Remodel

Remodeling Trends

One of the most important things to address when planning for new home construction or remodeling, whether big or small, is assessing the projected cost of the project versus return on investment when you sell the house. Each year Remodeling Magazine conducts a survey of realtors across the US to determine the resale value of various remodeling projects. It is especially interesting to see the projects that remain year after year (windows, siding, bathroom and kitchen remodels) and what gets added/dropped each year. More recently home additions have lost favor in place of remodeling existing space (basement and attic remodels) and power generators were added in 2008.

• Doors That Add Value to Your Home by Tina Gleisner
• Kitchens and Bathrooms that Sell Homes by Tina Gleisner
• Top Remodeling Projects by Tina Gleisner
  • 2008′s Top Remodeling Projects
  • Remodeling: Top Projects in 2007
  • Remodeling: Top Projects in 2006

Designing and Planning a Home / Remodeling Project

Building or remodeling  a home is a huge undertaking and one you want to do with careful planning and budget management controls. Key to a successful project is finding the right builder/remodeler, thorough documentation about the project to insure consistent expectations by all involved and open communications throughout the project to insure that problems are addressed quickly.

• Planning Your Remodeling Project
• Renovating to Stay in Your Current Home
• Working with Your Builder or Remodeler

Tips for Remodeling / Additions

You’ve picked your project, you’re working on your plan and you want to include as much detail as possible to avoid problems. That’s a great strategy and the more research you do, the fewer surprises you will run into. With the first house we built, I put together 4 pages of specifications about what I wanted, much of that culled from visiting lots of homes under construction and getting an idea of what was involved (there was no internet back in the ’80s).

It’s important to think through things like living space and you’ll move from one room to another, both natural and artificial lighting, storage space as this is the perfect time to use every available nook, and don’t forget to sketch out furniture placement or you might find yourself searching high and low for smaller, apartment size pieces because a wall isn’t long enough for the couch you own/want.

• Bathroom Remodeling Tips
• Create Outdoor Living Spaces
• Doors That Add Value to Your Home
• Find Hidden Space in Your Home
• Interior Trim Can Add Spice to Any Room

Building a New Home

You’ve been dreaming about this home for years and you want to do it right, with all the features you’ve been unable to find in an existing home. You want to start with an architect or home designer who listens and understands what you are looking for. It’s also important to research and select the underlying whole house systems that provide energy efficiency and minimize your impact on the environment.

We hope to share with you trends in new home construction, emerging products and materials, and outline the often overlooked elements of home design like solar energy and whole house water design that looks at hot water and home heating together.