Can You Relate?
Hi, I’m Kathe Russell, chief designer and co-owner of DreamBuilders Home Remodeling. Although we haven’t yet met, I feel as if I already know you and that we’re good friends. As I look back at my thoughts and feelings before my husband and I remodeled five years ago, I can totally understand where you’re at right now. While the details are different of course, I’m amazed at how often my client’s stories are similar to mine.
Let’s start with the fact that you hate your kitchen cabinets. Maybe hate is a strong word, and you don’t like to use that word, but that’s honestly how you feel. And you’re tired of trying to clean your tile countertops and make that brown grout look white again. Every time you walk into your kitchen, it feels dark and closed off. You feel frustrated about not having enough storage, and having to get down on your hands and knees to get things out of your lower cabinets. You would kill to have an island with seating, a second sink, and lots of space for preparation. You wish you had two ovens, one you can fit a turkey in and the other to make entertaining and holiday cooking a breeze. You love to cook and entertain, but it’s just not fun anymore.
In your opinion, the rest of your house could use some help too. Your floors are worn and outdated from the pets and when the kids were growing up. The house needs a fresh coat of paint and the doors could probably be replaced if you had your way. Your bathrooms definitely need some help too. There’s so much that needs to be done and it seems kind of overwhelming. Not to mention what this is all going to cost. You’re thinking about your needs today, as well as in the future.
You love your neighborhood and want to stay in your home. You’ve considered moving, but have concluded that you’ll pay more for what you already have. You’re committed to remodeling and know you need to do something soon. Not only because you’re tired of it, but because it’s worn and needs to get you through your retirement years. And you want it done right.
All of your life, you have worked hard, raised a family, and have put others first. Now, for the first time, you want this to be about you and your needs. You don’t want to be selfish, but let’s face it. You’ve earned it. It’s time for you now.
Your husband loves you and wants you to be happy. However, he doesn’t quite see things the way you do. Although he agrees that some maintenance is needed around the house, he doesn’t quite understand why you want to tear out the whole kitchen and replace things around the house that are still working just fine. If it were totally up to him, he would call Sears, get some new appliances and call it a day. It’s taken some time for him to come around, but finally, he realizes that this is a battle he’s not going to win.
So now, your husband is on board and has agreed that the two of you need to at least talk to some companies and find out what this is all going to cost. You’re not sure if you’re budget will allow you to do everything you want to do, but you certainly want to explore the possibility. You need information so you can make good decisions.
Like everyone else, you have some concerns about costs. You don’t want to overspend for your neighborhood and you are concerned about re-sale value in case you have to suddenly move. Most of all, you want to know what you can get for your investment and get the most value you can.
As you begin researching your project and interviewing companies, you are adamant about finding a company that is going to listen to you. While costs are important, you know that in life you get what you pay for. And you are willing to pay for something that is of value to you, as long as you can afford it. You hate it when other people do all the talking and assume they know what you want, especially when you’re holding the check book. You want the company you work with to listen to your needs and help you solve your problems. They need to be able to come up with solutions that you haven’t thought of yourself and that will work well for your situation.
You know that you can’t do this on your own and would prefer to work with a company that will help you with the design, product selection, and remodeling all under one roof. You don’t have the time to run all over town trying to find things. You want someone who understands you and knows their stuff. You want the process to be convenient, easy, and fun. You also don’t want it to drag on forever.
You have an idea of what you like and have started to put together an idea file. You’re just not sure how all of it will go together and you need some help with selecting the right products, colors, and putting it all together. You know you’re not a designer, but you know what you like and what you don’t like. You’re open to suggestions, as long as they’re not too "out there". You want your space to be beautiful, functional, and easy to maintain. You want it to be comfortable and for people to feel right at home. You want it to be a great place to entertain friends and family. You want to create wonderful holiday memories for your grandkids and loved ones so they will remember you forever.
You know that you need to talk to several companies and hope you’ll find one that’s a good fit. You’ve heard horror stories about the contractor that tore everything out and disappeared. Assuming that you’ll get a good contractor, you are still worried about how long your remodel will take and how you will function without a kitchen. You have pets and wonder how all that’s going to work during construction. Hopefully, you will also look for a company that is qualified to help you plan for your future needs as well.
What you’re about to embark on is both scary and exciting at the same time. I know, because I’ve been there. Even though I’m a designer and my husband is a contractor, I know what it feels like to explore these kinds of changes and make this kind of investment in yourself and your home.
If you can relate to any of this and are looking for a full service design and home remodeling company that understands you, listens to your needs, and is qualified to help you plan for your needs now and in the future, we should talk. To learn more about how we work or to schedule an appointment, click here. I can’t wait to meet you!
Dream Builders Home Remodeling, Design, Kitchens, Baths, Cabinetry, El Dorado Hills, Sacramento
893 Embarcadero Drive, Ste. 103, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
