Fort Wayne Home Improvement Kitchen Remodeling Tips

Hi Friends – below is an article that includes many new good tips for remodeling your Fort Wayne kitchen. Wismer Contractor Referrals stands ready to help you get the work done right the first time using one of our pre-screened network contractors.

Turn Your Fort Wayne Kitchen Retro

Remodeling your kitchen in the Fort Wayne area can be fun when you go retro! Below is a good guide for choosing the right colors to stay authentic – check it out.

Check the web for retro kitchen products.  When your ready to have a trustworthy professional contractor do the work for you we can help!

A Retro Kitchen

Retro design is becoming popular again. This classic design will emphasize the dignity of retro architecture of your home. The kitchen is a good place to achieve that retro look.

Colors in the retro atmosphere
One of the easiest ways to kitchen remodeling in a retro style is to choose the right color retro. Fortunately, it’s not hard to do. Green is the most popular color retro. It is accompanied by the color yellow mustard and a combination of black, white and red flowers. In addition, purple and hot pink complement your decor retro. Just use a mixture of bright orange, green and blue colors, as well as indigo.

Retro tends around 1950. Kitchens should have been primarily functional, but at the same time, stylish and contemporary. In the 50’s we used bold color. Traditionally been a combination of red and white with black accents. Yellow, golden, turquoise and green were also popular. If you do not really like these colors, you can use as basis a white or cream, and use them as accents.

In any case, before starting kitchen remodel, you must a study to find out what colors and materials were popular at the time that you want to recreate. Take a look at retro kitchen products to evoke a feeling of yesteryear.

Kitchen Remodeling Trends

When you think of remodeling your Fort Wayne Kitchen do you ever think about using glass? Believe it or not using glass is a hot trend, it can be used in many ways. Check out the below article for some great ideas and call Wismer Contractor Referrals to start planning now.

Kitchen Remodeling Trends: How Glass Is Taking Over Kitchens

Kitchens are one of the most popular areas in the home to remodel. Homeowners love to have beautiful and modern kitchen areas. Plus, many homeowners know that having an updated kitchen is also a great way to appeal to home buyers.

One of the most popular materials to use in kitchens today is glass. It can be used in a vast number of ways throughout the kitchen. There are many contemporary kitchen remodeling ideas that incorporate glass into kitchens in unique ways. Just a few of these ideas include:

Glass Countertops
Glass countertops are one of the newest and coolest home improvements. They look ultra modern and come in a diverse range of colors and styles. Many homeowners go with the slab look and use a more translucent glass for a contemporary feel. Cement and glass mixtures are also popular.

Glass Sinks
There are many glass sink designs. You can also have a glass sink custom made specifically for your home. As you may have guessed glass sinks fit perfectly with glass countertops, but some homeowners choose to use glass sinks with other countertop materials as well. There are mosaic glass sinks, frosted glass undermount sinks, and more.

Glass Flooring
You can create a floor made entirely of glass or you can use glass accents along with another material. Glass is a wonderful and surprisingly durable flooring material. It also has a highly lustrous and reflective look that you just can’t get with other materials. You can choose from a range of colors. You can also mix different colors to create a unique glass floor pattern.

Along with these ideas, homeowners are also using glass in more traditional ways throughout the kitchen. Glass cabinet doors are in fashion again and glass backsplashes are all the rage. No matter where you choose to incorporate glass in your kitchen remodeling projects you will always have a beautiful end result.

Kitchen Remodeling Tips For Organizing in Fort Wayne

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Anderson

Fort Wayne Home Remodelng Tips

If your thinking of remodeling your Fort Wayne area home anytime soon, give this video from LA a view. While the tips come from the west coast the wisdom is the same. Listen particularly for the final comments from the contractor and know that Wismer Contractor Referrals LLC has you covered.

Tips to Help You Remodel Your Home

Fort Wayne Kitchen Remodeling

“Let’s remodel the kitchen.” Hearing this from your spouse could be the cause of fear and trembling for you unless you know what’s involved in the process. This article breaks it down. Have no fear, it doesn’t need to be so bad, especially if you have an expert remodeling contractor doing the job… and we at Wismer Contractor Referrals can help with that! Enjoy the article.

What Does a Kitchen Remodeling Project Entail?

When people hear others talk about a Northern Virginia kitchen remodel, they might wonder exactly what that means. There are many different options available to the homeowner, depending on what they want to change and how much money they plan to spend. It may involve everything in the room or just the basic necessities. Here are a few of the items that can be changed and revamped in a kitchen remodeling project.

Countertops
Countertops are often one of the most disliked parts of a kitchen before a renovation. They may be old, stained and covered in knife marks. The materials and color scheme may reek of a bygone era. Many modern homes use natural stone or other luxurious looking surfaces to create an elegant look that is easy to clean and difficult to scratch or stain. The sinks can be installed as part of the countertop or just appear to be part of the unit.

Floors
Hardwood, natural stone or ceramic flooring can be coordinated with the rest of the kitchen décor to create a welcoming atmosphere. These durable flooring options can be covered with area rugs for added comfort. They will also help to protect the high traffic areas an pivot points.

Cabinets
Lack of space is one of the most popular reasons that homeowners consider a kitchen remodel. The more things accumulate over the years, the less space there is to store them. Older homes typically have a lot of space between cabinets and countertops. They feature bulky doors and do not reach the full height of the room. Redesigning the cabinet system can increase space for food, pots and pans, dishes and small appliances. Many modern gadgets can be installed underneath cabinet spaces or inside shelf overhangs. Cabinet doors can be minimized or removed altogether to maximize space and create a more modern look.

Walls
Old wallpaper can be replaced by paneling or paint. Walls themselves can be moved, shortened, lengthened or added as needed. A competent Northern Virginia custom remodeling contractor will have the know how and skill to handle this part of the project from permit to completion.

Appliances
Modern appliances are often the what gives a kitchen a modern feel. The preheating and cooking times of cook tops and ranges are drastically shorter. They are more compact and more energy efficient.

Lighting
A kitchen remodeling project often includes a change in lighting systems. The areas of the kitchen that need the most light can have their own fixtures without illuminating the whole room. Dimmer switches and soft lighting change the entire atmosphere of the room.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_P_Stanfords

Get it in writing when remodeling

The below article from Austin speaks of a homeowner being ripped off by a contractor. Unfortunately this happens all over the country, including right here in Fort Wayne. You must use precautions when hiring a contractor so that you don’t fall victim too!

This is one of the things we can help you with at Wismer Contractor Referrals. We’ve done the background checks on all the contractors in our network to make sure they are honest in their dealings and won’t take advantage of you. Contact us when you are planning your next home improvement project and we’ll hook you up with a contractor you will be happy with.

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The fall season is a popular time for people to take on home remodeling projects. But when it comes to hiring a contractor to get the job done, there are a lot of ways homeowners can lose money.

Cory Blum’s kitchen remodel did not turn out the way she wanted.

“Because I bake and cook a lot, I wanted to have a concrete, one-piece countertop,” Blum explained. “But as you can see, it’s two pieces and it doesn’t really fit together, and it gets dirt down there a lot.”

She found more problems: a big crack where water can seep, a sprayer hose that’s too short and her dishwasher tips forward because it’s not connected to the counter.

“I contacted him and said, ‘This is totally unsatisfactory, this needs to be redone, this is not what I want,” Blum said. “And he said, ‘Well, I’ll have to find some people to come and take it out,’ and never did.”

She hired the contractor to do her kitchen in the summer of 2009 after he did good work on a pergola behind her home. But even that’s unfinished. He said he would come back to stain and seal the wood.

“He asked for money in advance for that, so he could feed his kids, and I’m still waiting. That’s what hasn’t been done on this contract,” Blum said.

Blum had a written contract, but said she paid too much up front — 50 percent. She’s out nearly $2,000.

“In terms of what a consumer should pay up front, really, it depends on the size of the job. Typically 10 to 15 percent is a safe number,” said Erin Dufner, Better Business Bureau of Austin.  “So really getting everything in writing and making sure that you both agree on the contract price, the contract timeline and the contract materials is the best way to protect yourself.”

After months of trying to negotiate Blum filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. The contractor never responded.

Blum said she’s moving on.

“I’m not a wealthy woman, don’t have a ton of extra money about it, but it doesn’t help to get angry,” Blum said.

Paying with a credit card can also give consumers extra protection. The way the rules work, you’re only on the hook for the first $50 if the work isn’t done. However, most credit card companies do have time limits for people to file a dispute.

When planning your Fort Wayne kitchen remodeling – think need

Wondering where to start with your kitchen remodel. Here’s an article that was in the local papers not long ago that you may find helpful. When you’re ready to get started with your upgrade give us a call for skilled contractor who will do the job right the first time. Or you can request your referral here.

Granite Kitchen Countertops in Fort Wayne

Granite Countertop

Granite countertops are all the rage in kitchen remodeling today. Read this article to learn why!

Wismer Contractor Referrals has THE installer in the network to make your kitchen stand out. Give us a call at 260-638-HOME (4663)

5 Fort Wayne Home Improvement Tips That Pay Off

So you want to do some remodeling on your Fort Wayne area home and you want to be sure you will get your investment back sometime in the future. Maybe you want to update areas of your home for a sale and wonder what areas will bring the best bang for the buck. The below article by Lee Keadle of Charleston, SC. has some great tips you will want to keep in mind.

The Most Effective Home Improvements

In our years of experience selling real estate, we have easily walked through more than a thousand homes for sale in the Charleston, SC area. Some homes are very well staged for showings, and you can tell that the home owners have really taken care of the home and have made good improvements to it. And, the money that the owners spent to update or improve the home should be paid back in full (and maybe with some profit) when they sell it.

Although we’ve seen some really good home improvements that pay off in the end, we’ve also seen some really bad home improvements. In fact, some of the worst features we’ve seen in homes for sale have actually been made by the sellers from “do-it-yourself” projects.

Sellers assume if they spend $10,000 in home improvements that their home is worth $10,000 more. This assumption is often true – indeed, it is the goal of the project. But, you need to make sure that you invest in the right areas so that you don’t waste your money.

So, which home improvements pay off? We’ve included below the five home improvements we’ve found to be the most effective during our experience in real estate.

1) Covering the basic necessities – the first improvements you need to make are the ones that really matter. If there are any problems with your home’s structure or systems, you need to fix these first. Potential buyers care more about problems that affect a home’s function (like a leaky roof) than problems that are cosmetic (like an outdated kitchen). And, when potential buyers find out that the home needs major repairs (replacing the roof, updating an electrical system, or removing mold), they will move on to the next home for sale on their list. So, use your money wisely – especially if you have a limited budget. Focus on areas that make your home more livable.

2) Kitchens – if your home poses no major problems, you can start your renovations in the kitchen. When you’re making home improvements, the kitchen is a good place to start because it can greatly affect the value of your home. Buyers want clean, updated kitchens. Be sure to use good quality materials and classic designs (but don’t go too modern). In order for your home improvements to pay off, you need them to appeal to a wide range of home buyers. Some of the easier improvements to make include painting the kitchen (using a neutral color, of course) and replacing cabinet hardware if the current hardware is too basic or outdated. Replacing outdated appliances almost always pays back more than full. Also, make sure that your kitchen has sufficient lighting.

3) Baths – if your kitchen is up to par, I would recommend working on the bathrooms. If you can only fix up one bathroom, I would focus on the master bath. Some of the easiest and least expensive improvements to make are repainting the walls and cabinets, recaulking the sink and shower, and replacing outdated light fixtures and faucets.

4) Creating Functional Space – if your home has a “catch-all” room, try to give that room a purpose. For example, if you have a finished room over your garage that is used simply for storage or for a recreation room, you can sell this room as an additional bedroom. Often these rooms don’t have closet space. So, adding a closet to this room would be a good investment because having an extra bedroom can greatly increase the value of your home. But, if the room over your garage is not finished, I would not recommend converting it. It would cost a lot of money to finish the room and run heating and air conditioning to it, and you would probably not get a full return on your money. The same would be true for finishing an attic.

5) Landscaping – lightly landscaping your yards can be a good investment. Small yard projects, like replacing dead bushes and reseeding (or resodding) bare lawn areas, can actually give you a small profit. But, we’ve seen some homeowners invest literally tens of thousands of dollars into their yards with fountains, gazebos, and goldfish ponds. These homeowners will only get a fraction of that money back when they sell their homes.

Making home improvements can drastically affect your home’s value. And, you can earn back more money than the amount you invested in the improvements. Just make sure that you invest in the right home improvements in order to get a full return on your investment. If you are not sure which areas to focus on, be sure to talk with your real estate agent in order to maximize your profit.