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5 Mistakes to Avoid During A Custom Kitchen Remodel

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / No Comments

Your home is typically your most valuable asset, and deciding to undertake a custom kitchen remodel is an important and exciting decision.

Many Orange County homeowners purchase a house or condo knowing at some point they will want to customize and make the space their own. Custom kitchen remodeling represents a sizable investment in a complex process. Even a minor mistake leads to major timeline and/or budgetary setbacks.

To help you get the results you want with the least amount of stress, avoid these five most common mistakes homeowners make during a remodel.

Automatically Hiring the Lowest Bidder

When considering a custom kitchen remodel, meet with a few different general contractors and obtain multiple bids. While it may be tempting to go with the cheapest bid received, that’s not always the best course of action.

The Problem. The lowest bidder may provide quality work and deliver acceptable results, but more commonly, they cause stress and headaches. From poor craftsmanship or low-quality materials to deviating from the project scope, or submitting numerous change orders for items not initially considered, the lowest bid may not always be the best solution.

The Solution. Instead, get several bids from various contractors and then compare your options. Make sure the bids or estimates you consider are for the same work and the same materials and finishes. Ask yourself:

Who did you feel most comfortable with and confident in?
Who else in the community used them?
What do each of the contractors bring to the table?
Have any of the contractors built your dream space before? Have they shared photos online?

Focusing Solely on Aesthetics

The Problem. During the planning phase of a custom kitchen remodeling project, it is easy to focus on beauty and not functionality. Updating your kitchen so that it’s on-trend and updated to today’s colors doesn’t make the space serve you better. Don’t spend a fortune on a beautiful room that’s not built for the way you cook or entertain.

The Solution. Opt for a layout that works for you and makes cooking a meal easy. If your counters are cluttered with various small appliances, bring this up during the design phase. Let the designer/general contractor know of your functionality needs so they design a space that offers both beauty and practicality.

Custom kitchen that will help sell in 5 years

Not Considering The Future of the Home

The Problem. Goals such as “Create a gorgeous kitchen with the latest colors and finishes” isn’t a goal that supports the overall plans for your home. That’s because it fails to consider your future plans for the home. These include goals such as how long you plan to live in the home, whether you plan to rent the home out to others, or if you plan to sell the home in the near future.

The Solution. Keep the design and materials aligned with the future of your home. If this is your forever home, go for the ultimate in personalization (that’s permission for red cabinets if that’s your heart’s desire). However, if your plans include a sale in the next five years, make choices that appeal to potential buyers. If the home is going to become a rental, opt for budget-friendly designs and finishes that offer durability.

Skipping New Plumbing

The Problem. Many homes in Orange County have experienced a leak due to failed copper piping. Failing to take advantage of this opportunity to re-plumb the area can be penny-wise and pound-foolish. When your pipes fail and you have a leak, the restoration team is going to cut through your cabinets, tiles, and floors. Matching finishes could be a nightmare.

The Solution. When the demo is complete and it’s time to start the remodeling process, go ahead and replace the plumbing. It will be less expensive while the pipes are exposed and accessible. Protect yourself from future headaches and construction by taking care of the pipes.

Black and white kitchen cabinetry with wood look flooring

This kitchen flows beautifully to the adjoining room

Ignoring The Rest of the Home

The Problem. Your custom kitchen features all the latest conveniences and is designed with the trendiest colors and finishes. And it doesn’t match any other room in the house. You failed to consider how the kitchen would look from adjoining rooms. Now the kitchen seems disassociated from the rest of the house. Bummer.

The Solution. Consider how the renovated kitchen will fit in with the rest of the home. Is the style consistent, and does the ingress and egress flow with adjoining rooms? Design the kitchen to be new and fabulous, but design it to be part of a larger home.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling in Orange County

Turn to Inspired Remodels and avoid the most common mistakes made during a custom kitchen remodel.

Inspired Remodels listens to your wants and needs and then designs a functional and beautiful space that fits with the rest of the home. Bring your dreams and inspiration, and watch Inspired Remodels bring them to life.

Steps to Custom Kitchen Remodeling

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Do you love your home but not the kitchen? Would you love a new custom kitchen but don’t know where to start the remodeling process? Understanding the custom kitchen remodeling process is the first step to a successful remodel!

Whether you’ve lived in your home for years or recently purchased a home, if you want to remodel your kitchen, this guide helps you understand the process.

Do Your Research

Although a kitchen remodeling contractor or designer can guide you through the design process, you and your family know the look you want far better than anyone!

Use a variety of resources to get inspired! Websites such as Houzz, television shows like Fixer Upper (or any other HGTV show), and social media platforms like Pinterest or Instagram provide great places to collect ideas, wants, and needs for your remodel. As you begin your discussions with potential contractors, having ideas and inspiration to share helps.

Find a Custom Kitchen Remodeling Contractor You Can Trust

Most people find the home remodeling process overwhelming and stressful – and understandably so! Working with a kitchen contractor you trust reduces anxiety and stress.

When looking for a general contractor, turn to Yelp!, your neighbors, or even Google for guidance. Talk to several contractors and collect multiple estimates. While price may be a major consideration, also consider how comfortable you feel with the contractor and their reputation for doing quality work on time and on-budget.

Keep looking if:

If you feel uncomfortable with the contractor
The general contractor lacks confidence
You can’t find references or completed jobs.

Your home is one of your most valuable assets, and you must trust the general contractor who works in your home. Check out How to Avoid Being Scammed by a General Contractor for more tips on this step.

Ask for References

Once you narrow your selection to 2 or 3 contractors, ask for the names and contact information for previous clients. Reach out and speak to the client. You may even be able to see the finished project firsthand!

A picture paints a thousand words, but seeing is believing. Have you ever purchased something online only to be disappointed in the quality when the product arrives? Checking references allows you to avoid disappointment in the quality of the contractor’s work.

Custom kitchen remodeling contractors expect you to ask for references. They understand you are interviewing them for a job, and they will gladly offer references for you to check. Reference checking allows you to verify that the person represents themselves accurately. Privately speaking with prior clients provides valuable insight you can’t get from an online review!

Ask Questions About Their Custom Kitchen Remodeling Process

Don’t be afraid to ask your general contractor questions! Whether it is about a certain material or a step in the custom kitchen remodeling process, ask the experts. Your contractor can address your questions and concerns.

Unless you’ve been through a remodel before, work in the custom kitchen remodeling industry, or have spent countless hours researching a kitchen remodel in depth, you will have questions. And when you do, speak up. Your kitchen remodeling contractor has the answers.

Prep for Your Remodel

Use the weeks leading up to your remodel to prepare for the interruption to your daily routine.
A custom kitchen remodel removes your kitchen. To avoid eating out or at a friend’s house for weeks on end, set up a temporary kitchen. Check out how in our Tips For a Smooth Remodel.

Certain trades may suggest or even require you to leave the home while they work (e.g. for a bathroom renovation, hot mop day) and you should prepare in advance. Ask your general contractor or the project manager what steps they need you to take to prepare your home for your remodel.

Understanding the process, performing due diligence in hiring a contractor, and preparing helps ensure your custom kitchen remodeling project results in the kitchen of your dreams.

Living room on the coast with views of the ocean through large window and folding door system with wood flooring

Orange County General Contractor and Real Estate Agent/Broker: Joe Mueller

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel, Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

There are plenty of real estate professionals in Mission Viejo offering typical real estate services. But can your Mission Viejo real estate agent/broker turn your new home into your dream home? When Joe Mueller represents you, the answer is “yes.” Joe holds licenses as both an Orange County general contractor and a California real estate broker.

Imagine walking through a potential home with a real estate professional who helps you imagine how any room will look once remodeled. Joe Mueller not only shows homes, but he also shows you how to make the most of any home.

It’s a rare combination.

Buying, Designing, and Building All-In-One

Joe’s team with Inspired Realty helps you find the home you want in Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, or any other Orange County community. They show the possibilities awaiting you with a remodel or renovation. Use Inspired Realty to find the home that meets your needs, and the Inspired Remodels design/general contractor team transforms that Orange County home into your dream home.

Unlike most general contracting companies, Inspired Remodels follows a design and build model. That means you have one point of contact for turning your ideas into a design, selecting materials, demolition and renovation, and rebuilding.

Source: Versetta Stone

Inside or Outside

Is the pool area a bit drab, or do you want more curb appeal? Inspired Remodels updates and renovates homes inside and out.

Add an outdoor kitchen or dining area can extend the footage devoted to living and entertaining.

Maybe you love the light and floor plan, but find the kitchen or bathroom stuck in the early 2000s. Don’t pass on a diamond in the rough. Remember, those brilliant sparklers start as dirty black carbon.

Work with the Inspired Realty team to secure the home and then work with Inspired Remodels as your licensed Orange County general contractor. Share your dreams for updates and upgrades, and then watch the construction/renovation experts transform any room in the house into a functional and beautiful space.

Whether it is outside or inside, one room or the entire house, Joe Mueller helps you live in the home you’ve always wanted.

Bringing the Outdoors In

The deck off the primary suite of this Orange County home becomes a natural extension of the room with LaCantina doors and deck railings that don’t block the view.

The simplicity of this design looks stylish today, and that look will endure over the years. Inspired Remodels turns humble mahogany and LaCantina doors into an outdoor oasis, perfect for that Saturday morning cup of coffee.

Spa Bathrooms Galore

So maybe the bedroom doesn’t need a deck, but the bathroom needs an entire gut? When the Inspired Realty and Inspired Remodels teams get together, you get Zen-inspired spaces with minimal stress.

This master retreat remodel offers spa touches and plenty of organization. Getting ready in the morning or unwinding in the evening has never looked so good.

Gray and white tiles with just a touch of gold grace shower walls, while stone-inspired tiles keep the floor slip-free.

Warm tones in the bathroom cabinetry contrast with the cool custom closet and dressing area.

This Lake Forest transformation exemplifies the work of Joe Mueller, the master at multi-tasking real estate sales and general contracting in Orange County.

Joe Mueller: Real Estate Broker and General Contractor

When you work with Joe Mueller and Inspired Remodels and Inspired Realty, you increase your options. That’s because when you work with a licensed real estate broker who also has a general contractor license, you get inspiration at every turn. From the house hunt to wiping down the last bit of construction dust, Inspired Realty and Inspired Remodels work together for you.

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