Me and the wife are thinking of hireing out to get this done. We do the demo and have someone come in while we go on vacation to do the cabinets, walls, and ceilings. Then we come back, wire up some new lights, do the floor and its done.

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Me and the wife are thinking of hireing out to get this done. We do the demo and have someone come in while we go on vacation to do the cabinets, walls, and ceilings. Then we come back, wire up some new lights, do the floor and its done.

So now you can afford the work and a vacation? What changed?

Seriously, I would NEVER leave someone to work in my house if I'm not around. Two reasons:

1. They do shit work if you're not all over them
2. I don't trust anyone and they could be thieves, or their friends could be thieves.. Why would you want total strangers to know that you're not going to be home? That's just me.

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Quote:

Me and the wife are thinking of hireing out to get this done. We do the demo and have someone come in while we go on vacation to do the cabinets, walls, and ceilings. Then we come back, wire up some new lights, do the floor and its done.

So now you can afford the work and a vacation? What changed?

Seriously, I would NEVER leave someone to work in my house if I'm not around. Two reasons:

1. They do shit work if you're not all over them
2. I don't trust anyone and they could be thieves, or their friends could be thieves.. Why would you want total strangers to know that you're not going to be home? That's just me.

I have a real problem with the above statement, there is great, good and bad in every profession.
There are great contractors out there and I am one of them.

1. If you are all over me I am more likely to make a mistake. My level of work is the same no matter who is around or watching and I never mind the customer watching. I have to know in my heart I did the best possible job. (and I do)
2. Every project that is longer than a week I have a key to their house and on the average 50% of the time I am the only one there. Stealing something never enters my mind, I work for all I have and plan to get.

I know there are bad ones out there BUT there are good ones too.

Let me add this: I am not cheap. I expect to get paid well to do what I do. But everyone that enters into a contract with me gets more than they paid for and are always estatic about the end result.


TO: red_johnny:
Budgetary costs for a kitchen:
$300 a cabinet - medium grade ($600 high end)
$80 sf for solid conter tops
$300 under mount sink
$200 faucet
$100 misc plumbing
$1500 up for appliances

Flooring, the snap together products are nice and fairly easy but nothing feels as good as a nice ceramic tile floor. Tile isn't that hard to do. ALSO consider a tile back splash adds wow factor.

Lighting hard to put a price on it w/o knowing what you need.

I don't go as far as GA but I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have, email me at jphomerepair@comcast.net for my phone number!

I am already at 90% value and I know they wont refinance me with a regular mortgage.

Wow thanks for the info. I was quoted 50 a sq for the contertops and I can get the lowes special cabinets for an average of 200. I can lay tile as I already did my bathroom. The back splash we do want to do a tile setting. The lighting we are going to do 4 recessed and 2 drop lights as well as a Chandler and one other fixture light. I want to do tile in the work area of the kitchen and the snap stuff everywhere else. We already have a fairly new fridge so we are thinking about cutting costs by going with that white theme and buying a new dishwasher and stove. Otherwise I would be buying a new fridge and stove. Its alot to conceder when doing this. Is there a way to refinance the home to do this? I am already at 90% value and I know they wont refinance me with a regular mortgage.

Hmm. Concrete might work. What would the average cost per square be?

Hey man, don't take it the wrong way. I did say it was hard to find a good contractor, not impossible.

I do agree, there are some good ones out there, however, like you said, good ones aren't cheap.

I am sure you have seen some of the hack work out there, and I am sure you've had to correct a lot of it.

As to being "all over you" I would check your work from time to time during the day until I am convinced you are competent. It used to be I didn't have the money to pay people, then when I had the money I wasn't happy with the quality of work I'd get. That goes for almost anything. Cars, houses, boats, whatever, Seems there's just too many hacks out there.

I'd spring for better quality parts, and install them myself. Like I said, cabinets are not that hard if you take your time, measure carefully, ect...

Wow thanks for the info. I was quoted 50 a sq for the contertops and I can get the lowes special cabinets for an average of 200. I can lay tile as I already did my bathroom. The back splash we do want to do a tile setting. The lighting we are going to do 4 recessed and 2 drop lights as well as a Chandler and one other fixture light. I want to do tile in the work area of the kitchen and the snap stuff everywhere else. We already have a fairly new fridge so we are thinking about cutting costs by going with that white theme and buying a new dishwasher and stove. Otherwise I would be buying a new fridge and stove. Its alot to conceder when doing this. Is there a way to refinance the home to do this? I am already at 90% value and I know they wont refinance me with a regular mortgage.

As far as investments in your home go, kitchen remodeling is one of the best places to spend money (assuming you don't build it like the Taj Mahal).

It's unfortunate that there aren't more contractors out there like Rex_Ruby - my father-in-law was like that, too. A lot of them just don't care if every joint is perfect, or if the walls are smooth - they don't live there, and don't have to look at it every day. Craftsmanship in this country seems to have taken a real nosedive over the past several decades.

I am going to share with you a few of the things I have learned in 59 years of life.

Don't borrow the money. Put it aside a little at a time and soon you will have it. You will sleep better at night.

Wifey may not like it but unless your kitchen is a total disaster, she will accept it.

There are many, many good contractors. It only takes one bad one to totally ruin your day.

The only monthly payment you should ever make is your mortage. A car payment is also acceptable, but only one per family. Your second car should be paid for. Carrying a credit card balance is a bad plan.


Lessons learned the hard way.

I am going to share with you a few of the things I have learned in 59 years of life.

Don't borrow the money. Put it aside a little at a time and soon you will have it. You will sleep better at night.

Wifey may not like it but unless your kitchen is a total disaster, she will accept it.

There are many, many good contractors. It only takes one bad one to totally ruin your day.

The only monthly payment you should ever make is your mortage. A car payment is also acceptable, but only one per family. Your second car should be paid for. Carrying a credit card balance is a bad plan.


Lessons learned the hard way.

Quote:

I am going to share with you a few of the things I have learned in 59 years of life.

Don't borrow the money. Put it aside a little at a time and soon you will have it. You will sleep better at night.

Wifey may not like it but unless your kitchen is a total disaster, she will accept it.

There are many, many good contractors. It only takes one bad one to totally ruin your day.

The only monthly payment you should ever make is your mortage. A car payment is also acceptable, but only one per family. Your second car should be paid for. Carrying a credit card balance is a bad plan.


Lessons learned the hard way.

I understand what your saying but I could get orders at any time and I dont think the house will sell as well as it could if I dont redo the kitchen. This is something I have to do to see any kind of return on the home.

Quote:

Quote:

I am going to share with you a few of the things I have learned in 59 years of life.

Don't borrow the money. Put it aside a little at a time and soon you will have it. You will sleep better at night.

Wifey may not like it but unless your kitchen is a total disaster, she will accept it.

There are many, many good contractors. It only takes one bad one to totally ruin your day.

The only monthly payment you should ever make is your mortage. A car payment is also acceptable, but only one per family. Your second car should be paid for. Carrying a credit card balance is a bad plan.


Lessons learned the hard way.

I understand what your saying but I could get orders at any time and I dont think the house will sell as well as it could if I dont redo the kitchen. This is something I have to do to see any kind of return on the home.

You'll only get back what you spend. Lower your selling price that amount and save the remodeling nightmare!

I am going to share with you a few of the things I have learned in 59 years of life.

Don't borrow the money. Put it aside a little at a time and soon you will have it. You will sleep better at night.

Wifey may not like it but unless your kitchen is a total disaster, she will accept it.

There are many, many good contractors. It only takes one bad one to totally ruin your day.

The only monthly payment you should ever make is your mortage. A car payment is also acceptable, but only one per family. Your second car should be paid for. Carrying a credit card balance is a bad plan.


Lessons learned the hard way.

Look at it this way. If you put 15000 in the kitchen, you will get about 10000 more at closing. If you are truly going to sell the house and will pay off the debt, then it may not be a bad plan simply because your updated kitchen will make your house stand out.

My advice was more of a general life strategy. I was a young military man with a family once myself. Take it as fatherly advice.

Good Luck. I remember what it was like to have to move every 3 to 4 years. I hope you fulfill your flying dream. You will love it!

Look at it this way. If you put 15000 in the kitchen, you will get about 10000 more at closing. If you are truly going to sell the house and will pay off the debt, then it may not be a bad plan simply because your updated kitchen will make your house stand out.
!

I understand what your saying but I could get orders at any time and I dont think the house will sell as well as it could if I dont redo the kitchen. This is something I have to do to see any kind of return on the home.

Quote:

Look at it this way. If you put 15000 in the kitchen, you will get about 10000 more at closing. If you are truly going to sell the house and will pay off the debt, then it may not be a bad plan simply because your updated kitchen will make your house stand out.
!

I don't know about that....the items that typically sell a house are kitchens and bathrooms.

Quote:

Quote:

Look at it this way. If you put 15000 in the kitchen, you will get about 10000 more at closing. If you are truly going to sell the house and will pay off the debt, then it may not be a bad plan simply because your updated kitchen will make your house stand out.
!

I don't know about that....the items that typically sell a house are kitchens and bathrooms.

What part of what I said do you disagree with?

Whether or not you recoup the money spent on remodeling is dependent on many factors. What I said was not an original thought. If you put in a lot of sweat equity, your chances are better. In my area, cement is up there with granite.

http://www.simplyadditions.com/content/view/17/15/

If you do it in place of your vacation, you save money on the install, save money on the vacation, and still get a new kitchen....

Jsup wrote:

Nobody does a kitchen over if it doesn't need it, and typcally that can bring more.


You obviously never met my wife.

Jsup wrote:

Nobody does a kitchen over if it doesn't need it, and typcally that can bring more.


You obviously never met my wife.

Guys I really want to do all the work myself but its unrealistic with the military lifestyle. I will be able to gut the kitchen and do the cabinets myself but the ceiling is going to the pros as is the countertops. Flooring I can also handle. I figure I can save at least 7K in labor alone.

I am going to share with you a few of the things I have learned in 59 years of life.

Don't borrow the money. Put it aside a little at a time and soon you will have it. You will sleep better at night.

Wifey may not like it but unless your kitchen is a total disaster, she will accept it.

There are many, many good contractors. It only takes one bad one to totally ruin your day.

The only monthly payment you should ever make is your mortage. A car payment is also acceptable, but only one per family. Your second car should be paid for. Carrying a credit card balance is a bad plan.


Lessons learned the hard way.

Is the countertop damaged other than that cheap ass laminate peeling off the edges? Can't that simply be replaced, leaving the rest intact?



Another option you may consider for the countertop is granite tile. My friend did his in granite tile with very thin grout lines and it came out great. Much cheaper than solid granite.