Kenneth Lewis Blog

If you’re planning on a few home improvements, it's best to know which of them are likely to pay off if you sell your home and which won’t. ROI, or return on investment, should play a part in your plan. Basically, it is how much money you could recoup when you sell. Will that minor bathroom remodeling job be a good investment or not? Should you spend the extra money to fix up the kitchen?

More often than not, sellers can get back a substantial percentage of their outlay for a variety of well-executed improvements if they keep the market in mind.

According to the Cost vs. Value Report a "minor" kitchen remodel (in home improvement speak that's about $20K) is usually a good investment. The national average for cost returned is about 83%.

Keep in mind that spending more doesn't necessarily mean you'll get back a higher percentage later. In the last year, an upscale kitchen makeover, which might involve installing custom cherry cabinets and other luxurious amenities, the average recouped value is lower (about 78%) than for a minor kitchen remodeling project (83%) that is much less extensive or expensive.

This is why you should consider spending less and getting a larger return on that investment. If you have nice solid, but perhaps run down kitchen cabinets, consider kitchen cabinet refacing or refinishing. Contact us.

Original article - Demesne

For some, the idea of remodeling the kitchen is overshadowed by thoughts of cost overruns, delays, and decisions. Certainly the process seems daunting, but in the end it is very rewarding. A nice and easy kitchen makes life…nice and easy.

1: How will you use your kitchen

To have a successful kitchen remodel, it is important to think about how you’ll actually be using your kitchen. A kitchen island will often help make kitchen living easier. A kitchen island provides extra seating and serving space for a family and can include great storage options to help keep the kitchen organized.

2: Storage

A kitchen can never have enough storage. Existing cabinets can be refinished rather than replaced to save money while updating the look of the kitchen. Additional cabinet options can be added to existing cabinets such as roll out shelving, peg boards, and cup hangers. Near the garage, as you enter the kitchen, consider a utility cabinet with roll-out trays and cubbies to minimize clutter from purses, hats, and  keys.

3: Make the kitchen functional for all

Understand who is using the kitchen and for what. Do you like entertaining in your kitchen; reface some of the cabinet doors with glass fronted doors. Perhaps you are at home chefs, have all your cooking supplies organized. Is it a homework spot for kids? Have a drawer designated for school supplies.

Refinishing or refacing kitchen cabinets, instead of cabinet replacement, lets you upgrade your kitchen at a price you can afford while getting the new custom look you want. If you looked into remodeling your kitchen you have found that it is not cheap and a significant portion of that cost is for cabinets. They are also costly and time consuming to install. However, if your cabinets are in decent shape, the alternatives of refacing or refinishing your cabinets can give your kitchen a fresh new look quickly, without busting your budget.

The kitchen cabinets are the most visible and abused parts of your kitchen. So when they look tired and worn, so does your kitchen. But, most kitchen cabinets are in good shape structurally and only need a facelift. With many colors, stains and wood veneers, refinishing or refacing kitchen cabinets is the perfect way to transform your kitchen from old and worn to fresh and new.

The least expensive solution between refinishing and refacing your cabinets is refinishing. Kitchen cabinet refinishing is done by painting or staining the cabinets and cabinet doors.

Refacing kitchen cabinets is more expensive than refinishing but still a fraction of the cost to replace them. The old cabinet doors and drawers are removed, stripped, and the door and drawer fronts are replaced with new surfaces, either new wood veneer or laminate. The cabinet frames and exterior surfaces are covered or refaced to match and the inside is cleaned and painted.

The time required for refacing or refinishing kitchen cabinets depends on the size of the kitchen but usually can be completed within 3-5 days. This means that your kitchen will not be unusable for weeks or months as with cabinet replacement.