Tag Archives: value

A room-by-room guide to remodeling for profit

“The bathroom is the most heavily criticized room in the house, yet often the smallest and costliest, and therefore the most neglected,” says Wesley Spencer, architect and director of Rara House.

“There are endless worries associated with an un-renovated bathroom. Are there plumbing issues? Is there rotting? Will the floor heights match after removal of the original fittings? These are the type of issues a new home owner would not be prepared to face if they are already mortgaged to the nines and require registered building professionals.”

A complete bathroom renovation can be between $15,000 and $50,000 depending on the room size and quality of finishes selected. However, as the bathroom encompasses several elements, renovations can be tailored to suit a vendor’s budget.

For a luxury property, Soderstrom suggests installing a combined wall-hung vanity unit and hand basin (costing between $1500 and $2500) and a new shower screen (between $1500 and $2000 for a 10mm frameless corner shower base screen).

“A large mirror or even a mirror on an opposing wall instead of tiles can make a small-to-medium-size bathroom feel so much bigger and brighter,” Soderstrom says.

For a high-end $40,000 to $50,000 bathroom renovation, Shrimpton estimates a minimum return of $80,000 to $100,000.

For a more restricted budget, modestly updating the tapware and storage space is a simple way to modernize the bathroom.

“Don’t go overboard with the fixtures … Not everybody needs a built in toilet brush holder and even if they did, having all these items built in takes the fun out of deciding where to put things,” Spencer says.

“People need an element of exploration and excitement when inspecting a home … don’t deprive them of that by dictating every small aspect at no benefit to you.”

read more at: http://www.domain.com.au/advice/a-roombyroom-guide-to-renovating-for-profit-20160329-gnqb1d/

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Improving the Kitchen in Small (or big) Ways

Remodeling a kitchen can be expensive and challenging, but you can make substantial cosmetic changes with just the help of a painter and electrician, says interior designer Betsy Burnham of Burnham Design in Los Angeles. And if you’re ready for even bigger changes, it’s still possible to stay on budget and create a gorgeous kitchen with a minimum of stress.

Will a kitchen remodel add value to your home?  Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

Step one is deciding what really needs to be done. Can you work with the appliances and cabinets you’ve got, or is it time for a full-scale remodel?

Step two is the budget, coming up with a realistic estimate for each expense, says designer Brian Patrick Flynn of Flynnside Out Productions.

STORAGE

A smoothly functioning kitchen has space for everything to be stored away, within reasonable reach. Can you achieve that with your current cabinets? If so, Flynn suggests keeping them and just replacing or refinishing the doors. “Cabinetry installation adds a lot to a budget,” he says, “so saving by simply reusing what you’ve got can be a massive help.”

read more at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/06/ask-a-designer-improving-the-kitchen-in-small-or/

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

10 Top Kitchen Remodeling Trends

The list below includes seven trends from the Houzz survey followed by three from the association. Some Orange County kitchen designers also weighed in, as well as residents who’ve managed to wrap up their renovations, as it turns out, just in time for the holidays.

Here’s what’s hot:

1. Chef’s stoves. A professional-grade range — a stove with options such as a flat griddle or a cooktop to accommodate a searing pan or a wok — topped kitchen wish lists in the Houzz survey; 32 percent of respondents selected them as their dream appliance. “What a consumer looks at, even if they don’t cook, is it looks cool,” Nassetta said.

Double ovens garnered 18 percent. Other high-end features such as induction cooktops, wine refrigerators and convection ovens seemed to matter far less. Only 4 percent of respondents considered warming drawers a priority.

Will this add value to your home?  Contact the real estate appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

2. Eco-friendly features. Nearly half of those surveyed — 49 percent — said using eco-friendly appliances and materials in their kitchens is important.

While a variety of Energy Star-recommended appliances and green-certified building products are on the market, eco-friendly changes also can be as simple as using cloth rather than paper towels, replacing plastic containers with glass, or using nontoxic cleaners, Houzz contributors note.

3. Granite and quartz countertops. Most respondents — 94 percent — said they’re changing their countertops. Granite still rocks, topping the list at 50 percent, but quartz is a rising star, coming in at 36 percent. Marble only drew 10 percent. Tile got a paltry 2 percent.

read more at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/07/tp-10-top-kitchen-remodeling-trends/

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only