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Archive for the ‘Remodeling’ Category

by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

Introduction

What is remodeling?

Remodeling is updating or altering the appearance and functional utility of a building.Home remodeling is big business. It accounts for about 40% of all residential construction spending and about 2% of the U.S. economy.

So to answer the question “Is it worthwhile to remodel my house?”
Probably; however, there are many factors to consider.

Why Remodel?

First you need to determine what’s your motivation? Why do you want to remodel? Are you remodeling for your self and your families enjoyment or to increase your appraised value?

Second do not expect a full recovery of your remodeling investment. Some estimates are as low as 40 cents on the dollar. Others, depending on what you remodel may recover more than 80%.

When to Remodel?

Other factors that will impact the return on your investment:
1. What sort of economic times are you experiencing? Are you in an up or down market?
2. How long do you tend to stay in the home? The longer the better for a good return on your investment.
3. How’s the housing market in your area? Are you competing against a lot of new tract homes?
4. How will the remodel will impact your appraised value? Find out before you invest your money.
5. How strong is the resale market? Ask a local Realtor for comparable sales for your area.
6. How soon do you plan on selling?
7. Do you plan to sell with full MLS service, FSBO, or Flat Fee MLS?

Who should remodel?

Ask yourself who will do the remodel?  How good are you at remodeling?
If you’re not really handy, maybe find a friend and barter or trade services.
Are you going to do the work or hire the project out?

If you are considering remodeling, get three bids from local firms. Ask brokers, lenders, and appraisers if the cost of the remodel warrants completion.
The percentage of return on the investment for remodeling will change over time and vary from area to area. Ask the professionals.

Weigh carefully the expense of remodeling based on the return. Do only those projects which will bring you a significantly higher sales price or greater family pleasure.
Improvements and upgrades cause anguish for most sellers, because a seller wants to recover the full dollar value of the improvements. The industry standard suggests you will get back about 40 cents on every dollar. Don’t expect to recover the full amount.

For Example, if you put in improvements totaling ,000, you should expect a net return of approximately ,000. As a seller, you must remember that you put in that nice brick walkway because you wanted it, not for its resale value.

What should you remodel?

Average 2007 cost vs. a value report – average ROI
 Deck           85.4%
 A major kitchen remodel  78.3%
 A bathroom remodel  78.3%

Kitchen and Bath remodels are always safe to consider for good dollar return on your investment.

Know this answer; are you adding something to the home that will bring you and your family pleasure and enjoyment or are you adding something to add value?
Two very different considerations.

Areas of remodel that will bring you only marginal return on your investment are:
1. Home office
2. Sunroom additions
3. Family room additions
4. Master suite additions

Regional differences are also a consideration.

In the West Kitchens and baths are big.
East coast and North leans more to siding, dual pane window and energy types of remodeling.
The South is big on family rooms, sidings, kitchens and replacements.
And the Mid West leans toward kitchens, baths and decks.

Summary

Overall the two normally safe areas to consider upgrading and remodeling for the greatest return on your investment, are bathrooms and kitchens.

You need to answer these questions before you begin:
1. Why are you remodeling?
2. Who will do the remodeling?
3. What are you going to remodel?
4. How long do you plan to stay in the home?
5. How will you pay for the remodel?
6. What return on your investment are you expecting?

If you answer these questions and plan your project, you can probably recoup between 40 and 80 percent of your remodeling costs.

Copyright © Wee Dilts 2009

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by gr8matt

Gym memberships can be expensive. Taking the time to build a basement home gym lets you workout without the membership fees or the commute. Learn more about building a home gym in your basement.

To Your Health

It is no secret that regular exercise leads to a longer, healthier life. However, as you get older and start a family, your schedule gets busier and the regular visits to the health club slow down until they stop completely. Yet, as you get older and your life becomes more stressful you need regular exercise more than ever.

A homeowner with a basement can’t use the busy schedule excuse if they add a basement home gym when they are considering a basement remodeling project. A basement home gym and regular exercise will benefit the entire family.

How to Begin Making Your Basement Home Gym

When you are planning your basement remodeling project with your contractor discuss constructing a home gym area. The remodeling contractor will have advice on issues such as:

Space…The room will need to be large enough to accommodate all equipment you may add in the future with adequate room around the various stations
Electrical connections for exercise equipment
Heating and cooling…An exercise area needs proper ventilation
Floors…You may want to install floors which can withstand heavy use
Cable connection…If you would like to watch television while exercising
Walls…A paint which can be cleaned easily might be a good choice

Your remodeling contractor will discuss these and other options with you. The location of the room in the basement and the size of the interior entry door will need to be thought through. Once your contractor has an understanding of your desires they will be able to provide you with a written estimate of costs. The estimate may be adjusted as needed to fit your budget restrictions.

by j l t

A backyard isn’t the same as it used to be – a place to grill, where kids play ball, or just an extra spot to mow. Now the trend is to make the backyard an outdoor retreat or an extension to the house. The Home Remodelers Group® can help transform your outdoors into a beautiful year round sunroom, a deck for entertaining or even an outdoor kitchen.

As reported in the May 2006 Consumer Reports, designing and furnishing an outdoor room is the second most likely home-remodeling project to do. Specifically, approximately 1.2 million U.S. households will install a fully functional outdoor kitchen, according to a study by the industry research company inquiry.

In 2004, Better Homes and Gardens magazine received survey responses from nearly 60,000 Americans describing home improvement projects and future home-building aspirations. Better Homes and Gardens found that people want indoor/outdoor livability, technological innovations, flexibility for family needs and a kitchen-centric focus. (REMODELING Magazine, September 1, 2005)

Homeowners are seeking ways to make the outdoors a functional part of the living area. To accomplish that, the barriers between outdoors and indoors, such as walls and solid doors, are going away. As cited in “A Simple Way to Increase Outdoor Living Space” at HGPgal.com, for homeowners looking to add to their living space, improve their lifestyle and increase the resale value of their home, the perfect solution is to extend living areas outdoors through the addition of decks, patios, outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas.

“The line between the house and the outdoor space continues to disintegrate,” says Julie D. Taylor, author of Outdoor Rooms. “Many designers are using the same, or similar, materials both on the interior and exterior to extend the house to the outdoors. It breaks down the barrier and gives a feeling of a larger house.”

Alternatively, instead of thinking of the barriers disintegrating, another solution is effective indoor-outdoor connections. These connections can include French doors opening up onto a porch, or the addition of a window to expose a lovely view. Indoor-outdoor connections can be as simple as adding a mudroom between the garage and the home, or more complex, such as an outdoor entertainment area placed just outside the doors of a home’s main gathering space. Adding visual connections to the outdoors, such as through the addition of glass doors or enlarging a window, adds value to your home by making its interior space appear larger than it actually is. (“Connect Inside of Your House with the Beauty Outdoors,” Ann Robinson, Deseret News, April 2005)

To create the outdoor living space that you want, start by determining your budget and your desires.

Consumer Reports provides some tips about what to consider for building room extensions or outdoor entertainment areas:

* Determine how you will use your space

* Consider location

* Be sure to weatherproof

* Incorporate lighting and heat

* Consider safety

No matter what extension you decide to make, it will undoubtedly add value to your home. As cited by Ann Robinson in Deseret News, “Exterior living space adds usable square footage to your home without costing you the 0-plus per square foot you’d spend for the construction of an addition.”

The Home Remodelers Group® can work with you to determine your indoor-outdoor remodeling desires. We have many gorgous sunroom plans and other renovating features available on our website at www.homeremodelersgroup.com. So, if you need a new area to relax and enjoy reading your favorite book, a place to create a new home gym, a place to add a spa to create your own special oasis, or an area for entertaining family and friends, a new sunroom, deck, or outdoor kitchen may be the perfect solution. We can help bring the outdoors in or take your family out in a comfortable and relaxing setting.

For more information visit: http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/?source=articles

by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

Open Hand Remodeling, a home remodeling and renovation expert in Los Angeles, has recently joined the BBB Trust Link organization online. The BBB Trust Link Organization helps customers find information and feedback from previous clients. The BBB has always been a number one selling point for online businesses, showing interested clients any information about customer disputes and offering a letter grading system of the business. The new Trust Link Organization is a part of the Better Business Bureau offering further information than the letter grading system, including customer references, testimonials and feedback from past clients.

Open Hand Remodeling has always provided excellent service and received tremendous amounts of postive feedbacks from their clients. Joining the BBB Trust Link program is helping their clients rate and recommend the service to others. Open Hand Remodeling was founded in LA by Daniel Mizrahi to provide an expert and quality remodeling service to the community. The business has thrived based upon customer referrals and continual recommendations. If you are considering improving your home, this company can be trusted to be straight-forward, honest and provide excellent service.

When you are looking online for a business trust is a number one priority. Open Hand has extended their service to provide more information to their future clients. The company believes in providing every home and business owner with expert and professional service and because of this they took the extra step in providing a highly rated online review website with their company profile. Today you can view ratings and customer feedback simply by clicking on the BBB logo on Open Hand’s website.

Visit Open Hand Remodeling today to see what the buzz is all about!
Bathroom Remodeling Los Angeles, Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles and Room Additions Los Angeles.

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by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

Open Hand Remodeling Co. is gaining recognition in the website design community for their business website. Professionally designed by an expert team of graphic designers, the look is creating a buzz in the online community. Already featured on major website design award sites, the design has become quite popular because of the simplicity and elegance. Open Hand Remodeling Co. chose the website design company located in California because of their ability to brand business websites. Previously Open Hand Remodeling had no professional website design in place. After much research and browsing of design portfolios he was able to pinpoint an expert team of designers that could help him build a recognizable brand.

Open Hand Remodeling also chose to work with a professional search engine optimization company who utlized CSS and XHTML for accessibility and visibility in major search engines. The website is now drawing in clients in the California industry who are looking for home remodeling companies.

Open Hand Remodeling is big on marketing, and utilizes many forms of advertising. The company is launching the new internet advertising campaign in order to target the online market. Currently Google offers the best advertising compared with any other form. More home owners and business owners today are using online searches in major search engines to find products and local services. Accessibility, Visibility and Brand are the key major components in building professional websites. Each plays a key role in helping to draw in, deliver and convert traffic to customers.

Visit Open Hand Remodeling today to see what the buzz is all about!
Bathroom Remodeling Los Angeles, Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles and Room Additions Los Angeles.

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by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

Daniel Mizrahi started Open Hand Remodeling to provide the community with an excellent home remodeling and renovation service. The company has since thrived based upon customer testimonials and continual referrals. Open Hand Remodeling has since dedicated a portion of their time and money, giving back to the Greater Los Angeles Community.

As an active partner, Daniel Mizrahi donates a portion of every project back into the community helping to create programs designed to flourish and nurture positive growth in our communities youth. The Heart of Los Angeles or HOLA has helped children become inspired with after school projects designed to spark creativity, teamwork and education. Above all, the Heart of Los Angeles community program is designed to help our youth thrive and learn in a safe environment.

Because of the success of Open Hand Remodeling, Daniel has been able to provide the Heart of Los Angeles program with continual donations. He has become a well respected member because of his ability to contribute time and money. Many businesses today are based upon profits alone, however this company not only improves the look of the community but helps to provide funding for socialized programs that are not available from the local government. If you are interested in helping to contribute or join the Heart of Los Angeles, or enrolling your kids in the after school programs please visit their website today.

Open Hand is proud to offer home remodeling, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling and home improvement in Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Lakewood, Long Beach, Torrance, Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Downey, CA. If you are interested in receiving a free estimate on your project, please visit the website for today.

Visit Open Hand Remodeling today to see what the buzz is all about!
Bathroom Remodeling Los Angeles, Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles and Room Additions Los Angeles.

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by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

When you think of home remodeling, you probably think of extending a room or changing cabinets in a kitchen or modernizing an older home. Yet there is a whole new market of people needing home renovations – the elderly.

Renovations for the Elderly:

According to a recent CNN report, home renovations for the elderly are on the rise. These types of renovations are the fastest-growing segment of the remodeling industry, said James Lapides of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB’s recent study concluded that 75 percent of remodeling companies have seen an increase in requests for so-called “aging-in-place” work.

The “Certified Aging in Place” Specialist program, offered by the NAHB Remodelers Council to teach professionals how to modify homes for older adults, has increased in enrollment, according to Lapides. Representatives of NAHB and the AARP created the program in 2002. Over 1,000 participants have learned building techniques and structural awareness for accommodating physical needs. (CNN, “Builders: Home Renovations for Elderly on the Rise”, by Grace Wong)

Statistics Show Elderly Want to Stay in Their Homes:

According to the AARP, 83% of people over 45 own their own homes. A 2003 AARP survey, “These Four Walls,” sampled this group and found that 75% expect to stay there for the rest of their lives. 51% envision making changes so that can happen.

In addition, The National Association of Home Builders conducted a survey of remodelers and learned that:

• 75% reported getting more requests for “aging in place” projects

• 60% had done “aging in place” projects. Of those:

• 43% were for customers aged 45 to 54

• 76% were for customers aged 55 to 64

• 67% were for customers 65 and older

Remodelers reported that clients wanted aging-in-place remodeling because:

• 75% were planning for future needs

• 53% were living with older parents

• 46% had acute, age-related disabilities

• 23% had acute disabilities unrelated to aging

(realestate.msn.com, “Elegant Remodels Allow ‘Aging in Place’”, by Marilyn Lewis)

A Remodeling Project:

Some families are bringing older relatives to live with them and extending a part of the house to accommodate that change. Others are making modifications for physical reasons, such as widening doorways for wheelchairs, lowering bathtub walls and adding support bars. Other modifications simply include updating an older home because of wear and tear. However, the going trend is to do it all with style.

An example of an accommodating remodeling project occurred in a California backyard. A playhouse was rebuilt to become a livable apartment for one family’s 70 year-old father with Paget’s disease. Building aspects of the apartment include a walk-in shower with no obstructing ledge at the entrance, two-inch-square commercial nonskid tile, lever handles instead of doorknobs and an anti-scald device to keep water temperature even. (realestate.msn.com, “Elegant Remodels Allow ‘Aging in Place’”, by Marilyn Lewis)

Suggestions for Remodeling:

If you are contemplating a remodeling project, keep the future in mind. You can make simple changes now for what may be needed many years in the future. Sam Clark, a builder and author of “The Real Goods Independent Builder: Designing & Building a House Your Own Way” and “Remodeling a Kitchen”, provides the following suggestions for changes to make to your home to accommodate the physical bodily changes that occur over time:

• Remodel your home so that you can live on the ground level if necessary.

• Widen doorways to accommodate wheelchairs.

• Plan the front entry to be as level with the ground as local building codes allow. Eliminate stairs with sloping sidewalks.

• Try to think way ahead. For example, in a bathroom remodel, install reinforcement for grab bars.

• Plan for a lot of storage within the “optimal reach zone” – the space between 20 inches and 44 inches above the floor to a depth of 20 inches away from your body.

• Use drawers instead of cupboards where possible.

• Install lever handles throughout the house.

• Use hard flooring or choose an attractive, low-pile commercial carpet.

• Place electric outlets higher than usual and switches lower.

• Install a shelf outside the front door so you can put down packages while searching for keys.

Additional tips from the Home Remodelers in New Jersey (www.homeremodelersgroup.com) further suggests vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is made to look like real wood and it never needs painting, preventing any hazardous maintenance or painting. Vinyl windows are also suggested; they are easy to clean and energy efficient.

For additional remodeling articles, visit http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/?source=articles

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by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

Vista remodeling is a company famous for the work undergone for renovation and repairs for the residential environment in the area of Denver. The company’s goal is to structure a secure, protected and comfortable living residential environment for the customers. Professionalism is the main advantage in the modeling of the residential environments. Vista remodeling is residential remodeling company launched in Denver during the year 1999. The company provides top quality interior repair services to the customers in the area of residential remodeling.

The Vista remodeling company offers various enhanced services in the sector of residential modeling like the Kitchen remodeling, granite counter top modeling services, flooring solutions and repairs, basement construction and bathroom remodeling. The residential remodeling company guides the customers in the selection of materials at a lower cost and helps in the free delivery of goods to their desired destination. The professional of the residential remodeling company satisfy the needs and expectations of the customers in a timely manner with expertise work.

The designs of the residential remodeling are enhanced with contemporary designs, economically designed and done with the highest quality materials suitable for the modern innovations. The residential remodeling company called Vista remodeling is empowered with the important principles of reliability, guaranteed quality, stability and maintenance of respect for the clients.

The residential remodeling company is backed up with highly experienced and reputed professionals and they enhance the development of the business. The company was started with a low profile and now it has gained importance in the field of residential remodeling serving in the area of Denver. Confidence and reliability are considered to be the important factor in the success of the Vista remodeling in the field of residential remodeling.

Residential remodeling has gained importance in the recent years due to the latest trend and advanced technologies. All people like to remodel their dwelling with the latest innovations and this can be done with the reliable and stable companies. Residential remodeling companies like Vista remodeling not only construct residences to the specifications of the customers, but they make use of high quality materials at standardized rates. The professionals of this company offer free quotations and ideas to the customer according to their budget and time span. Thus Vista remodeling is said to be the top residential remodeling companies in the Denver area.

Due to the increased volume of business, Vista remodeling has expanded various spectrums of services like basement construction, floor construction and many more. Residential remodeling enhances the look of the dwellings and creates image of the individual. Vista remodeling helps in the creation of reputation for the residences remodeling and provides full satisfaction to the customers. Questions regarding the residential remodeling are answered by the professionals and this helps the customers in gaining the perfect knowledge about the company and its functions. The principles like stability, reliability backed up with expertise team of professionals are considered to be the success for the company Vista remodeling in the Denver area. Have a free consultation with the Vista remodeling and you will experience the truth and miracles in the construction of residential remodeling.

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by A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc.

Kitchen Remodeling is the best spectrum service offered by the Vista Remodeling Company. Vista Company offers other specialized remodeling services also, but kitchen remodeling is considered as the essential service. Remodeling of Kitchen enhances the property value and it is determined as a lifetime investment.

Kitchen Remodeling is termed as the essential innovative efforts in the remodeling projects. Vista Remodeling had its beginning during the year 1999 in the place Denver. The remodeling business was started as a low profile business and due to the expertise services offered by Vista it had a big start with various remodeling business. One among them is the Kitchen remodeling business. Kitchen is defined as the essential part of the home and the space should be equipped with good quality instruments and latest innovative products.

Remodeling with Vista offers a wide range of innovative products for the Kitchen remodeling and the professionals offer variety of services according to the specifications of the customers. Some of the services offered in the process of kitchen remodeling are changing of cabinet doors, faucets, replacement of the floor tiles, lamination of the floor, lighting fixtures in the kitchen room, changing countertops and doors, providing vinyl floor and finally complete kitchen remodeling.

The team of professionals with the Vista remodeling offer variety of services according to the specifications of the customers and based on the budget. The professionals offer these services at free of cost and provide the details regarding the best quality materials providing durability for a long period as a free service. Such services enhance the promotion of the business of remodeling for the company Vista.

Investment made in the Kitchen is determined to be essential and this investment is returned early. Kitchen remodeling enhances the value of the asset and provides more money in the process of selling the dwellings. Kitchen occupies a foremost view of the visitors of the house and hence kitchen should be furnished with essential products. The company Vista remodeling offers a wide range of kitchen remodeling activities like replacing the old kitchen with the new one, construction of the new kitchen, providing hardwood floor, replacing the old appliances with the latest ones, furnishing of elegant colors of paints to the kitchen and finally providing good quality of texture to the kitchen.

The important principles of Vista remodeling are reliability, stability and guaranteeing of quality work. The same principle is offered in the construction of the kitchen remodeling. Kitchen should provide with a clean and attractive look to the visitors and to the house owners. This is made possible with the services offered by Vista. The professionals of the Vista Company offer their customers their needs and specifications suitable for the kitchen and satisfying the needs and attention of the customer is considered as the main aim of Vista.

The professionals of Vista are equipped with the skill relating to each service and they provide advice according to the needs of the customers. Kitchen remodeling has gained recent attraction among public and Vista remodeling is said to be the best place for such services. Best quality at a low cost is the motive of Vista Remodeling. Furnish your kitchen with the latest appliances with the help of the professional’s expertise in the field of Kitchen remodeling.

Basement remodeling is easy if you take a few steps to ensure the job comes out right. AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter shares basement finishing tips from his years of experience. Your finished basement will be much better if you follow his tips.

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Got your heart set on a kitchen remodel? Well, before you put your foot on the gas and proceed full steam ahead, there are a few matters you need to attend to. The Peoria Journal Star recently outlined a list of “things to do before you begin your kitchen remodel.” Among the advance kitchen remodeling tasks The National Association of Home Builders recommended in the article are the following.

1. “Carefully consider changes.” Among the question you might want to ask yourself are: What aspects of my kitchen simply need updating and what parts need to be totally replaced? Where will foot traffic be navigating in my kitchen? Where would I like my furniture, appliances and lighting fixtures placed? What colors appeal to me? Then, browse an online showroom for kitchen remodeling ideas, inspiration, choice, assistance and advice.

2. “Measure.” The old adage “Measure twice, cut once” still rings as true today as ever. Start out with the wrong measurements and you could be throwing a lot of money down the drain. The width depth, height and door clearance for all new items you’ll be putting in your remodeled kitchen are important numbers. An online kitchen remodeling center will walk you through the process of measuring your existing space.

3. “Road test your remodel.” Visit a kitchen remodeling super center and ask for sample flooring, tile and countertops and try them on for size. You’re going to be investing a good deal of money in your kitchen remodel, so you’ll want to make sure you can happily live with the finished redesign for years to come. A kitchen remodeling team of experts can help you design a kitchen that makes your life easier.

4. “Cover all the basics.” Don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you forget to consider “a timetable, price and payment schedule, as well as detailed specifications for materials.” Checklists, cost estimates, help in selecting a professional and financing options are just some of the assistance you may want to seek out from a professional kitchen remodeling source.

An online commenter to the Peoria Journal Star article provided a few additional pre-kitchen remodel tips.

• Talk to various experts, like a contractor, a kitchen designer and an interior designer, for different takes on kitchen remodel solutions. Next to selecting the style and quality of the components you will use to create your super kitchen, nothing is more important than the selection of professionals to work with you. The most beautiful kitchen cabinetry and the most costly counters and appliances can result in a less than satisfactory finished product when improperly designed or installed.

Making the right choice of contractors is a challenge and deserves plenty of attention and a large helping of old-fashioned common sense. Your friendly, knowledgeable kitchen remodeling team of experts can provide you with guidelines that can help steer you in the right direction.

• “Set your initial kitchen remodeling cost budget with an online calculator.” Kitchen remodeling can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Depending on the amount of remodeling to be done, costs can generally be broken down to the cost of labor, mechanical and fixtures. Put aside some extra money for unexpected costs too.