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Considering a home construction or remodel project? A few things you may ask yourself are: “Is this project necessary right now, and is it a wise investment?” “Is it something I can do on my own, or do I need to hire a licensed contractor?” “Are there ways I can cut costs and still achieve the same outcome?”
Whether you decide to begin your remodel project now, or down the road after the economy makes a stronger rebound, one fact remains -- a home remodel project is an investment, and you should recover those costs when it comes time to sell your home. Make the decision to begin your kitchen remodel, upgrade your bathroom, or add on a family room to your home now, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of the project in the short term and the long term.
With the economy as it is today, many costs of construction and contracting are down - meaning you could actually save money if you begin your remodel project now. Wait until the economy bounces back, and you may end up spending more to complete the same project.
Let’s do the math. Just how much can you expect to recoup from your remodel project when you sell your home? It’s important to understand that not all home remodel projects will add value to your home, but here are a few remodel projects that will.
Other home remodel and construction projects that can add to the value of your home includes: renovating a room, adding energy-efficient windows and insulation, and other basic updates like painting and updating hardware. With these and other remodel projects, remodel costs will vary based on materials used, and how many bells and whistles you add to your design. Though you could save costs on labor by doing it yourself, working with a licensed contractor is always a safer bet.
If you’re considering a home construction project, give CB Construction a call today. Let the experienced CB Construction team guide you through the process from planning to completion.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email me.
5711 Mercedes AvenueDallas, Texas 75206214.773.5566
http://www.chrisblackconstruction.com
Tax season is here and many people are already planning how they will use their refund money. Rather than spending your income tax return on a vacation or a new wardrobe, why not invest it in your home? When used wisely, money spent on home improvements can result in an even larger return down the road.
Dallas area home prices are increasing year-after-year, so investing your tax dollars into a remodeling project could increase the value of your home. Whether it’s a home repair project you’ve put on hold, or you want to make some improvements, here are a few ways to get more out of your tax return money:
If you are considering using your refund dollars to invest in your home call CB Construction to get started on your spring project.
Considering a home remodel or an addition to your existing living spaces? Careful planning, including what time of year to remodel, is the key in getting the most for your money. Many experts agree spring is the ideal time to begin planning construction and home-remodel projects.
Why is now the best time to begin this process?
Kitchen remodels - Beginning the process of a remodel or addition to your kitchen in spring means most of the work will likely be done in summer and early fall. When remodeling your kitchen, don’t forget to plan for your kitchen to be at least partially out of commission during that time. While remodeling a home you are living in, you should expect some minor inconveniences, but a home without a functional kitchen can be even more stressful, especially for families. A kitchen remodel during spring, summer or fall means you have the option of using your outdoor grill for cooking, and aren’t reliant on take out and delivery for every meal. If you’ve got a kitchen remodel in mind, now is the prime time to begin planning your project.
Living room and living space remodels or additions - Like a kitchen remodel, you should plan for your living spaces to be inaccessible for a period of time. Plan your remodel for a time when you and your family can take advantage of warm weather and can spend time outside, rather than being cooped up in the remaining functional spaces of your home. Whether you’re redoing your living room, or adding an additional living space, sunroom or even backyard deck, beginning a home construction project during the spring means you will likely have time to enjoy the new or updated space in late summer or fall, which is also the time of year when many occasions call for entertaining guests.
A September 1961 article in the Pittsburg Post-Gazette outlined the reasons why early spring was the best time for a home remodel project. Things have certainly changed in the last 50 years, but even today, some experts would say that spring is still the ideal time to begin a remodel project because it is the time of year when construction materials are the least expensive. While this likely fluctuates some from year to year, it is important to do your research and talk to your contractor about the best time economically to begin your project.
An addition to your home or a remodel of your existing living spaces is a great way to add value to your home. Especially if you are considering selling your home in the next few years, now is the perfect time to begin a remodel project. Do the work now, so you will be able to enjoy the benefits of your labor before you sell.
No matter your motivation, if you’ve got a home construction project in mind, give CB Construction a call today. Let the experienced CB Construction team guide you through the process from planning to completion.
Ever wonder how those beautiful, award-winning homes that you see on home improvement TV shows take their shape? Have you ever considered how complete your home would be if you just finally did that kitchen remodel?
Dallas-based contractor Chris Black can help you answer these questions. Black's company, CB Construction, recently was honored with two CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards for a residential kitchen remodel and a residential historical renovation/restoration project. A CotY award is given by the NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) to members who have achieved the highest levels of excellence in residential remodeling projects.
NARI invites contractor members to compete annually for the Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards, which are given at the local, regional and national levels. A panel of distinguished industry judges select winners based on "before and after” photography and project descriptions. Judging criteria includes aspects of construction such as problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.
This isn't CB Constructions first set of CotY awards. ln 2009 they were honored for their work for a residential kitchen remodel and a home theater and media room project. And just last year CB Construction was honored for a residential kitchen remodel.
CB Construction is a full service, design-build remodeling firm. The "design-build” process takes the traditionally separate tasks of designing and remodeling, and delivers them in one streamlined process. They provide a seamless, start-to-finish remodeling platform with one point of contact, one responsible party, and as a result your risk, time, and effort are minimized.
CB Construction prides themselves on their excellence and quality. Whether you are looking to remodel a kitchen, or finally build that addition to the back of the house, CB Construction will work with you to get your vision from blue print to reality in a smooth and timely manner.
If you want to learn more on how you can turn your home into an award winning home, call CB Construction today.
5711 Mercedes AvenueDallas, Texas 75206214-773-5566
Homeowners Rachel and Mike Thomason purchased their 1920’s 1,500 square-foot bungalow fully aware that it had not been updated in at least 80 years. It was “an absolute wreck,” Rachel Thomason said.
The Thomasons wanted to keep the original charm of the home, while also enlarging the kitchen and opening up some other spaces. The couple wanted to add a master suite, complete with a second bathroom, as well as finish out the home with modern comforts and conveniences.
The home also needed to brought up to city building code and have its foundation repaired—no small task.
To tackle the remodel project, the Thomasons hired CB Construction. Owner Chris Black in turn, brought in Dallas architect William S. Briggs and interior designer Tiffany McKenzie to form the design team on the project.
Original blueprints found in the walls of the home guided the construction project, which lasted more than a year from the initial meeting with the Thomasons. Especially helpful were blueprint details of the original design and layout of shelving in the home.
Once CB Construction’s framing team finished installing the framing and walls of the home, the crew installed a new shower and built-in cabinetry.
The home’s original wood floors were turned into sub-flooring and covered with pine flooring salvaged from other Dallas-area homes. Reclaimed two-panel doors were used for the home’s doorways, and float glass windows, some original to the home, were added.
In keeping with the original style of the home, black and white mosaic floor tiles were laid throughout the bathroom and shower area. Other new items that retained the home’s classic design included reproduction light fixtures, push button light switches, mortised doorknobs, a large, white farmhouse kitchen sink, classic faucets with “hot” and “cold” labels and a black stove range with chrome trim.
“Reuse, replicate and conceal.” These were the three keys to success in the remodel of the 1920’s Dallas bungalow by CB Construction.
The final result: A classic bungalow-style home built on a solid foundation, complete with modern conveniences and upgrades, that retained the home’s original charm and character—clearly a home enjoyed and appreciated.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. Families find emotional nourishment as they sit around the table sharing stories, singing and blowing out birthday candles, sipping tea while chatting with neighbors and offering children encouragement as they spend evening hours laboring over homework assignments. The kitchen is where the intimacy of daily living plays out. This year, give yourself and your family the gift that will give back year after year—your family’s perfect kitchen.
No two families are exactly the same, which means no two kitchens should be either. Perhaps you have always wanted a kitchen window that overlooks the backyard so you can keep a watchful eye on the children without interrupting dinner preparations. Or, if your social gatherings are like most, you all end up in the kitchen—crowded and uncomfortable. Maybe you are a true chef at heart, and your kitchen lacks the commercial-quality accoutrements you need to fully express your culinary talent. The holidays are a time for family, this year give your family a kitchen that is representative of your lifestyle and continue enjoying it for many holidays to come.
CB Construction specializes in award-winning kitchen remodels for homes in the Park Cities, Lakewood and M Streets area. We work closely with our clients to transform their ideas into the kitchen and living spaces of their dreams. We guide our clients through design, material selection, and engineering processes, tailoring each phase to your unique needs and agreed upon budget. We simplify the design process, cleanly package our services, and shorten delivery.
Let CB Construction create the kitchen and living space that will continue to nourish your family as you grow and change throughout the coming years. Thinking about remodeling? Click here to see how you can get started on your dream kitchen.
Chris@chrisblackconstruction.com
You’re cooking breakfast for your family while your children play near you. The sun is shining through the windows to your bright, beautiful kitchen. The kitchen that is so picturesque it looks like it was in last month’s issue of Better Homes and Gardens. This is a dream for most, but for Park Cities resident Courtney Crawford, she experiences this every day.
Crawford and her husband purchased a 1940s home here in the Park Cities. With a love for old charm and the neighborhood, the Crawfords knew this would be the place they call home.
As we all know, older homes, although full of character, are almost always outdated and in dire need of a pick-me-up. The Crawford’s new home not only had an outdated kitchen but several small rooms that had no purpose or function.
When it came to remodeling, Courtney Crawford knew the kitchen was the first thing she wanted to change. Wanting to keep the original footprint of the house, the Crawfords hired CB Construction for the design-build process. Chris Black, president of CB Construction, worked closely with the Crawfords, listening to every detail and design they wanted to incorporate into their new kitchen and great room.
“I have such high standards, and I was so pleased with Chris,” Courtney said. “He has a lot of pride and works with great people, which made the process more fun and gratifying.”
For all of the home remodelers out there, don’t you wish you could just blink and the remodel would be over and done with? Remodeling is not a process that is just thrown together — there are hundreds and thousands of steps, checklists and projects that must be discussed, planned and executed. Crawford admits she had no idea how much work and planning goes into a project of this size.
“Chris would tell me ‘you’re on step 8,000 — lets step back a bit,’” Crawford said. Crawford continued to explain how CB Construction led her through the design-build process.
Crawford, who had been saving images of kitchens she ripped out of magazines over the past several years, knew exactly what she wanted. An open floor plan that’s kid-friendly, a lot of light, and plenty of cooking space that is clean and bright but kept the charm of the home is exactly what she hoped for.
No matter what item large or small, CB Construction made sure the Crawfords got exactly what they wanted, anywhere from the countertops to the hood above the oven. In the end, the Crawfords got the kitchen they’ve always wanted.
“The kitchen is where we spend most of the day,” Crawford said. “I love everything about it. Cooking dinner for my family while my 7-month-old sits on the rug, and I can watch my 2-year-old playing...it’s gratifying for me.”
Overall, the Crawfords were more than pleased with not only the outcome of the kitchen but the whole process. “Chris knew exactly what we wanted and always kept us in the loop and never skipped one detail,” Crawford said.
The Crawfords are probably at home cooking for their family right now while they enjoy the open living space of their new kitchen.
Thinking about remodeling? Click here to see how you can get started on your dream home.
Some of your best memories may be times when you are gathered with family cooking a large meal. Whether your baking cookies or a turkey with all the trimmings, nothing brings people together quite like food. And cooking in well a designed kitchen can turn even the most reluctant of cooks into master chefs.
When a kitchen is designed the way you want it to be, it makes cooking easier and more enjoyable. However, getting a new kitchen is often an intimidating thought. You may have a few fuzzy ideas of where things might go or what appliances you may want, but you don’t know how it will turn out.
The thought of picking the wrong cabinets or countertops deters many people from having the kitchen of their dreams. But you don’t have to suffer any longer because with an easy design process you will know what to expect before the cabinets and tiles get pulled out. Having your dream kitchen is easier than you think with our help.
CB Construction will work with you during the design and building process to assure you that your dream kitchen will become reality. What sets CB Construction apart from other design-build companies is the quality of work and dedication they have towards their clients. From flooring, to paint color to the brand of your oven, CB Construction will make sure you get exactly what you envision.
The kitchen is the center of the home and having it be designed to your specific needs will make all the difference. No longer will you bump into that weird corner on your countertop or have your oven located where you don’t want it. The kitchen will once again become a place you enjoy cooking and congregating in with family. And before you know it your cooking abilities will have improved along the way.
Contact CB Construction today and start creating your perfect kitchen.
Many people enjoy hosting dinner parties, pool parties and outdoor barbecues, but the older homes common to Lakewood, Park Cities and the M Streets, in their original layout, are simply not designed for today’s casual home entertaining. Closed kitchens and well defined dining and living areas prevent the casual gathering about the kitchen that has become the norm for today’s social gatherings.
Live Your Dream Life in Your Dream Home Summertime is the perfect time to remodel your home to enhance your home entertaining. Whether hosting outdoor barbecues or more formal dinner parties, you can host your next social gathering in your dream home.
If you have lived in your house for a while, you probably already know the particular nuances that prevent you from getting the most from your social gatherings. If you have only lived in your home a short while, an experienced contractor can quickly assess areas for improving your home’s “sociability.” Working with an experienced design build firm, will ensure you get exactly what you need in your home remodel while also adding the special touches that make your home uniquely yours.
The first step to converting your current home into your dream home is to walk through the house with your design build firm’s general contractor and thoroughly discuss how you live and “play” in your home. Discuss what you currently love, what you absolutely must have and what, in a perfect world, you would love to have. Be sure to share with your contractor your home’s current entertainment limitations. From there, the contractor can lay out a plan based on your needs, wants and budget.
At the expense of sounding cliché, home truly is where the heart is, and when our homes do not reflect our personality, lifestyle or entertaining style, we are not able to feel truly at home. Whether remodeling your patio, kitchen, entertainment room, living room or every area of the home, there is no time like the present to start living the life of your dreams in the home of your dreams.
Contact CB Construction today, and get your home remodel started in time to enjoy summertime entertaining. CB Construction Company is a full service, design-build remodeling firm, serving the Dallas area including Downtown Dallas, Lower Greenville, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, White Rock Lake, University Park, Highland Park and surrounding cities. Our home remodeling services include room additions, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, garage remodeling and interior/exterior home remodeling.
Choosing a contractor shouldn’t be intimidating, but it can get overwhelming if you aren’t prepared. Most homeowners who are thinking about remodeling or home additions don’t know the right questions to ask a contractor when searching. Just like all things, the more research you do, the more prepared you are. This philosophy will get you far when it comes for choosing the right contractor for your project.
The first step should be deciding on a budget that meets your needs. Figuring out how much you want to spend and exactly what you want done, is one of many important decisions to make. Once these details are set it is time to find the perfect contractor for the job.
Finding a contractor may be easy, but finding a good contractor you can trust may be a bit of a challenge if not prepared. Make sure the contractor you hire has a good reputation and is someone you know you will be able to work with. A good contractor will listen and ensure that your needs are the top priority. Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true, chances are it is.
You will be spending a lot of time with your contractor throughout the renovation, so chose one that fits you and your vision. Good communication skills are important so you can share ideas and suggestions. There are thousands of questions that will be asked and answered during the whole building process; the ability to trust and be able to work closely with your contractor is important.
It doesn’t hurt to do a little background check on the contractor’s business and previous clients. Find out if they are insured, how their business is structured, if they document costs and schedule and how they supervise the job. Do they have regular meetings with you to discuss your project? Speak with their past clients to see if they were happy with the work and outcome of their renovation. Ask how they are going to supervise your job. Adequate supervision is one of the easiest aspects to cut costs on. Make sure daily, dedicated supervision is standard with any contractor you talk to.
Lastly, be hesitant on contractor’s “free bids”. After planning your project, contractors will give you these so called “free bids” that are worth exactly what you pay for them, nothing. Some contractors will give you a low bid just to get the job, but once the work begins you may find out that you are getting charged way more than you bargained for. A good contractor does not have time to give out free bids, but a good contractor will sit down with you, listen to your ideas and will be able to give you the best offer within your budget.
You are going to be embarking on one of the most difficult and expensive projects you’ve ever done. The contractor you chose will make the project predictable and enjoyable or a financial nightmare. Picking the right contractor is the most important thing you can do.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me. Good luck with the journey.
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