Moore Home Remodeling Ask the Expert – How to Start a Home Renovation Project

Moore Home Remodeling’s Home Design Consultant, Diana Phillips, explains the first steps in starting a home renovation project. Ask the Experts by Moore Home Remodeling provides professional knowledge in home remodeling industry to help you make smart choices for your next remodeling project.

What Goes Into a Good Kitchen Design when Remodeling?

Ask the Expert
by mimivanderhaven.com on 11/12/2012 – 01:57 pm

By Brent Moore

Q: I have a tight budget. Can an MHR project design provide a cost estimate?—Darlene C., Rocky River

A: At Moore Home Remodeling, we’re all about what works best for our clients. Part of that includes careful planning for any project and a solid design. In fact, it is a crucial part of the entire project.

It is always our goal to provide our clients with as much control over their investments as possible, something that’s difficult to do if you don’t have a good understanding of the costs associated with your project and how the design plays a role in that.

For a remodeling project, we create a proposal, based on the design/layout that has allowances for finish items or, whenever possible, we assist our clients in making those finish item selections for even more accurate estimating. We hate surprises as much as our homeowners do and try to avoid them whenever possible.

For larger projects that require blueprints, we have a two-phase process that helps to minimize your investment. Phase one includes drawings and accurate estimating. During phase two, much more is required by the city you live in for construction. That’s where the documents come in. We don’t believe you should have to pay for documents you may not submit while you’re still exploring your design.

Before you commit to any project with a design/build firm, there are important questions to ask that will determine the cost of your design:

• Can the city use the design for approval?
• Can you get accurate material costs from it?
• Will it fit your space without further cost for customization?
• Who does the design belong to after it’s created?
• Does it meet all of your design goals?

A great number of man-hours go into a design with MHR. All remodeling work is completely custom and we never put your name on another client’s project design. To find out how we can create a customized plan that will meet your needs, give us a call and we’ll go over the process with you in greater detail.

You can learn more about the difference a design-build firm like Moore Home Remodeling can offer by calling Brent Moore at 440-941-4MHR (4647). The web address is www.MooreRemodeling.com.

Why Are My Kitchen Remodeling Estimates Different?

by mimivanderhaven.com on 10/16/2012 – 04:23 pm

By Brent Moore

Q: My three kitchen remodel estimates are all so different. Am I talking to the right type of contractors?—Sharon P., Strongsville

A: There are many possible reasons the estimates are so different. One could be that the contractors did not bid the same exact work. Each may have brought up a new issue or idea that had not been previously discussed. Also, each one may have given his best “guess” as to what your kitchen would cost if the finish items had not yet been selected. Additionally, you may have estimates from different types of contractors.

Many people will hire a carpenter to install their hardwood floors, or a plumber to install a new faucet. But if you’re remodeling an entire room, or are adding space to your home, you’ll need to hire a general contractor, especially if you don’t have the time or inclination to orchestrate all the moving parts of such a large project.

Inexperience can lead to confusion, delays, costly mistakes, and, in the end, an unprofessional finished product. This will add cost and unnecessary frustration to a remodeling project for the homeowner. It takes time and experience to make it all come together like a well-oiled machine. Even then the unknowns have to be managed.

Moore Home Remodeling is a design and build contractor. We start with a design that you help to create based on your goals for function and the overall look and feel you want. We educate you about the process and materials, then we pull together all the trades and material suppliers we have professional relationships and preferred partnerships with to build an accurate cost estimate for the project. We make sure permits get pulled and inspections take place, and the job flows in a time and cost-effective way. All of this helps to eliminate the confusion of three estimates when you don’t have a plan in place.

Give us a call when you’re ready to get started. We’ll help guide you through the process so that you understand exactly what’s happening, every step of the way.

You can learn more about the difference a design-build firm like Moore Home Remodeling can offer by calling Brent Moore at 440-941-4MHR (4647). The web address is www.MooreRemodeling.com.

Do I Need Three Estimates For My Kitchen Remodeling Project?

by mimivanderhaven.com on 09/20/2012 – 01:20 pm

By Brent Moore

Q: How many estimates should I get before moving forward with a home remodeling project?—Alex M., Richfield

A: It’s my opinion that the industry standard dictating that a homeowner get three estimates is flawed. What exactly is the contractor estimating?

Not only is there a vast range of finish materials available, but different finish materials also have different installation costs.

You may have decided that you want “middle of the road” materials. That’s perfect. But how much does a middle of the road faucet cost? Three contractors plus one homeowner equals for different prices. That’s why the standard is flawed.

At Moore Home Remodeling, we feel that until you have a design and a list of the exact materials you want to use, it is impossible to get an accurate estimate.

A contractor needs to know a great deal about the details of your project in order to price a job correctly. We believe a better approach starts with a phone call to our office. It’s an opportunity for us to gain valuable information about your project and guide you at the same time.

We can then set up a free consultation for us to see the area you want to remodel. We can discuss a price range after this consultation. But only after the next step—the design phase—can we accurately give you a quote or estimate.

The design phase puts your ideas onto paper and gives us the ability to price materials to be used. We prefer to design to an amount the owner wants to invest. It’s the best way for us to provide the biggest bang for the buck.

A low price, whether estimated or actual, does not determine whether or not you can have trust and peace of mind. Ask for references and unbiased reviews of previous work. How long has the company been in business? What is the planning process? Transparency in all these areas develops mutual trust and, in the end, happy homeowners.

You can learn more about the difference a design-build firm like Moore Home Remodeling can offer by calling Brent Moore at 440-941-4MHR (4647). The web address is www.MooreRemodeling.com.

Picking the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets

by mimivanderhaven.com on 08/17/2012 – 03:20 pm

By Brent Moore

Q: I’m planning a kitchen remodel and need some guidance on which line of cabinetry to go with. Can you provide some insight?—Chase W., Rocky River

A: You’re already headed in the right direction. Most homeowners work around a budget before thinking about the look and feel they’d like their new spaces to include. It’s important to have a professional design and a good idea of which finishes—cabinetry, tile, lighting and flooring—you want incorporated into your plan, first.

When it comes to cabinetry, I use and recommend the Haas brand. It’s manufactured in Indiana and the company is owned and operated by a third-generation of the founding family. Not only that, the quality of the construction is far superior to many of the commercialized brands we’re familiar with. Like Moore Home Remodeling, their name is on their work.

Haas offers more finishes than you can count and the crew can color match any custom color you may want. There is also an excellent selection of door styles that come standard and no-cost upgrades, like edge profiles, that other companies typically charge for.

Unlike most brands, Haas offers solid, well-constructed features, like dovetailed drawers and non-standard sizes, at basic prices.

Moore Home Remodeling is honored to have been selected as the only qualified dealer in Northeast Ohio to offer this exceptional brand.

The best part is, because Haas is family owned, the company can respond to the economic climate—and it has. You’ll find that semi-custom Haas cabinets are competitively priced, often the same as the lesser-quality brands found at box stores.

Give us a call when you’re ready to get started on a design and we’ll help you create a kitchen that matches your vision—and your budget.

You can learn more about the difference a design-build firm like Moore Home Remodeling can offer by calling Brent Moore at 440-941-4MHR (4647). The web address is www.MooreRemodeling.com.

The Showroom Comes to You!

Kitchen Cabinet Showroom

After more than 15 years in the design/build industry, Brent Moore, founder of Moore Home remodeling has perfected the art of helping clients make dramatic kitchen improvements on a realistic budget. Photos by Benjamin Margalit/Margalit Studio.

Published: 09/23/2010
by Beth New comb in Mimi Vanderhaven Pub.

Door-to-door brush salesmen, makeup, vacuums, and even food. Remember when we associated exceptional service and quality with an in-home experience? It was better when someone brought the thing we wanted to buy into our homes for us to see and experience.
Brent Moore, owner of Moore Home Remodeling, is on a one-man mission to bring back the kind of service that largely seems to have gone by the wayside.
Instead of expecting his clients to visit a show room with magazine clippings, photos and blueprints of the kitchens and bathrooms they envision for their homes, he’s bringing the showroom to them.
“How can I really understand what my clients are talking about changing if I haven’t seen what it is that they don’t like?” he asks.
Moore Home Remodeling specializes in updating and replacing kitchens and bathrooms of all price points and degrees of complexity.
“We build the project around your budget,” Brent stresses. “Because we’re a full service design/build company, we can handle everything from a simple cabinet re-Imaging to a complete tear-out and remodel.”
Re-Imaging is Moore Home Remodeling’s proprietary method of making outdated cabinets fresh and relevant again.
“You might be happy with your cabinets but no longer with the finish,” Brent says. “We can apply a new coating in a different premium-grade color or finish that can dramatically change the look of the cabinetry yet still with stand the rigors of everyday use.”
Another option is a partial re-Imaging.
“With a partial re-Imaging, w e can change the doors out but leave the existing cabinets in place,” he explains. “The doors w e use are real wood, not the cheap stuff.”
If you want your kitchen reconfigured using some of your existing cabinets while incorporating new ones, Brent and his team can integrate
quality cabinets in the sizes you need while matching door fronts on all cabinets to make them blend seamlessly.
“We offer a ton of flexibility,” he assures. “And because we’re right there in our client’s home, it’s so much easier to offer ideas and suggestions for what might work—and what won’t.”
If a complete kitchen remodel is in the plan, Moore Home Remodeling offers clients direct access to the exquisite Haas line of cabinetry and components, as well as premium finishes like granite, hardwood flooring, and more.
“Haas is an American company and all of its products are manufactured in the United States,” he notes. “There’s been an interest in cabinetry that comes from overseas, but that’s a disaster waiting to happen. There’s no way to determine the quality of the wood or the finishes. With Haas, you know you’re getting a top-of-the-line cabinet at a remarkable price. Haas offers semi-customization for a fraction of full customization, and there is no charge for upgrades like special door edges [and 3 or 5 piece drawer fronts].”
Instead of passing the expense of a big show room on to his clients, Brent passes on the savings of not having one. But if you must leave the comfort of your home, he does have partnerships throughout Northeast Ohio with product retailers who carry items like plumbing and lighting that you can pick from.
“We use the same design software that the box stores use,” Brent says.“Before my team and I remove a single screw , you’ll know exactly what the finished project will look like.”

“We only do the job if we can do it the right way,” he marvels. Moore Home Remodeling has received [many] accolades and awards for general remodeling and kitchen and bath remodeling —they must be doing things the right way.
Moore Home Remodeling has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. To reach Brent Moore, call 440-941-4MHR(4647). To learn more, visit http://www.MooreRemodeling.com.