There are many homes in the market from which you can get an idea to add bits and pieces of design and style to the exterior theme of your house.

Regardless of design you choose, the end buyer will have a great looking kitchen!

I just finished a house and if I had to pay both of these fees above would have cost me $30,500.As someone who doesn't hire these people, I have always figured a GC would fall into the 15-20% of the rehab costs ($5,000-15,000 on the flops I have completed) and a designer simply picking out colors and tile I would honestly be willing to pay up to $1,000-1,500 TOPs, however would also expect them to helps with all aspects of design, inside and out. your GC costs to his family at first seemed high, but I guess wouldn't be over the top when really broken down (assuming he is running the job full time, and the time was agreed to, not allowing him to drag it on and continue to make more and more money while you lose money).

I don't have any formal design training but have been researching lots of design pics and I preview lots of property.

End to end, 7-9 months depending on speed of design and permitting is reasonable with a good GC who moves quickly and a well managed project.

Don't underestimate the power of design in your hosting journey!

The reason you cite is a good one - the former resident had better furniture or a better sense of design.

I was thinking more along the lines of design and finishes that look fancier than they cost. 

If you do any type of design and then try to make that work with modular dimensions then the cost savings are diminished. 5.

You'll invest much more on updating to create the type of design and decor+amenities that will demand the highest nightly rates, but I'm looking for smaller places only when I can't find larger place with minimal STR regulations/restrictions.For example, the 7 bedroom I found would gross my client over $80k per year once fully ramped.