NARI OF CENTRAL OHIO | SPECIAL supplement
NARI TODAY The National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s
Guide to Remodeling Right
Beauty & Form
Kitchen storage solutions
Visit TrustNARI.org for trusted professionals in remodeling
apples to oranges
Tips for comparing remodeling project proposals
Photo courtesy Nicholson Builders Jan-Feb 2013 | Columbus Monthly Home & garden | 27
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Don’t settle for ordinary. Expect extraordinary.
Peter A. Robinson Remodeling, LCC design/build | additions | kitchens and baths | basements | outdoor spaces Serving Central Ohio for over 30 years | 614-855-2914 | www.parremodeling.com A tradition of impeccable design, fine craftsmanship and enduring relationships Ohio’s first NARI Master Certified Remodeler
2010 Central Ohio Winner
2011 Regional Winner MEMBER
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building a masterpiece Welcome to NARI TODAY. For more than 27 years, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has been connecting remodeling professionals with central Ohio consumers. With a growing NARI membership that already exceeds 250 trusted professionals, Columbus Monthly Home & Garden magazine and NARI have collaborated to bring you the latest remodeling industry information and advice affecting you in NARI TODAY. There is an old story that tells of three remodelers who were asked what they were doing. The first replied, “I am just making a living.” The second kept on hammering while he said, “I am doing the best job ever.” The third, a NARI remodeler, looked up with a visionary gleam and
said, “I am building a masterpiece.” The first knows what he wants to get out of work, the second believes he is the best, but it is the third remodeler who truly is a NARI professional. He knows and trusts himself because he is a qualified workman and certified remodeler. He is the NARI professional who listens, takes the time with customers to make their dreams come true and bases his decisions on sound ethical business principles. If you’re tired of poor service or find it difficult to locate a skilled contractor, NARI is your best resource. NARI contractors undergo a thorough background check and are screened using stringent criteria for experience and craftsmanship. They also must display a commitment to the
NARI code of ethics. By reading NARI TODAY, you will learn more about working with the most trusted professionals in the remodeling industry. Consumers consistently are searching for the most qualified and ethical remodeling professionals in their area but struggle to know where to look. This publication introduces you to the professional members of NARI and serves as a guide to remodeling right. Within its pages you will find expert advice and articles written by NARI members to help educate you on numerous subjects affecting our industry. NARI TODAY appears within each issue of Columbus Monthly Home & Garden magazine. We hope you enjoy the content of NARI TODAY and experience the difference a NARI member can make.
If you have questions about NARI or how to locate a NARI member who can help with your needs, visit trustNARI.org to get started. We look forward to serving you.
Steve Watters, president, NARI of Central Ohio and sales manager, Hamilton Parker Co. Hamiltonparker.com
There are a lot of companies you can call, there is one name you can trust
do you trust your contractor this much? Don’t get caught in the line of fire with someone you can’t trust. Connect to the best in the professional remodeling industry through NARI, a not-for-profit trade association dedicated exclusively to serving the professional remodeling industry and to serve as a trusted resource to area homeowners. NARI Connects People: Contractors to consumers, consumers to contractors, suppliers to contractors, contractors to suppliers and related services. Go to TrustNARI.org or call 614-895-5080 NARI: the best resource of Trusted Professionals in Remodeling TRUSTNARI.ORG | A GUIDE TO REMODELING RIGHT | Special Supplement
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Are you comparing apples to oranges?
Comparing proposals is one of the many challenges you face with a remodeling project You have been thinking about and planning your project for quite a while, and now it’s time to start getting quotes. Or is it? If you decide to go the competitive bid route, then you will need to separate the apples from the oranges. Here are some suggestions to help. ➊ Be consistent in what you ask each contractor to quote. In addition to the detailed plans and specifications that they will need to quote your project, you will also need to provide the contractors with as many specific selections and fixed allowances as possible. Give the contractors a bid format outlining what you want included in your base bid. Provide a separate list of items you’d like quoted as alternates. If they have variations, ask them to quote them as alternates and not as part of the base bid. That way, you can better compare proposals. ➋ Take the time to meet with each of the contractors individually. Then, follow up with them about any changes to the proposal that may have developed as a result of these meetings. ➌ Have your questions ready when you meet with the contractors. Ask all contractors the same questions and take good notes. Have they done a project similar to yours, or is this a first? Can they provide references for projects they have completed that are similar to yours?
➍ After meeting with your selected contractors, you will find it more difficult to remember individual details and who said what. This is why you will want to limit the number of quotes you get to no more than three. ➎ Once you’ve received your quotes, take the time to review them carefully. Then, schedule a follow-up meeting with your contractors to discuss them in more detail. Is everything you asked for included? How do they handle allowances? Will it be at their cost, retail or cost plus? How do they handle changes? Is there a charge for a change order? How will they manage the project? Will they be on site every day or available only by phone? Will you have a project schedule ahead of time? These questions will affect your total cost—and once you’re into construction, knowing the answers will be worth their weight in gold. ➏ Don’t hesitate to have your architect or another third party help you compare proposals. In evaluating multiple bids, it’s easy to focus on price instead of your goals, the level of service to be provided and other project-critical issues.
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Photos courtesy Renovations Unlimited
➐ Finally, keep in mind that the lowest bid is not always the best bid.
By NARI member Todd Schmidt, CR, UDCP, Renovations Unlimited renovationsunlimited.com
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Affordable decorative glass for any space Creates privacy Custom designs
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Dog food tilt out
Hide the washer and dryer behind cabinets
Pullout spice racks
Photos courtesy Angela Bonfante Kitchen Designs
KITCHEN STORAGE SOLUTIONS Blending beauty and function Nowhere else in the home must design and functionality work harmoniously together more than in the kitchen. Kitchens remain the heart of the home, functioning as the entertainment center and central family gathering spot. We need to get more out of our spaces than ever before. As our lifestyles have changed, so have the demands on the rooms in our homes. Gone are the days of the utilitarian kitchen—hopefully forever. Where do I start when creating a functional, user-friendly kitchen? Start with how you think about spaces. Ask yourself what do I need in this room to make my life easier? What do I need to store? What activities take place here? When you start breaking down your needs, it becomes a solvable puzzle. Think about how storage can work its way into unexpected spaces. 32 | Columbus Monthly Home & garden | Jan-Feb 2013
In a recent project, the stove area needed storage space for spices. However, two load-bearing beams on either side left very little space for typical pullouts that require six inches. The solution was to custom-build the pullouts on either side of the stove in between the stove and the beams. They were built to look like drawers and gave the stove area a finished look. The load-bearing beams were disguised as part of the hood design. Displaying collections is often a conundrum for homeowners, and dusting them is another. Placing small cabinets at ceiling height and illuminating them with LED light strips is the perfect solution. The ceramics look lovely while dusting is kept to a minimum. Pet owners all struggle with where to store the dog food conveniently. Dog food tilt outs are great for storing the food in those large bags. Just tilt it out
and scoop it into the bowl. Washing machines and dryers often need to move to the first level for convenience, and hiding them behind bifold doors with a countertop for folding makes the space beautiful and functional. Electrical outlets that mount on the bottom of the upper cabinetry keep outlets within reach while allowing the backsplash to be the focal point. Finally, appliance garages are nice but not with age-old louvered doors that stick. A bifold door built to slide across the countertop without scratching keeps the appliances hidden while leaving the entire cabinet available for storage.
By NARI member Angela Bonfante, Angela Bonfante Kitchen Designs abkitchendesigns.com
TRUSTNARI.ORG | A GUIDE TO REMODELING RIGHT | Special Supplement
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ACE RECOGNITION PROVIDES HELP When a consumer is deciding on a contractor or service provider, they want to know what kind of experience other customers have had. Through NARI’s Achievement in Consumer Excellence (ACE) Awards program, potential customers are provided a way to know about the experiences of consumers before they call a business. The ACE Award recognizes NARI members who provide outstanding service. Professionals are rated in several areas: quality, responsiveness, professionalism and communication. The ACE Award recognizes those who receive an average score of 3.5 (out of 4) on these criteria. All members who provide products or services are eligible, and they can be recognized as ACE Award recipients based on customer evaluations. For more information visit TrustNARI.org, or call 614-895-3080. NARI of central Ohio members who received the ACE Award for 2012 are:
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Eagle Specialty Remodeling
Visit our design center
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The Heart of Your Home.
Love It.
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