Word on the street is “It's a great time for [kitchen] remodeling – if you have the money,” at least according to a recent The Arizona Republic new article. While that logic may go against the grain of everything that's happening in the economy right now, it has some merit to it. And even homeowners who don't have the cash saved up to update their kitchen with new kitchen cabinets and other remodeling features can take advantage of all-time low rates on home improvement loans.
So why now of all times, in the midst of a recession, would experts contend that the stars are aligned for remodeling the home, in particular the kitchen? The newspaper article points out several compelling reasons.
1. First and foremost, the recession is fueling never-before seen price wars. Contractors and retailers alike are slashing their prices in an effort to stay competitive in a slow market. This competition is good news for kitchen remodelers who want custom-built cabinets as well as those who are satisfied settling for assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinetry from their local home improvement supercenter. Indeed, there are kitchen cabinet deals to be had around every corner. “It's the perfect time because (remodelers) will negotiate with you, and they will listen to you,” one newspaper source pointed out.
2. If a homeowner is planning to remain in his or her home for a while, the cost savings realized now on new kitchen cabinets can turn into substantial profits down the road. Once the economy recovers and real estate starts selling again, savvy homeowners can leverage their remodeled kitchens into higher asking prices. After all, the kitchen is one of the main selling points in any home.
3. “During the most recent housing boom, when local contractors were swamped, projects often came with longer time frames and higher bills,” The Arizona Republic article points out. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, new home sales dropped to the lowest rate on record in December 2008. As a result, kitchen cabinet contractors and kitchen cabinet manufacturers are not only slashing their prices; they're also getting those cabinets installed much more quickly. How much faster? “For an average kitchen remodel, where it probably took close to three months before, it can be done in half that time,” one expert estimates.
4. If you're a homeowner who's looking to turn a profit on home foreclosures and short sales, there's no time like the present to get those houses up to and above par. “Because you can get real estate at essentially bargain-basement prices [right now], it makes it much more attractive to put money into that home.” And when the goal is securing the highest possible return on investment, new kitchen cabinets are an excellent place to start.
Assembled and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets allow homeowners to get started on their kitchen remodels more quickly and to finish the project at lightning speed. By eliminating manufacturing and home assembly wait times, homeowners can see their kitchen remodeling transformations come to life in near no time.
Storage For Kitchen Cabinets
Not every kitchen cabinet installation is going to go according to plan, whether you contracting it out or doing it yourself. In some cases it can be the installers fault, in some it might be a manufacturing defect, and for others it may just be a homeowner who's expectations just can't be met. So how do you go about resolving the situation when you are not happy with the quality of the work or craftsmanship of the cabinets?
First you should review your contract with your contractor or builder. Most contractors should provide a warranty for their work, and this is something that should negotiated before the contract is signed. If the contractor/builder is experienced and has worked with the cabinets before, he should have no problem providing a warranty for the work. The standard Home Owners Warranty Remodeler Program, for example, calls for replacing or repair?ing doors or drawer fronts if warpage exceeds 1/4 inch, and eliminating gaps of more than 1/4 inch between cabinets and ceilings or walls.
While it is easy to blame everything on the contractor, not all problems are going to be his or her fault. In some cases, it may simply be a manufacturers defect in the cabinets. If you have selected KCMA-certified products, you have additional recourse with the kitchen cabinet dealer or manufacturer. Any reputable cabinet manufacturer or importer is going to provide a warranty for their cabinets, so start bt reviewing that warranty. If contacting the dealer doesn't work, you can seek the help of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association for mitigating the dispute.
Not all problems can be blamed on the contractor or the manufacturer. Since wood is a natural product, there are inevitably going to be variations in texture and grain among the various parts of the cabinet. Seeing a sample of the kitchens or a full kitchen setup is vital to ensuring the cabinets will meet your expectations before buying them. If the dispute is over variations in the color, there is going to be a certain amount of variation that has to be tolerated. While every homeowner wants their kitchen to look perfect, sometimes micro-managing the project and the details can cause greater harm than good.
So if you find youself in situation where you are not happy with the quality of the work or the quality of the product on your kitchen cabinet installation, follow these steps to hopefully resolving your issue and getting the kitchen you envisioned in your design.
Both Carmen Fontana & Jason Delmar are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Carmen Fontana has sinced written about articles on various topics from Kitchen Remodeling Ideas, Kitchen Home Improvement and self improvement and motivation. Carmen Fontana is a Web Services Manger for Western Reserve Internet Services. You can start planning your kitchen remodel using 's online. Carmen Fontana's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Jason Delmar has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bathroom Vanity, Kitchen Renovation Ideas and Kitchen Home Improvement. I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high quality at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my s. Jason Delmar's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
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