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. 

Remodeling Kitchens on a budget - Money saving ideas

Remodeling projects completed on T.V.  look so easy to accomplish. The 30 minute episodes where the entire kitchen is remodeled with new cabinets, counter tops and flooring. The professionals of HGTV The Property Brothers make it look so easy from design to completion. 

Even I, the wife of a contractor would like to blink my eyes as Jeannie did or twitch my nose like Samantha from Bewitched.

Poof! The Kitchen is remodeled and I can now cook like Julia Child.  

While we cannot go back in time I would like to share with you some ideas about remodeling the Kitchen; it can be more cost effective that previously thought possible. Knipp Contracting takes pride in guiding each homeowner through the construction process. Remodeling is just that, a process. 
Things come up throughout the construction phase and soon budget becomes a bad word.

Over the years we have come up with some ideas that can help spruce up the kitchen without sacrificing the college or retirement fund.

Saving the cabinets could help with the remodel budget. Before replacing the cabinets consider these options. 

Painting the cabinets will give it a new look. In the example below the cabinets are painted a darker color. Any color can be used depending on your décor. Wow! What a difference a little paint can make. 

 For a more eclectic look paint the upper cabinets a different color than the bottom cabinets.

Do you have a center island? This too can be painted a different color than the rest of the cabinets. Adding some trim can make the island look like a piece of furniture. Another option would be staining the cabinets darker.

 Painting Kitchen cabinets could cost approximately $1500.00 more or less depending on the detail and the amount of cabinets. Much more cost effective than purchasing new cabinets. 

Adding a back splash with tile can give your new kitchen a custom look. Ask your contractor if their tile sub contractor has any out of stock tile left over or perhaps someone ordered too much and needs to sell off the remaining. It may or may not match your décor; it’s worth a try.

Counter top materials are increasing in variety. Concrete has become popular as well as wood that has been stained and treated.  The home owner put a new product in this Kitchen called called  Spanish Moss Quartz. 

 Twitching our nose or blinking our eyes will not get our remodeling project complete, however these money saving ideas will help stay within budget.   

We are here to help! Contact us at www.knippcontracting.com

www.facebook.com/knippcontracting @knippcontract

Can I remodel on a budget? YES!

Arizona Home remodel with sun room enclosed creates additional square footage and more room. Removing a wall in the kitchen makes this home spacious. 

When looking at the distressed property, it's important to look beyond the clutter and the uneven flooring.  Simple items such as removing a wall or relocating a door  can change to look and feel of your home.

In this video you will see a wall in the kitchen has been removed to open up the space. The sun room had uneven flooring and was not utilized to its full potitentional . You will see that the room is finished and insulated, a room that can now be utilized as a family gathering space.

Looking for Homes to remodel?  HUD homes is a good place to start looking for your dream home.

Click below for more information; Kenny Klaus Team

Look and feel of a gourmet kitchen without going over budget

 



We all want the look and feel of a gourmet  kitchen without paying the price of expensive upgrades.  Adding stone to the wall makes this a focal point for any room. The stone wall and smoked mirror gives this kitchen an upgrade without going over budget.

For more information about Knipp Contracting... www.knippcontracting.com 

or call us at 623-561-0803

Vacation home

Vacation home is Flagstaff Arizona.

Looking to build a new home? Let Knipp Contracting help you through the process.
sales@knippcontracting.com or call us at 623-561-0803.

"Let our family provide your family with the home you've always dreamed of"

Checklist for Finding and Hiring a Builder or Remodeler

Checklist for Finding and Hiring a Builder or Remodeler

According to the National Association of Home Builders here are 10 steps when looking and hiring a Home builder or someone to Remodel your home. Be sure to look on the NAHB website for the complete checklist.

1. Contact your local home builders association for the names of member builders and remodelers. You can ask family, friends or co workers for recommendations. In our case we work with many Realtors in Arizona and Nevada. Ask your Mortgage lender who they have worked with in the past.

2. Make sure the builder or home remodeler has a permanent business location and a good reputation with suppliers. You can find this out when you google the name of the company, asking suppliers such as Lowe's who they use for installations.

3. Find out how long they have been in the building business. It usually takes three to five years to establish a sound business. You want to make sure they will be around after the construction is complete to service your home.  Starting with Wally's father, the Knipp name has been in the valley for over 35 years. We work hard to protect the family name.

4. Check out the company's rating and if there have been any complaints filed with your local Better Business Bureau.  Knipp Contracting has NO complaints with an A rating. Comment:  Knipp Contracting is one of the best contractors we have worked with since owning our company. Knipp Contracting has helped us with full rehabs to minor repairs. They are very responsive and always let us know what is going on during each job. Wendy & Wally Knipp, the owners, are great to work with. I highly recommend Knipp Contracting.


5. Make sure the builder/remodeler has sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance. If liable for an construction-related accidents on your premises. Knipp Contracting has more than the required insurance needed. 


6. Ask the builder/remodeler to provide you with names of previous customers. If they won't beware, ask the customers if they would hire the builder/remodeler again. Knipp Contracting will provide names and numbers for anyone that is interested in using our General Contracting services. Looking on our website at www.knippcontacting.com you will find additional comments from customers. 


7. Ask if you can see the builder/remodelers work, both completed and in progress. Check for quality. If you are interested in seeing our work you can call us at 623-561-0803 or youtube under  knippconstruction


8. Do you feel you can easily communicate with the builder/remodeler? Remember you will be in close contact throughout the construction process and afterward as you live in your home. You can contact us at sales@knippcontracting.com or 623-561-0803. "Let our family provide your family with the home you've always dreamed of" 


9. Make sure the builder/remodeler provides you with a complete and clearly written contract. The contract protects you.  Here at Knipp Contracting we will sit down with you and go over each page of the contract and bid. 


10. Be cautious of unusually low -priced bids.  Be sure the bid specs are what you have requested, look for model numbers and carpet grade.




Wither you are building a new home, remodeling an existing home or using an FHA 203k loan for renovations we wish you the very best. 


If you are looking for a new home or would like to refinance using the 203k loan to renovate, ask us for recommendations. 




Should you have any questions contact us at sales@knippcontracting.com