For over 30 years Chris has worked on all types of residential projects, with all kinds of people, in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Up North Minnesota, and beyond. He has been through it all, he’s seen the problems, he’s heard the questions, and he has dealt with the difficulties, all while making his clients’ dreams for home come true. So check out what’s on Chris’s mind today and benefit from his experience.
If you are you considering building a second home, lake home, cabin, or retirement home in location other than where you currently live then this is the article for you. There are several things you will need to consider before you can determine what the right approach is for you. You will need to consider with whom you want to design your home, how you will take into account all of the factors related to
2016 marks our 25th year in business. Wow, time flies when you have great people to work with and great projects to design. When hitting a milestone like this, I can’t help but reflect on the path that has lead us to this point.
The people have spoken and have selected the Thumper Pond Residence as one of the top 25 projects in the competition. From approximately 150 entries 25 have been selected to go on to round two and it is you, the people, who will again decide who will be the 5 finalists for the people’s choice…
Like an architect, choosing the right contractor is the key to a successful renovation project. How many of you have heard horror stories that have kept you from pulling the trigger on your project? How many times have you heard of a homeowner that had to hire a second contractor to fix the first contractor’s mistakes? We’ve had clients whose contractors…
We had a homeowner that came to us after they added a two story space to their house. They had room available in their yard and added on to their house, but their problem was that they couldn’t figure out how to get to their new addition from their current home! They had never planned for how the new space would integrate into their existing home. Now, they would have to redo…
Our second pitfall is having unrealistic expectations. Let’s say you’ve avoided the first mistake, made the right decision, and you’re working with an architect. Now you have in front of you a design that you absolutely love. So, you do the wise thing in this market and you ask several qualified contractors to bid your project. You get the bids back and they’re no where close to what you can afford to spend. Now, you’ve spent a significant amount of money designing your home, completing…
Over the years, I have seen a lot of renovation mistakes homeowners have made and for the most part those mistakes were avoidable, but costly. People can spend thousands of dollars more than they need, not get what they want, and then what they end up with doesn’t really add value to their homes or the quality of their lives. With the right information, homeowners can avoid those mistakes and save thousands of dollars. The bottom line is your home is the most important investment you will ever make. Make sure …
The Monday after a home show always feels like I’ve run a marathon. In actuality I’ve spent three days sitting and walking around a ten by twenty foot booth. But during those three days I listen, answer questions, and explain what architects do. After answering the same questions and explaining the same process hundreds of times, my brain turns to mush!
Your kids have graduated from college and the last of the boomerangs has found a job and finally moved into an apartment of their own. After the celebration is over you may contemplate a radical downsizing so that none of your children will attempt to reenter the womb again. But is this reaction a good idea?
With 25,000 homes for sale in the Twin Cities area the question of whether you should move or renovate your existing home should be a simple one to answer. Surely the perfect home exists! But if you are considering renovating your home and choose to buy instead, then you also have a home to sell. Congratulations! You have just joined the ranks of 25,000 other home owners who are also trying to sell their homes!