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When thinking about a remodel project, it’s important to consider how the end result will influence the resale value of the home. The design, as well as its execution, needs to align with your vision, your budget, and your future plans. .
The DiStefano Brothers Team has determined five remodel projects that will increase resale value your home and make sound financial sense.
- A Kitchen Remodel: The kitchen has always been the heart of the home and is therefore the most important space to give attention to when considering a remodel.
- Add Living Space: Adding square footage to your existing home will increase your home’s value and is typically a very good investment.
- Exterior Improvements: curb appeal is paramount to the value of your home to prospective buyers.
- Master Suite: Updating an existing master bedroom or transforming existing space into a new master suite adds value and appeal to any home.
- Bathrooms: Home buyers are incredibly interested in the number, size, and functionality of bathrooms.
NOW! or at least 3-6 months before construction starts. There are a lot of options with design/build, so it takes considerable time to vet ideas and make the best choices. It is never too early to begin the process of vetting the best company fit for your design needs!
Quartz countertops are the easiest natural stone to take care of. They are engineered using ground stone and resin, so they don’t require regular sealing they way most granite and marble countertops do. This stone is non-porous, so it does not easily stain or etch.
The DiStefano Brothers Construction’s Design-Build team has put together a list of important recommendations that all Rhode Island homeowners should consider when hiring a contractor:
- A valid Rhode Island Contractor’s License
- An Address: the homeowner should know exactly where their contractor is located.
- Insurance: without insurance the homeowner may be liable for any injuries occurring on the project.
- Lead Safety Certification: contractors working on homes built prior to 1978 should be certified in lead-safe practices by the Environmental Protection Agency
- Scope-of-Work: A detailed description of what the project includes, who is responsible for what and an estimated cost of the project should be presented and agreed upon by both parties prior to signing a contract.
- Project Calendar: projects often take longer than expected. Prior to beginning, the contractor should present a project calendar to the client.
- A Contract: a contract will protect all parties involved in the project.
- Payment Schedule: The payment schedule should be agreed upon by both parties before work begins.
- Warranty: a standard warranty for completed work is typically one year from the completion of the project.
Hiring a contractor who comprises all of the above allows the homeowner the benefit of experience, inspiration and ideas, and will ensure the project is completed in a timely fashion and to the highest quality. Thinking about a remodel? Follow the helpful tips above to begin the process of hiring a qualified contractor to help turn your vision into a reality as seamlessly as possible.
We have written a more detailed article on this topic.
The DiStefano team use state-of-the-art technology which allow clients to view proposed spaces or additions as 3-Dimensional computer renderings. These renderings bring your designs to life, allowing our clients to have a conceptual view of their selected design details.
The photo below is a computer rendering.
The kitchen is typically the busiest room in any household. It is where we eat, entertain, gather, do homework, and much more. It is no wonder that the kitchen has many functions. For this reason, developing a system that will utilize every aspect of your kitchen’s corners and spaces between appliances is necessary and is certainly not a small feat. When our clients come to us seeking a revived, clean look in their kitchen, the discussion always goes toward new cabinet design. Many want to remove the clutter and hide the essential items away but keep them accessible. Here are our Top 4 suggestions for smart organization in your new kitchen cabinet design:
Pull out trash and recycling unit.
The Lazy Susan Corner Cabinet
Roll-Out Shelves
Cutlery & Utensil Storage
Read our article on this topic
Change Orders are issued when a deviation from the original scope is requested or required. It is common during Design/Build projects for Clients to change their minds or want additional work completed.
It is also common with remodeling to uncover aspects of the existing structure that are not up to code and must be modified before other construction can continue.
Our designers share their top 7 tips to keep in mind when selecting a shower tile.
- Glass Tiles Advice: Although quite beautiful, glass is not always easy to work with. Some clear glass tiles can show moisture that is trapped behind them, resulting in what was once a beautiful shower enclosure looking awful in a very short time. Small glass tiles are much easier to work with than larger ones.
- Be careful when selecting mosaic tile: Choose a mosaic tile that offers at least 95% contact from the tile to the backer board.
- Create a Feature wall: Choose a second, coordinating tile and feature it on an adjacent wall of your shower enclosure or as a waterfall.
- Think about the ‘Feel’ of The Tile: A large slab feels nicer to sit on than a small tile with many grout lines.
- Consider a Universal Design: If you plan to age in your home, choosing a large-format tile and a one-way slope for easy access to the shower makes sense.
- Don’t Forget About Cleaning: Large slabs or large glass panels are much easier to clean than small mosaic-type tiles.
- Use smaller tiles for better traction: Smaller tiles give better slip-resistance.
Each project is unique with different circumstances; we will discuss the project timeline during the completion of the design agreement. Each project has a site supervisor who will keep you updated thought the project and who you can ask as many questions as you wish.
Yes!
Please call 401.783.1030
Remodeling is a messy business creating a lot of dirt and dust. That said, the DiStefano team considers respecting your property job #1, and as a result, we take every practical step to protect your home from the dust and dirt.
Each day, we will leave the property in the same condition that we found it protecting it with tarps., using dust extraction systems, cleaning the workspace, and traffic areas daily.
We employ our direct staff, and we use subcontractors, where needed. The subcontractors are all licensed and insured and covered under the DiStefano Brothers Construction license and insurance.
An estimate is free and is an educated estimate prepared for your project based on our initial consultation and any follow-up conversations.
Once you have approved the estimate and given us the go-ahead, we move into the design phase, and it is at this point, you will sign a design agreement.
The design agreement is for the design portion of the project. During this phase, we will finalize the project design and material selection before signing the contract to the full contract amount.
Our process is Listen | Design | Refine | Build
During our initial consultation with you, we LISTEN and collaborate with you. Our goal is to understand your intentions, priorities, timeline & investment.
We will provide you with a detailed estimate/scope-of-work. If the project calls for it we will provide a design rendering which is a computer representation of the project.