Categories Blog, Tips

3 Ways To Add Value To Your Floor Plan

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Curious as to which home remodeling projects are the best if you’re looking for a solid return on investment?

Here are 3 fairly easy projects that will help ensure your home will be worth more come selling day!

1. Flex Rooms: First off what is it?! A Flex room is essentially a space that can be easily changed or used for a number of functions, also known as “several options within the same square footage.” One month it could be used as an office, and the next, it could be transformed into an elegant game room or spare bedroom (If you live in a smaller home, flex rooms can come in handy). Our favorite is The Guest-Friendly Living Room… Try incorporating a couch that doubles as a fold-out bed in your home office room, so you can create three different spaces as needed!

2. Mother-in-law Apartments: We know what you’re thinking…but these “accessory dwelling units” are perfect for extra space and rooms for additional family members. ADUs can either be attached to the original house, or detached, which may be an additional building outside. Converting a garage into a separate living space could cost as little as $40k, while building a detached structure tends to be more expensive, with costs that could be upwards of $150k.
Whether you’re housing an elderly relative, a recent grad, or out-of-town visitors, an accessory dwelling unit can be a real asset!

3. Upstairs Laundry Room: Time to stop lugging laundry up and down the stairs! An upstairs laundry room option is the perfect solution to get rid of smelly laundry baskets and hampers in your bedrooms. Being able to put your dirty clothes quickly in the washing machine is a HUGE plus, and besides, now there’s more room for storage in the basement. This additional room doesn’t need to be big and sometimes it can even be paired with a half bathroom.

Thanks for reading,
-The Team at McDonald Contracting | www.McDonaldContractingMA.com[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_pinterest][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories Blog, Tips

Renovating Your Kitchen: The secrets no one will tell you

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A kitchen is the heart of your home and due to a high ROI it’s also the most popular room to renovate in any house.  Remodeling a kitchen is new to many of our clients and so is understanding the pricing behind it. Depending on the size of the home a new kitchen can range anywhere from $30K-$70K. Since this is such a large range we’ve broken down the costs to understand what goes into a small vs. a large kitchen.

Smaller renovations:
❖ Painting walls and ceilings
❖ Upgrading your sink and faucet
❖ Upgrading your appliances
❖ Adding backsplash
❖ Re-finishing existing cabinets or installing stock cabinets
❖ Replacing countertops with materials such as vinyl or laminate

Larger renovations:
❖ Installing custom cabinets
❖ Installing hardwood floors
❖ Adding recessed lighting
❖ Installing high-end appliances
❖ Adding a kitchen island
❖ Replacing countertops with materials like stone, wood or metal

The average project cost varies depending on the size of your kitchen and the materials you choose. If you’re planning on staying in your home for years to come, larger changes are worth it since you are increasing the value of your home, while being able to reap the benefits of things like using updated appliances and granite countertops. If you’re thinking of selling in the next few years, you can still start with smaller renovations that will increase the value of your home.

McDonaldContracting Blog
View one of our latest projects

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Money Saving Tips For Remodeling:

There are some great ways to cut costs, but not cut corners when remodeling your home. Check out our three tips on how you could easily save on your next kitchen or home renovation.

Purchase Your Own Materials: Customer involvement with material choices results in more time, but less money spent. Clients can order tile and cabinetry supplies directly or have the contractor choose all of this for you. You can also check out wholesale tile stores for discounted prices on high-end flooring or check out craigslist for reduced price items. There are wholesale tile suppliers like Fitzgerald Tile in Woburn, MA and Pro Source store in Boston, MA that have an array of materials and prices.

Get Items On Sale: We all know Lowe’s and Home Depot are great for all home improvement projects, but did you know they offer discounted prices on light fixtures, paint, and more!  Their sale items can be a hit or miss, but it’s always worth exploring their sale shelves.

Shop Yard Sales, Thrift Shops & Estate Sales: Not afraid of something that is second-hand? By shopping at thrift stores, estate sales and yard sales you could save huge, but be prepared to hunt for a great deal.  If purchasing something that requires electricity, always plug it in before purchasing and check with your contractor to make sure the sizing is right.

TIP: Check out Greengoat – Greengoat is a local charity organization that specializes in salvaging materials from homes being renovated or demolished. They offer everything from flooring to toilets for a remarkably low price.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue” style=”dashed” el_width=”70″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We hope you found these renovation and savings tips helpful! If you have any questions about remodeling your kitchen please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thanks for reading!

McDonald Contracting[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories Blog, Recent Work

Gorgeous Home Remodel in Burlington, MA

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our team at McDonald Contracting is excited to share a recent frame to finish residential project we completed this past year.  We restored and remodel every room in this gorgeous home, located in Burlington, MA. Take a second and check out all the home photos!

If you’ve been wanting to renovate a room in your house we’re here to help. Contact us today to find more about our services and how our team can help transform your house.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

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