Star Interior Resources Offers Expert Advice to Re-Do and Re-New Your Home Sweet Home
by Alicia Wanek | Staff Writer
Holiday decorating adds an extra touch of sparkle to your home, so it’s always a little depressing when the holiday decorations come down and you once again notice everything around the house you’d like to change, whether it’s one room or a large-scale home remodel. Getting the project started is probably the hardest part. Deciding what you want to accomplish, establishing a budget, and then choosing the professionals to help you achieve your goals – gulp – can be overwhelming. Everyone has heard the horror stories of home projects gone wrong, and sometimes that sense of foreboding keeps you from ever getting started. Terry Garner, general contractor and manager of Star Interior Resources, encourages you to do it now. Why wait? You can almost always get back the money you put into a remodel with the increase in your home’s value. A great majority of his customers wait to make updates until they are preparing to sell their home. Says Terry, “If I could tell anyone anything, it would be to make the changes you want right when you move in or someone else will enjoy all the work you did.”
How do you choose who to help you achieve your vision? Ask around. Word of mouth is often your best resource. Call the neighbor or friend who just completed a project to see if they would recommend their contractor, and then get references. Local mom Kimberly Nelon recently finished a complete “gut” of her 1960’s era North Dallas home. She says her primary consideration was reputation. However, she reports the most frustrating part of the remodel was dealing with the subcontractors. Sometimes they didn’t even show up!
You can make what could be a stressful situation much easier by considering a “one-stop shop” like the Star family of companies. From initial design to flooring to custom cabinets to appliances to… well pretty much anything, Star companies offer consistent, quality, reliable trades to make your project go as smoothly as possible. There’s really nothing else like it in the Dallas area.
Michael Pidgeon, president of Star Interior Resources and CFO of StarFloors, says “Our advantage is that we can meet all your needs by partnering all the divisions of the Star Companies. There’s really not anything we can’t do with our resources for products for your home.” Starpower, StarFloors, Star Interior Resources, and Ed Kellum & Sons all work together to make your project a seamless collaboration.
You first have to determine how much you want to accomplish, and you may want to start with a designer to help bring your ideas to life. Victoria Schnabel at Star Interior Resources is a licensed interior designer AND an architect, so she can see the full potential in your home. Frequently, a third party perspective can see how to make your updates even better than you could have imagined. Maybe you are looking to renovate before you move. Ann O’Blenes, Realtor, Performance Partners at Re/Max Dallas Suburbs, says, “If you are remodeling with the idea that you may list your home in the near future, it is a good idea to consult a realtor to help determine what would maximize your resell value.” Realtors like Ann know how to separate your own personal design choices with the updates that would appeal to a broad audience to get the best price for your home.
Most importantly, let the renovations reflect your lifestyle. Pidgeon says, “Since 9/11, we’ve all put a premium on family and friends. When you really make your house a home where you want to spend time with the ones you love, how much better does it get?”
Most customers aren’t looking to completely remodel their entire home. Just focusing on one or two rooms can make a big difference. Terry Garner, general contractor and manager of Star Interior Resources, has a list of his top five relatively inexpensive renovations that can improve the look and feel of your home.
A kitchen refresher is probably one of the most beneficial remodels you can make. It can cost 1/3 to 1/2 less than a full kitchen remodel, and you get a lot of bang for your buck.
A fresh coat of paint spruces up a room in a really short period of time.
New flooring changes the entire look of a room. Replacing the flooring is especially important if you have worn or dirty carpet.
There’s nothing better than new appliances to make a space feel modern and updated. Stainless steel is always popular, but Ed Kellum and Sons has a huge selection of quality appliances to choose from.
“It’s often the small details that make a huge difference,” says Realtor Ann O’Blenes, Re/Max Dallas Suburbs.
For more information, visit starinteriorresources.com or contact Terry Garner at 972.503.6000.