A Comprehensive Bathroom Remodel Checklist

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Remodeling your bathroom can be one of the most impactful changes you can make in your home. A design that not only resonates with your aesthetics, but also makes your morning and evening routines easier can be a breath of fresh air in your everyday life.

The Medford Design-Build team understands the importance of a positive experience and a quality finished product. Our trusted team of professionals can get your project completed on budget and on time, yielding beautiful results that will last a lifetime. We will work with you to create a detailed plan based on your vision for your remodel and provide a detailed custom design package to outline every aspect of the process. Read more

5 Easy Ways to Modernize Your Home

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If you have an older home that needs a lot of work done, updating it can feel overwhelming. Even if you’re not ready to invest in a full-blown remodel, there are some minor things you can do throughout your home to create a more modern look. Taking on these smaller projects first makes the job as a while seem a little less intimidating, and can allow you to save up and think about what you really want in a major remodel.

Here are 5 easy ways to give your home a modern, updated look:

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5 Preliminary Steps for a Successful Home Remodel

Remodeling your home is a big undertaking – from deciding what you really want in your renovation, to hiring the right contractor, to managing your budget – it can quickly become overwhelming! It’s a big decision and should be treated as such. At Medford Design-Build, we understand your desire to feel confident in that decision, and we want to help you get there.

Our goal is not to ‘wow’ our clients with pretty pictures or unrealistic estimates, but rather, to arm them with the knowledge and facts they need to make the best decisions for their remodel. With an emphasis on client education and involvement, we have simplified the otherwise intimidating process of remodeling your home.

In order to have a successful remodel, there are some things that should be done on the homeowner’s end before the remodeling begins. This will make the entire process much easier on you and set you up for a smooth and successful experience. If you are planning a major remodel, here are 5 preliminary steps we strongly recommend:

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3 Reasons to Start Your Home Renovation Now (in the Summer!)

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It’s hard to believe we are already over half way through 2018! Time is flying by and this year will be ending before you know it. Our team is thrilled to have had such a great first and second quarter and is looking forward to closing the year out strong. If remodeling your home has been on your to-do list for a while, now is the best time to get started! Here are 3 reasons mid-summer is the perfect time to begin your home remodeling project:

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1. Finish in time for the holidays. Read more

Home Repairs & Modification: Do I Need a Handyman or a Contractor?

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Any homeowner knows that maintaining a house requires a lot of work. It can feel overwhelming when you consider everything that needs to be regulated, from the up-keep of electrical and plumbing lines to managing the foundation, the heating system and the AC, the landscaping and exterior of the home, and so much more. In most cases, a licensed contractor (such as a plumber or electrician) can take care of these types of home repairs and maintenance issues. However, aside from keeping all of the mechanics of the house in proper and safe working order, most homes built even as recently as 10 years ago need some level of remodeling. This could be for functional or aesthetic purposes, and often times, both. Perhaps your kitchen cabinets need a fresh stain, or maybe you’d like the old bathtub in your master bathroom to be removed to make room for a walk-in shower. These projects might seem minor in comparison to a large-scale remodel, and leave you asking the question — does this project require a contractor or a handyman? It’s important to know the difference between the two before you hire.

Here are some tips to help you determine whether a handyman or a contractor will be the best choice for your specific project:

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Invest in Your Future Now: Prepare Your Home for Aging in Place

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For many, home remodeling might seem like an optional luxury. Sure, a modern, updated bathroom or kitchen sounds nice, but is it really necessary? You might be surprised to hear that in many cases the answer is yes. More and more homeowners are choosing to remodel; not only for aesthetic purposes, but for improved functionality as they age. According to AARP, 87 percent of adults age 65+ want to stay in their current home and community as they age. Among people, age 50 to 64, 71 percent of people want to age in place. It makes perfect sense that if you’re planning on living out the rest of your life in your current home, structural changes should be made to accommodate your transition into your golden years.

As much as we hate to think about it, aging is inevitable. Things that might seem easy for you today – tasks as simple as turning a round doorknob or stepping over the edge of the bathtub – might be challenging for you several years from now. The best time to do renovation projects that will help you age comfortably in your home is when you don’t yet need those features. Putting it off until something happens could end up costing you more and become a much bigger hurdle than if it were done ahead of time.

While some aging in place updates are structural, such as replacing a shower-tub combo with a curb-less shower or widening doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, there are many updates that can easily be done in one afternoon. Some of these potentially do-it-yourself projects include swapping out all round doorknobs for levers, installing sensor faucets, replacing the flooring with non-slip options, adding a pull-down seat in the shower, and installing a grab bars in the bathroom. These are small changes that might seem insignificant now, but you may appreciate having them later. Even an expensive project can be worth the investment if it prevents the need to relocate later on. This is especially true if you consider the high cost and emotional impact of moving into an assisted living center because your home is no longer suitable for your needs.

Another reason it’s better to remodel for aging in place now, if you anticipate a big-ticket renovation, is that qualifying for a home equity line of credit or home equity loan is typically easier when you are still working. If you wait until you only have retirement income, it may be harder to qualify for a loan. Also, if you are able to do so, financing a renovation now will allow you time to pay it off prior to retirement.

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6 Risks of Completing a Remodel without a Permit

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In our past blog post – Permits & Remodeling: What You Need to Know – we explained what permits are, what is involved when applying for a permit, and when it is necessary to obtain one. As a design-build firm, obtaining the required permits from the city prior to remodeling a home is part of our standard procedure. However, there are many instances in which remodeling companies, general contractors, or the homeowners themselves decide to pursue a project without getting the necessary permits. This isn’t surprising, as the hassle of getting a permit can seem tedious and time-consuming, especially if you are not familiar with the process. The permit might be expensive, require additional work to be done, and can cause delays in construction. Many homeowners might also think it’s not a big deal not to have a permit and aren’t concerned with getting caught.

Is it worth it to risk not getting a permit for your home remodeling project? Here are 6 risks of remodeling without a permit:

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Why it Makes Sense to Purchase Designs for Your Home Remodel Before Getting Bids

Just about every online guide you can find on “tips for remodeling your home” will tell you it’s important to get multiple bids for your project before hiring just any contractor. As it is with any big investment, you should carefully consider your options, have a clear understanding of the process, and establish confidence and a comfortable relationship with the individual or company you intend to hire. This is especially true in the remodeling industry, as projects tend to be very costly and can last for several months. It’s critical that you find a reliable, experienced contractor that you get along with. Of course, the main purpose of meeting multiple contractors and getting multiple bids isn’t only to determine if you can trust them, but also to compare pricing. Read more

Your Home’s Exterior Siding: When to Replace & How to Maintain

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Replacing your home’s siding probably isn’t the first of your priorities; unless there’s an urgent problem, most people don’t think about it too often. However, replacing worn-out, cracked, or leaking siding is very important in the prevention of more serious (and expensive!) future home repairs. If you haven’t checked your home’s exterior siding in a while, now is a good time!

Here are 7 warning signs it might be time to replace your siding:

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4 Ways to Make the Most of a Small Kitchen Remodel

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The term “full-gut kitchen remodel” tends to make people think of an expansive, high-end kitchen with all the bells and whistles – where surrounding walls have been knocked out to create an open floor plan, the luxury countertops are never-ending, and the shiny, new appliances are massive in size, all contributing to a show-stopping completed project. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the idea of an over-the-top large kitchen remodel, only a small fraction of our clients actually have this experience. Every project is different when it comes to the size of the kitchen, it’s starting condition, the client’s aspirations for the space, and of course, the budget. More often than not, the kitchen remodels we complete are done in small or medium-sized kitchens where the clients are trying to update the aesthetic, but also make the most of the existing space. Sometimes, due to the structure of the home and other limitations, it’s simply not realistic to remove walls or install large appliances. However, just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean it can’t be remodeled into the beautiful kitchen of your dreams! There are many kitchen design ideas and techniques that can help a small kitchen feel bigger and look just as impressive as a larger one.

Here are 4 ways to make the most of a small kitchen remodel:

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