Welcome to New Homes, a biweekly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes.
If you’re looking to update your home but not quite ready to purchase New Construction, a kitchen remodel may be a great option for an upgrade. The kitchen tends to be the center gathering space in a home, and is one of the most common rooms buyers look to for updates. It is a big project to take on, so we’ve put together a list of guidelines to consider before getting started.
Set Your Budget: Kitchen renos take time and money. Think realistically about how much you can spend on this project. When budgeting out, you may want to aim more conservatively in case there are unplanned costs during the process. A great rule of thumb is to have around 10% to 20% for those extra costs as a buffer. You can visit kitchen and home stores to look at a variety of styles and designs, look at costs, and determine what you really need and can afford.
Plan The Layout: It may benefit you to work with a kitchen designer during this portion of the process to determine how the space you are working with can be best remodeled into your dream kitchen. Do you want to add an island? Is there realistically enough space to do that? These are the types of questions you can work with your designer around. While a space for entertaining, the room also should be practical and functional. Your designer can also work with you on layout and materials options, so you can see what will look best at different costs, fulfilling all your dream kitchen desires. To help save a bit of cash, try and keep the same footprint of your existing kitchen, unless it’s necessary to move. Moving plumbing and electrical could bring unforeseeable issues.
Find The Right Contractor: It has been said that a contractor is only as good as his last job. Choosing someone to work with for a large project like a kitchen renovation should be done thoughtfully. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and inquire about how their work habits on-site – were they timely, did they supervise subcontractors? Did anything go wrong and how did they handle it? Ask if they work with a variety of subcontractors or if they have a usual team they work with.
Prepare for the Reno Lifestyle: While you are preparing to get a brand new kitchen that will host all your future yummy family dinners, you also need to think about how your family will eat during the course of the renovation. These projects can take anywhere from 4 months to a year depending on the size. You may want to budget for take-out, and also prep meals that can be frozen & microwaved, or if you’re lucky – rely on friends and family to host you!
Renovations are exciting but can be daunting. At Three Stones Residential, we are here to help. We can not only help you buy or sell a home, but we are your real estate consultants for life. If you have any questions about a renovation or home upgrade project, we have the resources to help and can guide you in the best direction. Contact us at [email protected] or 571-429-7670.
Below is a list of new homes currently on the market in the Arlington area.
- 3198 Pollard Street N., Arlington — $1,798,000 — 4,833 sq. ft.
- 2322 N. Fillmore Street, Arlington — $1,694,850 — 4,758 sq. ft.
- 4339 26th Street N., Arlington — $1,649,150 — 4,607 sq. ft.
- 707 N. Barton Street, Arlington — $1,699,000 — 4,650 sq. ft.
- 2817 N. Jefferson Street, Arlington — $2,079,850 — 6,578 sq. ft.
- 4712 N. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington — $1,614,900 — 5,055 sq. ft.
Want to learn more about financing a New Home build? McLean Mortgage (NMLS ID: 99665) can handle all of your construction financing needs. You can build your new home with as little as 5% down. Contact construction loan expert Troy Toureau (NMLS ID: 5618) at 301-440-4261 or AnyHomeLoans.com to learn more.