The Economy and the Remodeling Industry

The Economy and the Remodeling Industry

To many it may seem that remodeling during these hard economic times is not a wise decision. People tend to focus on the amount of time or money involved in design. Especially with the decreased value in homes surely to bounce back in five or six years, now may be the best time to remodel and reinvest in your own assets.

The last 6-8 years have been booming for re modelers. Simple supply and demand concepts will tell you that as demand increases the price mirrors it. During that last 9 months in the Northern Virginia area, the demand had been decreasing; therefore designers throughout the remodeling industry are offering better values.

However, the market is an unpredictable beast and can change rapidly. Presently, we are seeing a higher demand in the last few weeks. But there are still great values to take advantage of out there before the price spike upward again.

In remodeling, several factors have to be taken into consideration in addition to great value:

What should you expect when looking for the company to remodel your kitchen, bathroom, basement, etc.?

Design: It all starts with great design. A great design is timeless, it will ensure that the space will be functional, beautiful, and tailored to the end user.

Trustworthiness: Would you trust the contractor enough to leave your home and go on vacation for several weeks while your home is being remodeled? Will the contractor be able to make the right decisions in your absence? Are the workers skilled in the trade they are preforming? How much experience do they have?

Accountability: Is everything accounted for when you sign the contract? Will there be any additional or “hidden charges” after the contract has been signed? There are companies that in the surface give you a “deal,” and in the end will charge extra to finish the job. Take the time to Google “complaints” and type a specific company and city where they are located. In addition, the Better Business Bureau keeps detailed information online about companies, including complaints. After all, you trust them with YOUR home.

Quality: the old adage that says, “You get what you pay for” is true, especially in the remodeling industry. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is! The first thing that will suffer with a low price is quality. Quality doesn’t cost… it pays.

Value: What is value? Value is the assurance of knowing that you are receiving not only a reasonable price, but also the services that go along with the project. For instance, in our company, Nicely Done Kitchens, our designers are professional designers, and each has a design degree, in either architecture or interior design. Yes, folks, four years of arduous university time learning how to design spaces for different needs such as handicapped accessibility, aging in place population, colors, textures, balance, proportion, ergonomics, traffic patterns, ease of entering, etc. these subjects are especially important when designing the kitchen or the bathroom spaces.

We provide the one stop shop concept: you literally don’t have to set foot anywhere else, we offer a wide selection of cabinetry, different counter top materials, over 200 knobs/pulls for cabinetry, floors, back-splashes, tile, appliances, etc.

Complete service from concept to completion. Project management, client service personnel, residential construction superintendent, and more.

In the end, you will be happy knowing that the granite in the kitchen is not going to crack later because it was placed on properly installed cabinetry, and properly installed floors. If a company has never had a complaint filed against it, as is the case with Nicely Done Kitchens, there is reason for it. Service, service and service pave our way.

Timeline/schedule: The contract should spell out the projected start and completion of the project. Our kitchens on the average take 3-4 weeks of construction from start to finish. There are companies out there that take month to finish!

Consumer sites: Lastly check with consumer sites that provide real feedback (i.e. Angies List, Complaintboard.com) or ones that provide complaints of companies providing you an estimate. Researching the company will save you a lot of anxiety as your project moves forward.

Finally, establish that chemistry with your designer as you begin. They can really help you have that kitchen, bath or other room of your dreams!

Aging in Place

Recently, in the Economist there was a a ten page speial report on aging populations and what that means to the world. The articles details employment, health care, and what impact having a larger older population will have on everyone. The large gap in age population in clearly a looming problem in the coming decades.

Over the past few years, remodeling has taken on a life of its own. Baby boomers have remodeled their homes to make a personal statement. Additionally, they have purchased second homes as either weekend get-a-ways or retreats for extended family reunions and get-togethers. The trend has been to personalize and customize a home to fit the lifestyle and mood of the household. Where will you live as you grow older? If you are like most Americas, you would prefer to stay in your current home: 89 percent of people 50 and older who were surveyed by AARP in 2005 stated that they would like to remain in their homes as they age.

Now, due to the changing housing market of the past two years, more people of all ages will stay in the current houses longer. Renovations will still take place and may even increase. People want to remain active, vital and independent as they age. So, how do we address these concerns when it comes to housing? One way is to look at your current house and identify quick and easy fixes suck as taping down a loos area rug. Secondly, examine ways to make changes as you remodel such as adding blocking for a grab bar that can be added at a later date. Finally, determine if moving to a new residence would make the most sense. Maybe the three level colonial in Northern Virginia would be better suited for a  younger family and a ranch style home or single level condo would be a better housing option for an aging couple.

Two years ago, I became a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist thru certification with NAHB (National Association of Home Builders). The course outlines specific design principles that apply to housing and kitchen design when thinking about aging in place. These same principles would apply to a person loosing mobility with MS or a person with a sudden change due to an accident. I have had two projects using these CAPS design principles: one project with the wife in a scooter and the second project for a family of four whose son had MS. 

Rather than providing a laundry list of ways to adapt your home on this blog, here are additional websites that have valable information on this topic: www.nicelydonekitchens.com www.nahb.org, www.aarp.org, agingbeautifully.com, www.cs.wright.edu/bie/rehabengr/kitchens/kitchint and www.naipc.org