Should I remodel before the holiday to save money?

The Holidays are just around the corner, well at least in three month’s it will be.  Before you know it plans are being made to host and attend holiday events.

 The thought of having to clean the base-boards, touch up the paint in some areas and clean out my drawers in the kitchen is daunting; this, of course in case someone reaches for a plate. We wouldn’t want to scare them with the dirt that has accumulated. Oh wait, is that just my house?

 One wouldn’t think September or October would be a good time to remodel, but it is! Most homeowners are not thinking of the holiday events, yet they should,  labor pricing could be reasonable this time of year. In the holiday season mostly the week before Thanksgiving or Christmas homeowners want items done NOW! These are the homeowners who; due to the demand end up paying a premium for labor.

Last month I spoke about remodeling the kitchen on a budget. Same thing can be done for painting  bathroom cabinets.

As a contractor we are asked about new carpet and tile for the holiday season. When looking into the idea of new carpet ask your contractor early if they have any carpet that was preordered and not used.  Ask about padding for the carpet. The thicker the pad the more cushion you have.  Walk on the padding; can you feel a difference between the middle grade and one grade higher? If not, save on the padding too.

Are you longing for a fireplace in your home for the holidays? Hearing the crackling of the wood and smell of the fire?   Many options to choose from when selecting a fire place. It's important to find the local code for the city you are living in.  Houselogic does an amazing job going through the details of adding a fire place to your home. I would recommend reading the article.

Is the outside of your home needed some attention? Recently we painted a home that was built in the late 90’s while that doesn’t seem that long ago in house years it needed a new look. The home color was a light cream color, nice for the 90’s  however when the homeowner choose tan it brought new life to the home and the neighborhood was revitalized. 

 Adding stone to the outside will give it a custom updated look.

Before you start your holiday plans think about being proactive in your home projects. It can save you time and money when taking the time to look for that special deal on carpet or tile.

When looking for a contractor contact your local Registrar of Contractors to ensure the company you are looking for has a General Contractors license and no unresolved complaints.