Question: Mr. J., we (our club-church members) have written you several times, just about the same thing. That being our refinancing or upgrading? We have many people included in our group that are divided and all agree about asking you (your opinion?) to settle this because some of us are (by September) going to, probably anyway, proceed ? This is our question email to you and will proceed with or without your input. PLEASE!
- US
Answer: US, thanks for your question emails on this an other questions about this subject. I have linked several other communications and yours to this final answer.
GONE are the giddy days of a red-hot real estate market and free flowing credit that made six-figure renovations sound almost sensible. We say good riddance. Instead of chasing bright shiny objects - the 42-inch professional range or an $800 faucet with an oil rubbed bronze finish - homeowners are discovering their own definitions of beauty and value.
While remodeling is down, it's not out, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. My survey of homeowners about which room they would remodel first, the kitchen and bathroom easily led. And in a separate survey of people who had remodeled their bathroom in the last five years, 42 percent said they had completed them in the last two to three years.
Whether you're managing pros or doing all of the work your self. It starts with seven essential tips to navigating today's remodeling market place followed by ratings of expert advice on the best appliances, countertops, fixtures, flooring and more.
RESIZE THE PROJECT
Bump-outs and gut renovations used to be common. Not anymore. Remodeling that emphasizes quality over quantity is the new standard. People want to make their kitchens more livable without having to add on. Borrowing from a nearby pantry or closet and removing part or all of a wall to open up sight lines into an adjacent space are two common strategies. Where a single eating area serves both formal and informal functions , allowing the square footage of the dining room to be absorbed into the kitchen.
Homeowners are also looking out doors , using decks and lanais as extensions of their kitchens and entertaining spaces as their outdoor kitchens in warmer months . In my questions/poll, those exterior spaces were extremely high on homeowners' wish lists of rooms to remodel/renovate, trailing only the kitchen and bath.
I had a lot more response about decking, probably 12 out of 15 people, in the last six months.
I waited until the last moment to write this column - left my notes at a friend's. Will try and finish the subject next week.
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Have a real estate question? Write, call, fax or e-mail:
Bob Jeffries, Realtor,
Century 21 Birchwood Realty, Inc.
4040 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL
239-549-5724 Office
239-542-7760 Fax
