As a homeowner, you may be thinking about remodeling a part of your home at some point in your life. Who do you hire for this big project? You want to ensure that you hire a remodeling contractor who is reputable and can give you everything you envision within your budget. Is a design build contractor better than hiring an individual contractor? Let’s find out! Here are some great benefits of hiring a design build remodeling contractor.

You Work With One Team

When you hire a design build firm, it’s like a one-stop-shop for both construction and design. This means that you only have to sign one contract that outlines all aspects of your project. You also will only have one line of contact throughout the entire renovation. This can save you a lot of time and energy, especially during the hiring process. Why hire multiple individual contractors when you only need to hire one design build contractor?

Clear Communication

Since you only have to hire one firm for your remodeling project, there will be no miscommunication between the designers and remodeling contractors. They will already be a part of the same team and know how to work together and communicate well to get your project done on time. Every part of the remodeling project will look like it came from the same remodeling contractor in the end if you hire a design build contractor.

You Will Save Money

According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Americans spend $400 billion annually on home renovation. You might think that you are saving money by hiring two different individual contractors, but that’s not always the case. When you do this, they may not be in communication with each other. This can mean that the end bill will be higher than you planned. This is because when you hire a design build contractor, they will keep the cost of construction in mind when considering the designing aspects and vice versa. This can ensure that your budget will be respected and you won’t be surprised in the end.

Your Remodeling Project Will Finish Faster

By hiring a design build contractor, there will be fewer delays because there will be a lot more consistency. Since you are hiring one firm, they will have a team that has worked together before and knows how to keep the project going to ensure that there are no delays.

No matter what kind of remodeling project you’re planning, it is always a more beneficial option to hire a design build contractor. Reach out to us today to learn about what our design build firm can do for your home.

Adding a sunroom to your home has many benefits when considering home renovations. A three-season sunroom is used in the warmer seasons and is usually not heated. It might be insulated and use alternative heat sources and fans for cooling. Four-season sunrooms have insulated windows and doors and heating and cooling systems for year-round use. There are benefits to both of these types of sunrooms.

Increase The Value of Your Home

When you add a sunroom, it increases the value of your home. Many buyers will purchase a home because it has a sunroom. Sunrooms are versatile and can be used for family gatherings, parties, kids’ rooms, or study areas. It enlarges the size of your home and can be constructed on the side, front, or back.

It increases the curb appeal of your home. This space is functional and will be used by all members of the family for recreational or work-related purposes. According to Home Advisors, a sunroom will bring about a 49% return on investment.

Enjoy Viewing Nature Outdoors and Sunlight

Windows in the sunrooms can give you a magnificent view of gardens, lawns, and nature all season. With a four-season sunroom, you can enjoy all the seasons with the heat and air conditioning you need. You may want to avoid entertaining in the summer, avoiding the heat and possible insects. You will get exposure to sunlight which produces Vitamin D and is good for your heart and bones. In a sunroom, you can grow houseplants all year round although it is not a greenhouse.

Improve Moods and Boosts Productivity

An attractively decorated sunroom with sunlight and a natural view can improve your mood and reduce stress. Chemicals are released into the brain from sunlight that elevates your mood. You can do many activities in a sunroom. It can be a fitness center, home gym, or yoga studio. Family members can have workout equipment, stationary bikes, weights, and other equipment in this room for their daily workout. You can practice yoga and meditation in this room and have videos for workouts.

Ways to Use a Sunroom

When you do a home renovation by adding a sunroom, it can be used for many purposes. It can be a hobby room to quilt, make flower arrangements, read, or solve crossword puzzles. A sunroom can be designed for your children to play games, work on computers, and play video games. It can be a place to entertain and eat with family and friends without worrying about cold, heat, or bugs. A sunroom can serve as a home office if you work at home or a family room where you spend time playing board games or watching entertainment.

Call us to learn more about the diverse types of sunrooms we have available and let us discuss a home renovation that is right for you.

Remodeling your bathroom comes with its own challenges. The biggest of them all is the lack of enough information. For both the client and the contractor, a lack of clarity in expectations can be a nightmare and no contractor likes being on the receiving end of an unhappy client. This is why it is so important to work with your bathroom remodeling contractor to make sure all your expectations are clear so they can provide you with exactly what you want. For most people, the bathroom is their sacred place. In fact, according to Houzz, for every five homeowners, two admitted to using their bathroom to relax. Ensuring that it remains in its best shape is paramount. Here are a few questions that you should ask a potential contractor before hiring them.

1. Do You Have A Portfolio of Previous Bathroom Remodeling Work?

Before speaking to the contractor, go through the reviews they have received from previous clients. What is the quality of their work? Closely examine the responses they give to negative reviews. Gauge their approach to conflict resolution. Compare their previous work with what you wish to see in your project.

2. Who Will Be On The Ground Remodeling My Bathroom?

Always request a meeting with the project manager – the person who knows the actual workers on your project, and will manage the specialists working on the various aspects of your bathroom remodeling project. Ensure that you also get specifics of what areas of the project will be subcontracted and get to know these individuals.

3. What Project Permits Do I Need?

Find out upfront what required permits will be needed. While at it, ask your contractor if they will obtain these permits on your behalf. A contractor who hesitates on this request might be unlicensed. Ensure you see the permits before work commences on your project.

4. Do Your Bathroom Remodeling Services Cover My Scope?

To avoid wasting time, always find out upfront if the bathroom remodeling contractor works on the entire scope of your project. Some contractors only focus on specific remodeling assignments, but not others. Find out if they are a full-service contractor.

Ensure that you get in-depth answers to the above questions. Find out how much it will cost you and payment expectations. The bottom line, hire a full-service bathroom remodeling contractor who can meet all your expectations.

Home upgrades can enhance the value of your home, but some have a higher return on investment (ROI) than others. Thankfully, you can work with a bathroom remodeling contractor to get great results. However, you may also need to work with other professionals as well. Here’s what you need to know about your options and which may be the best for your needs as a homeowner.

Why ROI Matters

ROI matters if you ever plan on selling your home and want to make a profit. For example, some renovations have a poor ROI because they cost too much and don’t improve the value of your home. Other small renovations may improve your home value more than expected.

Few will provide 100% or more of your investment because of material and home devaluation over time. However, if you’re smart and you invest in the right options, you can easily boost your home’s asking price and come away with both a better home and a better sale price later.

Which Projects Give You the Best ROI?

Let’s take a look at which of these investments will give you the best potential ROI. You’re likely to see that a bathroom remodeling contractor is a wise call when reading through this list. These professionals can provide many upgrades that improve home value:

• Minor Bathroom Change – Around 102%
• Landscaping – Up to 100%
• Minor Kitchen Upgrades – Averages 98.5%
• Attic Bedroom – Expect 93.5%
• Major Bathroom Remodel – About 93.2%
• Major Kitchen Improvement – Up to 91%
• New Entry Door – Around 90.7%

That said, these upgrades may also vary based on your area. For example, according to Money, you can get around 64% of your investment back when doing a mid-range bathroom remodel compared to the 57% for an upscale upgrade. Why the difference? Material prices. If the materials and the upgrades cost too much money, you won’t get back as much on your investment.

As you can see, you might need to work with many professionals, including a bathroom remodeling contractor, to ensure that you get great results. Talk to your team about the various steps that must be taken, including which of these ROI options will be the best for your needs.

Whether you like clean, modern lines, ornate traditional details, or something in between, having a clear idea of your personal style is important to every remodeling project. This Princeton first floor remodel has a transitional look with the perfect blend of traditional and modern elements. Let’s explore how our team used tones and textures for a home that mixes cozy neutrals with pops of color and unexpected flare. 

Crafting Defined Seating Areas

The newly open space provides a plethora of seating options — each one with its own unique look and function. Whether they’re chatting in the cozy blue armchairs or enjoying a meal in the sophisticated dining chairs, the homeowners will have no shortage of places to sit. Taking down the dining room walls gave these homeowners the open-concept area they needed. We then installed support beams that not only serve a functional purpose, but also contribute to the texture of the room and add visual interest. 

Balancing with Contrast

This sitting area in the living room offers homeowners and guests soft, plush couches and sophisticated leather chairs. The coffee table and accent table are works of art; with textured lines and spindled legs, they are great examples of how two very different pieces of furniture can work together to bring balance and character to a room.

Creating Functional Beauty

A gorgeous bay window provides storage space, extra seating, and a cozy nook to curl up with a book or just gaze outside. The surrounding Crestwood cabinetry features raised-panel Dakota-style doors that bring in elegant texture. These convenient cubbies could store anything from shoes to extra blankets to board games, and the shelving above is perfect for displaying a potted plant or treasured keepsake. A row of alternating textured cloth and smooth leather pillows draws the eye in and invites visitors to take a seat.

We’re so happy that the young family living in this house not only loves the way their new space looks but are also pleased with the open, spacious layout that can accommodate the family gatherings they love to host. Ready to start planning your next project? We can help you transform your home to fit your style and needs. Contact us to get started today!

Fully 85% of the nation’s homes were built prior to 1980 and are in need of home improvement. If you’re living in an older home, the time may have come when you are considering how to improve your home’s value. Home improvement can be found in many forms, but many homeowners have found that one of the best ways to do this is by building residential home additions, such as adding a sunroom, an extra guest space, or converting their unused garage space. Residential home additions vary widely, but one thing they are almost always guaranteed to do is improve a home’s value and curb appeal. The following list will describe just some of the more common resident home additions that are often added to older homes for a homeowner to consider.

The Traditional

The traditional home addition, or conventional house addition, is a structure that is built onto the existing home and that is open to the entire house. This space is considered to be multifunctional and may even have more than one designated room within it. When these are well-built, the addition blends into the rest of the house.

The Bump Out

A room addition or “bump-out” is a single-purpose room that is added onto an existing structure, such as a guest room, nursery, or bathroom. Often, this can be creating a space within a space (like enlarging a closet to make room for a small half-bathroom). Unlike a traditional home addition, bump-outs are relatively smaller (perhaps adding 50 to 75 extra feet).

The Sunroom

A sunroom is just that — a sun-filled space that is meant to be relaxed in. Unlike the previous two additions mentioned, sunrooms are often not opened up to the entire home and tend to be added to the back or side of a home and closed off from the rest of the house. Sunrooms are often made from pre-fabricated materials and the walls of the room are glass. They are also not as big as a traditional addition, though they may be bigger than a bump-out.

The Conversion

A conversion typically is made to a garage. When the garage is a two-car space, then usually one space gets walled in, central air and heat vents get added, and flooring is put in. Usually, garage conversions are to create a spare bedroom or office space. Homeowners will also convert an unused garage if necessary. Unlike other home additions, however, garage conversions have difficulty blending into the rest of the home, and they don’t increase a home’s value near as much as other types of additions.