How to hire a Professional Remodeler

If you're ready to transform your kitchen and have gathered inspiration, budget ideas, and discussed your goals, it might be time to hire a professional remodeler. Here are some key tips to ensure you find the right remodeler for your project.


If you have collected photos of your dream kitchen, drafted a general budget, and talked with friends about how you wish your home was more comfortable or modern, you may be ready to hire a professional remodeler to get the job done right. HBA of Columbia has some helpful tips to guide you in finding the best remodeler for your project.


“Do your homework when hiring a professional remodeler,” recommends Orie Hemme. “A professional has training, experience, and references from satisfied clients to demonstrate their remodeling expertise.”


Check out these steps for hiring a professional remodeler:


Collect names of remodeling companies.

Start by searching the National Association of Home Builders’ Directory of Professional Remodelers at https://www.nahb.org/nahb-community/nahb-directories/professional-remodelers-directory#sort=%40lastname%20ascending. You’ll get a list of nearby remodelers to contact. Asking friends and neighbors for names of qualified remodelers will also help you find a match for your project.



Discuss your project with a couple of remodelers.

Call a few remodelers from your list to discuss your project. Describe what you envision for the home remodel, the styles you like, your estimated budget, and other ideas for the remodeling work. Ask the remodeler if they can provide background information on their expertise. They may have a website or brochure they can share that describes their experience and accomplishments. 



Ask if the remodeler has general liability insurance.

Be sure to ask some important questions about the remodeler’s business that will help ensure you hire the best professional. Does the remodeler have a license, if required in your state? Do they have general liability insurance in case of an accident on the job? Do they guarantee their work? How do they handle any problems that may arise on the project? Having these answers in advance will prevent future problems and nail down the best professional remodeler for the job.



Check the references and background of the remodeler.

After you start speaking with remodelers and find one or two who match your project’s needs, be sure to conduct some background research by checking with the Better Business Bureau, talking to their references, and asking if they are a trade association member (such as NAHB Remodelers). Remodelers with these qualities tend to be more reliable, better educated, and more likely to stay on top of construction and design trends.



Don’t fall for the lowest bidder.

Many people may be lured by the lowest price to their remodeling project, thinking that they have found a great deal. But beware of these alluring low prices. These bids may be more costly in the end if the contractor is cutting corners, not taking into account certain costs, or is inexperienced. Professional remodelers have stories about coming into homes to fix remodels from unscrupulous contractors who did shoddy work or failed to complete the job. Oftentimes, the lowest price may not ultimately provide the best value for your home remodel.


Make the smartest investment in your home by hiring a professional remodeler like Hartland Homes Remodeling and Roofing. They’ll help you stay on budget, solve remodeling challenges, and provide a higher-quality service.


For more tips on planning a home remodel or hiring a professional remodeler, visit https://www.nahb.org/Other/Consumer-Resources or contact us here.

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Gen Z, Millennial Home Buyers Willing to Compromise on Square Footage

By Jami Clevenger • April 2, 2025
As the home building industry celebrates New Homes Month in April, new research shows that more than half of Gen Z (53%) and millennials (52%) are progressively more open to having a smaller home with higher-quality products and amenities versus a larger home with fewer amenities. “Builders are responding to home buyer preferences and constructing homes with less square footage, which are generally more affordable and easier to maintain,” said Austin Hall. The median home size dropped from 2,200 square feet in 2023 to 2,150 square feet in 2024, the lowest in 15 years, after holding strong at 2,300 square feet from 2019-2022, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The same thing is happening to median lot sizes, which has dropped about 1,000 square feet in the last 15 years to 8,400 square feet. There are several consistently popular features among home buyers across all generations, such as a great room, laundry room and garage storage. Other top amenities and design options include drinking water filtration, special storage racks for wine/spices in the kitchen and both a shower stall and a tub in the primary bath. “New home buyers enjoy the ability to choose design features that suit their preferences,” said Hall. “Whether you are looking to buy your first home or upgrade to your dream home, newly constructed homes can offer a personalized aesthetic inside and out.” Join us for the 2025 James Hardie Spring Parade of Homes on April 26-27, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM each day! This is your chance to explore some of the finest new homes in the area, meet top builders and developers, and get inspired by the latest trends in home design and construction. We’re excited to showcase a variety of beautiful homes in cutting-edge communities, giving you a firsthand look at what’s possible in modern homebuilding. For more details about new homes in Columbia, Missouri, reach out to us at the HBA of Columbia! Visit columbiahba.com or give us a call at (573) 443-8622. We can't wait to see you there!

A Closer Look at the Costs of Building a New Home

February 25, 2025
If you're in the market for a new home, you may wonder about the factors contributing to the home's total cost. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently published a Cost of Construction Survey, which details the various costs of building a typical new single-family home. Many of the results show that the percentage contribution of each component has remained relatively consistent in recent years. According to the 2024 survey of home builders, the biggest single component of a new home’s total sales price is construction costs, which accounts for around 64.4%. For example, the sales price of a $665,298 house would likely factor in construction costs of approximately $428,215, or 64.4%. Survey respondents broke down construction costs into eight major construction stages: • Interior finishes (e.g., cabinets, drywall, flooring): 24.1% • Major system rough-ins (e.g. electrical, HVAC, plumbing): 19.2% • Framing: 16.6% • Exterior finishes (e.g., roofing, windows): 13.4% • Foundations: 10.5% • Site work (e.g., architecture, building/permit/impact fees): 7.6% • Final steps (e.g., driveway, landscaping): 6.5% • Other costs: 2.1% The share of construction costs to the total price of a new home is the highest since NAHB first produced the survey in 1998. Some of the factors that contribute to the construction costs are the ongoing skilled labor shortages and building material price increases.  The average single-family home size in the 2024 survey was 2,647 sq. ft. of finished floor space, an increase of 86 sq. ft. from 2022. From 2015 to 2022, the average square footage of a home trended downward. Constructing homes with smaller square footage in recent years is a response by builders to meet the current housing affordability challenges buyers face. Though building practices and the cost of labor, land and materials can vary widely across the country, these national averages provide an overall snapshot for the building industry. To learn more about the home building process in Columbia, MO contact info@columbiahba.com or visit columbiahba.com

Ready to Buy in 2025? Five Steps to Help You Plan

By Jami Clevenger • November 27, 2024
If 2025 is the year you have decided to purchase a new home, whether as a first-time buyer or a seasoned home owner, the best time to start preparing is now. Following these five simple strategies will help place you in an ideal position to find a home that is a good fit for you and your family. Take a Closer Look at Your Credit Score. The first step toward purchasing a new home is to examine your finances closely. Start by making sure you know your credit score. Your credit score will help determine the interest rate and associated costs you pay on a mortgage loan. In general, the higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate you will qualify for. Examine Your Finances. Before you search for a home, you must know how much house you can afford. Experts recommend talking to a qualified lender to help you determine your price range. As the buyer, you are the best judge of what you can realistically afford, so you should not set your home buying budget based on your maximum loan approval amount. Plan for a Down Payment and Associated Costs. Once you figure out how much you’re willing to spend, you need to set a down payment goal. The longstanding myth is that you must put down 20 percent to purchase a home. You can move forward with a home purchase with a much lower down payment. Two factors that primarily impact your down payment amount are the home’s price and the type of home loan you secure. In addition to your down payment, you must budget for loan fees and closing costs. Evaluate Your Needs. Put pen to paper, outline what you need and want in a new home and create a “must have” list. Start by thinking about why you’re ready to purchase a new home. Maybe you need a bigger space or want to move to a school district that fits your family’s needs. Creating a list of what you need in your new home will save you time when you are ready to start looking. Your next home may not meet every item on your priority list, so you must decide what factors you can compromise on and how you can stay within your budget. Sell Your Current Home. If buying your home this year is contingent upon selling your home, you should be prepared if the timing doesn’t align perfectly. Another consideration is to ensure you have sufficient funds on hand if you cannot have concurrent home closings. A real estate agent can help you navigate the transitions. A buyer or seller market makes a difference in timing the transaction, and a real estate agent and HBA of Columbia can shed light on local market factors. Contact Jami Clevenger (jami.clevenger@columbiahba.com) to learn about homeownership opportunities in the Columbia, MO area.
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