Makeover magic

Owning a home means stability, security, comfort, refuge, a place to make memories and a huge financial asset. Members across the country are upgrading their homes—inside and out—through Costco with quality furniture, hardware, appliances, flooring and installation services. Here’s a look at what some members have accomplished.

MEMBERS: JOHANNY + ISSA RABADI / LOCATION: PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY / PROJECT: COMPLETE REBUILD

Sometimes the way forward in home remodeling is to start over. In October 2017, after living in their 1,400-square-foot lake community home for almost 13 years, Johanny and Issa Rabadi had it demolished. “We love the town and our lake community, but we knew that eventually we were going to need more space to raise our two children,” Johanny says. They considered selling, but they couldn’t find another home they were comfortable with. “So we decided to start planning for a rebuild instead,” she adds.

The Rabadis moved into Issa’s parents’ vacant house while contractors began building their new home. “Costco was a very fundamental part of the building process,” Johanny says, noting that there isn’t a room in the house where Costco products aren’t displayed.

The couple used Costco Home & Installation services (see “Get it done right” below) for their hardwood flooring and kitchen cabinetry. “The services were flawless,” Johanny says. She reports that the staff from both companies were very professional and were able to quickly resolve minor problems they encountered.

“Our family and friends are amazed when they come to visit and we show them the number of Costco products we have in this house,” Johanny says. “Many of them don’t even know all the home products and services offered through Costco.com.”

MEMBERS: TED + BRENDA GOGOL / LOCATION: CASSOPOLIS, MICHIGAN / PROJECT: UPDATES AND RENOVATIONS

Ted and Brenda Gogol of Dowagiac, Michigan, have long understood the value of their Costco membership where home renovation is concerned. The couple own and operate four lakefront vacation rental homes and a lakeside log cabin along Stone Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan, less than a 15-minute drive from their personal residence.

“This month [November 2021] marks our 12th year in business,” says Ted, “and I can’t imagine doing it without Costco.” Over the years, the Gogols have upgraded their properties with a wide array of Costco products and services—everything from flooring and major appliances to custom blinds and kitchen sinks—in addition to their weekly visits to Costco for items necessary to run and maintain their properties.

One example of how the Gogols use Costco for property upgrades is the outdoor area of their flagship property, an 11-bedroom, 12-bathroom home they call the Blue Spruce Lodge.

“The before and after photos tell the story of our makeover,” says Ted. “We transformed a rusty galvanized fire pit ring sitting in the dirt into a USA-made smoke-free Breeo fire pit X series model, with an all-metal gazebo overhead with lighting, AC outlets and a Costco outdoor Bluetooth speaker. We truly feel that Costco is a super valuable resource in helping us operate our family vacation rental house business.”

MEMBERS: DAN AND CHRISTINE MCDONOUGH / LOCATION: MARSHFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS / PROJECT: COMPLETE REMODEL

“My grandparents bought a small beach cottage in Marshfield, Massachusetts, back in the late 1940s,” explains Dan McDonough, who lives with his wife, Christine, and daughters Allison, Megan and Katelyn, in East Windsor, New Jersey. “I have vivid memories of summer gatherings where everyone was squeezed into the cottage.”

So when his dad and uncles considered selling the place, keeping it in the family was important to McDonough.

“Last fall we closed on the cottage,” Dan says. “As we looked to make some changes and updates, we knew our first stop would be Costco.”

Renovations began in October 2020, and Costco products have played a huge role in the project. Upgrades through Costco include new vinyl plank flooring throughout the house; a sliding barn door from Costco.com that separates the kitchen and the front porch; and new kitchen cabinets, as well as appliances, lighting, cookware, silverware and Adirondack chairs for outdoors.

“Knowing you are getting high-quality products at unbeatable prices made it very easy to rely on Costco throughout our remodel,” Dan says. “We are excited to keep the legacy of the McDonough family beach cottage going for many years to come!”

MEMBER: LISA HANSES / LOCATION: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON / PROJECT: HARDWOOD FLOORING

When Lisa Hanses’ husband, Greg, passed away at the end of 2019 after a prolonged illness, she felt the need for a new beginning. “My way of starting with a clean slate was gutting my home,” says Hanses, who lives in Seattle with her son, Garrison, and Kona, their German shepherd. “The first thing I did was go to Costco to get new hardwoods throughout the entire house.”

Hanses chose engineered hardwood flooring through Costco’s Home & Installation program because it stands up well to the rigors of children and pets. “It was the best thing I ever did,” she says. “My house looks stunning, and the installation process was smooth.”

Among the benefits of upgrading through Costco, Hanses lists a rebate equaling 10% of the pretax amount, which in her case came in the form of a Costco Shop Card after installation was complete; an additional rebate for being an Executive member; and another 2% rebate from her Costco Anywhere Visa® card by Citi. “And the entire purchase was backed by Costco’s member satisfaction guarantee,” Hanses says.

MEMBER : JOHN ROBINSON / LOCATION: ALBANY, OREGON / PROJECT: UPDATES AND RENOVATIONS

“I often refer clients to the great buys on home improvement products at Costco,” says John Robinson, owner and operator of Albany, Oregon–based Quality Residential Construction. So, in 2019, when it was time for him to build a fourplex apartment building for retirement income, he took his own advice.

Robinson started buying items for the project, such as faucets, towel bars and accessories for 12 bathrooms, plus dimmer switches, lighting, utility sinks, gutter guards, curtains and more, at Costco as they were available, then stored them until he was ready to install them.

“I am extremely happy with the products I purchased from Costco,” Robinson says. “I think I have a blueprint for success [for future projects], and Costco is definitely a part of it.”

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