JFC Remodeling | Blog

Spring is the perfect time to begin home projects, and if you are considering updating your kitchen or bathroom, there is no better time to start planning!  We have put together a list of quick tips to help get these projects started on the right path, making home renovations easier.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Many homeowners are eager to get outside again and look forward to landscaping and exterior repair projects. Upgrades such as adding a new deck or updating the siding on your house are popular home improvements during the Spring season. It is important to secure an appointment with a home contractor before spring as they regularly become over-booked midway into the season. Additionally, you should purchase any materials in advance so that you won’t have a shortage of supplies halfway into your project.

Certain home renovations may also require permits, which will take additional time for submission and approval before building can begin. Starting the planning process months in advance will allow proper preparation and peace of mind.

Function Over Beauty

Not all home renovations will add visual appeal, and that’s okay. Upgrading or installing new electrical, plumbing, or insulation are sometimes needed.  When making plans to renovate, other important issues can be uncovered within a project that was not anticipated but needs to be addressed. Common unforeseen problems can be leaky pipes, crooked floors, and roof repairs. If these issues are ignored, they will become more costly as time goes on, so it is essential to fix these problems early.

Choosing Your Professional

There is nothing worse than becoming one of those horror stories that you so often hear about with renovation projects. You want to avoid contractors who take shortcuts or charges double than the original quote presented. Getting stuck with a botched project that is unfinished or improperly installed is a nightmare to deal with and will only cause further problems.

When you put your home into someone else’s hands, you want reassurance that they will complete a project in a reasonable amount of time and that they have high-quality standards. It is essential to practice due diligence when selecting a licensed home contractor; having the right qualifications, experience, and positive reviews are critical when looking for professional help. Also, asking for references and getting several quotes can help assist in making your decisions less stressful.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodelingservices.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.

After years of dreaming of a luxurious spa retreat that you could come home to each day, you have finally decided to make that dream a reality. The first order of business is figuring out your budget. Bathroom remodels can scale in cost by a large range depending on the upgrades you want. If $20K seems too far out of reach, that doesn’t mean you can’t still create a relaxing new space to unwind in. There are plenty of ways to renovate your bathroom while staying on budget: 

Size of Renovation vs. Budget

One of the main reasons homeowners decide to upgrade and renovate a bathroom is because the resale value of your home will significantly increase. You may be able to recoup a large portion of costs when selling your home, sometimes as high as 100%. If your budget is on the smaller side ($1,000 or less), it may be wise to make cosmetic changes such as a new sink, paint, or fixtures. If your budget allows for more, upgrade the materials in choice pieces and consider hiring a professional contractor to complete the job.

Saving on Tile

Tile is an expensive material to purchase and pricing can continue to increase when hiring a licensed contractor for the project. One easy way to save money is to limit the amount of tile used and to only install it in specific areas such as the floor rather than the entire shower walls. Another idea is to add one horizontal strip of tile inside the shower and paint the rest. If your vision is stuck on having an expensive tile, try using it as an accent alongside a more inexpensive tile to make the luxurious ones really stand out while saving money in your pocket. 

Countertop Savings

By popular demand, granite countertops are the most sought-after material in bathrooms and kitchens. Bathroom counter space is a much smaller area compared to kitchens, so your budget may be a little more flexible. The first way to save in countertops is by choosing a color. The most popular color preferences are neutral colors like tan, brown, beige. The higher the demand, the more expensive they will be to purchase. Try to consider and price out a variety of different colors to find the right price point for your budget needs. Another way to save money when purchasing granite is to buy a slab that may contain small imperfections. The larger the imperfection, the lower the price. Keep in mind, if the defect is located where the sink or faucet will be, you won’t see the flaw after the install. 

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan, specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services. More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.

Starting a new home remodeling project can be very exciting but a few costly mistakes can turn your excitement into feelings of disappointment and frustration if the process is not thought through completely from start to finish. Unexpected issues or surprising circumstances can stretch your budget, but the good news is many of these issues can be avoided if a person pays attention to warning signs. Below we will give a few helpful tips to consider before beginning a home remodel project and how to make your home remodeling process smooth and enjoyable.

Create a Realistic Budget

The first step when planning any home remodeling project is, to begin with a budget and a realistic one at that. It is important to have a budget to keep costs in check. One major mistake that is made is that many homeowners have a dream design in their minds that does not always add up to the same cost of what they planned for the remodel. Having a true understanding of the pricing of materials and labor if hiring a professional home contractor will help to diminish any false expectations that may come up during the process. Another piece of decision-making for a remodel is what items you wish to splurge on the most. Choosing these items before beginning will help to keep other details of the budget in line and in balance. It’s a good idea to think about which items you will use most frequently and may help you decide their worth with a higher price tag. If working with a tighter budget, knowing that cosmetic changes are easily changed in the future will also make the planning process a little simpler.

Understand the Timeline

Not only can false expectations of cost play a factor but also in timeframes on how long the remodel will take. A professional remodeler will be much more efficient and can get a job done more quickly than a standard DIY. Living in a home during a home remodel can be a very trying experience for many homeowners since after all the main areas that many people choose to renovate are their kitchens and bathrooms. These two rooms are used constantly in our homes so when a room can be all torn apart or dust flying everywhere, it is bound to be a little stressful at times. The construction for some people can be too much to deal with so it may be a good opportunity to go on a vacation, rent/ stay with friends and family for a few days or weeks if possible. If timing is going to be an issue, you must go over these details with your contractor so that you fully understand the complexity or decide if simpler changes can be made instead.

Keeping a Positive Attitude

No home renovation will be completely stress- free and keeping a positive twist on your perspective will make the entire process easier to complete. Being prepared for days of things not going as planned and knowing that not every detail of the remodeling project will be exactly as you imagined. Sometimes the cost will have to be adjusted, or the project didn’t finish when you were expecting but that doesn’t mean the world has to end. Keeping your eye on the prize and know that remodeling your home will not last forever. If you have concerns during the remodeling process, always talk it through with your professional contractor and know that they are there to help make the process as pleasant as possible and at the end of the day they have the same goal as you do to have your home looking its best.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodelingservices.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.

The year has flown by and you may find yourself panicking to invite friends and family over to your home for the holidays knowing that all the home projects you were trying to get done haven’t even been started. It may be best to wait until the new year to tackle larger renovations, but the good news is that there is still plenty of time to accomplish some of the remodels before their arrival and make your home guest-ready. Before starting any home project big or small during the holiday season, it is wise to ask yourself how much holiday stress are you ready to encounter? Beginning any home project will sure to make a mess and adding on the tasks of holiday decorations, shopping, etc. might be too much for some to handle. Hiring a professional home contractor will most definitely make home remodels much less stressful and make deadlines easier to coordinate. Perhaps the dust doesn’t deter your home remodel desires, and this may be a opportune time for a few projects with having extra time off work or having some extra help home for the holidays to help as well.

Flooring Upgrades

One project that can be completed quickly is to install new carpeting, hardwood, or laminate flooring to give your guests a new wow factor for your home. This project is one that can be handled by a standard DIY homeowner but if wanting to be done even faster, a professional home remodeler can achieve this new look within only a few days depending on the square footage needed to be replaced.

Bathroom Remodels

Bathroom remodels can be from one extreme to another and if wanting to spruce up your current bathroom without having to rip out walls and having to move plumbing lines, a simple bathroom remodel can be done on a tight timeline as well. Consult with a professional home remodeler to discuss timeline needs that will depend on the size of fixtures that are being replaced. There are several factors to keep in might that can add on additional time that is out of a person’s control such as getting proper permits or inspections. Choosing certain materials can also change timelines due to special orders for custom made items so if wanting to complete the project quickly, your options could be more limited.

Updating the Kitchen

The kitchen can be a much more time-consuming area of the home when it comes to home remodeling and the larger renovations may be best to hold off until the hustle and bustle are all gone however there are a few things that can be checked off your to-do list. A few simple updates such as a new kitchen faucet, updated light fixtures, a new backsplash, and new paint can really spruce the room up. Also, if Santa decides to come early, purchasing new appliances as long as the new dishwasher doesn’t need a different location or stove need gas to be installed can also all be easy upgrades that can be done within a week or so from purchase.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodelingservices.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.