Arden Hills, MN – a top small town in the nation

We’re lucky enough to live and work in a small town that was voted in the 2011 Money magazine Best Small Towns in America feature. Coming in at #14, the town was cited as a great spot for “schools, trails, playgrounds and lakes.” The article also cites the abundant supply of old growth trees, which make even our newer Arden Hills neighborhoods feel well-established.

While we’re probably partial to the area since we live here, we do think it’s the entire Shoreview, Arden Hills, White Bear Lake area that really deserves to receive this award. Arden Hills is a nice little pocket, but with no real downtown, I think it’s a little odd that we received a small town award. Nonetheless, hopefully this bodes well for area property values.

Check out Money magazine’s full list of top small towns here.

Rise in Practical Remodeling

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune today, analysts are predicting a rise in practical remodeling. Check out the full article here.

Practical remodel projects might mean:

• Curb appeal projects or other cosmetic fixes for resale
• Functional and/or essential remodeling jobs such as new windows and exterior doors or other ways to save on long-term energy costs
• Projects that think “green” including money-saving for the long-term
• Remodeling jobs to make the house more suitable for your family due to an inability to easily sell your home and mov

Homeowner energy tax credits are still available for 2011

While much hype was made about energy tax credits for 2010, there are still a few options available for homeowners who didn’t meet the deadline.

Check out this recent article from WalletPop.com on what energy tax credits are still available in 2011.

Our top picks:

• Insulation
• Windows
• HVAC upgrades

Remodeling Projects are Back, According to the Wall Street Journal

According to a January 29, 2011 article in the Wall Street Journal, “Remodeling Projects are Back”.  

“After years of shelving projects and doing only improvements deemed absolutely necessary, more homeowners are dusting off their remodeling plans this year as they grow more hopeful about the economy.” So says writer Amy Hoak in her piece about the next phase of growth for remodeling.

Reasons why remodeling is poised for a hot comeback:

• It’s still a buyer’s market for remodeling work. Contractors aren’t fully booked, so you’re often able to get a better rate than you might in more prosperous times.
• Many homeowners are planning to stay put in their current homes until the housing market rebounds, making remodeling a necessity  as families expand or needs change.
• Similarly, many homeowners have had remodeling plans in the works for some time, but due to economic uncertainties, have been reluctant to move forward. Now that it seems the economy is working towards a rebound, many are ready to take the plunge.

Contact Eric at 651.208.5688 for details on making your remodel dreams a reality going in to this Minnesota spring.

Go Local! Custom tiles made in Minnesota

At Constructive Builders, we love using locally-produced products in our remodeling or new construction projects. There are a lot of reasons why it’s great to use local products:

1. Supporting craftspeople in your own area is good karma and good business.
2. Local products emit less pollution, because they’re made right here vs. being shipped around the world.
3. We think local materials make sense in a home, and if they’re natural products like stone or wood, they help your house to feel like it “fits” with the environment in which it’s built.

To that end, here’s one cool local producer that we recently found: North Prairie TileWorks http://www.handmadetile.com/  Check them out if you’re looking for some more interesting tile options; so much more beautiful that the “perfect” look of mass tile producers. We’re planning to use their tiles in our upcoming kitchen remodel.

And send us your favorite local producer tips, too! We’ll work to build a local guide to share as we build up our list of faves.

Remodeling ideas for fall and winter in Minnesota

This morning’s weather was just the first taste of things to come: fall and winter in Minnesota. While we’re all for living it up for the next few warm weeks, it’s also a good idea to start planning now for fall and winter renovations.

And if you’re going to be trapped indoors for the long dark winter, you might appreciate completing a few home renovations before that season hits.

With more and more families choosing to stay put in their current home vs. trying to sell in a challenging housing market, we’re experiencing an increase in remodeling work.

Warmth-related remodeling ideas:

-Remodel your master or main family bathroom and install in-floor radiant heating. It’s energy efficient and makes for luxuriously warm toes when you step on the tile post-shower.

-Update your kitchen. On chilly winter days, that’s where the family always congregates. Make it work better, feel more inviting and provide traffic flow with updates including taking down walls, installing an island, or simply updating with the latest materials.

-Take the man cave to the next level. Finish off that basement for maximum Vikings game and poker night potential. Or, for a more well-rounded approach, create a family-friendly lower-level space that combines TV, games, kids areas, and a wine bar for the adults.

-Kids driving you nuts? Transform the master bedroom into a grown-up retreat, complete with a fireplace, if possible!

-Were wet, cold socks the bane of your existence last winter? Envision an entry area where boots aren’t stacked and where you can walk freely, in socks, without fear of stepping in a puddle. We can work with your existing space to create a more efficient and warm entry area that keeps clutter to a minimum.

Nesting is the new flipping, or remodeling is up

An article posted yesterday at CNNMoney.com announces that in this turbulent real estate market, “Nesting is the new flipping“. With many homeowner’s reluctant to sell at their homes for a loss, remodeling activities are on the rise.

While the Minneapolis housing market may be improving, many homeowners would have to slash their prices in order to unload their homes. Instead of selling to move to a bigger and better home, remodeling activities are a practical option to get a bigger kitchen, an extra bedroom, new basement usable square footage or just nicer spaces overall.

It’s a great time to remodel in the Minneapolis-area, especially if you can handle a little bit of turbulence while staying put in your current home. Construction companies are getting busier, but you’ll still have ample companies willing to bid to renovate your home, and you’ll likely find some good deals (though price should never be the sole factor when you pick a contractor partner).

Check out the CNNMoney article above, and contact us if you’re interested in seeing how to invest more in the home you already love rather than deal with the hassles of selling.

Our top 5 fall remodeling projects

So Labor Day has come and gone. Next thing you know, your mother-in-law will be calling asking about the holiday plans! Fall is a great time to undertake a remodeling project: the kids are back in school and the weather is more moderate for larger remodeling projects than summer or winter.

Here are Constructive Builders’ Top 5 Remodeling Projects for fall:

1. Finish the basement. The whole family is about to be cooped up together and when this happens more room makes  for a happier home. Get that basement finished up so you have another place to put: in-laws, rowdy kids, football watchers, holiday visitors, the drum set your kids get for x-mas, etc.
2. Updgrade the kitchen. Kitchen remodels have some of the best return on investment, and it’s where your family spends the most of time, especially as the days turn shorter and the holiday  come around. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Depending on what you have in place, there are creative ways to remodel without gutting the entire space.
3. Fireplace renovations. Have an ugly hearth or a generic fireplace with no real character? Fall is a great time to spend a little bit to turn your fireplace in to a showpiece in your home. Tiling around the fireplace, adding a new custom wood mantle, or replacing the hearth can really jazz up this home feature, and the renovation will look great for Christmas stockings.
4. Entertainment rooms. Are you ready for some football? Get your entertainment area in order this fall, whether it’s adding a room in the basement, adding built-ins for a new entertainment center or adding on to your house so that you have a dedicated area for TV and movie-viewing. This is a must-have room for winter sports, movie nights, kids sleepovers and more.  Top features to consider: theater seating, acoustics, big screens, and electrical component containment.
5. Remodel the guest bathroom. Before you have holiday company, spruce up the guest bathroom. Because a powder room doesn’t usually have as many fixtures as a master bath,  this kind of remodel can be affordable. And, because all your guests see this room, you get a lot of  “wow” power for your investment. A few ideas:  an awesome sink with a custom faucet to add class and visual interest, new tile for floors and walls, new sink and toilet fixtures to update to the current styles, combining low-cost paint and wallpaper with modern lighting and new mirrors.

From small to large, remodeling in the fall will result in new spaces that you’ll love come winter. Don’t forget to contact us with any questions!

Planning to remodel? 5 things to think about before meeting with a remodeler

We meet with a lot of clients here in Colorado about their remodeling projects. Over time, we’ve developed the following tips for folks that are thinking of hiring a remodeler for their home improvement project. Following these tips can make the project go more smoothly, save time and money, and ensure that you pick the right builder for the remodel project.

1. Make a list of everything you want remodeled in your home. Then, go through and number each item on that list in order of priority. A lot of times we’ll go to a client’s home only to be innundated with “wants”, with no real sense of what is a priority or what is realistic for the budget. Prioritizing before we arrive helps both of us to focus. It’s also nice for us to see everything that you’d like done in the long run, because sometimes it’s inefficient to do things piece by piece. For example, if you want new trim, new cabinets and new flooring, it would make sense to do these all at once vs. separately.

2. Set your budget. You don’t have to tell the builder your maximum budget if you don’t want to, but giving us a range is really helpful to save time. We can fit as many of the items from your priority list into that budget as possible, but not waste time bidding sections that are outside of the scope of your financial realities right now.

3. If it’s a major remodel, consider the timeline and alternate living arrangements. If you need a pop-top or a complete kitchen remodel and addition, you’ll want to consider the best timing for the project. Scheduling for the nastiest part of the work to be done while you’re on vacation, or when you can stay somewhere else, may be a good idea. It allows your builder to work longer hours to get things done and minimizes the stress and hassle on you, your family and your pets! Also, if you’re going to have portions of your home exposed to the outdoors, September in Boulder County works a lot better than January.

4. Think about the division of labor. Are there things in the remodeling project that you’d like to own? If you enjoy shopping for materials, we’re happy to let you pick out your own tile, sink, woodwork, etc. However, if the difference between baseboard, casing and crown moldings is lost on you, it might make sense to let us handle all the shopping.  Want to enlist your family and friends to help paint the newly taped walls? No problem!

Knowing what you can handle helps us to reduce the bid accordingly to save you money. Being realistic about how much or little you really want to take on is good too!

5. Check references, licenses and insurances- but also go with your gut!  There are a lot of builders and remodelers to choose from. Most of those can provide you with references and insurance certificates. Beyond that, pick someone that you like and who has an obvious passion for their work!  Will you be anxious if this person is in your home while your kids watch TV in the next room? Do you like your remodeler’s demeanor and sense of design style? Go with your gut and don’t settle until you’ve found a remodeler you feel comfortable with.

Remodeling projects of all sizes can make a big difference in your quality of life and the resale value of your home. And, while there are bound to be a few inconveniences, they don’t have to be hell to live through!

7 easy ways to build a greener home

A lot of people out there think that green-building is a great idea but that it’s too expensive for them. Many consumers think of green building as costly technologies, solar panels galore, and recycled glass countertops at $95 a square foot. However, green building can be much simpler and more cost-effective than many imagine.

Here are 7 simple, and affordable, ways to build a more efficient and green home:

1. Site your house to use the sun to your advantage. It all starts with the building plan. Make sure your architect understands passive solar design. Use the landscape to your advantage so that you get the most sun in winter months and the least direct sun during hot summer months. The size and angle of eaves and overhangs directly effect this.  Additionally, building in to a hill can provide insulation from the earth. Proper siting can reduce heating and air conditioning costs.
2. Use a builder that can commit to producing less waste. Some experts estimate that for every five houses built, one ends up in the dumpster via all the excess waste. At Constructive Builders, we utilize recycling wherever possible, save excess materials to use in other phases of the jobs, and require our subcontractors to do the same.
3. Buy local. While recycled biketire flooring may be eco, it’s not that green if it has to come to you via China where old U.S. bike tires were shipped, chopped up and glued back together. Check for local producers for stone, wood (reclaimed wood is great), and many other products. Even buying windows that are manufactured nearby vs. 5,000 miles away can help the planet!
4. Pay attention to your lighting. Some experts estimate that lighting contributes to 20% of a homes energy usage. The best light is natural light. Pick fixtures that are efficient and plan your lighting so that you won’t need dozens of lights on at all times or even at all during the daylight hours. (And of course, buy compact flourescent bulbs!)
5. Insulate and seal. These are relatively low cost ways to make a big difference in your energy efficiency for the very long term. A very inexpensive home energy audit can be performed to pinpoint trouble areas.
6. Invest in Energy Star or other highly rated water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, appliances, evaporative coolers and whole house fans. While sometimes they’re a little more up front, there are energy company rebates and federal tax credits for their implementation.  The pay off is big over the long term and will help with your resale value.
7. Don’t build a house that’s bigger than you need– Quality not quantity. We love smaller, top-quality homes that feature homey built-ins, comfortable spaces for conversation and well-proportioned areas for cooking, sleeping and entertaining. A home that’s built well is better for the environment because it lasts longer. And  a small home that is planned well can be more liveable than a big house with too many wide-open spaces.

For a breakdown of one home where we implemented a few of the tips above, check out our “this house saves some serious green” sheet. Contact us at Constructive Builders about your next custom home.

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