Category: Residential Renovation

Experts Dish the Top Tips to Know Before Renovating Your Kitchen

It’s safe to say that most homeowners dream of renovating their kitchen. Whether it’s redoing the cabinetry, adding a new backsplash, or transforming the entire layout – a new kitchen will not only make the space more pleasant to be in, but it can also add functionality and increase your home’s value.

As exciting as the renovation process might be, it can also feel daunting. That’s why we reached out to remodeling and renovation experts for their best advice to help you get started. Be sure to check out these 12 tips before you begin renovating your kitchen.

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3 Reasons Why Floor Plans are Essential for a Successful Renovation Project

Thinking about renovating a space can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you are planning to move walls, relocate plumbing, or chang­­e the purpose of a room. You’ve likely saved tons of pictures of what you want your space to look like, but how do you know if everything you want to add will fit or if everything you want to move can be done in the space you have? How do you even know where to start with your renovation project? The answer is simple: floor plans.

Floor plans are 2-dimensional drawings of a space from a bird’s eye view. They are done to scale so you know exactly how much room you have to work with and if everything on your list of wants and needs will fit. Not convinced? Here are 3 reasons why floor plans are essential for a smooth and successful renovation project. 

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Your Construction Team: What is My Project Manager Responsible For?

construction project manager

Knowing the roles of each member of your construction team is important. When you are interviewing general contractors for your project, make sure you know who will be part of your team. Some companies hand off responsibilities between the estimating and actual construction stages of the project, so the person you meet up front may no longer be involved when the project gets underway. It would be in your best interest to meet the whole team before deciding to move forward to make sure that you have a good feeling about your future project manager and everyone else involved. You’ll be working closely with them through the rest of your project. At Souder Brothers you will have the same team dedicated to your project from start to finish. Our goal is to build strong, lasting relationships with our clients.

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When Your Renovation Vision Doesn’t Match Your Budget

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to design your dream home or office without having to worry about money? As that’s unfortunately not a reality for most of us, we’re here to help you out with a few tips on how to refine your office or home renovation concept to fit your budget.

office / home rennovation budget

Create Your Dream Vision

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4 Reasons To Hire An Owner’s Rep – Project Manager

Why Hire an Owner’s Rep – Project Manager?

Tools of an owner's rep - project managerRenovations, additions, and new construction projects are typically sizable undertakings that come with a lot of moving parts. There’s budgeting, planning, designing, scheduling, managing – it’s very easy  to quickly become overwhelmed with how many aspects go into a successful renovation (especially when you’re trying to get it done smoothly, on time, and within budget).

What can you do to help ensure that your goal is accomplished in a timely manner, within (or as close to) your initial budget as possible? How can you undoubtedly know what avenues to explore to save the most money without sacrificing quality? How are you possibly going to hire and communicate with all the people necessary to make this happen?

If the idea of taking on a new renovation project seems daunting, then perhaps hiring an owner’s representative or project manager may be something for you to consider.

Here are a few reasons why it’s a good idea:

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Should I Hire an Interior Designer for My Construction Project?

office remodel in Philadelphia

Whether you are redesigning a space, remodeling, or building new construction from the ground up, there are many decisions to be made throughout the whole process. Though all of these decisions are very important one of the most critical factors to consider is the design element. What theme are you going for? What colors complement one another, and which clash? Which fixtures match your theme? If a multi-room project, how do you tie the spaces together?

If you have no idea how to answer any of these questions or where to start then it may be a good idea to consult with an interior designer before even contacting a single contractor.

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How to Plan Your Bathroom Remodel in Pennsylvania

Bathroom Remodel & Renovation

What are the three keys to remodeling your bathroom?

As master carpenter Tim Carter put it in the Washington Post: Plan, do more planning and go over the plan a third time.

Attempting a bathroom remodel in Pennsylvania without a plan puts the project at risk of spinning out of control. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to renovating this crucial corner of your home.

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Three New Year Construction Resolutions

Did you make a resolution to finally do those upgrades to your office or to your home? A renovation project can often seem daunting, but with the right team in place it doesn’t have to be. January is already more than halfway over so let us help you get your project started in 30 days!

The first thing you’ll need is a floor plan of your space. As a design-build firm, we can offer that service in house. One of our team members will come measure up your space and get a wish list of what you want to include. We’ll create a floor plan layout as well as 3D renderings to help you visualize the project. Decide you want to change something? No problem! A few minutes worth of design change on the computer is much more economical than deciding to make a change after the construction work is already underway. See how colors blend together, get options for additional windows for natural light, the possibilities are endless!

3D Rendering Services in Pennsylvania

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Why You Should Consult a Contractor BEFORE Buying a Home You Plan to Renovate

kitchen residential renovationBuying a new home can be overwhelming, especially if the home needs work. If you’re looking at a property that you want to renovate, or add on to, having an accurate budget for the construction costs is essential before making an offer. How can you come up with a realistic budget? Consult a professional! We have helped many of our clients navigate through similar situations.

A client recently came to us while looking to purchase a 1.1-million-dollar home in Philadelphia. They planned to do extensive renovations if the price of both the house and the renovations fit into their budget. Souder Brothers took a site visit to review the project and help the owners come up with a construction wish list and a budget to go along with it. With this knowledge in hand our client was able to make an informed and educated decision regarding purchasing their new home.

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4 Tips To Help Home Buyers – Sellers Avoid Costly Repairs

residential construction and designSpringtime is arguably the most popular time of year to buy or sell a home. Putting your home up for sale or finding the right home to buy can be challenging enough without having to worry about hidden issues and costs. By expending a little extra effort upfront you can end up saving yourself lots of time, heartaches and potentially thousands of dollars in the long run. Here are 4 quick tips to be mindful of when you’re selling your home or in the market to buy a new home:

Stucco issues

If the exterior of the home you’re looking at has stucco, it needs to be inspected. Many stucco homes, even as new as 10 years old, are failing inspection due to issues such as incorrect application, water infiltration, and mold. It’s imperative to examine this before entering into any contract as it can turn into a very pricey problem. Many buyers are unaware of this because it often can’t be seen from the outside. If water gets behind the stucco, it can start to rot the house from the inside out. Depending on the amount of damage, repairs can range from a few thousand dollars into the hundreds of thousands.

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