2011 Fall Home Improvement

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT September 23, 2011

Remodeling a way to ‘stay at home’ Twin Cities Remodeling Showcase set for Sept. 30-Oct. 2

by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

As the real estate market has gone in a downward spiral, many homeowners have turned to remodeling as a way to rejuvenate their living spaces.

Jennifer Lervick is one such person.

Lervick said she loves the Eagan home she and her husband built 11 years ago, but felt the kitchen needed a face-lift.

Though the cabinets were untouched, the rest of the kitchen was made anew during a recent remodel.

New light fixtures and Sunday Oct. 2. “People can meet buildback splash brought the room up to date, while ers and remodelers and can granite counter tops gave it See Remodel, 4B a high-end look. “I love how it turned out,� Lervick said. “It looks totally different.�

Lervick’s home is among 86 homes to be featured in the Twin Cities Parade of Homes Remodelers’ Showcase next weekend.

The showcase by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 and from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday Oct. 1 and

Jennifer Lervick’s Eagan home will be featured in the Twin Cities Remodelers Showcase. With the exception of the cabinets, every aspect of her 11-year-old kitchen received a face-lift.

Photo submitted

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September 23, 2011 THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Investing in a home is an everlasting adventure

A new outbuilding can add value and convenience to a home as long as it’s not too quirky or out of place in the neighborhood.

There are many updates homeowners can make attractive to future buyers

Photo by Andy Rogers

by Andy Rogers THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

A person’s home is many things.

It’s an extension of their personality. A place to literally hang one’s hat. And can become a worthwhile investment.

Whether one is in the market for a new home, hoping to update a current one, or hope to sell one, home improvement projects are often on the agenda.

Erik Henjum, a certified residential property appraiser, has seen it all while inspecting properties from rural areas to inner-city St. Paul to new housing developments in Rosemount.

In the current market,

which favors buyers, people want to make their houses attractive to sell and worth every penny of their price.

Homeowners looking to update a home should view it as more than just an investment. “There’s always value in how the owner uses it and whether they enjoy it,� Henjum said of improvements. “More power to them if they like woodworking and they want to have a shop, there’s no reason not to do that. You may not get a financial return, but you will get a return on the use and enjoyment.�

One of the more popular and successful home updates is in bathrooms and kitchens, but you don’t need a bulldoz-

er to make a room shine. “Sometimes instead of redoing the whole kitchen you can redo the doors or the face of the cabinets,� Henjum said. “Just replacing the hardware or adding a back splash or some back lighting. It’s not too difficult. “Without changing the whole tub or shower you can add new faucets and light fixtures. A nice master bath in the bedroom will make a lot of people happy.�

The skin of a house is the first thing most people look at before getting out of the car. A face-lift on the roof, windows and siding can make the biggest difference. “All those can be signifiSee Homes, 3B

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“All those can be significant expenses, but buyers expect to have a house with sufficient siding, roof and windows.� – Erik Henjum, certified residential property appraiser

One update that’s often overlooked by appraisers and buyers is energy efficiency. From replacing light bulbs and increasing insulation to installing a new boiler, it can be a significant cost for some but an even more significant savings. The value is often understated. “It’s a trend that’s gaining, Andy Rogers is at but lenders aren’t embracing andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com. it as much as the buyers are,�

Henjum said. “A lot of people

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cant expenses, but buyers expect to have a house with sufficient siding, roof and windows,� Henjum said. “You’re not going to see a big return, but on a stressed property, that’s needed before they can sell.�

Curb appeal will help sell a home, but it won’t necessarily raise the value.

Outdoor amenities like decks, porches, a manicured lawn and well-kept plants do make a difference, according to Henjum. That difference is often between selling and having the home languish on the market for a long time.

One key with property value is to blend in with neighboring homes. You never want to be the nicest or the ugliest house on the block, according to Henjum. “Overdoing the improvements won’t do as much but you don’t want to be the white elephant either,� Henjum said. “You don’t want to be too different than anyone else.�

are tuned into it, but appraisers don’t always grasp the value.�

Buyers often ask what the monthly energy costs are for a home before making a decision.

Not all improvements are equal. One feature of a home that is either loved or hated is a swimming pool. Buyers often view pools as an amenity in the summer, but also realize the weather is freezing cold for much of the Minnesota year.

The wide range of opinion on pools is an example of many home components that people react differently to, such as carpet and color choices, outbuildings and window treatments.

No one has the same taste, but most agree that clean, updated, safe and efficient homes are the ones that are best for current and future owners.

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT September 23, 2011

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THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

group but it accounts for a fair amount of consumer spending,� Meyer said.

Few people can afford these types of projects, and as families look to pinch pennies in the recession, some are looking to tackle remodeling projects on their own.

However, Meyer warns that there are some tasks that require a professional such as making major changes to a room’s layout.

This does not mean the homeowner has to stand back on the sidelines, she said.

Many contractors will allow the homeowner to assist in the project, which will reduce the cost, Meyer said. “I would encourage homeowners to ask about that agreement,� she said.

For more information on the Twin Cities Remodelers Showcase, visit www.paradeofhomes.org.

E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com

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compare their work and find out who they would like to work with,� said Joan Knight, spokesperson for the Twin Cities Builders Association.

Admission is free, with the exception of dream homes, for which a $5 ticket is needed.

Money raised at the event will to go toward the Builders Association Foundation, which offers free services to veterans and funding to Habitat for Humanity and Haiti ear thquake relief.

The show’s two dream homes feature substantial remodeling projects. In one instance, the entire home was remodeled. “I think those will get a lot of traffic,� Knight said.

Industry leaders say they believe the remodeling industry has remained strong despite the recession. “People see it as a strategy to sell their home, or they want to make modifications as they stay longer,� said Sandra Meyer, spokesperson for the National Association

of the Remodeling Industry of Minnesota.

Whether the industry is experiencing an influx of business is hard to say, Meyer said. It is difficult to separate professional contractor from do-it-yourselfers when looking at permit and licensing numbers. “There’s a mix bag of things going on,� she said. “Some members are struggling and others are doing well.�

Financing is often the greatest challenge for clients who want large remodeling projects, Meyer said.

Generally, the most popular remodeling projects continue to be kitchens and bathrooms, which often provide the greatest return on investment, she said. “We also see a fair amount of additions with more multi-generational living,� Meyer said.

Then there is a niche group that consists of customized, large scale projects such as wine cellars, media rooms and yoga rooms. “This is the smallest

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