Category: Aspen Construction - page 4

Home remodeling is done either because of personal interested or because of popular trends.  There are pros and cons for doing both that we will focus on.  When homeowners choose to remodel based on trends that are popular in the home improvement industry it may improve the chances the homeowner has at recouping the cost that was put into the remodel.  The focus today will be on popular housing trends in 2016 and how to work in your personal interests and recoup the money you put in.

Front Entry Home Improvements: The addition of a new entry door along with some updates in paint, fresh rugs and a bit of fresh greenery can really boost the charm of your home and the overall appeal of the home’s exterior.

Home entryway updates can cost an average of five hundred to a thousand dollars.  A new front entry door can cost around six hundred and twenty five dollars with paint and rugs running another fifty dollars.  Entry landscaping makes up the rest of this update making one heck of a return on your investment when the time comes to sell.

Bathroom Renovation and Remodeling: Although a bathroom renovation may require more time and money than other home improvement projects it is will also draw in the most attention from buyers.  Bathroom remodeling is also known as one of the best return on investments within the home improvement industry.

If you aren’t looking to do a complete overhaul on a bathroom which can cost upwards of twenty five thousand dollars consider simple updates that easily recoup their value.  Replace sinks, cabinets and countertops along with fixtures to create an update remodel.  Consider a fresh coat of paint and some updated linens for a complete bathroom makeover.

Garage Replacement Door and Remodel: This is a renovation that is not often considered when homeowners think about upgrading the exterior of their homes.   Replacing a garage door and updating the space adds to the total value of your home.  At resale you are apt to collect at least eighty seven percent of what you put into out of a garage renovation.  A new garage door can turn an old outdated exterior into a modern marvel.

Don’t just repaint the garage door replace it.  A garage door replacement ranges from around seven to eight hundred dollars all which is usually recouped within the sale of the home.

For more renovations that are popular in 2016 continue reading our next blog installment.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

Should you renovate the current space you are living in or go out and purchase a new construction home that has everything you could want?  This question doesn’t have a one size fits all answer for all homeowners.  One of the most important issues that plagues many homeowners the issue of location.  Do you love the neighborhood you are in?  What are the other homes like?  Can you create the home of your dream within the neighborhood or do you risk pricing your home out of the area? Also consider if it makes economic sense to renovate over buying new.

Four Questions To Ask Yourself Before Committing to Renovations or New Construction

Can the desired updates occur within the current home?

Home renovations using the homes original footprint can cost up to fifty percent less than renovations that require a change in the structure of the home.  If you are looking to convert or add on a garage check out the neighborhood.  Are you sure that this will be viewed as an improvement within the space or a detriment? Sometimes an addition to an older home makes better sense economically as renovating an older space within the home means that you will need correct problems that currently exist.

Will you and your family be able to live through a major home renovation?

Home remodeling can wreak havoc on the normalcy that your family is familiar with.  Can you live through the construction of your space?  There will be lots of noise, a variety of contractors and disruptions.  If you are redoing your kitchen; how long can you live without a sink?  These are important considerations before renovating an existing home.

Are the renovations that you hope to perform legal?

Check with the local H.O.A. and municipality to determine if the renovations you are looking to perform are legal.  Are their requirements on how many stories a home can have?  Do you need to be a certain number of feet from the property line?  Do new renovations trigger requirements on existing elements in the home?  Usually this occurs within the homes electrical systems.

Does the renovation make sense for the home’s value?

This is a major issue for many homeowners.  Will you over value your home for the area you are in with the renovation you are looking to perform.  Adding a custo9m kitchen in a neighborhood filled with starter homes really doesn’t make a lot of sense.  The customization of a home’s kitchen can cost upwards of a hundred thousand dollars.  This is not necessarily beneficial in a place where the most expensive home sells for a hundred and fifty thousand.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

Home improvement projects come with some difficulties; the most common stemming from hiring an experienced, dependable contractor to execute the project.  Whether you are knowing out a wall to increase the size of the kitchen or something simpler like tiling the bathroom floor it is crucial the contractor will perform at the highest performance level possible. Below are several tips to help homeowners find a reliable and steadfast home improvement specialist.

Ask friends, family and co-workers for references on work previous contractors have performed:  If you know anyone that has had work done around their homes check with them to see if they would recommend the contractor that they employed.  When looking for qualified individuals to work with no one is a better reference than those within your own tight knit community of friends, family and co-workers.

Narrow the selection down to three contractors before asking them to estimate your home improvement project:  Interview contractors before getting bids or estimates from them.  Do not allow the final selection come down to the estimate or bid amount.  Find at least three contractors that offer exactly what you are looking for in a home improvement specialist.  Seek estimates from all three contractors and work to negotiate the best overall value for your project.

Review the licenses, complaints and litigation history on contractors that you are interested in working with:  Never waste time on a contractor without the proper licensing, bonding and insurance.  Homeowners insurance does not cover many problems that can arise when hiring work to be done around the home. With the proper licenses, bonds and insurance in place a contractor is showing that they are serious in protecting project owners, their business and subcontractors from any and all losses that should arise.

Have an idea of what you want before seeking out estimates from contractors:  It is important to be able to express exactly what you want in order to get to the end result you desire.  Contractors cannot read minds.  It is crucial to have a plan with definite ideas on what you are looking for.  Do not speak to a contractor until you have a set plan.  Once an idea is in place and you have a sense of what you want start seeking estimates from contractors.  This is the only way that you will get a reliable estimate on labor and materials for your project from the contractors you are seeking to work with.

In our next blog installment we will continue providing tips to aid homeowners in the search to find a contractor to employee that will perform home improvement projects within your home.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

An old age question that contractors are often asked; should we move forward with renovations on an existing home or opt for new construction?  There are factors on both sides of the discussion that need to be evaluated when deciding what is right for you and your family.  When considering between renovations and new construction take a look at the following five things.

Evaluate the costs associated with renovating verse the expense involved in new construction.  Are the renovations that are needed structural?  Structural renovations are often expensive and time consuming.  It will most often be more cost effective to start from scratch over renovating when a lot of structural changes are needed.  A new construction single story home runs around two hundred thousand dollars and two story homes around two hundred fifty thousand dollars.

Renovations, especially those involving the structure of the home can add up due to unforeseen problems that arise along the way.  This doesn’t give you complete control over the budget whereas with a new home you can get a fixed price contract.

Consider the age of your existing home.  You may have purchased this specific home because of the houses character, the charm of the existing neighborhood and other aspects that are irreplaceable.  If you fell in love with the old wooden floors and the existing ornamental ceilings then remodeling is obviously the only way to go.  Period features in older homes cannot be replicated in new construction.

Where is the home located?  Is the property one of the reasons that you initially purchased the home?  Are there landscape options mature and unable to be replicated in another location?  Vacant land to build on is often scarce.

Look at the homes existing floor plan; does it match your family’s lifestyle?  If the homes floor plan is unworkable then it makes more sense to start from scratch over.  It may be cheaper to begin with a clean slate over completely renovating the homes existing floor plan into something that can work for your family and lifestyle.

Renovations are often more difficult to budget for.  New home construction allow for a few years of lower expenses because everything is new.  It is easier to maintain a new home and more energy efficient appliance, windows and more have been used to create your home.  Also, new construction comes along with a warranty.  Renovations are an expense that is comes along with the homes current maintenance expenses.  So while you may budget your finances to achieve a new addition to the existing home it doesn’t mean that the water heater on the home or the roof won’t suddenly need to be replaced.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

The main piece of advice anyone can give homeowners looking into new construction is to be sure everything from even the smallest changes is in writing. When you preview the model make sure you note all of the things that you like within the home. The model isn’t ever the base model; the model always includes upgrades that are not included in the base price of the home. Builders can customize the models available to meet your needs and wants. This is one of the great reasons to purchase a new construction home. It is however not without costs and additional time to complete the overall job.

A realtor is needed even when purchasing a new construction home. Strong realtors will guarantee to guarantee that you are covering the entire base. Realtors that specialize in new construction homes are familiar with working with builders and contractors. They understand the intricacies of negotiating add-ons and ensure that the buyer gets all changes in writing. A completion date on the initial contract becomes null and void when changes are continually made. It is impractical to add on customizations without adding time to the completion date. When the contract changes make sure that the contract gives you a new completion date.

A new home also needs a final home inspection as does a used home. Everyone makes mistakes. It is important to be sure that that a professional new home construction inspector does a final inspection on the home before you close on your new home. Inspectors find things that were not done or done incorrectly that could eventually cause bigger problems down the road for you as new home owners. An inspector is hired to do a final review over the work that has been completed. It is the largest single financial purchase you will make so be sure to have it inspected with a fine tooth comb before you sign on the dotted line making it officially yours.

Newly constructed homes often come with a new home warranty. Typically a third party will offer a home warranties for new home builders. Each builder will determine what they will cover in a warranty verse what they won’t. Negotiate a warranty in to your deal with the builder to ensure that your new construction home is covered in all ways possible.

New construction is a perfect way to ensure you are getting the home of your dreams down to the most minor details. Look to friends and family when considering a realtor and builder to assist in bringing the new construction home of your dreams into reality.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling. For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.