Tag Archives: Renovations

Finishing Your Lower Level to Sell Your Home – Part 2

If you didn’t catch “Finishing Your Lower Level to Sell Your Home – Part 1″ please click the link to check that out. Along with the new bedroom and bath photos is gives an explanation as to why you may or may not want to finish off your lower level prior to selling.

This post continues to show you the before and after photos of my finished lower level. Besides the added bedroom and bath (on previous post), I was able to add 3 additional living areas. The TV area, the game/eating area, and my favorite…..the cozy fireplace sitting area.

For 20 years this lower level had been a dumping ground to put whatever we didn’t want to deal with at the time (you didn’t see the half of it!) and a place for 1-3 Saint Bernards to come in from the backyard and not have to worry about the mud and dirt.

As with the bedroom and bath, decisions were made on the fact that it is a lower level and will be sold in five years. Luxury Vinyl Planks were put on the floor for durability for us with Saint Bernards but also the the fact it is water proof for a lower level with a sump pump and walk out to a pond.

The flooring was continued throughout the entire space including the bedroom and bath making it one continuous space. The durability and look will be a selling feature as well. The goal was a budget of a lower level but a finished space that doesn’t look like a lower level. 🙂

Before and After TV Area (aka my hubby’s area):

Before and After Game/Dining Area (tough to move the big dog; her favorite spot):

The Hearth Area (my spot and personal favorite):

With the cost savings mentioned in the first post due to being my own general contractor, it has been determined that the added bedroom, bath and living areas will increase my selling price at least equal to what we spent; and hopefully it will continue to increase. Plus we get at least five years to enjoy it before we move. Win Win!!

So if you are looking to finish off your lower level to sell your home you need to:

Determine how many years until you sell.
Discuss the added value for the additional square footage with a Realtor that works in your area.
Get bids from all contractors and vendors to determine the total costs.
Research costs on ALL materials such as hardware, paint, trim, faucet, toilet etc. that may not be included in any of the contractor or vendor quotes.

At this point you can begin to make some decisions and move forward if it makes sense. My big caution to you: DO NOT OVER BUILD FOR YOUR AREA AND TIME FRAME. Meaning, there is only so much you can get for your square footage and don’t go all out and with a massive wish list. If you notice, I did not do any built-ins as I was not going to get the return on my investment within the 5 year projected sale date.

It’s a big decision but one we decided to make at this point for us. Be sure to bring in trained and certified professionals to guide you through the process.

How High Should I Hang A Dining Room Light Fixture?

Many times when I am in a client’s home I notice a few things about the dining room. One of those things is the height that their light fixture is hung above the table. Most of the time it is too high. In the photo to the right I feel the light is too high but it also is too large for the table. dining-room light too high

I think many times what happens is when people are moving in or out they clip the light fixture up so they won’t hit their heads when the table is gone and then it never gets lowered again. Or people just don’t know how to hang it so I’m here to help!

A general rule of thumb is that the bottom of the light should be about 30-34 inches above the table. Most table heights are 30″ so you are looking at approximately 62″ off the floor if your table isn’t in the room yet.

The dining room light fixture is normally the primary architectural feature of the room besides being the main source of light. So function as well as overall room decor is key.

The general rule I listed above is for an 8 foot ceiling. For every additional foot of ceiling height your light fixture may need to be raised 3 inches. The key word in that sentence is “may”. A lot is determined by the overall size of your light fixture, the size of your table and the size of your room. If you have an overly large chandelier you may need to raise it slightly higher.

In the photo below I feel the light is not only too small for the room it is too small for the table.

Light too small

The size of your fixture should be a half to two-thirds the width of the table; or one foot smaller than the table width is another way people determine the size. You just don’t want a fixture that is overpowering the table or the room. Likewise you don’t want it to look dwarfed in the space.

I am going to use my own dining room as an example:

My ceiling height is 9 feet, the diameter of the light fixture is 22″ and my table is 44″ wide and 78″ long. It is an open concept home so the height also needs to be adjusted with the overall scope of the area. But although my ceilings are a foot taller than the general rule of 8 feet, I did not adjust my light upwards. I just didn’t feel that was necessary with this pendant light.

My light is 33″above the table. This height provides light down on the table where it is needed and really draws focus on the dining area itself. If this fixture was higher ……it would totally lose the intimate feeling you want in the dining room and feel like a hallway or foyer light.

My recommendation is to use these general rules but then to hold up the light fixture and eye ball it as well. If necessary bring in a trained professional to assist you as once that wire is cut and the light is installed…..you can’t take it back!

What is LVT/LVP? You will want to know!

If you are building or remodeling a home, there is a chance that you may have come across these abbreviated letters. But many of my clients just starting the process get a blank look when I say “Have you considered LVT?”

LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. When I mention the word vinyl I sometimes see a horrified look on my client’s faces with flash backs to the large linoleum rolls of flooring from the 60s. That is NOT what I am talking about.

Many times LVT is used as a catch all for all vinyl flooring but there is a difference based on style.

Luxury Vinyl (LV) comes in many styles and colors. It comes in long planks (LVP –Luxury Vinyl Planks) of different widths for the appearance of real wood. It also comes in 12″x24″ rectangles for the appearance of ceramic tiles (LVT). These rectangles can be grouted for an even more realistic tile look. You can even find luxury vinyl that looks likes stone.

Luxury Vinyl continues to improve and many times I have to get down to feel the flooring to determine if it is ceramic tile, hardward, or Luxury Vinyl. Of course real hardwood and real tile will add more value to your home but many times these products are not the best choices.

Vinyl plank flooring is the perfect flooring solution for busy households, basements, bathrooms, and even kitchens. It has the natural, stunning look of wood, without the risk of water damage because it is waterproof! I installed LVP in my laundry room and I LOVE IT!

It not only looks like rustic wood, my wash machine could flood and the flooring could sit in water for days and not be harmed.

AND is is super easy maintenance in a room that is high traffic for St Bernards. 🙂

Please do your homework. Some vinyl sheets or planks are only water resistant….not waterproof. Many of the peel and stick variety you find in the big box stores are only water resistant.

A FABULOUS article about Luxury Vinyl from one of the best flooring experts in the Country is The Flooring Girl’s Blog Post. Check it out!

I installed LVT in my guest bath. I chose not to grout it as I didn’t want the maintenance of scrubbing and keeping grout clean. The best thing about LVT is the low maintenance so why complicate it?

LV is made in layers with it’s primary component being PVC vinyl. This makes it makes stable and flexible. Luxury wood vinyl planks also, unlike hardwood, have an extremely hard, durable wear layer. Created under great heat and pressure, the many layers of luxury vinyl tile make it extremely durable and stable. Luxury vinyl tile is extremely durable and stable, with little to no upkeep.

Vinyl flooring typically lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 years, and thus isn’t considered quite as durable as linoleum. But who wouldn’t replace their flooring after 10-20 years anyway? The styles will be totally different.

So if you are remodeling, building or updating your home for selliing, it is worth your time to discuss LVT/LVP with your flooring specialist to see if it is right for you.