In my last two postings, we talked about the architect and the builder and how important it is to get that combination right when starting your remodel. But I suppose the biggest issue is, how are you going to pay for it?

Creating a budget and planning for contingencies is part of any business proposition, and remember: This is business at this point. Now, if you are flush with cash, then return to other parts of the Marvin site to see all they have to offer. But for most of us, planning the funding part of the project is critical.

Even once you have a final price from your builder or contractor, there will be surprises. There will be opportunities to go a little further to do it right, and that costs money. Make sure any changes are spelled out and the cost increases are agreed to in advance.

Interestingly enough, during these economic times, you are going to get a pretty good deal no matter what you are planning to remodel or build. Lumber prices are down, manufacturers and sharpening their pencils, and contractors are willing to work on thinner margins. If your credit is good, there is truly an abundance of money available at low rates. But don’t feel like you have to do it all in one shot. If you want to improve your home you may want to do it in phases.

Let’s take windows for instance. The average home has between 20-25 windows. If you were going to replace those in their entirety, you could spend between $17,000-$30,000, depending on the windows that you chose. To hold onto more of your cash, consider only doing half of the project this year and then the other half a year or two down the road. The fact is, in five years you will have a home that has all new windows, and the ones you put in first are worth no less.

The same is true about bathrooms, kitchens or a room addition. While there is a lot of fun in gutting and remodeling an entire home, the fact is the cost can be high. Now, there is an emotional side to phasing the work. If the thought of putting up with a mess for the next five years sounds unbearable then go big or go home. It’s really up to you.

Photo courtesy of Tall Chris on Flickr

Choosing new windows for your home can be a confusing process. There are multiple factors to consider — enough to leave plenty of homeowners second guessing themselves after their new windows are installed.

This post is here to address a few of the most common mistakes people make during the building, remodeling or replacement process. Hopefully it will provide some guidance for those who may be purchasing new windows soon.

Putting quantity before quality

Windows can be expensive, and it’s easy to make the mistake of prioritizing quantity over quality. After your budget is set, consider spending the bulk of that budget on windows that are in the front of your home — ones that you will see every day as you return home. Then spend less on those windows that are in the back of the home. This may be a better option than spending the same amount on windows that you are only settling for but don’t love. HGTV offers more insight on the issue — and 24 other renovating mistakes — in this post.

Forgetting the view

You need to do more than just choose nice windows. You have to think about what’s going to come through those windows, too: the view and the light. It might seem obvious to some, but you can’t forget to think beyond your windows when you’re choosing where and how to place them. In this video, P. Allen Smith talks about using windows to frame attractive “pictures.”

Home Tips points out that where your windows are placed and what type they are have a significant effect on the amount of light and ventilation they provide. For example, a south-facing window lets in the most light. A north-facing window, on the other hand, provides softer, diffused light. East- and west-facing windows can be too intense because of the low angle of the sun in the morning and late afternoon.

Mixing styles

As much as you might like a particular window, it might just not go well with your home’s style. The first consideration with style is the age of your home. ArtSpace2000 writes that older houses tend to have very old types of windows that are made of wooden sashes and hardware that is no longer made. If you wish to keep the antique style intact, you’ll probably want to find wood replacement windows even though vinyl replacements are easier to maintain and more common today. Remember to think about your home first; choosing contemporary styles might not be best for your home.

Now, budget, placement and style are only three broad areas where mistakes can be made. There still are many other factors that could be touched on more in depth such as energy efficiency, maintenance, security, durability, making measurements, window accessories, etc. We’d like to bring you, the reader into the discussion: Did you make a mistake when you have chosen windows for your home? If so, please share so that others can learn from them.

My last entry talked about the importance of the builder that you choose, and as I was writing it, I could see the hair on the backs of architects’ necks rising up.

Well, as a builder myself, of course I am going to put my profession first. But truth be told, you do need a good design, and many of the same qualities and traits you should look for in a builder hold true when choosing an architect, as well.

Over the years, I have worked with many different architects, and one big difference is in their discipline. Remodeling and new construction design are very different.

For your remodeling project, you need an architect who specializes in renovation. The best room addition, kitchen or bath should look like it has always been there — from a design standpoint and in terms of the fit and finish your builder creates. When interviewing potential designers, it’s very important to understand their philosophies on design, to see examples of their work and, most importantly, to make sure you feel they are listening to your needs.

I have been on many projects where the whole thing started off poorly, and as we built what was drawn, the client would see it and hate it. Then we as builders would get involved, and many times there can be an adversarial tone between us and the architects. At that point, no one wins, so it is a good idea to be as open as possible. Remember, though, that changing your design and drawings a few times costs money. It is much easier to do on paper rather than once building begins.

A great place to start looking for an architect in your area is the American Institute of Architects. There you will find a list of members in good standing to interview. You can also talk to friends or even stop by a project going on in your neighborhood that you like and ask who designed it.

This is the second installment in our “Built Around You” series that focuses on showing off great examples of people turning houses — or apartments, in this case — into homes. Anything that reflects a desire to give a home unique style and flair is fair game for the Built Around You series. Send us your suggestions.

When Katie and her husband moved into a 480-square-foot apartment in Berlin, they started tearing down walls before they even had a bed. The first thing to go was the minuscule 36-square-foot kitchen.

Yes, 36 square feet. That’s 6 feet by 6 feet; some restroom stalls are larger. In the before-and-after photo seen here, look at the left side. See through that tiny doorway in the middle? That’s the kitchen. Not part of the kitchen – the whole kitchen.

You have to check out Katie’s story for the details, but the bottom line is this: Not even a wall made of solid drywall would stand in their way as Katie and her husband turned their German micro-kitchen into a gorgeous bit of work that in no way resembles what they started with.

As Katie says on her Web site’s “About” page:

Since we got married almost four years ago, Martin and I have called six places home in five cities, two American states, and two countries.  We know:  it’s a little crazy.  The post office hates us.  We’re ready to make this place something worth staying home for.

Photo courtesy of Katie at MakingThisHome.com

Architect and best-selling author Sarah Susanka stopped by WCCO, the CBS affiliate in the Twin Cities, to chat with host Angela Davis about her new book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” and the idea of doing more with the space you have rather than feeling compelled to buy a bigger house or add on to your current house.

Sarah talks about how to take inventory of the rooms and spaces in your home and how to analyze that space to make sure you’re getting the most of it. Many people, Sarah says, have a full one-third of their space that’s not being used well — so why not open that up and make your home feel bigger and more comfortable?

Sarah also explains the importance of energy audits to ensure your home is not just stylish and comfortable but also energy efficient and wallet-friendly.

It is my fervent hope that you’ll discover that the house of your dreams is actually hiding right where you live today.

–Sarah Susanka

Watch the four-minute segment with Sarah here.

During the next several months, I will share some insight into what I have learned over the past 25 years as a remodeling and custom home builder. I have worked on some terrific projects and some real duds, and along the way I have made a bunch of mistakes — mistakes that I had to pay for.

My hope is to help you avoid some of the problems I have run into along the way.

Over my next few posts, I’ll share five things to keep in mind when remodeling your home. These are in no specific order — just some things to file away as a checklist to help you complete your project in the best possible way.

First: Your contractor is the most important piece in the remodeling puzzle.

(Architects will be part of a later post, so don’t worry.)

Their talent, communication skills, attitude and professionalism are the keys in getting what you want. It’s very important that you seek out the right people to manage and complete your project and establish a relationship built on total communication and understanding about your goals and expectations.

For many of us, this is how we run our professional lives, but seldom do those skills come into play when remodeling our homes. That is a mistake. I think part of the reason is the emotional tie to our homes, sometimes steer us in the wrong way. Our homes are places where we find comfort, raise our children, watch the big game, and gather family and friends. While all that is wonderful, your remodeling project is a business proposition, and your contractor is approaching it to make money. Always remember that!

Your contractor search should focus on the handful of quality professionals in every city or town. Those remodeling contractors will be members of organizations like the National Home Builder’s Association or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The problem with these contractors is that they are usually busy, even in these tough financial times.  The good ones know how to run a business and your challenge after you find them will be to wait — and try not to be so surprised when they say it will be at least six months before they can start.  While things may move a little faster these days, it is always better to wait once you find the right fit.

As for references, of course they’re important, but when you get those names, take the time to make the calls and find out about the experiences those clients had. In particular, ask for a project that was completed five years earlier. I am more interested in what they have to say about their job than the project that just wrapped up one year ago.