Decatur, GA Entire House Remodel

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Maximize your Investment

Kitchen Remodeling

How to Maximize your Investment

It’s important to understand how your Kitchen Remodeling project can provide the highest return on your investment (ROI). Here are some important factors to consider in any home remodeling project.

Property Market Value: It might seem like common sense but it’s important to know your properties value and compare it with similar properties in your area.

Market Analysis: Consult a local Real Estate Agent to find out the average ROI in your neighborhood.

Budgeting: Set a realistic budget. If you are not familiar with cost of remodeling and want to learn more feel free to contact us for advice or set up a free initial consultation.

Planning and designing: The most important steps for a successful maximized ROI for any home remodeling project is good planning and design. With our in house design team we can help you plan and design carefully

Functionality: A new kitchen can look beautiful but is it functional? Deciding where to place cooking utensils, pots and pans, silverware, glasses, dinnerware, etc. is all part of planning a functional space. A good working triangle is just as important. The goal of a good kitchen work triangle is to place the three most common work areas the most efficient distance apart and to minimize traffic through the work zone.

Materials: When it comes to remodeling, choices are unlimted, not to mention a significant portion of the planning and budgeting process. When making selections material can impact your remodeling ROI.  At Construction Ahead we assist you throughout the entire process.

Quality Workmanship: Kitchen and Bathrooms are the two most expensive projects in any home. Hire a professional. Our trusted staff of professionals pride themselves on our exceptional craftsmanship and communication, ensuring our clients a pleasant journey throughout the remodeling process.

Curb Appeal

Enhancing what you already own is a good philosophy especially in today’s market. Real estate agents like to say that the three things that determine the value of a house are location, location, location.  But they also talk about curb appeal – the impression a house gives when you first approach it. It also helps determine value and makes a house feel more like a home.

That’s where an exterior face-lift comes in. Something as basic as using new paint colors can update an outdated home. A plain exterior can be made more distinctive by adding trim details. You can also make a truly dramatic change by adding porches or dormers to entirely change the character of your house.

Such was the case for this home located in Brookhaven, Georgia when they asked us to redesign the facade of their home. Though well located their home lacked “curb appeal.” The homeowners knew that enhancing the exterior would improve the market value and add to the character of the home in which it needed.

We utilized what was good about the facade, embellishing with new elements where appropriate. And the new design elevates this house to a more sophisticated level.

The architectural changes made were: enlarging the front facing porch roof and changing it to a gable, projecting a new small porch to give the house a presence. Replacing a standard size window with a new bay window, this not only provides interior light but adds exterior interest to the home. A new entry door flanked by sidelights welcomes guests. New columns replace the small posts of the past. Copper standing seam roof and gutters, brick pavers at the porch and a new sidewalk help to transform the home’s appearance.

The overall results are a wise use of space, material, and product, designed in a cost effective, practical way that suits the homeowners needs and enhances their home; a maximum benefit for an appropriate cost.

After

 

How to “Go Green” in your home

There are many “Green” components in the residential building industry that can help improve the quality of energy efficiency in your home. The idea is to develop cost-effective solutions that significantly reduce the average energy use of housing while improving comfort and quality.

When hiring a “NARI Green Certified Professional” like Construction Ahead for your home renovations, we can provide “green” energy features to help you save money, improve indoor air quality, prevent moisture problems, and increase the long term durability of your home.

Some key features to consider while remodeling that offer a return on your investment while staying “Green:”

Insulation- Air leakage is a major problem for new and existing homes, and it can contribute to 30 percent of heating and cooling costs. To help reduce air leakage efficiently your home requires a continuous air barrier system – a combination of materials linked together to create a tight building envelope.

Install Energy Efficient Windows – Consider replacement window sashes with double glazed windows, U- Factors (rate of heat loss), low-emissivity or “Low-E” coatings and other high performance features. High performance energy efficient windows do more than just lower energy bills – they deliver more comfort, create less condensation, and protect your valuables from sun damage much more than the typical clear-glass double- paned alternatives.

HVAC Systems – Consider upgrading your home’s heating and cooling system for maximum efficiency. There are several things you can do to increase efficiency: select a high efficiency system designed for local climatic conditions, install fresh air ventilation systems to bring in outside air when needed, and size ductwork to meet the heating and cooling load of each room while allowing for proper air flow. With these systems in place, you will have a guaranteed return on your investment and the utmost comfort.

Energy Efficient Appliances – While most new appliances offer a wide range of features, several models are not designed to be energy efficient. When choosing appliances it is key to consider their operating costs, how much energy they require to run, as well as the purchase price and features of convenience they offer. Appliances that operate efficiently may cost more to buy, but the energy savings they provide make them a good return on your investment.

Tankless Water Heater – A tankless water heater provides hot water only when needed. It heats water on demand unlike conventional tanks which commonly store unused hot water. This means while using a tankless water heater, you won’t run out of hot water in the middle of your shower. Tankless water heaters cost more up front than standard models; the idea is that you’ll save money in the long run due to lower energy bills.

We understand homeowners want more value for their remodeling dollars. There are plenty of ways to maximize your dollar, and we can help you find practical solutions to save energy and save money in your home by “Green” remodeling. There are also many tax incentives to those who take advantage of green solutions.

For more information about how you can maximize your dollars and upgrade your home’s energy efficiency, please view our website or feel free to contact us at 770.234.0911.

The Foundation of Construction Ahead

Construction Ahead is a classic example of the entrepreneurial spirit at work. Founded in 1993, Austin Foster began the business only three years after receiving his Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia.

Building a business from the ground up doesn’t happen overnight. But since the beginning, Austin’s philosophy has been to provide each client with a high quality of work and an enjoyable experience. When Austin was the sole “employee,” he set out to master each trade in the residential construction industry while creating lasting relationships with his clients.

With expansion, Austin implemented the Lead Carpenter System structure in which each lead is a skilled carpenter. They are trained to be proficient at managing a remodeling project as well as possessing strong customer management skills, so this system turns out some of the best professionals in the industry.

Over the past 17 years, this formula has added up to success. In fact, 92 percent of our business in 2005 was from repeat customers.

Austin credits this high satisfaction rate to his personal values and commitment to create happy customers before, during and after the job. The key? Communication.

It’s company policy to make sure the customer has a calendar of the job schedule with the contracts. There will be no setting up, then disappearing for four days like some in the industry will do. Instead, someone will be working every day, and if something, such as a delayed inspection, slows down the process, the customer is notified immediately.

Communication along the way cannot be overlooked because this keeps the customer informed of exactly where in the process the job is, and when changes (if any) can be made to the original plan.

Always striving to improve his skills and his business, Austin received his Certified Remodeler Certification, joined Remodelers Advantage, and is a member of National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) where he also serves on the committee.

With his sights on being one of the top contractors in Atlanta, Austin always strives to set and meet goals.