There are few projects that are more exciting and potentially more frustrating and stressful than a home remodeling project. If you’re like most of us, you have a very personal connection to your home. This is where you have probably lived for years, possibly raised children in, and created a life for yourself and your family. When your home no longer really works for your needs or when you decide it just needs a few upgrades to make it more attractive and livable, it’s a big decision and one that should be properly planned out. Home remodeling projects can entail months of work and thousands of dollars, so it’s important to do the right planning and work with the right people to help ensure that the end product is everything you wanted it to be.
Remodeling vs. Moving
–Remodeling your home allows you to customize it to your exact needs. The only other, much more costly, option is to build your own home.
–Remodeling allows you to stay in your own home and close to schools, friends, jobs and neighbors that you have grown accustomed to.
–Remodeling eliminates the need for putting your home up for sale, holding open houses and going through the stressful process of trying to sell your home.
–Remodeling can be done little by little, as your budget allows. Moving to a new home incurs many up-front costs (especially if you are upgrading to a much more expensive home), but you can do remodeling projects periodically depending on your available funding. A roof repair can be done one year, a bathroom remodel the next and an addition in the future once you’ve saved up the money to cover the cost.
Trends in Home Remodeling
Although some (or even most) trends will not be right for your remodeling project, knowing what is taking place in the industry and what others are doing can spark ideas for your own remodel. Here are a few that our experts told us about.
Energy Reduction According to Bo Jones with Tru-Built Construction, updating the insulation in an older home is a must and something that people are really beginning to understand and add to their projects. There will be no better time to increase the energy efficiency of a home than when it is under renovation. Simple items such as adding insulation to the attic and rim-joist areas are inexpensive and will increase the efficiency greatly. Even if you aren’t planning a remodel, these two items are worth looking into. If part of the remodel project involves new siding, then adding insulation as an underlayment to the siding is money well-spent. You should also look for Energy Star ratings on any new windows, doors, appliances, water heaters, heating and cooling systems and lighting.
Open Spaces Bo also states that combining two or more rooms or adding on to the home to make larger open spaces is a trend he has been seeing. Creating larger kitchens and great rooms are very popular.
Planning for the Future Many people are beginning to consider their futures and what they will do in retirement and after. Aging in place factors are worth considering during a remodel and often times down add a great deal in expense. Details such as wide hallways and doorways, larger bathrooms with space for a wheelchair and zero-entry showers with hand-held sprayers are all good ideas if this is on your radar.
Paint Trends “White woodwork is popular, coupled with warm gray/brown tones,” states Sandra Larsen with Larsen Painting. “Homeowners tend to prefer wide woodwork, which brings a feature from yesteryear up to today by painting it. Painting an accent wall is a great way to make the space fit personal taste while leaving the rest of the room neutral.”
Before You Begin
Before you begin your project, it’s important to get all your details in order.
Even before you consult a contractor, you can begin sketching out your ideas and imagining your remodeled home. If you are adding or expanding a room, think about how the space will be used and how the changes will affect traffic patterns. Also consider how new construction will affect the overall context of your home. An oversized addition may overwhelm your house or crowd a small lot. A simple home design software program can help you visualize your project.
One of the best ways to get inspiration and to avoid pitfalls is to follow the experiences of other homeowners. A number of web sites offer online chronicles of home improvement projects, along with reply forms, message boards, and chat rooms that let you ask questions and get feedback.
Although you may dream of having a spacious new addition, the project may not make sense if you plan to sell your house in a few years. A luxury bathroom can price your house beyond the values in your neighborhood. Some projects, such as vinyl siding on a Queen Anne Victorian, will actually decrease the value of your home. Moreover, your own family’s needs may be very different in a few years. Will the plans you draw today fit your future?
The budget is also extremely important as you don’t want to make plans, contact professionals and begin work only to run out of money a month down the line and only halfway through your project. The time to plan your budget is before the remodeling process even begins. Sit down with your spouse and possibly your banker (if you need to take out a loan or move money from one account to another) and figure out exactly what you can afford. The goal is to improve your home within your means, not completely stress over a huge project that gets out of control and puts you in debt for years to come.
Types of Remodeling Projects
“There are three categories in my mind of home improvement projects,” states Sandra Larsen with Larsen Painting. “Taste-specific, value-added and home maintenance. Kitchens and baths are always a good place to invest. Keep in mind, real estate is a long-term investment and so are the home improvements you do. Keeping exterior woods protected with an attractive coat of high quality paint or stained finish preserves your home’s value.” Here are some more ideas for these categories:
Taste-specific If you plan on remaining in your home for some time, you can consider projects that are done to fit your specific tastes. These can include different room colors, special features like pools or hot tubs, interesting materials that appeal to you like granite, marble or woods and hobby rooms that fit what you and your family like to do in your spare time. You don’t have to give a lot of thought to how this will affect re-sale value or how prospective home buyers will view these remodels if you are planning to remain in your home.
Value-added Is selling your home on the horizon for you and your family? Whether this is a year down the road or five to ten years away, you should put some thought into what will add value to the home and what will appeal to a wide range of people. Value-added remodels often include upgrades and updates (yes, it’s finally time for that orange shag carpet and green appliances to go), opening up of rooms to make larger spaces, completing basements to make them into livable space and outdoor projects like adding vinyl siding or taking out trees and bushes that are clogging up your yard.
Home Maintenance Home maintenance projects are important whether you are planning to remain in the home or planning to sell in the future. These are projects that may not be overly glamorous but that are necessary for the safety and efficiency of the home. They include repairing anything that is broken, replacing anything that is worn out or outdated and upgrading to higher efficiency appliances and heating/cooling equipment.
Ideas for Remodeling Projects
You probably already have some ideas on the projects you’d like to accomplish during your remodel. If you need some other ideas, consider the following:
Landscaping “Landscaping can help make a dull house feel more like an exciting home by adding curb appeal, finishing touches to the house and property and create outdoor living spaces that enhance the enjoyment of the home and its lasting memories,” states Ken Svoboda with Ray’s Lawn & Home Care. “Much like the interior of the home is furnished with comfortable furniture, wall hangings, accessories and other personal touches, the outside of your home should also express your personality.”
Sometimes it’s not about adding a great deal to your landscape, but about fixing problems that already exist. “Generally speaking, the biggest problem occurs when a lawn or landscape is out of control,” explains Ken. “If regular maintenance isn’t so regular, the lawn can become full of weeds and undesirables and the trees and shrubbery can be overtaken with weeds and growth. Routine maintenance is important. Renovation due to neglect can be costly and damage to the home’s siding and exterior often occurs when trees and shrubbery are able to grow uncontrolled.”
Taking care of your own lawn can be a time-intensive process. “Maintaining your lawn is a weekly event in Nebraska from early April to the end of October,” Ken says. “Applying the various fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides is a more monthly event throughout the summer. Landscapes should be maintained as often as necessary depending on the type of landscape you have. Most landscape customers we have recently are moving to a more low maintenance landscape with fabric weed barriers and various rock ground cover. Most professional landscapers have the knowledge and experience that a normal home owner does not. Though most home owners have internet access to research the proper landscape, there’s nothing like the face-to-face consultation. Professional landscapers can better judge the angle of the sun to recommend a planting that will thrive in specific areas of your property instead of just survive. All professional landscapers have made the mistakes that can sometimes be costly if left to the inexperience of do-it-yourselfers.”
Alarm Systems
Protecting your home and family should be on the top of your list and if you don’t currently have an alarm system, now is the time to consider installing one. “Security systems and camera systems allow home owners to sleep better at night knowing the home and their loved ones are safe,” says R.J. Lipert with AlarmLink USA. “It also protects their assets while they are away from home.
Camera systems allow only the owner to check in on the kids or aging parents while they are at work or out for the evening. If you add smoke detection to your system, it will even call 911 for you. There is also a medical alert button so 911 can be dispatched to the home with ease for children home alone. The system can save money on insurance as well as giving you peace of mind. Call us to come out and discuss options as we can design a system to meet your needs and budget.”
Adding Unique Items
Adding unique items, whether it is a kitchen backsplash, a piece of furniture or an amazing bathroom sink, is a great way to add individuality and interest to your home. Of course, you don’t want something that everyone else on your block has, so where do you go to find these unique items?
“We have a new business concept in Lincoln where we sell new and reclaimed home improvement products,” says Jody Strauch with Out of the Box. “We have high end products like designer lighting, faucets, reclaimed kitchen cabinets, incredible sinks, marble and granite stones, countertops, beautiful tiles and more. We also carry very unique interior and exterior pieces. Some of these items are new and some are pieces that we have collected over the last ten years to reuse in restoration projects. Most pieces are very unique and will make your home an expression of you. By selecting just a few pieces and adding them to your home, you can create a home that is definitely much more customized than your average home. Many of the pieces are one of a kind and many of the newer pieces have been taken from very high end homes that have been built recently or remodeled in the Vail and Aspen area. Customers can stop in our store and let us know of specific items that they are looking for and we would be happy to keep them in mind to look for specific items on our buying trips to Colorado. If we see something that may fit their needs, we can text them a picture of the item and bring it back to Nebraska so they can get specifically what they are looking for.”
Upgrading to More Efficient Appliances
Technology in energy efficiency improves every year. If you have not upgraded your appliances or heating/cooling equipment for a while, you’ll probably want to consider this in your remodeling project. More than likely, the money you save on your energy bills every month will pay for the project within a few years and you will be doing the environment a favor by saving energy. You might also want to consider upgrading lighting features as you can save a lot of money by having high efficiency, long-lasting bulbs.
Adding On
Has your home simply become too small for your needs? Maybe you’ve had a parent recently move in with you or an expected baby or foster child has joined your family. Or maybe you just find that you need more living room for your exiting family and their hobbies. If this is the case, you may be tempted to put your home on the market and start looking for a larger one. However, your family probably has roots in your current neighborhood and likely there are plenty of other things you love about your home. If this is the case and if you have the land to do so, adding on may be an option. If you are considering an add-on, it is essential that you work with a professional contractor who can assess your current home, see if it’s possible to add on another room (or rooms) and tell you the best way to go about it.
If adding on another traditional room is not possible, you can also consider turning a deck or patio into a sunroom or three season room, which can expand your living space without changing the actual structure of your home. You can also consider doing some work to your basement. If it’s not currently finished, finishing your basement can potentially not only add more living space, but also another bedroom (or bedrooms) and even another bathroom.
Refacing Cabinets
Whether you’re planning a simple kitchen spruce-up or a complete overhaul, deciding what to do about your cabinetry is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. New cabinets can take up nearly 50 percent of your total budget for a kitchen renovation, and functional cabinets can mean the difference between a kitchen that works and one that doesn’t. But what if you can’t afford to buy all-new cabinets with the latest storage features and styles?
Many homeowners today are saving money by “refacing” rather than completely replacing their existing kitchen cabinets.
There are three primary ways to reface cabinets:
1. Refinish or paint existing cabinet and drawer fronts.
2. Install new wood or laminate veneer over existing cabinet and drawer fronts.
3. Install completely new cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
In all three cases, new hardware such as hinges and pulls helps to complete the update. The interiors of the cabinets can also be sanded, painted or stained for a completely new look.
Fans of refacing say this mini-makeover can give a kitchen a whole new look at a much lower cost than installing all-new cabinets.
Advice for Remodeling Projects
Consider Getting a Roll-Off “The right tool makes the job easier,” says Steve Hatten with First Choice Roll-Offs. “No truer words were ever said when it comes to remodeling, demolition, roofing, decking or concrete removal and many other uses. When you can get your own convenient roll-off box put right where you need it and then call to have it removed, that’s the right tool for the job. We have three sizes (15, 20 and 30 cubic yards) from small to large containers so you will have the right size for your job. We also feature quality and timely service for a competitive price. We provide boxes for tree trimming and storm damage, roofing, moving and estate clean-outs, fire clean-ups, steel recycling, concrete recycling, remodeling, commercial and industrial applications and real estate foreclosures.”
Disposing of Materials “You can save money on the city landfill gate fee costs if you have a load of concrete, tree branches or dirt,” says Steve Hatten. “The city has several free concrete recycling facilities for your clean loads of concrete. The city landfill has reduced gate fees for tree and brush loads at $15.75/ton instead of $21.00/ton. The landfill construction debris gate fee for dirt and demolition is $4/ton when it meets their specifications.
Allow for Flexibility “It’s hard to know where to draw the line with some remodel projects,” points out Bo Jones with Tru-Built Construction. “If your plans include a specific room to be remodeled, you might want to allow for a little flexibility in the budget for overflow into adjoining rooms. Items such as new trim, ceiling texture, paint, and floor coverings are items that commonly extend beyond the one room. In the end you don’t want to end up with one brand new room and outdated rooms everywhere else.”
Consider Making Other Living Arrangements Remodeling your home while you are living there can be difficult, especially if your project is a large and disruptive one. Do you really want your family living in this environment, breathing in dust and debris and generally being miserable? Why not make some other living arrangements during the time of your remodeling project and avoid the hassle and possible danger of the construction process? If you have family nearby, consider staying with them for a few weeks while the worst of the project is being completed. You can also consider staying at an extended stay hotel or even renting an apartment that offers short-term leases while your project is being completed. Not only will you avoid living in the mess, but imagine how wonderful it would be to come back to your newly remodeled home!
See What’s Out There One of the best ways to find out what projects you want to include is to see what’s out there. Go to open houses or Parade of Homes in your area. If any of your friends, family or co-workers have remodeled, ask if you can come see the finished product (they’ll likely be excited to show it off). Look at home magazines. Talk to those in the industry. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you will be to choose the projects that are right for you and your family.
Don’t Forget the Little Things It’s always good to know if a small project will get the job done. For example, if you are unhappy with a certain room in your home, why not first try repainting it and seeing what change that makes before planning a complete and total redesign? Remember, you can always add to the project down the line if you decide that the small project was not enough. And sometimes you might realize that you only needed a small, inexpensive tweak to make your home more to your liking.
Celebrate the Completion You’ve put a lot into your remodeling project. Depending on the size and scope of it, it may have caused months (or even years) of work, hard-earned money and possibly even the displacement of your family for a period of time.
Although it’s a given that you and your family will be enjoying the changes for years to come, why not share it with more people? An open house is a great way to show people your new project and let them celebrate with you. After the last project has been completed (and all the clean-up has been done), invite friends, extended family and even co-workers over for a celebratory get-together.
Who to Work with
Unless your project only includes a little bit of painting and replacing of furniture, it will require the help of professionals. What types of professionals will you need to find? Here are the basics.
–Contractors. Contractors are normally used for larger projects, such as complete bathroom or kitchen remodels or deck building. Using a contractor is a good idea because they take on liability for the project and they also probably have much more experience and knowledge than you do. They will be able to tell you the correct way to go about your project, the best supplies to use and will produce a professional finished project.
–Interior Designer. A designer will draw up detailed plans to help you get a sense of the final product. We also help you with every selection on the project to make sure that all element works together. No matter what your budget, it is our job to use our resources to make it look like a million bucks!
–Landscaper. Don’t neglect the outside of your home when you’re making remodeling plans. Not only does a beautiful landscape add to the curb appeal of your home, but it also adds to your family’s enjoyment of the outdoors. Depending on the type of landscaper you work with, they can help with anything from keeping your lawn manicured and green to adding in decks or water features.
–Plumbers and Electricians. Any plumbing or electrical work should be done by a professional. Trying to do these projects on your own cannot only involve costly mistakes, but it can also be dangerous. These are not areas to cut corners on, so make sure you choose your professionals in these areas carefully.
–Specialists. The more specialized a business is, the more likely it is that they will be up to date on the latest trends, products and ideas in their industry. Window specialists, drapery specialist, paint specialists and roofing specialists are all beneficial to connect with if your remodeling project includes these areas.
Financing
Coming up with projects to fix up our homes is exciting and dreaming about how your home will look when the projects are finished is even more so. However, what isn’t so exciting is figuring out how you’re going to pay for it all. While it would be nice if we just had the money sitting in the bank, most of us are not in this situation. Does this mean your project needs to be put on hold until this does happen? If you want to get your project done now, you should consider talking to your financial institution about a home equity loan.
Before securing a loan, it’s important to do some planning and budgeting. Which projects really need to get done? What monthly loan payment will you be able to comfortably afford? It’s sometimes a good idea to come up with a wish list of projects you would like to accomplish and get some bids on what it will cost to complete each one. Rank them from highest to lowest on what you want or need done the most to mere ‘if we had extra money I’d like to do this…’. You can share this list with your loan professional so the two of you can develop a plan to get as much completed as possible within your budget.
Your home is a huge part of your life. It should be your sanctuary, your place to relax and unwind, where you share time with your family and a reflection of your lifestyle. It should also be functional, comfortable and should make you smile every time you walk in the door. Sometimes getting your home to this level takes a little bit of work, but you’ll find that everything you put into a home remodeling project you will get back—if you do it the right way. The key is to take the time to do the proper planning and budgeting and work with the right professionals to help you get the job done right.