| Every manufacturer of a home product has a | | | | Your best bet is to check the Yellow Pages of your |
| showroom somewhere. Some showrooms feature | | | | phone book. Look for ads under the following headings: |
| one manufacturer's products. Others display the | | | | Bathroom cabinets and equipment |
| products of many different manufacturers in groups, | | | | Bathtubs |
| such as kitchens or baths. The showrooms are | | | | Cabinets |
| another great place to get ideas for what you want to | | | | Kitchen cabinets and equipment Kitchen/bathroom |
| do in your renovation. | | | | remodeling |
| The Whole House | | | | Pay particular attention to advertising that says, "Visit |
| Believe or not, there are whole-house showrooms. | | | | our show¬room." I suggest you call first to be sure |
| These are the model homes that builders offer. If | | | | that the showroom is open (not itself being renovated!) |
| you're about to undertake a whole-house renovation, | | | | and has enough variety to be of interest to you. |
| stop! Don't do another thing until you check out the | | | | Fixtures |
| model homes in your area. You will very quickly learn | | | | Retailers specialize in a variety of home fixtures, from |
| what's currently in style (what buyers are looking for). | | | | appliances such as stoves and ovens to lighting |
| You may find that you want to adopt many of the | | | | fixtures and faucets. These retailers also have their |
| new features that builders offer. | | | | own showrooms. |
| Also, check out any resales that are of similar design | | | | While visiting a fixture showroom is always useful, it's a |
| and age as your home, particularly if they are located | | | | necessity when you get down to the nitty-gritty of |
| in your neighborhood. In most cases, you will be able to | | | | assembling the materials for your renovation. The |
| see them by going to "open houses." In other cases, a | | | | reason is that you'll get an idea of what's out there |
| friendly real estate agent will be happy to take you by. | | | | and, just as important, how much it costs. For example, |
| You needn't use a subterfuge to get the agent to | | | | you may think you can get a good-looking faucet |
| show you homes-you don't have to say you're really a | | | | assembly for your bath-room sink and tub at a price |
| buyer when you're not. Just explain that you're | | | | of under $100 (for both). |
| renovating your home and that when you're done, you'll | | | | While you can get them for that price, their |
| consider reselling. That's only the truth. An agent will be | | | | appearance is likely to be plain and the materials used |
| delighted to show you homes in the hopes of | | | | may be cheap. Actually, a first-class faucet for a |
| eventually getting a listing on yours-and possibly selling | | | | bathroom sink will cost $150 or more. A first-class |
| you another one. | | | | Roman style faucet for a spa tub could easily cost |
| Kitchens and Baths | | | | $500 and up. And that's just for the faucet! High-quality |
| Home centers such as Home Depot, Home Base, | | | | lighting fixtures also can be expensive. Then there's the |
| Orchard Supply, and others have showrooms for | | | | cost of the sinks and tubs, and we're only in the |
| kitchen and bath. Many retailers that specialize in | | | | bathroom! |
| kitchen and bath fixtures also have extensive | | | | Visiting fixture showrooms will give you a realistic |
| show¬rooms. The same is true of cabinet | | | | handle on what's available, what it costs, and even |
| manufacturers. | | | | how long it takes to order. |