How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Increase Your Home Value in Boston?

Do you walk into your kitchen, and your first thought is how drab and dull it looks? If so, it may be time to consider remodeling your kitchen. If you live in Boston, a mid-range kitchen upgrade can increase the value of your home, and you can expect an ROI of around 57% of your cost. When it comes to how happy homeowners are with the results on a scale of 1-10, those who did their renovations themselves rated their score as 8.9, while when having a professional do it, their score was 10.   

Interested in learning more about your kitchen remodel Boston. There are three different kitchen remodeling cost tiers: minor, mid-range, and major renovations, distinguishable by the cost and how extensive the project is; when deciding which of these renovations you want to tackle, consider factors. 

• Where you live
• Cost of remodel
• Your budget
• Desired updates

Will A Kitchen Remodel Increase Your Boston Homes Value?

Yes. Zillow reported that 58% of buyers who purchased homes said having an updated kitchen factored into their home-buying decision. Over two-thirds of buyers are willing to pay more for homes with recent kitchen and bathroom updates. Of course, how much you spend factors into how much is spent on the kitchen upgrade.  

Cost of Remodeling Your Kitchen

This varies based on what you plan on updating. If you choose to fully update your kitchen with new wood cabinets, an island, laminate countertops, and a standard sink and faucet with all new appliances is roughly $68,000. Of course, depending on the type of cabinets, flooring, backsplash, and appliances, you can spend much more or much less. 

A simple upgrade such as updating hardware, choosing less expensive countertop hardware, and new low-cost flooring can save you a lot of money and cost around $18,000. In contrast, a complete renovation with high-end flooring, countertops, and appliances can run you $130,000. In 2018 homeowners budgeted between $5,000-57,000, with only 1 in 10 going over $100,00. 

Types of Kitchen Remodels

As touched on above, a few factors should be considered when choosing how extensive your kitchen remodeling project in Boston, MA should be. 

• Where you live - if you live in cities such as Boston, San Diego, Seattle, or San Jose, you can expect a kitchen renovation to increase your home's value extensively. You can expect an ROI of  92.9. 
• While many costs are worth it, you need to watch how much you spend on the remodel. If you pay too much, you’ll have trouble getting a decent ROI. There comes the point when spending money becomes a waste. 
• Your Budget - when determining your budget, you’ll want to decide which updates are the most important and are worth the investment. You’ll want to make sure to factor in at least 10% for unexpected expenses. 
• Desired updates - if you choose personalized updates, it doesn’t bring a good return for your money. Instead, focus on cabinets, countertops, and appliances. When determining the updates you want, you should contact the best contractor in the Boston area. 

Kitchen Updates That Increases Home Value the Most

Certain features in your kitchen influence the home value more than in other areas. Below you’ll find the most critical areas.

• Cabinets
• Countertops and backsplashes
• Appliances
• Flooring
• Hardware

Cabinets 

Outdated cabinets make your Boston kitchen look old and cause prospective buyers to pass on your home. While replacing the cabinets is likely to be the most expensive project in the remodel, it’ well worth the cost. While not hiring a professional may be tempting, it’s easy to tell if the upgrade is by a professional or a DIY project and will affect the value of your home.

Countertops and backsplash

This can be expensive, but there are ways to save money on your countertops, like not going right to costly options like granite, marble, or quartz but instead investing in laminates, granite remnants, tiles, or Formica. Each of these will give your countertops an updated, beautiful look. 

Backsplashes come in a wide variety of colors and geometric shapes to easily complement your new countertop. They are relatively inexpensive but contribute significantly to your kitchen's overall look. 

Appliances

When choosing appliances, you want to look for ones that are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. You’ll also want to make sure they all match, such as all black or all white, not only to save money but also that it doesn’t make your kitchen look only partly upgraded. Double ovens, while not essential, are one of the most popular appliance upgrades for kitchens in Boston, MA. 

Flooring

If you are refinishing existing wood floors, you’ll get a 100% ROI, which is unheard of for the most part. People love hardwood floors because they are beautiful, long-lasting, and highly durable. The biggest downfall of hardwood floors is they aren’t water-resistant, so you’re probably better off choosing another flooring type. Many types of wood flooring look like natural wood, are water-resistant, and don’t cost a lot. 

Hardware

You’ll want to look for hardware for your kitchen. You’ll want to match them with the overall style. You’ll want to decide if you want knobs, pulls, or a combination of both. Each of these has different benefits depending on what you want. 

• Knobs are smaller and less expensive. It works well with both draws and cabinets and is easy to install. 
• Pulls are larger than knobs, stand out more, and are easier to grip. These are typically more expensive than knobs and work best with large drawers and linear cabinets. 

Once you decide the type of handle you want, you can choose your finish. Some people decide to have their hardware blend in and be inconspicuous, while others want it to stand out and make a real impact. 

Is Remodeling Your Boston Kitchen Worth It?

Yes, remodeling your kitchen in Boston is worth it. Not only does it increase your home’s value it also is a great way to make you fall in love with your home all over again. However, when you decide to make these renovations, you want to make sure you create and stick to your budget and hire a professional for complicated changes such as installing new countertops. 

Planning a Home Renovation: A Guide

Photo by Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash

Home renovations are a fantastic way to put your own stamp on a property in the US, make it the most comfortable and functional place for your lifestyle, and can even add value to your property. However, one of the most common mistakes homeowners make when trying to upgrade their home’s interior is failing to plan. These projects can be incredibly complex and costly, especially if you get halfway through before realizing that you have forgotten to consider a key factor. Whether you are considering an extension, an attic conversion, or remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, this article outlines the key steps to take when planning a home renovation. 

Check the ‘bones’ of your home

Not every property has the structure to support a significant renovation, so before you get too far in your planning, you need to check what you are working with. You may need to get basic issues like damp walls or ceilings, cracks in the walls, or bowed floorboards. 

Request some estimates

Before you request exact quotes from tradespeople, you can ask them to provide an approximate figure to give you a sense of the costs you will be facing. They will also be able to give you an indication of which parts of the project will be the costliest and where you could reduce costs.

Work out your budget

When you know roughly how much the work is going to cost, you can work out a budget for the entire project. You might need to move into rented accommodation for a period if the work is particularly disruptive. If you will be buying new furniture, you should include those costs in the budget as well, and then allow an additional 10% to cover any unexpected costs that might arise. If you are working with a budget that will restrict how much you are able to do and have to make compromises, don’t let your dream goals disappear. If you want to achieve your goals sooner rather than later, you might want to consider a personal loan to fund the project and make it a reality. 

Consider managing the project yourself

You will be able to save money on the project by managing it yourself. This will involve organizing all the individual tradespeople and companies to a schedule and ensuring they are paid on time. You should also be on the site every day to oversee the work and will be responsible for interpreting any architectural plans and managing health and safety. Alternatively, you can hire a contractor to manage the project on your behalf and reduce your stress. 

Get quotes from multiple tradespeople

It is important to source and compare quotes for the work from multiple tradespeople and companies so you can be sure that you are paying a fair price. During the comparison process, you should also look into the credentials and background of the tradespeople and request references from their previous customers. In some cases, you might want to agree to withhold 5% of the final bill until six months after the project has been completed. That way, if any problems emerge in that time, they will be obliged to take care of them.

What To Look For In A Home Appliance Repair Company

Hiring the services of a trusted home appliance repair company is essential for managing your home appliances. Yes, you might not require appliance repairs daily, but calamities are bound to happen, and you might experience issues with your machines at home, which you can’t fix all by yourself.

These issues require the attention of a professional who knows about dealing with them. Professional home appliance repair personnel have undergone training, giving them the right skills and knowledge to correctly solve such problems.

In selecting the most suitable home appliance repair company, you need to consider some factors to ensure you’ll receive excellent services. These include:

1. Qualifications

Problems associated with your home appliances should only be handled by qualified personnel.

You need to assess the background of the company before agreeing to the terms of the contract. Ascertaining that the personnel of the home appliance repair company had undergone the correct training and passed all the tests will give you the confidence to end up with successful outcomes.

2. Experience

Experience stands as a significant factor in getting the perfect appliance repair company for your home. Checking their experience would enable you to gauge how good they are in providing their services. New professionals, on the one hand, might fail in meeting your desired needs.

An experienced home appliance repair company assesses all your needs, offering you services that would last for decades, saving you time and money. They also provide warranties to clients.

3. License And Insurance

You also need to check for a valid license before approving any company to do appliances repair Atlanta or wherever you live. This license is proof that the company has already met the state requirements to allow them to work in that field. You also need to check if the company has the required insurance to protect the personnel and the homeowner. 

4. Reputation

Before hiring any company, checking their reputation is an essential factor. Reputable contractors always offer excellent services in repairing your home appliances to protect their image. Also, it’d be better to work with a company that has a proven track record since even the pricing of the services would be reasonable.

For one, you can check reviews of your prospective repair company online. Positive comments would be an indication of excellent services offered to clients. A successful home appliance repair company won’t miss an extensive client list of testimonials to prove their successful work. Contacting some of these clients would help reassure you that the company would give you exceptional service.

5. Attention To Details

A good home appliance repair company would always pay attention to even the minutest details. Professional home appliance companies follow all the procedures so that your home appliances are returned to their normal functioning, and that they’d last for long.

By paying close attention to details, a home appliance repair company can properly assess the issues with your home appliances, thereby allowing them to formulate the right solutions, ensuring topnotch services. 

6. Location

In selecting the perfect company for the repair of your home appliances, you need to get someone nearer to your home. The closer the company is to your home, the faster they could get to you in time of emergency. For instance, hiring a company near your home would ensure a timely response to help stop unnecessary problems, like power a surge, in your home appliances.

7. Affordability And Customer Service

Homeowners desire to work with a company that serves their needs professionally. Therefore, a home appliance repair company must be available to cater to any emergency that might arise 24/7. Therefore, a good home appliance repair company has to make sure that clients can quickly contact them through text, call, email, or the web.

A good company also needs to offer good customer service to prevent miscommunication. Good customer service means that the company has to be easily reachable, quick in response, courteous, polite, and answer to all questions accurately.

8. Upfront Pricing

Getting a company that can directly give you estimated figures upon knowing the required repairs to be made would help you work on budget, rather than getting a shock on your spending upon completion of the work.

The Takeaway

Home appliance repair is a crucial aspect of every home, thus, you need to hire a reputable home appliance repair company. Hiring a professional would ensure that your home appliances won’t end up being thrown away. Hopefully, the guide outlined above will help you in finding the best one for your needs.

What Are the Easiest Home Improvements You Can Make?

Do you want to upgrade your standard of living? Are you looking for a way to increase the value of your home? If so, one of the best ways to do so is to add a few home improvements. When people think about renovation projects and upgrades, they usually think about big-ticket items. For example, you might be thinking about adding a pool, a home theater, or even adding an entirely new room to the home. This can be time-consuming and expensive. Even though it might be worth it in some situations, you may be looking for something that is a bit more practical. If you are looking for easy improvements you can make to your home, take a look at a few top choices below.

Spruce Up the Curb Appeal a Bit

Even though this might not necessarily be a significant home upgrade, it can help you increase the value of your home. There is never a second chance to make a first impression and curb appeal matters. Think about the exterior of your home. When was the last time you had a landscaper come by? When was the last time you pressure washed the outside of your home? If you are having a difficult time remembering the answers to these questions, it is time to think about the curb appeal of your home. If you can find a way to increase the curb appeal of your home, you could drive up the investment value of your house.

Update the Counters in the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most important features in the home. You need to make sure you get the most out of it. Therefore, think about updating the counters in the kitchen. If you have been in your home for 10 years or more, there is a good chance it is time for you to update your counters. The counters are usually the first thing people notice when they walk into the kitchen. Even though it can be expensive to renovate the entire kitchen, it can be significantly more affordable to update the counters.

Consider Adding Ceiling Fans to the Second Floor

Next, you may want to add ceiling fans to the second floor. There is a good chance that your second floor doesn't have ceiling fans. Fortunately, this does not have to be an expensive upgrade. There are plenty of exceptional small ceiling fans available. There are numerous advantages that come with adding ceiling fans to the second floor. For example, ceiling fans can help you increase the circulation upstairs, preventing the air from getting musty. Ceiling fans can also help you reduce your utility bills by keeping the air moving. Therefore, your HVAC unit should not have to work as hard, which can help you save money on your utilities.

Swap Out the Floors for Something More Modern

Furthermore, you may want to swap out the floors for something more modern. Do you have a bunch of linoleum floors? Do you have a bunch of vinyl floors? Even though this material may have worked well for you in the past, it is time to upgrade to something better. You do not necessarily have to open the checkbook to pay for hardwood floors, but even installing LVP throughout the home can be a significant upgrade. You may want to talk to a flooring professional about what type of flooring is best for your house.

Switch To a Frameless Shower

Finally, you might want to think about your bathroom as well. Even though you might not spend as much time in your bathroom as in other rooms of your home, you should still invest in your bathroom if you want to maximize the value of your home. For example, you might want to switch to a frameless shower. This is a modern design, and it can significantly drive up the value of your home. If you still have a shower bath somewhere in your home, you may want to divide these two appliances. This is the current trend, and this is what people will be looking for as they view houses. Think about swapping out your current shower for a frameless option.

Think About These Easy Home Upgrades

These are just a few of the many upgrades you should consider adding to your home. If you want to increase the value of your home, there are plenty of options available. You may want to increase the curb appeal, and you might want to update the counters in the kitchen. Remember that you can also significantly increase the value of your home by adding ceiling fans, which can also help you reduce your utility bills. If you are looking for easy home upgrades, you may want to reach out to a professional who can assist you.

5 Clean-Up Tips After A Kitchen Renovation Project

Renovating your kitchen is, indeed, an exciting thing to do. Nothing beats the thrill of finally seeing the finished output. However, as much as you want to fully use your newly renovated kitchen, you first need to go through a series of steps that comprise general cleaning. 

Cleaning up a room that's full of construction debris can be tricky and challenging. It's undoubtedly not an easy task with all the dust, toxic fumes, and harmful objects that you have to go through. 

If you're facing the same dilemma, you just got to the right place. This article will guide you on how to effectively clean up after a kitchen renovation project. Below, check out the five smart clean-up tips for a squeaky clean, new kitchen. 

1. Rent A Bin For Debris Disposal 

First things first, rent a bin so you'll have a container to put all your trash.  

Before even rolling your sleeves and diving into the action of a general clean-up, one of the most important things you should do is rent a bin. Unfortunately, not all contractors are willing to care for the post-renovation mess. That's why you have to rent a crate due to the following reasons: 

• Your regular trash container won’t be enough 

Major renovations, such as a kitchen renovation project, will surely leave you with a mountain pile of trash and debris. However, they’ll never fit in your trash bin due to their size and amount. 

• You have to abide by governing rules regarding trash disposal 

Another critical thing to note are the rules and regulations given by your local government regarding proper trash and debris disposal. According to Same-Day Rubbish Removal, it's necessary to dispose of your garbage in the most eco-friendly way. Doing so ensures that you don't harm the environment. 

Therefore, a primary thing to do is to rent a bin and secure a container to put all your trash. 

2. Prepare Your Cleaning Tools And Protective Items 

Secondly, you need to prepare the appropriate cleaning tools. Renovations like kitchen remodeling involve cement, paint, and other toxic chemicals that can be harmful to the body when inhaled. Therefore, it's best to have the right tools and appropriate protective items, such as: 

• Face masks 
• Hand gloves 
• Goggles 
• Soft towels and fabrics 
• Used dryer sheets 
• Gentle cleaning solution 
• A vacuum + one or two extra filters 
• A broom and a dustpan in case a vacuum isn't available 

Preparing the above mentioned materials beforehand will help you do the cleaning faster and wiser. 

3. Dispose Of Construction Debris And Trash 

Now that you’ve prepared everything you need, it's time to dispose of all the debris and trash from the construction. These can be giant concrete piles, countertops, wood scraps, broken hardware, and other types of waste.  

Make sure to wear your gloves, face mask, and goggles to keep you safe from unwanted dangers. Clearing off the area from these large pieces of debris will pave the way for the next steps to follow. 

4. Clean Your Air Vents And Filters 

One of the areas where dust has possibly accumulated is in your air vents and filters. Take note that this can be hazardous to your health and threaten your lungs. Therefore, make sure to thoroughly clean this so that you and your family won't be inhaling air that's full of chemicals and dust particles.  

5. Make Use Of Your Vacuum 

The next thing to do is make good use of your vacuum machine. Construction dust can be very fine and will surely get everywhere. Make sure to give adequate attention to every single corner of the room. Dust is usually hiding even in the darkest corners of your room, such as underneath your furniture and window frames. 

It'd also help to constantly check your vacuum filter while in use. Dust can be overwhelmingly plenty that it could fill up your vacuum filter right away. 

6. Wipe Down Every Single Thing

The last thing to do to secure a dust-free and spotlessly clean kitchen area is to wipe down every single thing. An old towel and a bucket of water with a gentle cleaner will usually do the trick. Ensure to wipe all corners, items, furniture, countertop, shelves, and the like.  

After wiping comes floor mopping. Use a gentle floor cleaner appropriate for your floor material, and ensure that you've thoroughly mopped the space from wall to wall. 

Conclusion

Renovation clean-up can be stressful, especially if you don't know where to start. The mountain-high amount of debris and dirt can surely overwhelm you. However, with the help of rental bins and your appropriate cleaning tools, effective cleaning is never impossible.  

Considering these five easy steps for an effective clean-up will surely bring you closer to your newly renovated kitchen, which will be ready for use after a day or two.