Love It or List It?

Kitchen design Jul 19

On average, Americans move nearly twelve times in their lifetimes, and one of the major reasons is because they need or want more room. Another top answer people have for wanting to sell their home is because they dislike their old kitchen. But sometimes, upon reflection, people can realize there are many benefits to staying in their homes and remodeling to a better kitchen design to suit their needs. When they feel they need more room in the kitchen, there are many ways to achieve their goals; they may just need to reconfigure the layout or perhaps add in customized storage solutions.

Reasons to Love It

Many Michigan families love their neighborhoods and the friends they’ve made over the years. Others are passionate about landscaping or gardening and would hate to leave the beautiful yard they’ve lovingly maintained. Many sentimental moms have a hard time even thinking about leaving the home they brought their babies home to. Another benefit is keeping the kids in the same school district. Often, the basic layout of the home and kitchen are still workable with a bit of remodeling. These homeowners often choose to get a home equity line of credit in Utica to finance their kitchen remodeling.

Financing a Kitchen Remodel Is Easy and Affordable

There are two types of loans that many homeowners check into to finance their remodel: A home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). Home equity loans often have fixed interest rates and provide an affordable way for homeowners to remodel their homes. A home equity loan provides a one-time cash amount, and the line of credit provides them with an upper limit, and allows them to draw against that as needed over a set period of time.For example, if they paid $150,000 originally for the house and it is now worth $300,000, and they owe only $100,000 on the original loan, they have $200,000 of equity in their home. With interest rates at historical lows, most can easily afford a monthly payment.A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is another way for homeowners to tap into the appreciation and equity they’ve earned on their home. During the initial “draw” period, usually ten years, it’s required to pay only the interest. During years ten to twenty, the repayment phase requires payments including interest and principal. Another option is to seek out a remodeling company that may offer special financing for its clients.

Where to Start?

 There are probably as many kitchen remodeling ideas as there are kitchens! One of the most important decisions is to keep the overall design and feel for the new kitchen in harmony with the rest of the home. Some popular websites and apps for kitchen remodeling ideas include Houzz and Pinterest. Both allow future remodelers to browse and save kitchen design photos and ideas that appeal to them. Houzz even has a feature for notes to enter what about the photo is most appealing. These are great to share with a kitchen designer to assist them in knowing the design style that is desired. Next, it’s critical to set a budget for the kitchen remodel. A general rule of thumb is that ten to fifteen percent of the home’s value should be spent in the kitchen, so a complete kitchen remodel for a $250,000 home should be in the $25,000 to $37,500. This will include all labor, materials, workmanship, and appliances. Choosing the major appliances next will help with budgeting and space planning. It’s also smart to get dream appliances on order early so they are ready for installation. New upgraded appliances will also save energy!

Appliances are Changing

Top-rated kitchen remodeling companies in Utica offer appliance choices from the very best manufacturers, including KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, Broan and Whirlpool. KitchenAid refrigerators are causing excitement with their new line of French door styles with a bottom freezer drawer. Their “Extend FreshTM” temperature management system keeps produce fresher longer, while their “FreshChillTM” temperature-controlled full-width pantry that optimizes airflow and temperature for the food that is being stored. Metallic accents give the interior a modern, clean look, and on the outside, a special “PrintShieldTM” finish helps to resist those pesky fingerprints. Other popular features many homeowners rave about include easy access through better organization, and refrigerator doors that hold a gallon of milk. Maytag’s newest line of dishwashers now provide “dual power filtration” to literally shred anything that comes off the plates, eliminating the need to even rinse off the dishes. A “Powerblast” cycle combines high pressure jets, higher water temperatures, and hot steam to scrub away even the most obstinate dried-on food. Tired of unloading damp dishes? With Maytag’s “Powerdry” option that combines heat and fan drying, they will be both warm and dry! Concerned about food bacteria? Rest assured that their “Steam Sanitize” option removes 99.999% of any food bacteria. Amana’s website features a useful tool called “Appliances 101” that leads customers through a series of questions and clear explanations of features about their various products. For example, when visiting “ranges,” they explain the advantages of gas and electric models for cooking. Other features, such as extra-large ovens, are especially attractive to those cooking for large family gatherings. A “Spill saver” upswept cooktop might sound like a small thing, but the raised edges can be a real lifesaver if something sticky is spilled.

Choosing a Great Remodeling Company to Partner With

Homeowners who’ve decided to “love it” — and keep their current homes and choose to remodel their kitchens — can find many kitchen remodeling companies in the Utica area that have great reviews. Increasingly, online websites are providing clear transparency to those companies that are reliable, trustworthy, and do quality work. It’s also smart to look for a remodeling company that has been around for a significant amount of time and has had proven success in addition to a good reputation in the community. An added bonus is that they will have employees who are polite, respectful of the homeowner’s needs, punctual, and most importantly, clean up the kitchen before they leave!