Top 3 Home Improvement Jobs

From Dallas TX to Apple Valley MN, home improvements are a great way to take your existing home into the next level of livability for you and your family without needing to change locations. 

These home improvements may range from enclosing a back deck to adding on a new porch, turning the basement into more usable space or updating the bathroom area or any number of projects that will make you home better able to meet your needs.

But is there any one remodeling project or home improvement that is more valuable than another is? That depends much on what you want to accomplish. So, if you are considering a home improvement project, perhaps to add to the resale value of your home, then here is an explanation of common home improvements that our Apple Valley home improvement contractors work on and can help you decide where the best investment is.

• Basement – Quite often, the basement functions as a below ground garage where things are stored and forgotten. But, the average basement has a great deal of area that can be used for expanding your living space.  You may choose to make it an entertainment room, perhaps convert it into a wine cellar, add a bedroom or make it your new office space, but whatever you do, don’t  just overlook this valuable real estate.
• Patios and decks – Perhaps one of the most common home improvement jobs is that of adding on a deck or patio. After all, these elements offer you a wide range of opportunities for pleasure. Just think, with a well-designed and deck or patio you can make outdoor entertaining easier, provide a place to relax after a long day at the office, have a space perfect for the kids to play or be able to indulge in many other pleasurable pursuits. With so many uses, it is no wonder that many people feel that a deck or patio is a great home improvement project.
• Kitchen and bathrooms- By far, these are the most popular home improvements to a home!  Kitchens are so often the heart of a home and as such, many people will gladly invest their home improvement budget in a place where so much fun and fellowship can be had. Equally so, home improvement upgrades for a bathroom- especially a master bath- can mean  something as simple as having additional countertop and storage space to designing a quiet spa getaway. Even more impressive, is that home improvements in these rooms can add a significant amount to your home’s resale value!

Great DIY home improvement projects ...

Not all home improvements have to be done by a Bloomington home remodeling contractor. There are a number of different projects you can tackle by yourself, as one article noted recently:

Of course, if you are planning on taking out a wall, then you will want to hire someone to do that for you! However, there are some common home improvement jobs that virtually anyone can do.

What kind of things can you tackle on your own? Removing old wallpaper is one of the most common, but you can also replace an old toilet paper holder, change your exterior doors, add a backsplash or design a new headboard.

Read the entire article: "5 Common Home Improvements That Anyone Can Do."

What to Look Out For When Choosing a Home Improvement Professional

When it comes to home ownership, many things can keep you busy. Whether it is basic maintenance projects like mowing the lawn or cleaning or larger scale jobs like building a deck or painting a room there is always something to be done. However, not everyone is comfortable with the various elements of home ownership. In these uncomfortable, and perhaps beyond one’s skill, situations it is often necessary to call in a Apple Valley home improvement professional.

Of course, you don’t want to call in someone you, nor your friend or those well established in the field, have never heard of when it comes to making home improvements. So you will want to take the time to find a home improvement company that can be counted on. To do that, be sure to employ common sense while paying attention to the suggestions below.

1. Talk to the people you know-especially those you know have had home improvement work done- and find out who they recommend. If no one you know has ever hired a home improvement professional, talk to people at your local home improvement store(s).
2. Check out any potential companies with the Better Business Bureau, on Angie’s List or your local Home Builder’s Association. Chances are these organizations will be able to prevent you from making a poor choice.
3. If you need specialty work, especially things like bathrooms, roofing or perhaps knocking out a wall, be sure that the home improvement company you talk to has a reputation for that type of work. 
4. Be wary of any company that solicits work by door-to-door marketing. These are oftentimes fly-by-night businesses that cannot offer you a guarantee or don’t carry proper licensing or insurance. Also, regarding guarantees, if the company offers an exceptionally long warranty on a service or product, view this as a red flag that should be heeded. 
5. You should also be concerned about a company that is not listed in the phone book or is not found anywhere on the Web.
6. Avoid any companies who ask for the following: Only accepts cash payment; must have all payment up front; wants an immediate decision; asks YOU to get the building permit; offers you a discount for finding them more customers; suggests that you borrow money from someone that they know; or tells you that the work they do for you will be a demonstration.
7. Another common thing a less than circumspect home improvement company might say is that they can give you a discount because they have materials left over from another job. If it just an item or two, this is usually not a huge concern, but if it is an exorbitant amount of product, this is a concern.
8. You should ask to see, in person if possible, other jobs that they have finished. If they can’t provide anything local, that is a warning sign. For companies that do have local job site available, ask for the contact info of those jobs and visit them. While there, talk to the people and find out what type of customer service the home improvement company provided, did they exhibit dependability, whether or not they cleaned up when the job was finished, etc. 

Home improvement is a common part of owning a home, but it doesn’t have to mean that you do it yourself, or get taken advantage of by a company.

Home Remodeling: A Good Idea for You?

Depending on how you approach and carry out the project, tackling a home remodeling project can either be one of the wisest decisions you make or a decision that wasn’t given the proper thought. Which one it is for you, however, will be decided by your circumstances or motivations. As one article noted recently:

If you are considering home remodeling as a temporary solution because you either can't afford to move right now, your present home won't sell, or it just doesn't make sense in today’s real estate market, then you need to be a bit more choosy in what kind of projects make sense.

You shouldn't tackle a remodel or hire St Louis Park remodeling contractors because you’re unable to sell your home. Remodeling your home is a long-term investment that will pay off in the long term. It shouldn't be an investment made just to gain in hopes of gains overnight.

Read the entire article: “Home Remodeling: Wise or Foolish?”

Remodeling Contractors Guide Project Design

When it’s time to make serious changes to your home, a remodeling contractor can help you determine the best way to accomplish the task.

Perhaps you've decided you would like to have a home theater. You probably have an idea of how you want it to look, but there are a number of considerations that a remodeling contractor could bring to your attention.

Your basement might be the ideal location for your home theater. It has really good sound insulation because it is mostly or completely below ground level. But you may want to consider insulating the ceiling.

On the other hand, if your basement is prone to having water enter during really wet weather, it might not be the greatest place for all of that electronic equipment. You may want to use another room in the house for your theater.

Once you have decided on the location, you need to consider the seating arrangement in relation to the TV screen. Each TV has a recommended range as to how close and how far away a viewer can comfortably see the screen. Also, you need to know the maximum angle at which the screen can be viewed.

A good home heater will have a good sound system. The placement of speakers will have an effect on the viewing experience. You’ll want the wiring for those speakers to be inconspicuous.

It’s likely that you will want to connect your TV to the internet as well as a TV signal source. In some cases they will be the same connection.

Other areas to think about are room darkening and lighting. You don’t want sunlight or street lights producing distracting glare, and you don’t want to have the room be completely dark. You’ll want the lighting to be ideal for comfortable viewing.

These are just a few of the types of things you need to consider when doing a remodeling job. A qualified, experienced Eden Prairie remodeling contractor should be able to guide you in determining the final design of your project.

Ideas for Home Additions

Does your house not seem big enough? Maybe, when you bought the home, you saw it as a starter house where you would eventually add more square footage. Whatever the scenario, you are looking for ways to get more out of your home. If this is you then perhaps you are considering a room addition of some sort, but are not sure what.

For some people, figuring out what to do with their home’s space is a challenge. Either they have no ideas at all, or they have more ideas than they have space. So, if you are trying to decide what you want to do with that extra space, then here are a few suggestions for room additions or Minneapolis home remodeling projects to get you started.

• A sunroom - These are particularly nice if you love to garden and want a place to keep your plants in the off-season. Of course, they also work well as a place to entertain guests. Just remember that they need to be treated like any other part of the house and will typically need electrical wiring and insulation-even if you aren’t concerned with plumbing.
• Master bath – Many older homes were not built with master baths, consequently, this is a great room addition-especially if there is a room where the wall can be knocked out rather than having to build the entire space.
• Refinishing a basement or attic – This is a tried true room addition plan, as it allows you to make good use of an area that is often overlooked.
• Kitchen expansion – If you love to cook and entertain, consider adding on to your existing kitchen to make it more conducive to this activity.
• Library or office- If you can’t seem to pass up a box of books, then why not add on a room to serve as a library. Add a desk or two to the design and you can also have a home office.

Room additions can be a lot of fun and not scary at all. If you are not sure how to go about remodeling your home’s space or perhaps want a room addition, be sure to give Dean Johnson Remodeling a call. We would love to help you.

Home Remodeling Projects To Think About ...

Did other projects demand your time this summer, not letting you get to that home remodeling project you really wanted to? With summer nearing the finish line, now is the time to get started if you really, really want to have that improvement ready for use by the time leaves begin falling to the ground.

In an article a few months back, we discussed home remodeling projects to consider for this (almost over) summer. Projects we discussed included room additions, basement refinishing, adding a deck or patio, and work on your kitchen and/or bathroom. Did you not get to any of these, or did you end up deciding to bring in a professional Minneapolis home remodeling contractor?

We noted that with room additions:

Room additions are especially popular among growing families. Are your kids getting too big to share a room, or have you recently added another member to the family? Adding another bedroom can alleviate issues. If a parent or in-law will becoming to permanently stay with you, adding on will give them the privacy they desire while having them close by.

Another option, although more involved, is to put another story on your home. Second-story additions add more than just necessary space: they greatly increase your home's resale value.

That's the beauty of home remodeling: it can expand your space and you won't have to look for another home if quarters are becoming too cramped. All the projects mentioned can do wonders for your home's resale value.

Read the entire article: "Home Remodeling: Home Remodeling Projects To Think About for Summer 2012."