Common Remodel Mistakes to Avoid
1. Giving up too much kitchen working space.
In addition to being the
unofficial heart of most homes, the kitchen is a highly functional area, and that function depends heavily upon counter and cabinet space.
In your quest for the optimal layout,
conserve or add as much working area as possible, especially when it comes to counter space. (Martha Stewart's
advice on this topic is "Don't settle for less!")
Bottom line: Sacrificing too much cabinet or counter space can result in a kitchen that looks great but doesn't quite work for you or future buyers.
2. Choosing a carpet color that's too light or the wrong shade.
Carpet tends to appear lighter over a large surface area than it does on the small swatches most people use when choosing colors. (Yes, this can lead to some stressful moments on installation day!) If you're considering a style with darker flecks, keep in mind that in your home the flecks are likely to look just as dark as they did on the sample, while the background color may appear lighter, making the contrast more pronounced.
It's also very important to
choose the right undertone color. A neutral-color carpet could have a subtle red, green, earth tone, or blue undertone, and it can be very hard to notice the difference unless you see carpet samples next to each other.
Bottom line: Get the largest carpet samples you can find, and compare a good selection of similar color shades
at your home. Earth tones are often a safe choice when selling.
3. Sacrificing functionality for aesthetics.
A wise remodel strategy is one that will
make your home more visually appealing
and easier to live in at the same time, especially when resale is a consideration. This means it's good to be cautious when contemplating losing real functionality for the sake of an upgrade.
A big consideration these days is the quickly-growing senior "Age In Place" buyer demographic, which makes it more important than ever to avoid modifications that could cause a home to be less usable for people with impaired mobility.
Bottom line: Regardless of how pretty they are, homes lose value when they become less convenient to live in.
The good news is that you can get a decent gas or charcoal grill for under $150, and for $800 be the "envy of the neighborhood", according to the BBQ experts at AmazingRibs.com. On the higher end, there's the option to splash out on grills costing over $20,000, or an actual BBQ/boat combination for $50,000 - seriously!
Tip: Find the Top 10 Recommended Grills Lists
in the "Links that Make Life Easier" section, below.
Here are just a few of the many grill choosing tips available from experts Steve Raichlen, the AmazingRibs team, and chef Tony Matassa:
1. Plan on around 72 square inches (8" by 9") of grilling space per person.
2. Buy bigger than you think you'll need, going by square inches calculated using the
primary grilling area. (Some makers include the warming tray in their numbers.)
3. Grate space and lid choice vary based on what you're most likely to cook. Tips from pros on what's best for your cooking style are
here and
here.
4. Make sure the burner area is proportional to the grill or you will end up with cool areas.
5. Make sure the flame tamer is directly over the grill, not to the side.
6. If homeowner association rules prevent a flame grill, consider an electric smoker.
7. Look for a good warranty - ideally a limited lifetime warranty, with a 10-year warranty on burners.
Helpful Resource:
Gas Grill Warranty Comparison Chart
These pointers are just the tip of the iceberg, so if any kind of grill or smoker is in your future it may be worth checking out what the BBQ experts have to say:
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AmazingRibs.com's tips
-
Steve Raichlen's tips
-
Tony Matassa's tips
Or, let AmazingRibs.com do the homework for you with their five Top 10 Lists in the "Links that Make Life Easier" section, below. (Their reviews are based on real experience and they don't accept sponsored content.)
