Playing poker with your cabinet estimate: "How much is it gonna cost ?"

I am not a betting person but sometimes I wonder if I should take up poker since some client's like to play it with me. Poker it seems is a game of not revealing your cards and is a game of chance, skill and never revealing your moves.

The problem with playing poker in remodeling is that it just doesn't work this way if you want me to plan an estimate for you. "How much is it gonna cost me?" "How much do you want to spend?" I could bluff but that just wastes both your time and mine, doesn't it? You can't build your budget on a game of Texas Hold-em and I can't plan a design for you unless I know your budget, pardner. Case in point: You want to buy cabinets from me and you want to know how much it's gonna cost. You look at my corner 10 x 10 display and you ask how much would something like this cost in my kitchen? Well that's like asking how much is a bag of groceries!

Estimating is time intensive and if you really want to know the truth, if you think you are getting a deal with getting someone to come out and give you a "free estimate" you just lost the game. Anytime someone says it's a "free estimate" is playing poker with you. Chances are he is factoring his time into the cost of the project without revealing to you that the time to estimate, the drive time, the payroll expense to pay someone to layout the plans for your "free design" just upped the ante for him. He has to factor his time and labor into your cost. But not just your estimate, you are also paying for everyone else who asked for a free estimate with over all higher prices. Time is money, my friend, and no one is driving around town, spending time with each customer that calls for a free estimate and not building his costs into your estimate. If he isn't, he won't be in business  for long.

Do I want to play poker with clients? Nope, I am a straight shooter. I don't like gambling with my customer's time or money. I can provide you the option of a free estimate if you bring me your measurements and I can do a take off with preliminary numbers to get you in the ball park of price ranges. A free estimate won't be accurate to the penny because I have not verified the dimensions my self. It will remain a ballpark range within 10-15% until the dimensions can be verified and the details of your "wish list" versus "must have" list" clarified by you.

If you are not comfortable with measuring your own kitchen, I can do that for you but I charge a measure fee for my time to come out to your house and take accurate measurements of the space and you will get accurate pricing. This is rebated back to you when you purchase my cabinets, which is a fair deal. If you don't want to buy from me, you get a few rendered concept views and those are for you to keep.

All this makes sense until the customer who wants to have a Mexican Stand Off enters the picture. She wants a price, but won't bring in dimensions of the kitchen and she won't pay a measure fee for preliminary plans. She won't pay the fee because she doesn't know if she will like what she gets. It does not pay to play poker with a client because I cannot guess how much your kitchen is going to cost until we discuss what it is exactly you want in your kitchen and until I price it out. I cannot presume to know your taste and style without at least having a conversation with you. I have to see it or at the very least be provided pictures of kitchens you like and dimensions to estimate from.

Come on folks, this is like going to see your Cosmetic Surgeon and telling her you want your face to look younger but you are not willing to reveal what part of the face you want worked on and how much you want to spend. A brow lift, a facial peel, a face lift, remove the bags under your eyes, remove the jowels, it all adds up. What do you want to do?

Likewise you can't go to a Realtor and say "I want to buy a house" and escorted to several homes for sale without knowing what your price range is.  Kitchens, like houses, like cars, like anything you want to buy are available in several different prices ranges. If you cannot reveal honestly what your investment can be, your service provider will not be able to provide you the best service or the best value for the money without these basic facts to work from. Mostly, I want to provide my clients a project and a product they are satisfied with. To do this well, communication is essential and this is no place for a game of poker with your wants and needs.

Also, if a client tells me she doesn't need a design, she just needs to order cabinets, you can't place an order for cabinets without a plan. A plan involves a design, a design involves exact dimensions, dimensions require accuracy and if I am responsible for your order, I need to be the one measuring for those cabinets. I suppose you can simply go to your local big box store and place your order with the order takers, but then you are responsible for your dimensions. I prefer not to be an order taker.  

Getting an accurate design and paying a Professional Kitchen Designer will save you money in the long run. You can retain a Kitchen Designer to provide you a space plan so that you can get competitive bids from contractors or you may get a great price from that Kitchen Designer and buy from her. Whichever the case may be for you, working with a Kitchen Designer will add value to your project. Contractors will thank you for having detailed plans to bid from, as this saves them time knowing what the details are for your project in advance. There are too many details in cabinet design for a contractor to keep up with or even care about. Most contractors will advise clients to get their cabinets planned out and provide them a copy of the plans. A kitchen designer will be able to best advise on cabinetry, counter tops, lighting, flooring, best use of space layout, seating arrangements, appliances, storage solutions and so much more. Furthermore, an experienced designer that specializes in Kitchen Design will save you from the headaches of not pre-planning the details and not having the materials on the job when the contractor needs them. You can find a Professional Kitchen Designer by searching the National Kitchen and Bath Association website, NKBA.org.

How much is it going to cost? Moreover, how much will you save by retaining expert advice? 

photo credit1: http://flickr.com/photos/latitudes/66492870/in/set-1442169/
photo credit2:   Clint Eastwood, The Man With No Name

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My X-mas wish list. PROFESSIONAL COOKWARE FOR THE HOME CHEF

So I noticed that the set of Teflon frying pans my sister gave me, oh lets say, less than six months ago is showing much wear. You've seen it before. Little trails of missing Teflon in the pan. I am very good with my cookware, never use metal utensils, so there is no excuse for a pan to disintegrate so quick. Wear does the Teflon go? I hate to think about it.

My sister loves sales. I on the other hand do not get excited about sales if it is a cheap product to start with. When you buy on price, be prepared to buy twice. It's not a deal if you have to buy it again. Sorry sis. The frying pans are 86'd from my kitchen. It's time to place this cheap cookware in my recycling can rather than serving my meals with a sprinkling of Teflon. My mother kept, correction, keeps her cookware for years and years because it is quality. Lord, she still has her Le Creuset frying pan that has been around before I was born. Quality is priceless.

With Christmas around the corner, what a perfect time to give your loved one the gift of quality cookware.

Blue Star, the makers of high performance ranges available in 190 lovely shades, has announced a brand new professional-quality cookware line that is sure to delight any chef or would be chef.

I do believe a cook was behind this line because of some of these important features.
They thought of everything!

Here is what I like about the line:

• Magnetic stainless steel exterior ideal for any cooking surface.
• Easy-grip, ergonomic, stainless steel handles stay cool during stove top cooking.
  
• Extra-large handles provide increased finger clearance.
  
• The stock pot and sauce pans feature helper handles, making it easier to transport when full.
  
• Limited lifetime warranty.
• Made in the USA.
• Dishwasher safe.
• Professional grade 304 stainless steel for optimal durability.
  
• Oven safe up to 500 Fahrenheit.
  

While on the www.bluestarcooking.com/store site, be sure to look for exclusive recipes – great for holiday get-together from long-time enthusiast of BlueStar cooking products, Chef Marcus Samuelsson. A cookbook author and television host, Chef Samuelsson is the Chef and Proprietor of Aquavit, Riingo, and AQ Café, as well as Co-Founder & Chief Creative Director - Townhouse Restaurant Group.

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What to expect in 2009: Price Increases

What buzzed across my fax machine this past week caused me to groan, "price increase from my cabinet manufacturers? Not again!"

The three things that are unavoidable are death, taxes, and price increases.

Several appliance manufacturers recently increased prices by a dramatic 20% due to the cost of raw goods, energy and production costs. If you got in on a sale before appliances went up this fall, good for you. I am telling all my clients who were holding out until after the holidays to order now while you can still buy cabinets at 2008 prices.

Why wait? Cost of goods inflation waits for no one.

If you were thinking of getting started in '09, start looking for end of year deals now.

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It is easier finding green building materials, wish the same was true for cheap gas.

It used to be finding earth-friendly, energy efficient products was harder to source out. Now, there is a buffet of green options before us. The options are within our reach; energy efficient; recycled content; fsc certified wood products are easier to find and closer to home. See the latest articles and products shown in ECOHOME.
While we have freedom of choice to order the best, most energy efficient and eco-friendly products. The disparity of choice has never hit us harder than it has with the cost of gas.
As I waited at the freeway off-ramp to get home tonight, several thoughts came to mind. The insane price of gas at close to $4.50 per gallon makes me extremely grateful that I live less than five miles away from work. Others don't have it so easy. Commuting to Los Angeles and the surrounding cities in grid-lock traffic is a way of life for many. 50 to 60 mile round trips are common travel distances for Southern California suburbanites. People I talk to everyday are telling me they are rethinking how they are getting around. The wait lists for carpools is increasing. Others have to rethink sales trips to the city. My vendors are faxing notices that they are forced to add fuel surcharges to our orders to offset the cost of delivery.

All around me, I am witnessing people adapting. Water rationing is another thing we need to be aware of here in California as we face news of an impending drought. As I sat there idling at the jammed offramp I noticed a rider on a new motorcycle in the lane next to me. I quickly took note of the new bike and the fact that the rider was a women. I wondered, did she trade in her SUV for the motorbike? Would she have purchased that bike if it wasn't for the crazy cost of gasoline?

We live one city away from the agricultural farm lands and another unusual trend is coming about. There is a long stretch of farm land from Camarillo to Ventura where the strawberry, lettuce, avocado and orange crops are grown. Commuters are trading in the gas hogs and the farm laborers are buying these these newer and bigger SUV's and trucks because the prices of these vehicles are becoming more affordable.
So what does this mean to us? Adapting to the changing times is a way of life. The choice to go green will be the new desired trend. Remember when real estate ads read "gourmet kitchens with all new stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops" were all the rage?

I predict in five years from now, it will be the norm to see real estate ads describe homes for sale as "green built, energy efficient homes". Energy robbing appliances, single pane windows, non-low VOC paints and particle board cabinets will drive the cost of homes down, while installing the more expensive energy efficient building materials will bring a higher return on investment.

Now, you are probably wondering about the symbols above. Maybe you have seen some before. Do you want to know what they mean:
Here you go, read on. Next time you come across one of these symbols, you will know what they mean.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments at all levels to "green" the production and purchasing chain.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that certifies sustainable businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods. USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education, and its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.

The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security.

For businesspeople focused on evaluating, selecting and manufacturing environmentally preferable wood and paper products, Metafore is a source of tools, information and innovative thinking.

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More Tips on ROI

Reno ROI, no this is not the name of a slot machine in Reno Nevada.
As catchy and game-like as the name "Reno ROI" sounds, gambling on renovation return on investment is a topic anxious homeowners take seriously. As a matter of fact, there are several new articles on the subject available to read on the internet.

Home Renovation Guide has a ROI round up on the topic. They have some interesting points, for instance did you know that by adding a swimming pool is not a value added ROI despite the huge investment, while a simple quick fix (painting kitchen cupboards) adds to the resale value.

I will add my own cautionary update to kitchens based on what clients tell me.

• Do not purchase expensive granite counter tops to top existing cabinets if your cabinets are shot.
  
• If you are fixing up the house for a quick sale and need to do it economically, save your money on new cabinets and expensive slabs of granite.
  
• Instead, detail out your kitchen to a spic and span immaculate state. Paint the cabinets inside and out, buy new hinges, drawer boxes and glides to freshen and update the cabinets inexpensively. To keep your investment costs down, top the cabinets with new 12x12 granite tiles instead of more expensive granite slabs or solid surface options. Granite tiles are less expensive than slabs and more appealing to buyers then laminate tops. (check what is popular in your region. In Southern California I have seen more people here are laminate top snobs. Most would not dream of having laminate where East Coast transplants do not mind it.)
  
• My renovation clients in the past have pointed out to me, they managed to get a buyers credit in the sale for replacement costs on dilapidated cabinets, fixtures and appliances. They call me to rip out cabinets ASAP because the kitchen cabinet interiors are so gross, they can't bear to put their food away.

A sensible update: updating light fixtures nets a 60% to 70% ROI.

I would agree, nothing changes the atmosphere of a room better than updated lighting. I would add that homeowners should not overlook the switch plates and covers. Staring at a cracked outlet plate, a peeling painted plate, a Barbie doll or Star Wars switch plate in a bedroom is begging for a simple replace and update! Add dimmers to all light fixtures if possible.

From here you can jump off to the other articles around the blog about ROI. Chris Pearson from
The Red Sign.net marks the top three rooms to invest in. The top three, Kitchen, Bath and all room window replacements. He sources: 2007 Cost vs. Value Report (Remodeling Magazine and REALTOR® Magazine).

Another tip I will add, get permits whenever you do a home improvement project. Reason: permitted jobs add value and peace of mind that your project was done to code. Always hire licensed contractors. Never cut corners. Poorly installed projects devalues your ROI.

CNN Money calls out four renovations that kill a home's value. In a buyer's market, you do not want to get caught with improvements that may kill a sale.

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Hats off to the weekend warriors!

I have got to hand it to the "do-it yourself" able bodied homeowners who tackle and complete home renovation projects. With the high cost of materials and labor to complete a project, "sweat equity", can payoff in the long run. That is if you have the patience to endure living in construction mode far longer than it takes if you hire professionals to do the work. Check out the story of Lili and Arnie Richards, profiled in LA Times Blog, "Pardon Our Dust".

Great story if you are thinking about doing it yourself.
A kitchen remodel and dining room addition all for $27,000 is remarkable. A remodel like this would certainly run into figures closer to $100,000 if done by a general contractor.
Why it worked for them:

• They planned in advance and stuck to a schedule. Diligent in planning.
  
• Previous experience remodeling.
  
• Realistic about the invariable hic-ups. They managed their expectations.
  
• Self-starters, determined to see the project through to the end.
  
• Self-reliant. Spirited even while enduring labor tasks they deplored.

I salute their ingenuity and spirit. Bravo!

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Should we or shouldn't we?

Considering a home renovation? In today's unpredictable housing market, checking what type of ROI you would get in today's market in your specific zip code would be a valuable tool to consider your options.

There is a new web site, Cyberhomes.com, that may be helpful if you are considering a kitchen remodel or home renovation. It’s definitely a fun tool to play around with if you’re a homeowner!

Cyberhomes (www.cyberhomes.com) is a new online destination for people who want complete home buying information, including renovation ROI estimates for a specific zip code and detailed neighborhood info – all on one site.

Whether you’re interested in doing a home renovation to increase the value of your home for a future sale, or if you’re simply trying to make your home more comfortable to live in, deciding to take on a home renovation or remodel can be an exciting time for homeowners. But with as unpredictable as the housing market is these days, how do you know if a renovation is worth the investment?

Planning to add a new bath or remodel your kitchen? Simply plug in your home address, add in the desired renovations, and see what type of return those remodels fetch in your specific zip code. Follow the steps below to see a demonstration of these tools:

1. Go to www.cyberhomes.com

2. Type in an address (Ex. 3523 Paxton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208)

3. Under the “Property Highlight” section, click on “Refine Value”

4. Then use the “Edit This Home’s Facts” section to add a bath or bedroom and see the Value Change difference. Or use the “Home Improvement” section to select a specific type of renovation and see the Value Change difference, depending on your zip code and the current market.

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Getting the most out of Home Improvements

Good conversation going on at "Pardon Our Dust".
Kathy Price Robinson, home improvement contributor and blogger for the LA Times, discusses tax advantages of home improvement over home repairs.

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Weighing in on the Cost of Remodeling

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle, "Save Money: remodeling now, upgrade later" by Arrol Gellner, has merit however I have to take issue with a couple of points. Namely, I disagree that the idea of buying inexpensive cabinets now and replacing later is not as simple as Mr. Gellner makes it appear to be. Secondly, Arrol Gellner's appliance advise may lead to complications later. Kitchen Designer Peggy Deras, has successfully challenged this idea that appliances are not easy to replace later because appliance cut out sizes are not standardized. Please read on at Kitchen-Exchange for her article, Comment on Arrol Gellner's Appliance Advise.

I have been a fan of Mr. Gellner since I was introduced to his work and insightful articles on architecture, however I would have to argue with his idea of cabinets being fairly simple to remove and replace. Mr. Gellner's theory of using budget cabinentry for the short term a fairly open-ended way to save money may not be so simple or cost effective.

I would caution that homeowners be aware of the variance in toe kick's depths from different cabinets manufacturers. A standard 24" deep cabinet may have a toe kick depth of 21" but I have seen variances, which leads to the question about what to do with the scar on the floor. If the difference is less than 3/4" than a matching shoe base can be installed to hide the gap. If the foot print of the cabinets changes, even slightly, means the flooring will have to be patched or replaced.

If you have a peninsula, and you want to change it later, (shorten it, angle it, or remove it) and the flooring is hardwood and continues throughout the rest of the home, the patching in of the new material will show a visible shade difference, unless the whole floor is sanded and refinished. So what to do? In order to make this budget transition work, and remain "simple and cost effective later", keep the footprint fairly the same, always order extra floor material, for repairs later, or do as they do in Europe, tile under all the cabinets now, so no matter how the foot print varies later, this makes using budget cabinetry for the short term a fairly open-ended way to save money. Yet, one has to question, is a short term investment in new budget cabinets really a good investment? I would suggest a better way to save money in the short term by painting the old cabinets now, removing really ugly wall cabinet doors and opt for open shelves instead. Paint kitchen cabinets is very budget friendly, while planning to remodel the kitchen properly later is a better investment.

The Los Angeles Times, Real Estate section, Sunday January 6, had a great article by Marni Jameson I recommend everyone read before remodeling. "Mad for makeovers" is about homeowners that focus on remodeling for comfort, not resale. The article quotes Dan Fritchen, that "remodeling in a down market can make a lot of sense...you just have to be smart about it", author of 2005's "Remodel or Move? Make the Right Decision."

Quoting the article, A national survey that Fritchen's Web company, RemodelEstimates.com conducted last fall among 5,000 homeowners found that folks are planning to spend as much as ever on home improvements in 2008 but they plan to do so more carefully.

Also the article profiles one homeowners justification for remodeling rather than moving. Mark Yegsigian of Laguna Hills is a certified public accountant and financial planner who also has a real estate license. He describes himself as "the bean counter's bean counter." He has some sage advise on remodeling and able to back up his statement with the numbers to prove it.

Another safe move, Fritschen added, is fixing a design problem. For instance, it could pay to open up a galley kitchen and add space or an island. Likewise, if you expand a tiny bathroom, you probably won't lose.

Fritschen says, "I don't see galley kitchens or tiny baths ever coming back."

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More Tips to Renovate you Kitchen on a Budget

If you find that your kitchen budget needs to go on a diet, take heart, Real estate experts Barbara Corcoran offers a practical guide to revitalizing a kitchen with ways to cut the fat. Also, check out the NBC News Video for additional tips.

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Budgeting

Remodeling? You can hear the sighs and the next question is, "how much is this going to cost me?" Set aside some time to work up a budget and then plan to edit, and edit again.
If you know what you like but have no idea how much it will cost, there are tools out there to help you determine your budget. Sticker shock is not uncommon. It is so easy to have champagne tastes and beer budgets.
Its' time to determine your project budget. Here is an opportunity to shop from your arm chair. Before we get started, get your tape measure, get your room dimensions and lets get going.
Here are some tools to help you.
Consumer Reports has a handy little interactive calculator tool called the Quick Cost Kitchen Remodeling Estimator.
Remember, this is not an exact method, but a pitch to get you in the ballpark for standard replacement kitchens. Your plan for a remodel may have additional structural and mechanical requirements that will increase the budget. This type of expansion may be reflected in the "luxury" column.

So I tried Consumer Reports Quick Cost Calculator for my self. I plugged in my room size, it asked for the shape of my room, and my zip code, and it spits out quick figures in the Basic, Standard, Custom and Luxury columns.
It is more detailed if you proceed to tabs 2 thru 4. So I tried that too. This is where it gets fun. Arm chair shopping for everything without leaving your home!
Step 2 takes you shopping. It asks for construction details I want to use in my project. Cabinets, Soffits, Counter tops, Sink, Disposer, Flooring, etc.

Step 3 takes you through your kitchen appliance selection.
Step 4 Provides a complete breakdown by category.
Based on my selections with mid range cabinetry, mid range appliances, premium sink selection, quartz counter tops and splashes and updating plumbing and electrical, my average budget comes to $ 48,976. I can redo the numbers if I want to change my selections from basic to premium. This is an incredibly handy tool for saving time without running around to appliance, cabinets, and tile stores. Of course that time will come next, but now you have basic information that will be a jumping off point for evaluating bids you will start to acquire from contractors, appliance stores, flooring, etc.

Another Quick Cost Calculator is from Omega Cabinetry. The tool is much more basic but handy still for getting a ballpark estimate based a percentage of your homes worth.

Omega's calculator has you pick a percentage of your home's value. For this example, I picked 10% of my home's value. (The inflated value of homes in Southern California will skew my budget so I picked a lower percentage). The problem I see is that the appliance budget of $4,790 is too low for what I want to purchase. Now I know, I can choose to increase my project budget to perhaps 15% or reselect my appliances and design features. Ironically, the Consumer Reports detailed calculator came in at $48,796. About $896 variance between the two calculators.

How realistic are some of these line item figures from an actual estimate? Here in California, I see a trend with many homeowners selecting higher end appliances, much more than 10% of a client's budget is spent on appliances. As far as sticking to budgets, I don't think any one ever does. Will you stay with a $1,800 refrigerator or will you upgrade to the $4,500 model. You may fall in love with the $20 per piece deco tile instead of a $8.00 deco tile.

Now, the hard part is sticking to a budget. Plan on spending 15% or 20% more than what you planned. Check out these Quick Cost Calculators for yourself. I would be interested in hearing how it compares with your actual remodel costs.

On the flip side, you may have won the budget battle and plan on doing most of the installation yourself. My best advise, is to consult a professional Kitchen Designer before you embark. Check the NKBA Website for Kitchen Designers in your town. There are Kitchen Designers who work independently, without being tied to selling you any product. Kitchen Designers who work in showrooms will rebate the design fee into the cabinetry you purchase from their showroom. Consultation fees vary based on the level of service you require. It may be simply to evaluate your plans. Or you may want a full set of plans prepared for contractors to bid from.

And finally, the more concise you are in your specifications for your project the more precise your estimates will be from the contractors who will be putting in a bid for your project.
Happy remodeling!

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Direct Buy: Pay $5,000 to Save

Over at the Consumerist Blog, there is a discussion on whether the discount buying club, Direct Buy, is worth it. In it, they cite a report from Consumer Reports on the Direct Buy hard sales pitch. Consumer Reports went undercover to evaluate the company. Read the report for the full article.

The problem with Direct Buy is that they purport to save you up to 70% off of list price. Well, if you were to research your purchase by getting a quote from 2-3 different sources, you will find most stores never sell at full list and in fact that the price you save from many stores can be as much as 70% off as well. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

The one thing that matters most to consumers beside a good price is service. Aren't we all just a little tired of getting bad service? Sales people with very little knowledge and even less enthusiasm to educate themselves on their product knowledge base. When making a purchase you want to know that you can rely on that store to stand behind their product, provide excellent customer service, and provide reasonable prices. My time is so valuable, that I don't want to have to get the run around, call 5 different numbers, get the run around again, have to ship something back to the manufacturer myself. That to me is no bargain! I am willing to pay a little bit more if I know I am getting better service. That to me is priceless!

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Save or Splurge: The Kitchen

Check out this great article on when to splurge and when to save when it comes to kitchen cabinets and appliances. See the full article in the September issue of CNNMoney.com

"To get the most for your money, you need to know two things: when the good stuff is worth paying extra for and when the economy choice is plenty good enough."

By Money Magazine's Andrea Bartz, Ismat Sarah Mangla, Noah Rothbaum and Wilson Rothman

For example, Cabinets is one category where spending is recommended. Excerpted from the article:

Cabinets

Plain & Fancy custom cabinets
Kitchens start at $30,000

Save or spend: Spend

Cabinets that cost less than $150 a linear foot may look fine when you install them, but it won't take long for them to seem tired.

"The doors will get out of whack and the drawers will fall apart," says kitchen designer Kathy Marshall of South Hamilton, Mass.

In order to offer low prices, manufacturers use pressed board instead of solid wood, plastic drawer glides instead of metal ones.

You'll pay a lot more for the hardwood and handcrafting of cabinets by the likes of Plain & Fancy. But if these start fading - in 20-some years - they'll be sturdy enough that they can easily be refreshed with a coat of paint.

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Getting Organized

Where do you begin? Take stock of your kitchen. What worked for the previous homeowner may not work for you. Kitchens are a personal space. If it doesn't suit your cooking or entertaining style, designing a generic kitchen with new boxes on the wall and new counter tops can be a waste of good money. Editing your needs on paper is the first step in understanding what's important to you and paramount for communicating your needs to your kitchen designer. I have created a design questionnaire to help my clients take inventory of their needs and wants. Feel free to print and take with you to your kitchen design appointment. So let's get started! Start collecting your notes and magazine pictures in a file folder.
And for those really serious about getting ready to remodel: I advise starting a notebook to keep everything together. Grab a notebook binder and fill out the 8 tabs (Cabinets, Appliances, Counters/Splashes, Floors, Lighting, Construction Bids, Contracts, Punch List.)

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Improving or Moving

I was recently asked, "How much should I invest in my kitchen remodel to get the best return on my investment?" That is an excellent question. How do you know where to stop? Should you buy that new Viking Range you have been ogling? Should you spring for a new built in refrigerator? Where do you draw the line? I say start with a plan. What are your goals for this house? Are you moving in 5 years or is this the family homestead where you will raise your kids, have the family gatherings, and the only way you plan to leave is feet first? You can gauge how much of your own personality and pocket book you want to invest in your remodel if you know you are planting roots.

For short term goals where return on investment is a major consideration, then plunking down too much may mean being upside down on your remodel investment. Check with your Realtor. Find out what comparable houses in your neighborhood are selling for. Given the current market conditions as of Spring 2007, we witnessed a slow down in new home sales in 2006, and thus a 20% reduction in returns on remodeling projects compared to 2005. Follow the link to Realtor.Org for a comprehensive cost verses value report covering 25 popular remodeling projects performed in 60 US cities. 19th annual cost vs. value report

The report shows that you can expect a 75.8% return on your investment for an upscale (major) Kitchen Remodel, 80.4% return for a (major) midrange kitchen remodel, and 85.2% return on a (minor) Kitchen remodel. For a downloadable report by city, click here. Not ready to tackle your kitchen yet? James and Morris Carey recently published a great article on "modest" repairs and "safety upgrades". They did reiterate of all the possible remodels, Kitchens and Master Baths, are still ranked on the top of their list.

Remodeling will always be a good investment, but a little research in advance goes a long way. I've walked through plenty of Realtor open houses and wondered what the homeowner was thinking building an "ode to marble", over building in an neighborhood that does not warrant a mega mansion. Remodeling choices should take into consideration the integrity of the neighborhood and style of the house. Style can be achieved on all budget levels. Style does not mean buying the most expensive fixtures and finish materials. On the flip side, I have witnessed some atrociously cheap kitchen remodels in estate style homes that screamed "rip out and replace" and wondered how much of a buyer's credit will be negotiated. A good return on your investment does mean good planning, functional layouts, well-built cabinets, updated appliances and fixtures and most importantly the finished remodel should show that it was professionally installed. Lifting tiles, lipping, cracked grout, poor lighting, peeling paint, painted shut cabinet doors or windows, missing crown molding or baseboards are signs of the "do-it-your-self" weekend warrior who never finished the project. If you can't tackle it from start to finish - don't start.

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