Residential Remodeling

The best part of being a homeowner is arguably that you get to be the master of your domain.  While this is a major commitment that requires a lot of hard work and responsibility it is also accompanied by a great sense of pride, freedom and comfort that makes the extra effort and investment well worth it.  Especially for those who are making a house into a home that they will live in for the next 10-20 years and even beyond, there are many improvements you can make no matter what your budget is that will add value and enjoyment to your home.

Utilizing Interior Design for a Fresh Look

The main purpose of a house is to be lived in, but as a result, over time it’s easy to get tired of your surroundings and have the desire to switch things up or replace the old with the new. There are numerous ways to go about this, and many local resources that are available to consult and work with across the entire process from concept to finished product.  As every project starts with a plan, involving them as early as possible will allow you to evaluate all of the possibilities and to stay on the right track.

“Kitchen and bathroom remodels continue to be popular projects, with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and heated tile floors being popular features to incorporate,” advises Lisa Sanwick, Vice President of Sanwick Remodeling Contractors, Inc. (www.sanwickremodelingcontractors.com).  “Many customers also want larger walk-in showers with multiple body sprays.  Of course, one of the most popular projects is opening up the kitchen to the family room.  This makes the home feel larger and enables the whole family to be together.  Though room additions are on many wish lists, a more affordable option some clients choose is to renovate unfinished basements or attics.   This is a great way to add more useable living space to the home without the higher cost of an addition.  Some other popular ideas we may recommend to customers are to smooth their ceilings, install hardwood flooring and recessed can lighting, and insulate their attics for more energy efficiency.

Remodeling to accommodate aging customers or their aging parents has also become more and more in demand due to the increase in the aging population, and our President, Todd Sanwick, is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).  The education he received allows him to make the appropriate home modifications for the growing number of consumers that will soon need them.

Other ideas customers might be interested in adding are floor sweeps to the existing whole house vacuum systems, installing sun tubes to bring more light into the home, and using LED lighting, which is now more affordable than it used to be.  Also, home theaters and smart-home technology, like using programmable thermostats and security cameras, seem to be on the rise.

For residential remodeling projects, make sure to find a licensed contractor, check references and check with local associations such as the Better Business Bureau and the local chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) before hiring a contractor, and get all bids in writing.”

Most interior projects are aimed at refreshing the look, enhancing the functionality, and infusing your current style into your home.  Depending on your budget, there are definitely plenty of options that will allow you to achieve these goals.  If you’re not up for ripping everything out and starting from scratch, you can always create a fresh new look by adding a few accents or new accessories, paint or hardware—small things really can make an impact. As far as major projects go, kitchens and bathrooms are the most prevalent as it’s important for these spaces to fit your family’s specific needs while being comfortable and functional.  From simply changing up the backsplash and countertop to renovating the entire space, there are plenty of options here as well. Any upgrades you do to your home will pay off in the long run; remodeling is well worth the investment and effort to look into and consulting a professional will allow you to broaden your vision for what is possible.

If you don’t know what style you’re going for, not to worry. We live in a time where there’s plenty of inspiration to be found on TV shows, online, and from apps like Pinterest, and all of that is a great way to gather ideas together so that you can guide the professionals you are working with in the right direction.  However, it’s also important to understand that projects aren’t always as simple as they are portrayed on shows or tutorials. Having a contractor, trade professional or designer help you from the very start will save you from making costly mistakes, which are all too common when it comes to home remodeling.  If only at least to get advice, it’s well worth taking the time to look into what your options are.  If you enjoy doing your own work that’s great, but make sure to do what you do best (or at least don’t stray too far outside of your comfort zone unless you are prepared to deal with any consequences) and leave the rest up to the professionals.

Upgrading Your Home’s Key Systems

For any renovations or projects that will include your home’s major utilities and infrastructure – plumbing, HVAC, electrical, alarm systems, integrated technology and automation systems, etc. – you’ll want to make sure you hire an experienced professional unless you have the credentials yourself.  All things considered, these are certainly not the areas that do-it-yourselfers should attempt to take on themselves.

“Upgrading your heating and cooling system offers increased comfort as well as utility savings,” explains Angie Timm of Complete Comfort Omaha. “As technology advances, so does the comfort level and features offered by your heating and cooling system.  Many systems are now communicating, allowing them to provide the maximum comfort by dehumidifying in the summer and humidifying in the winter.

Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat and cool your home.  A common misconception is that geothermal can only be done in new construction, but this is not the case as the loops will fit into most yards.  There is currently a 30% federal tax credit for installing a geothermal heat pump and OPPD offers a discounted electrical rate as well as a rebate.  Furthermore, the units are very efficient which lowers your utility bills.  Going GREEN with Geothermal is a win-win!

If your home has hot and cold spots, it’s a great time to address this during a remodel as it may be possible to zone your system or add registers.  Complete Comfort can also provide preventative maintenance to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently.  The experts at Complete Comfort are here to help with all of your heating and cooling needs!  Visit us online at www.completecomfortomaha.com  or call (402) 885-4422.”

Pat Killeen, owner of Engineered Controls (www.engineeredcontrols.com/eci/), offers the following options for integrating control systems and technology during your home renovation endeavors:

“When considering upgrading your home in the areas of new technology, consider this: How cool would it be if you had a house you could control from wherever you are? Or if you never had to remember to turn the lights off again, or worry about losing your house keys, or worry if the kids are home alone? For this reason, every home remodel project is the perfect opportunity for homeowners to upgrade their home’s technology to an environmentally friendly Connected or Smart Home.

By partnering with professional security companies like Engineered Controls, we have proved products from industry manufacturers such as Honeywell and others that provide connected homes technology of the future: a connected home where heating, security and entertainment are fully automated and all of the latest gadgets enable habitat comforts with the press of a button or a spoken command.  These companies have been providing the desired features of smart home systems for years. From award-winning wireless thermostats and zoning systems to control your home heating and cooling comfort system, to security and monitoring technology like wireless occupancy sensors and IP cameras to give homeowners the peace of mind they are looking for. And the beauty of it is Engineered Controls already has integrated smartphone apps for the end-user interface from both Androids and iPhones.

And the best part is that even if you’re not a technology wizard, you can purchase a household’s worth of sensors, cameras and devices for far less than it would have cost just a few years ago.
Here are some industry projections that add legitimacy to the future of Smart Homes. Strategy Analytics, a research and consultancy firm, predicts some 21 million U.S. households will be ‘smart’ in some sense of the word by the end of 2014. This all results in a smart home market that is estimated to hit $10 billion dollars this year and projected to grow to $44 billion by 2017, according to wireless industry group GSMA.

So according to many indications, the time is now for our industry to make a major push in the selling of smart home system installations and remote viewing of IP cameras within people’s houses. A recent survey by the Coldwell Banker real estate firm of their sales associates shows solid interest from home buyers for smart homes, with 65 percent responding that their prospective home buyers want security systems in their new houses and also want control of their home security, thermostats and devices to be available from their smartphones or devices.

Some people close to the real estate industry have said that in three to seven years, they foresee homes being completely outfitted with smart technology for improving both functionality and lifestyle in our homes.

With the launch of the Apple Watch, a wearable device that does many things besides simply tell the time, current users of the iPad and the iPhone will surely flock to new ‘can’t-live-without’ technology. To date, you will already see many apps courtesy of companies that sell smart home solutions including Lutron, Honeywell, Kwikset, DMP and Savant, to name a few. The Honeywell and Lutron apps have been featured in the most recently aired TV commercials for the Apple Watch.

At a keynote address to shareholders, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave examples of home automation apps that will be launched soon for the Apple Watch including Honeywell’s new Wi-Fi thermostat called Lyric with its geofencing technology app that allows users to access the thermostat remotely and Lutron’s app for wireless lighting products. What does this all mean? We’re going to see more apps from home tech developers like Honeywell, Lutron and more that will allow the wearer to control their home’s window shades, security panels, and probably more, with literally a ‘flick of the wrist.’
Installing innovative technology and smart home systems will not only help protect your home, possessions and family, as well as adding convenience and interest, but it will also increase the value of the home and the salability of that value.”

As most of your home’s critical systems are dependent on a power source to stay up and running, there are many things that can go wrong when the power goes out.  A generator is an investment that will protect your home from any damage while keeping things running and your family safe and sound.

Especially in the event that you’re already doing upgrades to the electrical system, it is advantageous to consider incorporating a generator into the plans.  “It’s all about peace of mind for the homeowner,” emphasizes Tobias Sommer, owner of Generators For Sale (www.homegeneratorsforsale.com) .  “Here in the Midwest we are familiar with inclement weather and the potential damage it can cause to our homes and property. This year especially, we’ve seen plenty of disaster and costly damage that has resulted from excessive rainfall.  For example, we were just working on a house where the power had gone out enough times that the sump pump blew and there was three inches of standing water in the basement.  However, it’s important to note that this can even happen with any amount of rainfall; whether or not it’s a torrential downpour you still need the power to operate the sump pumps in order to effectively keep water out of your home.

The reality of the situation is that if the power goes out during a storm and your sump pump isn’t running you could easily find yourself dealing with repairs upwards of $50,000.  It’s fairly common for houses to have two or three sump pumps as well, which further complicates things and investing in a generator is similar to buying an insurance policy to keep your home safe and protected.  For the most part people can live without power, but the key issue is that if the power is out for too long many other aspects of your house are at risk for sustaining extreme damage.  Even if the power is only out for a matter of a few hours that’s a big enough window of time for major problems to occur.  Particularly for those who travel frequently or are away from their homes for most of the day or evening, a generator is an investment that will give you peace of mind that your home is safe from damage that a power outage would cause at all times.

As there are many different ways you can incorporate a generator, it’s important to understand that you don’t have to buy a large unit that will power your whole house.  There are plenty of options for smaller units that can run your critical circuits at a reasonable price point.  In line with the example of water damage, the cost of the unit will be far less than completely redoing your basement, the loss of your possessions, future mold issues that could arise, and so on.  So in addition to the peace of mind you’ll have, the return on investment is significant.

Generac has had some really exciting new load management offerings, which allows the option for a smaller generator that can still handle the necessary power requirements due to the ability to lock out or stage the recovery time.  The homeowner is able to control which aspects of the home need to remain up and running, and there is also new technology in the materials that the generators are constructed from that get more output while needing less fuel.  Technology with generators has come leaps and bounds, even from just one year ago, and the smaller generators with bigger product and management offerings allow for a much more cost effective system.

I always stress–especially during remodeling projects where work is already being done to the home–that it’s well worth looking into incorporating a generator.  Among the list of benefits, our clients most often cite the tremendous feeling of relief that they’ll never have to worry about the power going out or any number of things that could potentially happen as a result.”

Enhancing Your Outdoor Living Space and Curb Appeal

Moving on to your home’s exterior, there are plenty of remodeling projects here to consider as well!  In addition to the basics such as windows, siding, doors, landscaping, roofing and so on, modern outdoor living and entertaining spaces have recently gained a lot of popularity among home owners who are improving their property.  Just as with the interior of your home and the key systems, there are a wealth of things you can do to improve your home’s exterior that will add value and enjoyment.

There’s been a strong trend recently towards remodeling outdoor living spaces,” says Doug Dushan of Echo Systems (www.echosystemsmidwest.com) . “More specifically at Echo Systems, we can help with lighting design and integrating technology.  The most popular have been a sound system that surrounds the entertaining area but isn’t visible or entertainment systems that incorporate a television.  These features often require upgrading the wireless network to support the technology, especially with multiple systems running or for use of streaming video, Netflix and so on.  All things considered, the demands that consumers place on their wireless networks is growing exponentially and will continue in that direction for the foreseeable future.

In fact, to put things into perspective, twenty homes today use more Internet content than the whole world used just four years ago. It’s important to consider how the devices you are installing will function, especially if your current Wi-Fi system doesn’t have the capability to extend outdoors. At Echo Systems we have the ability to replace antiquated systems with much more robust, sophisticated networks that cover the inside and outside of your home.  Many times I’ve seen people who have completed a remodeling project and failed to consider how important their wireless network was until they began to use the equipment they had installed and the connectivity was poor or non-existent.

We take pride in offering options with any budget, so we are able to present a number of options as well as to educate our clients on what the different systems will be capable of once installed. We feel that nobody needs to be an expert in order to make an informed decision, but that it’s essential to know the differences in products and their respective value for specific situations. Essentially, we evaluate our clients’ needs in a practical manner and present an evaluation, striving to offer the most bang for their buck. To do this, we have a conversation about lifestyle where we ask clients to consider how they live in their homes.  Will you be watching sports or do you prefer movies? Do you plan to listen to a lot of music?  What media do you commonly use? These are all things that will help us to determine our initial recommendations.  While everything we do is custom work, that doesn’t mean it’s obscenely expensive for something of decent quality; however budget permitting, the sky is the limit.

Hiding technology has also become commonplace, as wiring is ugly and when televisions are off they are just a large black rectangle which isn’t too aesthetically pleasing either.  Mirrored televisions and art lifts are excellent solutions, and with the push of a button from an iPhone or tablet you can go back and forth.  In our opinion at Echo Systems, there is no reason why technology can’t conform to design expectations.  We don’t wish to separate technology and design; our goal is to work from the ground up with the design team, architect and/or homeowner(s) so that we can achieve what they want to do without requiring homeowners to make decisions that are outside of their vision for how they want their home to look like.”

He further advises, “Above all, a remodel is a major investment so make sure to do your research, but also check out a showroom.  Our showroom is specifically designed to be an experience center, with the idea that people walk through, ask plenty of questions, test things out, and leave with a good idea of what certain features will look like, much more so than from a picture or renderings.  There are plenty of great local companies that really know their field and will invest the time in making sure you know all of your options – put them to work!”

As with the wealth of different options for incorporating technology, a variety of other types of features to incorporate into outdoor living spaces are also growing in popularity. From outdoor kitchens with expansive grill inserts, wine refrigerators and dishwashers to fireplaces and pizza ovens the affordability and choices are endless. Gas firepits are replacing wood burning firepits for their cleanliness and convenience along with fireplaces becoming more commonplace.

Studies have shown that a well-designed and professionally installed outdoor living space will return approximately 110% of its value at resale of the home. In fact, HGTV recently ranked outdoor living improvements as the third best return on investment of all home improvements.  If the family plans a long-term future in their home the value of family, however, togetherness is priceless.

As far as landscaping, the popularity of concrete paver systems and decorative yet functional retaining walls have exploded in the availability of new products. Concrete paver systems a few years ago consisted primarily of the standard 4” x 8” brick look or a cobble look consisting of three different sizes of paver. Today, manufacturers have developed pavers that very closely resemble flagstone, large ceramic tile and even wood flooring for outdoor use. Retaining walls have morphed from the straight line row look into a traditional, drystack natural stone look and the popular faux stack stone look seen now in so many local neighborhoods.

Homeowners who are looking at undertaking a remodeling project that includes a landscape renovation should first do the research necessary to narrow their vision of the completed project. By being more specific in their wants and wishes, homeowners will better be able to compare the bids they receive from at least two to three landscapers or industry professionals. Once that decision is made the contractor you choose will be more than happy to offer upgrades or provide additional bids for changes you wish to make. Make sure to ask for references and addresses of which you might be able to visit to inspect the contractor’s workmanship.

When considering outdoor living area improvements one should first consider the objective of the overall project, similar to incorporating technology as previously discussed. Are you looking to use this area mostly for entertaining in the late afternoon or evening? Or, will this be your outdoor breakfast nook? Will it be used for large gatherings or mostly just for you or your family? Perhaps most importantly, how comfortable will it be? Beautiful furniture, nice landscaping, and charming water features all are of very little value aside from enhancing the curb appeal of the home for neighbors or passersby if you can’t be outside to enjoy them. Primary consideration should be given to protection from the elements, such as shade from the sun and weather issues like rain and wind. Enjoying your outdoor living when you want and not just on the occasional “perfect day” is definitely possible with the proper planning

Similar to outdoor living spaces, sunrooms are an excellent way for homeowners to add square feet during a remodel while also adding a feature to their home that will provide their family enjoyment year round.  Replacing the old with the new is par for the course when it comes to being a homeowner, but it’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of unique ways you can add to the value and enjoyment of your home in the process. Terri Rediger, owner of Malibu Sunrooms (www.malibusunrooms.com), explains, “Upkeep is just a part of being a homeowner; when our homes are well cared for, our property values go up.  Now, there is upkeep, and then there’s the ‘wow factor.’  Landscaping, beautiful decks and outdoor entertaining spaces, or concrete and water features add tremendous appeal to your home.  Sunrooms not only add beauty to your home, but also additional finished square feet!  I haven’t met one person who was sorry they added a sunroom.  Who wouldn’t want to feel like they are outside all year long?  And aside from adding a classy look outside of your home, a sunroom adds class, sunshine and architectural appeal from the inside of your home.  Most people who own a sunroom will tell you that they literally ‘live’ in their room and the ‘feeling of the outdoors’ is what gets them.  No other room in the house will get used as much as a sunroom, that’s for sure!”

As previously mentioned, improving, enlarging and enhancing the outdoor living area is currently very popular. However, there are plenty of other ways to improve the look of your property in areas such as the landscaping, roofing, siding, windows and doors, lighting, fencing, and so on. In conclusion, when you are ready to take on a new project it’s advantageous to follow these three steps:

1. Make a list of what is most important to you. Maybe you have a specific siding color, technology requests, or maybe you have a specific brand of shingles you wanted to use—whatever it might be, make sure your list is unique to you.

2. Before you get your estimates, plan your budget. What can you afford right now? Maybe you have a budget that allows you to replace a few windows a year. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and will also help the professionals you are working with to make suggestions that fit within your specific price range.

3. After you get your estimates, make sure you do some homework on each of the companies that provided you with an estimate. Are they local? What is their rating with the Better Business Bureau? Are they Angie’s list approved? Getting answers to questions such as these can help you weed out any bad contractors.

Owning a home is one of the biggest and most significant investments you’ll ever make, and as such, it should be the place where you and your family can make memories and be surrounded by your own personal touches that breathe life into your home.  There are a wealth of talented professionals in the Omaha area who can help you turn your ideas into reality, no matter what the scope of the project, so if you’ve been considering remodeling don’t hesitate to reach out early and check out all of the options that are available!