Despite the drawbacks of out-of-date kitchens and bathrooms, many homeowners shy away from kitchen and bathroom renovations because of the expense associated with them. We understand this concern. Bathroom and minor kitchen remodels both average around $20,000, which is a significant expenditure for most homeowners. However, if you plan on being in your house a while, these expenses become insignificant when compared to the increase in quality of life. For example, getting the ability to have a permanent dishwasher installed in your kitchen or doubling your cabinet or counter space makes a huge difference in your kitchen’s usability. Expanding an old-fashioned sink so that you have vanity space can transform your bathroom’s practical usability. For long-term residents, these daily improvements in usability quickly justify the expense of a renovation.

Those looking to sell their homes soon may be worried that they will not realize a financial boon from their renovations. It is common knowledge that a homeowner rarely recovers the entire cost of a renovation in a home sale. However, while Florida homeowners may be disappointed to find out that they probably will not recover all of the costs of their planned renovations, but only recover about 59% of the costs of a bathroom remodel and 76% of the costs of a minor kitchen remodel, what many homeowners do not realize is that older homes without renovations may not even sell in today’s market. After all, if you are a buyer looking to purchase a home, would you choose to purchase one that needs major renovations to be up-to-date? Even if a home does eventually sale, even a single month’s worth of carrying costs can literally be the difference between partially and completely recouping the cost of a well-planned renovation. For that reason alone, even homeowners who plan to sell their homes in the not-so-distant future should consider kitchen and bathroom renovations.

At FL Home Builder, we understand that bathroom and kitchen renovations are a major expense and that you want to ensure that you are getting, not just high-quality work, but also increasing the value of your home. We are Florida experts at designing remodels that maximize both your resale value and your increase in quality-of-life.

According to the 2017, Cost vs. Value report, nationally, bathroom remodeling jobs cost an average of just under $19,000 and increase resale value by just over $12,000, which means that homeowners recoup almost 65% of the costs of a bathroom remodel in a resale.  Nationally, kitchen remodels are split into two groups: major and minor kitchen remodels.  Minor kitchen remodels cost an average of just under $21,000 and increase resale value by almost $17,00, which is more than 80% of costs.  Major kitchen remodels cost an average of just over $62,000 and increase resale value by just over $40,000, which is 65% of costs.

Of course, local numbers are more important than national numbers, because price increases depend on what is available in your neighborhood.  New Jersey is considered to be part of the Mid-Atlantic region.  Bathroom remodels are a little less profitable in this region, with the average cost being just under $20,000 and the increased resale value being just under $12,000, which makes it 59% of costs.  Major kitchen remodels average just over $64,000 and increase resale value by just over $38,000, for just over 59% recoup value.  Minor kitchen remodels average just under $22,000 and increase resale value by just over $16,000 for an almost 76% recoup value.

What do these numbers mean?  Well, first they show you that kitchen and bathroom costs in the Mid-Atlantic are a little higher than they are nationwide.  This is not really surprising; the mid-Atlantic region has much older homes than much of the rest of the nation, which can mean more extensive work, including electrical rewiring, may be part of a remodeling project.

It also shows that, while a seller may not recoup quite as much of these increased prices in a resale, bathroom and kitchen remodels remain solid investments for a homeowner.  However, given the differences in price ranges for major and minor kitchen remodels, these numbers certainly suggest that you want to weight the cost of your proposed remodeling against what you are likely to recover in a resale as well as the increase in quality-of-life that your remodeling project will bring.

At FL Home Builder, we are experts at designing remodels that maximize both your resale value and your increase in quality-of-life.

Of course, if your home is older, you may not have a patio at all, or may be dealing with a dilapidated patio or deck space. As a result, you may find that you do not use your outdoor space as much as you could. Want to be able to enjoy the outdoor living trend? Then, contact us at New Jersey Home Builder to find out about patio renovations and remodeling. We can help you build the outdoor living space of your dreams, then take that idea from concept to completion, whether that means a new build or renovating and remodeling an existing patio space.

The first question we ask our clients is what they want in an outdoor living space. Patios can run the gamut from understated simplicity to high-end design and what works for the lifestyle and budget of one client might be absolutely wrong for another client. In fact, many people are dissatisfied with their current patios, not because they were poorly designed, but because they were not designed to meet the family’s actually lifestyle.

Do you like to entertain and would you use your outdoor space as an entertainment point? If so, what type of parties do you have and what type of patio would allow you to fully utilize your outdoor space? Are you more interested in a patio that increases your own use and enjoyment of your home? If so, do you want a shady spot for reading, the ability to watch TV on your patio, or a screened-in space to enjoy the outdoors but avoid bugs. All of these questions help determine how you will design your patio.

Another big question is do you want an outdoor kitchen? They are extremely popular right now and offer a great ROI for a house renovation. However, is it right for your lifestyle? Many of our clients like the idea of a mini-kitchen for their patios. These mini-kitchens include a small refrigerator and some counter space with a large built-in grill and vent, offering some of the flexibility of an outdoor kitchen without a huge price tag or requiring a lot of space.

Along those same lines, consider whether you will want to have a fire pit or fireplace on your patio, and which one would best fit with your overall design.

Do not worry if you are not sure what you want. At FL Home Builder, we are happy to sit down and discuss lifestyle with you to help you come up with the perfect concept for your patio. Contact us for a consultation today.

If you want a gazebo, one of the first things we are going to discuss with you is whether you want to run utilities to the gazebo.  There is something magical about a gazebo lit up with fairy lights on a summer night.  However, it certainly takes away from the magic if those fairy lights are powered by extension cords strung from your house to the gazebo.  We strongly suggest running at least electricity to your gazebo structure.

Many of our clients choose to have a light and ceiling fan combination installed in the ceiling of the gazebo, as well as provide outlets for other uses, such as the aforementioned fairy lights or the Edison lights that provide a funky retro-vibe for a gazebo.  You also want to consider whether you will want to run gas lines to the gazebo in order to provide power for a grill or built-in fireplace or fire-pit.

Of course, running gas lines can become very expensive, depending on your desired location for your gazebo and the current placement of any gas lines.  Therefore, we discuss other options for providing power to those features.

We also encourage you to think about how your gazebo will be used.  We have helped clients build gazebos intended for everything from a fairytale playhouse to backyard pubs to open-air man caves.  Working with your intended use, we can ensure that you get everything you need to make your structure work for you.  For example, gazebos are normally open-air structures, but we can also create screened structures for bug-free environments, which might be perfect if you intend to primarily use your gazebo as an outdoor dining space.

One popular use for gazebos is as something similar to a pool house.  Some clients have used gazebos as a way to provide shaded space for their outdoor guests, as well as storage for pool toys and supplies, additional seating, and hooks for towels and pool bags.

The right approach for your gazebo really depends on your lifestyle.  That is why our designers are happy to consult with you about how you live your life and what you want from your outdoor living space.

What are you looking for in an outdoor living space?  This is the first question you need to consider when contemplating a decking project.  On the surface, this question seems easy to answer, but the reason that many people are dissatisfied with their current deck or patio is that it is generic and not tailored to meet their needs.

So, spend a few minutes considering how you entertain, what type of sun exposure you enjoy, whether you would like to be able to use your deck in all seasons, and any other factors that you think might influence your use of your deck.  The perfect deck for an all-seasons outdoor-loving family is going to differ from the deck of a person who wants a nice, shady reading spot in the summer time.  So, think about how you want to use your deck.

Will your deck be performing a specific function?  Many people want to include outdoor kitchens in their decks.   These can range from high-end kitchens that rival or surpass most indoor kitchens to simple countertop spaces next to grills with space for a small refrigerator.  So, if you are thinking about an outdoor kitchen, think about what you will need for it.  Other popular options include fire pits and fireplaces.  Homeowners with pools may even choose to modify their decking to include changing rooms for guests.

So, keep in mind any special functions that you want your deck to perform, so that they can be included in the design.  Even if you cannot afford to build that outdoor kitchen or add that fire pit, yet, if it is part of your eventual plan for your deck, make sure and include it in your design plans so that you can make an addition and not an extra renovation when you add it.

Next, consider materials.  Most of us think of wood or wood-like products when we think of decks, but we can create decking in all sorts of materials.  Stone decks are far more durable than wood decks and have a much higher-end appearance, but do have a greater initial cost.  Do you want your deck to be covered?  If so, what type of cover would you like?  A solid cover has the benefit of offering protection from the elements, but also means you miss out on some sunshine.

No cover means you have no protection from the elements.  An in-between choice, like a traditional pergola, may offer shade but no protection from wind or rain.  Fortunately, there are other alternatives that let you have your cake and eat it, too.  These include retractable sunshades and motorized pergolas that let you shut out the elements.

Whatever your decking plans, FL Home Builder is happy to make your dreams become reality.  Contact us for a consultation today.