I disagree on the designer bit. I bet the property brothers already have a sense of design which is why they under estimate that most people don't.
I'm a designer but in a different industry. I constantly will help my friends and family with interior design advice for free because they really have no idea.
Look at zillow for example, even the super expensive homes that look beautiful on the outside are a hot mass of bad design choices on the inside.
If you want to save money on a designer I would recommend collecting a bunch of pinterest pictures of interior design that speaks to you show it to a friend you know has good sense and good style ideas and they can be able to help articulate why you like these pictures, what they have in common, and how to recreate it for your own space.
A good designer will be in empathatic and pick out pieces with your sense of esthetics in mind. Bring your friend with you to the hardware store when you're picking out your fixtures, flooring, and cabinets and they can help you make sure everything works together.
7
People renovate their own places because they enjoy making it their own. It's not about increasing the home's value. Unless you're a crazed contractor, renovating houses is a lousy way to make money. These guys just want to intimidate people.
2
I wish Jonathan Scott will come help me decorate my house. A girl can dream❤
2
Old Chinese Saying:
Jia Wan Cheng. Sheng Ming Wan Liao.
Translation: House Finished. Life Over.
12
Terrible advice to take out a loan rather than save up until you can afford a new kitchen. But what would you expect from 2 guys who are getting paid by Chase?
18
I don't like banks either but the inflation in building costs can be fierce. The windows we bought 10 years ago had doubled in price when we priced them last year. If you have a family its nice to have things redone while they're growing up. To often its when the kids leave that you have the money to then remodel to limited occupants. @JenD
2
Designers, whether interior designers or architects, are highly trained professionals and it is not "easier than people think". If you are going to use professionals, use them for the entire job. A relatively small early investment in the clarity and building knowledge that a designer brings can save thousands in changes down the road.
9
@Fred - I agree. We used a designer we had used previously, and she did a fantastic job working with us to give us what we wanted. Very reasonable flat-rate price too! We also used an architect to draw up the plans, again at a very reasonable flat-rate charge, which included the permit process. We used licensed professionals with great credentials and referrals for everything, and things went very smoothly.
I'm capable of handy-man type jobs, but for something like this we wanted it done right the first time.
6
Interesting article, and interesting comments!
After 20 years in our almost 50 year old tract home, we finally did a major remodel in 2017. We have a 1700 sf, 4 br/2ba home, and like may older tract homes, it lacks any real character. We took care of the pressing issues (roof replacement, bathroom remodel after a leak in the slab) but didn't have the time or money to do much else.
As empty-nesters, in 2017 we finally had the opportunity to transform the house into something a bit more suited to our lifestyle. We went open concept in a big way, turning the living room, family room, dining area and kitchen into a great room. High-end staninless steel appliances, quartz center island (9'x4.5') with a 4' dual-oven range, quartz counter tops, lots of new cabinetry and storage, barn doors, wine fridge, etc. Added a new HVAC system, skylights, and solar panels too. The full Monty.
We waited a long time until we could afford it, and we paid cash.
Open concept has been criticized here, but it works very well for us. We entertain a lot. I cook clean (clearing and washing things as I go). Guests can sit at the island and be where the action is but are safely out of the way. A 1200 CFM stainless hood keeps smoke and odors at bay. Barn doors effectively separates the great room from the rest of the house.
The only thing we might have done a bit differently is made the island a little smaller. My friend said "that's no island, it's a continent!"
11
The property brothers time tables are (financially and) math challenged. With 13 episodes per year, that would leave only 4 weeks for each renovation. (Not to mention the time to find a property, close on it, and plan the construction.)
They have multiple projects going on at once, they're very open about how what they do is not realistic for the average homeowner, especially when it comes to bothe budget and timeline. They have a project manager running each project and huge teams of people working in every location. I've read multiple interviews with Jonathan where he explains this and gives credit to his teams of managers, designers and builders.
12
RE: “I can’t stand it when I go into a house that’s listed and they say it’s been renovated, but all they’ve done is they’ve ripped out a kitchen and put in brand-new cabinets into the exact same bad layout, then all you have is a cramped, dated layout with your new kitchen,” Jonathan Scott said. “It’s worth spending the money on opening things professionally so you have a new footprint.”
This funny. I think the brothers ruin houses. They pull down walls so you walk in and see, hear and smell the kitchen from the front door. And the kitchens have to have granite and stainless steel, and a restaurant stove. It all looks like something an interior decorator picked out - 20 years ago. It was not attractive then and is still not. Don't forget the pot filler and the microwave oven built in below the counter top - the perfect height for a three or four year old child but not adults.
26
We get it. You like terribly designed homes.
--I won't watch the first half of the show—the formulaic format is ridiculous and annoying! Anybody signing up for the show would know by now that the first house they're shown is going to cost way more than they can afford. The writers/producers need to change the script—it's so annoying!
--I also don't watch when they're tearing down perfectly good kitchen cabinets. They need to make it more green and donate to Habitat or some other charity. Or just put it out on the street for others to take, like Nicole does.
--Otherwise, I can tolerate some of what's left of the show as I don't mind open concept (in the right house and in the right location in the house).
--But generally I don't watch the show much as I'd rather watch shows that concentrate more on how to do things, design and DIY.
8
@Patricia G By not watching you've missed tha the format changed at least 2 years ago. They tell folks that the first house is for inspiration and not in the buyers price range. They also donate cabinets to habitat for humanity when appropriate. Some, I suspect are too old or in poor condition. Finally, they are designing the house for the buyer, not the viewer.
2
The floor plan on our mid century modern ranch is eminently practical. The kitchen has a small, efficient work triangle, with a bar that separates cooking clutter from dining space. We love our original all-wood cabinets, which we repainted ourselves. The laundry room is also small, but we can close the door on the noise and unwashed laundry. There are walls to divide our living space for separate activities, quiet, and privacy, yet windows open each room to a different view of the outdoors.
Best of all, we have transitional spaces—patios, a carport verandah, and covered entrance—to blur the boundaries between inside and open air.
Take stock of what you have before you destroy the design.
22
Every time I sit down in a doctor's waiting room one of these home shows is on the TV. They can be mesmerizing because they take the viewer so far from reality.
I've worked with a general contractor pricing a lot of residential renovation projects over the years so I've mentally ticked off a few of the numbers as they flash up on the TV screen. Inevitably, there will be at least one "NO WAY" is that going to happen for THAT cost (e.g. raise and redesign an entire house roof, rafters, etc. to make for more interior space as shown on one show, though not Drew brothers').
These shows really do a disservice to actual licensed contractors who have to deal with permits and codes but they are a boon for the home supply stores. So often the first thing shown is people gleefully swinging sledgehammers in an old home and folks walking around unprotected while ogling the guts of the house. Lead paint, anyone?
13
If you are going to have part of the home be “ open concept”, be absolute,y certain to have insulation placed inside walls of any bedroom walls that adjoin the great room, including on the upper level.
I also like insulation placed into ceilings of first floor bedrooms. Sound proofs. Rooms stay much more comfortable in temperature, too.
17
@Jean while in wall insulation helps (I have it in my home), remember, sound is a mechanical wave that also travels through the framing of the house, the windows and window frames. You can muffle the sounds with insulation, but actual soundproofing is a specialty that is not normally accomplished in a regular house build, and it requires extra technical support.
1
I confess that I am a fan of Property Brothers and several of the other HGTV shows about home remodeling. "Fixer Upper," and "Love It or List It" are great fun to watch. The houses always look fantastic at the end (even if the people living in them are sometimes beyond quirky).
But I have to question how these major renovations get done on what appear to be pretty thin budgets. I don't know what the Scott brothers pay their tradesmen, or what type of price break they get on materials, but I doubt very seriously that anyone could do a major renovation in my hometown for what it costs in TV land.
32
@HEJ
That is the advantage of being a featured homeowner on the program: You get the services of Property Brothers discounted from overhead.
Plus you get the ridiculously fast time table of 6 to 7 weeks for project, because the tv production schedule means tradesmen are booked to work 7 days a week and well into the night.
19
I was a bit surprised at the comments here. Property Brothers is probably only meant to present ideas and show current trends to people interested in design and remodeling ...and to just enjoy watching the show. I don't think it was ever supposed to be relied upon as a serious or practical cost or construction guide.Serious remodelers should definitely contact a professional or do a lot of their own research. I have always enjoyed watching the show and still do... it is upbeat, the guys are pleasant and fun and the renovations are just beautiful. Open concept living, mostly meaning an open kitchen and family room has always been popular in the West, particularly California, so most people here love the look, which allows having the whole family gather together in one space, typically near the kitchen.
17
Open concept is beautiful ... in concept. I know people who bought into that and now hate it. Especially having their kitchen in their living room! I'm all for making two tiny rooms into a bigger one, especially if you entertain, but walls are great!
Having said that, it's what we did in our 100 year old house. The kitchen had been partitioned and we opened it into one bigger room. We also opened up the wall between the living room and stairs. Not a lot of "usable" space difference, but visually opened the room. And we get to see our pretty staircase.
We hire professionals for the "big" parts of projects, along with electrical, gas and plumbing. But we do the finish work ourselves and it saves a ton of money. By hunting down bargains, we did a 75% kitchen remodel for around $5,000. Appliances on sale, counter tops dirt cheap because they were last of the stock, and solid oak cabinets we simply did a strong cleaning and freshening.
Fortunes don't HAVE to be spent to update and enjoy your home.
21
@rino
Partial open plan also is convenient for older couples who have downsized from a traditional home.
2
The shows are ubiquitous in format and commentary. The clients seem to all collaborate on their actions and reactions. The designs and finished products are beyond predictable and boring. The only possible way to inject diversion in the "formula" would be to now take down the walls surrounding bathrooms when renovating. The reason? The same as always... Who would ever possibly want to be separated from their family and friends as they use the facilities???
12
I work for a local hardware store in an older neighborhood. When you go to hire a handyman/woman (few, but out there), get references. Call them up and check on how the job went, the time it took and how close the estimate was to the final cost.
There are very good handymen out there, but you would be amazed on how many come into our store and we have to talk them through the job. They then go back to the customer sounding like an expert. Well, they weren't when they walked into our store. . .
Most local hardware stores are happy to help their customers with their home improvement project. The other thing is that when we reach the end our our knowledge, we will tell you, we are not trying to sell ourselves as an expert to get business. If you are going to take on a home renovation, get to know the people at you local hardware store, they can be an unbiased resource, as well as a source of parts and tools.
41
@Bruce1253. So true! My local, family-owned (40+ years) hardware store has been a great source of fantastic recommendations to me for years. These folks work w/local contractors everyday. They know who is reputable.
They have never let me down and I make an effort to repay them by choosing them first vs. the ubiquitous, anonymous Big Box stores, with their ever-changing, untrained, unknowledgeable, and mostly "unavailable when you need them" staff.
Big Hi-5 to the wonderful, remaining, "local" hardware stores from a grateful, local neighborhood resident!
4
I disagree with remodeling on credit rather than saving until you can afford it ... esp. a room with fixtures. By the time you pay off the loan, energy- and space-saving will have advanced.
This past spring, we moved back to a 1968 house we bought in 2001. It's a classic, and we have no plans to remodel. But we *are* gradually updating, paying as we go. My sister, who finished a complete kitchen remodel last year, was amazed at the technology now available in the appliances we chose.
20
A few years ago we purchased a 100 year old home that has been renovated multiple times. The kitchen had one ceiling fixture that took only one 60 W light bulb. We fixed the electric and put it to standards and the cost was through the roof.
We want to renovate a bathroom, but we’ve been putting off by the thought of what’s behind the walls. Water doesn’t leak now, so we will not touch it.
15
@BWCA
We restored two different 100 year old homes in the past 30 years.
Replacing all the electrical wiring and upgrading to modern capacity electrical panel boxes is the most pressing safety upgrade.
Another absolutely other critical upgrade is to replace all the old plumbing, which is sized smaller, and which is often lead. Also, after decades, the interior of those old pipes is constricted and reduced by half because of all the funk buildup. Old pipes are disasters waiting to happen. And they WILL happen if the pipes are not replaced.
19
Open plans are great---for singles.
I, for one, do not always want to listen to sports/kids' shows.
And I don't like having to retreat to my bedroom every time I want to read quietly.
And it is hard to have a nice conversation with the tv blasting in the background.
No thanks.
76
We just built an 1100sf open concept house. One big living/dining/kitchen room and four small bedrooms, one downstairs and three up. The TV is upstairs in one of the bedrooms that we use as a TV room.
2
We recently took down a wall separating our kitchen from the dining/living areas and installed a huge kitchen island. Reason: When guests arrived, we couldn't get them out of the kitchen! Now they can either sit in the dining/living area and still chat with the cook (moi) or occupy a stool at the island for drinks and munchies.
4
@SLBvt TV's are not necessary in the main room.
Simple rule of thumb double the time and double the cost, I have renovated my New York City apartment twice and build a house in the Catskills same rule goes for fixer-upper’s.
10
Actually, we’ve always found π to be a much better multiplier for beginners.
Over the years, my husband (a realtor) and I have bought, rehabbed and resold eleven properties; each went over first walk through estimated time by at least π. As we gained experience, fewer went that far over the original, highly optimistic budget.
We learned a lot, and because we believe in child labor, taught our kids a lot too. They’re now both homeowners, with many projects. They, as we, call on professionals as needed, but sometimes the fun is in the doing: our son is installing his own solar panels. On budget, but if you include his time ....
11
“Some people will save up for three years, five years to do a renovation on their kitchen,” Jonathan Scott said. “But why not just do that renovation now and enjoy that kitchen?”
Why not? Because you will pay interest on that loan for years, driving up the cost of the reno. And because it's much easier to borrow money than to save it, so you will spend more than you would if you realized your own hard-earned cash is going into it.
With all the extraordinary debt that Americans are carrying right now, this is the worst advice the Property Brothers could possibly give---but then, they are not paying the bills.
72
@Virginia When the interest rate is 3%, as it has been for years, it makes sense to do the work.
2
@Virginia
Some people tapped home equity loans when that interest was deductible and rates decent.
For a badly dated, badly designed bathroom or kitchen, this might make sense.
How much will the house value jump in that particular market, at that time? A trusted accountant and banker one has known and used for years, plus a trusted realtor, can give advice and guidance.
4
Although I’m not a fan of these guys (outrageously unrealistic about the true costs of renos) I do agree with their dislike of interior designers. My few experiencers with designers is that they DO NOT listen and have wildly off-kilter visions if what *they* want. My advice is to read lots of design magazines, haunt Pinterest, and trust your own intuition. A skilled contractor may have good ideas if you push him/her for an opinion, too. Designers are a waste of your hard-earned money.
16
@Theo. Sounds like you’ve run across a lot of untrained decorators who imagine themselves to be designers. It’s a very different story if they are certified by a professional organization like ASID. These are people who can help you avoid expensive mistakes. They already know who all the best local contractors are. They know where it’s important to pay for quality and where it’s a much better idea to economize. They have access to many products you don’t. They know what things really should cost. They will have real space-planning skills (critical if you’re doing a renovation), and know how to design so that you can age in place.
15
@Theo; I spent a couple of decades as a remodeling carpenter/contractor, and a couple more as a cabinetmaker. The first job of the designers I've worked with or for is to convince their clients that they can't do anything without the designer's super special, high-end advice. They know nothing about construction, or even of gravity, have contempt for their contractors, and can't tell oak from chestnut. My standard mark-up for dealing with a designer was about 30%. It should have been 60%.
11
@Jordan F
This is 100% true. Choose a designer you can get along with. Interview a few. You won't be sorry. A good designer knows more than you can imagine and is happy to work towards your taste, although if you're smart you can learn a lot and expand your horizons.
5
My first real DIY was to disconnect the ducting from an ancient coal-converted-to-fuel-oil furnace and sticking a wood furnace in the basement. Disconnecting the old ductwork from the brick chimney, I saw it was crumbling, so I put in an insulated-wall stainless steel chimney. Demolition of the old chimney meant opening up the chimney box wall on the upper floors through the roof, and cleaning up that mess. It worked great, meaning I only had to get up once in the middle of the night to reload the stove (I forgot to mention this was in northern Minnesota). While tearing out the chimney, I found the shingling on the roof was as brittle as china, the granite as sparse as the hair on my head. So, I proceeded to reshingle, over the old ones (a common solution in those climes and in those days). And then I got a call from my dad asking if I could help him care for my Mom, dying of cancer, so he could keep working. Laid off, with no job prospects in sight, I said, "Sure." The roofing job was only 1/2 done, so I called some roofer friends and they said, go help your dad we'll finish it...free of charge. Weeks later, winter closing in and Mom still hanging on, I went back home to jury rig a connection from the old coal/oil furnace into the new chimney so the house could be heated when no one was home. The day I finished that, while eating supper, my sister called. I loaded my toddler son into my 56 Chevy PU and raced the 300 miles to Dad's. I never did finish the inside.
14
@Glen
A dose of realism for DIYers to be.
3
i gave up on PB when I watched Jonathon sledgehammer a wall only to find ductwork behind it - and proclaim to the homeowner - "you just don't know this stuff is here until you open up the wall." Totally ridiculous - if you stand next to the furnace and sketch out even a VERY BASIC floor plan where the ducts come off the unit you can pretty well figure out where they'll be in the walls, especially in a smallish house. It's a reality tv show, whuch means it has nothing to do with real construction or renovation.
61
@E I wonder how many of the 'surprises' are built into the show to create drama?
1
I think that part of these HGTV shows’ appeal is their sameness. They establish a template and follow it slavishly. They’re a numbing balm at day’s end.
Sometimes I wish the Scott brothers would tell their “clients” the truth: “We’re giving you currently fashionable finishes and colors that will look tired and dated in about 15 years.”
40
@Malahat How about in about 3 years!
2
Very irresponsible to tell people to take out a loan rather than wait a few more years while they are saving up for the renovation.
43
@JenD Borrowing money you can afford is NOT irresponsible - you make the payments from the money you would be putting into savings, and actually live with the improvements rather than longing for them. Didn't you buy your home on credit?
3
Currently renovating a home in the very hot Seattle market. Doing just two rooms to start. Have watched many of these shows and decided to let the professionals do it while following all of their recommendations: hire people with good referrals/reputations; do background checks; ask questions and be vigilant.
First contractor strung us along for 6 weeks (on a 3 week project) before simply disappearing while owing us more than $8k worth of work. We now have to pursue them in small claims court.
Since then, we have attempted to hire others to finish, but again contractors failed to do even the basics of what they committed to do. On several occasions, after taking a deposit, they refused to show up and we had to cancel the contract (fortunately, we got our money returned).
As I talked with numerous friends, neighbors, and family about our enormous frustration at the loss of time and money over a basic 2 room remodel, no one was in the least bit surprised. Most, in fact, seemed to feel our situation was par for the course in our hot market. THAT is why DIY is so popular - getting competent contractors is a far bigger challenge than learning to lay tile or plumb a bathroom.
I am sure that there are good, honest, reliable, and reasonable contractors working hard for their clients. Apparently, however, there are not enough to lift their overall reputation. One joke I heard more than once; "What is the difference between a contractor and a conman? Advertising." Good luck.
58
As a contractor, I hate to hear this. I have never advertised or marketed in any way and have stayed busy through referrals for more than a decade precisely because I get it. I don’t know why so many contractors don’t. It’s good for business and St Peter will look kindly on you as a bonus. Here’s a few tips for those evaluating contractors. First, look them up on your state’s licensing web site, which is also a good place to get other consumer protection information. Second, get a proper, detailed scope of work that describes exactly what you’re getting for your money and a fixed price. It should include a payment schedule and plenty of legal stuff as well. If you’re doing a decent sized job and the contract is incomplete and shoddy, the work likely will be too. As for money, California law dictates that I can take $1000 or 10%, whichever is less, as a deposit and can not bill in excess of expenses or for work not done. The client also has the right to hold back 10% of every payment until 30 days after the job is completed. Your state may not have these laws. If not, insist they’re are part of the contract. These are just the basics. I follow all of these rules, inform the client of their rights and give them a state of California pamphlet of how to evaluate a contractor and protect themselves. Lastly, contractors are people too and there are horrible clients as well. It’s not always the contractors fault, the client has some responsibilities as well and can share the blame.
37
@Matthew Great advice. From a client perspective I'd suggest that when the first dozen contractors don't measure up then keep looking. And when you find a good one treat them right.
3
@Eric
Only use contractors who are members of the Better Business Bureau, and the local home builders association,
Get recommendations from realtors and architects about which contractors are reliable.
Reputable contractors will not require a deposit. They have a line of credit, and only bill as they do work. On costly projects, they might require payment at several points during project for work done. That is reasonable, since they are small businessmen.
I am native to Seattle and have several relatives there, including a cousin who is one of the top real estate brokers. The hot market doesn’t excuse what you have faced. Don’t give up on finding reputable people.
3
We lived in an open modern home with soaring ceilings. It was so loud there was no where to hide when the kids had play dates...also it cost more to heat and cool that home than the one I live in now that is twice the size. I like the walls. The secret is each room needs to be well sized to make the room work..that is what we have today..a tradition NJ colonial - 4 over 4 and every room is a good size and that is why it works.
53
@Deirdre, yep, heating and cooling are one of the biggest hidden expenses/nuisances of open modern. Those high ceilings cost.
9
DIY always costs me more money, regardless of the cost of my time. It always turns out terrible, so I end up hiring someone to tear down what I've done and do it right in the end.
The only DIY work I do are clean the house, cook, replace light bulbs, manage my home network (it's related to my day job anyway), and an eventual replacement of a thermostat or light switch for smart ones. For everything else there's my wallet.
20
Well it depends on your know how and skills : if you are lucky enough to have one parent handy and knowledgeable it can work. This is the case for me and my boyfriend : we bought an empty loft and did the coatings, paintings, wood flooring, total IKEA kitchen and bathroom, some cinder blocks elements all perfectly done with excellent finishing quality (we are a bit maniacs) the contractor dit the plumbing, wall construction, electricity and tilings. It turned out beautifully BUT it took time, good tools, craftsmanship (we were experienced handy men) and have a love of DYIing
So do it if you have the knowledge, patience and ability to live in a construction site for a while i.e. no kitchen for 2 months !
1
Take this show for what it is, entertainment. Its a bit unrealistic about rehab prices, and the number of times they've been surprised to find out there's a load bearing wall they didn't know about bothers me. All that said, what bothers me the most is when the hand a sledgehammer to the new buyers and then destroy the old kitchen. I'm a cabinetmaker, and its much faster to just unscrew them from the wall and, no matter how cheap the cabinets are, they can be recycled. Put them out on the front lawn and they'd be gone in no time to someone that needs them.
151
@Frost: Thank You. They may be entertaining tv show personalities, but they should NEVER be finding themselves in situations where they are surprised to find any wall is load-bearing, whether it’s on camera (unforgivable) or not. I’m hard-pressed to think of a more irresponsible approach to remodeling.
20
@Frost
I can't watch the destruction phase, too much needless waste
White cabinets, Open Concept and kitchen islands will be the avocado and autumn gold appliances of the next iteration of kitchen design.
If you have an older house, try and retain its skeleton, because there is no going back, and there is no way to restore period charm once you have wrecked it. I can't tell you how many realtors I have offended by lamenting the loss of original moldings and trim that were sacrificed in the name of "open concept" in turn of the century houses.
If we buy older homes, we are stewards of their accumulated history. Nothing new in the way of building materials is as durable as the original. Windows that lasted centuries, and could be repaired get torn out and replaced with windows that will only last a few decades.
94
@ach
The only brand of replacement windows approved for National Trust for Historic Preservation listing are the modern windows made by Marvin. If your originals were wood, they will be made in wood. If originals were metal, they will be made in metal. But unlike the originals, they will be thermal double panes with argon insulating gas between the glass. And they can—and should—be ordered with low-E coating, which will retain the heat or air condition of interior better, and which will cut the UV exterior rays that chase fading of wood and fabric inside the house.
People who restore their historic homes often have Oriental carpets and art. Why restore the house and destroy the valuable art by retaining faulty windows.
Also, the exterior noise is reduced vastly with the modern glass.
Marvin Windows will last just as long as the frames of the originals did.
13
All of these shows rush through the process (I realize there’s lots of editing) with every camera angle from a distance. I’d like to see what the tile looks like from a foot away, a level held up against a door jamb and a follow up visit a year or so later to size up the quality of the work and materials.
40
What they did to Drew Scott's lovely old Hancock Park house in LA, was criminal. Like all HGTV shows, it's all about knocking out walls and making things "open concept", whether or not that is appropriate for the house.
The first thing one needs to understand before remodeling, is that one must never overbuild the house or the neighborhood. Doing either, is a financial disaster. DIY usually looks like DIY, and unless one lives in such a neighborhood where everyone does this, it's going to look terrible.
Average for a new kitchen $23,000 - high end $55,000? In what parallel universe? One can do a new kitchen, not move any walls or appliances and keep all ones appliances for about $30,000. If one can put together the cabinets (and has the space to do so) an Ikea kitchen might come in at $23,000 with builder-grade new Same kitchen including appliances and some moving, but nothing major, $55,000. High end kitchen (Subzero etc), moving walls & appliances, quartz countertops etc? Closer to $100,000. appliances.
I have remodeled multiple times and refinanced in order to do so. But I had a VERY low mortgage to begin with, and interest rates have failed over 34 years, and I was never at risk of being upside down in a mortgage. I also did not overbuild my house or my neighborhood.
Will I make a lot of money when I sell? Probably not, but I've enjoyed living in the house for 34+ years and will continue to do so as long as possible. I certainly will not lose money.
39
@India Totalky agree. Where did they get their kitchen remodel prices?
13
@India
Actually I disagree. We renovated using excellent but small contractors and they installed a beautiful IKEA kitchen, Italian tile, all new appliances (IKEA brand, which means Whirlpool but backed by the fabulous 5 year IKEA warranty), and included relocating the kitchen so moving water lines, electric, etc. Total cost $25K and that’s in Canadian dollars and our prices are always higher. The planning took us a year. The job took six weeks. It can be done, both well and within a budget.
5
@Beatrice Lawson if you read my post, I did say that an IKEA kitchen could be done for that price. I assume you assembled the cabinets yourselves. If one must pay for this to be done (often off-site due to soace limitations), then the savings diminishes considerably.
2
Nicole Curtis of "Rehab Addict" is infinitely better. I like that she restores homes and keeps their original character. I enjoyed PB but now all the houses and furnishings look the same. I've always liked movies and shows where whenever there was a party the different rooms had different conversations and happenings. Open concept is great for people who are afraid to feel left out when they are prepping their kitchen while the party is going on, or are afraid of not being able to (constantly) supervise their children.
57
@moodbeast
I'm fond of her way of tackling projects as well, and the real life rescues. She's also fairly clear about exposing the work that's needed
25
@moodbeast, agreed. Curtis has real respect for historical homes and won’t just tear stuff out to be trendy.
7
@moodbeast - came here to post just this.
My husband and I recently bought a fixer upper Victorian (better condition than most of Nicole's projects, but still needs work). Rehab Addict has quickly become one of our favorite shows (Restored with Brett Waterman is up there too, but doesn't air nearly enough). It's highly informative and relevant.
My mom keeps telling me to watch Property Brothers ("the one with the handsome twins") because of their remodel prowess. I don't think Property Bros. is good for that - it's just entertainment. Wall-bashing-out trendy renovations of contemporary homes doesn't have anything to offer to those of us trying to respectfully restore a Victorian. I counter and tell her to watch Rehab Addict to get a better sense of the types of issues we're actually dealing with.
In general, I appreciate that Rehab Addict focuses on actually fixing the house while de-emphasizing the inordinate amount of fretting over budget and numbers you get on other HGTV shows. It's also obvious that Nichole is for real and does a ton of work herself, given that she's always in ratty work clothes and dirty (unlike the brothers with their impeccably clean clothes and perfect hair).
4
This article reads like a commercial for these guys and provides no real information about home renovation.
100
So proud of these boys from Canada.
8
I have paid to have two homes renovated. What a waste of money! The contractors were terribly expensive and mostly lackluster. One even left human excrement in my trash can.
So when my wife and I bought a home together, we decided to renovate it ourselves. Guided by YouTube videos and Family Handyman books, we saved ourselves about $10-$15K. There were a few tasks we just couldn't handle (e.g., putting in a new HVAC system). There were also portions of projects we left to professionals (e.g., cutting three hard-to-cut tiles). But most renovation projects just take some research and patience. Sure it waa frustrating at times. But no more frustrating than dealing with contractors tbh.
I am a DIY convert!
14
Open kitchens are great as long as you don't cook in them. Once you undertake a serious party, the downsides start to appear. Unless your guests find beauty in your dirty pots and other cooking gear. It's like those glass-top ranges that are so shiny and beautiful in the showroom. Once installed at home and put to use, the grease splatters and the pots boil over. From then on it's wipe and wipe some more, and even so they never again look showroom shiny.
40
@John Binkley
As far as I'm concerned, open concept means kitchen and family room. It does not mean formal dining room or living room.
I usually cook BEFORE the party and leave things in an almost-ready state and do most cleaning beforehand.
If it's a casual party, most people hang around the kitchen anyway and family room.
If it's a more formal party you sit in the dining room, usually away from the kitchen.
8
What’s in that N.C. water that your ceramic cook top isn’t shiny and new looking? If you wipe the top down with a fresh wet paper towel and dry it with a clean dish towel after every use will sparkle. Use the cleaner your manufacturer recommends sparingly and skip using other glass cleaning products. My 48” Aga induction range (Brits call it a hob) is as beautiful as the day it emerged from the packing crate.
13
@John Binkley
Clean as you cook! Get used dishes into the dishwasher as they are used!
Induction cooktops heat much faster than gas, and have better temperature control. The surface stays cool, and only the pan and contents are heated. So you can instantly wipe anything that spills. No need for surface to cool first. Cleaning as you cook has never been so easy!
And they are by far the most efficient and environmentally friendly stove heat source! Great modern improvement!
(They also won’t cause a gas explosion during an earthquake, in parts of nation where that is a risk!)
3
This “ open concept “ has become ridiculous. Sure, most people don’t want to live in a maze of tiny rooms. But I don’t want my kitchen, and cooking, visible from the front entry. Privacy is way underrated, and opening up shouldn’t mean living in a warehouse. Seriously.
85
The best thing I ever did was find and treasure the finest general contractor in Arizona. After that, his cadre of specialists - Tile Guy, Plumbing Guy, Roof Guy, Electrical Guy, Woodwork Guy - became some of my closest friends. It's not a question of DIY - it's a matter of understanding that what needs to be done can be done the best way possible. There are no shortcuts but construction can be done thriftily if you've got the right people. Take the time to do things right and save all the time and money it would take to fix things that were done wrong.
23
@GWPDA
Phoenix area here. Can I have the contractor's name? Just post it here, and I promise to keep it hush hush, know one will ever know.
/s
12
@GWPDA
I'm also interested in this contractor....Please share...
2
@GWPDA Where in Arizona and would you take the finder's fee in cash?
3
It’s irresponsible to advise clients to borrow now against their home instead of saving over several years to do their renovation. Saving up is a lost art and can give you a greater sense of accomplishment when you get to pay cash.
66
Obvious tip but...Check to make sure that your contractor’s license is up to date. If they say that they can do the work without permits, fire them. Permits and inspections can help protect you from bad work.
33
I’m a contractor. I’ve seen some DIY successes, but mostly not. If you do hire someone, do it right.
-Contractor must have up to date license, bond and GL insurance
-Get all necessary permits and inspections
-professional contract with VERY detailed scope of work, fixed price, payment schedule, explanation of change order process and plenty of legal stuff. An incomplete and shoddy contract is a predictor of like work.
-Never give more than $1000 or 10% deposit, whichever is less. Never pay in advance for materials or in excess of work completed. These are predictors of a bad contractor and should be stipulated in contract.
-don’t do time and materials or cost-plus contact. It may even be illegal in your state.
-Do not ever, ever work without a contract.
-if you get past all of that, your contractor is probably pretty good. treat your contractor well and with respect and some deference for his or her skills and experience.
-don’t try to chisel every last bit of savings out of the contractor. If he’s not making money, you’ll likely suffer. And it’s disrespectful and just not right. And professionalism, skill and reliability are worth paying for.
These are the basics. If you follow them you have a good chance of being ok. If not, you have only yourself to blame, not the contractor.
13
@Matthew: The number of people who get work done with no contract is astonishing to me.
Beyond HAVING a contract, I'd add that it's a good idea to have an attorney to review the contract; it's helpful to have another set of eyes for something like this.
1
@Matthew
I had work done without a contract - I mean one that really spells out the details of what is to be done .. as you say, NEVER ever do that. It was the most expensive single mistake I've ever made--- I would say problem number one was that the Contractor did not have the skills, or at least his workers did not - AND had too many irons in the fire at one time, so was not properly supervising he work. He was a good salesman - and made me realize I am not a very smart negotiator on my own.
1
Really enjoy watching Jonathan and Drew redo homes with their unflappable style and attitude. Would want to see more recycling and less smashing and destroying good materials. It's good for the planet and the budget.
47
They are unwatchable.
25
I know, totally. I’m addicted.
1
All of these shows encourage the most wasteful attitudes possible. In pursuit of cookie cutter designs--open plan!--entire perfectly usable kitchens are ripped out and tossed into a dumpster. I'd love to know how many cubic yards of cabinets demoed because they were the "wrong" style, or appliances whose crime was not being stainless steel are now cluttering up landfills. HGTV has a lot to answer for!
95
@kb
More than any other room, kitchens get used. Every day. The combination of use, heat, water, and grease take their toll. They get worn out. Yes, you can reface things, but that simply forestalls the inevitable.
So when someone tosses a kitchen, it probably makes sense.
3
@kb Couldn't agree more. The waste I see in these homes, not to mention the 20 somethings whining that the house( at 2500 sq ft) is too small. I grew up in a house with one bathroom, postage stamp kitchen and don't think I was living poor
50
@kb
Especially when the cabinets are in good shape structurally, and made of good wood ( including plywood - now a very pricey material for the box) ); those are valuable resources.
4
Glad the bros think design is easy. I have looked at numerous "redos" of tired old ranches in my search for one to do myself. I always wish that these renovators had really used a design professional since you'll get a renovation that is about you through the process.
Also, I wish these renovators/flippers would stop installing a house full of grey, wide plank laminate flooring. The stuff is just awful. Every house I look at where that has been done, I add $15-$20K to my budget so they can be ripped out and hardwoods put in.
44
Open concept is LOUD.
33
@DAS, and it looks exhausting, like you can’t just settle in a room...you have to be going through it.
4
When doing the kitchen demolition don't take a sledgehammer to the cabinets as I've seen on Property Brothers. It makes for exciting TV but it is faster and less dusty to just unscrew the cabinets from the wall. If they are in good condition they can be donated to freecycle or the habitat for humanity restore.
146
@gourmand Or...if you have a garage, put them in there.
2
@gourmand I recently caught a newer episode where they actually carefully removed the cabinets in the house and donated them. Couldn't believe my eyes. Perhaps the producers caught wind that lots of viewers don't like the waste in trashing perfectly serviceable cabinets.
4
@gourmand - I would have happily sledged my old cabinets. They were pressed board with white laminate, and were actively disintegrating in toxic sawdust into anything I cooked a without a lid.
But aside from that - especially with old, real wood cabinets that are out of date but useful, it is criminal to just destroy them. And I love the idea that Habitat can use items in good condition.
When I bought my fixer upper, my new neighbors advised me to 'take it slow' and 'to realize it will take 10 years.' They were right. I have a couple of nightmare stories--the previous owners did sport wiring, and saved $10 not using waterproof caulk in bathrooms and windows. Let's just say, I had some exciting moments discovering stuff due to rotten wood. I mean--life threatening discoveries.
30
From witnessing renovation projects as an on the job electrician and doing some renovating myself I think what ever you are told by the contractor (or what ever you tell yourself) multiply by 3 the time it will take and the money it will require.
32
I love the show, watch it often and think the patter is charming. But : I'd like to know what city the house is in too. Also I hate the use of gray paint everywhere. Is there a more depressing color ?
Open floor plans with a big kitchen front and center leave me cold. Neither I nor my guests should have to look at the kitchen sink-empty or piled up- while eating. It is becoming more common to hear of these really big, expensive houses having a small, working kitchen located behind the showy marble, granite, tiled, fancy appliances kitchen. Only serving platters-carefully curated-make an appearance in that one. Ditto the glass doored fridge. The real messy business takes place behind that dreaded appurtenance- a wall. As an adult I prefer living in my small 1930's bungalow which has a civilized swinging door between small formal dining room and small kitchen. I think the conversation is better and one lingers. But I think the show has many good points. And showing people that the house that they think they want is unaffordable, often by $300 to $500 thousand is sobering. Real estate prices are becoming unsustainable I fear. Maybe there should be more conversation about that and family life. That sort of debt has many ripples. Spend some family time decluttering, scrubbing and painting. You might love your house again. And where does all that clutter go in those shows ? No one ever explains about that.
55
@Consuelo
The higher priced episodes are in Toronto (with telltale snow, and the street trolling or suburban high speed trains showing up in episodes).
Others are in USA, filmed during winter.
8
@Consuelo..The shows lately have been filmed in Nashville, for some reason.
2
@Consuelo
A real kitchen hidden behind a show kitchen!what a hoot.
I second your dislike of gray as the dominant color: especially given the rainy, grey, fall and winter we've had in the Northeast, deliberately making a kitchen/home permanently overcast is distressing.
4
After watching several episodes, I realized I like my walls. So, no thank you!
29
When I built my own home in 1999, I hired contractors who were willing to do the work and also teach me how to perform their task. The idea served me well because many of the contractors did less than quality work or failed to show up and complete their assignment. Basically, my project would never get done.
However, given my approach, I had my certificate of occupancy in 11 months. Not bad for a first time builder.
14
Ugh - I find these goofballs' dorky patter very off-putting, and their design/furniture/colors not at all to my taste. All these fixer shows seem very formulaic - tear out all the walls and character of a home, and turn into an open-plan minimalist apartment. Maybe great visually for a TV show "reveal", but are these open-plan spaces really so great for living? Also it seems they rarely consult the home-owner on the plan/designs, in some cases actively banning input. Excuse me? There's no way I would give someone else my checkbook and carte blanche for the decisions regarding the home I am going to live in.
In any event, I would rather retire a year earlier than spend $50K to re-do the somewhat dated but perfectly functional little kitchen in my 1960's ranch. To each his/her own!
35
We just sold our fixer upper in the Midwest. Even after 110k in work over 7 years, we really weren't finished, so the next guy will be left with renovating the kitchen and second bathroom. We are renting in our new city and trying to decide if we want a fixer upper from the 50s/60s plagued by the same charming problems of our last house or a brand new house (there is pretty much nothing in between where we are). To be honest, I'm tired and not ready to get back into renovation mode anytime soon. It is so nice having my weekends back for relaxation!
17
My husband and I retired and bought a modest house -- absolutely nothing fancy -- but we spend our money traveling the globe instead of staying home looking at our new kitchen. Nothing we put into the house could be more beautiful than a nighttime cruise on the Seine, or lunch with a view in Santorini, or a long look at Velazquez's Las Meninas.
102
Spending all that time in airports and on airplanes and surrounded by tourists? I’d much rather spend a quiet afternoon cooking in a nice kitchen - nothing fancy. Plus it’s easier on the planet.
56
@Matthew
Emma's comment, and your reply should be bulletin board material, the perfect "call and response" example of the wonderful diversity among our temperaments.
20
@Emma Ess: To each their own, but honestly, who sits around *looking* at their kitchen? Nobody I know!
I don't care about Santorini; have had a very, very long look at Las Meninas (and many others by Velazquez) at the Met Museum.
And, IMO, nothing could be more beautiful than being with the people who are dearest to me in my comfy home!
4
The hapless couples are also rich most of the time. and locales usually not identified. But they are affable and don't plug product lines as much as the fallen Chip and Joann.
15
I only wish we had the original 1948 kitchen in our house. I suspect I might be able to work with that. Unfortunately, ours was a bank-owned rehab. They tore out all the existing cabinets, counters, and flooring and replaced them with the very cheapest builder-grade materials. They also left half the already small kitchen with no cabinets at all.
29
@Wendy
So why did you buy it? Did you look first?
1
One should think empirical when doing a floor plan. Living rooms and kitchens demand more space than bedrooms. Also pay attention to circulation, how humans move thru the spaces and how the spaces relate to each other. Plan on 2 to 2 and 1/2 times more in cost and time frames than you think it will entail.
12
How does HomeAdvisor come up with these costs for renovations? As an architect - developer, those numbers don’t exist in most urban markets unless the scope of work is limited. Sure you can save some money by DIY projects by not incurring designer costs and contractor fees,but unless you’re dedicated and have enormous amount of time, be prepare to spend twice those renovation figures. It’s not the 1950’s any longer...
47
@Steve Alicandro I agree. I spent about $50,000 on a kitchen remodel, and it wasn't all that high end, except for granite countertops. We did have to upgrade plumbing and electrical, which accounted for about $15,000--and that was 15 years ago.
17
@Steve Alicandro They do not include the labor rates on the show, just material costs.
14
Absolutely agree, Steve. Definitely double the article’s estimates (but budget for more re: change orders & unexpected problems). I just finished a 4 year mid-century restoration (my 7th) - there is no way around it unless you are a *very* skilled DIY’er or if you don’t mind “good enough”.
6
I note that what is given is the asking price of homes and the buyers’ budget. How about market value? After spending the miney to renovate can the house be sold ?
2
I love their show but like all of these types of home makeover shows they get an unrealistically large bang for their buck when they renovate. Do they not mention labor costs? I have seen many shows in which the design experts renovate entire bathrooms for $900, redo porches for $200 etc., makeover entire homes for 50k. I wish!
59
@Theresa
A friend saw Drew ( or maybe Jonathan?) at a book signing and asked him about those incredibly low costs. How did they do it? easy.
Labor was NOT included. That's just nuts
89
Start by cleaning and organizing your house, all the expensive renovations in the world won't matter if it's still cluttered and dirty. Then hire and pay for really good painters and paint, the best investment I ever made.
140
One person's idea of a quality job or good contractor may not be up to your standards so before plunking down part of your retirement for that new kitchen, obtain solid references, read reviews, and ask informed questions. And even then, there is not guarantee...
19
Once that show stops being about them and their antics and more about real building and renovations maybe then I'll start watching it again. Right now it's just two clowns punching each other in the arm.
50
@Tom
I watched when they first started, but left it after about five shows. Seen one, seen them all. I agree, it's all about what madcaps they are. That, and contrived deadlines and surprises. They've been renovating houses for years, and still don't know that there are pipes in kitchen walls?
30
Open plan living sounds great until you boil som cabbage...
170
@Gary
Plus where are kids supposed to sneak around if Mom can see everywhere from the new island?
15
I’ve always wondered about that!
9
Having spend five years of weekends, holidays and vacations and every dollar we could spare or borrow to renovate a hundred year-old house (while we were living in it!), I'd never undertake a major renovation project again.
Poor initial design and construction are a bad starting point, but consider that for everything new you do, you must first undo the original thing or materials -- and dispose of them.
For anyone starting out, consider that it's better to build to current standards, with current materials, than to try to undo somebody else's bad design judgement and bad workmanship. The Property Brothers, whose shows we enjoy, only infrequently expose the dirty underbelly of home renovations. Think asbestos, worn out plumbing, inadequate heating, absence of insulation and weatherization . . . The list goes on . . .
It's said that, "They don't build 'em like they used to." Thank heavens for that!
24
@David C. Murray
True - but most older homes will always excel in the charm and personality department. We're in the process of doing all those difficult upgrades. Hard work - but it will be worth it. No one would be able to build our house (1897) in this day and age. They are worth preserving.
45
Amen. After living in a 200+ year old home for 34 years we fantasize about a NEW house w/ no or few issues. It would be nice to not have to scrape, paint, fix, fuss, agonize, screwball around, etc for at least a few years. Now when we finish at one end we have to start over again at the other end.
12
@Peter R Oh, new construction does not equal no problems. Quite the opposite. In many markets, big construction companies have monopolized the real estate for the most desirable residential locations (anything close to town or to mass transit). And when you get into construction with these large builders, buyer beware. Just look up the Philadelphia Inquirer's excellent reporting about homes built in the early 2000s right up through today that are now rotting from within because of shortcuts on construction and materials. From our own experience, we had to replace *every* window on our home built in 2004 after several cracked and leaked after the first few years. The home was built by one of the biggest regional construction firms in central Pennsylvania, and the one-year warranty was useless for our predicament.
61
Remodeling 101:
-Take the $ estimate, then add 90%.
-Take the estimated time frame, then double it
-The two most commonly asked questins once remodeling has commenced: “Where’s the contractor?” “What’s behind the wall.
-Most useful notion to keep in mind if one is remodeling a home for their own occupancy or use: “Buy expensive- cry once; buy cheap-cry many times.”
95
@tim s.
Exactly. no exaggeration.
4
I often wonder if the open kitchen/living room phase will go away when these young couples have children. Babies are fine in an open space but as they become older, quarrelsome children, parents may discover what a relief walls and doors are.
As for adults choosing wide-open spaces - that is great as long as everyone occupying the space enjoys the same things. I like walls between the den - where my husband is watching sports on tv - and the breakfast room, where I can enjoy the newspaper. Too much open space is just too much, imho.
186
@Lenore
It all depends on the house. Sometimes, especially with smaller homes, you gain significant usable square footage removing a wall.
Of course removing walls in a historic house to create a modern inside is kind of rediculous, but opening up an otherwise boring, dark track home by removing the wall between the kitchen and the dining room really does make a small home much more pleasant.
Unless of course you like cooking in private. . .
Certainly the Property Brothers don't suggest removing walls in usable bedrooms or dens as those rooms are very valuable for resale.
14
No one needs to see what happens in the privacy of my kitchen.
65
@Tall Tree
Removing a wall does not increase the square footage significantly you only gain the floor space the wall occupied.
4
I do love watching these shows, including Fixer Upper, but there's a sameness to the designs. Open kitchens are fine as long as they're not in the front of the house; I don't want the cluttered kitchen to be the first thing guests see when they come in the front door.
33
@JKF in NYC
Exactly. Those open kitchens are only for people with minimalist lifestyles. Anyone who actually cooks and feeds a family, and celebrates holidays, has too much stuff in the kitchen to want it to be on display.
70
From what I have seen a lot of easy "upgrading" can be done with a lot of decluttering, a couple buckets of paint and maybe some new appliances and a new sofa.
I am always astonished that people can't imagine anything and they need HGTV to figure it out.
104
This. The number of times my husband and I have watched Love It or List It, and said, if they just decluttered the house would look amazing. Most have good bones. Just some paint and new appliances would do the trick.
50
@debsen
Or fix the water leaking that they have just ignored and then complain when it's expensive to fix the roof or cracked foundation.
7
@Two in Memphis
It often looks to me like the “before” is intentionally made to look even more cluttered—staged that way by production crew—zoo make the “after” more dramatic. I especially think this happens on the HHTV Love It or List It shows.
2
My husband and I own neighboring 1800s houses in a small New England town. We live in one and rent out the other. They're beautiful old houses with the original floorplans intact, meaning individual rooms and winding layouts. To each his own, but I dislike seeing houses that are antique on the outside but McMansion on the inside. There are so many new houses built with vaulted great rooms and 500-sq ft spa bathrooms, why does anyone need to destroy history to create more?
203
@Jmolka
AGREED! I stopped watching this show when I saw them remove and trash original, gorgeous light fixtures and woodwork in a house they were supposedly "fixing up".
I understand most older homes need a bit or refreshing and of course often wiring and plumbing needs to be brought up to code but if you want a modern aesthetic please don't buy a century old home.
3
Hopefully the “open concept” blight will finally wane.
150
Absolutely. I see pictures of 1780s or 1850s houses with their guts showing, no dividing walls, and all painted white, and my heart breaks.
And I wonder what happened to all those great doors and hardware, to irreplaceable trim, to the old fireplaces.
All the charm and proportion renovated away.
206
@B. I agree. A friend of mine "redid" an 1800 New England Farmhouse, which was beautiful and quirky. It now looks like every other house. She removed 200 year old wainscoting. I cried.
58
@Matthew
I thought I was the only person who doesn't like open floor plans.
22
last night I watched some TV Fixer Upper show - where in 30 minutes they have transformed a boring bungalow into desirable state of the art with aspiring purchasers ooh'ing and aah'ing and all saying they want to buy it. Looks great.
But having worked selling real estate I've also seen too many unfinished renovations for sale - cause: divorce - I don't want to go there so refused my partner's request for a new kitchen after I took the existing design to a professional who studied it thoughtfully for some time before finally saying 'you know - I cannot improve on this design' - so we live with our 36yo kitchen - and it still works perfectly.
My shining memory of selling real estate was walking into an original old house where the obviously poorer working class couple had kept the kitchen immaculate and shining - with 1950s-60s laminex furniture - it was amazing like a new kitchen back in time - and it felt like - instead of money - what had been spent there was just so much love - it was just beautiful.
So - like I read a tip the other day - start with 'what do I already have that I think I need ?' - look at what you have, and be content with that - can be a big step ahead of the hedonic treadmill - always running to try to keep up with the mythical Joneses ...
159
@Frank very good points, all. Isn't it a joy to walk into a wonderfully maintained older structure?
If you have an older kitchen with good design and solid cabinets, one "refresh" to consider might be new doors and drawer fronts. Much cheaper than all new cabinets, no need to blow out the kitchen (you still have full use of it), and the swap can be done incrementally, often DIY. A good kitchen distributor will work with you on this. After all, their business is to sell you stuff. That and maybe some new light fixtures, particularly LED under cabinet, can do wonders.
53
Yep. Problem is that doesn’t make for very good HGTV plots and, in turn, that doesn’t get much business for HGTV’s advertisers. So.....
They rely on “updated” and “upgrade” and “bonus room” and white kitchens and subway tile and double-sinked bathrooms (who are these people that are using the bathroom simultaneously?).
22
Open concept living is a cheap excuse for a builder to paste a kitchen at one end of a big box.
117
@GUANNA. I don't know how people stop cooking grease landing on their furniture. I think many open concept people don't cook at home.
77
"kitchens for people who snack"
48
Well we live in a fully open space (a loft) and cook from scratch nearly everyday : no greasy walls with a good range hood. The only cons being that you need to be tidy and clean up everything when you cook and after meals and that some food a best avoided like pan cooked salmon. And our kitchen space is quit minimalist with only the kettle, toaster, kitchen aid and cooking tools pot on the counter and our kitchen is quite practical
8
Upgrade renos to whatever you can afford and ENJOY THEM and do them when you move in or soon after. Too many people renovate and wished they had done it sooner.
21
We are one of those renovators who took most everything out of our condo kitchen. Then bec it was so well designed, put the new cabinets etc. back where the old ones were. We HATE open kitchens, and opening up ours would have meant moving heating and AC and exhause. However, we are open to opening up other rooms
13
In most cases major remodels are hazardous to your wealth. The homes in your neighborhood generally have a similar amenities. If you spend to improve over and above this standard you will not recoup investment as it will not appraise out. Better you save your dollars and buy a house in the neighborhood which already has the amenities you desire.
27
@Francisco Pancho Villa
buy the worst house in the best neighbourhood... where we live (on and island near the ocean) land is worth more than most of the homes new or old.
as an architect/developer, i know that renovating my 1950s bungalow to what I'd like would be impractical and remove the original character - and so we live with its quirks and keep the land which is doubling in value every 5 years for our retirement fund.
6
@Francisco Pancho Villa
But if you are attached to your neighborhood, and want to live in the house for the rest of your days, it makes perfect sense to invest in the house -- for your own pleasure -- even if other houses in the area are not up to that standard.
10
Until the real estate market wakes up one day and realizes the risk of rising tides, extreme hurricanes and salt-water incursion of drinking water. I sold a gorgeous FEMA compliant Miami Beach waterfront house I built because the climate change hand-writing was on the wall. Oh, and National Flood Insurance will be dead in the not-too-distant future.
8
I didn't have the money to renovate my ugly 70s poorly home made kitchen and bathroom. Now that I actually have the money I can't find someone to come in and fix it since the job is too small for them and not worth their time. Next time I will go with a new build now that I can afford it.
11
@hilliard
A new-build may disappoint you. Developers cut corners when they build them. And if the change in your kitchen is small, what's the problem? Sooner or alter, someone will do it.
16
@Eva
by new build she may mean, custom new build in which she has control over those things as opposed to buying a nearly completed home with cheapest spec layouts and details...
1
@hilliard
A kitchen cabinet store may have recommendations for you. You might have to wait while the contractor handles other customers on list first.
Ditto for bathroom fixture stores, who often have good recommendations.
1
Home Advisor is a subscription service for contractors. I used the service and was totally scammed and cheated by a contractor I selected from their website. It cost me dearly financially and emotionally. Before you use the site be aware that it is merely a repository of contractors
84
Oh my goodness! Yes, NEVER use one of the internet thingies, ALWAYS ask your neighbors and even local real estate agents for recs. Try to get as local as you can. Our old-school guy lives 1/4 mile away and knows all about the neighborhood, the history of the houses, the quirks of the town permit/inspection process, and all the other good guys to bring in as well as all the resources for doing obscure fabrication. Invaluable.
94
@Duffie agree though I was able to negotiate the price, the guy he used to plaster skim coat my ceilings ruined my floors because he was too lazy to use all the drop cloths I left to protect it. I took pains to protect everything and he seriously damaged my wood floors
13
@Duffie. A neighbor actually found a contractor in my neighborhood. He was a perfectionist like me. I spent a lot on my 600 sq ft Italianate Villette and walked away with over $200K. I kept being told that I wouldn't get my money back but the house was in Berkeley.
6
I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that they are recommending loans for a home improvement project, given their partnership with Chase. But that is awful advice! By all means, renovate if you can afford it, but most people will be better off with an ugly kitchen and less debt.
Also, while DIYing is not for perfectionists (unless they have serious skills), the sense of accomplishment and money saved is certainly worth it to me. As long as you understand that structural changes need an engineer and your power should be off when messing with electricity, go for it.
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And cross your fingers it is all up to code all and passes inspection - if you do it with permits. Then later that your DIY does not end up being a problem when you decide to sell and the buyer’s inspector/engineer points out it was all done wrong.
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@Matthew if you neglect the permits, when you try to sell the place it will bite you in the butt -- the municipality will be asking all sorts of questions and you will pay the permit fees anyway, often with a 100% penalty added.
Until you clear the paperwork up, there will be no Certificate of Occupancy for the new owners, so no sale.
Most code offices, and code officers, are not seeking adversarial relationships. In reality they are protecting your interests by seeing that the job meets the minimum standards of the codes. But this definitely is not a time to follow Admiral Grace Hopper's advice that it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission. So ask questions before, not after.
(Disclaimer: I am a nationally-certified commercial building and electrical inspector.)
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Yep. DIY beyond the most basic home projects is lunacy unless you are licensed. Anything that involves electric, plumbing, structural needs to be left to a qualified professional.
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Like many women, I complain daily about my house. It has been restructured and enlarged. But, we can't make it wider, longer, taller. The city enforces that. So we do the best we can. In my city, it is hard to find people who have a basic knowledge of design. In my renovation, the guys did not have a ruler or tape measure. Things just don't work when the beginning of a wall starts out 4 inches and finishes at 1 inch. Good luck to all of you, and we all wish we had the Property Brothers working with us. Thank you HGTV!
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as a designer i disagree with the purported savings that can be had by scratching out a design on a napkin with a contractor... most designers can save you time and money (sometimes discounts on materials I get 30% off) and keep an eye on your contractor to ensure it's done as drawn and estimated - and anyways you need proper drawings for permits.
i'd love to help you out but I haven't worked in you area for 10 years now and I'm probably out of the loop. Good luck!
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