By Mary Litsikas
Even though kitchen and bath remodeling is still as popular as ever, customers' expectations have changed. Remodeling clients are looking for an integrated solution that takes into account factors such as lifestyle, real-estate trends and environmental friendliness.
"Customers are still getting the biggest return for their investment from kitchen and bath upgrades, but what they are looking for depends on where they are in their life cycle," says Don Novak, CGR, CGB, CAPS and president of Novak Construction Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
For example, he says, older clients might be more conservative, given their relatively fixed incomes, while families with children might be more inclined to invest additional funds for dealing with the increased wear and tear over a longer period of time. "Some clients are just looking for something to get them by," Don adds. "Others want to extend the life of their homes. The common thread is they are looking for what they can invest and recoup."
Space to suit
Donna Shirey, CGR, CAPS and president of Shirey Contracting Inc., Issaquah, Wash., echoes Novak's perspective. Some of her company's most common projects relate to very individualized life and family issues, such as aging in place. As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Donna knows exactly how to remodel to accommodate aging clients by including such design features as larger openings between rooms and accessible cabinetry and plumbing fixtures.
Many of Donna's clients request a second living space, either a separate structure or an addition. "We're being asked to do upgrades to spaces, not just changing out an old stove," she says. For example, parents are building spaces for their parents, so grandchildren can have their grandparents close at hand.
Clients in the San Francisco Bay Area have two more considerations, says Nina Winans, CR, vice president of Winans Construction Inc. (Oakland, Calif.). As in many cities, property prices in the Bay area are increasing more quickly than most people's incomes, so remodeling a current home makes economic sense. "People would have to pay more to fix a new, more expensive house, so they are changing where they already live to suit their needs," Nina says. "People are remodeling to get more living space or to update, not just to upgrade appliances."
Going "green" to make their homes more environment-friendly is another motivator for many of Nina's clients. "People are more conscious of it than they used to be," she notes. "They aren't necessarily acting on it, but they are asking about it. If they do something 'green,' it's usually in terms of energy efficiency, not materials," Nina says.
Regardless of the project or the reasons behind it, these remodelers make a point of looking at the overall design, considering how the space will be used, and determining how to provide the most value for a client's specific needs. "We're after a good design, not just opening a wall," Donna notes. "You need planning to end up where you want to be. It's all about making it work."
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