Look for a Scottsdale home remodeling contractor whose work is of the type you want.  If all you want is a minor cosmetic change, then avoid contractors who specialize in complete home overhauls.  If they want to rip out every cabinet and start again, while you just want to give them a new coat of paint there can be a conflict of ideas.  This also works visa versa.  If you want to remove every fitting and every stick of furniture from your house and start again, don’t choose a home remodeler who specializes in limited changes.  No one wants a nervous home remodeler!

Hire Republic West as your Scottsdale home remodeling contractor. We provide all home remodeling services, including kitchens, bathrooms, interior remodeling, room additions, energy efficient window and door replacement, cabinet re-facing and more.

A professionally managed home remodeling project in Arizona can increase the value of your home dramatically. Sometimes, however, your budget can get out of hand.  That’s why we’re here to provide you with tips on how to plan your home remodeling budget.

Let’s start with the basics.  Have you ever “worked” with someone who focused only on telling you what you need instead of listening to what your own wants and needs?  It’s best to hire a designer and installer that will work with you to assess all your needs and help you stick to your budget.

Arizona home remodeling can be very affordable or very expensive depending on what you want to do. It’s best to have a good idea about what you want in advance so you can set your budget and stick to it. If you’re looking for functionality, (i.e. energy efficiency) be sure to choose features that incorporate the use of quality products because, in the end, you get what you pay for.

Clearly define your budget first. Then, you can begin your home remodeling project with a threshold that you won’t go above. This will help you pick and choose the things that are important to you and your home remodeling solution. It’s also a good idea to find out what kinds of payment methods the home remodeling company will accept!

When you think about and plan your budget, you should also bear in mind the long term effects of having a professionally remodeled home. In fact, your project will most likely increase the value of your home and may provide you with a positive return on investment (ROI). This should definitely be taken into consideration when budgeting for a home remodeling project in Arizona.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Arizona, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Once you choose a professional home remodeling company, find out what their timeline is. Some companies who are in high demand may have to push your project out anywhere from a week to a couple of months. However, their schedule needs to match yours, especially if you’re involving other contractors on the project. Also, you’ll want to take into consideration the type of project you’re doing. For instance, if you’re incorporating a lot of new locations or different elements into your design, you’ll want to make sure that they’ll all be complete within a reasonable time of each other.

Everyone wants their project finished as quickly as possible. Be patient and plan carefully - this will cause the least amount of stress for all parties involved. You should also be aware that your project probably won’t be the only job they’re working on. However, if you can find out how many jobs they’re working on at once, you can try to schedule yours at a time less busy so you can avoid dragging the project out for weeks, or worse, months.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling services in Arizona, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Recipe 4 of 4:

Harvest Pear Crisp with Candied Ginger

TOPPING

½ cup all purpose flour

½ cup (packed) dark brown sugar

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp fine sea salt

½ cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 cup old-fashioned oats

½ cup coarsely chopped whole raw almonds

¼ cup of ¼-inch cubes crystallized ginger

FILLING

½ cup sugar

2 Tbs. cornstarch

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼  tsp. fine sea salt

4 lbs. firm but ripe pears (6 to 7 large), peeled, cored, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 6 cups)

TOPPING: Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Add butter. Working quickly so butter does not soften, rub in with fingertips until moist clumps form. Stir in oats, almonds, and ginger. Chill while preparing filling. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

FILLING:  Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Add pears; toss. Transfer to 13×9x2-inch oval baking dish. Sprinkle topping over pear mixture.  Bake until topping is crisp and golden brown and juices are bubbling,about 50 minutes. Serve warm.

8 to 10 servings

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Tempe, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Recipe 3 of 4:

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

3 slices bacon, chopped

1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil - 1 turn of the pan

1 shallot, chopped

1 ½ lbs. Brussels sprouts, trimmed - small sprouts left whole, larger sprouts halved

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup chicken broth

Brown bacon in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan, 1 turn. Add shallots to the pan and sauté 1 to 2 minutes. Add brussels sprouts and coat in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook brussels sprouts 2 to 3 minutes to begin to soften and then add broth. Bring broth to a bubble, cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook 10 minutes, until tender. Transfer sprouts to a serving dish with a slotted spoon and top with cooked bacon bits.

4 servings.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Arizona, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Recipe 2 of 4:

Pear, Chestnut & Sage Dressing

While this recipe calls for baking the dressing separately from the turkey, it can easily be used as a stuffing. Simply pack the unbaked dressing loosely into the turkey cavities and follow the roasting instructions included in the back of this booklet for a stuffed turkey.

1 lb. loaf rustic country bread

½ lb. pork breakfast sausage, casings removed

1 Tbs. unsalted butter

1 large yellow onion, cut into ½-inch chunks

1 large carrot, cut into ½-inch chunks

3 celery stalks, cut into ½-inch chunks

1 Bosc pear, cored and cut into ½-inch chunks

1 cup peeled and chopped, steamed or

roasted chestnuts

1/3 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/3 cup chopped fresh sage leaves

4 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

4 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth

(See Creamy Giblet Gravy page for recipe)

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Tear the bread into ½-inch chunks, spread out on a baking sheet, and leave out to dry overnight.

Preheat oven to 375°F and butter a large, shallow baking dish.

In a large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the sausage, stirring and crumbling with a large fork, until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Melt the 1 Tbs. butter in the pan, and add the onion, carrot, celery and pear. Using a large spoon, sauté the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the vegetables to the bowl with the sausage along with the chestnuts, parsley, sage, melted butter, broth, salt and pepper and stir to mix. Add the bread chunks and stir to mix well. Spoon the dressing into the prepared baking dish and bake, uncovered, until the top is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Pass the stuffing at the table to serve.

Serves 10 to 12.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Scottsdale, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

The Thanksgiving holiday is right around the corner and Republic West would like to give thanks by giving back… to you!

As many of you know, we hosted a Thanksgiving cooking class to benefit The Big Wish. It was a huge success and we’d like to share the recipes and cooking tips of Chicago Chef Frank DiMaria with you. This is our way of saying thanks for everything - your business, your referrals and your support of our community outreach programs.

We hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Here’s the first of 4 featured recipes:

Roast Turkey

In the kitchen at Wheatleigh, turkeys are soaked in salt-water brine before the chefs slowly roast the birds for the hotel’s Thanksgiving dinner.  The roast turkey is served with creamy giblet gravy and a savory pear, chestnut and sage dressing.

1  fresh turkey, about 16 lb.

2  lbs. kosher salt (about 2 ½ cups)

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

4 fresh thyme sprigs

4 fresh flat leaf parsley sprigs

16 T. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

1 double-thick piece of cheesecloth, 2 sq. ft.

Remove the giblets and neck, if included, and if desired, reserve them for making gravy. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. In a large pot or 5-gallon bucket, stir the salt and 1 gallon of cold water together. Carefully set the turkey into the water and cover turkey with additional cold water by 2-3 inches.  Refrigerate or set the turkey in a very cold place (32º-40ºF) for 8-12 hours.

Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse well and pat dry with paper towels.  Let the turkey come to room temperature, at least 1 hour but no longer than 1 1/2 hours.

Position a rack in the bottom of an oven and preheat to 450ºF.

In a large bowl, toss together the onion, carrot, celery, thyme, parsley and half of the butter. Pack the body and neck cavities loosely with the vegetables. With kitchen twine, truss the legs together loosely and secure the neck flap to the back with a couple of trussing pins or sturdy toothpicks. Rub the turkey with half of the remaining butter and set the bird on its side on a rack in a large roasting pan. Roast the turkey for 15 minutes, then turn it on its other side and roast for 15 minutes more. Reduce the heat to 325º.

Soak the cheesecloth in the remaining butter, turn the turkey breast side up and place the cheesecloth over the breast. Add about 1/2 cup of water to the pan. Continue roasting, basting with the pan juices every 15-20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the breast registers 165˚F and inserted into the thigh - but away from the bone - registers 180˚F. If the breast begins to cook too quickly, tent it loosely with aluminum foil. Total roasting time should be about 3 hours. Let the turkey rest for 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

Serves 12.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Phoenix, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Expecting a crowd this holiday season?  If you’re entertaining family and friends over the holidays, there’s no doubt that you’re also cleaning your house from top to bottom.  You may even be thinking about doing some home improvement or remodeling.  Sure, the holiday season is still a few months away – but it’s never too early to start thinking about a remodeling project!

Not quite sure where to start?  Here is the second of 4 tips that should help you put some Scottsdale home remodeling ideas together:

Cabinet Refacing – If you’ve ever been to a family gathering (and we’re pretty sure you have!), you know that most people tend to congregate in the kitchen.  Give them something to talk about – beautiful kitchen cabinets!  You can give your kitchen a new look by refacing your cabinets.  Refacing involves replacing your cabinet doors and drawer fronts, and refacing your cabinet boxes with wood or laminate to match the door style you choose.  This will give you the look of a brand new kitchen in about 1 week… and for about half the cost!  Plus, Republic West has many beautiful woods, finishes and styles to choose from, so your “new” kitchen will match your individual taste and style.

Get ready for the upcoming holiday season! Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Scottsdale, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Here are some things to think about when it comes to reviewing and accepting bids from a home remodeling contractor in Scottsdale:

Remember that the best bid is not always the lowest, as quality of materials and workmanship as well as overall experience will differ. Do not rely on verbal promises.

Always do business with all of the elements of the project detailed in writing. That way, there should be no misunderstanding and your position will be much stronger should you have to seek legal means to resolve a problem.

Don’t sign a contract that does not have all of the blank spaces filled in.

Make certain everything is covered from demolition and removal of existing materials and new material and labor specifications. A reputable company does not write estimates on the back of a business card.

Understand how they are using terms like “bid,” “estimate,” and “proposal.” Realize that until all of the details are determined, a contract should not be finalized.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Scottsdale, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.

Home remodeling in Tempe is about making an investment in your home and an investment in your future. A professionally remodeled room can increase the value of your home dramatically. That’s why choosing the right home remodeling contractor is crucial.

Questions to Ask at the Appointment

Be certain that you give the job details the same way with each company so that you won’t be comparing “apples to oranges.” Ask questions about anything that you don’t understand.

1. How are you organized and who is going to do the work?

It is very important to understand the company’s staff structure and process. Does the company assign project manager, supervisor and customer service responsibilities? Make certain they furnish you with names and responsibilities so that you know who to call before, during and after the project is completed. Beware of the company if numerous responsibilities lie with one individual.

2. What is the anticipated timeline of events to complete my project?

A reputable contractor will provide you with a comprehensive timeline. When there isn’t enough emphasis on operations and project management, or the contractor is dependent on subcontractors, often the effect is delays and more delays. Demand a timeline-even if changes happen, you will have a benchmark for the process and progress. If subcontractors are used, find out who handles service calls if something isn’t done on time or correctly.

3. Are all of your installation crew covered by Workman’s Compensation and liability insurance and, if so, will you provide me evidence of this?

Make certain that there is insurance coverage in the event that there are any injuries that occur during the work in your home. Were you aware that if the contractor does not have workman’s compensation insurance and a worker gets hurt on your job, you could be held responsible!

4. Will you provide me with previous customer references for similar jobs and also supplier references?

Ask the previous customers questions such as “would you hire this company again.” Check with the suppliers for indications that they are being paid on time. If a company is on C.O.D., it may be an indication that they have not established credit, or worse, they are struggling financially.

5. Do you have a copy of your warranty and what does it cover?

Find out whether the warranty covers parts, product and labor and for how long. Keep in mind that the warranty is only as good as the company who is issuing it.

6. What is your policy for clean-up on the job sites?

Get a feel for how the company will respect your home, how they handle any demolition debris, and other items that require disposal. Your home should be clear of debris and safety hazards each evening. Make certain that you don’t have issues that will involve neighbors or your homeowners association.

Remember that the best bid is not always the lowest, as quality of materials and workmanship as well as overall experience will differ. Do not rely on verbal promises.

Always do business with all of the elements of the project detailed in writing. That way, there should be no misunderstanding and your position will be much stronger should you have to seek legal means to resolve a problem. Don’t sign a contract that does not have all of the blank spaces filled in.

Make certain everything is covered from demolition and removal of existing materials and new material and labor specifications. A reputable company does not write estimates on the back of a business card. Understand how they are using terms like “bid,” “estimate,” and “proposal.” Realize that until all of the details are determined, a contract should not be finalized.

Contact Republic West for home remodeling in Tempe, including window and door replacement, custom cabinet re-facing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and room additions.