Vacation rentals, longer-term rentals, Airbnb.com — all are ways to make some income from your home or second home. You may be looking to rent out an entire home for a long term, a separate space in your home or just a small room, but before you get to remodeling that space, let’s look at […]
Judy Granlee-Gates
A native Washingtonian, Judy Granlee-Gates has lived in Poulsbo for nearly 30 years. She and her husband own Joe Gates Construction, Inc. in Poulsbo, specializing in custom building and remodeling. The company is also an authorized StarMark cabinet dealer. Judy has been in the construction industry for 28 years and enjoys seeing a home go from ho-hum to fantastic. She has been recognized nationally by Custom Home magazine for outstanding customer service, and on the state and local level for the company's new home construction and remodeling excellence. She is a past president of the Kitsap Building Association's Remodelers Council and past board member of the Kitsap Building Association.
Builder/Remodeler or Architect… Which Comes First?
If you are planning to build a new home or do a major remodel, there is a natural question that should come up. Whom do I call first? A builder/remodeler or an architect (or designer)? In 28 years of building and remodeling, I have seen many, many sad faces of clients who had a plan […]
Building or Remodeling with Your Family Pets in Mind
Americans love their pets. According to a recent report by NBC news, Americans will spend more than $60 billion — yes, billion — on their pets in 2016. Clearly, people are taking the term “furbaby” to heart and treating pets more like members of the family. In keeping with this theme, more and more people […]
Downsizing: 10 tips on how to ‘right-size’ your next home
Tiny houses are currently “big” so to speak, but really, how many people can actually live and function in a 350-square-foot home after living in 2,500 square feet or more? Downsizing is a popular topic for sure, but there is another small home movement on the forefront, and that is the smaller, well-appointed home (1,000 […]
Outdoor Kitchens, from Simple to Sublime
Requests for outdoor kitchens are on the rise, from pretty basic to really crazy. While most outdoor kitchens are considered a luxury, there are ways to add them to your space in all budget ranges. First consider how you will use your outdoor space and what you really need. What type of cooking do you […]
Inset Cabinets: A New, Major Trend for Your Kitchen
Look in any magazine that features kitchens and baths and you may notice that 90 percent of the rooms show inset cabinetry. Many people don’t notice the difference but they comment that is looks very sleek. So what are inset cabinets? Inset cabinetry features doors and drawers that fit inside of the cabinet-face frame openings. […]
When You Should — and Should Not — Hire a Handyman
When you need a few things done around the house, a handyman, handywoman or handyperson sounds like a great idea. Small jobs, done fairly quickly, don’t really require a general contractor, you may think. Or do they? The handyman field is largely unregulated, meaning no license or bond is required. There are many great handymen […]
8 Spring Spruce-ups and Maintenance Chores for Your Home
After a wet Washington winter, there are plenty of tasks to do to keep things in order around your home. A little routine maintenance will protect your investment and prevent more serious issues down the line. Here are some basic “chores” for your spring to-do list: Once you have tackled these mostly easy tasks, your […]
Buying a Home with Plans to Remodel? 3 Important Tips for the Best Results
Recently I met with a great couple who bought an older home. It has lots of potential — and lots of room for improvement. The couple has a significant amount of money budgeted. But after walking through the home to discuss all the things they want to accomplish — plus the things that need taking […]
