KITCHEN & WINDOWS......Looking For Good Referals & Financing!

First, I would begin saving because these are both expensive projects and it is best to have the money before you begin. Plus, you should consider the age of your home in this matter because if your house has any lead paint on the walls and/or windows, you could be exposing your child to lead poisoning. If your house is older than 1978, I believe, it is pretty common to have lead paint. We want to do an addition, but we've got a 20 month old and another due in December. We've elected to wait five or six years, which will give us time to save and let the children's immune systems develop so they'll be less susceptible to lead.

As for where to look for windows, I like Andersen Renewal windows because you can get ones with the wood interiors. They are better made and don't look like trailer park windows. I prefer the operation of Andersen to Marvin and they do come in a bit cheaper than Marvin. Plus, you'll get a 15 year guarantee, which they are quite good about honoring. For window renewal, you'll be looking at $20,000 or more.

For cabinetry, I suggest Guyer's builders' supply because they carry higher end cabinets, which will last longer and have nice design sense. Cabinets alone will usually run you about another $20,000. Plus there is installation and countertops, along with any electrical, plumbing, permits, etc. I have been pleased with the appliances and service I received from Warner's Stellian.

For financing, have you approached your bank about a home equity loan? A home equity loan seems to be the best option since you'll get the tax break on the interest you pay.

I have a company that you should avoid. The company is Window Concepts. We were shorted a window and they never replaced it. We finally did the work on the 1 window ourselves for much cheaper. If possible, look into replacing the window yourself. Just measure the window, pull off the trim to access the window, etc. Look it up online too for tips. It will save you a BUNDLE!!! Or, you might want to purchase all the windows from Home Depot and hire a handyman service to help you install them. Good luck with this!

My husband has his own window replacement company and would be more than happy to come out to give you an estimate. Unfortunately he does not do kitchens. I however had my kitchen done by Home Depot when we lived in MI and it turned out beautiful. I can't give any advice on Home Depot or Lowe's for the window installs. Let me know if you'd like to ask my husband any questions.

Thanks

We just had our kitchen and living room redone through PleasantView Construction Company about 2-3 years ago. The owner, Merle, was so efficient and knowledgable about everything! He returned our many phone calls and answered all our questions. We ordered windows through Pella and had the worst experience with the company. I ended up taking them to court. Luckily, Merle was able to finish up their mess. If you are going to buy new appliances - look at Guyers and also at Appliance Smart. They were by far, the best for good help. We also had new cabinets made by the Samuelson Company. They actually come to your home and measure it up, suggest a floor plan, etc. We ended up taking out a door and redid our ceilings with the newer look. It was just a great experience with those two companys. Good Luck!
* OH, just go to the TopLine Credit Union page for unbelievable rates! My daughter just received great deals on school loans for such a good interest rate!

As far as financing...check with your bank regarding a home equity line of credit. Figure out ahead of time how much you can afford to pay back each month and then set up an automatic payment schedule. My rule of thumb is to only use the line of credit for improvements to the home that will add to its value. The line of credit will give you the best flexibility. You can borrow the exact amount you need as the project progresses rather than a loan where you could end up with too little or too much money.