Is it Time to Remodel?

With a sluggish real estate market, are you planning to stay in your existing home longer?  If so, you’re not alone. Many homeowners across the country are realizing that their current home may be called home for a while. Just know knowing that now is a great time to invest in your existing home. Don’t relocate, renovate your space to make it fit you, your family and all the activities that take place in your home. I can not think of a better investment that your home and your gratification of a new functional living space. Here are a few reason why it is a good time to remodel.  

• Local real estate inventory is low – Perhaps the biggest reason to remain in your home these days is because inventory in the market is extremely low. This may lead to a fast sale of your home, but you’ll also need to find a new place to live. That may not be easy and it may not present you with a lot of different choices.
• Mortgage rates are rising – The mortgage interest rate is starting to rise after sitting at historic lows for years. As the federal government begins to back out of this process, home loans are becoming more expensive. Remaining in your current home and sticking with your current loan may be a tremendous advantage to you financially.
• Familiarity with your current home – If you have lived in your current home for several years, you most likely have a very specific idea or ideas regarding what you would like to have done to it to add to your enjoyment of it and to the value of the property. When you move into a new home, that process of becoming familiar with the structure starts all over.
• Familiarity with your current location – Over time, people become intimately familiar with their neighborhoods. Parents have children in school and everyone forms relationships with neighbors. You know where everything is, you know your preferences for your grocery shopping and for other needs and you are comfortable where you are currently.
• Remodeling doesn’t prevent a future sale – Many people will have some remodeling work done on their homes with the intent of putting it on the market. Even if you decide to remodel your home because you want to stay there, adding value to the property will only increase your selling position should you change your mind down the road. You can recapture a large percentage of that remodeling investment depending on what you have done.

The decision regarding whether to move or to remodel your home is not an easy one, and it’s a different situation for everyone who encounters it. Part of your decision process should include speaking to our Remodel Division professionals who can help you obtain a deeper understanding of what can be done, what it may cost and what type of value possible work could add to your home.

                   

                Want to take the first step with your design project? 

Call us at (205) 871-2066 or stop by one of our showroom to get started!

Family Workstation in the Kitchen

No matter the size of your home, optimizing the space you have can be a challenge. In smaller home, however, the lack of available space can become an especially difficult problem. While you can go the route of limiting the amount of things you put into each room or simply deal with a large amount of clutter, built-in furniture is an option that will save valuable floor space, while letting you keep the room fully functional. Adding a desk as part of your kitchen is not only a great way to use available space, but it is also becoming a hot new trend.

                                               

With any kitchen office, use cabinets that match or complement what's in the kitchen so the space blends in seamlessly When considering the design of your desk, remember that plenty of shelves and/or cabinets and drawers will help to keep the area clutter-free. Phone books, files, recipes, important papers, schedules and other information can all be stored here. The desk area blends effortlessly with the rest of the kitchen by using the same elements.

Installing a built-in desk is beneficial in a kitchen since it is a high-traffic room and is becoming more and more popular in modern homes. A kitchen desk can be used as a message center for keeping phone messages and keeping track of everyones schedules, a place for homework, or to organize and pay bills.

Here are a few design ideas from Better Homes and Gardens

 Pretty and Petite

Crisp white cabinetry, a teak desktop, and furniture-style legs connect this workstation with the rest of the kitchen. The space next to this kitchen's refrigerator was thought to be unusable, but a desk served as a perfect, practical addition. It's a handy spot for handling messages, mail, and bills. 
Source: Better Home and Gardens

 

Fun for the Whole Family

Here, a compact kitchen office tucks into a corner, with just enough space to pull up a stool. Open storage works for sorting bills and paperwork while file drawers organize important documents. Large, deep cabinets above reach to the ceiling, providing even more storage space. Chalkboard panels on the refrigerator invite messages -- and artwork.
Source: Better Home and Gardens

For more ideas visit Better Homes and Gardens or stop by one of our showrooms to discuss your your possibilities with one of our designers!

Homewood Showroom 2901 18th Street South Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-2066

Bessemer Showroom 1240 Raimund Muscoda Road Bessemer, AL 35020 205-481-1003

Visit us Online at www.needco.net or on Facebook!

Beware of Imported Cabinetry

While imported cabinets are priced about 15% less for a similar quality American made cabinets it is hard to argue with a better product for less money. However, let’s look a little closer at the whole picture. 

Chinese Imported Cabinets have low quality by using a 5 ply panel stock that is weak and delaminates in a few years or upon getting wet. Formaldehyde weakens any glue and they use plenty of these dangerous toxins when manufacturing their plywood. Screws and nails do not do well in the assembly of plywood, therefore biscuits are recommended.  

 Chinese cabinets are laden with formaldehyde, sulfur, lead content and other glue resins which are illegal for American manufacturers to use because they are banned by the EPA and violate the CARB initiative. Chinese import cabinets are illegal in California (section 93120.12(d)(A)1.) because of their high formaldehyde content. The Chinese have no environmental restrictions or health organizations like we have here. Yet we allow those products to be imported here without question. People exposed to formaldehyde are at great risk of cancer at worse and asthma at best. Other glues and resins used in the manufacture of Chinese brand cabinets are banned in the USA but permitted to be imported. This includes other products like Chinese made sheetrock/drywall which also have thousands of documented cases of families getting sick and even several deaths.

Chinese Cabinets have a low quality finish. The finish almost looks like the cabinets were used. In some cases the finish appears dull and thin. The finishes seem to have an orange cast caused from using cheap lacquers. They do not use hardening agents in their clear coat. Hardening agents also allow the finish to dry instantly preventing dust to settle on the finish. You could scratch their doors with your finger nail. Or apply finger nail polish remover and watch the finish come off.

Hardware used in the drawer guides are a stamped light gauge white metal, not steel and are of such low quality that it is common to see the drawer collapse under just 15 pounds. Any American cabinet company uses Blum or Grass guides and their drawers are rated at 75 to 125 pounds. The Chinese cabinetry is improperly dried wood that creates warping and finish issues later on. Chinese made cabinets only have limited sizes and styles and special cabinet boxes are not available.

You will never ever see a warranty on a Chinese Cabinetry. Say you scratch a door 3 months after your new kitchen is installed, with most domestic manufactures you can call up your cabinet supplier and order just the replacement door you need. With Chinese suppliers you have to reorder THE ENTIRE CABINET!! Make sure you ask your supplier about this and if they say you can actually get the part you need without ordering THE ENTIRE CABINET be sure to get it in writing!

Always be sure that you are getting a fair quote when comparing products. Whether it is in cabinetry, drywall, or any other imported products, Always ask questions. Remember we have our Free Second Opinion, just bring your cabinetry drawings to us and we give you our professional opinion and suggestions before you buy. You can email your drawings to us at designs@needco.net or call 205-871-2066 to set appointment with one if our Design/Sale Consultant today!