Should You Invest in a Fixer-Upper? A Dover Home Improvement Contractor Can Help

February 4, 20160

Renovate a home with the help of a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor can help you renovate a home.

There are several factors to consider when weighing the merit of investing in a fixer-upper. Naturally, the number of renovations the home will require and how much those projects will cost are major considerations. After all, the true price of the home is its purchase price plus the cost of a home remodel in Dover, not just the bargain price of a home in need of work. You’ll need to run your numbers carefully before making a decision.

Adequate Return on Investment

When considering the purchase of a fixer-upper primarily as a financial investment, you’ll need to carefully assess the balance between the purchase price and the costs involved in renovating the property. Whether you plan to flip the house by remodeling it and selling it for a profit or you are investing in it as a rental property, you’ll need to do the math to see if you will be able to earn a worthwhile return on the money you invest.

It’s a good idea to add 20 to 25 percent to your estimated remodel budget to cover any unexpected repairs that may come up during the renovation process. That’s because, as almost any Dover home improvement contractor can tell you, sometimes when you open up a wall or begin what by all appearances is a small fix, you can discover a larger problem lurking under the surface. You could, for example, expose the wiring in a wall during the process of moving a wall switch to a more convenient location and find evidence other wires need immediate replacement.

A home remodel can help you create a beautiful home.

If you buy a fixer-upper, you need a home remodel.

Home Investment Is Different

The numbers run a bit differently when you are thinking about buying a fixer-upper and renovating it to live in. If this is going to be your long-term home, gaining a better quality home at a bargain price may be more important to you than what the return on your investment is going to be in hard numbers after five or 10 years. After all, if it is your home, you aren’t looking to sell it within that time-frame anyway. The deciding factor is what the home is worth to you. A fixer-upper can be transformed into a gorgeous custom-designed home when you have an expertsoutheastern MA premier home remodeling and additions contractor handle your renovations.

Ask the Experts

If you don’t have a lot of hands-on home improvement project experience, it can be difficult to accurately assess the condition of a house to determine just how much remodeling and repair it needs. Talk to local expert contractors to learn what types of damage to a home tend to be the most problematic or most likely to run into unexpected costs. Ask about what types of renovations are most cost-effective when it comes to increasing curb appeal or home value. Investing in a house is serious business so take your time to gather facts and work your numbers before making any final decisions. Contact us for more information about renovating houses that may need many repairs.

Why In-Law Suites for Aging Parents Are Becoming a Part of Many Southeastern MA Home Improvement Plans

January 21, 20160

Is an in-law suite part of your home improvement plans?

An in-law suite may be an important part of home improvement plans.

With the large population of baby boomers now in their senior years, many adult children are planning for the time when they will open their home to at least one aging parent. If these plans are in your future, here are some design suggestions for in-law suites that are part of many southeastern MA premier home remodeling and additions.

Why Build an In-Law Suite?

Staying Close and in Touch — Many people spend time worrying about an aging parent living alone, especially if they are unable to see them often enough. In-law suites take the worry out of being far away from an elderly parent and provide the convenience of being there when needed.
Avoiding the High Cost of Assisted Living Facilities – The cost for affordable assisted living facilities varies with location and level of service; however, residents of assisted living communities can typically expect a 4.28 percent annual increase in their base rate.
Designing for Future Use – Current and future homeowners can easily transition an in-law suite to comfortable accommodations for out-of-town guests and visits from children and grandchildren.
Increasing the Resale Value – Another upside of having an in-law suite is having the additional square footage to offer when it’s time to sell the home. Today’s home buyers appreciate having guest accommodations that are less intrusive for the host and more private for the guest.

Where to Build an In-law Suite

There are actually several ways additional living space can be incorporated into your southeastern MA home improvement plans. One of these suggestions might work perfectly with your current floor plan.

Add an extension to an existing bedroom or guest room to provide a comfortable sitting area.
Convert two existing bedrooms that have a connecting bathroom by turning one of the bedrooms into a sitting room/living area.
Build a one or two room addition with a bathroom that may open onto the family room.
If backyard space allows, build a stand-alone quarters, or a ‘tiny home,’ with a full kitchen, bedroom, bath and small living room. Future use may be the ideal guest quarters or rental space.
Build a new master suite for the homeowners and utilize the existing master bedroom and bathroom for an in-law suite.
Building a second story might be your only option for an in-law suite, although at some point you may need to install an elevator shaft or a chair lift onto your staircase.

Prepare for aging parents with the help of your home improvement contractor.

Your home improvement contractor can help you prepare for aging parents.

Features for Your In-law Suite

Depending on your particular situation, a Weston, MA, home improvement contractor can include a separate entrance to your in-law suite, which may simply be an exterior doorway to the patio area. A stackable washer and dryer, phone line and intercom system, as well as separate Internet and cable connections, are all features appreciated by both in-laws and future guests. Many homeowners anticipate dining with their aging parent so a kitchenette that includes a microwave and a mini refrigerator with a freezer drawer may be all that’s needed.

Other Considerations for Your In-Law Suite Plans

Doorways should be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair and a walker.
A ramp for wheelchair access may need to be added to a porch.
Adequate storage should be part of the design plan.
Safety features, such as grab bars, handrails and non-slip flooring.
Separate heating and air conditioning.
Separate smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors.

Rather than waiting until their senior relative can no longer live alone, many homeowners are thinking ahead. If you’re planning for the time when you’ll be ‘welcoming home’ an aging parent, a Weston, MA, home improvement contractor can provide options for building an affordable in-law suite.

Colony Home Improvement has more than 40 years of remodeling experience in southeastern Massachusetts. Contact us today for a consultation at no obligation.

2016 Kitchen Trends for Your Custom Built Southeastern MA Home

January 5, 20160

Include a new kitchen in premier home remodeling and additions.

Premier home remodeling and additions can include a new kitchen.

If you’re planning a kitchen for a custom built southeastern MA home, you’ll want to see these 2016 kitchen trends before you make any final design decisions. Fashion forward kitchen trends include an eclectic blend of vintage styles and objects with clean, ultra-modern lines, use mixed textures and focus on incorporating warmer metal tones. New dimensions of grays, rich retro hues and crisp contrasts are some of the most important 2016 kitchen color trends. It’s a great year for designing a new kitchen with southeastern MA premier home remodeling and additions experts.

Sleek Modern Colors

Perhaps the better way to describe the trend is a lack of color, a dialing back from the richly hued kitchens featured in many custom built floor plans in Needham and the surrounding towns. Black and white are popular color schemes, but shades of gray have become particularly trendy recently as well. Instead of a monochromatic look, many creating custom built southeastern MA home plans are choosing to blend varying shades of this neutral color.

Naturally, everybody isn’t ready to jump on the no color bandwagon. For those who enjoy rich colors, there are some gorgeous retro hues making a grand comeback. One of the most eye-catching of these is a rich peacock blue, a shade with depth and a feel of luxury about it. Use it as an accent or be adventurous and choose it as a bold statement.

Consider a retro look for custom built homes.

Retro meets modern in custom built homes.

Old-School Goes Ultra-Modern

Shaker furniture and cabinetry has long been appreciated for its clean, simple lines. That’s why Shaker cabinets have found a new niche – the ultra-modern kitchen. Today, they’re likely to be painted, often white, but increasingly gray or that combination of gray and beige that some have taken to calling “greige.”

Another way classic Shaker style cabinetry is being used in the modern kitchen is instead of the traditional vertical rectangle cabinet placement, many are placing the length of the rectangle horizontally. This is sometimes used to accentuate long, sleek lines, drawing the eye across a long parallel. Ask your southeastern MA premier home remodeling and additions expert if your Shaker style cabinets can be revamped with a modern new look.

Also an important trend for the coming year is accenting cool, almost monochrome color palettes and sleek lines with the occasional and brightly colored, curvy vintage item. This isn’t one to overdo; just a few items are all you need. A brick red bread box from the 1930s or 40s, a brightly colored retro-look stand mixer or a bit of carnival glass is just enough vibrancy to set off the near-absence of color perfectly.

New Choices for Sinks and Counters

Because of their classic style and durability, it will be quite a while before custom built southeastern MA home plans see granite displaced from kitchen counters. In fact, granite is also making its way to kitchen sinks. However, quartz is picking up speed as a trendy choice for kitchen counters. There’s a movement away from the dual sinks towards large, deep single sinks. Aside from granite sinks, 2016 will also see a resurgence of the classic cast iron sinks of yesteryear and some fascinating, durable resin and stone blends.

Contact us, your local southeastern MA premier home remodeling and additions experts, about how to bring your kitchen into 2016 gorgeously.

If It’s Time for a Home Remodel, It’s Time to Hire a Professional Builder

November 12, 20150

The right home improvement contractor is important.

Learn how to find the right home improvement contractor.

You’ve decided to move forward with your home remodel in Dover and the surrounding towns. Now, your next decision requires a little more time and research before choosing which Dover home improvement contractor will deliver on that vision.

Plan Ahead

Before choosing a builder, make sure you understand the full scope of your remodel. Deciding you’d like an additional closet midway through construction may add unplanned time, money and stress, and any unexpected deviation from the plan can hold up the entire project. A professional remodeler will have suggestions to help you make some decisions; however, it’s in your best interests to have a well thought out master plan in advance of starting your project.

Select your products, such as appliances, fixtures, finishes and other materials, ahead of time. Armed with your research, a builder with established relationships with suppliers can advise you on product choices, cost savings and possible extended warranties. Then they can ensure all products are available at the right time.

Look into the right contractor for your home remodel.

Don’t trust your home remodel to just anyone.

What to Look for in a Professional Builder

They should be licensed and have a solid reputation. There are strict regulations a licensed builder must follow to ensure the best quality work. Research their standing with the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Home Builders.
They should have technical training and experience with energy efficiency, smart homes and trends, such as green building and solar panels.
You should like their work and design ideas. Take the time to explore the builder’s website, which should provide images of their work. Ideally, they will have case studies about what particular remodels entailed and how they were accomplished.
They should have plenty of client testimonials. They are the best endorsements, and a reputable builder has clients you can contact for confirmation. Find out if they received excellent customer service and if all of their concerns were addressed.
They should help hone your vision by providing design options you haven’t considered, as well as the latest trends and materials.
They should be able to save you money. A reputable builder will not only tell you how they will save you money, but they will monitor your budget as closely as you do. In addition to finding savings on products and materials, a reputable builder can show you how energy efficient products and upgrades can cut your energy bills and provide tax credits and rebates.
They should be able to accommodate your schedule. Keep in mind professional builders will need time to plan and coordinate your entire project, order materials and schedule contractors around their existing and previously scheduled work load. Make sure their scheduled start date aligns with yours. If not, make sure they are worth the wait.

What to Do Before Demolition Begins

Make sure all terms and specifications are agreed upon and you have everything in writing.

Take care of all of your funding expectations.

Once you have a construction start date, begin planning how you and your family will navigate around various plumbing, electrical and construction factors. You may need to reschedule certain activities.

Prepare your home. Relocate furnishings, knick-knacks and any electronics from the work area.

Whether your home remodel in Dover and the surrounding area includes creating more livable square footage for your family or adding a wine cellar, you need to place your confidence in a reputable builder. Colony Home Improvement has an outstanding reputation for southeastern MA premier home remodeling and additions. Contact us today to discuss your plan and to get a free quote.

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