Kitchen Remodel Here's how to handle the task!

What do buyers look for in up-to-date kitchens? A lot of this depends on what price range your home is in.   The main thing to remember as a seller is to not price yourself out of your market. If homes in your neighborhood are selling for $100,000 with tidy, but not luxury kitchens, then this is no time to upgrade to granite, travertine, and marble at the price tag of $40,000+. You simply won't find a buyer.   Scope out the competition. Use open houses in your area or MLS listings to find out what your competitions' kitchens look like.  
When remodeling your kitchen, the first step, and the most important, is choosing a kitchen designer you can trust. Whether you're looking for a sleek modern look, something more traditional and elegant, or anything in between, get someone with experience and advanced training to get the job done right the first time.  

So lets get started!

Remodeling a kitchen can be a tough job, as the aesthetic aspect is not the only thing you should consider; functionality is also what you should keep in mind. Unlike the living room or the bedroom, the kitchen is your important work space.

It is the place where you should be able to move around conveniently, and everything should be handy for you to grab. Here are some nifty remodeling ideas that will bring both practicality and charm to your beloved kitchen.

New Colorful Walls

Rather than one solid color, add a visual quirk to your kitchen by repainting the walls in horizontal bands of coordinated shades. Paint the darker color up to picture-rail height and paint the lighter color on top.
This way the room will appear both wider and taller. Choose any colors you like, but make sure they are not contrasting with each other or with the colors of the furniture in the room.

Light from the Roof

A skylight is great for the kitchen, as it increases the amount of natural light in the room and also makes a small kitchen appear loftier. So if you have enough budget to install a skylight in your kitchen, just pounce on it. It will help you save electricity during the day. Why turn on an artificial light when the refreshing bright sunshine is shimmering down through your roof?

Divide Up the Kitchen

If your kitchen also includes a dining area, try defining the cooking and eating spaces with half-height walls. Unlike full-height walls, the good thing about half-height walls is that they simultaneously link and separate the two areas. They keep the two spaces well-defined without cutting them apart from each other completely

Significance

Remodeling a kitchen tops the list of home-improvement projects with the highest return on investment. Expect to recoup between 63 percent and 72 percent of the cost of a kitchen remodel when sell your home, according to Realtor.

Costs

The average price of a kitchen remodel was more than $26,000 in 2010. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry recommends reusing existing appliances and maintaining the location of major fixtures to avoid moving electrical, plumbing and gas lines to keep costs down.

Features

If your kitchen is not due for a full remodel, spruce it up by adding new flooring, refacing cabinet door and drawer fronts of sturdy cabinets and updating the appliances to energy-efficient models. Other upgrades could include replacing or adding a tile backsplash and installing granite countertops.

Those brass light fixtures send a message to buyers: C-H-E-A-P

Don't get Steve Somogyi wrong. He doesn't hate all brass finishes -- just the really shiny, yellow-toned stuff that he thinks screams "Cheap!" when homebuyers notice it in light fixtures, switch plates, doorknobs, etc. That brass tone was fashionable a couple of decades ago, but its day is done and it has to go if it's in a house you're trying to sell, according to Somogyi, a real estate agent and interior designer. In prepping a small house for the market recently, he switched out every single brass light fixture, switch plate, door hinge and knob for ones with an oil-rubbed bronze finish that's a very dark brown.

When choosing a contractor to head up your remodel, these simple steps can mean the difference between complete confidence and sleepless nights.

Don't become overwhelmed, though. Sometimes a kitchen update can mean doing just a few minor changes. Change the paint color to a warm, neutral tone. Get rid of any clutter. Update your appliances, paint your cabinets, change the pulls, or get a high-end looking counter for a fraction of the cost (faux-granite or lower end granite). You might even save a bundle by doing much of the work yourself.   The bottom line is a kitchen can sell a home. Do a little research and find out what your kitchen needs to make it competitive with area listings.

How to Choose a Remodeling Contractor

It takes a little legwork to find the best person for your renovation job. Here's how to handle the task.

Ask for Referrals
Word of mouth-hands down, is the best way to find a qualified professional to tackle the job. Ask relatives, friends and neighbors whom they've had good experiences with. And ask what made it a positive experience, how the contractor handled problems and whether he or she would use the same contractor again.


Look at Credentials
With recommendations in hand, do some preliminary research, whether it's with a phone call or a visit to the contractor's website. Find out whether he or she holds all the required licenses from state and local municipalities, along with designations from any professional associations such as the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Homebuilders. Look for contractors who have invested in course work and passed rigorous tests to earn particular certifications. Be aware, however, that not all certifications are created equal. Do some homework and find out the requirements.

Look at Credentials
With recommendations in hand, do some preliminary research, whether it's with a phone call or a visit to the contractor's website. Find out whether he or she holds all the required licenses from state and local municipalities, along with designations from any professional associations such as the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Homebuilders. Look for contractors who have invested in course work and passed rigorous tests to earn particular certifications. Be aware, however, that not all certifications are created equal. Do some homework and find out the requirements.

Check ReferencesAsk to see some of the contractors' projects. If you approve of them, request references and call contractors' former customers to check up on them. Ask how the contractors did at executing the projects. Were they on time and on budget? Were the customers pleased with the outcome? Was there anything that could have been done differently?




 

This is the time of year when people realize they have leaky, energy draining windows. Those chilly drafts and higher heating bills might mean you need new windows.

Replacing older windows for more efficient, ones is straightforward, but you’d be surprised how many details there are to decide on. For example, what window parts will be involved -

Window Replacement or Retrofit Options

When replacing old windows, the first question is what window parts this will involve:

1. Is the full window being replaced, including the frame?
2. Is a retrofit window inserted into the existing frame?
3. Are just the sashes being replaced with a new sash kit?

Your energy auditor or replacement contractor may help you determine the best option based on your homes window and wall conditions.

1. Full Window Replacement - The existing frame is removed and the new window placed into the same position that was occupied by the old window. This is an opportunity to fix issues such as water or air leakage that may have occurred around the old frame.
2. Inserting windows in existing frame - The old sash, side jambs and trim are removed, but the original frame is left in place. The new window is inserted into this opening. Accommodate slightly out-of-square conditions of the existing frame if possible. Significant out-of-square conditions should be fixed with complete window replacement.
3. Sash replacement - Many manufacturers offer replacement sash kits, which include jamb liners to ensure good operability and fit. This option allows for relatively easy installation, but the existing frame must be in good shape so that air and water tightness is ensured.

Among each of these options you can find products with a variety of energy efficiency features and rated energy performance. Choosing among different energy-efficiency options can be complex. A good way to start is by looking for ENERGY STAR