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Delivering Great Client Experiences...

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cost vs. value

Remodel Now for Best Value

April 28, 2017 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

It seems we talk about remodeling projects forever and torment ourselves bingeing HGTV and browsing Houzz. We tell our spouses we aren’t quite ready to spend (or borrow) the money. Besides, we deserve that big vacation this year.

During the Great Recession, that strategy may have made sense. According to an analysis by Metrostudy, remodeling costs actually declined for several years during the housing slump. But the opposite has been true for the past few years. The latest annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report showed that projects costs have been increasing steadily, and the trend is only expected to accelerate. Fortunately, home values are going up too.

JB reviews addition plans with St. Paul clients

JB and Carmin review preliminary plans for kitchen-bathroom-mudroom addition with St. Paul homeowners.

Study Suggests Rising Remodeling Costs

The Report noted, “Nationally, the average payback for the 24 projects that we’ve tracked throughout this decade has ranged between 58% and 66%. Costs have risen each of the past four years, following a time in which the Great Recession caused prices to fall. Values have seen bigger shifts, rising the past two years after having declined in three of the previous four.”

Building materials prices have been rising steadily during the economic recovery driven by higher demand and now import tariffs. For example, more than a third of the lumber used in US construction comes from Canada. Since the grace period for the US-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement expired last October, prices have risen each month. A US Commerce Department decision on anti-dumping penalties due April 25 was just pushed back to June. With some fearing the combined penalties and tariffs on Canadian lumber could reach 45 percent, the Canadians are said to be evaluating shifting exports away from the United States and to China. At this point, the just announced tariff is up over 20%.

Remodeling activity in the greater Twin Cities is robust. Reputable contractors who survived the downturn are busy. Skilled construction labor is in short supply and pushing labor costs higher. Meanwhile, interest rates for home equity loans also can be expected to rise in the years ahead.

“I don’t believe in high-pressure sales tactics. Never have. But the facts cannot be dismissed,” APEX President John “JB” Biancini observed. “Remodeling will cost more next year than it does this year and this year costs more than last year. The better value is now, not two years down the road.”

Use It or Lose It

While rising costs argue for remodeling sooner rather than later, the most important incentive is the ability to enjoy the upgrades sooner. How do you put a value on your kids and their friends wanting to hang out at your house because you remodeled the basement. Or wanting to entertain friends and family more because you have a wonderful open floor plan kitchen. Or the pride that comes from an exterior facelift and sheltered entry addition that neighbors adore (and envy)?

“With the exception of house flippers who are only in it for the money, most people remodel their homes to improve their quality of life. The investment potential is important but secondary,” JB said. “The main factor that would lead to an over improvement is if you don’t remain in the home long enough to enjoy it.”

Boomers Driving Discretionary Remodeling

Interestingly, a recent Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies’ Demographic Change and the Remodeling Outlook report predicts record remodeling spending, largely by baby boomers and much more on discretionary rather than repair projects. It suggests nearly 33 percent grow in remodeling spending among homeowners age 55 and over, some 56 percent of the overall remodeling market, by 2025. Discretionary projects, which dipped to one-third of spending during the recession, are expected to drive the remodeling market going forward.

Filed Under: News, Value for Your Remodeling Investment Tagged With: cost vs. value, Value

Value of joy in APEX Construction projects

March 29, 2016 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

RIS-Cov

Each year, Remodeling Magazine publishes its Cost vs. Value Report that benchmarks the cost of typical home remodeling projects and how they might impact the home’s resale value. It’s a handy reference if you are wondering how much more a project will cost you this year compared to if you had completed it last year. Hint: it seldom costs less. It also is useful to avoid over-improving if you plan to sell your home in the next couple of years.

This time, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) also teamed with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to produce the Remodeling Impact Study, which may be even more valuable. While Cost vs. Value measures financial payback, the Remodeling Impact Study assesses appeal and enjoyment. In other words, how much will the project enhance enjoyment of your home, and how will the improvements influence your home’s desirability in the real estate market?

Not surprisingly, the projects that are best at holding dollar value seldom are the ones we truly love. Exception: Replacing a worn or damaged roof is worth more than it costs and is highly recommended by Realtors. Apparently, we all appreciate the value of staying dry. And both home inspectors and insurance carriers are quick to flag faulty roofs.

The Remodeling Impact Study found that 3 out of 4 of those surveyed wanted to spend more time in their homes after remodeling and more than 9 in 10 were happy or satisfied with how their projects turned out.

Although our homes often are among our most valuable investments, they are much more. With the rise of Millennials, a recent report found that life is more about experiences than things. Homes form the backdrops of many life experiences. How does someone who enjoys cooking or entertaining put a value on an updated, open floor plan kitchen that’s integrated with an outdoor living environment? When a family loves its neighborhood but need more space, what’s the real worth of refinishing the basement or tastefully adding on? And don’t forget the Kodak moments (make that iPhone snapshots) that will be preserved in digital photos for generations.

Please contact JB at APEX Design Build (aka APEX Construction Management) to discuss your remodeling needs.

Top 3 Remodeling Impact table

Top Value Remodeling Projects

The Remodeling Impact survey found that a new bathroom, complete kitchen remodeling and master suites are the top three “Joy Index” interior projects. Meanwhile, Realtors are most likely to recommend a kitchen facelift, bathroom remodel and hardwood floor refinishing to prepare an older home for resale.

Here are links to the complete reports:

Remodeling Impact Study

Cost vs. Value Report

Filed Under: kitchen remodeling, News, Value for Your Remodeling Investment Tagged With: cost vs. value, top remodeling projects

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2021 Guildmaster Award

From the APEX Blog

APEX Awarded 2022 Guildmaster Award

Again this year Guild Quality, a consumer service providing customer satisfaction surveying, performance reporting, and marketing for quality-minded home builders, remodelers, and service providers, has awarded Apex Design Build the Guildmaster Award with Highest Distinction. This is the third year in row that APEX has received the award. 

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