JFC Remodeling | Blog

While eyeing which renovations to take a stab at, most owners choose the kitchen first since it’s the center for food prep and doubles as a social hub. Once the homeowner decides what to upgrade, they must think about the long-term benefits rather than the more obvious short-term ones.

As a guiding factor, kitchen renovations should not exceed 25 percent of the total home’s value since the homeowner will probably never receive the return on their investment. Some kitchen renovations can actually decrease the home’s value; keep reading for some examples. 

Too Personalized
Even though the kitchen is “yours” at the time of renovation, that doesn’t mean it will be someone else’s idea of “theirs” when you sell the house. Tom Satas, founder and CEO of Windy City HomeBuyer, said, “Just because you spent countless thousands of dollars on decorative ideas that you have dreamed about since you were a little kid doesn’t mean that anybody else will have the same tastes nor will most people care about what you spent. Your dream living room may look like a gut job to the rest of the world. So don’t drive yourself into debt or go overboard because the whole point of upgrading your home should be to get the money back when you sell and ultimately more.”

Low-Quality Materials
Cutting corners by using cheaper materials can be sufficient for right now, but keep in mind the future problems they might cause. The last thing you want is for your kitchen cabinets to be falling apart when you try to sell your home. Also remember that marble can easily chip, stain, etch, etc. so avoid using it.

Wallpaper Overload
Wallpaper is notoriously challenging to remove, and can turn-off potential homebuyers. Instead, opt for fresh paint and neutral colors. 

Chic Appliances
Luxurious or state-of-the-art expensive appliances can harm your home’s value; according to Kim Abrams, CEO of Abrams Roofing, “These appliances are much more expensive to maintain and repair, which will deter buyers from your home.” Also, according to real estate consultant Will Rodgers, “Smart appliances are great. But keep in mind that the tech you put in today will be outdated if you sell three to five years from now. High tech kitchens are for your convenience but will only add value if you plan to sell soon.”

DIY Work
If not professionally done, Do-It-Yourself renovations or plumbing can drastically reduce your home’s value if not performed up to code. 

JFC Remodeling is committed to providing top-quality home reconstruction services to clients throughout Livingston County. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, our licensed contractors create unique, individualized, and polished renovations. Whether the site requires an improvement, repair, or is a new construction, you can trust our experts to deliver remarkable results. Call: 810-923-1123, e-mail: jfcllc@comcast.net, or visit us at: www.jfcremodeling.com today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

When remodeling their kitchens, homeowners typically look for traditional, modern, or contemporary styles. Beyond cabinet aesthetics, homeowners often rely on cabinets for storage as well.

Most homeowners consider remodeling their kitchen with a goal to redo the overall flow, style, or layout. The top style for remodeled kitchens is transitional, followed by modern, contemporary, farmhouse, and finally, traditional.

Almost all homeowners who undergo kitchen remodeling improve their cabinets by replacing them completely, while one in three chooses a partial cabinet update instead. The most popular updates include refinishing cabinet exteriors, adding new cabinets, replacing the doors, replacing only a few cabinets, followed by refinishing cabinet interiors.

Shaker style cabinets are the top door choice for cabinet updates, with flat-panel cabinets coming in second. Totally custom cabinets are the most popular option, with semi-custom in a close second. A small number of homeowners select stock or ready-to-assemble cabinets for their remodeled kitchens.

The most desired color for cabinets is white, followed by wood tones, and gray being the third most popular color for kitchen remodels.

Functionality is just as important as design, so many homeowners are upgrading their cabinets with built-in organizers and other specialty storage. Cabinets that hold cookie sheets are most popular, followed by spice racks, pullout waste or recycling drawers, lazy Susans, and finally, pull out/swing out cabinets.

Newly-remodeled kitchens are typically kept the same size, with more than half of remodeled kitchens measuring 200 square feet or more, 100 to 199 square feet comes in second, followed by 100 square feet in third. In terms of actual layout, the most popular shape is an l-shape, then a u-shape, followed by a galley.

You have your vision, so why not bring it to life? JFC Remodeling specializes in making your kitchen and bathroom remodeling dreams come true. Contact us today to learn more.

JFC Remodeling is committed to providing top-quality home reconstruction services to clients throughout Livingston County. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, our licensed contractors create unique, individualized, and polished renovations. Whether the site requires an improvement, repair, or is a new construction, you can trust our experts to deliver remarkable results. Call: 810-923-1123, e-mail: jfcllc@comcast.net, or visit us at: www.jfcremodeling.com today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

You’ve decided to sell your home and want to maximize its resale value. Remodeling is an excellent way to do this. But what works and what doesn’t? These decisions are critical, so we’ve provided a few pointers for you on do’s and don’ts when remodeling your house for resale.

Remodeling Do’s

Remodel Your Kitchen

A tired, worn kitchen is not going to help sell your house. This home area is one of the more obvious places to start, but you should be cautious.

• Try not to tailor changes too much to your specific taste—potential buyers may not share it.
• Keep to the existing layout. Knocking out walls and moving plumbing will add to the cost and offset any gains you make on resale value.
• Use neutral colors. Clean, neutral colors accentuate the kitchen’s space and appeal to buyers.

Add Extra Living Space

Knocking external walls down and building new rooms may seem expensive, but it can be worthwhile. It’s a sure way to add value beyond the cost of the remodel, but you need to take care that you are adding functional space that’s big enough to appeal to potential buyers. Conservatories are an excellent option.

Remodel the Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom is one of the top rooms that buyers consider. New flooring or a new en-suite can be a great way to add value here.

Revitalize Your Bathroom

Potential buyers will always consider bathrooms, especially the main ones. A new bathroom suite and flooring can boost your chances of getting your asking price. Also, think about remodeling secondary bathrooms if you have the budget.

Remodeling Don’ts

You might be tempted to do a few things that don’t offer a great return on your budget. These include:

Pools

Although pools are attractive to some buyers, they are costly to install and maintain. The maintenance costs alone may put off some buyers.

Kids rooms

Every parent wants to put their kids’ personalities in a space, so don’t waste your budget going crazy with these rooms. Some buyers might not even see additional bedrooms as kids’ spaces.

Specialist rooms

A wine room or a games room might appeal to you, but it won’t to every buyer. Outside of the core use rooms, keep additional spaces plain and neutral so buyers can look at them and imagine their preferred room use.

No matter the size or expense of a home renovation, the personal joy and functionality of the space for you and your family should be the ultimate deciding factor for any home project. The decision is always yours alone to make and will need to decide the actual value of the remodel not only from a resale standpoint. Keeping these ideas in mind may help you choose where to spend each dollar wisely during a project.

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JFC Remodeling is committed to providing top-quality home reconstruction services to clients throughout Livingston County. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, our licensed contractors create unique, individualized, and polished renovations. Whether the site requires an improvement, repair, or is a new construction, you can trust our experts to deliver remarkable results. Call: 810-923-1123, e-mail: jfcllc@comcast.net, or visit us at: www.jfcremodeling.com today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

With a seemingly never-ending variety of countertops available for kitchens, what should you choose? Consider material durability as well as color. Here are six popular color choices to help you achieve the kitchen of your dreams.

Wood
An excellent choice for giving your kitchen some character, wood can break up crisp, white kitchens or add some balance to traditional or contemporary elements. Wood is a fantastic accent counter or built-in cutting board. Lighter wood feels more casual and rustic, whereas darker wood is more formal and polished.

Flecked or Vined White
Ivory stone or manufactured slab (think quartz) with a light fleck or vein is one of the most popular countertop finishes since it works well in many settings. The pale tone is neutral, fresh, sophisticated, and brings a sense of cleanliness to the kitchen. These countertops also pair well with brass accents.

Dark/Black
This countertop option pairs well with dark floors, cabinets, or other rich features. Dark-on-dark palettes should have plenty of lighting, which will ensure the space is cozy and sophisticated. Painted cabinets (perhaps a powder blue or sage green) also go well with dark countertops. Dark or black countertops are also great if you’re going for that classic black-and-white look with some instant drama.

White
Corian or Caesarstone are some examples of manufactured pure white countertops, which bring a minimalist, crisp, contemporary feel to a space. Great at stain resistance, these stay crisp white with just a tiny amount of care. White countertops are recommended for themed kitchens; for example, if you’re looking for a nautical kitchen, white and blue are a fantastic combination.

Neutrals
Soft grey, beige, cream, etc., can add a touch of harmony to any kitchen. Soft flecked grey stone looks similar to concrete and works well in architectural spaces. Warm metallic elements (gold or brass cabinet pulls) accentuate neutral countertops as well.

Materials – done! Contractor – look no further! At JFC Remodeling, we professionally remodel kitchens. If you have an ideal kitchen in mind, contact us, and we’ll work with you to create the space you’ve always dreamed of.

JFC Remodeling is committed to providing top-quality home reconstruction services to clients throughout Livingston County. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, our licensed contractors create unique, individualized, and polished renovations. Whether the site requires an improvement, repair, or is a new construction, you can trust our experts to deliver remarkable results. Call: 810-923-1123, e-mail: jfcllc@comcast.net, or visit us at: www.jfcremodeling.com today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

To cozy up a house and turn it into a home, we often rely on personal style to create an overall aesthetic. However, our homes consist of so much more than furniture. Here are some suggestions to enhance your space and make rooms feel more comfortable.

Practicality
Well-designed homes get everything right, especially from a practical sense. Make sure you set aside space for laundry, a mudroom/entrance area, and other areas that might be accidentally overlooked. If you don’t have a dedicated room where you can keep a washer and dryer, consider putting them in a closet or stacking them to maximize space.

Layout
Spend some time analyzing the way you use and move throughout your home. Establish what is clearly working and what isn’t. Sometimes, interior design can’t remedy an oddly-placed wall, which should be knocked down by a professional. Houses can often gain more space by expanding a kitchen or dining area, for example.

Nooks & Crannies
Sometimes, the most overlooked areas of a space are those awkward spaces such as corners or underneath stairways. Brainstorm how to transform the blank canvas into something more useful, such as designated storage areas.

Lighting
One of the most important aspects of interior design, lighting has the power to change the ambiance with the flip of a switch. Try to balance artificial and natural light to create a warm, cozy, yet welcoming space.

Color
Choosing the right color can make a magnificent impact on a room. Layer your color palette by using accent walls or adding bold accessories or artwork to make them pop.

Personality
Don’t forget the most important part of making your house a home: you! Make sure each and every element in your home is one that you love. Showcase your personal art collection or reupholstered chairs proudly.

JFC Remodeling is committed to providing top-quality home reconstruction services to clients throughout Livingston County. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, our licensed contractors create unique, individualized, and polished renovations. Whether the site requires an improvement, repair, or is a new construction, you can trust our experts to deliver remarkable results. Call: 810-923-1123, e-mail: jfcllc@comcast.net, or visit us at: www.jfcremodeling.com today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.