factors to bear in mind, but this first one will generally guide the direction your kitchen or bathroom remodel will take.

→ Your timeline.how much time can you realistically afford to spend on that remodel? many homeowners end up pressed for time due to a lack of careful planning, especially when a kitchen or bathroom remodel is function-related. Keep in mind that your project can’t go on indefinitely regardless of what you’re having a contractor do.setting a general time-line will also give you room to figure out contingencies for your household over the course of your remodel.

→ Your BuDget.even if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford carte blanche remodeling, you’ll still need to set a budget as it is one of the best ways for you to make sure your contractor is staying on track. Be honest when estima-ting a figure—it should represent only what you can actually afford. loans are for emergencies only!

can’t wait to start? let’s get to the more practical side of things. in the next installment of A starter guide to Kitchen and Bath remodeling, we’ll talk about how you can figure out the right budget for your project and get the most out of your money.


Part 2:Working

Witha BUdget


According to the 2014 cost vs. value report released by re-modeling magazine, a typical bathroom remodel can set you back $14,000 to $19,000 ($16,128 on average), depending on where you live. A minor kitchen remodel, on the other hand, costs $18,856 on average. Your total project costs may go below or beyond that range, but these figures should give you an idea of how much you need to be ready to shell out.

Compromise is keyJust because you have to put a limit on your spending doesn’t mean that you’ll have to make do with subpar results. on the contrary, knowing that your budget has reasonable limits gives you more power over the project because it forces you to fine-tune every decision.

rememBer: You do not have to cut corners! Yes, you’ll have to compromise on some of those nice-to-haves, but do-ing so will leave you room for a few splurges that’ll give your kitchen or bathroom an extra punch.

Amazing Before and After Bathroom Renovationswww.alesweethome.blogspot.com

As A generAl rule, You shoulD exPect to sPenD ArounD 25% of Your home’s vAlue

When remoDeling A Kitchen AnD BetWeen 12% AnD 15% When uPDAting A BAthroom.“ “


shop aroundYou’ll be surprised at the sheer number of options avail-able to you when it comes to materials, fixtures, and even contractors. shop around to make sure you’re ge-tting the best deals on everything. You’ll likely be work-ing with a professional, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your input during the materials selection process

most contractors do have their preferred suppliers, but the best ones will take your suggestions into account. Don’t hesitate to talk to them about your ideas. Keep in mind, however, that contractors are usually better placed than you to score affordable deals thanks to their existing network of suppliers and business associates.

the contractor you choose can make or break your kitchen or bathroom remodel, so it is important that you find the right one. in the final part of our blog series, we’ll clue you in on the different ways by which you can find reliable remodeling contractors. We’ll also talk about the things you need to avoid to make your search easier and your decision better informed.


Part 3:Looking

for aContraCtor


there are many things you can do on your own to upgrade your home, but it is next to impossible to pull off a successful kitchen or bathroom remodel without help from a contractor.

how do you find a good contractor? try the following:

→ referrAls. the most successful contractors will tell you that they don’t rely much on advertising to draw busi-ness in—they leave that up to their clients. Word of mouth is, after all, still the best form of marketing. the product (or in this case, service) sells itself. Ask friends, family, and local professionals for recommendations and you’ll be sure to find a contractor you know is able to deliver the goods.

→ the BBB. the Better Business Bureau is an independ-ent organization that offers objective assessments of contrac-tors and other service providers. use the BBB’s rating system to guide you: the highest possible score is an A+; the low-est, an f. hire a contractor with an A+ rating; you can’t go wrong. A similar alternative: Angie’s list.

→ locAl Directories AnD ADvertisements. Advertisements and the yellow and white pages are an ex-cellent way for you to quickly pool your options together. You will still have to do some research afterwards to see if a shortlisted contractor seems like a good fit, but checking for a BBB rating or accreditation is a simple enough step. You’ll essentially be working backwards, but the advantage of this option is that provided you’re thorough enough, you will be able to cover all the bases. You should have around 3 to 4 good contractors on your shortlist.

if You WAnt things Done right the first time, WorK With A ProfessionAl“ “


What to avoidsteer clear of contractors who:

› make unsolicited visits to your home, claiming that “they were just in the area.”

› Don’t have verifiable business addresses or phone numbers.

› Pressure you into making immediate decisions.

› Ask you to pay for everything upfront.

› label your remodeling project as a “demonstration” for their company.


sources:http://freshome.com/2012/11/15/the-15-point-checklist-before-starting-a-bathroom-renovation/

http://www.hometime.com/howto/projects/bathroom/bath_1.htmhttp://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/budgeting-your-bathroom-renovation/index.html

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2014/east-south-central/http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2014/pacific/

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor#signshttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/resource-center/choosing-a-contractor/overview/index.htm

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/03/06/which-home-remodeling-projects-are-worth-your-moneyhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/o5com/4951598106/

Blair construction l.l.c.301 najoles road, suite 206, millersville, maryland, 21108

888-211-8249(410) 729-0777

Documents

A starter guide to kitchen and bath remodeling