One of our farmhouse remodels is featured as the cover story in Qualified Remodeler Magazine’s May 2017 issue. Learn more about the project and hear from our very own Rick Bartelt, Matt Retzak, and Heather Scott.
Click on the cover to read the article!
Bartelt was named the 2017 National Contractor of the Year (CotY) by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for the Entire House $500,001 – $750,000 category.
“We are honored to be named the 2017 National Contractor of the Year in this category,” said Rick Bartelt, owner. “We would not have achieved such a high honor without the expertise and dedication of the entire team, including our designers, carpenters, production staff, trade partners and customers.”
Contractors from seven regions nationwide vie for the awards on an annual basis. An impartial panel of judges, who are experts within the industry and associated fields, selected winners based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation.
Earlier this year, NARI named 172 Regional CotY winners with 27 team members who advanced as finalists to the national level. NARI announced a National winner in each of the 37 categories at its Evening of Excellence reception, held in Scottsdale, Arizona.
After previous remodels, the winning project was dated, and the spaces lacked unity. The homeowners wanted to enhance the home’s original charm, creating a cohesive design throughout the various rooms, while highlighting their eclectic style and accommodating their modern lifestyle. The remodel features a new mudroom, kitchen expansion, family room, butler’s pantry, first floor bathroom, dining room, and master bathroom. Throughout the project, it was important to increase the natural light in the home and make the spaces more conducive to entertaining. Now, the home is a balanced mix of the homeowners’ eclectic taste and more traditional details. Bartelt worked with interior designer Jeff Wasserman to complete the project.
See the winning project on Houzz.
You’re ready to make the move. You’ve landed on a budget and researched what you could buy or build for that price point, but the available home inventory is low or lacking those turnkey, ready-to-move-in homes.
Where do you go from here? Do you decide to build? Building is definitely an option, but there can be some trade-offs.
It may be time to consider the “fixer upper.” What do we mean by “fixer upper?” It’s the wrong house in the right place at the right price. It’s in an established neighborhood, a desirable location with good schools and tree-lined streets, but it doesn’t quite fit the bill. Perhaps, the previous homeowners have lived there for years. They’re comfortable and think it works, but the home needs updating (sometimes major updating) and a more functional layout.
Maybe choosing that home that’s under your means***, that’s in the right place, but needs some love seems overwhelming. But it can be a fun challenge, and the perfect opportunity to have everything you ever wanted in a home. Let’s look at the “perks” of choosing a fixer upper.
We all know that location is often king! It’s important to be near parks, shopping, restaurants, and good schools. Beyond your must-have location list, the fixer upper is usually in an established neighborhood, which means mature trees, landscaping, and other amenities.
It may seem appealing to purchase or build a new home (perhaps, it’s the easier option – the work has already been done for you), but customization and character are definitely limited. Think about driving into a new subdivision with freshly built homes. They’re lovely, but you may notice something – they’re all essentially the same. Sure, they may have varying color schemes or different window configurations, but they truly lack charm and a unique “personality.”
Remodeling the fixer upper will ensure you don’t end up in that cookie cutter home. Older homes often have hard-to-replicate architectural details and other charming features. Plus, once you begin the remodeling process, you’ll realize there is a lot of opportunity to be creative and tailor your home to your preferences (sometimes to an overwhelming extent, which is why hiring professionals to guide you is the best approach).
Renovating a fixer upper can often cost as much as a building a new home, but there’s an important difference. In a new home, you’re putting your money towards quantity items – moldings, windows, doors, hardware, flooring, cabinetry, appliances, HVAC systems, plumbing fixtures, landscaping, a driveway. A new home needs everything! Remodeling gives homeowners more flexibility to put their money towards quality materials and high-end finishes because there are existing details that can be saved, repurposed, or remain completely untouched.
Now, let’s look at this idea in action. Here is an example of our clients’ fixer upper that was transformed into their dream home!
Check out more photos of this project on Houzz!
***For example, you may have a $450,000 budget for a home, and you decide to purchase a $300,000 home, leaving $150,000 for renovations and an opportunity to truly customize the home to your needs and preferences.
