From the Builder

Greetings once again!

I hope each of you enjoyed the beautiful Indian Summer and were able to get outdoors and have fun with your friends and family.

Now that the weather has changed, most of us will shift our focus to indoor activities and thoughts of the coming holidays are sure to get you thinking about those family celebrations we enjoy so much.

As our families grow and expand, these celebrations become vitally important to us. With elaborate holiday dinners and festivities just around the corner, it might be a good time to take a look at your kitchen and determine if it will accommodate another season of holiday gatherings.

Updating your kitchen can be rewarding for you and your home. Did you know that in a national study, it was found that on average, 70 percent of those kitchen-remodeling costs are recouped upon resale? And, with family gathering trends and more entertaining happening at home, a kitchen remodel is not only a good financial investment, but will also provide an immediate return to your personal quality of life and the benefits will be reaped the entire time you own your home.

We have included some great articles on kitchen remodeling trends and updating your kitchen on a budget. We hope these articles inspire you and are helpful in the area of home improvement.

I would also like to take a moment and recognize three Hibbard employees that retired recently. Jim Boehme, Gary Weymouth and Jim Bledsoe have been a vital part of the Hibbard team for quite some time. Between all three men, they have a total of 55 years of service with Hibbard Construction. In honor of their service and dedication, the entire Hibbard group got together to thank these gentlemen for their dedication and camaraderie. Check out the photos from the evening’s celebration here. Congratulations to Jim, Gary and Jim, you will be missed!

Sincerely,

Jeff Hibbard

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Trends in Kitchen Remodeling

Are you an aspiring chef or just love cooking? The kitchen has always been the heart of any home and nowadays, more and more time is spent with family and friends in and around the kitchen.

If you desire to remodel your kitchen with modern appliances and faucets, clean, beautiful countertops, a new sink or backsplash or feel the need to redesign your kitchen layout and organization by adding an island or more cabinets, you will want to consider the following trends for the ultimate kitchen remodel:

Layout
Most modern kitchens are open and airy. They tend to flow naturally into other rooms, especially into a family room. There’s often no hard break between where one room ends and the other begins. Walls have been replaced with islands and counter-level cabinet units or bars, providing a smooth transition from kitchen to family room.

Concealed Kitchens
This doesn't mean that you walk into a home and can't find the kitchen or that it is hidden from view. Instead, the kitchen area blends with other areas of the home. Formal dining spaces often aren't used much these days, but when a home has a kitchen that opens to a great room, it allows far more flexibility for people's lives. What may be concealed are items such as commonly used appliances. Ultimately, the harmonious blending of color, design, and functionality make kitchens aesthetically pleasing and useful. Clean structural lines coupled with sleek color palettes enable the space to establish a distinctive identity, without overpowering the surrounding rooms.

To read more, click here.
 

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Kitchen Makeovers on a Budget

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2010 Cost vs. Value Report minor kitchen remodeling jobs have among the highest returns on investments at 78.3%. That means if you spend $1,000 you should expect your home’s price to go up $783. That’s even higher than the return on a major improvement, where you’d only get 72.1% back at the sale. And it’s certainly better than the average $481 you’d get back investing the same amount of money in your home office.According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2010 Cost vs. Value Report minor kitchen remodeling jobs have among the highest returns on investments at 78.3%. That means if you spend $1,000 you should expect your home’s price to go up $783. That’s even higher than the return on a major improvement, where you’d only get 72.1% back at the sale. And it’s certainly better than the average $481 you’d get back investing the same amount of money in your home office.

But, what can you do for $500 to $1,000 or less?

You can start with one of the simplest and inexpensive projects overall: paint. Your kitchen walls can suffer a lot of splatters, odors and stains. That’s why some people choose a high-gloss paint for the kitchen, at least for areas exposed to water, food and dirty hands. If high-gloss looks too industrial for the whole room, you can get the same color in different gloss levels. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you can probably paint the room for under $60 - $100. If you stick to neutral colors, you can add accessories, art, or curtains in a striking color as an accent. Neutral colors also show well if you decide to sell.

Unless you have wood stained or synthetic windowsills, a fresh coat of high-gloss white can make a huge difference. While you’re at it, redo your baseboards and other trim. That will add about $20 - $30 to the overall cost of paint.

To read more, click here.
 

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10 inexpensive Ways to Increase Your Home's Value

Remodeling and various home improvements will increase the value of your home, but did you know there are several smaller and less expensive projects that you can do that won't break the bank?  So which improvements are worth it? Well, here are 10 inexpensive improvements guaranteed to get a high return on your investment.

1. Paint. It’s that simple. Paint usually costs under $50 a gallon, but can make a dramatic improvement to your home’s appeal. So, strip off the old wallpaper and sand off the walls for fresh coat of paint. Keep in mind though, that if you’re looking to sell your home soon, neutral colors are better for potential buyers.

2. Yard work. People are coming to see your house when you want to sell it, but curb appeal makes a huge difference on first impressions. Mowing, weeding, and growing some basic plants are all inexpensive but time consuming projects that will contribute to a better package deal for buyers.

3. Replace bathroom fixtures. Bathroom and kitchen fixtures may work fine over a long period of time, but the finish will corrode and lose its shiny coat. So replacing these  will naturally give the bathroom or kitchen a more updated look.

4. Refinish the kitchen cabinets. Replacing kitchen cabinets can be pricey, but striping the finish and painting or refinishing your cabinets can give a new look without the cost of new cabinetry.

5. Powerwash the outside of your home. Keep the outside clean and add a coat of paint if needed.

6. Build a deck. Decks are also relatively simple projects that don’t require more than know how and materials.  Adding a deck will enhance and  improve the outer look of your home.

7. Don’t install a pool to increase the value of your home. Pools actually decrease the value of your home, so be sure you’re getting a lot of personal value out of it before putting one in.

8. Replace laminate with tile. Compared to many other materials, tile is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

9. Install decorative moulding. Have cracks and imperfections around corners and edges in each room? Get thick moulding to cover those spaces while adding a bit of character to the room.

10. Install organizers. Messy basement? Maybe too much stuff piled into the garage? Build simple shelves and organizers for neat storage. This way, buyers will focus on how much space the home has, instead of how much stuff is in it.

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Mid-Range Kitchen Remodel by Hibbard Construction

Our client wanted to update the look and feel of their kitchen.  Not only was the kitchen outdated, but the lighting was less poor and storage was limited.  The client wanted to improve but was limited to the kitchen's current configuration.

The solution:  New cabinets with pull out storage solutions that extend all the way to the ceiling add additional storage options and space.  Recessed lighting and lighting under the cabinets gave the room a much needed boost in work lighting and brightened the entire area.  Granite counter tops, tile backsplash , new sink and fixtures gave the kitchen an elegant and modern look.

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                    Before                                                     After

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