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Fashion Trends in Homes

by | Jul 21, 2016 | Home Upgrade

Fashion Trends in Homes | Boom Brothers, Madison, WI Building

One of the greatest generations helped shape history in World War II, came home, and began building. Suburbs, tract homes, parks, and malls. Materials were still in short supply, and it was hard to tell one new neighborhood from the next. The focus was to use available materials and build a nice home for the new family. The homes seemed to mirror the fashion of the day. Hats for men, dresses for women, without a lot of choices.

Individuality rules today. A seemingly endless amount of new products and ideas are available to help everyone find a unique personal style. Older homes are passing to a new generation who are eager to update and add their own style for a one-of-a-kind dream home. Marketing and the internet have helped fuel a frenzy of ideas and creativity of which homeowners are buying into.

But before you begin, does it add value?

We all have old, funny clothes in our closet. An impulse buy of something we “just had to have,” but of no real value now. A house is an investment. One of the most important and exciting purchases you may make. Give value priority. Work with your professional realtor and builder to “make sure the house has good bones.”

Enhance your living areas. Update windows, furnace, etc. Take care of the basics first, just like the men and women from the greatest generation. Then use your creativity and choose from the vast amount of products available today to add some personal style to your home!

About Jim Hughes

Jim brings 35+ years of experience in the construction industry. He graduated from UW-Platteville with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has since worked in a variety of disciplines including masonry, building, drafting, estimating, and project management. In his off-time he works on his own house and visits his home farm to help his brother.

Embrace the Age of Your Home in a New Remodel

by | May 26, 2016 | Home Upgrade

DON’T LOSE THE AGE OF YOUR HOME IN A NEW REMODEL | Home Remodeling, Renovation, Madison, WI

A remodeling project can be like a wardrobe update for your home. An exciting explosion of new products and colors can really change the look of your home, but be careful. All new products on an older home could turn out like your Dad trying to wear skinny jeans — not a good visual!

Find products that you like and start testing how they go together. Have fun with it! I see people who agonize, stress out, and fight over this. Think of it as dressing your house up, get creative. Run it past your contractor or family friend for a fresh set of eyes. Your contractor’s knowledge can help guide you in decision making and trends. Grab an adult beverage, spread your choices out, relax, and once you’ve made your decisions…

Look at the samples in a new light, literally. Store lights do not tell you the whole story, and are not consistent in your personal home lighting or the lighting sun will provide. Take the samples outside or, better yet, have that adult beverage and watch what the different light does to your samples in your own home.

To recap:

  1. Be mindful with your new remodeling materials. Make sure the new and the old can coexist seamlessly.
  2. Once your materials have been selected, be sure to test them in different lighting.
  3. Enjoy your new view!

– Jim Hughes

About Jim Hughes

Jim brings 35+ years of experience in the construction industry. He graduated from UW-Platteville with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has since worked in a variety of disciplines including masonry, building, drafting, estimating, and project management. In his off-time he works on his own house and visits his home farm to help his brother.

Check Your Vision: Your Dream Home Still Needs the Basics

by | Apr 14, 2016 | Home Upgrade

Your Dream Home Still Needs the Basics | Home Renovation, Buying, Boom Brothers Property Solutions

Do you have 20/20 vision with your dream home? Tour a home with a friend or partner and compare notes. The creative personality looks at the curb appeal, cabinet storage, and how the light plays in each room. The analytical personality looks at the total square feet, how old the kitchen appliances are, and if the lights work. Collectively, you have still missed a lot of details.

i.e. How many electrical outlets were in each room?

It is only natural to start forming a wish list based on what you saw—and start competing for what you want within a limited budget. Will you have a renovated kitchen or a new media room? Strategies may be formed before the tour is even finished, and there may not be enough budget to do it all.

Time for a vision check. Go back to the basics, figure out your needs before your wants.

Direct your attention to the foundation, mechanicals, windows, roof, etc. Focus your vision (the more eyes the better) on the boring, but very important, basics. Compare notes and allocate budget money for these items. Your team of realtors and contractors act as a pair of glasses to help you see these important, basic priorities more clearly. Let the contractor guide you at this stage.

Once the basics are covered, the fun can begin. Go through the home again. Dream, create, and compromise to decide which updates have priority. With a clear vision, you can now have role reversal and guide your contractor to achieve your dream home.

– Jim Hughes

About Jim Hughes

Jim brings 35+ years of experience in the construction industry. He graduated from UW-Platteville with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has since worked in a variety of disciplines including masonry, building, drafting, estimating, and project management. In his off-time he works on his own house and visits his home farm to help his brother.

Enjoy Reaching Your Remodeling Destination

by | Mar 3, 2016 | Home Upgrade

Enjoy Reaching Your Remodeling Destination | Boom Brothers in Madison, WI

A dream of many is a destination travel event with friends, family, or soul mate. Would you just grab a credit card, go to an airport, look at all the options, and pick a flight? A few might make it work and have fun, but chances are you would return with frustrations and a big balance on your credit card.

Remodeling with a clear “Destination” in mind can reward you with improved quality of life, while staying within your budget. It starts with a realistic plan. IF you stray away from that plan, it will cost you. Staying with the plan will make your journey to the end of your Destination project an enjoyable one.

Sounds simple, right? Wrong. The basic “sticks” or lumber in your project don’t cost much more than they did 30 or more years ago…so why does a remodeling project get so expensive? Size and options. 30 years ago houses were about 1400 – 2000 square feet in size, with a simple roof, and a select few amenities. Just as all drinks are now super-sized and marketed, so are building projects. The typical home size has tripled. The larger space often is filled with website or television inspired ideas of which most are expensive. 20 years ago consumers did not have a lot of product options which helped to control costs. Now the options are endless, and vary greatly in price point.

Suggestions?

  • Start with a plan
  • Make your changes on paper
  • Choose your options carefully
  • Review the plan
  • Make your changes on paper

Your travel guide on this remodeling journey is your contractor. Look for a goal-oriented contractor that encourages open communication. Plan and price your goal, continue to make all changes on paper. All projects may have unforeseen setbacks…that is the nature of remodeling. However, once you sign on the dotted line, you either work with, or against, your contractor.

How do you work against someone you just hired? Walls are framed, and the scheduled trades such as heating, electrical, insulation, and drywall show up per the planned schedule. Maybe that door and window would look better on the other wall? Some demolition is done on the new work (with extra labor, material, and disposal cost) then all the trades need to come back when their schedule allows (with trip charges). You have just put yourself over budget, and behind schedule. The contractor and all the trades are now behind schedule, and will have to start their next project as promised, and come back to yours, part-time, to finish up…putting you even farther behind. Not a happy ending.

Make your plan. Make changes on paper. Work with your contractor, and have a happy “Destination” remodeling project!

– Jim Hughes

About Jim Hughes

Jim brings 35+ years of experience in the construction industry. He graduated from UW-Platteville with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has since worked in a variety of disciplines including masonry, building, drafting, estimating, and project management. In his off-time he works on his own house and visits his home farm to help his brother.

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