Remodeling Your Kitchen – Will it Pay Off When You Sell?

Many homeowners often ask the question, will I get back my money on this remodel if I sell my house soon? The short answer is, it depends.

My second short answer is yes! If your overall home is nice and your kitchen is lacking then it maybe wise to remodel before you resale. But you must take into account the cost to remodel, do not go overboard on your kitchen if your home is an average dwelling. Find out what is happening in your neighborhood as far as kitchen remodels go.

Never remodel with a strong niche theme in mind. That means no checkered flooring, retro, country, etc. A theme that does not fit with your home and or mass market may make it harder to sell your home. Remodeling for profit means your kitchen cost should be no more than 8% of total home value.

For an honest opinion ask your friends and family. You can never trust someone who has motive to gain business or profit from your home. Take it for what it is worth.

Hiring a remodeling contractor. Make a list of exactly what are must have item for your project then hand them out to all that come over to bid. Get as many bids as you like and then you can eliminate from the bottom up. Every contractor thinks they do good work. I know guys who have been remodeling for 20 years who are not very good with quality. Just because they have done it for the longest time does not have anything to do with their knowledge or quality.

Take your time. Avoid contractors that are in a hurry to get you to sign something. They are worried you will find someone better. They are not very confident that you will pick them and their deal.

Finally, If you are in doubt? Don’t do it. Time will tell. But if you plan to live there for a while and think you will enjoy the remodel and can afford it than I say go for it. Often times when I am done with a remodel the homeowner will tell me I really wish I would have done this sooner. ]

Kitchen Backsplash Tiles and Design

When you enter the kitchen it is not the appliances or kitchen equipment that usually gets the first attention. Most of the time it is the kitchen backsplash that gets the first attention. The kitchen backsplash is the upright portion built against the wall at the back of the sink and stove. It is built to protect the wall from effects of water splashes and heat.

The design of the kitchen backsplash can actually make the kitchen look good or bad. A beautifully designed backsplash can give an otherwise boring room life, while a poorly designed backsplash can make even a perfectly designed kitchen look bad. Thus it is important to carefully plan the kitchen backsplash design to give the kitchen a great look.

There are many materials that can be used in creating a backsplash. You can use tiles, steel, stone and glass. But perhaps the most appealing of all these is tiles.

Before you even decide on what kitchen backsplash tile design to use you have to look first at your fixtures. You have to consider them more that the kitchen appliances that you have because they are likely to stay with you longer.

The most commonly used tile design is the checkerboard design. It is simple to create because you only need to choose two colors which you alternately place in straight lines. You do not need much artistic talents or skills in creating this but you can still come out with an attractive backsplash. Probably the most ‘difficult’ part of using this kitchen backsplash tile design is deciding on the two colors but you can always consult the color wheel.

If your kitchen is painted with one color only the kitchen backsplash tile design that you can use is the color contrast style. If you have for example a white kitchen, you can choose to have black or gray tiles in your backsplash. It will give a very good contrast to your walls. The opposite is also good. If you have an elegant dark colored kitchen you can use white or cream as backsplash.

Many people also use patterned and painted tiles. These tiles are great if you have a theme in your kitchen. There are tiles with designs to create a Tuscan feel. There are also designs that give a French villa look.

When you are choosing kitchen backsplash tile design, choose really well because you cannot change it as frequently as you want. You probably have to live with it for along time to choose wisely.

Tomorrow’s Kitchen

Perhaps it is because the kitchen is the room in the home with the most high-tech appliances that people often dream of a futuristic kitchen. From preparing meals to cleaning up to making sure that we eat right, the kitchen of the future will make our lives a lot easier. Though we aren’t there just yet, the next step in the ever-evolving kitchen is right around the corner.

New Technologies

Large consumer appliance companies like GE and KitchenAid have been working on more environmentally friendly kitchens for years now. These new kitchens will not only increase efficiency, but also lower operating costs. They will dispense pure water using ultraviolet light, which will ensure that water is completely free of bacteria and chemicals. To save money, consumers will load dishwasher detergent in large quantities, which will then be dispensed during washings at predetermined levels, which will save money on cleaning agents and wash water. Wash water can then be diverted to other home appliances like the washing machine. And food storage devices will be fully interactive. While they won’t cook for you, they will let you know if you have the necessary ingredients to make beef stroganoff for the family.

Refrigeration

Though many of us can not conceive of a kitchen without a traditional refrigerator, the days when a massive metal box dominated one side of the kitchen may be coming to an end. In fact, companies have already begun to market refrigeration devices called cool drawers. These cool drawers allow for unparalleled versatility and temperature control. They will give you the ability to cool, preserve, store and freshens foods at up to five different temperatures. No longer will you have to throw out the fruits and vegetables because they were kept at inadequate temperatures. The cool drawer will help you keep all of your food fresher for longer, which will preserve the vitamins, nutrients and taste.

But the best part about cool drawers is their versatility. Any number of cool drawers can be installed at different locations in the kitchen and set at different temperatures. You can install a fruit drawer in one area, a vegetable drawer in another and a meat drawer in yet another. It is always a good idea to put fresh food close to your food preparation area. You can also install drawers with drinks and fruits nearest to the entertainment area. Food drawers are not only better than refrigerators at storing and keeping food, but they are also more convenient and they save space.

If, however, you are a person who loves your refrigerator and refuses to part with it, there are a number of exciting advances right around the corner. For example, smart refrigerators will keep track of everything you are eating and will let you know when it’s time to go to the store and pick us some more broccoli.

Dishes

In the future plates will be made from carbon nano tubes, which are extremely thin and sturdy. These materials will take up less space, be easier to clean and will even sanitize themselves after use. They will also be inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

Communication

Although this is a possibility right now, most people love the idea of having internet access in the kitchen. Whether it is to check their email, the news, or to find a great recipe for beef stew, in the future most kitchens will undoubtedly have some form of internet access.

The kitchen of the future will also be equipped with more computer touch screens, which may be used to operate individual appliances or possibly even run the entire kitchen. They will be easy to uses and highly interactive. They may even provide internet access.

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