ProRemodeler Best Practices - Customer Satisfaction - Industry News

• Drywall firms look for upswing in projects in Idaho
  Large or small, drywall contractors are scrambling to keep themselves and their employees busy. "We don't have a whole lot of backlog," said Leon Kerns, owner of Boise-based Superior Interiors. "We're out there trying to figure out what the market is doing. " On the small side, some drywall contractors are finding more work in remodels and repairs than in new construction.
• Couple fighting builder in lawsuit; Home renovation `not up to code'
  Jim and Michelle Cormier had grand dreams for their Elm Street home when they hired a contractor to start a major renovation project in 2001. Almost eight years and $100,000 later, with their savings depleted, the couple said they and their four children are living in an unfinished job site, unable to enjoy the renovation. The Cormiers have filed a lawsuit against the builder they hired, but are also angry at the city for signing off on what they feel is substandard work.
• Insurance Upgrade Helps Homeowners Go "Green" After a Loss
  Let your customers in on this one, too. If a home is damaged or destroyed, homeowners may want to rebuild with "green" materials and processes, but the additional cost can be prohibitive. Now, homeowners can obtain insurance through the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies that will pay to rebuild using environmentally friendly materials.
• Moldy House Costs Builder $3 Million
  A judge in Ohio awarded a family over $3 million in a case where their home grew mold from water seepage. The builder is not very happy with the outcome. This is how it all happened.
• 10 Most-Hyped Kitchen Products
  

  Builders looking to put the latest and greatest in their homes might want to take a look at Consumer Reports' latest tests, which reveal that many of the most loudly hawked kitchen products—and often most expensive—delivered less than they promised. Several were even beaten by the old standards that cost far less.

• Northern Virginia Design-Build Firm Focuses Only on Basements
  Finished Basement Company, claims to be the first and only remodeling firm in Northern Virginia dedicated solely to basement design and build.
• Questions Can Prepare Remodelers for Response
  Here is a list of questions that consumers are being advised to ask of remodeling firms that they may be considering for their home projects.Remodelers can use this list to be prepared for appropriate response.
• Some Buyers See Fireplace as a Must Have
  Here’s a hot trend tip for builders of custom homes. Real estate professionals are finding increasingly that fireplaces are "must haves" for home buyers. Not only does a hearth make for a cozy centerpiece on cool nights, it can also be a good investment -- with each fireplace adding as much as 12 percent to a home's value.
• Survey: Increased Value is Top Remodeling Motivator
  According to a national survey conducted for Bank of America by MARC Research, 60 percent of homeowners believe that putting more effort and resources towards home improvement is the best way to increase home value.
• Recreation Remodeling
  Here is a case study where homeowners decided to turn their living room into a recreational media center, only to end up calling in a professional remodeler to help finish the job.
• Energy-Saving Improvement List for Tax Relief
  Here is a list of various energy-saving home improvements with the tax credit levels that can be gained for consumers. Remodelers can share this good news information with their clients.
• Survey Finds Warranties Worth Less to Consumers
  Instead of peace of mind, consumers in one new survey say the services warranties provide aren't worth the money. Take a look at the top 10 list of categories with the highest percentage of Fs and Ds, and find out why warranties fail with consumers.
• Housing Slump Slashes Jobs Nationwide
  Home sellers aren't the only ones pained by the sharp housing market slowdown: So are people who build houses. U.S. homebuilders and residential specialty trade employers cut 21,200 jobs in May, June and July, usually the peak building months, according to the most recent preliminary numbers from the Labor Department.

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