Reasons to Remodel Your Kitchen

There can be several reasons for remodeling your kitchen. If you are planning to relocate to somewhere else, you may want to sell the existing house. Kitchens are the parameters of deterioration of a house. The looks of other rooms and outward appearance of the house can be deceptive. These cosmetic aspects may fool a naïve buyer. But experience buyers scrutinize each and every room, kitchens more than any other rooms. The appearance of the kitchen provides a true picture of the maintenance requirements of the house. A poorly maintained kitchen will reduce the price of the house just like a rotten tomato in the basket reduces the whole price of the lot. So, if you plan to sell the house for a reasonably satisfactory profit, better start thinking about remodeling your kitchen. Another reason for renovating the kitchen is giving the house for rent. The same principles of remodeling the kitchen when selling the house apply here also. A neat and tidy kitchen can fetch you more money as rent.

The above two reasons are external factors. But when a person starts noticing the cracks on the cabinets, irritating gathering of dirt on the walls, and floor tiles full of stains, it means that that the time has come for remodeling the kitchen. This is perhaps the commonest reason to remodel a kitchen.

Another occasion for improving the interior of the kitchen is when the children grow up. As more number of people start using the kitchen, the space in the existing kitchen becomes insufficient to accommodate all the people. So renovating the kitchen to get more space and comfort is the only option. But when doing remodeling, one has to make sure that the new design provides the maximum possible free space. Otherwise, the remodeling exercise will become a total waste of time and resources.

The home appliances market is experiencing rapid changes. Old models of kitchen appliances have already been replaced by newer and trendier models. The new appliances are generally less power hungry. The electric power need for operating a newer appliance is significantly less than its old model. Because of this, one tends to buy latest kitchen appliances. But to fit these devices into the kitchen, a complete rearrangement should be done, which may or may not provide desired results, or the kitchen should be remodeled. If you have sufficient financial resources, the latter is the better option.

Another reason to remodel your kitchen is improving the efficiency of the work. Providing sufficient space and cleverly placing the appliances can improve the overall efficiency of work in the kitchen. Nowadays, several software applications are available on the internet to help people who desire to create new model of kitchens.

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Kitchen Remodeling ROI – Return On Investment

The cost for your kitchen remodeling project should be based on the value of your home. Investing too much could lead to a poor return on investment or a home valued outside the local market expectations. 15% of home value is a good rule of thumb for a kitchen remodeling budget. Following 15% of home value, it is not inconceivable to get 80% to 90% or more return on investment.

Usually you can expect a lower return on investment for more major remodeling projects due to the increased cost involved in a major remodeling project. If a kitchen has been neglected or is dilapidated you can expect a lower return on investment because much of the cost is consumed by bringing the kitchen to a livable standard rather than actual improvements.

A 100% return on investment is possible. But rather than working designing towards that figure, consider livability as a major component in your kitchen remodeling project budget. Especially if you plan on living at the home for some time to come. You might even love your new kitchen so much that you forget about any notion of selling and moving out.

New kitchen appliances can often be all that is needed in a kitchen remodel project, and can be relatively inexpensive since there is no labor involved other than delivery and installation. Plus, since new, good quality appliances are pleasing to prospective buyers, they can have a favorable return on investment.

Your homes size and your neighborhood should be considered too. If your improvement or remodeling project are extensive compared to the rest of the neighborhood or size of the home, then a high expectation of return on investment may be unrealistic.

You can also consult a local real estate agent to get a good idea of how extensive of a kitchen remodeling project to fund. A good real estate agent with knowledge of your neighborhood should be able to give a good indication of your remodeling project ideas effect on the value of your home. Even if your remodel project is for your own satisfaction, and you have no intent on selling and moving, a real estate agent will usually have a good idea of how much previous clients spent on their kitchen remodels, and the resulting increase in home value. Consider offering the agent a flat fee for their opinion if you have no intent on selling.

To summarize, a kitchen remodeling project can greatly increase the value of your home, and make it sell faster. Return on investment may, or may not be important to you depending on if the project is for your own satisfaction or for selling the home. But do be carefull that your project does not price your home out of the neighborhood.

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6 Ideas For a Green Kitchen Remodel

With the global push for finding and using renewable, eco-friendly resources, the construction industry has been able to adapt and create eco-friendly building products. While the materials may cost more than traditional building materials, they will reduce the impact on the environment and reduce the carbon footprint of your home. A great place to make a significant impact is in the kitchen. With the amount of materials and electricity used in the average kitchen, a few changes can make a significant impact. Here are 6 ideas on how to use Eco-Friendly products in your kitchen remodel.

Appliances must be Energy Star. Energy Star appliances consume 10-50% less energy than standard models, so if you’re adding new appliances, make sure you get the most efficient ones available. It will not only make an impact on the environment, but it will also help reduce your monthly energy bill.

Use recycled or fast-renewing flooring materials- cook and bamboo are two great options when it comes to fast renewing materials with a low impact on the environment. Other options included recycled materials just as rubber tiles, and even glass or ceramic tiles that have been recycled.

Use low- or no-VOC paints. Green paints are becoming easier to find, although they will cost a little more. These paints are better for a home’s indoor air quality. It eliminates the fumes associated with traditional paints, and still provides an attractive finish to any room of the house.

Use green cabinets and fixtures. Eco-friendly cabinets can be expensive, since there are not a lot of manufacturers on the market as of yet (but that is rapidly changing). While there are a lot of manufacturers claiming to be green manufacturers, it is important to check where the product is coming from, where the materials are sourced, and all of the steps in-between.

Add more green insulation. If you’re doing a renovation, it may be time to add more insulation to capture the energy efficiency benefits. This is a great place to use recycled materials to help prevent heat loss and cold air from getting in. There are a wide variety of recycled insulation materials on the market, so consult a professional to find what would work best for you.

Use energy efficient lighting. It’s easy to swap out incandescents with CFLs, but if you’re doing a major remodel, consider going with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Some LEDs are super easy to install, such as the CREE LR6, and have a warm light tone. Do the research.

While this article revolved around kitchen renovation, many of these ideas and materials can be applied to the rest of your house as well. So the next time you are getting ready for a remodeling project, consider the green alternatives for your home, and help save the environment.

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