Big and small, there are home renovation projects that will boost the value of the property and bring the homeowners joy. Both are important. Homeowners remodel, redesign and restructure their homes for a variety of reasons, with equal consideration for ROI and immediate satisfaction. We asked two home services providers to share two ways to invest, one extensive and one smaller and smarter.
Think Big
For a family in North Atlanta, their yard was underused. And as a daughter’s graduation approached, dreams of an outdoor entertaining area took shape. With the insight and experience to complete the project quickly, Chris Sears, PLA of Sears Smith & Associates Inc., and his team designed and executed an overhaul of the yard, adding a water feature and landscaping that reclaimed unused space.
What was once an open, wet and unusable low area near a storm drain was repurposed with subsurface drainage, and a detailed drainage and grading plan was conceived. "With the window closing before the daughter’s graduation, we were able to design, build and complete within a few short weeks,” says Chris. “Now, the soothing sound of a water feature masks any sound of the neighbors nearby, and adds to the tranquility of this special place.”
Think small and smart
For another homeowner, Sears Smith & Associates designed a contemporary upgrade of a smaller exterior area. “After the infill was completed, there were still some unused slopes and underutilized areas that the homeowners wanted to take back,” says Chris. “A new fire pit area offered the perfect space for corn hole for family evenings away from the pool across the yard. Protecting some beautiful trees, while using artificial turf to work in the deep shade, we were able to very quickly create great environments for the family to enjoy for years to come.”
Sears Smith & Associates, Inc
Chris Sears, PLA (GA License # LA001340)
404.579.9388
SearsSmithLandscape.com
Think small and smart
On limited time, we recommend focusing on the jewelry of the home; the high-touch, in-your-face places to invest time and money first. A fantastic weekend project would be to freshen up your front door and foyer. A new finish and refreshed caulking in this area gives a true refresh for anyone walking into your home. Proper substrate preparation ensures that this high-traffic area remains pristine long after the paint has dried. It’s the ultimate low-effort, high-impact upgrade for a sophisticated interior.
And, into the kitchen, the heart of home valuation, you don't need a sledgehammer to achieve a custom look. A professional, factory-grade cabinet refinishing project provides the look and durability of a full remodel at a fraction of the cost and time.
This isn't just "painting cabinets"; it’s a meticulous technical process involving rigorous cleaning, dust containment and the application of premium coating products. The major issues we see with other “professionals” and DIY-era alike is not prepping the cabinets correctly. Cooking oils invariably cost the surface of all cabinets. If these oils are not meticulously removed, your final paint coatings are really bonding to the oils and not to the cabinet itself. This leads to premature failure and chipping. However, this is often not seen for a few months or even a year. When done correctly, a cabinet repaint should last you 10-15 years with no major problems. If done correctly, your cabinets will look like glass and for those areas near the sink, they will be protected from water intrusion. For any homeowner, this project revitalizes the most important room in the house and delivers exceptional value at a fraction of the replacement cost (think 1/5 of the cost and about ½ the time). This project is more than a facelift; it’s a long term asset protection strategy.
Think Big
Once you’ve made the decision to paint, make it an investment with a transferable seven-year warranty. “This proactive methodology reduces total maintenance expenditure by nearly 30% over a 10-year period, leaving you with a freshly painted home for almost a decade.” That way, the new homeowner does not need to paint the home for at least the remainder of the warranty, but still maintains the newly painted look.
Elite Finishes Georgia
Ashish Bajpai
404.433.7780
EliteFinishesGA.com
Think Small and Smart
Perhaps you have a deck or porch but don't use it nearly enough. Consider an easy job that can be completed in a couple of days and is very budget-friendly. "The homeowners wanted an outdoor space, away from bugs, open the existing door for more indoor/outdoor space for entertaining," says Cinda Salazar, owner of Archadeck of Alpharetta. "We added screens to an already existing covered deck, also giving them more privacy from the nearby neighbors. This is a great option for making your home feel like it has more enclosed square footage."
Think Big
Creating a backyard for children to safely run and play is a dream for most families. The homeowners of a small ranch-style home have two small children and wanted to create a space that would give the children room to play outside while remaining contained. "We kept the price down by using pressure-treated lumber for the decking and screen porch. We also changed a window to a door for easier access and indoor/outdoor living. I love how the farmhouse style makes it look like part of the house," says Cinda.
Archadeck of Alpharetta
Mark and Cinda Salazar
770.696.5693
Archadeck.com/Alpharetta