On this page, we have endeavored to present information to help you get started in the planning process for your new home or remodel.   There are many things that 'come to the table' during the design and planning processes - these articles are intended to give you a head start in the right direction.

Design/Build - What Is It and How Does It Work?

Value Engineering - Getting Bang for Your Homebuilding and Remodeling Buck

Why Remodel?

20 Factors That Affect The Value of Your Home

Getting Started:

Any project, no matter the size, runs more smoothly when it is guided by a well made plan and a clear budget.   If you are like most people however, getting that plan together is not an easy thing.   That's why we offer design and plan drawing services in addition to our building and remodeling expertise.   With our in-house design, drafting and construction teams, we can truly take your project from the idea phase all the way to completion.   Hence the term 'Design/Build'.  

After your call, we begin the process by meeting with you to listen to your ideas, ask questions, and talk about the potential in your home or property.   The first two questions homeowners often ask are "Where can I get plans?", and "How much is this going to cost?"   We answer both as we put an experienced set of eyes on your project that will not only help you avoid wasted time, but insure a successful outcome within your budget.   As experienced contractors, we are able to keep the whole project in perspective as we discuss various options workable for your situation and timeframe.

What a Concept!

Our next goal in the design process, is to take the options discussed at the initial site visit and develop them into 'Conceptual Drawings'.   These drawings insure that the ideas you have, will actually work in the space that you have.   Once those details are worked out, we can move on to the creation of finished working drawings and the final cost estimate.

In our world, the design process is a continual dance between aesthetics and practicality; a series of choices really, that you make as we shed light on the real costs of your ideas, dreams, and the various other options available.   Working step by step, we are able to expertly guide you from idea-phase to finished product.   This continual reference back and forth between design and cost elements, results in putting your dollar to its best use.  Some refer to that as 'Design' or 'Value' engineering.  We just call it good sense, and consider it one of the strengths we have to offer.

Our Project Planning Center

Another advantage we have at our disposal is our new Project Planning Center.  Our center is filled with design ideas, product information, pictures, and hands-on samples for many of the items you will need to select as your project comes into focus.  This extensive library of information allows us to help you select the products that are right for your project and price-range.   There will still be a few trips you may have to make around the marketplace during the selection process, but the Project Planning Center will greatly help reduce that 'run around syndrome'.

Let's talk Cost

During our first meeting with you, we try to outline some initial costs of developing the drawings and estimates needed for your project.  This Design Contract lays out the path needed for the design phase which gets you ready for the Permit and Construction processes.   (All plans are completed in accordance to code guided by the agreed-upon design.)

The actual building costs (materials and labor to actually construct your project) are outlined on the final project cost estimate and on the Building Contract, which includes a proposed time frame for completing your project.   The contract also delineates a payment schedule linked with a timeframe (bi-weekly payments) or by stages of job completion (such as completion of the foundation or framing portions).

The Full Nine Yards!

When you consider the time and effort it would take you to do all of this on your own, it is easy to see the advantage of Design-Build.  It's sort of a one stop shopping place.   No wondering which wall is a bearing wall, or how to do all those 'easy weekend projects' they show you on TV.   No searching for architects, engineers or subcontractors with an opening in their schedule.   We take care of it all!   So bring in your ideas and let us make them happen!

Value Engineering - Getting Bang for Your Homebuilding and Remodeling Buck

One of the buzzwords in the building industry has been 'Value Engineering' (VE).   One encounters the term frequently in the trade journals and broadsheets but the average Joe Homeowner can be left in the idiomatic dark.   VE was actually developed by General Electric during World War II as a systematic method to determine the "value" of goods and services by using an examination of function.  Value is defined as the ratio of function to cost and can therefore be increased by either improving the function factor or reducing the cost.

In the home-building industry then, value engineering is the process of comparing the functionality (or design) of a home or home improvement project, to its cost.   Cost is quite easy to tabulate but 'functionality' is a little more obtuse as it is often more of a 'perceived assessment' subject to variation.   A home's functionality rating varies from person to person because of each individual's unique desires and needs, and might best be reflected as a 'degree of satisfaction'.   One man's castle is another man's cave.

The question then arises, "Are you satisfied with your cave?"   If not, then most people pursue one of two options - remodel their home or find a new one.   Either way, the pursuit is toward the best value for the money.   It may come in the form of more space, extra bedrooms, modern kitchen, smaller payments, bigger yard, new location, different color - any number of permutations depending upon who is equating the function and cost factors, with the path to success rooted in VE principles.

We employ VE in all of our projects.  Value engineering is more than just good shopping - it's knowing your products and making a good match with your customer's needs and lifestyle.   Everyday we work with home improvement products and see exactly how they perform.  Then it is simply a matter of matching the product and its performance with the needs and budget of our clients.

As a design/build firm, we work with clients from start to finish on problem solving, building projects that create or increase the functionality of a client's home through the use of VE principles.   It's a balance that is struck as we guide our customers through the various choices necessary to achieve the results needed within the budget or timeline available.  The interesting part about this work is that no two projects are alike because no two clients are alike.

Simply put, VE is a cyclical evaluation process in which ideas are generated with the possibility of solving a certain degree or aspect of 'design dysfunction' present in a home, while maintaining a financial cost that is within the home owner's limits.  Ideas are modified and evaluated until a plausible solution is achieved.

The journey from idea phase to plausibility and budget evaluation phases, usually takes homeowners through a series of value judgments where they must determine which set of parameters are the most important - appearance, cost, longevity, maintenance requirements, etc.   The result of this series of decisions determines the final result.   For simple do-it-yourself projects, it is often just a matter of visiting the hardware store and choosing a product that is not too expensive, but will give reasonably boastful results.

Larger projects however, have a far greater quantity of choices through which a skilled VE professional can guide.   Often, the parameters that seem the most important in the beginning of the process, give way to others as the full picture comes into view.   The bottom line is that the VE process gives you the best solution to your home building or improvement needs for the money you have available or care to spend.

Building value into your home is important.   It is worth the time it takes to plan and evaluate just exactly what is necessary, and finding the right people to help you achieve that is an important first step.

So You're Thinking About a Remodel...

For many people, the thought of a remodeling project is simply overwhelming.   'What do I do first?'   'Who do I call about ...?'   'Is this a bearing wall?'   'Am I making the right decision?'  'Is this going to be cost effective?'  Often, it seems a maze with no clear path.  Let us shed a little light on a few factors that may help you find your way.

First Things First

First let's address the basic question of why you would choose to remodel your existing home.   Most likely, there is something about your home that is not meeting your needs anymore such as too little space, out-dated kitchen, not enough bathrooms, poor traffic flow, or any number of other reasons that make your home not as 'livable' as you would like. 

You really only have three choices:

1. Do nothing (but that won't solve anything)
2. Sell your home and try to find something else that has the same good neighbors and location, with payments that you can afford. (often easier said than done)
3. Remodel and keep your good neighbors, your great location and build your equity affordably!

Weigh the Advantages

If you generally like your home, have a reasonable amount of equity and the space to expand, it may be more feasible to remodel your existing home rather than look for another home to buy.   Depending upon mortgage rates and home sales markets, it often makes remodeling an excellent choice.   You are also able to preserve your tax basis more effectively.  Not only that, most remodeling projects will more than cover their dollar cost within a few years, by increasing the value (selling price) of your home.  

Kitchen and bath renovations are the best returns on investment you can make, followed very closely by family room and deck additions that increase the 'feeling of space'.   Master suites, attic bedroom creations, and siding replacements are also projects that return excellent value.   (If you are remodeling in order to sell your home, click here.)

One of the greatest values in the remodeling process however, is the satisfaction of making your home suit your needs.  Having the space you desire, the comfort of that new master bath, or the ease of entertaining with your new kitchen, is a value that only you can assign. 

So don't be like some who wait until they want to sell their home before remodeling.   This is a common mistake that results in the loss of two things: Your ability to enjoy your home in the short term, and the real estate market's ability to multiply the value of your remodeling investment over time.   There's no time like the present, so give us a call!

Quite commonly, one can find information on the internet and through real estate sales people that tell how to improve the value or 'saleability' of a home.   It is usually accompanied by a similar list of items that detract from the value of a home.   These lists make a handy guide for prioritizing home improvements whether or not you intend to sell.   They vary to reflect current home fashion trends and living styles, but generally agree in many of the basic elements.  

Of course, these items have their caveats and conditions but understanding the theory makes this information more useable.   One important caveat or condition that needs to be taken into perspective is whether you intend to do the work yourself, or have it performed by a professional.   Seamless, well-done work is always an asset to your home's value.   Projects that turn out otherwise, however, can be a liability.

The common scenario, is that many homeowners live with the shortcomings of their home for years until the decision to sell their home arrives.   Then they begin a flurry of do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement activity hoping to capture top dollar in the real estate market.   When homeowners actually possess the needed skills required for these improvements, they can often recapture the cost of the improvements with that elusive 'higher selling price'.   The problem arises when a DIY job ends up looking like just that - a DIY job.   In this case, the result is wasted time, materials and money.

What lures most people into these decisions is the cost of getting this work done by a professional, compared to the cost of the materials available at the local 'big box' stores.  The compounding issue is the time frame.   Waiting until you sell is the hardest time to make improvements to your home.   You are under the pressure of time, cost, and after all your hard work - you don't even get to enjoy it.  Worse than that, is when you realize that you are at the mercy of the real estate market no matter what you do and there is no guarantee that you will 'recoop' enough to warrant the immense effort for these last minute improvements.

Also, be wary if renovations are out of character with the community, such as granite countertops in a subdivision where plastic laminate is the norm.  Will you sell faster?  "Yes," says Alan Hummel, CEO of Iowa Residential Appraisal Co., and past president of the Appraisal Institute, in Des Moines.   "Will it sell for more?  Not if the appointments you've done are significantly higher quality than the rest of the neighborhood."

The better way to go about remodeling, is to set up a master plan with a clear budget as soon as you realize that you need to make changes to your home.   You can then space out the projects that require a professional, allowing them to have the time to multiply in value (see Why Remodel? above) while you enjoy the benefits of a nicer home.

Here is the latest list of valuable improvements that we came across:

10 Items That Increase The Value Of Your Home

1. An Updated Kitchen - Popular now are big kitchens with a lot of workspace, solid surface counters, high-quality flooring, newer, energy-efficient appliances and as always, a window over the sink.  

   Says Hummel, "It has to be well-appointed and large enough to fit your needs.  It also doesn't hurt if it opens onto another room.  A lot of families are looking for that openness."

2. Modern Bathrooms - A move to the spa-like bathroom with a whirlpool tub is very big - especially in high-end work.  

    "Buyers are looking for "master baths that give a little room to roam," says Hummel. "I'm always entertained by the people who have spas in the master bath and don't use them," says Ron Phipps, principal broker with Phipps Realty & Relocation Services in Warwick, R.I.  "But it's a big feature." 

   Scaled-down versions are also effective in more modest neighborhoods depending upon the space available.  Other inclusions can be separate showers with steam and/or multiple jets, a double sink, and a separate room for the toilet.  And make sure the plumbing and water heater can handle the job.  The pipes have to be large enough to carry an adequate volume of water and the water heater has to be big enough to accommodate the greater demand. 
3. A Well-appointed Master Suite - The wish list: A luxurious bathroom, lounging areas and walk-in closets.
4. Natural materials- Ceramic tile, hardwood floors, granite.  "People like natural materials," says Phipps.   In floor coverings -- especially bathrooms or kitchens -- look for ceramic tile or wood rather than linoleum, which can tear. "In the rest of the house, wood or laminate products are a plus over wall-to-wall", says Gary Eldred, author of "The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them)."
5. Curb Appeal -  First impressions are everything.  A house that appears tidy and well-cared-for will sell more quickly and for more money.  A good first appearance can add as much as 10 percent to the value of the home.
6. Light, Airy, Spacious Feel - "People buy space and light," says Myra Zollinger, owner/broker with Coldwell Banker Realty Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.  "I have yet to have anybody walk into a really dark house and say, 'I love this.'"  Richard "Dick" Gaylord, president-elect of the National Association of Realtors, agrees.  "That's a very big feature," he says.  "I haven't sold many homes that aren't bright and airy."

7. Good windows - Typically, they pay for themselves in five years.  

"People are looking at exposures and windows," says Phipps,  "energy efficiency is very important.  Well-placed skylights are also a good touch to add value."

8. Landscaping - Mature trees can be worth $1,000 each, especially when well cared for and trimmed appropriately.  Landscaping creates an inviting feel to the home but it doesn't have to be elaborate, just well maintained and in keeping with the neighborhood.

"Having outdoor spaces with touches such as pergolas and Victorian garden swings can be very helpful," says Phipps.  Appraiser John Bredemeyer remembers one $250,000 home in Omaha that had no landscaping at all.  "It was stark," says Bredemeyer, former national chair of government relations for the Appraisal Institute, a professional group for real estate appraisers.  "It just stood out as unappealing."

9. Lots of Storage - Nothing beats an oversized garage, some attic space and plenty of closets.

"If you have a two-car garage, do you have extra space for those things we all have -- bicycles, lawn mower, snow blower?" says Hummel.  "Space is important." 

10. Basement - A finished basement adds even more value with the following caveats:. 

"If it's dry, it's a plus," says Kenneth Austin, co-author of "The Home Buyer's Inspection Guide."  "But it's a negative if it has water problems." 

10 Items that Decrease a Home's Value

1. A pool - Forget what you might have heard.  An in-ground pool in most parts of the country doesn't automatically raise the value of your home.  Having a swimming pool will automatically limit your market when it comes time to sell.  Consider your home value and location.  In a million-dollar house, not having a pool could be a detraction, but it won't necessarily increase the price if you have one.

"For the people who want the pool, they're willing to pay for it," says Austin.  "But there are an awful lot of people who don't want a pool." 

2. No Garage/Small Garage - Unless you're living in a condo, a retirement community, historical or in-town neighborhood, most buyers will look for at least a two-car garage. 

"If you don't have a garage, it's a real negative," says Austin.  "If you have a one-car garage, that's a problem, too."

3. Garbled Floor Plan - Small rooms and bathrooms, an inconvenient floor plan or a layout that requires you to access bedrooms or bathrooms through other rooms will detract value from your home. 
4. Outmoded Appliances or Systems - Who wants an electrical system or plumbing system incapable of handling modern conveniences?  Would you buy a home if the appliances were worn or broken? 

Phipps remembers walking into one house with clients who casually opened the oven door -- and it fell off.

5. Stale or Overly Personal Decor - Accent walls can quickly be outdated depending upon the color, as with many other fading fancies that come as a flash in the pan.
6. A Bad Roof - Roofs are expensive to replace, and a good roof is considered standard equipment in a house.  If your roof has problems, expect to take a hit in the price.
7. Bad location - Phipps remembers one neighborhood with a significant difference in value between the even and odd-numbered houses.  The reason?  The odd numbered ones backed up to an interstate highway, as well as some ugly utility lines.  As a result, "the even-numbered houses were worth about 10 percent more than the odd-numbered homes," he says.
8. Poor Maintenance -  "If you've got an old roof and outdated paint, I don't care if you've updated the kitchen, you won't even get the buyer out of the car," says Bredemeyer.  "If you know you've got to have something fixed, fix it," says Zollinger.  Otherwise, people "will subtract the cost or not make an offer on the house.  And if people think the house hasn't been taken care of, they will wonder what else they're not seeing."
9. Environmental Hazards - Besides being a danger to human health, lead, mold or asbestos can kill your home's value.
10. A Long List of Needed Home Improvements - It detracts if you have to do work.   A house that you can move into today -- and it's livable -- is fine, but a list of must-dos just to conduct everyday life will scare off a lot of potential home buyers.

Well, there you have it.  Opinions from the experts.  The rest is up to you.   But remember, we are here to help and would be happy to assist you in developing a plan for prioritizing your home improvements.  Just give us a call!  A little planning now, may make the difference in the future return you receive from your home.