Happy May- National Home Remodeling Month

Whether you’re planning on staying in your home for quite a few more years or want to place your home on the market soon, spring is an amazing time to get some spring cleaning and home projects under way inside and out. Even the smallest upgrades can impact your home’s value and the return investment with be beneficial if and when deciding to sell.  A recent survey done by National Association of Home Builders found that 5 most common remodeling jobs are kitchen/ bath remodeling, whole house remodel, room additions, and replacing windows and doors.

To get more details on these types of repairs- check out this article found at https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/marketplace/real-estate/2019/05/02/may-national-home-remodeling-month/3655514002/

Popular Spring Renovations For Your Home

It is FINALLY that time of the year, homeowners come out of hibernation and start the renovations they have been planning for all winter long.  Here we will examine the spring home improvement projects that will bring you the biggest bang for your buck while increasing function and aesthetics.

Kitchen Renovations

Let’s start with the kitchen!  Most homeowners hear the phrase kitchen remodeling and immediately rule it out because they think it is going to cost and arm and a leg.  This doesn’t have to be the case.  With the help of a local contractor your kitchen can be transformed from ordinary to extraordinary.  You don’t have to completely gut your kitchen to change the way it looks or functions.  Simple changes such as adding a touch of color to the cabinets, new hardware, and updated appliances can make a huge difference.

Updated Flooring

Spring is the perfect time to think about updating the flooring in your home.  Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for homeowners because it withstands the test of time.  The most common rooms in a home to replace carpet for hardwood include kitchens and dining rooms.  Carpeted bathrooms are often undesirable however wood flooring isn’t necessarily a good choice.  For bathrooms homeowners often choose ceramic or stone tile because it is durable and can withstand the moisture that is present in bathrooms.

Fresh Paint

The warmer weather presents a perfect environment for painting the interior and exterior of your home.  Spring is neither hot nor cold which makes it the perfect season to add some color to your home with a fresh coat of paint.  Paint totally changes the entire look of a room.  Changing the color of your homes exterior not only changes the look of your home, it adds to the aesthetics of the entire landscape.

Existing Decking

Deck and porch areas are best treated in the spring as well.  It is important to do a full inspection of the decking materials.  All loose and rotting boards should be replaced.  After this has been done it is time to clean the deck thoroughly which then allows stain and water preventative from adhering properly.  The same process should be followed when updating painted areas on the deck and porch. 

Deck Installation

Installing a new deck is also best done during in the spring.  Once the ground has thawed and footings can be placed a deck can be constructed.  Adding a deck to your home increases your living space.   Deck installation is not always simple.  This is especially true for raised decks or decks with multiple levels.  Hiring a contractor can turn a project that will take you a full month of weekends into a two- or three-day process which is most often the case with home improvement projects.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.



Spring Benefits in Home Improvement


After months of cold weather that has left us stranded inside our homes, we all have a list of improvements we would like to see done on our homes.  It is easy to find all of the imperfections, big and small, throughout your home when there is nothing else to focus on.  With spring finally around the corner, it is the perfect time to reach out to professional contractors to start crossing off items on your renovation list.  Here’s why:

You Can Use Your Tax Return

Many Americans have recently filed their taxes and are expecting a return from the IRS.  Without an action plan most tax return checks dwindle away on unplanned expenses.  Instead of letting that money get eaten up by nonsense put the money to good use and invest in your home.  By directing the money towards a renovation that you can enjoy for years to come you won’t spend the next year wondering where the money from your tax return was wasted. 

You Will Be Prepared for The Summer Selling Season

A popular time of the year to purchase a home is between the spring and summer.  If you are thinking about selling your home soon then it is crucial to plan for it and start to prepare.  Little updates around your home can substantially increase the value of your home and the speed at which it sells.  Now is the time to make a game plan and renovate where it counts.

Good Weather Keeps Projects on Task

Without the snow and ice getting in the way remodeling projects tend to stick to their schedule.  There are fewer disruptions in transit with better weather, so materials arrive on time and are ready to go as needed.  Projects tend to take longer during extreme temperatures both hot and cold.  Spring is the perfect time for completing a renovation project within the scheduled allotment of time.

Contractor Availability

The fact is that contractors have more availability in the spring.  Contractors are notoriously busy during the summer, in fact booking months in advance for prime summer spots.  The sooner you meet with a contractor and get your project on the books the more likely it is that you will have more than one contractor to choose from during the available time frame you are hoping to work within.

The contractors at Jason Foldenauer Construction are ready this spring to offer you a free in-home consultation to get started on your list of home remodeling projects.  Let us help you get your project up off the ground today!

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.



Key Elements To Consider When Deciding On A Home Renovation


Have you started to become flustered by the lack of space or look of your home?  Have you been working with a realtor to find a new home and haven’t been able to find your dream house?  Maybe you are just about ready to sell but your house needs a few updates? No matter the reason, there area options for homeowners looking to hire a professional home contractor when looking into options for updating and modifying their homes to fit their current needs.

Lots of renovations start because your family changes and the layout of the home is not working for you any longer.  Lots of renovations start in one room and then leak into other parts of the house.   Before you know it, you are looking at remodeling your whole house. Obviously, this turns a project that should be easily handled into a great undertaking.

There are a number of decisions that need to be made in any renovation.  Choices need to be made considering the budget, the purpose of the renovation, materials to be used, and so much more. Remodeling your home is an investment that should always be done in a manner that increases the value of your home. That is why having a plan in place prior to starting any renovation is important. 

Any renovation, big or small, should never start because of an idea that jumps into your head one afternoon or a solid Pinterest idea.  There is too much to consider and often ends up leading to mid-project changes.  In remodeling it is crucial to have a plan that allows you to think out every step leading you to improvements in your space.  A well thought-out, well researched renovation requires a plan. 

In order to know what you want it is important to have a vision.  You can determine a lot by looking through magazines, websites, and home improvement stores for ideas. Homeowners have their own desires for what they want from their renovations.  Consider the layout of the home as well as how the space functions.  Make a list of your must haves when creating a definitive plan for your renovation.

The size of the space is also important when considering your renovation.  Are you remodeling a room, a few rooms, or the whole house?  Are you going to add the square footage of the home by adding on or are you renovating within the space you currently have?  These decisions will need to take into consideration of the budget.

Along with the above, consider the style and design of the other room within the house when merging the décor of your renovation.  When hiring a contractor consider their ideas and suggestions.  Local contractors also have industry connections which can help ensure the project stays on a proper time line.  Hiring sub-contractors, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters is simpler when working in conjunction with a contractor that you trust.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.



Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Renovation


Kitchen and bathroom renovations are the most popular for homeowners looking to update rooms in their homes.  The one issue that arises with many home improvements is that homeowners jump right into them without planning which just ends up dragging out the renovation process as issues arise. It is a good idea to start with a plan of action and enlist the assistance of a professional contractor to ensure your project becomes a reality.  Below is a list of common mistakes that are found to delay or even ruin your renovation.

Excess Bargaining

There are some areas in life where bargaining can ensure a great deal however updates in your home is not one of them.  It is true, you get what you pay for especially in the materials that you choose to use in your renovations.  If you are doing a full-on bathroom or kitchen renovation it is necessary to spend the money and invest in good quality products and contractors.  It is money that you won’t regret spending.

Forgetting About Your Budget

Create a budget and stick to it when planning out any renovation.  Bathroom and kitchen renovations can quickly run over budget.  It is important not to lose site of your budget.  It is easier to do this when you have determined a realistic budget to begin with.  Don’t start your renovation with just a sketch of what you hope to achieve instead get a solid visualization of what you desire, and the costs involved when deciding on a realistic budget. If you don’t have the funds set aside for the renovation and materials, you desire you will know this before your kitchen or bathroom is in shambles.

The Unexpected

There are a number of elements within a renovation.  There will be times in which the most experienced contractor runs into an issue that they didn’t previously see becoming a problem.  In a bathroom this could consist of rotting floor boards under the tub, in a kitchen it could be something such as the electrical needing updates to accommodate new appliances.  Whatever the issue it is important that you have the wiggle room in your budget to accommodate it.  It is extremely rare in any renovation let alone one with so many pieces working in conjunction with one another as is the case in bathroom and kitchens, that everything goes as predicted.

Getting Derailed

We all want our renovations to turn out perfect however even though we have a design stuck in our heads it is important to realize that things will not always go as planned.  Sometimes renovations run into issues when materials are on order.  If the perfect tile becomes backordered and when they will become available is a mystery, it may be time to consider other avenues, so you don’t go an undermined time without use of the space. 

Over Renovating

Yes, we want what we want but it is important that we don’t out price our home by over renovating.  This concept is simple, starter homes don’t often have kitchens designed for a professional chef.  These kitchens alone would cost the same as most starter homes.  Consider the average cost of homes within your area and make sure your renovations keep your home within the range.  Buyers won’t spend extra on a home that the area dictates should be at most $200,000 no matter how upgraded the spaces are within it.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/