Kansas City Remodeling - KC Remodel News

How Much To Spend Remodeling Your Kansas City Home

Kansas City Remodeling — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:34:33 +0000

It is no secret that remodeling your Kansas City home will increase its value and function. However, you need to proceed with caution, as it is very easy to spend too much money on a home renovation project – and there’s no promise that you’ll be able to recoup the cash when you are ready to sell.

How much should you spend on a Kansas City home remodel project? It is important to look at some key factors that will help you make this decision.

Determine the areas of your home that need the most improvement

To get the most bang for your buck, you can focus on simple, yet long lasting repairs that will give you the highest returns when you sell your house. The rooms that give the best bang for the buck are often bathrooms and the kitchen. Newly renovated cooking areas, countertops and cabinets will attract the homebuyers and add credibility to a higher asking price than the comps.

Consider home values in the neighborhood

Most home buyers will typically pay more for homes that are move-in ready, but typically not more than fair market value. So be sure that you don’t over do it with your remodeling compared to homes in your neighborhood.

Determine how much it will cost

You should get estimates from 2 or 3 reputable remodeling contractors in Kansas City. Always add about 10 percent to cover changes that you will inevitably make along the way so that you have a more accurate price.

Have your house inspected before you start

It is important to have the inspector look at things like the heating and air system, and do complete termite inspection. Before you spend money on remodeling, it is always a good idea to make sure you don’t have anything major wrong structurally or otherwise with your home.

Consult your real estate agent

Your agent will be able to give you “comps” from your neighborhood. In other words what have comparable homes sold for that are near yours. Discuss the improvements you plan to make and share the anticipated cost with them to get thier professional advice on your ideas.

Before you start any major renovation on your house, try to determine if it makes sense to your wallet and time investment required. A well thought out plan will pay off when it comes time to sell!

Kansas City Home Improvement Green Options

Kansas City Remodeling — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:38:24 +0000

As we all know energy prices continue to soar so more and more people are trying to find ways to save money. There is also a growing network of people that want to lower the impact they are having on the Earth. There are actually several home improvement projects the Kansas City homeowner can consider that will accomplish both of these goals.

Here are some simple savers…

If the budget is tight and you don’t want to get a loan to help with your Kansas City home improvement projects there are a few things that cost little but have a nice impact on lowering your energy bills. For example, you can install additional attic insulation that can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 20 percent. The same thing could be done in your basement or crawlspace. A glass storm door installed oustside your main entry door is another energy saver. Of course installing some compact fluorescent bulbs is a very quick and simple way to lower your energy bills.

While the energy bill for your heating and electric are the commonly thought of bills, don’t forget about your water bill. You can save up to $32 a year by installing a simple high efficiency showerhead in your showers.

Larger Projects To Save Even More

Replacement windows – This can be a huge energy saver! If you hae old drafty windows they are literally sucking the heat or cold out of your home. New windows have better seals and most have at least two layers of glass, some have 3 layers of glass in a sealed unit.

Tankless water heater – The average household spends about 20 percent of its money used for energy each year on heating water. The beauty of a tankless system is that it heats the water instantly, so you don’t have to heat large amounts of water to just sit in the tank. - Plus you NEVER run out of hot water!

Having an energy efficient home in Kansas City, with a bit of remodeling, can be as expensive or affordable as you choose. Even doing the little things can help you reduce your energ consumption, and reduce the impact you and your family have on the planet.

Kansas City Remodeling Show – Save the Date!

Kansas City Remodeling — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:45:20 +0000

The Kansas City Remodeling show is just a few months away as I write this, so you better get it on the calendar now before your sweetheart plans something else for you – yes the show is on Valentines Day!

The 2010 Kansas City Remodeling Show will run from February 12-14 at The American Royal Center.

The Remodeling Show is Kansas City’s only consumer show dedicated to the remodeling and home improvement industries. For more than twenty years, hundreds of thousands of consumers have shopped the Remodeling Show for the leading contractors, product suppliers and home service providers. With a focus on quality, variety, and the newest products and services, the Remodeling Show targets project-minded consumers who wish to enhance their homes, living environments and lifestyles. More than 300 exhibitors will offer the latest products, services and ideas for turning a house into the home you have always wanted. See why the Kansas City Remodeling Show is the number one show homeowners trust to bring their ideas to life.

I can’t wait for the show this year for a couple of reasons. Fist, I am really curious to see how the turnout is both on the exhibitor side and the home owner side of the coin. I think it will say a lot about where the current economy is heading in 2010.

But more importantly I am looking forward to wondering the floor with my Flip Video camera and doing some interviews with some of Kansas Cities Finest Remodelers as well as bringing you some amazing new products and ideas!

Lord willing you will find me wandering around the Kansas City Remodeling Show camera in hand and having a ball!

How to Hire a Kansas City Interior Designer

Kansas City Remodeling — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:23:09 +0000

Choosing a Kansas City Interior Designer

The first question you ask yourself once you made the decision to start a remodeling project on your Kansas City home is typically….

How do I hire an interior designer for my remodel project?

After you have expended almost all your decision making ability just to decide to get going on your project, now you are faced with this difficult question along with many others. Who will I hire to do the work? Do you need building permits? How do you know who to trust? Who can help lead you through this crazy remodeling process?

Bottom line, you need a designer. Not just someone who is a contract, but you really need a great designer. This person will ask you all the right quetions in the beginning, so that at the end of the project you will not have regrets. A good designer will create a plan based on your lifestyle and vision of the project. From the scope to the budget and timeline the right designer will lead you down the path to success.

The best part is that good designwill actually save you money. It will save you money on your remodeling project because all the decisions will be made, thoughtfully, before you even talk to a contractor.

So how do you choose the right Kansas City designer? Get ready to ask questions – lots and lots of questions – of everyone you know who is happy or not so happy with their past remodeling project. You can ask contractors, Realtors, friends and other contacts if they can recommend an interior designer.

Be sure to interview a few different designers. Hiring someone is as much about how you “click” with them as it is about their portfolio – after all you will be spending the next several months with them!

The money you invest in the designer for your remodeling project is as important as the actual cost of getting the project completed. If you work as a team with your designer YOUR vision will be realized, and you can look forward to living in your new space for a long time!

Kansas City Remodel Featured on HGTV

Kansas City Remodeling — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:09:24 +0000

So today I was reading the Kansas City Star and drinking a nice cup of coffee (made in my french press!) and I had HGTV on the TV in the background. The show was called “Hidden Potential”. The theme of the show is that a couple is looking to purchase a home, and this designer shows them everything that can be remodeled in a home to make it they way the like it.

The couple on this episode wanted to purchase a new home, but they wanted to be able to remodel it to take advantage of some natural heating – like mass walls, etc. The designer on the show actually knew her eco-friendly design pretty well - enough to impress this architect!

At some point during the show it was mentioned that they wanted a house in the Shawnee Mission school district. Those of you from the KC Metro area are no doubt famiiar with this school district out in Johnson County.

So here is my question… Does anyone out there reading this post know this couple? I would love to find out if they purchased and did the remodeling suggested by the design consultant. If I can find them I might even see if they would be interested in doing an interview with me for the blog.

Leave me a comment or contact me with my contact form if you know this couple!

Kansas City Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Kansas City Remodeling — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:56:07 +0000

For most Kansas City residents, remodeling the bathroom ranks right up there with remodeling the kitchen. This is partyly because it increases your homes value, but also because we are pampering ourselves more, especially in these tough economic times. Because of this we are creating baths that are at their core private retreats.

Bathroom interior design today combines stone, tile, metal, wood and glass for a very “spa like” luxurious look. There are so many different fixtures and finishes that you can choose from that you can spend a bundle or a little as you choose.

It is important to really sit down and think about what things are most important to you before you start your remodeling project. Quality and personal satisfaction – along with your budget – will no doubt impact the final design.

Here are some of the popular trends to get your creative juices flowing when you start thinking about your bath remodel:

Increasing the size of the bathroom for the things you want: furniture, airy walk-in showers, soaker tub.
Getting rid of noisy jacuzzi tubs and replacing it with a free standing cast iron soaker tub which retains the heat longer than fiberglass.
Private toilet: many prefer a seperate room for the toilet in the master bathroom, or at a minimum a privacy wall.
Many people now are thinking outside the box and increasing the entertainment value of the bathroom by installing flat screen TVs, music, lounge chairs and even small refrigerators!
Combining different materials in the final finishes: wood and stone, glass and chrome – glass tile being the most desired because of the beautiful glow it gives off.

Bathroom fixture manufacturers are really pushing the limits of design today as homeowners are willing to spend the bucks to get the retreat they want in their master bathrooms in Kansas City - the possibilities are endless. Have fun!

Green vs. Beauty? Beauty Wins!

Kansas City Remodeling — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:17:03 +0000

So is the whole “green movement” in remodeling more about feeling good than reality? Turns out most consumers would choose project that add beauty to their home instead of choosing projects that improve the energy performance of their home.

The Shelton Group just completed thier fifth annual Energy Pulse survey that asked participants how they would spend $10,000 for home improvements, give a limited number of options. The results found that most homeowners prefer projects that beautify over installing products that increase the energy efficiency of the home.

Of the 504 Americans surveyed, 37 percent would refinish the kitchen or bathroom, and another 33 percent would replace carpet or add hardwood floors.

What is even more interesting is that when asked how much their bills would have to increase before they started purchasing efficient products, the average amount was $129 per month.

I find this fascinating! Everyday we are told how everyone is going green, but the reality is that there is still a big gap between what people talk about, and what they are willing to do – also known as the “apathy gap”.

So I’m curious…what would you folks out there in Kansas City do with $10,000? What remodeling projects would you choose? Put your thoughts in a comment below!

Remodel in a Shaky Housing Market?

Kansas City Remodeling — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:05:41 +0000

Even though remodeling contractors are seeing the phones start to ring again, it is no secret that right now you can get a great deal on that remodel project you have been thinking about.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that in some parts of the country contractors are discounting the price for a remodel project by up to 20% !

But is the the right time to spend your hard earned cash on upgrading your home, especially in this turbulent housing market?

The experts say yes! Remodeling your house makes the most sense if you are a homeowner that plansto stick around for a while. Some homeowners would like to “move up”, but because of the current economy just can’t swing it, so they are staying put and upgrading their current home.

It is important to keep in mind that most projects cost more than you will get when you sell your home. A survey by Remodeling Magazine showed that $61,000 spent refinishing a basement added only $44,500 to the resale value of the home.

In fact the survey included a couple dozen projects and the typical return on the investment was consistently about 73%.

But as you know, it is hard to put a value on your happiness and the added enjoyment you will get out of your home!

Remodeling is Rebounding in Kansas City

Kansas City Remodeling — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:53:33 +0000

Finally a bit of good news on the economic front! Remodeling companies are seeing a slight uptick in calls for bids. The downside appears to be that financing is still tough, and is making it tough for homeowners to secure the funds necessary to get the job done.

“Some remodelers are receiving more calls for bids, but it is still extremely difficult to close a sale,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Greg Miedema, CGR, CGB, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Tucson, Ariz. “Financing continues to be an impediment with many home owners not able to secure home equity loans or other lines of credit.” – from the Real Estate Channel

Even with the tough financial markets, any rise in the amount of “new calls” is good news for those of us in the contruction and remodeling industry in Kansas City!

Gutters & Downspouts – Keep That Water Away!

Kansas City Remodeling — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:26:28 +0000

Clogged Gutters - a Kansas City homeowners worst enemy!

Here in Kansas City most of our homes have gutters and downspouts to capture and direct the water away from our home. Gutters are the troughs along the roofline that collect the water from the roof, and the downspouts carry the water down the side of the home and into the yard.

Because of the low slope of the gutters, some attention needs to be given to them to keep them working well.

Here are some maintenance suggestions to keep the water moving:

Clean out your gutters and downspouts in the spring and fall. Typically you can just take a garden hose and flush them out with some water. Be sure and get all the dirt moving and flushed away.
Sometimes the elbows – where the downspouts bend – can become clogged with dirt and leaves. Be sure to clear any obstructions.
Check for any leaks at the joints and end caps. Apply new sealant to these joints as needed to keep them from leaking.
Be sure that ALL the water is being directed away from your foundation. You may have to put on extenders or longer splash blocks to get the water far enough away.
If you have a lot of leaves that clog your guttering, you might consider installing one of the “caps” like Gutter Helmet that is sold here locally in Kansas City. These allow for the water to easily enter your gutter from the roof, but keep the leaves out!

With some simple yearly maintenance, you can keep the water flowing quickly away from your home.