#and has also renovated things/made sure all the appliances in there are currently working

[carcarrot]

what if i got an rv

[ferntreegullysblog]

Real Estate Myth-Busting: Separating Fact From Fiction

It's no wonder that real estate is one of the most popular topics among professionals and The Best Real Estate Agency Ferntree Gully alike. When it comes to investing in homes, properties, and other assets, everyone has an opinion on what's valuable and what isn't. 

That being said (pun intended), there are so many misconceptions about real estate that it can make even the most seasoned investor question whether they're doing everything right or not. 

In this blog post I'm going to take a closer look at some common myths about real estate investing so you know how to separate fact from fiction!

Myth #1: You Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home

The first myth is that you need a 20% down payment to buy a home. In reality, the down payment is the amount of money you pay upfront when you purchase a home. It's usually 5% of the purchase price, but can be as low as 3%. 

You can also put no money down at all and instead take out an interest-only mortgage (where only interest payments are made) for several years before converting it into an amortising loan--with principal payments added in later--that allows you to keep paying lower monthly instalments while saving up for other expenses like furniture or appliances.

Myth #2: Real Estate Agents Make Huge Commissions

The second most common myth is that Real Estate Agency Ferntree Gully make huge commissions. The truth is, they only get paid a percentage of the sale price--typically around 6%. This commission is split between the buyer and seller and can be negotiated by either party. 

As a homeowner looking to sell your home, you have some control over how much money goes into your pocket at closing; if you negotiate with an agent who's willing to work with less than standard rates (which are already low), then more of your hard-earned cash will end up in your bank account.

Myth #3: Renovations Always Add Value to a Home 

It's true that renovations can add value to your home. They can also be expensive and time consuming, however, so make sure you know what you're getting into before starting any renovation project. If you plan on doing the work yourself or working with an affordable contractor, remember that it's important for them to be licensed and insured before starting any work on your home.

If the reason behind your renovation is purely aesthetic (i.e., changing out fixtures), then consider hiring someone who specialises in these types of projects instead of trying it yourself--even though they may cost more than doing everything yourself would've been!

Myth #4: The Housing Market Only Benefits Sellers

This is a common misconception. While it's true that in a healthy market, sellers have the upper hand and can command higher prices for their homes, buyers don't need to be left out in the cold. In fact, they may find themselves with a better deal than they could have imagined!

Think about it--if there are more buyers than there are sellers (and this happens frequently), then competition drives down prices for everyone involved and makes them more affordable for those who aren't ready or able to pay top dollar yet. 

That means that there are plenty of deals out there if you know where and how to look for them; all you need is an experienced Realtor who knows how these things work so they can help guide your search through these waters safely while still getting great results!

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope that this article has helped to debunk some myths about Real Estate Agency Ferntree Gully. While there are many misconceptions out there, it's important not to be swayed by them. 

Whether you're looking for your first home or planning on selling your current one, keep these tips in mind when making decisions about what type of property best suits your needs!

 Source By : Real Estate Myth-Busting: Separating Fact From Fiction

[vertokitchens]

Is A Kitchen Facelift Quick And Cost-Effective?

We have been living in our home for years. The kitchen is so old and out of date that we have to renovate it. We are planning to do a facelift for our kitchen but not sure if it will be cost effective or fast. Let us see how much time does it take to complete a Gold Coast Kitchen Facelift?

Are you considering a kitchen facelift?

Are you considering a kitchen facelift? There are many reasons why one might want to consider a kitchen facelift. A lot of people like the idea of getting brand new appliances and cabinets for their kitchen, but also want to make sure that they’re getting the best value for their money.

If you’re thinking about doing some remodeling in your home, whether it be outside or inside – such as when it comes to your bathroom or even just redoing your floors in general – then chances are this is something that has been on your mind lately as well.

While there are many different ways in which one can do this type of thing (like hiring someone else), sometimes all it takes is just going out there yourself and finding something good enough at an affordable price point so long as they have everything else within reason (or close).

Why the kitchen needs facelift?

Kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we gather together to prepare meals, eat, and celebrate with friends and family. A kitchen is also a place where people spend a lot of time when they are not working or sleeping - cooking and cleaning takes up most of our day so it makes sense that we want our kitchens to be functional as well as inviting.

We often think about making changes in other rooms in our homes but rarely do this for our kitchens because there are many decisions that need to be made before starting any sort of renovation project (and if you don’t know what those decisions are yet then head over here).

What is meant by kitchen facelift?

A kitchen facelift is a renovation that does not include the addition of a new room or structure. This means that the kitchen will continue to function as the original space, but with all its elements replaced.

A kitchen remodel can involve only one room and be completed in one day, or it may include parts of your house such as floors and walls which are removed before being reinstalled after completion.

A kitchen remodel is not limited to just changing out old appliances and cabinetry; it can also include adding new cabinets in order to increase storage space without increasing floor area.

Remodels may also include adding appliances such as dishwashers, microwaves, trash compactors and sinks/faucets if they were previously removed during other renovations like bathroom upgrades; this process usually takes less than half an hour per appliance due to their small size and ease-of-installation (most homeowners can do this themselves).

Can it be cost effective?

A kitchen facelift is cost effective if you want to renovate your outdated kitchen. When it comes to the renovation of your kitchen, there are many factors that can affect its cost. The size and age of your kitchen are two major factors that will determine how much you spend on it.

The size of your kitchen is one of the most important factors in determining the cost of a facelift project and this is because bringing a small space into compliance with modern standards can be more expensive than doing so for a larger area that needs less work overall.

Additionally, an older home will typically have higher repair costs as compared to newer builds because older homes tend not to be built using current-day building materials and techniques as well as having fewer energy efficient features such as insulation or windows which could make them more expensive when it comes time for repairs down the road.

If you are serious about kitchen facelift Gold Coast and want to know the cost and time involved then visit the right experts.

[kitkatpancakestack]

As requested: interior designer!Chris. The best part about 5x10, god bless.

Read this chapter and the rest of the series on ao3!

XX

Buck moving into the Diaz household isn’t monumental news, given he spends the majority of his time with them, anyway. Since the moment Eddie met him, Eddie’s apartment seemed to open up and reshape around him, like a living, breathing thing, automatically accommodating him into their space. He figures it will occur much like the way they got together, with little fanfare, in the dimly lit space of his kitchen, curled around each other against the fridge. They did their entire relationship ass backwards, anyway, so as far as milestones go, it isn’t as big for them as it would be for another couple.

At least, he thought.

But when he steps through his door after shift and receives an amused look from Carla on her way out, and then finds Christopher sitting on the couch wearing his Renovator in Training shirt, he knows he’s in for it.

“Dad,” his son says, offering a curt nod.

Eddie bites back a smile. “Christopher.”

“You might be wondering why I’ve called you here.”

“Um, well, I was assuming to check over your homework and make dinner?”

He rolls his eyes in a move that radiates Buck and pushes the white binder in front of him across the coffee table. “No, Dad. Buck is moving in.”

Eddie frowns, toeing off his boots and moving further into the living room. “Is that what this is about, buddy? Are you feeling weird about it?”

Another Buck-esque expression colors his features, tilting his eyebrows up. “No. Of course not. But our house isn’t ready.”

Eddie blames the double shift for his lack of ability to process the information. “Our—what?”

“The house, keep up. We need to get it ready for Buck. It still just looks like only we live here.”

“Because only we do, Chris.”

“That’s the problem!”

Eddie sighs, drawing his son against his side. “Christopher, Buck has called this place home for a long time, much longer than we’ve been together. He’ll re-work his space after he moves in.”

But Christopher’s face is resolute in its obstinacy. “No.” He pushes the binder closer to Eddie. “Dad, we need to go to Target.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I made a list.”

“You made a list?”

Christopher rips the paper out of the binder, and that is how they wind up at Target the next Saturday Eddie has off, just the two of them.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Buck says through the phone, “I’m absolutely thrilled I get to sleep in and not wait for you to spend three hours picking out a welcome mat, but it’s . . . weird.”

Eddie hums, leaning against the cart, as Christopher ambles up and down an aisle of kitchen equipment. “Well, he was pretty adamant about you not coming along.”

“Yikes. Should I be worried?”

“Only about the Design Czar currently living in our house now.”

Buck laughs, and the sound sends rivulets of warmth blossoming over Eddie’s skin. “Well, I’m dating the original Design Czar, so what you’re looking at is your progeny, Ed. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and all that.”

Christopher beckons Eddie over. “Gotta go,” he sighs, squinting at the complicated appliance on the shelf. “Still coming over tonight?”

“With pizza in hand.”

“Thanks, Buck. I’ll see you later. Love you.”

“Love you too, Design Czar.”

Eddie hangs up with Buck cackling in the background. He shoves his phone in his pocket and nods toward the shelf. “Christopher, what exactly am I looking at here?”

“Coffee maker!”

“Why? We have one at home, buddy.”

The eye roll he receives from his son is dramatic and long-suffering.

“Hey,” Eddie mutters.“Careful, or your eyes will get stuck back there.”

“Buck always talks about this when we come here,” Christopher says, tapping his crutch on the floor insistently. “Also, he makes faces at your coffee machine behind your back.”

“What?”

“He says it’s antiquated.”

“What?”

“Anyway, Buck always says kitchens are important, and he spends a lot of time in our kitchen, so we need to make sure it’s perfect.” His glasses slide down his nose, revealing eyes that hold no room for negotiation. “Please put it in the cart, Dad.”

“Twist my arm,” Eddie mutters, but he grabs the machine from the top shelf and puts it in the cart. “Where to next, sir?”

They spend a generous chunk of their day scouting the aisles of Target. They hide all their newest treasures in Eddie’s closet, and Christopher tapes a sign to the door that says Buck, Keep out, and as if his son’s behavior isn’t mysterious enough, he retires to his room without comment after the pizza has been eaten.

“He’s just freaking me out a little,” Eddie says, hands curling into the sweatshirt at Buck’s hips where the other man is straddling his lap.

Buck smiles against the skin over Eddie’s neck. “It’s cute.”

“It’s not cute.”

“It is. You’re adorable.” His eyes slip closed at the feel of Buck’s nose tracing an invisible line up the slope of his neck, over the curve of his jaw. It’s a lot. It’s always a lot, with Buck, but he tries not to shy away from the overwhelm anymore. Sometimes he ends up with not enough oxygen in his lungs and his skin prickling, and it’s another mental block he can’t get over, but Buck is always there. Infinitely patient. Infinitely warm. Infinitely in love with him.

Eddie presses the crook of his finger under Buck’s chin to tilt his head up and licks into his mouth, just as he hears, “Dad, gross.”

Buck pulls away with a laugh, head on Eddie’s shoulder, angled to face Christopher. “You know, Chris, one day I’m going to catch you kissing your prom date on the front porch, and we’ll see who’s laughing then.”

“I’m not ever kissing anyone ever, Buck.”

“Yeah, Buck,” Eddie joins, pushing his boyfriend off his lap. “He’s never kissing anyone. Ever.”

Buck rolls his eyes but falls to the cushion beside Edde. He interlocks their fingers. “Ganged up on by the Diaz boys again. There must be something wrong with me if I’m willfully moving into what is clearly enemy territory.”

Eddie gives Buck’s shin a playful kick, and Christopher moves into the room, setting the white binder tucked under his arm on the table. “We’re nowhere near ready,” he says, no nonsense. “Buck, you can’t be here until next Saturday.”

Eddie and Buck share a quizzical look. “Chris,” Eddie starts, turning back to his son. “You don’t have to put so much pressure on yourself. Buck’s not going anywhere.”

“Yeah, buddy. I terminated my lease, anyway. Too late to back out, now.”

But Christopher stands strong, chin jutted forward. “You’re not allowed here for the rest of the week, Buck. You distract Dad when you’re here, and we have work to do.”

“Oh? Is that right?” He shifts toward Eddie, one eyebrow crooked to match the devilish grin on his face. “Do I distract you, Ed?”

Eddie groans, pushing off the couch. “See, now I’m being ganged up on.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “Alright, Chris. Buck, you’re banned until move-in day. Christopher, I am at your disposal until then.”

Buck hides a laugh in the collar of his sweatshirt at the bright grin on Christopher’s face.

The week turns out to be . . . well, he doesn’t want to call it the week from hell, because it’s his son ordering him around, his heart, the breath in his lungs, his entire world, but he also might be starting to realize just how insufferable he is to Buck and Christopher when he’s the one in Design Czar Mode.

Over the course of the week, between shifts and homework and other things, Eddie makes four different Target runs. Carla even takes a couple, when Eddie has to stay late for a shift and won’t be off before the store closes. They start with the living room, which will take the least amount of work, according to Christopher, and involves replacing the red swivel chair by the couch with a recliner, as well as an end table, so Buck has a place to read and nap.

“Buck can just nap in the bed,” Eddie had said, a pathetic attempt to dissuade his son from requesting an entirely new piece of furniture.

It backfired on him completely when Christopher replied with, “He doesn’t like napping in bed because he says it makes it harder to get up. Don’t you know this, Dad? I thought you were in love with him.”

He stopped questioning his son after that.

So, the beige recliner finds a spot by the couch, and the red swivel chair gets donated to the local Habitat for Humanity, and then Christopher sets his sights on the kitchen.

“The most important room,” he says, before opening his binder and showing Eddie his plans. It takes some tweaking, some negotiating, but eventually they land on something they both agree on. Eddie holds a small funeral for his trusty coffee maker before tossing the half-broken thing in the trash. The new coffee maker commands its spot on the counter. It’s different, but it also looks like the future, like slow mornings and rain pattering the window. Like Eddie waking up alone in bed, but the blankets are warm and rumpled and not stiff and untouched. Like Eddie padding into the kitchen to see Buck punching buttons on the machine, smiling sleepily at him over a cup of coffee.

The image puts a spring in his step the rest of the week.

When Saturday rolls around, both he and Chris are wearing their renovator shirts, standing in the finished kitchen. The lock clicks on the front door, and the familiar sounds of Buck fill their space. Christopher bolts through the kitchen to meet him. Eddie’s stomach flips, because he’ll hear it again and again. He’ll be able to hear the sound of Buck coming home to them again and again and again.

“Whoa! You got this for me?”

“Yeah! I picked it out! It’s great, right?”

Eddie hears the sound of Buck dropping into the chair, and wanders into the living room to investigate. He sees the larger man sunk into the newest piece of furniture, blond curls wild and rumpled from the shift, face creased with fatigue, but still smiling warmly at Christopher. “It’s great buddy,” he murmurs. “Thank you.”

“Come see the rest!”

Christopher takes Buck on a tour through his vision. Eddie follows behind, hands in his pockets, immensely proud of what his son has created. Buck chokes up over the coffee machine, and pretty much everything after that. At the conclusion of the tour, he kneels down and wraps Christopher in a tight hug.

“It’s amazing, buddy. Thank you. I love you so much. I’m so lucky to be able to live here with you guys.”

Christopher chuckles, burying his face in Buck’s hair. “Welcome home, Buck,” he says.

Eddie walks over and cards his fingers through Buck’s hair. Two misty blue eyes flicker up to meet him. A lifetime of possibilities pass between their gazes.

“I can’t believe you got rid of your coffee maker for me,” Buck says later that evening, when they’re standing hip-to-hip against the counter as Christopher queues up something to watch in the living room.

Eddie sighs, casting a mistrustful glance toward the machine on his counter that, supposedly, in all its bells and whistles, dispenses coffee. “Well, believe it.”

“You must really love me, huh?”

It’s a joke, but truth engrained in it is not, and he cups Buck’s face in his hand. “Yeah, I do,” he murmurs. “I’d do anything for you, Buck.”

Buck’s Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. “Right back at ya, Design Czar.”

The moment is quiet and full of promise between them, broken only by the opening beats of HGTV’s Design Star playing in the background.

“Oh, my God.” Eddie looks toward the living room. “What have I created?”

Buck pats his cheek and drags him out of the kitchen by his hand. “A monster, Ed. You created a monster.”

Sure enough, Christopher is on the couch with his binder balanced in his lap. He looks up when they enter, eyebrows pinched in a serious expression.

“Please have a seat,” he says, flipping a page. “There are some other changes I would like to discuss.”

[pixieungerstories]

The Captive - 4

Ben had been surprised when Ina had contacted him to take over the bakery.  He had never even heard of the yarn shop.  He was in culinary school three towns over when she contacted the program head and had been given his name.  She had been running a small baked goods counter out of her back room, but was getting too old to continue.  They had negotiated a tentative deal over the phone.

They had renegotiated when he saw the kitchen.  He was surprised she hadn’t been shut down by the health inspector years ago.  Five years of free rent.  He replaced the appliances, she paid for the renovation.  He owned the bakery.

She had died on the third year of the agreement.  He was still making payments on the appliances.  He was sure he was fucked.

Then Elly turned up.  She had been really angry about the whole thing.  Ben just assumed that she had been close to Ina and was upset about the death in the family.  She wasn’t overly impressed with the yarn shop.  Ben had to teach her how to run the inventory system and the register.  It wasn’t hard.  He had helped Ina set up the computer system when he arrived.

Elly didn’t knit.  She had needed the regulars to give her a crash course on the yarn, spinning and weaving.  The company reps had all come out to redo their pitches as she tried to decide what to carry.  She wasn’t stupid.  She had them present their pitches in front of the Tuesday morning group.  Cloe, Lashandra and Posy were the most opinionated grannies in town.  Ben was pretty sure they had helped her negotiated better prices than what Ina was getting.

In the short term at least.  While she decided if they were going to stay open or not.

That last bit had him worried.  He started putting together a business plan to see if he could lease the ground floor and open a full restaurant if she closed up the yarn shop.  It was a huge gamble, but he thought he could make it work.

Elly was sweet and a nice person to deal with.  She was just not happy here.  That made a lot more sense when she showed him the plaque in the attic.  At first he thought she was a little nuts.  Then he realized, it didn’t even matter if she believed it.  Keeping a business that had been in the family for hundreds of years going was a whole lot of pressure to put on someone.  Especially when she clearly didn’t want it.  

Even setting aside all business considerations, Ben found that he didn’t want her to go.  He really did enjoy spending time with her.  She has a wicked sense of humour and was a fan of obscure history.  She had recommended a couple of books in passing.  Ben had ordered one of them and only make it about 50 pages in before he did a spit take at a joke.  After he cleaned up the mess he wondered about that. He wouldn’t have expected it from a wannabe librarian.

The day after she had shown him the huge plaque in the attic, she wasn’t there when he used his key to let himself in at six AM.  He would bake until nine when the shop opened, then serve food until two, then keep selling baking and coffee as he cleaned up and shut down.  It made for ten hour days, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work and he had debts to pay off.

He often wished he had asked Ina to put an outside door into the cafe so he could serve breakfast before the shop opened.  He didn’t think Elly would be receptive to that given what she had said about the shops finances.  It would make it easier for him to open for breakfast before the shop did.

She was late coming down to have breakfast with him.

Ben put it off as long as he could, then ate by himself.  She still wasn’t down by the time he had finished.  That put him in an awkward spot.  Should he go check on her?  She was technically his landlord, but she had always behaved as though he was a business partner.  He hadn’t bothered correcting her.  

He chickened out in the end and waited.  She did eventually come thundering down the stairs at 8:30.  She looked wildly around before seeing him and sagging with relief.

“Um?  Elly?  I hate to be like this boss, but we are due to open in half an hour and you are still in your jammies.”

She stared at him in confusion for a moment then turned and headed back upstairs.

“I’ll make you coffee and toast!” he shouted up after her.

She really needed some time off.   Except that if she shut down for a week off, he would also be shut down.  He didn’t really like that so much.  Not that he could do with a few days off as well.  Elly looked like she was running herself into the ground.  He didn’t remember Ina ever being that frazzled.

Mind you, maybe Elly was paying for Ina being more lacks. 

----

They were closed on Sunday and Monday, so he had gone to the local library to try to get information on the shop.  It was easy enough to find a digital copy of the town’s newspaper reporting on the fire.  No one was sure where it had started, but she was right, eight people had died.  The current occupant of the house, the woman’s groundskeeper, and the family living next door.

Ben was pretty sure the groundskeeper was sleeping over from the things the article carefully wasn’t saying.

He found the article about the house being rebuilt, but he couldn’t find any information on how old the original structure had been before the fire.  

The librarian, Ananka, hadn’t been with the town for very long.  She was tall and built like a brick shit house, with the classic librarian bun, cat’s eye glasses and the kind of face that could be any age from forty to a well maintained sixty.  Her whole presence was intimidating, until she smiled and directed Ben to town hall to looking up the building permits and ownership records.  That was where he found out that the shop was outside the town limits.  He was sent to the local church.  There weren’t any baptism records for anyone living in the house, only death records.  

When he mentioned the date on the plaque, the church secretary, Mary, pointed at the cornerstone on the church.  “You must be mistaken.  That was a hundred years before the church was built.  The town was here before the church, obviously, but the archives say there were only twenty families here at the time.”

“Is it possible the house was owned by one of the founding families?”

“That is a good point!  We had all the archives digitized a while back, if you would like to make an appointment, we can set you up to go through them,” she offered.

Ben looked at the clock.  The office was closing soon.  The librarian was already intrigued by the lack of information in the local history office.  He was forced to wonder if it really mattered.  He decided to change tactics, “You said you don’t have birth records for Ina. Is there a way to find out when she moved to the area?”

Agnes considered this.  “The Howard family has been renting the pasture land from the house for generations.  Ian is a bit of a history buff, he might have some information.”

Ben nodded and made a note to talk to Hanna Howard the next time she came in for buns.

[husfamelton321]

Tips on Purchasing Quality Furniture

Whether you're moving to a new home or renovating your current one, hiring a professional kitchen cabinet expert can mean the difference between a satisfying experience and a disastrous one. The truth is, you don't have to be a cabinet expert yourself to make the right cabinet decisions. That's where cabinet experts come into play! They are trained professionals with the expertise and experience needed to help you find the right cabinets based on your individual needs and tastes.

So how do you know if you should hire a cabinet expert in Strasbourg, France? Here are some of the things that you need to look at:

Expertise-If you're thinking about hiring a cabinet expert in Strasbourg, France, you'll want to make sure that the company or individual has plenty of experience in creating cabinets for people like you. Many of the companies that offer these types of services in Strasbourg, France will take on clients who are not in possession of a lot of furniture or appliances. This allows them to create cabinets that are high quality and functional at the same time. For this reason, they are notre est un chef parfaitement (general contractor), vous votre Notre chef (general contractor), un chef et deux parfaitement (not a chef but a general contractor), un chef du parfaitement (not a chef but a general contractor), et un chef parfaitement (not a chef but a general contractor).

Certifications and Accreditation Certification

Accreditation are two of the most important elements when it comes to choosing a cabinet company. Ask if they hold certification and accreditation for the type of work that they do. You can contact the local authorities of the region in which the cabinet company is located for information regarding their certification. The International Organization for Standardization (IOSO) also provides accreditation for cabinet manufacturing facilities throughout the world. It is important that you choose a Notre cabinet expert compile that holds the relevant certification and accreditation in order to be sure that the materials being used were produced according to acceptable quality levels.

Tout En Pastel The materials used to manufacture a cabinet expert compile should always be top quality, and the company should be certified by the authorities. Be wary of a cabinet expert compile that uses cheap materials or substandard products. You should always insist that the materials used were produced to the highest standards possible. Your warranty will usually require that the items you purchase from them are conformed to international standards. Choosing a company that touts en pastel as one of their materials is preferable over one that advertises substandard materials, since the former will most likely be more durable and last longer.

Eau de Strasbourg The materials used to manufacture the cabinet expert comptables should meet all of the criteria mentioned above. However, the materials should also be produced according to the highest quality standards. Be on the lookout for a company that advertises eau de Strasbourg as one of the materials they use. The materials used in this type of cabinet should also be durable and long lasting.

This will ensure that the unit that is assembled by you will last you a lifetime.

Cabinet expert furniture stores offer a variety of different varieties of cabinets depending upon their consumers' preferences. They are also able to customize a cabinet comptable according to a customer's needs. For example, some customers may prefer a custom made cabinet comptable nest, while others may want a de ce type of cabinet. To make sure that a cabinet expert has the right equipment and furniture, it would be in the best interest of the consumer to contact them directly. A quality company that offers de ce cabinet furniture can be contacted online with just a few clicks of the mouse. An online search will provide cabinet experts in cabinet expert comptable Strasbourg with any type of cabinet or other furniture that a consumer may want.

[kjspion-blog]

Home Improvement - Things to Consider When Remodeling Your Home

The concept of home improvement, renovation, or redecorating is the act of making or updating one's house to make it more attractive and functional. It can also be interpreted as making changes to improve your living conditions in the house. Home improvement may involve projects which update an existing house interior, facade or other structural enhancements to the house. Home improvements may include repair, renovation, and addition of various facilities like swimming pools, garden, carports, and others. These may vary from minor repairs to major renovations.

House renovation includes major remodelling projects like kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation, basement remodelling, and others. When we talk about renovations, it means that there are construction and other changes made to your existing home structure for the purpose of improving its usability, facilitation and life expectancy. The scope of work in a home improvement project varies from homeowner to homeowner depending on the current condition of the house and budget constraints. For instance, a home improvement may involve replacement or upgrading of kitchen appliances, painting walls, adding a deck, roofing tiling, landscaping, fencing, painting, or any other form of improvements.

Home improvement and home renovations are among the largest and the most popular industries in the US. Home improvement refers to a broad category of projects undertaken to make houses better to meet the needs and requirements of buyers. Home renovation is another broad category of activities and involves major and minor renovations of homes to make them more comfortable, appealing and functional for various purposes. The two categories together comprise almost seventy percent of the total US home improvement industry. As a result, there is a high demand for trained personnel in this industry to cater to the growing demands.

However, the competition in this industry is quite high as a lot of money is spent in making homes attractive through renovation and home improvement programs. Companies are coming up with innovative ways to beat the competition by providing better products and services and lowering the costs of home improvement projects. In order to stay ahead of the competition, you need to be aware of the basic facts related to home improvement jobs.

Cost is one of the key factors that affect the quality and extent of home improvement jobs. Home renovation contractors try to reduce their costs by eliminating or minimizing unessential parts of the project and increasing the savings made in terms of energy, materials and labor. This method is known as cost-reduction. However, it has been found that the cost-reduction strategies adopted by most of the reputable renovation contractors are not cost-effective and usually do not produce positive results. Therefore, it is advisable to hire qualified, experienced and professional home improvement contractors to handle the job for best results.

Another thing that affects the quality and extent of home improvement jobs is poor quality material used for the construction. Home renovation contractors usually fail to see this important factor, and end up using sub-standard materials which can badly deteriorate the condition of the house. Even worse many of the homeowners end up spending more money due to inferior materials and an inability to cope up with the complicated renovation project.

Home remodeling projects can become successful if the homeowner chooses the right building materials, building techniques and finishes to match the existing home design and aesthetic appeal. If the existing home has wood siding, the renovation project can be easily achieved by using a professional siding company. On the other hand, if your home improvement plan includes changing the flooring or installing an entirely new building material, it is wise to seek help from renovation contractors who have proven experience in applying different types of finishing techniques.

Apart from cost, there is also another important factor that affects the quality of home improvement projects and that is safety. As mentioned earlier, it is very crucial to hire a qualified and professional home improvement contractor to handle your job. Be sure to request for a written citation needed for all home improvement projects. A written citation needed by a home improvement contractor can serve as evidence that you have hired the right individual to handle your project, and that they have appropriate skills to do the improvements that you want done.

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From Around the Web: 20 Fabulous Infographics About whole house flooring ideas

Many men and women feel that it's simple to find the most useful renovations for your home, particularly when the price tag is small in comparison to other important repairs that will need to be made. Some homeowners will naturally assume certain renovations will increase the resale price of the home, while some will simply assume that some improvements will simply add to the price and the quality of their house itself.

Should you need to are doing some research online you will realize that there are many sites dedicated to letting homeowners who are contemplating becoming renovating their homes to execute just a small amount of prep before making their final decision. A number of these sites offer reviews of different contractors. If you just happen to be looking for a specific contractor, but can't seem to come across whatever you like, you can navigate through their profiles to determine if they will have any complaints against them. In addition, it is a good idea to see what type of references they've.

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It'd have been a good idea to ascertain the expense of the renovation that you're likely to do before you even begin to perform the renovation itself. In this manner you can make sure the budget you have is what you actually are able to afford. Aside from this, you also have an concept of the amount of money which you are ready to spend on the job. It would be best to think about the cost of the renovation itself of course when it'll soon be not.

Yet another factor to consider in regards to renovation is the magnitude of their renovation. For those who have an older house, then you may want to consider a renovation that'll enable one to create some changes to the walls and rooms. In addition, you will need to consider if you will be in a position to adapt the renovation that you have proposed. If the renovations are too large for your current size of your residence, then you will probably wind up being forced to fork out extra for it.

Why You Should Focus on Improving futuristic design elements

Probably one of the very essential things you can do in order to make sure the best renovations for your home is to hire a professional. You ought to be certain your repairs are done professionally, so your project will not look at funding or take more time than anticipated. A respectable company can make certain you meet with you personally and explore all of the options and costs before you start working in your job. Be sure to also check references and see how long it required to complete your renovation. Figure out how much time it required every single individual to finish the job so that you may compare and contrast this information in what you're currently dealing with.

Now you have found several contractors, start comparing them before finalizing one. Attempt to learn their reviews and opinions on various construction websites so you are able to get a glimpse in their services that are actual and exactly what they provide.

When you are on the lookout for a fantastic contractor for home improvement, the Internet makes it effortless to find the ones that you would like. It is possible to compare the quotes online, see what they need to mention and read through portfolios to obtain an idea of their own work.

It's also advisable to ask the restoration company to perform a home inspection before they offer you a contract. This is indeed that you will find a way to find out the way the contractor will reestablish your residence.

You should also ask the company if they are going to provide you with the professional services for free. So that you will be able to make certain your renovation is performed precisely. They can provide something free for a certain timeframe.

Make certain that you ask them about the kinds of work that they can perform and the range of people that could work in your home at the same time. This will let you make sure you are certain to get all individuals you have to do the renovation at the ideal moment.

Will apartment room decorating ideas Ever Rule the World?

There are a lot of reasons why somebody would like to sell their home. One is that they are having problems with it. Often times this means that it's not being maintained properly or is very obsolete. That you never need to choose the time to do whatever yourself if you are prepared to employ a professional.

The first step in renovating your bathroom and kitchen is to speak with your property agent about adding additional space for the appliances you want to use. A whole lot of people make the mistake of simply replacing their existing cabinets with brand new ones, but the simple truth is that you can have a much better look for only a couple of hundred dollars. You can also discover discount kitchen cabinets at any hardware shop and bathroom remodeling businesses.

Yet another fantastic way to increase the worth of your home is by substituting the inside of your house with a new coat of paint. You are able to replace the interior of one's house or apartment with a fresh coat of paint, or you may replace the entire interior of the house or apartment with a brand new coat of paint. If you decide to restore the interior, it is possible to get a fresh coat of paint from the exact identical paint firm that made your exterior paint. You might also paint front and rear doors using fresh paint. Possessing a fresh coat of paint on front and back of one's house may make a house look more alive and gives it even more personality.

If you want to keep along with exactly the same, then you might want to try exactly the exact same color as your house and then have the entranceway repainted after having a couple of years. However, it's a great idea to look at the color written down first. If you know the number of colors or colors are offered for the home and also the colors are alike, then it is an excellent plan to just acquire the doorway sanded.

Yet another means to increase the value of one's property is by installing new window frames into your house. If you have double hung windows, you can install new glass on your own windows. This is going to make your house seem larger and certainly will allow it to seem like more of a living room. Installing new window frames will increase the worth of your home, particularly when the windows are located on the side of one's residence, https://primmart.com which will make them look as they are wider than they're. Installing fresh window frames on the medial side of one's property will allow you to make your house appear larger and will make it look more spacious.

5. Sell your house on the internet. Now you can easily sell your house in http://edition.cnn.com/search/?text=realtor the living room, bedroom or kitchen. This offers you a chance to complete some remodeling without ever having to leave the comfort of your own house. Whenever you use an online agency to offer your home, you can even put your house on the market to multiple buyers, providing you more choices and also a broader range of buyers.

If a door has plenty of colors onto it, you then may wish to consider using the paint repainted in a totally new structure and style. This will include using the door completely sanded or simply adding a few new colors to it. In any event, the door may wind up looking like new after the renovation. Even though you really do need to make sure that you do not add too many colors or choose exactly the exact same color once more.

Once you redesign, it's a good idea to get some references from individuals that experienced their houses remodeled previously so you can get an idea of what you need to start looking for. Remodeling a house to increase your house value won't be excessively expensive.

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Easy Renovations for Your House

Remodeling must be an enjoyable and interesting process. The secret is to prepare the project out ahead of time, employ the ideal individuals, set aside the suitable amount of time, and plan for hold-ups. Try not to make the completion date accompany your birthday or anniversary. Start prior to that date, if you're planning a unique party, and even then, have an alternate area in mind.Don't enforce an amount of time on yourself or your professional that will produce stress. At the same time, get a clear understanding of for how long the task will probably take, and when it will start. If it's a 3 month job and the work will not start until November, your home will not be prepared for a new year's party, unless you're celebrating Chinese New Year ... This is a remarkably common issue - how much time the property owner believes a job will take and that real work time needed.Have a clear idea of what you want prior to your contractor comes over. You don't have to sketch out the changes, however you need to be able to inform him or her what modifications you would like to see. Attempt not to fall into this trap, or to believe that any changes you make when the job has started will not impact the rate or the amount of time of a task.If you're really stuck trying to figure out how to improve an area in your house, think about hiring a designer. They can work within your budget plan, but if your spending plan is tight, it's most likely better to invest the consultation fee on new drapes or a toilet ... If decision making is a problem location for you, and you're able to relinquish control, then a designer might be the clear solution.Is a fast repair available?If you aren't dealing with structural changes or a total remodeling, then consider a coat of paint, new floor covering, new baseboards, and/or new window treatments. You might want to up-date your bathroom or kitchen area with brand-new flooring. A great throw rug can alter the appearance of a room and include new life to an old carpet.Sometimes a simple change like up-dating your hardware is all that is needed. You may be able to paint your kitchen cabinetry if you don't desire to change it. They will supply you with a computer printout of what your finished kitchen area will look like.If you have an old brick fireplace that you don't care for any longer, or want to give it a fresh look, consider painting it. This is not a criminal activity ... Painted brick looks fantastic!You can likewise put a marble tile (slate works well, too) around the fireplace. Utilize the right tile adhesive (ask at the shop) and pick a nice grout.While you're looking at the fireplace mantels, check out the cool 'fireplace over mantels’-- they're beautiful! You can have mirror custom cut to fit in the center and make your house look magnificent, beloved!Altering the lighting can produce an entire brand-new look in your house. Changing the light switches and switch plates can make a big distinction, too.Doors have a substantial impact on how a home looks. You can get the glass with many various appearances if privacy is an issue. If your spending plan will enable, consider changing all the doors to the brand-new white colonial design - that looks great in simply about every home.Changing your front door can give the house a real increase and most likely add a bit of safety, too, because many of the new doors are made of steel. If you are attempting to make the job as easy as possible, think about utilizing rosettes for the corners, then all the cuts will be straight ones.Altering out the garage doors in an older house to update the exterior look of your house is an excellent idea. Changing out the garage doors can create an unbelievable brand-new look for your house.Did you know that you can paint your devices? It works, too. You can hire a painting service to do this if you're worried about the result. If you are getting new kitchen area cabinets, you can buy matching covers for the home appliances. Ask at the cabinet place for details to see if that is practical in your kitchen. Sometimes your best bet is just to bite the bullet and buy brand-new devices.If you have a little area with a closet (front entry, bedroom), think about altering the routine doors to mirrored doors. That opens a space and supplies more light, quickly.You can make them out of crown molding if you like the wooden appearance, or you can develop them out of plywood, cover with cotton batting, then material to suit your room, and staple them at the back. The relatively brand-new wrought iron curtain rods with all the cool attachments are truly appealing, too. Tie-backs can make a real difference, too, so have a wee appearance at them.Furniture plays a crucial function in the appearance of your home. There are some gorgeous slipcovers offered if you don't wish to replace your additional comfy things! You could attempt your hand at reupholstering your furnishings. It's not as hard as it looks, but it does take time and ability, however if you're a prepared individual and strategy it carefully, it ought to work out all right. Get a staple gun to make the task a little much easier.Maybe you remain in the market for a brand-new headboard? You can make your own out of a good door, with an even pattern, some good crown molding, and some legs. You can acquire these at any lumber shop. Turn it on its' side to develop the appearance you're after.If you 'd like a softer headboard, attempt covering a sheet of plywood with a fair little bit of padding, then cover with product and staple. If it's huge enough, you might have the ability to simply sit it behind the head of the bed, or you can attach it to the frame.Release your old notions about painting wood furniture - it can really bring it into today’s standards. If you are painting a hutch, keep in mind to paint the interior to keep it looking light. Including additional lighting is easy with the new 'stick on lights' offered at regular retail outlets. Smear Vaseline on the windows of the system prior to you paint it to make tidy up faster and much easier.You can change the hardware, too, or paint that, also. If you want to be adventurous, you could tile the top of your cabinets and end tables with a good marble or ceramic tile.New bedding can really alter the feel of a bedroom. If you do not currently have bed skirts, try adding these. An easy and affordable way to develop you own bed skirt is to take a flat sheet that is a size larger than your bed. Position it thoroughly on the bed to reach the floor around the bed, then make pleats at the corners. You can pin it, or just arrange the leading bed mattress over the sheet to hold it in place. Try adding a duvet cover over an old comforter for a various look. You can get matching pillowcases, too, that'll really complete the look.Speaking of tiling, if your kitchen area countertop has seen better days, you may wish to consider tiling it. This is a surprisingly affordable venture, particularly if you can do it yourself. Lots of arborite countertops have a little 'lip' at the outer edge, which you will probably have to plane down to create a smooth and square surface in preparation for the tile. You can also eliminate the old countertop and change it with 3/4 plywood (have it specifically cut to fit), then tile on that. There are so many lovely tiles to pick from, that the possibilities are unlimited. Look at all the various sizes of tile, too. Individuals frequently consider the tiny tiles, or the 4" tiles, for a countertop, however you can go much larger. There is a special grout to use for counter tops, so be sure to tell your seller what your job is. Utilizing a thin grout line will make a genuine distinction.Lots of people have effectively painted their tile. The bathtub can be painted, too - there's a service that specializes in this, so inspect your local documents. Changing the countertop, sink, toilet, tub, or fixtures will truly enhance the appearance of the bathroom.Shelving can make a tremendous difference in the feel of you home if space is a concern. Examine your closets to see if there's an area at the really leading where a shelf could be included. That's normally wasted space, and you might save your 'opposite season' clothing up there. Can you construct racks into your pantry to make more space for canned items? Stackable baskets and boxes are useful for saving all the extra little things that trigger mess around your house. There are great deals of shelving 'sets' on the market, now. They are typically less pricey than purchasing all the products to build your own racks, so inspect these out.A basic method to change the look and feel of your home is to reorganize the furnishings. Sounds painfully simple, but it can breathe new life into a room.Significant renovationsIf you race through a job, you'll have lots and lots of time afterward to look at all the errors. If you have the walls and the floors on the very same list, do the walls first - it'll be less demanding when the paint splashes!If it's a substantial remodeling job, think about how you will cope with all the mess. Do you have an alternate place where you can live during the renovations? How about a little location of your home that you can keep as a sanctuary? Give this some major thought prior to you start. It can be unexpected how tough life can be during a reno project. If you happen to have a home trailer, this is most likely a good time to 'camp out', if only for a little break from the turmoil.

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Home Improvement Ideas That Put Cash in Your Pocket

Home improvement ideas that could add value to your dwelling. The slowing economy has made everybody appraise their spending habits. If you're a"swiper", you definitely think twice before swiping your bank card for a buy now more than ever. If you own a house, you're more cautious about spending money especially if you're one of the home owners who experienced a decrease in your house worth, like most homeowners across america.

Embarking on home improvement projects for your home is most likely the last thing in mind. There are a few home improvements which are costly and might put a further dent in your wallet. However, there are a few home improvement ideas that could add value to your house and keep your wallet intact without placing any holes in it also. Bottom line is the perfect way to protect your precious investment is by ensuring it's up-to-date and maintained. Even if your house is upside down in value based on your areas market conditions, you may add or store more money to your house when you make simple, inexpensive upgrades which would be favorable to your selling place if and when you choose to sell your residence.

1. Declutter Your Home - You become very comfortable in your home and remember stepping through your clothes that fell off the seat or side step by the boxes which sit at the dining area to get into the kitchen, but a potential buyer might cut their trip short only because they do not want to feel as though their imposing by having to side step boxes or walk through clutter zones.

2. Painting - Paint fades over time and may look dingy. It will not hurt to give your house a brand new coat of paint. This simple idea makes your house look fresh and new. It changes the texture of your dwelling. Painting is affordable, if you do it yourself. You can also find affordable labour to tackle a painting job. The cool thing is that you do not have to do everything in 1 day. Neutral colors are recommended as the timeless selling choice. But do not be afraid to use color paint also. Pick happy bright colors and be cautious with bold colours like reds and dark colours overall. Light colors will make a room seem bigger while darker colors can hide imperfections. If you decide against painting, then clean the walls and power wash the outside.

3. Curb Appeal - When you browse the first page of the novel you picked up, if it does not lure you in within the first couple of paragraphs, then you could put it down and never pick it up again. Same concept applies when someone pulls up to your property. First impressions are lasting in virtually every category. Expensive landscaping or labour intensive jobs will not do too much at all for your house value but it does not hurt to make the exterior of your house look pleasing to the eye. You can attain this by planting cheap flowers, maintain bushes trimmed and the yard manicured. In case you have bare spots in the grass, plant some seeds and make sure you remove any dead plants or trees, bushes etc..

4. Repair Damages - Let's face it, your house won't be reduced to no maintenance . Things will break and wear out. You may elect to place fixing these things on the back burner and while they might be costly or bothersome to repair, they ought to be a priority. Fill interior and exterior cracks. Investigate cracks to be sure something is not going on with the construction of your dwelling. Replace dry rotted wood or stained wood flooring or carpeting, tighten loose railings or fittings.

5. Updating Bathrooms and Kitchens - Entirely remodeling your bathroom or kitchen could be pricey. But there are a few minor details it is possible to change that aren't expensive that could change the appearance and feel of your kitchen or bathroom. Changing the hardware on the cabinets, draw handles and wall switch covers could go a long way. Replacing dated appliances with appliances that are used may also be a winner. Used appliances may not seem appealing but there are benefits in looking into appliances that are used. These appliances may be from builders that stocked for jobs and offered them for dirt cheap to the local appliance store in your area. Or they could have a minor defect that's not visible like a knob missing which may be substituted but is contemporary like stainless steel and brand names also.

6. Adding Accessories - sprucing up your living room with a couple of new throw pillows can go a long way. Adding mirrors in key areas also provide a boost to the space. Placing a tall plant or tree can alter a room making it seem bigger because it pulls the eyes upwards.

7. Flooring - if you can not change the carpeting in the whole home, the next best thing would be to rent a power cleaner and wash them. There are a few industrial cleaners you can find that restore your carpet almost to its original color. Update your kitchen floor with self adhesive tiles in case your kitchen flooring is not hardwood or ceramic.

8. You will find inexpensive paintings or posters which you could frame to look like a million dollars. The key with accessories would be to incorporate color schemes which flow throughout the space and home. Some designers recommend including a item in two's to offer balance to the wall or space.

9. Update Lighting - if you have lived in your house awhile, it is likely that the light fixtures have become obsolete and possibly discolored. Upgrading to newer versions may post a positive return on your investment.

10. Changing Faucets - Changing your faucets in the kitchen and baths to water efficient taps makes a difference in usage and appearance.

Easy To Follow Home Improvement Ideas

Home improvement can be quite beneficial for beautifying property, but it's also easy to become overwhelmed and not to even begin with the procedure. It´s true that those people that have a real passion for interior design and doing it yourself have it a lot easier than people who don't have that fire. I've outlined some home improvement ideas below to help you begin with the procedure.

- Adding a leather couch set might be among the best things you can do when it comes to adding more comfort to your whole room and house. Guests and likely also yourself love to get it comfortable during the hours in your dwelling. Leather sofa sets produce an environment which adds more value to a community and will assist your visitors to feel like in their own homes. Purchasing a leather couch set should be based on the overall design and design of your room. Be intelligent and consider sofa sets which are congruent with your room.

- Improving your current windows might be another terrific idea for your residence. That's particularly accurate once you do have a house with windows that simply require improvement and renovation. Vinyl windows perfectly fit with any room design and are the new preferred style.

- Making a recreation room is an excellent idea if you want more comfort at home. In actuality, if you have children they'll definitely love to have a particular place in which they can play their favorite games or activities when they return home from college. Designing a game room is something which can occur at any particular time. Here it's important to look at how old your children are and what sorts of games they want to play. Logically, the games you need to add to the place mostly be based on the capability of your children. Board games or puzzle games are generally ideal for infants to young kids. On the other hand, PlayStation games, billiards or shuffleboard will be excellent for kids between age 6 to 16.

- Consider your current working conditions of home and if you have an office what would you improve? Moreover, if your children need a quite space to do their homework it's suggested to put in a comfy office chair and an suitable desk to your area. Make certain to find all other components like table lamp, pens, maps etc..

The home improvement ideas from this review apply for any home, so be certain to apply them!

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The Kitchen Renovation Doesn't Have to Be As Painful As You Might Think

You've reached your own personal tipping point: the toaster won't work when the coffeemaker's on, you're down to one working burner on your stove, only one person can be in the kitchen at a time so your family eats in shifts, and finally the microwave blew on the morning of your big presentation at work, and you decided, "Enough is enough. We need a new, functional kitchen!"

You're not alone. Usually everyone has a particular tipping point; that one last thing that sends them into the renovation pool. You try to hold on for as long as you can because you're dreading the noise, the dust, the inconvenience and the disruption to your daily life. When your space becomes unusable, it's time to do something. But you can't just jump into a renovation, particularly one as costly, time consuming and inconvenient as a kitchen renovation, you need a well thought out plan of attack if you're going to pull it off in the quickest amount of time with the least amount of inconvenience and expense.

Start by developing a Design Plan: A renovation will only be as successful as the research and planning that's put into it. Like any business proposal you develop for work, you need to have a clear goal of what you want to achieve with the renovation. Do you yearn for updated electrical wiring, maximizing storage space, adding an eating area, appliances that work?

You can start by popping into kitchen renovation stores to look at the latest available features in kitchen design. Speak to the staff, tell them you're at the beginning of your journey and see if they have any ideas for you.

Cut out photos of kitchens you love from magazines and put them in a folder. Identify why you like the kitchens you've chosen - is it the space? The lighting? The colour? The style of cabinetry or countertops? It is even helpful to give your designer images of things you definitely do not like. That way they won't propose those very things in your dream kitchen. When you determine what you really want, it will help your kitchen designer draw up the plans that suit you.

If you have a friend who's recently renovated her kitchen, take pictures and identify what you like about it as well and stick it in the folder with your other pictures.

Toronto architect Jacqueline Rhee says that when she sits down with potential clients and they say to her, "Design us something gorgeous," she has to explain that they aren't giving her enough information. She says, "What their idea of 'gorgeous' is and what I might have in mind could very well be two different things. Maybe they want French Country, but I have an idea that they might prefer a sleek contemporary kitchen." The more direction clients can give their designer about their likes, dislikes and what their goals for the space are, the better the design can live up to their expectations.

Budget: The good news regarding a kitchen renovation is that it tends to be a good investment. The Appraisal Institute of Canada estimates that a kitchen renovation will return 75-100% of your investment if you were to turn around and sell your home. However, the sky is never the limit, even for Donald Trump. Just as you would plan your company's annual marketing budget, you need to develop a budget for your kitchen renovation. A general rule of thumb for how much to spend on a kitchen renovation is up to 10-15% of the value of your home. But don't feel like you have to spend that much; if you can do more with less, do it. For example, if your cabinets are in the right location and sturdy but just tired and outdated, consider refacing them. Refacing comes in at about 50-75% of the cost of new custom cabinetry.

Hiring a Kitchen Company and/or Contractor: Most people hire a contractor or kitchen designer through word of mouth. If you've been to a friend's recently renovated house and you like what you see, start asking questions: Who did the work? Did you work well together? Was he on time and on budget? Is the end result what you expected? Was he well-organized or did you scramble to get finishes at the last minute? Were there any major problems during construction, and if so, how did he handle them? If you liked the answers your friend gave you - assuming your friend isn't shell-shocked from the direct grilling she's just received - get his card. Now, find at least two other contractors and/or kitchen companies so you can compare quotes.

Meeting with the Designer and Contractor: If, while you're meeting with a designer or contractor, your gut tells you that no matter how great the work is you couldn't stand being in the same room with him for more than a minute, cross him off your list of candidates. You may have to meet with this person every day. If your personalities don't mix, you'll never be able to solve problems together. Likely, however, if you're getting that vibe, the contractor or designer is too; it's best to part ways before a relationship has begun.

If, on the other hand, your first meeting is fantastic and you're bowled over with his enthusiasm and ideas and you get along as if you'd known each other your entire lives, you still need to do your research. Ask him how many jobs he can handle at once and how many he has going currently and make sure he is bonded and insured.

Further necessary research - the internet is your new best friend: Researching kitchen companies and contractors has become a whole lot easier with the age of the internet. Now there are websites which are specifically focused on capturing word-of-mouth reviews from consumers online. If the companies you're interested in using don't have any reviews, you may want to look at other companies that do and compare their services. Also check out the company's website. If they don't have one, you have to wonder how professional they are.

Another tip you can try is entering the company's name in search engines like Google and Yahoo!. You may find some feedback people have posted on them on various forums. You can also post a question asking if anyone has ever used this company. Finally, check the references he or she gives you as well, talk to a few of his past clients and go see the work he or she did for them.

Once you've chosen your designer, contractor and/or kitchen company, get ready: Ask yourself if you can live through the renovation by setting up a second kitchen in the garage or basement. Do you have toddlers who would be better off away from the construction site? Make arrangements to be out of the house for a specific amount of time and make sure that you and your project team have discussed the most reasonable move-out and move-in dates.

Did you have to factor furniture storage into your budget or can it be wrapped and stored on site? Again, your contractor will tell you which is the best option depending on the size of the job and your storage space availability on site.

During the renovation: Assumptions: One of the breakdowns in communication between homeowner and contractor is in assumptions made by one party or the other. For instance, one woman had purchased bathroom sinks and fixtures for a brand new home. The contractor saw that the powder room fixture would be outfitted with separate taps and a faucet and so drilled three holes in all the sinks because he assumed that all the fixtures were the same. Unfortunately, they weren't and the homeowner had to replace the other fixtures to match the holes.

But incorrect assumptions can just as easily be made by the homeowner. A homeowner handed a water filter kit to the contractor and asked him to install it. The homeowner had read on the box that the water filter was good for the whole house and could be fitted on the main water supply. When she returned at the end of the day, the contractor had installed it under the kitchen sink. She'd never told him where it was to go, she had just assumed that he knew it was meant for the entire house.

Problem solving: In any renovation, no matter how minor, there always seem to be unforeseen problems. It's not as surprising as you might think. What happens behind the walls stays behind them until they're ripped apart. Up until then, you might not know that the insulation used was actually newspaper, or that the plumbing went through the wall that needs to be demolished. How your contractor and you handle these problems depends on how proactive your contractor is.

During Sue and Leon's main floor renovation, the designer had called for the laundry room backsplash to consist of stainless steel tiles; beautiful, but at a cost of approximately $5,000. Sue balked. The contractor suggested instead a row of the tiles, two feet high, just behind the washer and dryer at a cost of $500. Sue was grateful that contractor made her aware of the costs and had an alternative suggestion for her.

The end result -- your dream space: Living through the dust, noise and strangers in your house for weeks to months on end can be tiring. Even though you get along well with the crew and your contractor, you can find your temper becoming short, particularly if there are delays during the project leading to prolonged construction. Recognize that delays are often unavoidable and that one day, you will be back in your home, the workers will be gone and your new beautiful kitchen will be all yours.

On-line Resources: This Old House: This website is a DIYer's dream. There are videos and tips on probably every aspect of renovating a kitchen. Kitchens.com: A wealth of information on everything you ever wanted to know about kitchens, including information on "greening your kitchen." Better Homes and Gardens has an extensive section on renovating your kitchen including an "inspiration gallery" to give you some ideas. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: CMHC has an excellent website for any renovation or home purchase. The kitchen renovation area has downloadable charts you can use for reference guides as you go about your renovation planning. Appraisal Institute www.homerenovationvancouver.ca  of Canada: The Renova section of this website allows you to input the cost of your renovation and it will calculate how much of a return you would receive if you sold your home.

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The Kitchen Renovation Does Not Need to Be Painful As You Might Believe

BELK Tile

You have   We are in need of a fresh, practical kitchen!"

You are not alone. Generally everyone has a Specific tipping point; this one final thing which sends them to the renovation pool. You attempt to continue for so long as possible because you are stressing the sound, the dust, the annoyance and the disruption to your everyday life. Whenever your distance becomes unusable, it is time to do some thing.

BELK Tile

Start by Creating a Design Strategy: A renovation is only going to be as powerful as the study and preparation that is put to it. Like every business proposal you create to get work, you want to get a very clear aim of what you would like to achieve together with the renovation. Can you yearn for upgraded electric wiring, optimizing storage space, including an eating place, appliances that operate?

You Can begin with popping to kitchen renovation shops to examine the most recent available attributes in kitchen layout. Speak to the team, let them know you are at the commencement of your travel and see whether they have any tips for you.

Cut out photographs of kitchens you enjoy from magazines  Describe why you enjoy the kitchens you have selected - Why is it the distance? The light? The color? The manner of cabinetry or cabinetry? It's even useful to present your designer pictures of things you surely do not like.  When you decide what you want, it is going to enable your kitchen designer draw the plans which suit you.

If You've Got a friend who is recently revived her Kitchen, shoot pictures and determine exactly what you enjoy about it well and stick it in the folder along with your other images.

Toronto architect Jacqueline Rhee states when she sits down with prospective customers and they say for her,"Style us something stunning," she must clarify they aren't giving her sufficient details. She says,"What their notion of'stunning' is and exactly what I've in mind might well be two distinct things. Perhaps they need French nation, but I've a notion that they may prefer a slick modern kitchen" The more management customers may present their designer regarding their likes, dislikes and what their own aims to the distance are, the better your layout can fulfill their expectations.

Kitchen renovation is the fact that it will be a fantastic investment.   As you would like your business's yearly advertising budget, you will need to come up with a budget for the kitchen renovation. A general guideline for how much to invest on a kitchen renovation is left up to 10-15percent of the value of your property. But do not feel as though you need to devote that much; if you're able to do much more with less, take action.  Refacing comes in at approximately 50-75% of the expense of new custom made cabinetry.

Selecting a Kitchen Contractor or Company:  If you have been to a buddy recently remodeled home and you enjoy what you see, then begin asking questions: Who did the work?      If you enjoyed the replies your buddy gave you assuming your buddy is not shell-shocked in the direct grilling she is only obtained - get your own card. Now, locate at least 2 other kitchen or contractors companies so that you can compare quotes.

Meeting together with the Contractor and Designer: If,  You might need to meet this person daily. If your characters do not blend, you're never going to have the ability to solve problems collectively. Probably, but if you are having that vibe, the builder or contractor is overly; it is ideal to part ways prior to a connection has started.

You are bowled over with his enthusiasm and thoughts and you get together as in the event that you'd known each other your whole lives, you still have to perform your own research. Ask him how many tasks he can manage simultaneously and how many he's going now and also make sure he's insured and bonded.

Further essential research - the World Wide Web is the new best buddy: Researching kitchen businesses and builders is now a great deal easier with the era of the world wide web. Currently there are sites that are especially focused on getting word-of-mouth reviews from customers on the internet. If the businesses you are considering utilizing do not have some testimonials, you might choose to check at other businesses which perform and compare their solutions. Also take a look at the organization's website. When they don't own one, you need to wonder just how professional they are.

Another suggestion  It is possible to attempt is entering the organization's name in search engines such as google and Yahoo!. You might discover some feedback folks have posted on these on different forums. You might even post a question asking if anybody has used this organization. In the end, check the testimonials that he or she provides you too, speak with a couple of his previous customers and see the job he or she did for them.

As Soon as You've picked your own designer, kitchen or contractor business, prepare: Ask yourself whether it's possible to live through the renovation by assembling another kitchen in the garage or cellar.  Make arrangements to be outside of their house for a particular quantity of time and be certain you and your project team have discussed that the many acceptable move-out and move-in dates.

Do you need to variable furniture storage in your Budget or is it wrapped and stored on web site? Your contractor will say what's the best choice based upon how big the project and your own storage space availability on website.

Among the frustrations in communication between contractor and homeowner would be in premises made by one party or another. As an example, 1 woman had bought bathroom fixtures and sinks for a new house. The builder saw the powder room fixture could be equipped with taps along with a faucet and drilled three holes all of the sinks since he supposed that all the fittings were exactly the same. Unfortunately, they were not and the homeowner needed to substitute the other fittings to coordinate with the holes.

But wrong assumptions can equally readily be Produced from the homeowner. A homeowner given out a water filter kit into the contractor and requested him to install it. The homeowner had read about the box which the water filter was so great for the entire home and may be fitted on the home water supply. When she returned in the conclusion of the afternoon, the builder had put in it under the kitchen sink. She had never told him was to proceed, she'd only assumed he knew it had been meant for the whole residence.

Renovation, however small, there always appear to be unforeseen issues. It is not quite as surprising as you may think. What occurs behind the walls remains behind them till they are torn apart. Up until then, you may not understand the insulating material used was really paper, or the pipes went through the walls that has to be demolished. The way your contractor and you manage these issues is dependent upon how educated your contractor is.

Throughout budding and Leon's Most Important floor renovation, The designer had known for the laundry area backsplash to include stainless steel crowns; exquisite, however at a price of around $5,000. Sue balked. The builder suggested rather a row of those tiles, 2 feet high, only behind the washer and dryer in a price of $500. Sue was thankful that builder made her conscious of the prices and had an alternate proposal for her.

The result -- your fantasy distance: Alive through the dust, sound and strangers in your home for months on end could be tiring. Though you get along nicely with the team as well as your builder, you can discover your temper becoming brief, especially if there are flaws during the project resulting in prolonged construction. Realize that delays tend to be inevitable and one day, you'll be back into your house, the employees will be gone along with your new kitchen that is beautiful will be yours.

Online Resources:  You will find videos and  Kitchens.com: A   Better Homes   The Canada Home and mortgage Corporation: CMHC has an Superb site for any  The kitchen renovation region has Downloadable graphs you may use for reference manuals as you move about Your renovation preparation.  Section of the site lets you enter the expense of your renovation Also it will calculate just how much of a return you'd get if you sold Your house.

[homeimprovementcontractors]

How to save money on a home renovation

When you begin to plan a home restoration, the financial signals might begin to pile up quickly. You can easily upgrade your house on a tight budget, whether you’re doing it to make it more comfortable or sell it.

We’re going to show you how to renovate your house on a budget. With these guidelines, you can prepare for a low-budget renovation:

Maintaining a Financial Plan

Ensure that you stick to a budget when it comes to your makeover. Maintain a 15% to 20% reserve for unexpected expenses.

Use a Variety of Sources for Your Material Needs

To guarantee you receive the greatest value, buy ahead of time for the things and resources you’ll need. To save money, utilize repurposed or lightly used fixtures and materials.

Make the most use of what you have

While a contractor isn’t necessary to keep your home remodeling on a budget, be sure you have the necessary skills and equipment to accomplish your whole to-do list before you begin. The Home Renovation Contractors rates should include all of the costs and deliverables you are accountable for, so be sure you know what is included in the contractor’s fees and what you are expected to provide.

Take Charge of Your Own Garbage Removal

You can save money and time by renting a dumpster to stay on-site while your restoration is taking place. Home improvement and cleaning jobs frequently need just a 20-yard dumpster. General Contractors Vancouver has provided unmatchable home renovation services to every sector. A

A Temporary Location set up

Keep a working backup location in mind while your kitchen or bathroom is being rebuilt. If you don’t have a second bathroom in your house, you can set up a temporary bathroom in your basement while your bathroom is being renovated.

The Kitchen makeover.

Because you spend so much time in the kitchen, it needs to represent your family’s distinct personality. You don’t need to completely redo your kitchen to give it a fresh new look. Budget your money based on the features that are most essential to you while designing your new kitchen.

Refinishing a cabinet

You can want to try painting your cabinets a fresh, brighter color if they don’t fit your intended look.

Addition of a backsplash

There is no reason why you cannot have fun while upgrading your home on a tight budget. You can save money by installing a colorful mosaic backsplash behind your stove and a sleek white subway tile on the other walls of your kitchen instead. Peel-and-stick backsplashes are another option for those who are new to DIY projects and don’t want to deal with the time and effort of grouting the tiles.

Look into Appliances for Sale

Before making any purchases for your kitchen, determine how long the current items will last. A decent cooktop stove can last up to 20 years, but a refrigerator normally lasts 10–15 years. While shopping for appliances, keep this in mind at your local Habitat for Humanity Restore or at your local stores, you can look for scratch and dent discounts on appliances. You can also keep an eye out for seasonal sales or reduced package packages.

Updated counters and backsplashes of kitchen

Countertops are often the centerpiece of a kitchen’s design. Consider a kitchen island made of quartz and butcher block. Organizing and de cluttering your kitchen counters is a great way to enhance the look and feel of your kitchen. By getting the right consultation from Home restoration experts you can enhance your home renovation but on a small budget.

Upgrade to a Bathroom

If you’re renovating on a tight budget, you’re almost certain to receive at least one new bathroom. These are fantastic places to begin if you don’t want to fully rework it.

Renovation of your Walls

Paint can have a profound effect on any area in your home—especially when it comes to a tiny space like the bathroom. If your bathroom is small, you can make it seem bigger by painting an accent wall in a bright color and keeping the rest of the room bright and cheerful. If you’re going to use the paint in a bathroom, make a note at the hardware shop indicating it’s for that use.

Refinish old stuff rather than buying new

You can save money in your bathroom by refinishing rather than replacing your bathtub. For the duration of the remodeling, ensure that you have a backup means of showering. It’s simple to convert a bathtub into a walk-in shower if you already have one in your bathroom.

Constantly use the same design

To save money, you can make minor adjustments to your bathroom’s architecture and functionality that can really convert it into a new place.

Cabinets can be repainted and new hardware installed

You can change your vanity into the centerpiece of the room by painting it a new color and adding new hardware. For a relatively low price, you can get your vanity replaced if it is in bad enough condition to be repainted.

Remodel the Extra Rooms in Your House

There are additional ways to save money while redesigning your living room. In addition to painting a room, there are additional low-cost initiatives that can help revive an old area.

Make your space seem more spacious

It’s possible to give your home a new appearance and feel by removing a wall between rooms by utilizing services offered by home renovation experts. Determine whether or not the wall you want to destroy is load-bearing before beginning the demolition process. The cost of a non-load-bearing wall is low. But if the wall is critical to the stability of your house, you can choose to forgo this project.

Adding New Flooring to Your Home

Determine if your living room’s hardwood flooring can be saved by looking at the photos below. In most cases, you can simply remove the carpet and install your own hardwood flooring for a fraction of the expense of hiring a professional.

Conclusion

There are many ways to transform the appearance and feel of your house on a budget, including rearranging your furniture, increasing the amount of usable space, and many more. We tried to include easy to expert-level ideas to renovate the home. It’s important to remember that, a piece of expert advice is always an advantage. Reach to us and get home automation quotes, to make house space the best place in the world.

Source By: This article has been originally published on allquotes.ca

[rgr-pop]

since things are rolling again, I’m gonna list some kitchen “renovation” budgeting stuff like I promised I’d do ages ago. costs of making a nicer kitchen are behind this cut!!

here are the things we’ve spent money on to make our kitchen usable and liveable (and beautiful), not all of which were conceptualized as part of this “remodel,” which started in the summer of 2016. I have receipts for most things but truly am just going from memory so we’ll see.

we have never saved up for anything in a large sum, rather we bought big ticket items when a good sale coincided with a cushier month, so we have paid for things in chunks and then installed them as we’ve been able to. about half of the cabinets and the dishwasher came out of the extremely modest money my mother “left” for me (befriended a life insurance salesman who gave her a small policy that she should not have been permitted, lol.) hashtag money diaries lol

I also want to say that we’re not throwing out a ton, and almost everything we are getting rid of is basically extremely unfunctional/making my life a living hell. When it comes to appliances and stuff like that, I'm not willing to replace things that still work. I’m not trying to preach but I also absolutely do not want to contribute to a mood of wastefulness or aesthetic obsolescence. I live in an old house that was a rental for most of the twentieth century, this kitchen was on the very low end of “usable.” Most of the things that I am getting that I wanted versus needed were things that the kitchen didn’t already have. 

While nothing here is at all expensive for what it is, none of it is the cheapest, either. In almost every case, unless it’s an actual emergency, I’m not going to buy anything that’s not exactly what I want and need, which has meant mostly just waiting fucking years to find anything, lol. I can’t change!

cabinets:  I tore out the barely-functioning base cabinet we had in order to make room for a dishwasher, but kept the old steel sink base cabinet, and picked out ikea cabinets to “match” it. this has been an adventure, and like all old house shit, requires a ton of...innovation. it would have saved us a lot of grief to let it go but I couldn’t, and I will not apologize. we’re also getting rid of a wall cabinet that currently sits above the stove to hold the microwave and ninety years of grease, and moving the microwave to the pantry. we’re tearing down the wall cabinet above the counter, which is actually just shelving that had at some point been “enclosed” with “drawer fronts” (boards on hinges). 

in all, we replaced these things with a fifteen inch ikea base cabinet including four drawers, which has been installed, and a thirty inch wall cabinet with shelving and very few bells and whistles, which has not been installed. I think the base was around $200, but I believe I paid quite a bit more on top of that for soft close dampers, but I can’t figure out how much that was! included in that cost were the extendable, more expensive drawers, and mid-range drawer fronts, so you could definitely pay quite a bit less if you choose different options. I wouldn’t get the soft close drawers again but Lucas likes them so they’re fine, but I would definitely recommend the more expensive drawer option for stability and to maximize your space. As for the drawer fronts, I actually kiiind of wish I had gotten the more expensive high gloss white because I just really like them and the ones we got don’t match the steel cabinet as well as I was expecting, but I’m going to live with it for a while and see how I feel. The wall cabinet was around $150, including the panel that goes on the exposed edge of the thing. We also got a stainless steel toe kick, which I believe was $20 and was a big impulse because we could have made our own* I just wanted it and its convenience! I’ll throw that into an “extras” category that includes the suspension rod, drawer hardware template, hinges and shit that I can’t remember if it was included in the base cost, and we’ll call that another $100 to be safe.

*to accommodate the old steel cabinet and extra heavy countertop, there is a tiny bit of extra framing on the base cabinet that will need to be covered by another, parallel aluminum strip, which will cost us like... a small fraction of the cost of the toe kick.

I also have spent a good deal of money on organization pieces for those drawers, because I needed to maximize having only that fifteen inches for storage, and because we all know that’s where ikea excels anyway. This is very much nothing more than “live your best life” bullshit but I have pretty strong and learn-ed feelings about how you should consider choosing interior organization bullshit in a sea of organizational bullshit if you ever wanna hear ‘em! But I ended up with flatware dividers, a similar divider for small utensils, a nice set of dividers for organizing knives, a large clip-in drawer divider and glass drawer sides, and that cost me a good $50 over the course of two years, but I think my setup is reaaaally efficient, easy, clean, comfortable and safe! I want to eventually plan the interior of the under-sink steel cabinet in a similar way, really for my own satisfaction, but that is not a priority yet and I haven’t priced anything out or planned it.

I have not bought hardware for the cabinets yet, but I have “budgeted” $40 to source (probably, I’m thinking of changing my mind) the same chrome handles that the steel cabinet had, to put on all the new cabinets and replace the old ceramic hardware on the hoosier cabinet.

the hoosier cabinet! even though I bought this before I thought I’d be doing anything at all to the kitchen, it’s going to be doing a lot of work (going against a wall whose corner is too narrow to have any built-in cabinets), so I should include it. I can’t really remember but I think I paid... let’s say $160. I think it was less than that but we’ll go with that. Very little money has gone into making it nicer, just work.

I will throw in our pantry wire shelving too, while I’m here, even though we also bought that before. I would die for it. I think? it cost about $100.

So all in, cabinetry and storage is looking like a total of $800, but some of that is actually just furniture.

counter:  We’re pretty much all in for $300, which is unbelievable. It’s something I never could have begun to imagine, how expensive any counters are. The majority of that is actually labor, because we paid movers to help install it. (It’s 200 pounds and could break if dropped.) The rest of the cost includes interior framing and mold framing, the nice cement and pigment (which we still have for future projects), some layout of tools (which we have for future projects), and that cost also includes a first try that failed! We could have cut that cost in half if we had friends to help us carry it! I really can’t believe it!

appliances: The fridge and beautiful gas stove are staying. I bought a dishwasher for $400. It’s installed. We recently bought a range hood (!) on a really good sale (it’s nice), but we both already forgot if it was $300 or $400, let’s round up to $400. Installing it is the next step, and we haven’t bought the ductwork (although it’s traveling a short distance) or anything, and he needs to buy a tool that punches circle holes in the wall. I feel optimistically we can install it, then, for another $100. This installation is also going to involve a lot of wiring, and we’re moving a gas line at the same time so we can move the stove, so we’ll see. Unfortunately we also have to get a new sink because the one we have, which I was planning on keeping, was a casualty, and we have a narrower selection of options because of the thickness of the counter, it’s this whole deal, but the good news is we’re at least basically upgrading to a nicer and cooler sink? $200 and that is wishfully including a new faucet (which I’m not going to get for a long time anyway because it’s not as urgent), and any extra plumbing costs. So we’ll say $1000 in appliances which I still fucking hate to even conceptualize :|. But these two things are huge huge huge huge quality of life improvements for me, because of how much my... brain patterns... about kitchen cleanliness... were actually unhinging me entirely... and also oh my god? People don’t spend hours doing dishes????

In the next year I’d love to also buy an entry-level juice bitch juicer and a burr grinder, but I don’t know if I will, and I would LOVE a nicer toaster, which I might ask for for christmas hashtag money diaries

So we’re about $2200 in and have paid for most of the worst of it, and all of the above are all the parts that make the kitchen run. Everything henceforth is speculative.

floor: I’ve finally found something I can almost commit to, but this is going to be one of the last things. We’re going to do the kitchen, pantry, and the landing to the basement, and I am expecting complications, but I believe we can do it for under $400. I’ve never done it before though, so this might be super optimistic! Or Way over! I dunno! I can definitely settle for cheaper-per-square-foot tile, and think I have found some I love, but I want this to be very beautiful overall. The vinyl we have can definitely get us through for a while.

lighting:

I’ve figured out what I’m looking for, but haven’t figured out where to find it yet. I am imagining a budget higher than this needs to be, just because I’d love something extra nice and beautiful, so I’m going with $100.

walls, backsplash, finishing and ceiling:

I’m just doing porcelain grid here, so the cost per unit will be low, but... I wanna tile a LOT of area. Like instead of just the backsplash behind the counter, maybe... the entire wall behind the counter? Like a whole fucking wall??? I have tile madness. This is very nearly the last thing, so I may talk some sense into myself. But I REALLY wanna. I’m reasonably sure I can cover that in tile for like $35 and I could save money by using the same grout I use for the floor, but who knows. I need a backsplace, possibly to entirely re-trim the window on that wall (or at least fix it up), to address and replace some wonky molding around the door ways, and possibly install tile baseboards or something need like that, plus some aluminum trim here and there around the steel cabinet, something for a stove backsplash (possibly handmade metal) and some handmade hooks and things, we’ll paint, finesse the ceiling, and I’m betting you we can do all of this for $200. There is one final thing. when the stove is in its new spot, I want a narrow kitchen cart/butcher block to fill the gap next to it. We’ve looked at some retail and they’re all cheap and nearly never combine an enclosed drawer (for optimal spice storage) with a wire rack base, so we’ve planned a way to “make” (combine parts into) the perfect one, and this will not cost us $200, probably.

and then I secretly kinda wanna make some curtains out of feed sacks....

:)

[signaturekitchenandbath-blog]

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling

It is important that you look for kitchen remodeling ideas before you get started on a project. You will want to know that you are doing what is right in your home, and that your kitchen will turn out looking amazing. And in order for you to know both of those things, you are going to have to do your research and to get everything ready to go beforehand. You should look at all of the inspiration that you can find, and then you should put together a list of the features that you would like to see in your kitchen.

Consider the appliances that you would like to have put in. Are stainless steel appliances a must, or would you rather go with something different? What color counter tops would you like to see put in there? Are you someone who loves tile flooring, or would you rather go with something else? There are so many decisions for you to make for your kitchen, and every one of them is important. From the bigger choices to the smaller ones, such as what kinds of knobs you would like to have on your cabinets, you are going to need to know that you are making all of the right choices.Take a look at as many different kitchens as you can. Look online and put together a collection of photos that you find inspiration from. Do whatever it takes to gather some inspiration for yourself, and then get started figuring out what you really love. Another good thing for you to do beyond looking at photos of other kitchens is to talk with your friends and family members. See what they like most in their own kitchens, and what they wish that they had. By talking with others  like Signature Kitchen and Bath | Arizona's Premier Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Company , you will be able to make some good decisions for your kitchen.

A kitchen remodel is such a big deal, and you are going to want to go into this feeling fully prepared for all that you will be doing. You will want to know what you will be doing for everything that needs to take place, so that the kitchen can turn out looking just as good as you want it to. You will want to figure out all of the details before you have someone come in to work on things for you, so that everything can get done as quickly as possible. There are many advantages to figuring everything out ahead of time.

Wouldn't you be in kitchen and bath heaven if your family and visitors saw your newest home remodeling idea and offered a rather loud oohs and aahs shoutout? Of course you would. Well, its not beyond the reality of any homeowner if you put your mind to it and draw a wheelbarrow full of inspiration from locations and other cultures around the world. In this day and age, any homeowner is surely aware that the bathrooms and kitchen areas are the most visited places in any home. The kitchen is the hangout place and the bathroom needs no introduction to any person with a dab of common sense. Okay, now that you are in step with the fact that the case has been made about the kitchen being the so called "heart" of the home for more reasons than one, let's set aside the obvious suspects in the kitchen that most folks attack first when it comes to a kitchen remodeling. You know items like shelves, cupboards, knobs, colors, tile, flooring and so on. 

All that said what most people fail to consider in a remodel is the one place that, for the most part, gets no respect - the SINK! Ergo, that brings up another serious question which is: "what do you know or need to know about the kitchen sink?" Well, to begin with, the sink is where most people prepare foods, clean their hands, for sure scrub dishes and other "hard to clean" objects. Also, for some homeowners, your sink can be the one item that needs updating in any kitchen remodeling project. Especially if you haven't installed a new sink in your kitchen since George Bush was president, here is how you can really improve and refresh your kitchen and start getting some oohs and aahs.

Oh, another thing to keep in mind is when it comes to style, a traditional sink is still the most popular for a family. On the other hand, if the kids have left the scene leaving just the older adults, you might want to consider a more contemporary style sink. So, here is the good and not so good about new kitchen sinks:

* The top-mount sink is the easiest to install but cleaning can often be a challenge.

* The under-mount sink is great and cleans easily, but a pain to take out and replace.

* If you wash a lot of large dishes and pots the single-bowl works, but uses a lot of water.

* A double-bowl gets most of the applause (one bowl to wash and one for drying) but it takes more water, too.

* Don't forget your kitchen "butcher block." It not only adds charm to your kitchen but they are actually quite functional. Plus they clean easily just using a dab of water and soap. 

A Bathroom Remodel Takes The Center Stage!

The kitchen may be the spot where most friends and families congregate, but the bathroom is a necessity. Kids and dad may be able to survive with just one bath, but the lady or ladies of the house, prefer at the very minimum, two bathrooms. Two or more bathrooms are also an excellent sales pitch when selling your home. The usual suspects in most homes would be a small bathroom near a hallway that kids and visitors use, and the master bathroom is for the older adults. However, when planning a small bathroom remodel the question before the house of common sense is where to put everything that's needed; especially the sink and toilet. Most thoughts of homeowners is they have two options. A pedestal sink or a more European design where the sink and cabinet attaches to the wall. You won't have any trouble finding what you want because manufacturers design these sink and cabinet combinations especially for smaller bathrooms.

The pedestal sink can be attractive plus free up space. On the other hand these type of sinks eat up a lot of space and loose a lot of storage options. Of course, you could always shop around at some unique stores in town where you can buy some small baskets or build some clever shelves or cabinets in the bathroom to help eliminate the space conundrum. Another option and popular style for small bathrooms is adding a vanity. These days vanity cabinets are available in marble, granite and even custom wood designs that don't cost an arm and leg. One other place to find more space in a small bathroom is, of course, the bathroom wall; yikes - bet you never thought of that, huh!

Continuing on the subject of small bathrooms, in your remodeling process, would be the bathtub and door. Ergo, maybe it's time to dump the tub and simply make the shower area look like in arrived from outer space. Look, folks, the fact is most kids don't take baths and neither will any visitors. Unless it's in the master bathrooms, a small bathroom tub is a total waste of space. Let your contractor frame and tile the shower area (think: walls) and while the contractor is at it, have them build a shelf or small bench in the shower. Oh, don't forget some new lighting. A recessed light over the shower and a "three-bulb" light fixture to hang over your new vanity.

A Master Bath For 2015 And Beyond!

If you're a homeowner interested in the latest trends this section of kitchen & Bath remodeling will be right up your alley. The remedy of a master bath in your home will allow you to understand what the "top trends" are and by incorporating them into your own ideas, you can quickly increase your home's comfort, style and best of all, the value of your home. Speaking of value, several years ago a realtor in a major city wrote an article on why some home's never sell for months on end, while other homes are swept into the "sold" category in less than a month or two. The article targeted two things in your home: kitchen and bathrooms. It was said that in an "open house" the chances of a woman visiting the home was 95 percent; a man registered the remaining five percent. Also, if the home registers a plus from a street view, she will enter the home for a look. Guess where the first place she will investigate is located? Yep, the kitchen. The second place will be the bathroom(s). While making her quick inspection of those two places, if she likes what she sees, you have a sale working in your favor. If the bathrooms and kitchen area and appliances are dated from the 1950's, she will be gone in less than five minutes.

Most folks who own a home want modern designs in the bathrooms and kitchen areas if they can afford it. A cold or calculated master bath should not be on your agenda, but the remedy doesn't need to be expensive if you give it some thought. Renovated master baths are currently not only a hot item, they're in demand. And if your remodel approach is on the right path, a renovated master bath can provide one of the highest rates of return on investment. It has also been suggested that just a midrange remodel job recoups upwards of over 71 percent during a resale. One of the latest trends in a master bath is making it into a "spa-like" retreat with modern technology like allowing programmable water features and designing with organic textures like bamboo, cotton and marble. Yet, even after all these items that have been mentioned, one classic option is still trending: modern subway tiles. These tiles come in various colors like cobalt blue, slate gray and winter white. Caution: this type of master bath remodeling may have the users (msn or woman) tied up for hours; maybe longer if they bring a portable TV with them.

Surprise! Clever Decorative Lighting Really Helps!

Since the kitchen is many times a very busy place in a home, lighting in your remodeling chore can be crucial. But you should be careful in your lighting choices since some people use the kitchen to socialize with friends and loved ones, so you might want to consider both ambient and task lighting. For ambient lighting consider a chandelier. Simply hang it over the dining area or, if you have one, the kitchen island. Task lighting should be brighter, so using pendants and recessed lights over areas you use a lot like counter-tops, the sink and stove. With just a few additions and tips from a source you trust, you'll soon have that elegant kitchen you've been thinking of.

In the master bath nothing will open up a space like new lighting. It's true that most old homes left a lot to be desired when it comes to lighting. For those of you who can remember, most all old homes never had a built-in light in the shower. Yes, we know that when your Uncle Fred finds out you plan to shine a light over the shower space, he might be quick to tell you he never had one. Yet, shining a light over that space can actually add depth to the bathroom and give the illusion it looks larger. Whether it's the master bath or that small bathroom down the hall, when it comes to lighting, you should also consider the wall color and tile selection; especially in a small bathroom. Classic subway tiles or ones that are oriented horizontally will work particularly in the shower.

Finally, when considering a total kitchen and bath remodeling job it might be worth your while to plan to do your homework before starting your project. You should also take pictures of your bathroom(s) and kitchen just the way they look when you leave for your appointment. Here is a checklist of what to do first BEFORE talking with any contractor:

* Be realistic about your budget. Two years ago the average cost of a bath remodel was about $18,500; kitchens were priced higher.

* Go online and check websites as well as magazines for designs and ideas. If you live in a city with showrooms and large retail outlets spend some time looking and pricing.

* Talk with any neighbors, family members or friends who have recently completed a remodel on their bathrooms and/or kitchen. Also, inquire on what contractor they used and if their project was finished on time, delayed and how the contractor handled any requested changes you needed.

* Get at least three "written" estimates that clearly define your project and ask what materials will be used.

* Make sure the contractor is accessible when needed.

* This question is important! Make sure the contractor you choose has the appropriate licenses and is properly bonded and insured - and make them prove it. Bathroom remodeling work often requires electrical and plumbing work which are two of the most often regulated trades. You certainly don't want your home to burn down or flood because a worker didn't know what he was doing.

* Always get multiple bids then check or ask for references. 

Note: The following information is about as close as possible but should be considered. For most all bathroom remodeling jobs, you can expect to pay a little over 10 percent or more of the total project amount as a deposit. However, never pay more than one third of the total cost as a down payment, and never, ever pay the deposit in CASH! Use a check or credit card. You should also be aware that when dealing with bathroom remodeling, some contractors will frequently find "hidden" problems that need to be addressed before the contractor can move forward. If you have a family member or friend who knows anything about this particular problem, ask them to take a look to verify what the contractor is talking about. This could add an additional 10 percent to 20 percent to the project budget. Under these circumstances, there is not a whole lot you, the homeowner, can do about it since these headaches will surely pop up now and then - like it or not. 

In closing this kitchen and bathroom remodeling project article, any homeowner who has never experienced a project of this size should take into consideration what they can expect in terms of stress and having to move to a local motel along with family members and pets or moving in with mom and dad until the project is completed. The inconvenience time put on your family will certainly change any daily and evening routine everyone was used to; especially the bathrooms. You should also make plans for storing your own personal stuff and also know where the contractor will be storing his material. If you have a double garage, you can help the matter by parking cars on the street or at some neighbor's driveway and let the contractor use the garage facility for storage. If both the kitchen and bathrooms remodeling are started at the same time, you certainly won't be able to cook, use any bathroom facilities or sleep. So once you find out how long this imposition could possibly last, you can make plans in advance to east the strain and stress, and make things a bit more comfortable for all concerned. It might also be wise to know what the working hours of the construction crew are and if they will have a Portable Potty parked in the driveway. Most working crews begin in the early hours and end when the day is done.