Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) January 21, 2014

Minneapolis homeowners are investing in upgrading or remodeling their houses, according to the 2014 Hanley Wood Remodel Cost Vs Value Report released January 16, remodeling sales were up 10 percent nationally, and about a half of the surveyed remodelers agree all home remodel categories are up. Predictions are that 2014 Minneapolis home remodeling trends will continue to see this steady growth and offer homeowners clues as to which home remodeling projects will pay off in 2014.

"Minneapolis home remodel projects can entail a big decision making process for homeowners. One of the best ways to increase the value of your home is to keep the property up and mindful of current trends," says Jenna Thuening, owner of Home Destination. "Should something come up to prompt a move that you weren't necessarily planning, getting your home market ready won't be such a huge task if home remodeling projects are completed and keep a home's decor on par with want buyers want."

The Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling Magazine is highly anticipated for its precise information on which West North Central, including Minneapolis, home remodeling projects, grant homeowners the best return-on-investment when remodeling. According to the study, the West North Central Region of the US bettered national averages, showing strong improvements in Twin Cites remodeling spending levels.

Listing the top home remodeling projects in Hanley Wood's 2014 Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report, Home Destination numbers them according to their highest return on value:

1) Wood Window Replacements - Wood window replacements average $12,396, with a resale running $9,694, ending up with a recouped value of 78.2 percent. Wood window replacement remodeling projects come in with the highest return value per cost for Minneapolis homeowners. While the cost of wooden replacement windows is significantly higher than vinyl, they will add proportionally to a home's resale value.

2) Wood Deck Addition - Therefore, adding a home deck can end up at a cost recouped of 76.2 percent. A home deck build offers Minneapolis homeowners the chance to enjoy outdoor entertaining more.

3) Home Basement Remodel - Job costs average $17,112 with a resale value of $8,983. The remodeling project has a recouped value of 75.4 percent.

4) Garage Door Replacement - Expect a garage door replacement project cost to be around $1,771, with a resale vale of $1,331, which is a recouped value of 75 percent.

5) Attic Bedroom Remodel - Job cost of a Minneapolis attic bedroom remodel averages $52,291 with a resale value of $44,398, which means the homeowner can anticipate a cost recouped of 74 percent.

Link:
Minneapolis Remodel Cost Vs. Value 2014 Report: All Home Remodeling Categories Up

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Home remodeling Atlanta specialist providing general contracting services to residential properties in Atlanta Georgia. From deck enclosures to bathroom reno...

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Burton MI Basement Finishing - Basement Remodeling Burton MI
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Burton MI Basement Finishing - Basement Remodeling Burton MI - Video

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Basement Finishing Contractors in Toms River, Camden, Brick ...

Dear Angie: Can I save money by finishing my basement piecemeal rather than hiring a general contractor? Jennifer M., Alpharetta, Ga.

Dear Jennifer: It depends. There are risks and rewards if you act as your own general contractor on a large project.

Our researchers found that general contractors who hire and supervise subcontractors such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters typically mark up labor and material costs by as much as 20 percent. A 20 percent markup on a $15,000 remodel, for example, would be $3,000. Thats money you could pocket if you supervise all aspects of the project.

But weigh your options carefully before deciding whats best for your situation. Unless you have experience in the building trades or house construction, as well as a flexible schedule with significant free time, youre probably not ready to act as your own general contractor. Orchestrating a full remodeling of your basement can be a monumental task for an inexperienced homeowner.

You could end up paying more if the job is done incorrectly by the subcontractors you hire or if scheduling conflicts arise. Highly rated general contractors tell our team that they sometimes are brought in to fix problems created by workers homeowners hired on the cheap.

A general contractor is responsible for fixing problems with the job. If things go wrong on your watch, youll be paying.

Also, keep in mind that an experienced and qualified general contractor will handle getting all necessary permits, and making sure subcontractors are appropriately insured and licensed. A good general contractor also will ensure that work meets local building codes, comes in on budget and maintains high quality standards.

But if you have the experience and the time to be your own general contractor, you may save money as well as stay on top of all details.

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Being your own contractor carries some risks

Actual construction is nearly ready to begin on the first part of the Ward County jail remodeling and expansion.

The Ward County Board voted today to move offices and people from the basement of the courthouse so that work can begin to turn the space into a juvenile detention center.

The work could begin within six weeks or so in an area adjacent to the existing juvenile court.

County Engineer Dana Larsen told board members the engineers on the project want to get going on identifying structural issues they'll face in putting the center in the basement.

(Dana Larsen, Ward County Engineer) "They would like for individuals to be out within maybe 30 days so they could start removing items so they can begin the process - and I think they talked about maybe within a year juvenile detention could be open if we got going on it right away."

(Shelly Weppler, Ward County Commissioner) "I think we should just get moving on it and make it happen."

Sheriff Steve Kukowski told commissioners the work is important because it will help him spend grant money that might run out if work isn't begun soon.

He also says the relocation of the juvenile detention center will open up several new beds for the county jail.

The jail remodeling and expansion will ultimately include a new building to help greatly expand the capacity of the jail.

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Jail Project Close to Start

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Kevin Wharton doesn't have to look long or hard to find trouble spots in your house when Kentuckiana is dealing with its worst flash freeze in 20 years.

"This hose is frozen solid," said Wharton as he inspected a home in Louisville's Crescent Hill neighborhood.

Wharton, a reconstruction specialist for Paul Davis Restorations, believes we can save ourselves money and grief by attending to small details we otherwise might overlook. He's big on venting; specifically, closing the vents to the crawl space.

"You need to stop that cold air from entering," Wharton said. "But if you have heat going into your partial basement, leave an opening so that some of that heat can get into the crawl space, particularly if you have pipes there."

Shutoff valves can also stop a lot of trouble cold.

"Shut off your washer valve between loads, but turn the machine on. It relieves the pressure on the line," Wharton said.

The same is true of water lines connecting to hoses outside.

"Turn off the valve back in the warm house, open up the outside, and let it drain out."

Otherwise, Wharton said, you may not realize that outside water line has frozen, and compromised the pipe, until spring.

"Last thing you want is to wash your car, and go back in to find a flooded basement," said Wharton.

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Flash freeze: What all those thumps and bumps mean for your house

by Joe Smith, KGW Business Reporter

kgw.com

Posted on January 3, 2014 at 5:38 PM

Updated today at 5:41 PM

PORTLAND Its only January but remodeling and landscaping shows, with an eye toward spring, have already begun pop up.

The Build, Remodel & Landscape Show at the Oregon Convention Center, for example, is a one-stop source for ideas on home improvements from roof to basement. Its a great place to start before you tackle a remodeling project.

The remodeling industry has seen tremendous growth in the past several years.

Last year alone, with home sales up, over $150 billion was spent to spruce up kitchens and baths. This year looks to be another good one for an industry that always likes to come up with something new.

For example, one vendor at the convention center was displaying floors made out of ordinary craft paper.

I took the decoupage process, which is obviously centuries old, and I translated it into a large surface like a floor or countertop, said Lisa Raymer of Decoupage Floors. It can be colored anyway you want.

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Ideas for home improvements abound at convention center

Henryville, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) January 01, 2014

For the third year in a row, Pocono Luxury Inc. has earned a 5 star satisfaction rating from its customers, winning it the 2013 Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award in the Home Improvement & Remodeling category.

Originally begun as a home builder/developer, Pocono Luxury has truly made a name for itself in the home improvement/remodeling industry with three consecutive Talk of the Town Awards under its belt.

Pocono Luxury President Dimitry Metelkin and his team are grateful to their customers for acknowledging their efforts. "We would like to thank our customers for the business and the opportunity to make their visions come to life in turning their houses into homes," he says. "We would also like to thank them for their high praise on the finished product."

Despite the fact that the remodeling industry and contractors often get a bad name, Pocono Luxury continues to grow its list of satisfied customers. "This third consecutive award for customer satisfaction means a lot to our business," says Metelkin. "It tells us that we are on the right path and encourages us by letting us know that our efforts are not going unnoticed."

To further secure its place in the industry, Pocono Luxury has been focusing on and expanding its philosophy of ensuring absolute customer satisfaction at any cost, according to Metelkin. "We will continue to build on this philosophy and work toward changing the overall perception, experience and expectations that homeowners have when it comes to hiring a contractor," he says.

Furthermore, Pocono Luxury is in the process of opening a retail side to the business, which will extend its ability to provide quality materials for its projects. The retail side, called unique4home.com, allows the business to offer customers an out-of-the-box shopping and selection experience so they can create truly custom rooms in their homes. "We already offer superior to most and completely customizable workmanship, but now we are able to offer a truly unique product and items that you simply cant find in the big box stores," says Metelkin.

Metelkin credits the entire Pocono Luxury team for the companys success. "All members of our team treat every project with the utmost respect and attention to detail," he says. "We realize that we are far from perfect, but no project is considered finished until the customer is completely satisfied."

Pocono Luxury stands behind its work no matter what, offering a three-year warranty separate from any manufacturers warranties. "It's all about building and keeping a good name," says Metelkin. "We go above and beyond to make sure the customer is always happy with the end result. In the construction industry, problems are common place; unlike other companies, we deal with the problems and make things right by the homeowners."

About Pocono Luxury Inc.

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Pocono Luxury Inc. Honored With Third Straight Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award

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HANDOUT MCT

Dear Angie: Can I save money by finishing my basement piecemeal rather than hiring a general contractor? Jennifer M., Alpharetta, Ga.

Dear Jennifer: It depends. There are risks and rewards if you act as your own general contractor on a large project.

Our researchers found that general contractors who hire and supervise subcontractors such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters typically mark up labor and material costs by as much as 20 percent. A 20 percent markup on a $15,000 remodel, for example, would be $3,000. That's money you could pocket if you supervise all aspects of the project.

But weigh your options carefully before deciding what's best for your situation.

Unless you have experience in the building trades or house construction, as well as a flexible schedule with significant free time, you're probably not ready to act as your own general contractor. Orchestrating a full remodeling of your basement can be a monumental task for an inexperienced homeowner.

You could end up paying more if the job is done incorrectly by the subcontractors you hire or if scheduling conflicts arise. Highly rated general contractors tell our team that they sometimes are brought in to fix problems created by workers homeowners hired on the cheap.

A general contractor is responsible for fixing problems with the job. If things go wrong on your watch, you'll be paying.

Also, keep in mind that an experienced and qualified general contractor will handle getting all necessary permits, and making sure subcontractors are appropriately insured and licensed. A good general contractor also will ensure that work meets local building codes, comes in on budget and maintains high quality standards.

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Ask Angie: Should I hire a general contractor?