If you plan to invest in your home but are concerned about what is happening with the economy, investing in a new kitchen or bath is your safest bet right now.

A number of our clients in the St. Louis area are doing kitchens and baths due to cost verses value, for resale.  It’s not that our clients are planning to sell their houses any time in the near future, but everyone is looking at short term investments due to the instability of today’s economic atmosphere.  What if, like so many others they know, they lose their job or are laid off until times are “better”?  What if they have to sell their house?  What is the best investment they can make in their house that will recoup the largest return if they would have to sell?  The answer - kitchens and bathrooms.

Kitchen and bath remodeling are at the top of that list for a few reasons.  First,  most people would prefer to spend their money where they spend the most time - and that’s in their kitchen.  Second, kitchens and bathrooms tend to become old and outdated rather quickly (in a bathroom, think of the moist environment and harsh chemicals such as hair spray and cleansers that are frequently in use).  Also, technology tends to change and become more accessible to greater numbers of people, making the desire for things like modern appliances, durable countertops, green products, and custom cabinetry more common and attainable.  Finally, when it comes to resale, the best bang for your buck tends to be in kitchens and baths.  If you’ve got an old, outdated space,  buyers take notice - and not in a good way.

Riggs Construction & Design has been fortunate that many of our past clients - and a large number of new clients - have decided to go ahead with their kitchen and bath projects as a big part of their quest to remake their existing house into the home of their dreams.  We have done a higher percentage of kitchen and bath projects in the last two years than any time in our 50 year history.  As we move out of this recession and the economy stabilizes, I’m sure we will see a resurgence of additions, master suites and pop-ups because families grow and need more space.  But for now, kitchens and baths are king.  So for those considering remodeling one or the other; or both, it’s a wise investment.

Tom Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling

My next door neighbors tore down their home on December 31, 2005 with the intention of building a new one starting spring of 2006.  It’s now April 2009 and they’re still not in!  The hole from the old house was there until March of ’07 and construction has been going on ever since.  Not a good way to make friends and influence people.  In fact, our neighbor across the street may never talk to them again.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a remodeling project or a new home, proper planning is the first step toward making sure your job goes smoothly and quickly and that will make your neighbors happy.

Here are some more tips I can give you to keep them happy during your project.
•    Let them know what you are up to before the trucks pull up!
•    Share the time line with them so they have an idea what to expect and when.
•    Make sure they have the contact information of your contractor so in the event there is a problem, they can call and get it resolved quickly.  It may not necessarily be the phone number on his sign, but the cell phone number of your project manager.
•    Keep your project site clean and orderly!  There is nothing worse than having your neighbors picking up wind blown trash from your construction site or driving by each morning and evening to a messy, disorganized site.
•    Have your contractor make sure every trade parks on the same side of the street.  Trying to squeeze your car in between two pickups with side mount mirrors can be a real aggravation.
•    Never have deliveries made prior to 7:00 AM.  The sound of the backup alarm on a delivery truck is not very pleasant at 6:00 in the morning.
•    Make sure your contractor follows all OSHA safety rules so that when you invite your neighbors over to get a sneak preview during construction, no one gets hurt.  (You will invite them over, won’t you?  Everyone is curious!)
•    Make sure the Port-a-potty get cleaned weekly.

Of course, if you hire the right contractor, he/she will make sure all of these systems and etiquette rules are in place; so you don’t have to…

Tom Life In General, remodeling

Leadership is a difficult quality to put a definition to.  Is it charisma, confidence, intelligence, or a willingness to take on responsibility?  It’s all of those, I’m sure but I think it goes much deeper than that.  I’ve known many people that had all of those traits and still weren’t good leaders.

Leaders have an inherent sense of right and wrong.  Their moral compass is always pointed in the right direction no matter what the circumstances.  They know that their ability to lead successfully depends entirely on the team they are leading and they must treat those people with respect and loyalty.  They recognize when there is a wrong and they make it right but if there is no wrong, they will stand their ground and fight for what they believe in.

They say that integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking and I believe that, but true leaders understand that someone is always looking, even if it’s just themselves.  They understand that everything they say and do is magnified, scrutinized and emulated by their team. If not today, then tomorrow or the day after but their actions will always be remembered.  One slip up of emotion over value and it’s like starting again from scratch.  A leader knows if they do “slip” they have to openly recognize it, say that it was wrong and that they will do everything in their power to not let it happen again.

It helps to have the charisma and confidence but without integrity, it won’t matter if you own a business, manage a division or are the captain of the high school football team, no one will follow you for very long.

Tom Life In General