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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 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!

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!

Kansas City Symphony Homes of Note Tour 2009

Kansas City Remodeling — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:23:33 +0000

Yep, it is that time of the year again for the annual Kansas City Symphony Guild Homes of Note Tour. This is the 35th year for this annual fundraiser – and they have selected 3 FABULOUS homes in the northland to feast your eyes on!

Homes of Note Tour 2009

Spanning 3 centuries of design you have the ability to tour the Vivian Farm Home (19th century), the Williams Home (20th century) and the Garney Condo at Ravello (21st century).

You can get all the details the Kansas City Symphony Guild site here… http://www.kcsymphonyguild.org/page/page/5857699.htm

Kansas City Kitchen Flooring Options

Kansas City Remodeling — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:22:17 +0000

Kansas City Kitchen Floor Options - Bamboo

Not so long ago you basically had two choices when it came time to select flooring for your kitchen. But today the kitchen flooring options are vast, in fact in can be a bit overwhelming!

First and foremost, it is important to not select your kitchen floor material on looks alone. Remember the use of your kitchen, most of the time spent in the kitchen is on your feet – and the choice of material you will be standing on can make it pleasurable or tiresome.

I would recommend that you narrow down your options then take a stroll thru the local flooring store in Kansas City. Don’t be afraid to kick your shoes off and give the different floor options a spin in your sock feet!

Here are a few of the various options for your new Kansas City kitchen floor:

Wood
This is no doubt one of the most popular choices today. Wood is warm to your feet, easy on the legs and is one of the quietest flooring options for your kitchen. If your worried about scratches, just remember that you can always refinish it down the road.

Laminate
If you want the look of a wood floor, but would rather not have to deal with scratches, careful care and refinishing – the new laminate wood floors are appealing. The downside is that these systems seem to lack the warmth that you typically associate with wood, and some people find it noisy.

Ceramic Tile
There are many options when it comes to designing a floor for your cooking space. While tile may be easy to keep clean, the grout between the tile is another story. I would recommend keeping the grout color as dark as possible to avoid a difficult cleaning chore. Tile is hard on your legs, and can be very noisy in a large kitchen.

Vinyl
If your on a budget for your remodel, vinyl is hard to beat. Either the vinyl sheet goods or peel and stick tiles come in an endless array of colors. The biggest drawback to vinyl flooring is that sometimes the edges can curl.

Green Options
It is no secret that the “green movement” is here to stay – and you even how green choices for your kitchen flooring! Some of the most popular “green” choices are linoleum (yes the stuff popular in the 50’s) and bamboo.

Of course, as with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of flooring. You must weigh the pluses and minues and make your selection that best fits your desires.