Mount Evans brings love
Colorado Environmental Film Festival Returns to Golden on February 21-23
There’s excitement building about the possibility of the Sundance Film Festival coming to Boulder, but we already have a nationally renowned environmental film festival that takes place every February right here in Golden.
The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) is a juried film festival that lives up to its name, bringing all kinds of film — long-form, shorts, children’s films, and animated films — for a weekend run that includes awards, filmmaker Q&As, and more.
I recommend the All Access pass for $99, because it not only includes entry to all screenings but also includes streaming access for most of the films for seven days after the festival. Buy it at https://ceff.net/tickets. There are three screening rooms at the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines campus, so that’s the only way to see your favorite films which might be scheduled simultaneously. Go to https://ceff2025.eventive.org/films for a complete list of the films.
Denver which manufactured the plutonium triggers for thousands of nuclear weapons.
As an aside, one of our broker associates, Kathy Jonke, was an environmental geophysicist for the contractor working onsite at Rocky Flats during the cleanup. She recommended this film before I saw it was on CEFF’s schedule. Ask her sometime about her work.
are family-friendly and free. Bring the kids!
Opening night is Friday the 21st at 7:00 in the Green Center’s auditorium, featuring an 86-minute feature film, “Bring Them Home” about a small group of Blackfoot people who established the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral lands. It is followed by a discussion with Executive Producer Melissa Grumhaus.
My choice of screenings at 10 a.m. on Saturday is the one which includes “Our Movement Starts Here,” a documentary about the fight against a toxic landfill in North Carolina.
At Sunday's 12:15 p.m. Lunch & Learn session, hear from members of the Denver Electric Vehicle Council and get the inside scoop on a variety of electric vehicles. Talk to the owners about their real life experiences driving an EV in Colorado and check out several models in the Electric Vehicle Roundup outside the Green Center from 9:15 to 3:30.
For the 1 p.m. screenings on Sunday, I have chosen the set which has five films focusing on sustainable home construction. This includes the “Heart of a Building” PBS program about John Avenson’s net-zero home in Westminster which was aired in January on Channels 6 and 12.
The closing set of screenings starting at 3:30 on Sunday includes the “Half-Life of Memory” mentioned above, plus two other films: one about lead poisoning of birds and
animals who feed on the carcasses of animals killed with bullets containing lead; plus one about the large amount of water consumed in the manufacture of computer ships.
A big part of CEFF’s mission is to educate, with a yearly focus on young filmmakers and films aimed at school age children from grade 4 through high school. These programs are always free, too. So, starting at 10 a.m. on Friday the 21st, prior to the festival’s opening, there is a “CEFF 4 Classrooms Field Trip” in the Bunker auditorium at the Green Center. It is for schools, youth organizations, home schools and more, designed to share a variety of youth-friendly environmental films. In addition to showing nine short films, two of them by young filmmakers, it includes a Q&A session with filmmakers and other field experts related to the film topics. Register at info@ceff.net,
Attendees will have plenty to choose from at this year’s CEFF, including 9 films with ties to Colorado, 60+ feature-length and short films from 17 countries, and ten world premiere screenings. The weekend also promises thoughtful discussions with filmmakers, panels, and a vibrant Eco-Expo in which to connect with environmentally conscious brands and organizations.
Golden Real Estate has been a sponsor of CEFF for most of its 16 years, so you’ll see our ad in the program inviting you to visit our nearby office in downtown Golden. We’ll also have a booth at the Eco-Expo in the lobby of the Green Center where we’ll have an up-to-the-minute display of all the active solar powered homes in the Denver MLS. We’d be happy to take you to see any of them!
It makes sense that we’re the only real estate brokerage sponsoring CEFF, because we are experts in all aspects of “green” building, and half of us drive electric cars. We have also become experts in “hardening” homes to resist wildfires, so please ask us questions or read some of my previous columns on those topics at www.JimSmithColumns.com
CEFF groups films by several categories, including Activism & Environmental Justice; Adventure; Consumption & Waste; Energy & Climate Chaos & Fossil Fuels; Health & Food; Land Use & Conservation; Wildlife; and Water, Rivers & Oceans
Among the films at this year’s festival, I’m personally looking forward to a few particular films. First on that list is “Half-Life of Memory: America’s Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory,” a 55minute documentary about the sloppy operation and incomplete cleanup of Rocky Flats, the government’s plant between Boulder and
My choice of screenings at 1 p.m. is the one with three films about forests in Canada, Tasmania and on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. screening of four different films includes “Way the Wind Blows,” a short documentary about one family’s journey of recovery from the 2022 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, which destroyed 1,000 homes. That set also includes two interesting films about glaciers.
Between the 3:30 screenings and the 7:15 screenings on Saturday will be an “Evening Soiree,” a party with drinks and plant-based foods. Tickets for either of those screenings (or the All Access pass) includes an invitation to this party. This is when the awards for the best films will be presented in the Green Auditorium, along with the world premiere screening of “The Snake and the Whale,” a 90-minute investigative documentary that uncovers antiquated dams on the Lower Snake River that are driving the extinction of fish and killer whales.
I’m going to attend the 7:15 set of three films, one of which is “Responsible,” about the interplay of capitalism and environmentalism. The subtitle of the film is “There Is No Business to Be Done on a Broken Planet.”
On Sunday morning, I have chosen the screenings which include an animated short about invasive fauna and flora in Hawaii, a bird oasis on an abandoned golf course, overgrazing versus regenerative grazing in Nevada, a Tibetan nomad with a camera, and a threatened wetland between the banks of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Both of the Sunday morning film screenings
ADU
Law Enables Homeowners to Invest on Their Own Lot
Beginning in July, homeowners in Colorado will be able to create an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) within their home (preferably a walk-out basement), over their detached garage, or by building a tiny home or casita in their backyard.
The enabling law was HB24-1152. Until this law was passed, local zoning regulations made it difficult to get approval to build an ADU; but now local governments can not block ADU development using zoning regulations, although other local laws, such as building codes, still apply.
Many homes, such as single-story homes with no basement on a small lot with no detached garage, will not be able to take advantage of this law, but many others can, and that’s the purpose of the law — namely, to increase the housing supply through increased density. Before this new law, there wasn’t much that Colorado homeowners could do to increase the housing supply. Now they can, and increase their wealth in the process.
In September Colorado Biz had an article that described how the law works: “ADUs add housing units with minimal impacts to infrastructure and with increased compact infill development. They provide intergenerational living options and enable child or eldercare and aging in place. Because they’re small, ADU rents are typically low.”
The financial information for a specific ADU varies greatly, dependent on the particular ADU and site costs. That makes the numbers used in the article only rough estimates. The cost of an ADU is dependent on choices made by the homeowner who is installing the unit. It can be very expensive, but there are ways to keep it reasonable. Regardless, the article is a helpful summary.
One of the many reasons cited for expanding the use of ADUs is to increase the availability of affordable housing, although this rationale has been questioned. There are many things that can make ADUs costeffective, thus increasing affordability (both for purchase and rent).
Two of the factors that contribute to affordability are the size of the units and the cost of the land. ADUs are small but not uncomfortably small, and day-to-day life is unchanged. They tap into a trend of smaller living spaces.
For a homeowner considering putting in an ADU, it’s one real estate investment that includes no cost for land. ADUs use space that is, at best, underutilized, and already owned. This is a big plus where the value of land is high.
As part of the new law, the legislature appropriated money and tasked the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to develop programs to enable homeowners with moderate means to afford construction of an ADU. The idea is to jump-start ADU finance in the private sector.
Finally, units assembled off-site (referred to as manufactured, modular, or prefab) can reduce cost significantly, and have other advantages such as shorter lead times, far less on-site construction, environmental benefits, etc. A Colorado company that specializes in manufactured detached ADUs is Verdant Living (www.verdantliving.us). The owner of that company, John Phillips, is happy to discuss ADU options with you. Because of the huge variety of situations where ADUs are possible, he tries to recommend options that might work, often not involving his company. He can be reached at 303-717-1962 (voice or text).
His is a Denver business. Another player in the field of manufactured housing on the national level is Boxabl (www.boxabl.com), which specializes in factory-made homes that literally unfold after being delivered on a standard width flatbed trailer. Its “Casita” is a 361-square-foot modular home, offering a stylish, efficient living space with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. It’s delivered with all-electric appliances (including laundry) and 100-amp electric service. It is currently priced at $60,000. It must be installed on a foundation prepared with electrical and plumbing hookups. It is built to meet building codes.
Recently, the company introduced the “Baby Box,” a 120-square-foot living space built to RV standards. Easy setup, no special equipment or foundation needed. The MSRP of Baby Box is $30,000 with introductory pricing of $19,999. It comes, like a mobile home, on a frame with permanent wheels. It too has a bathroom and kitchen, but with water tank and waste tank like any RV. It is intended for delivery to mobile home parks.
Meet Soli!
The shelter at its current location is closed. Soli was adopted days before, but things are strained between him and the resident dog. Since we have nowhere to take him back, we are assisting in finding him a better situation. He LOVES people, kids and has done well with other dogs. This busy family doesn’t have the time to work with him and feel he may do better in a quieter home. Please email info@imhs.org today!
BEAT THE WINTER CHILL!
LIFESTYLES
AN ADVERTISING SECTION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
FEATURE OF THE MONTH
In 1875, Dwight Wilmot requested that the federal government place a post o ce in our community. When asked what it should be named, Dwight responded, “Evergreen” because he loved the beauty the evergreen trees around him provided. is was the rst o cial time the name Evergreen was used and thus our “beginning”. Being an unincorporated community, there is no other start to “Evergreen”. While Evergreen as a location and a place that we call home, has existed much longer than 150 years, 2025 is the year of our 150th anniversary. So Happy Sesquicentennial, Evergreen!
e Evergreen Chamber of Commerce and other organizations will be celebrating our birthday all year long. Look for annual events to incorporate some new fun to celebrate and look for new events to pop up celebrating our heritage. One such event will be on July 3 at Buchanan Park. It will be called “Illuminate the Past”. Bring a picnic dinner and join us on the elds to stroll through pop up displays spotlighting our heritage. Hear stories from community members who grew up in Evergreen, learn more about the lives of the original settlers, and visit displays that share the past and the path as our community has grown, all to better understand Evergreen today. We will end this evening with a beautiful glow from hot air balloons, something new to our community, to welcome in the next 150 years.
Local businesses are joining in on the fun too. ere will be merchandise sporting a new logo that has been created to celebrate what we love about Evergreen: the mountains, the elk, our streams and lake, and what we see every day that Dwight Wilmot also loved, the evergreen trees. Soon a commemorative coin will be available with the proceeds going to help some of our historic places that need some tender love and care.
Look for opportunities to learn more about the heritage of historical places in our community. On the rst Saturday of each month, a di erent location or area of our community will host an “open house” or tour that will provide more information on the history of the area. Long-time residents and historians will be the hosts of those sessions and all will be free and open to the public with some locations having speci c programming for children. Do you think kids today would enjoy playing the games that kids play in the late 1800s to the early 1900s? How about the school lessons…do you think they are harder or easier now? ese events kick o on Saturday, March 1 from noon to 2pm at the Bergen Fire Station Administration building. is session will focus on North Evergreen, the native tribes who were here before the white people arrived, Evergreen
HapPy BirThDaY EverGreEn!
150 YEARS
From Page 5
Fire and Rescue and some of the families who have played an integral role of this part of the community.
April 5 noon – 2pm join a walking tour of downtown Evergreen lead by John Steinle. Park in the large lot downtown (we will assist with providing free parking) and meet across the bridge from Baskin Robbins.
May 3 noon – 2pm we will meet at the Evergreen Lake House for a discussion on Dedisse park, the Evergreen dam, lake and lakehouse led by Stuart Collins from the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society.
June 7 noon – 2pm the focus will be on Bear Creek Cemetery. is session will take place at the cemetery and led by Elaine Hayden and Rose Smith. Many of the original settlers of Evergreen are interned here.
July 5 noon – 2pm all are welcome to gather
at Congregation Beth Evergreen for a presentation from CBE and Mountain Area Land Trust on CBE’s 50th anniversary and the saving of Noble Meadow in Elk Meadow Park.
August 2 3-5pm join us for an old-fashioned ice cream social in e Grove at the Hiwan Homestead Museum. e Museum is also celebrating 50 years and will be debuting a new tour of the buildings and grove that weekend.
September 6 noon – 2pm we will meet in the parking lot of the Church of the Trans guration for a walking tour of what originally was the Evergreen Conference Center led by Tom Scripps and Tara Emch. is includes the Church, its outer buildings and labyrinth, Center Stage and Lariat Lodge.
October 4 noon – 2pm join us at Wilmot Elementary School for some history on the one room school of Bu alo Park School and the Wilmot House.
You can keep abreast of all these events
see 150 YEARS, Page 10
February 1st Chill Out Winterfest on Evergreen Lake
A ‘Heartfelt’ Message from Any Lab Test Now® … Take Care of Your Health in this 2025 New Year
By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles
February is synonymous with matters of the heart. But no matter if we are talking about Valentine’s Day, or any day, Any Lab Test Now® of Lakewood urges everyone to take care of their health in 2025. Any Lab Test Now® at 7650 West Virginia Avenue, Suite C in Lakewood o ers uninsured/ self-pay individuals private/a ordable and convenient medical tests. So, whether you
need to take active steps to manage a chronic condition, monitor new medication dosages, or engage in a diagnostic process, Any Lab Test Now® of Lakewood can help you meet your New Year’s goals.
“We o er thousands of tests, including DNA/TB/Celiac/Chron’s/IBS, A1C, STI (sexually transmitted infections), and Single/Bundle Nutritional B12 Injections, and we’re sure to have the test for your speci c situation,” said Dr. Drew Scarbrough, the Lakewood franchise owner who moved to Colorado from Florida
where he worked as a Veterinary Doctor. “We provide the doctor’s order; no insurance needed,” stated Dr. Scarbrough who also announced the February 3rd opening of his Any Lab Test Now® Littleton location at 6770 W. Coal Mine Avenue.
For lab hours/test information/fees and appointments, contact Any Lab Test Now® of Lakewood (720-543-2280/https//www. anylabtestnow/lakewood-80226) or the new Littleton o ce (720-993-4141).
Grant Brewster Believes in Building Good Working Relationships with his Customers
By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles
Edge Home Finance Corporation mortgage broker and foothills native Grant Brewster believes that when buying a house, everyone deserves more than a lender who simply checks boxes. Because he values good working relationships, for over thirty years he has consistently provided his customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Mortgage brokers are not lending institu-
tion employees/a liates so they can o er you limitless products. Grant seeks the best lending package tailored to your particular situation, whether it’s with a national wholesale, private funds, or second mortgage lender or Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) lender.
“If you have high-interest credit card debt or need funds for education/home improvements or unexpected expenses, a HELOC loan o ers exibility and relatively low borrowing costs,” said Grant Brewster.
Let’s say your home is worth $300,000, and you owe $150,000 on your mortgage. If the lender allows you to borrow up to 85% of your home’s value, you could potentially access up to $255,000 in total. Since you owe $150,000, your available HELOC balance would be $105,000 ($255,000 - $150,000).
Conveniently located at Flow eory Coworks, 3540 Evergreen Parkway, contact Grant Brewster today (720-668-4183/grant. brewster@edgehome nance.com/www.grantbrewster.com) for more information about HELOC loans and for all your nancing needs.
ArborRx Family Tree Service: Here to Serve You Through Winter’s Snow Season
By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles
can decrease snow-related accidents, improve post-snow road service levels, and reduce storm clean-up costs.
Snowy days and extreme temperatures might persist in our weather forecasts throughout winter, before springtime arrives; but don’t despair. ArborRx Family Tree Service provides snow removal services and two popular snow removal strategies to help you plow through this snowy season with ease.
Deicing utilizes snow-melt products applied to the ground to break the snow/ice bond and eliminate the buildup a er the snow has fallen. Anti-icing, (pre-icing), applies the products before the snowfall if time permits equipment to do so; along with a deicing plan as needed as an e ective preventative maintenance measure. is action not only makes subsequent bonded snow/ice easier to remove, but also it
“ArborRx Family Tree Service in Evergreen has been providing tree and plant services, storm damage repair, and re/pest mitigation to our residential/ business/commercial customers in our foothills and all surrounding areas since 2010,” said Certi ed Wild re Mitigation Specialist Bryan Nash who coowns/operates his business with his wife Jennifer.
ArborRx Family Tree Service operates Monday-Saturday/8:00am-6:00pm (hours may sometimes vary). Cabling/emergency services are available 24/7. For more information/appointments, phone ArborRx at 720-629-7033. Visit the website (https://arborrxfamily.com) and follow them on Facebook.
Do You Know Your Fireplace’s Love Language?
Are you familiar with Gary Chapman’s wonderful book, e 5 Love Languages? ey are: Acts of service
Quality time
Gi s
A rming words
Physical touch
“Speak” those love languages by giving people love in ways that are meaningful to them; and by receiving love in ways that are meaningful to you.
Your Fireplace Has a Love Language Too e humble replace pushes our love buttons in all the ways that we humans appreciate! is applies to replaces, replace inserts, and stoves - but we’ll use “ replace” as a catch-all
A replace serves you with reliable heat
A replace is the perfect spot to spend quality time with loved ones
A replace can’t shop online but it gives the gi of ambience
A replace doesn’t say much but the dancing ames say “peace and relaxation”
A replace o ers physical warmth and comfort
A replace is a centerpiece and a workhorse. All it asks in return is regular service so it can continue to serve you reliably and safely for decades to come.
Show Your Wood-Burning Fireplace Some Love
If you burn wood, the Chimney Safety Institute of America and National Fire Protection Association recommend annual cleaning to remove creosote buildup, boost e ciency, and prevent chimney res.
Signs that your wood-burning replace needs service: visible soot and creosote deposits inside the re box and on the chimney cap, smoke that lls the room when you start a re, and di culty starting a re.
Our CSIA- and NFI-Certi ed chimney sweeps will inspect the replace and chimney and scrub the chimney and rebox clean while protecting your home with our No-Mess Guarantee. A er the service, your replace will be ready for whatever Mother Nature has
in store!
Gas Fireplaces Need Love Too
Gas replaces need regular maintenance too! Annual service includes a thorough inspection where our NFI-certi ed technicians look for faulty pilot lights, malfunctioning thermocouples (safety devices that sense the pilot ame), clogged burners, gas supply issues, gas leaks, loose wiring, dead batteries, broken blowers, soot or dust buildup, or damaged gas valves.
Signs that your gas replace needs service: the pilot won’t light or stay lit, your replace randomly goes out a er burning for some time, the ames are uneven, you smell burning dust, or there is soot build-up.
We also clean the logs and glass media, refresh the burner media, and clean the viewing glass. When we’re done, your gas replace will look and perform like new!
Don’t Forget Yourself!
If your home is missing a cozy and romantic atmosphere… if you have cold rooms you never use… if you want to lower your heating bills...
or if you want to boost your property value…
Treat yourself to a new replace, stove, or insert!
Whether you love the aroma and crackle of a wood re or the push-button convenience and safety of gas - or the panache of electric replaces that add ambience year-round - adding a replace to your home says “I love you”! February is the Month of Love!
We make annual service super easy for you by scheduling a year in advance. You’ll never be le scrambling for last-minute chocolateoops, sorry… never le waiting in the winter service queue.
For world-class replace service or quality products from top replace companies, get in touch with us at (303) 679-1601.
Need some inspiration? Browse our portfolio at https://www.mtnhp.com/portfolio or stop by our showroom at 7001 Highway 73 in Marshdale (just a few miles south of Evergreen Lake) to see our 70+ models of wood, gas, electric, and pellet replaces, stoves, and inserts.
by visiting the events calendar on evergreenchamber.org, downloading our community app “Everything Evergreen”, or following the Evergreen Chamber’s social media accounts.
Even having lived in Evergreen for almost 28 years, I still feel new. ere are places, organizations and stories that I hear about that make me wish I lived in Evergreen in the 1970s.
ere are excellent resources that have been written by members of our community to guide your understanding of our past that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to learn more details: “Evergreen” by John Steinle, “Evergreen Our Mountain Community” by Barbara and Gene Sternberg, and recently Evergreen Fire and Rescue released, “Evergreen Fire/Rescue Burning Bright: 75 Years of Valor and Service: 1948-2023” by Peter Anderson and Kim Marklund (not pictured below). e Je erson County Historical Commission also publishes a magazine called, “Historically Je co”. e current edition of this magazine is focused on mining, mysteries, and monuments. I know the holidays just passed, but these are easy reads that any lover of history will greatly appreciate.
As we turn the page into a new year, here is just a small list of the groups celebrating anniversaries in 2025: Center for the Arts, Congregation Beth Evergreen and the Hiwan Homestead Museum
and Heritage Park all celebrate 50 years. Evergreen Players celebrate 75 years of providing local theater. ere is so much activism and planning that happened in the 1970s to be grateful for as these organizations enrich our lives and our community.
It is o en said that history is our guide to the future. 2025 will be the year that we all learn so much more about this community we call our home. Join us and be part of the conversation guiding our future.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
A womanizing US president. Gin-drinking, poker-playing, skirt-chasing Cabinet members. And a plot from the inside to usurp control of the Navy’s oil reserves. Wild and juicy stuff this. And all of it a true chapter of America’s history.
There may not be another US scandal that is so heavy with corruption and criminality that weighs so lightly on our collective consciousness as the Teapot Dome Scandal. From 1920 to 1922, power-hungry politicians and corporate tycoons boldly schemed to steal the nation’s newest energy resourcel. In so doing these crooks put a black mark on the pioneering work of those who gave birth to Wyoming’s incredible bonanza.
With a deft researcher’s hand and the heart and attention of a creative writer, Constance Bierkan has written a rst-of-its-kind ctionalized recounting of what led up to this nearly forgotten nugget from the past, the Teapot Dome Scandal. Like No Place on Earth is a spirited coming-of-age story set in Wyoming at the start of the madcap Roaring Twenties and the birth of the oil industry. As much a love story as it is a historical deep-dive, Like No Place on Earth will be irresistible to book clubs and history buffs alike.
Competitors in the Chill Out Winterfest ‘Rad as Ice Bike Race’
CROWSSUPDRO ELZZ
1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the highest mountain in Canada?
2. TELEVISION: Who is the host of the long-running reality series “Survivor”?
3. LITERATURE: Which animals represent the Communist Party in “Animal Farm”?
4. U.S. STATES: Which state is the birthplace of the singer Elvis?
5. ASTRONOMY: How long does it take the moon to orbit the Earth?
6. MOVIES: What is the score Elle receives on her law school admission test in “Legally Blonde”?
7. AD SLOGANS: Which product’s slogan is “Is It In You?”?
8. LANGUAGE: What is an eraser called in the United Kingdom?
9. SCIENCE: What are the four primary precious metals?
TrIVIa
10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Valentine’s Day arose from which Roman ritual?
Answers
1. Mount Logan.
2. Je Probst.
3. Pigs.
4. Mississippi.
5. 27.3 days.
6. 179.
7. Gatorade.
8. A rubber.
9. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
10. Lupercalia.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN EXPECTING A NEW KITCHEN?
By Jason Harris of Foothills Kitchen & Bath
As Spring nears, customers appear to be thinking about more than cleaning their houses — they’re often considering wholesale changes. Whenever they say they’re contemplating a kitchen remodel, many know they’d like shiny new cabinets and counters, but have the usual suspect of questions that they don’t have any idea how the process works, nor how much it will cost.
Let’s get the painful part over with first. Unfortunately, there is often sticker shock. For most of us, shopping at the Big Boxes is our baseline, but we’re usually buying supplies for maintenance, and those generally cost less than what’s used for remodeling. There’s a reason why.
If stores carry inventory, manufacturers give them better pricing. However, even warehouses don’t have unlimited space, so they have to choose what items to stock — meaning what to buy in bulk at discount — or which to Special Order at higher pricing. The Big Boxes are designed to move thousands of products daily, so their goal is selling quantity. Consequently, they stock products used more for repair than remodel; further, they focus on lower price points. To use a car analogy, it’s like the warehouses will stock all the compacts (plus maybe a couple of colors in mid-size); in contrast, smaller dealers know their pricing advantage is on the mid to full-sizes, so that’s what they display.
You need to be aware, however, that differences between products can be internal; sometimes it’s not as easy to compare the quality between faucets or cabinets as it is between car models. In other words, car buyers know an Accord is larger and has a more powerful engine than a Civic, so they understand the price difference. That’s harder
when the boxes on the wall look the same. Consumers are effectively thinking, “Wow, why are these Accords so pricey?? I just saw a bunch of them at the Big Box for much less,” when the truth is they had seen Civics.
If you know your budget, it will save time. Imagine walking into an auto dealer and telling one salesman you want to spend $20K, while to another you say you can afford $30K; they’ll show you different models. Same with us. We know some manufacturers give more bang for the buck, while others offer more finish. If we have an idea where you’d like the overall cost of your project to fall, we’ll show you the products we think will help you hit that number.
Regarding the process, the first thing you need to be prepared for is this will take time. Whatever you pick will be in your house for 20-30 years, so don’t rush your decisions. If someone has never done a kitchen remodel before, we’ll spend time explaining each product category to help them understand the range of quality and prices among the various cabinets, counters and flooring. We’re pretty sure the customer will rinse and repeat this research at another two or three stores, before deciding where they felt most comfortable.
Maybe on the first visit, the homeowners had brought in dimensions and photos that we’ll use to begin a CAD drawing, while others will bring them along on a return visit; or perhaps we’ll go to their house to take our own measurements. Depending on how busy we are, we’ll generally be able to email first renderings within a few days. These are free services for us, but bear in mind that some stores will charge for this.
While this sounds quick enough, it’s actually just getting started. Maybe the homeowners discover the cabinets will cost more than they were expecting, so we’ll make a new drawing in another brand; maybe they’ve decided they want us to upscale.
Finally, one day they’ll say, “Let’s go ahead,” which starts a more rigid calendar. Cabinets take about 4-8 weeks to arrive; so most contractors would probably tear out the old kitchen maybe two weeks earlier and begin installing new flooring, electrical and plumbing. Hanging cabinets goes fairly quickly, so in 3-5 days the fabricator should be able to measure for counters. But it could take a week or more before they are installed, so you might want to consider keeping the old sink and having it reinstalled temporarily over plywood.
Even in a perfect world, be prepared for delays. There could be shipping damage, misorders or warranty issues; even more often, though, are change orders. Once we’re in the bustle of the project, clients will ask, “What if we replace all the doors or windows or lights or….?” It’s for these reasons that we suggest homeowners establish a slush fund of both time and money — it helps decrease the angst.
