NAHB Survey Shows Desire for Better Amenities Among Remodelers

Among the many reasons for remodeling your home, the National Association of Home Builders surveyed homeowners and found that the top reason for a remodel was a desire for better / newer amenities.  In conjunction with this reason, homeowners’ second reason for remodeling their current home was a need to repair / replace old components.

In order for a home to feel like “brand new,” homeowners can largely do an overhaul of their existing space, replacing or adding trim, repainting, putting down different flooring, replacing cabinets and countertops, and installing new fixtures, lighting, and appliances. The desire for new and better amenities includes all of these activities and also includes installing new components whether they be new faucets, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, shower stalls / doors, kitchen islands, and much, much more.  Unused wall space can include new cabinetry, a kitchen desk or mini-office, a butler’s pantry, or a built-in wet bar designed specifically for entertaining, complete with ice maker, refrigerator, and / or wine cooler.

Other reasons for remodeling your home can include wanting to avoid moving or buying a new or existing home for sale, the ability or desire to stay where you are – age in place.  If you have children, you may love the area in which you live, your kids love their school, and you like the school district, your neighborhood is desirable and your neighbors are your friends, and other reasons for “staying put.”  Your home may not no longer be meeting your expectations for comfortable living, but remodeling your home to give it a fresh look or even adding on more space in the form of an expanded family room area, a new sun room, a new patio / screened-in porch, a mother-in-law suite, or even an upstairs apartment above your garage could make your life and your family’s life more enjoyable.

Whatever your reason for remodeling your home, Ron Lee Homes in St. Tammany Parish can help.  We have added entire outdoor space, completely reconstructed kitchens and bathrooms, and created private master suites for more comfort while you age in place.  To get more information on renovating your home with Ron Lee Homes, call 985-626-7619 or E-mail Info@RonLeeHomes.com.

Trends That Are Showing Up in Remodeled or Newly Built New Homes

Whatever type of home construction you are planning – a new, custom home or a complete remodel / renovation of your existing home – you will want to pay attention to the trends that are showing up in remodeled or newly built new homes.  Below are several trends that are popular among contractors, builders, and homeowners.

1. Luxurious garden tubs or jetted garden tubs have held steady in home construction for years, but for 2016, the trend is shower stalls or walk-around showers with shelving and seating.  There are some really unique shower designs that include multiple shower heads and even massage sprays.

2. For your backsplash, trim, or even walls and floors, ceramic tile is not as popular now among renovators and builders as glass tile.  The glass tile comes in many different colors as well as designs with multiple colors, so choose your matching design and go crazy!

3.  When stepping up to the gourmet kitchen or luxurious master bath, granite countertops used to be the ultimate material that reflected the type of construction of your new home or remodel.  There is a new material that is called engineered quartz that is not only tougher than granite and lasts longer, but it has the same timeless, classic, and upscale design for your custom counter work.

4.  Toilets naturally came in lower to the floor sizes for decades, but now there are choices of toilet heights that are available to new home buyers, and buyers are choosing height over flow.  The new, higher toilets are also more water efficient and modern, saving some homeowners on utility bills.

5.  Along with ornate, custom-built, real wood cabinetry; home buyers and remodelers now have a choice of painted, stained, and dark wood cabinetry vs. the traditional oak cabinets that were standard for new home construction projects.  Choose and contrast these colors as well with a two-toned look in the kitchen or bathroom.

6.  Even though, we as a custom home builder still encourage you to buy reliable appliances throughout your home, the industry has caught up with technology, so some home buyers and home renovators are now going with a mid-range level of appliance vs. a high-end appliance package.  The appliances themselves seem to have the same duration of service, and you can also purchase upper end looking fixtures, such as stainless steel to achieve the look you want without all of the cost.

7.  Back to the basics – homeowner and savvy new home buyers know to renovate and build their homes with real wood flooring such as solid oak or pine instead of engineered flooring.  While the look and cost of an engineered floor is great for the first few years, the results after many years of wear and tear don’t stand the test of time, weather, and constant use.  Homeowners and new home buyers will be looking to find affordable real wood choices for their flooring.

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Bathroom Remodeling – Available in All Project Sizes

Remodeling a guest bathroom or master bathroom can change the entire look and usage of the room.  It can also change the functionality of the bathroom itself as well as the resale value of the house  Bathroom remodeling is one of the most popular choices of renovation projects that homeowners choose.  Nationally, today’s average price to remodel a bathroom ranges from $5,000 – $15,000, and some people spend as much as $20,000 on a bathroom remodel to create an oasis or paradise right inside their own home.

Whatever price you are able or willing to pay to transform your bathroom into a fully restored new room, there are many considerations of materials and projects to consider when beginning your renovation project.  One of the big considerations is to repair and refinish vs. replace the fixtures in your bathroom.  Fixtures can include lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and carpentry fixtures such as cabinets and countertops.  If you need to stay within a tight budget, you might consider replacing faucets and sinks and then stripping and refinishing cabinets vs. tearing out and replacing the entire cabinet.  If you have a more flexible budget, and you decide to tear out and replace; you may also want to consider changing the floorplan of the bathroom to expand it and add new appliances such as a massage shower or a spa bathtub.

Increasing or changing a floorplan may take more time because you are getting into structural integrity as well as plumbing and electrical new systems or reconfiguration, so you will want to make sure that you budget your money and time accordingly. If you decide to increase your floorplan, make sure you used an Experienced Contractor who can help you make great use of all of your space and also make your new bathroom remodel as inviting and useful as possible.

If you are somewhere in between “sky’s the limit” and a limited budget, you may decide to replace old tubs and showers, tear out and replace bathroom cabinetry, and create an entirely new lighting package.  Depending on the scope of the project, this may cost you somewhere in the “middle” range of an average bathroom budget, but you will be surprised how just doing those minimal “invasive” tear-outs will transform your bathroom into looking brand new.

Ron Lee Homes Remodeling has a terrific team that is excellent about making recommendations that will fit within your job scope and budget to make your bathroom remodel the perfect renovation for your life.  We listen to our clients’ needs and then try to “squeeze the budget” as much as possible to exceed your expectations.  Working with a builder also has its advantages as we know how to get “in and out” of your home as fast as possible with as minimal mess, noise, and hassle of living with a remodel while it is happening.  Contact Ron Lee Homes Remodeling today to get a quote on your project.  Call 985-626-7619 or E-mail Info@RonLeeHomes.com.

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