| OK guys sit back and brace yourselves this one is not | | | | Here are some recommendations. Instead of granite |
| going to be funny. After I posted my blog on last | | | | you can choose from a wide assortment of man |
| Friday regarding my take on todays eonomy I began | | | | made surfaces, such as Corian, which in most cases |
| to see other opinions especially regarding it\'s effect on | | | | can be half the cost of Granite and a whole lot easier |
| the modern day homeowner’s plan\'s or lack | | | | to maintain. You can choose from dozens of forms of |
| thereof on home renovations. In a blog posted 2/1/09 | | | | laminated flooring, such as \"Pergo” instead of |
| on “Walletpop” entitled “Home slump hits | | | | hardwood floors again saving 50% or more. When |
| home decor trends”, Zac Bisonette cites “fancy | | | | recently finishing a family room/kitchen project in our |
| kitchens and fireplaces that were so important to | | | | basement I was able to find a weekend sale on |
| buyers during the housing boom are going out of | | | | laminated flooring at a major retailer for $.99 a square |
| style”. He goes on to say “It\'s hard to know | | | | foot. That’s less than the $9.00 per sq.yard and |
| what to make of these trends. Are they long-term | | | | less than the least expensive carpet plus my son was |
| changes in taste or is luxury just taking a leave of | | | | able to install it. We could not have installed carpet and |
| absence while people cope with plummeting job | | | | that would have added another $3 to $4 per sq.yd or |
| security….Even if luxury items like granite countertops | | | | more to the price and we had the look of hardwood |
| and fireplaces are desirable, they may not be desirable | | | | at a fraction of the price. As for custom made |
| enough to justify the additional expense.” | | | | cabinets the best buy in cabinets and vanities today is |
| In the high flying days of the past ten years | | | | in prefab cabinets which come broken down flat in |
| homeowners had available easy credit in the form of | | | | cartons and you assemble them yourself. The most |
| home equity loans, readily available credit cards and | | | | familiar of these come from vendors such as |
| revolving credit terms from retailers. In 2008 with the | | | | “Ikea” or like “Kraftmaid” available at the |
| U.S. banking and real estate crisis in full free fall these | | | | large home improvement stores. Not only are these |
| facilities have all but vanished. Banks have stopped | | | | cabinets a great buy but are high in quality and |
| lending, home mortgage loans are virtually a thing of | | | | features. Can’t afford stainless steel appliances? |
| the past and credit card companies have raised their | | | | Look at “Craigslist” any day and you will find |
| interest rates and lower the credit available even to | | | | great deals in practically new appliances at a drastic |
| their best customers. Its easy to see why | | | | cut in price. The bottom line is shop smart and make |
| American’s taste for luxury items has diminished. | | | | educated choices. Take these ideas and team them |
| The fact still remains, as I pointed out in my blog of 2 | | | | with the suggestions I made in my previous blog such |
| 13/09, that this does not eliminate the need for | | | | as upgraded faucets, sinks, new paint and other |
| refreshing of that tired old kitchen or bathroom to | | | | fixtures and you can have a great looking functional |
| make your house more saleable if that is your fate or | | | | new look and space in your home at a reasonable |
| to make you home feel better to your family in these | | | | attainable price. To reiterate my point, it is far more |
| tough times. What it does mandate is a more frugal | | | | important than just vanity that we consider making |
| approach. Frugal does not mean “cheap” but | | | | these improvements. The economy is consumer |
| instead indicates a more careful reasoned approach to | | | | driven. If we expect things to turn around quickly we all |
| how something is expended. Can you afford to | | | | must regain our confidence that the American |
| replace your old laminated countertops with granite? | | | | economy is resilient and has been a shining example to |
| Can you reasonably replace that linoleum in the kitchen | | | | the world for 200+ years. To this end we need to |
| with real hardwood floors? Can you afford custom | | | | invest in reasonable improvements. We need to spend |
| made cabinets? new stainless steel appliances? Glass | | | | carefully but we need to spend. Money sitting in a |
| tile backsplashes? And the list goes on and on. In | | | | savings account drawing zero interest is not helping |
| general the frugal answer is NO! This does not mean | | | | the economy. The banks aren’t lending the money, |
| that you can’t make reasonable, attractive and | | | | they are sitting on it. Investing in home improvements |
| useful changes to your kitchen or bathroom. You just | | | | creates demand, creates jobs and works to restore |
| have to be smarter in your choices as well as | | | | the public confidence in our economic system. |
| shopping smarter. | | | | |