KITCHEN REMODEL RETURN

Kitchens are the primary target of home remodels because they are the heart of the home and offer great returns on investment. Typically kitchen remodels return between 75 and 80 percent on money invested. Smaller and simpler undertakings seem to be a better value than larger and more complicated undertakings.

One way to ensure that you get your moneys worth is to use a professional designer that can insure you know all options available and guide you to make the best ones for you. Another way is to use a professional cabinet installer so that your investment is handled and installed properly and warranties are maintained.

If your remodel requires more than a couple of different trades you may need to look into getting a good licensed contractor. They will likely have the right people on staff for your project or know who is right for you. Also if you use a contractor they are your first line of recourse if anything goes wrong. They schedule the job and make sure all work is up to code and completed according to current standards and practices.

Do it right the first time!

THANKS FOR LISTENING
NB

CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR.

Just a few things to think about.

Hire a contractor who shows up on time for the estimate and seems professional and knowledgeable. Make sure the company you choose has the resources to complete your project on time. The company you select should routinely produce the quality of work you are expecting to receive (choosing the lowest price you can find will likely yield workmanship on the lower end of the scale).

Be prepared to pay a deposit up to 50 percent of the total price to initiate your contract. It will cover the contractor's large expenses like construction materials, cabinets, flooring, fixtures and crew to start your project.

Don't hire unlicensed contractors to do the job. If you do, you will have no recourse should you be unhappy with the job or should you have code or permit violations cited by your county.

Thanks For Listening!
NB

MAKE SURE THEY'RE QUALIFIED!

THIS IS A FUNNY EMAIL THAT I RECIEVED A WHILE BACK AND IT MAKES A GOOD POINT ABOUT BEING QUALIFIED....... OR NOT! IF SOMEONE IS DOING WORK FOR YOU MAKE SURE THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR THEIR SAKE, IF NOT YOUR OWN!


New Mexico Chili Cookoff

If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no hope for you. I was crying by the end.


Note: Please take time to read this slowly.
If you pay attention to the first two judges,
the reaction of the third judge is even better.


For those of you who have lived in New Mexico , you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Santa Fe Plaza Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chile taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL


Frank: “Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off.. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native New Mexicans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge #3.”




Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These New Mexicans are crazy.



CHILI # 2 - EL RANCHO'S AFTERBURNER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they sa w the look on my face.




CHILI # 3 - ALFREDO'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI
Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now.&nb sp; Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting sh*t-faced from all of the beer.




CHILI # 4=2 0- BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC
Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. Woman is starting to look HOT ... Just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?



CHILI # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very im pressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.




CHILI # 6 - VARGAS VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY
Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.



CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be

in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt.&nb sp; At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.



CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy

enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?< /FONT>
Judge # 3 -- No report.

Obviously this poor guy wasn't qualified. Make sure the company you select to do work for you is qualified!

Thanks For Listening!
NB

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HOW ABOUT YOU?

I'm sure glad I didn't buy any of that Chinese import drywall how about you? Man those people have real problems. That stuff is emmiting all sorts of toxins into the air (carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide). Homeowners are being advised to move out, gut their homes or bulldose them and start over. The problem is that products imported from other countries are generally not held to the same standards as products produced here in the United States.
I'm sure glad I didn't buy any of those Chinese import cabinets how about you?

Thanks For Listening
NB

CAULK THEM NOW OR PAY ME LATER?

No one wants to give money away right? One often over looked item in a home is the condition of your countertop caulking. Everyone assumes the counters were caulked when they were installed and never need to be bothered with again but that's not true. Caulking only lasts so long and should be inspected and repaired as needed to insure a good moisture seal to prevent top damage.

Five dollars worth of caulking and 20 minutes now can save hundreds or even thousands of your hard earned dollars later.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!
NB

NO TO THE NAYSAYERS!

Have you ever wondered how much different our lives would be without all of the doom and gloom that is heaped onto each of us each and every of our lives? If there was only half as much positive energy directed towards solving problems as there is towards reporting the negatives in our lives we'd all be so much better off. If you prophesy doom and gloom then you stand a good chance of receiving it!
Without all the negative press about the state of ours and the global economy things would have turned around much quicker and stronger. Try not to dwell on the negatives of life and instead put stock in all the positives. Pray for the negatives and thank God for all the positives in our lives. Just say no to the naysayers, change the channel and be thankful for what we have!

Thanks for listening
NB

BARGAIN TIME!

You know that times are tight and the economy is in bad shape right? Well the economy officially bottomed out a while ago and things are slowly getting better. Many people are still out of work and many businesses are still slower than they would like to be (mine included)! What about everyone that wasn't layed off or radically affected by the economic crash? There were people that cut back and stopped spending because they were scared of what might be coming or what they might need later and I don't blame them a bit for it. As the economy is clawing it's way back (and it is) these people are the ones that can return to normal spending habits the easiest and quickest and by doing so help dig the country out of this crisis. There are many bargains around to be picked up by anyone that is in good enough financial shape to do so and in turn help everyone. I'm not encouraging dept but I believe the economy is stable enough now to somewhat support a return to normalcy for anyone who can.

Thanks For Listening!
NB

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STUFFED JALAPENOS SO GOOD I BLOGGED IT!

It's Grilling Time! The other night I decided to grill some stuffed jalapeno peppers stuffed with hot dogs and cheese and wrapped with bacon like I had somewhere before and they were so good and I ate so many that I almost died! They weren't hot they were only mildly warm but had the best flavor to be sure!

BACON WRAPPED, HOT DOG & CHEESE STUFFED JALAPENO PEPPERS

2 dozen fresh jalapeno peppers about 3 inches long

1 pkg. cocktail weenies or (reg. size hot dogs cut to fit)

1 pkg. shreeded sharp cheese (sharp)

Lean bacon (one strip for each pepper)


Make a cut down one side of peppers from stem to tip don’t cut stem (helps hold together and also aids in flipping on grill). With a small spoon or whatever works for you open the peppers and scrape out all of the seeds. The seeds are where the main part of the hot comes from so get them out! Wash peppers thoroughly with cold water.
Place a cocktail weenie inside or a resized reg. one (should fill up a little more than half of the pepper) and then stuff it full with the shredded cheese so that it will just close.
Wrap the pepper with a strip of bacon covering as much as possible and stick a tooth pick in each end to hold the bacon.
Place on grill spaced a couple inches apart at about 300–325 degrees and cook turning often until the peppers are no longer crunchy and the bacon is getting that way (probably about 45 min.).

Serve while warm!

Thanks For Listening!
NB

http:///www.noblebros.com

CABINETS WITH CHERRY ON TOP

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has released it's predictions for what will be popular through the upcoming year and cherry is again on top.
Here's their press release:

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (January 12, 2010) – The results are in from a recent survey of designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) to reveal the key design trends for 2010. The results of the NKBA 2010 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Survey confirmed the continuation of a number of existing trends in the marketplace, but also uncovered others that indicate shifts in the direction that kitchen and bath style will take this year. Below are 2010’s seven kitchen trends and four bath trends.
KITCHENS
1. Traditional is the New Contemporary Traditional will continue as the most popular kitchen design style in 2010, with contemporary following closely behind, while the Shaker style is seeing a surprisingly strong resurgence. Shades of whites and off-whites will be the most common kitchen colors in 2010, while brown, beige, and bone hues will also be popular.
2. Cherry on Top Cherry will remain the most popular wood for kitchen cabinetry, followed closely by maple, while alder increases in use. As for the finishes placed on those cabinets, medium natural, dark natural, glazed, and white painted will all be common. Other colors of painted cabinetry and light natural finishes are in decline, however, as are distressed finishes.
3. Floored by Tile Ceramic and porcelain tile, as well as natural stone tile, remain popular kitchen flooring options, but hardwood will dominate the kitchen landscape more than ever in 2010. For countertops, granite continues to be the most popular option, but quartz will nearly catch up in popularity. For backsplashes, ceramic or porcelain tile and glass will serve as the primary materials.
4. Flexible Faucets Standard kitchen faucets will become less standard in 2010 in favor of more convenient models. Pull-out faucets continue to increase their market dominance, while pot filler faucets will also become more prevalent. Kitchen faucets will most often be finished in brushed nickel, followed by stainless steel, satin nickel, and—surprisingly—polished chrome.
5. Undercounter Refrigeration French door and freezer-bottom are the two most popular styles of refrigerators, and side-by-side refrigerators remain a popular option. A surprising trend is the extent to which undercounter refrigerator drawers are being used in the latest kitchen designs. Perhaps even more surprising is that undercounter wine refrigerators have been recently specified by half of kitchen designers.
6. A Range of Cooking Options The tried-and-true range continues to serve as the workhorse for cooking, although the combination of a cooktop and wall oven is beginning to overtake it. Gas will maintain its position as the most popular type of cooktop over electric, although induction cooking continues to gain in popularity due to its energy efficiency.
7. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer Standard dishwashers, with the traditional door that pulls from the top down, will once again be easily the most common type in 2010. However, an increasing number of dishwasher drawers will be installed in kitchens this year for their convenience and their ability to wash small loads of dishes in each drawer, thereby saving water and electricity.
BATHROOMS
1. In With the Old, Out with the New Traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, as contemporary designs will be a distant second, followed by the Shaker style as an even more distant third. Beiges and bones will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by whites and off-whites, and then by browns, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.
2. Ceramic and Granite Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens, hardwood flooring won’t become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.
3. Simple Fixtures Perhaps more than ever, the most common color for fixtures will be white. Bisque and off-white will be the only other fixture colors at all common in new or remodeled bathroom. For sinks, simple undermount models will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks, and pedestal sinks.
4. A Nickel for Every Finish Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel.

The NKBA is usually pretty accurate so this is probably what we'll be seeing for the next few months! Just thought we'd pass this along for those of us trying to keep up.

Thanks for listening!
NB

http://www.noblebros.com

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A DAY TO REMEMBER!

April 22, 2010 will be a day to remember. By this point I am sure you have asked yourself, Why? If you own a home or intend to do work within a home built before 1978 new Lead Paint laws will be in effect.

It's the LAW -- The EPA in conjunction with individual state and local governments have made new regulations; "If you disturb lead - based paint or coatings in housing or child occupied facilities built before 1978 you must be certified and use LEAD - safe work practices to prevent lead hazards".

Contractors (painters, cabinetmakers, tile guys, even electricians, plumbers an handyman) that disturb more than 4 square feet of space will be required to test and comply with all safety regulations as well as document everything from your homes test results to the work performed within your home for no less than 3years!

This change will ultimately make contractors more responsible, dependable and professional. All in all it will offer protection to homeowners who just don't know what kind of paint they have or the effects it may have within their home. Remember Noble Brothers is environmentally responsible to you and your community!

Before you hire the guy next door to do your work ask them: Are you a licensed contractor, are you fully insured (Workers comp and General liability) and last but certainly not least are you Lead certified? Do not ask just for the safety of your family but because after April 22, 2010 it is the LAW!

Scott Noble

www.noblebrothers.com

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REMODELING AND THE LEAD LAW

There is a new law going into effect on April 22 that affects any contractor working on houses built in 1978 and earlier. It's the new lead paint law that prohibits anyone (company) from working on these houses without first being EPA certified. Make sure that anyone working on your home is certified so that you and your family isn't exposed to unnecessary lead poisoning.
Certified contractors will do tests to determine if there is lead present and take proper precautions for your safety and theirs'. Failure to do so could result in health risks and stiff fines.

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Thanks For Listening!
NB

REMODEL NOW!

Now is a great time to remodel your home! With the economy like it is there are a few reasons for you to consider remodeling now.
Interest rates are pretty low right now and that always ranks pretty high up the list of concerns of weather or not to remodel now or later. The downside of that for now is it's harder for some people to qualify for the loan. If you still have a good job and credit you may still want to check it out though because of material prices and the competitiveness of the market.
Many contractors are more willing to talk to you about your project right now than a couple years ago because they aren't as busy. This usually means better and quicker service and better prices.
Don't wait too long because sooner or later this window of opportunity will close!

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NB

TO REMODEL OR NOT TO REMODEL?

Almost everyone at some point in their life asks themselves this question and the answer has to be addressed by each individual.

You could just buy another home with all the things you seek already in place without the remodel hassle right? Maybe but there's always the packing and unpacking, relocating, moving costs and you know the new home will always cost more! Don't forget you probably moved there because you like the neighborhood and that would be gone also.

What if I remodel and then later decide to move, what about my investment? The national average remodel return on investment in the US is 81% and 85% in the Eastern US. Occasionally you can recoup your entire investment and it always helps sell the home faster being as modern as the other homes in the neighborhood.

Kitchen renovations seem to have the best return of investment with garages not fairing as well. No matter what your situation you have the last say.

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Thanks For Listening!

NB

HOW TO CHOOSE A REMODELING CONTRACTOR

After you have decided to to remodel your home you need to pick a reputable contractor. Ask for references of completed jobs that are similar to your own project. By asking the right questions you should be able to qualify or dismiss potential contractors.

You should ask what kind of contract was used like fixed price or cost-plus and how the final price compared to the original estimate. Did they feel that the project was well planned initially so as to avoid problems and be completed in a timely fashion? If any unforeseen problems arose did they feel they were they handled as well as they might have been? Was the finished product what you had expected and were the workers courteous and respectful? Would they use the contractor again?

There is no guarantee that asking these questions will result in a trouble free remodel experience but they sure will help!

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Thanks For Listening!

NB

IS NOW THE TIME FOR NEW CABINETS?

Kitchen remodels are the most popular home remodel projects followed by bathroom remodels. You only have to look around your home to see why. The kitchen is where you spend most of your time and unless you have recently redone it you probably aren't satisfied. Most people already have some idea about just how they would like their kitchen or bathrooms to be. We can take your ideas and help you create your dream kitchen or bath. If you don't have specific ideas it's no problem! Our design team will gather all the necessary information and put together the perfect project for you.

The biggest advantage to remodeling besides making your home more pleasing to you is that it increases it's value. Most of the time you will get back your entire investment and often much more!

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THANKS FOR BEING A FAN!
NB