In the past decade, ready-to-assemble (RTA) kitchen cabinets have been steadily gaining popularity. RTA cabinets are regular cabinets that are shipped unassembled. They are available in standard cabinet sizes with a wide range of styles and finishes to choose from. High-quality RTA cabinets are made from the same materials as custom cabinetry featuring solid wood construction, dovetailed and soft-closing drawers, European-style and adjustable hinges among many others. The assembly is relatively simple as they are grooved and predrilled wherever necessary.

The obvious question is if custom cabinets are the same quality as RTA cabinets why would you opt for the latter? Answer?  Simple. The price. RTA cabinets can be up to 50% less than custom cabinets and look just the same! RTA cabinet manufacturers are working hard to compete in the upscale kitchen market. Besides for the quality and durability of the cabinet, many decorative pieces are now available to match. Cabinets such as plate racks, shelving units and desk cabinets are available as well as various sizes of crown molding, furniture base molding, turnposts, spindles, fluted fillers, glass doors and decorative overlays. They are all standard items that are offered to match the cabinet style of your choice. Storage solutions such as drawer bases, lazy susans, soap tip-outs, trash pullouts, and rollout trays are offered as well.

Wait, it gets better. RTA cabinets come in flat boxes which take up minimal storage space not to mention the low shipping cost. It is therefore not uncommon to find that they are in stock in the US and ready to ship within 2 weeks. No more paying your contractor for days that he can’t do any work due to backordered items.  Or how about when a project gets delayed and the cabinets are already ordered? Instead of canceling and reordering, Ready To Assemble cabinets can be easily stored in a storage room or garage until they are needed. 

With all the luxury features at a low cost, it is no wonder that RTA cabinets generate a superior reputation among homeowners and contractors alike. However you look at, functionality, aesthetically or durability, RTA cabinets can work for you.

There is a great report based on world wide supply and demand curves in search engines that looks at the most “in demand” businesses that don’t have much supply right now.  I just read it and it already has me thinking. It was at a site called best niches online
and you can click that link to get it. It is all about Internet marketing and niche marketing online.

Once upon a time, and not too long ago, your house might have been appreciating somewhere between 10% and 15% annually. Those were the days when you could pull a little equity out of your house and send a kid to college. Or, even better, finance a pretty great retirement. It seems like only yesterday when most Americans sat comfortably in their living rooms knowing that their home was a stable, sound investment.

Needless to say, times have changed. Property values have plummeted, and more and more homeowners find themselves faced with an upside-down mortgage – a loan with a balance that exceeds the value of the home.

But all’s not lost: with home values so low, it’s never been a better time to improve your property. When prices start to rise in the coming years, your home will be that much more valuable when you decide it’s time to move on. Think of your home as your investment portfolio; with prices low, now is the perfect time to add some gems to the mix, which will only increase your portfolio’s performance once the market surges again.

More is definitely not better for many people, a house is the single most expensive item they’ll ever purchase, and a remodel or improvement is, in and of itself, a smart way to protect the investment they’ve already made in their home. But exercise restraint with your plan. Very often, people who decide to undertake a major renovation of their home think more is better. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over-developing your property so that it no longer seems to fit in with the neighborhood profile is a huge – and avoidable – mistake. If your finished renovation makes your house look like a 19th-century Bavarian castle, and your neighborhood is filled with adorable, postwar Cape Cods, you’ll probably have lots of problems recouping the investment you’ve already made.

Okay, let’s renovate. Now what?

You’ve decided to take the plunge and renovate. A key step to this process is soliciting and then comparing bids from several contractors. Contractors compete directly for your business, but you have to be careful. Under no circumstances should you automatically accept the lowest bid; even though that contractor might be offering you the cheapest deal, your renovation might be done with correspondingly cheap materials, which will ultimately create expensive problems down the road. Never forget that what a contractor is offering you is a service, not a product. If your contractor wants to do a quick job on the cheap, you’ll be sorry.

Just like you should never pour thousands of dollars into a mutual fund you haven’t researched thoroughly, you shouldn’t invest a dime in a renovation without researching your contractor and his bid from stem to stern. When you feel like you have enough information to make an informed decision about the contractor’s bid, start your research from scratch and make sure you haven’t missed anything. This is the single most important step in protecting your investment during a renovation.

Insurance concerns.

Of course you have home insurance (URL: http://www.netquote.com/home-insurance ), but a renovation is a special circumstance that has a host of issues to bear in mind. Your contractor should carry a commercial general liability policy, or CGL insurance. This covers issues like bodily injury that results in actual physical damage, property damage or loss, and personal injury. Make sure you require your contractor to carry an insurance policy that’s at least twice the value of your home after the renovation is complete. Check the certificate of insurance and make sure that the policy is underwritten on an occurrence basis, which allows you to make a claim after the renovation is done and the contractor’s policy has expired. It’s also important that you and your home address be listed clearly and correctly as both a “certificate holder” and as “additional insured.” If you have any doubts about your contractor’s CGL policy, write or call the insurance agent listed on the certificate and ask for more details.

There’s no doubt that many people are anxious about homeownership right now. But, with some careful planning and a healthy, long-term perspective, protecting the investment you’ve made in your home can be a simple, straightforward process. Do your math, do your research, and you’re sure to come out ahead in the long run.

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Los Angeles Kitchen Remodeling by Gontermanconstructions, a construction company specializing in both residential and commercial projects, we are committed to thoroughly understanding the needs and objectives of our client - then exceed those expectations. Whether you are remodeling a kitchen, adding to existing space or building a custom home, to every project we bring our exquisite attention to detail, uncompromising quality and excellent customer service.