Category Archives: Remodels

Are Bathroom Remodels a Sound Investment?

Posted on by
man applying ceramic tile to a bathtub enclosure wall.

When you go into your bathroom, do you find yourself wishing it wasn’t so outdated? Could you use more counter space? Or storage space in cabinets and such? Does the color scheme bother you?

Oftentimes, people move into a house and the bathroom looks the way the builder or original inhabitants wanted it to look. And most people just accept it, and go about living their lives, using the bathroom that someone else designed. However, the longer you live in a house, the more it becomes yours, and it makes sense to remodel the bathroom to better suit your particular taste(s) and need(s).

The Benefits of a Bathroom Remodel

What are some benefits of a bathroom remodel? Well, not only will it help increase your home’s value (if you intend to sell sometime soon), but it also makes the bathroom more up-to-date, which should make you feel good. After all, this time around, you get to call the shots. You can pick out the new toilet. You can figure out if it’s time to replace the bathtub with a convenient walk-in shower. And you can add some grab bars in key places since you’re “not getting any younger.” Meanwhile, you can upgrade the lighting, too. You’d be surprised at how many people have fairly dark bathrooms where it’s hard to see their own reflection in the mirror. Brighten up the room!

You might have an old bathroom that’s costing you too much money. Maybe it’s time to replace leaky faucets and inefficient toilets that use too much water. Modern replacements can help save money on utility costs.

Is your current bathroom a cluttered mess? Make it a less stressful room by having it remodeled to better accommodate your towels, toiletries and medicines. The room can be reconfigured to maximize the space.

In Central New York and specifically the Syracuse area, Scott Merle Builders can remodel bathrooms. Please call 315-409-4124 for more info.

Is It Better to Remodel Your Home to Build a Brand New One?

Posted on by

Is it better to remodel a home or buy a new one? This decision is a big one, for sure… and it can cause you a lot of headaches. You have to decide if where you currently live is a place where you want to stay, or if you’d prefer to be in a new location. You also have to take into account the size of your current home and figure out if you’d like something smaller or bigger. Then, of course, there’s the time element– do you have several weeks or months to put up with remodeling projects or do you just want a new place that’s “move-in ready?” 

The Time to Remodel…

Home Renovations Vs. Complete Rebuilds

Remodeling a house is a good idea if you like where you live and just want to make some changes to improve the place you already have– freshening it up, and perhaps expanding a room or two. If you think about it, even if you were to buy a new house, you’d probably end up doing some remodeling there, since not everything is as you want it. So, remodeling an existing home is easier than buying new because then you don’t have to move all your stuff to the new place and you don’t have to literally adjust to a new location, which means different neighbors, restaurants, schools, etc. Meanwhile, “move-in ready” houses can be quite expensive. Are you ready to pay upwards of $300K for a new home? 

What are some key questions you can ask yourself? How about, “Is staying where I’m at important to me?” You should also ask, “Do I have the budget to make renovations to my current place or buy a new place all together?” Some other things to consider would be can you renovate your existing home without changing the floor plan and will remodeling projects increase the home’s value? Finally, “What’s my long-term plan for what I want out of a home?” Sometimes people know they want to move and start over, brand new, while other times they’re perfectly happy staying put and just making some cosmetic/functional changes. Moving to a new place could affect your property taxes and your mortgage. 

If you do consider moving to a new home, expect a long search to find/build a new home in a new location. This can be a stressful task. Yes, relocating means new beginnings, new surroundings, new people and new experiences. But it can also mean loneliness, buyer’s remorse, and increased costs, including higher taxes. Then there’s the issue of actually making the move to a new house– transporting all your stuff to the new place can be overwhelming. Are you ready to sort stuff? Will you throw away some things? Do you have the time and energy to do that sort of thing? 

Even though the allure of a new house may seem magical to most people, there are also a lot of costs and headaches involved. That said, it’s oftentimes easier to just decide to remodel the house where you currently reside. 

What are some of the main advantages of renovating a house? Well, it costs less because it’s on a room-by-room basis. You don’t generally remodel everything in a house. Instead, you pick and choose what rooms need updating, such as the bathrooms and kitchen. Also, when you choose to have some remodeling work done, you get to pick features and colors and things you want, such as the addition of a walk-in shower (to replace the bathtub you don’t use or like) or the addition of an island in the kitchen so you’ll have more counter and storage space to make the room more functional. Plus, there’s the issue of time. You don’t have to do everything all at once. You can choose to remodel one room this year, and another the next, etc. If you were to move to a new house, you’d be faced with the big task to fill all the rooms with your stuff in a very short time, and that can be exhausting. 

The Time to Build a New Home…

Building Custom Homes

When would it make sense to buy a new place instead of remodel? Well, if your current house is literally crumbling and in near-shambles, it might be time to move. If you look around and think, “Every single thing in this house needs updating,” then it’s probably better to just buy or build a new place. Also, if you’re the kind of person who absolutely hates a mess in your house and doesn’t want to be bothered with construction workers in your house for several days, weeks or even months at a time, then consider a new house rather than remodeling. One more thing: if you’ve recently come into money and cost isn’t an issue, then have your custom dream home built! 

Typically, most people choose to buy a new house when they’ve totally outgrown their smaller, older one. Say, for instance, you and your spouse have lived in a nice little “house for two” for a couple years. But then your first baby arrives, followed by one or two more a few years later. Soon you’re noticing that your current home doesn’t have the amount of bedrooms or play areas your kids want and need… so you start thinking, “Maybe we could have an addition put on to this house.” For some people, with money, physical space (to build) and time on their side, this works well. For others, it’s “Nope, we need a new, bigger house and we need it now!” 

As you’d imagine, deciding whether or not to remodel versus move to a new house involves a lot of thinking and planning– it’s not a simple decision to make. 

Need some professional help weighing your options? Call Scott Merle Builders of Syracuse, NY. Scott Merle Builders does home renovations as well as new home constructions. The number to call is 315-409-4124. 

Is It Better to Renovate Your Home Or Build a New One?

Posted on by

Is it better to renovate or build a new home? That’s a good question.

If you’re looking at an older home to renovate, you have to consider expenses. Would it be cost effective to renovate the house or would it make more sense to just build a brand new one? What are some of the factors that would influence your decision?

Consider the Foundation

Home's Foundation

First, how’s the foundation? Older homes were built long ago when construction techniques were different than they are today. Therefore, your foundation might not meet the standards of today. If you have a basement, it might need all new wiring, heating and ventilation– and these are just the basics. Oftentimes, the really older homes– from the late 1800s or early 1900s for example– are just so old that it’s more cost effective to build a brand new home and start fresh. However, if it’s a home from, say, the 1950s onward, it might make sense to renovate. One thing to consider in particular is the land the house is built on– is it prone to flooding? Is your foundation cracked or sinking? Are your floors level or not? Sometimes the land a house is built on is just not a “good fit” for a home and it behooves you to move and start over in another location. But, for most people, the land below the house is stable and renovations, if not too expensive, make sense.

Flexibility

Next, if you were to build new, you could pick and choose what you want in your new house. There are cost advantages to this “flexibility.” For instance, if you don’t want or need a garage, then don’t get one. Or perhaps you don’t want a fireplace in the new house… or a pool out back… With constructing a new house you get to customize it with regards to your desires.

What’s the Budget

The budget is usually what ultimately guides the decision on whether to renovate or start new. You have to assess your financial situation and decide how much money you can afford for fixing up an older place versus starting fresh with a brand new one. Costs tend to need a little “wiggle room,” so if the estimate is, say, $10,000 to renovate a part of your home, keep in mind that unforeseen circumstances may require an extra $1,000 or two. This is true with new builds, too. And, of course, there are maintenance costs to be considered as well. If you can, come up with a spreadsheet that is detailed with cost estimates, including potential overruns. Look at the sheets, comparing renovation costs with new build costs to get a clearer picture to help influence your final decision. It’s a good idea to write down your end goal(s) and to get advice from experts about your project. 

Home Renovations Vs. Complete Rebuilds

Duration

Here’s something to consider: time is an issue. Some people don’t want the hassle of living in a home that is being renovated. And sometimes renovations take a long time. Should they move into a hotel temporarily? Or live at home while workers are coming and going, daily? Then again, waiting for a new home to be constructed will probably take even longer!

Personal Preferences

Ask yourself this simple question: “What do I want most?” Can your existing home get up to par with renovations? Or is it impossible to please you, even with potential renovations? Here’s something to think about… some people live in developments where they’re not allowed to make big changes. The homeowners association has a set of rules and regulations. For example, a house in this kind of community might have been built with a one car garage. But the person living there marries, and his spouse wants a two car garage– but that’s not allowed. In this case, it would make sense for the couple to build a new home somewhere else, matching their wants and needs. 

Financial Implications

Budget for Building or Renovating a Home

For those with a mortgage, did you know some mortgages include clauses that deal with whether or not you can tear down your home to make way for a rebuild? Stipulations might be in place about how soon the rebuilding process has to begin, and some lenders will want to be included in the planning process. In some cases, your mortgage could forbid you from demolishing your home!

Energy Efficiency

Finally, if you’re the type of person who wants a more “green” type of house– one that’s more environmentally-friendly, then you’ll be thinking about more energy efficient windows, siding and appliances. Building a new home basically gives you the opportunity to make the greenest of choices with things like high-efficiency insulation and water-saving fixtures. It can be harder to achieve green goals with remodels.

Are you thinking of renovating your house in the Syracuse area? Or do you want to build a brand new house? Either way, Central New York’s Scott Merle Builders can meet your needs. Please call 315-409-4124 today with your questions. 

What Permits Do You Need for a Kitchen Remodel?

Posted on by

Kitchen Remodel Permits If you’re planning on painting your kitchen, installing new flooring in it, or replacing a faucet, you probably won’t have to worry too much about obtaining permits to do it. However, if you’re going to be taking on a more extensive kitchen remodeling project, you will need to get your hands on the proper permits to avoid facing fines and other penalties in the future. There are some instances in which you could even need to redo work done to your kitchen if you don’t get the right permits before remodeling it.

Permits You’ll Need for a Full Kitchen Remodel

There are a couple of permits you might have to get during a kitchen remodeling job. The first kind of permit is called a trade-specific permit. It’s the type of permit you’ll need if you’re going to be doing any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work in your kitchen. If you’re adding new electrical components to the space or moving your plumbing around, you’ll need to apply for a trade-specific permit to do it. You can usually get this permit within a matter of just a few days without much of a fuss.

The other kind of permit is called a building permit, and it’ll cover you in the event that you’re going to be taking out or adding walls to your new kitchen. You’ll typically need to provide your city or town with your kitchen remodeling plans before you’re able to get this type of permit. You may also need to obtain both a trade-specific permit and a building permit if you’re going to need to do electrical or plumbing work while putting up or tearing down walls.

As you might imagine, it can be a huge hassle to get permits prior to starting a kitchen remodel. Scott Merle Builders will make things easier on you by getting the right permits for any project you ask us to do. Whether you want us to remodel your kitchen or renovate another part of your home, we’ll make sure we get the proper permits before we begin. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to find out more about our home remodeling and renovating services.

Should You Remodel Your Home or Build a New One?

Posted on by

Home Renovations Vs. Complete Rebuilds Do you want to improve the look of your current home or wish that it functioned better? If so, you might want to think about remodeling it. During a remodel, you can give your home a much-needed makeover and fall in love with it again. Or, if you don’t want to go that route, you can also consider building a brand new home from scratch. It’ll give you everything on your wish list and deliver the perfect home. So, which is the better option for you? Here are some things that’ll help you decide.

Which is more affordable?

There are some people who would automatically assume that a home remodeling project would be way cheaper than a new build. However, that isn’t always the case! If you think you’ll need to do a major remodel to turn your home into what you want, it could end up costing you as much as it would to build a new home. It all depends on the current condition of your home, the ideas you have, and more. A contractor can talk to you about how much each of your two options could cost.

Which is more convenient?

A new home build will usually take longer to do than a remodel. Therefore, if you’re looking for the quicker fix to your current problem, you might want to go with remodeling. However, you should remember that you’re going to need to live in the middle of a construction zone while your remodel is going on. It could limit your lifestyle for a little bit, which is something you won’t have to worry about when you’re having a new home built elsewhere.

Which will give you what you want?

A home remodel and a new home build can both give you what you want. It really all comes down to how much you like the current location of your home. If you love the area and don’t want to move somewhere else, a remodeling project might work best for you. But if you wouldn’t mind moving or want to get out of the neighborhood you’re in now, a new build might be your best bet. Either way, you can get the home you’ve always dreamed about.

Undoubtedly, there are pros and cons that come along with both home remodels and new home builds. Scott Merle Builders can help you with either option and make sure you love the end result. Call us at 315-409-4124 to set up a consultation.

Why Your Home Needs a Functional Kitchen

Posted on by

Kitchen Remodels While all of the rooms in your home are important for different reasons, the kitchen is arguably the most important room in the entire house. It’s where your family spends most of its time. Between preparing meals, eating, and just hanging out and talking, you would probably be surprised if you sat down and calculated exactly how many hours you spend in the kitchen on a weekly basis. You probably spend more time there than you do in your family room.

The Importance of Having a Functional Kitchen

For that reason, it’s extremely important to have a functional kitchen. Your kitchen should do more than just provide you with a place to cook meals. It should also give you the space you need to sit and talk to a family member. Additionally, it should provide you with more than enough storage for all of your various kitchen gadgets. It should look nice and fit the style of the rest of your home. Moreover, you should take a certain sense of pride in your kitchen when you have people over. Kitchens have turned into communal spaces in homes, and if yours isn’t functional, you won’t want to have guests spend too much time in there.

If you aren’t happy with the way your kitchen functions right now, it might be time to remodel it. By doing a remodeling job, you can completely rethink the way you are using the kitchen. You might be able to start spending more time with your family than you are now if there’s enough space in there. You also might be able to have friends and family over more often when you have a kitchen that can fit multiple people at once. You might even find that your entire home functions better when the kitchen is designed differently. It’s truly amazing just how much a kitchen remodel can transform the look and feel of a space.

Do you want to find out more about kitchen remodeling? Scott Merle Builders would love to help you design the kitchen of your dreams. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to get started.