Parade of Homes

Multi-Family Projects Boost Twin Cities Residential Construction in February 2012

2012-02-27T16:36:27Z

Two large multi-family construction projects have boosted February’s planned units permitted well ahead of every year since 2007. That’s on top of three large projects in January, making the first two months in 2012 the most active in years. Single-family construction, on the other hand, has remained fairly stable, with 346 new permits in 2012 vs. 370 to-date in 2011.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 179 permits for a total of 491 units during four weeks in the month of February, 2012.

“We were pleased to hear from MN demographer, Tom Gilaspy, on a panel at our trade show on February 23rd.” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2012 President and owner of Lee Lyn Construction, Curt Christensen. “Tom pointed out that Minnesota’s employment level has returned to 2007 rates, which bodes well for our industry.

“Both Tom and NAHB economist Elliot Eisenberg, PHD, shared optimism with our association, forecasting somewhere between 10-15 percent growth for the industry in 2012,” Christensen said.

St. Louis Park led the metro in building activity for the month with 193 units permitted. Minneapolis followed with 118 units. Blaine showed 18 units permitted, with Lakeville and Maple Grove rounding off the top five with 14 units each.

feb._2012_Permits_Release_Chart.pdf

Room and (Chalk) Board

2012-02-24T16:41:34Z

Chalkboards may be irrelevant in the classroom, but they're making a huge comeback in the home. The look is extremely versatile and combines decorative flare with everyday functionality. Here's how you can utilize this popular trend in almost every room of your home:

The Kitchen:

Chalkboards make a lot of sense in the kitchen, probably because menus are at the top of every chef's list (and what better place to recreate the quaint cafe chalkboard experience than in one's own personal eatery?). For most of us, however, the chalkboard is a necessary style upgrade for displaying our grocery, to-do, and chore lists. To avoid a chalk dust frenzy, purchase a wet-erase chalkboard marker (in every color) for a clean and crisp look.

The Accent Wall:

I know what you're thinking. Accent walls shouldn't be black. Well, think again. A chalkbaord accent wall gives you the creative license to speak through your very walls. Decoratively displaying your favorite quotes, lyrics or messages can add charm and character to a space, while letting the room's personality brighten the wall color. By the way, chalkboard paint comes in many colors, so choose a color that's to your liking!

The Office:

Magnetic chalkboard paint will let you organize your schedule multiple ways.

The Bedroom:

Sometimes a restless mind can leave you, quite literally, restless. Try sprucing up an old wooden headboard with chalkboard spraypaint. In one easy stroke you can quit counting sheep and start writing your thoughts as they come to you at night.

The Play Room:

No more being the bad guy. Your kids can now write on the walls freely (and so can you)!

Pictures: Inglenook Decor, design-59, apartment therapy, Wallies

Pillow Talk

2012-02-20T22:25:08Z

Let’s talk pillows.

It’s pretty safe to assume that most people agree with them. They make relaxing more comfortable and sleep more enjoyable, after all. Pillows can also bring life into a room that needs a pop of color, soften a masculine space, add new vigor during changing seasons and inspire the personality of a house, all on a realistic budget.

Take a look at how you can incorporate this year's top pillow trends in your home.

1. Floor Pillows can increase seating availability while adding both charm and personality to a room. In some instances, floor pillows can also double as sofas, like this example from Design Sherpa. Bright colors and bold prints are especially popular with floor pillows since they can easily be moved from room to room. With floor pillows you have the freedom to mix and match as you see fit.

2. Decorative Pillows, like the handmade floral design (featured in the picture above) from etsy, combines two popular trends for this season: bold prints combined with soft features. Combining contrasting elements like hard lines with rounded petals creates a vibrant energy in the room.

3. Texturized pillows can instantly inspire a room's personality. Burlap designs are rustic and best suited for vintage-looking spaces. Silk pillows will soften a room by adding a touch of femininity. Ruching on a pillow, like this pillow from Sears, can add depth to a smaller sofa.

Parade of Homes Spring 2012 Fact Sheet

2012-02-14T16:49:53Z

The Spring Parade of Homes is presented by Builders Association of the Twin Cities’ (BATC) members. It runs March 3 through April 1st, 2012. All Parade HomesSM are open Thursdays - Sundays 12-6pm.

The Spring Parade of Homes features 306 model homes and neighborhoods located in 70 cities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area. There are 121 builders and developers participating in the event.

The Spring Parade of Homes includes three BATC Foundation Dream Homes (#3 in Edina, #106 in Excelsior, #114 in Wayzata). Visitors to those homes will be asked for a $5.00 donation to benefit the The BATC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.

Dream Home donations to the BATC Foundation help build and remodel homes for families in need. Recent projects have included several trips to build homes and school houses in Haiti, safety renovations at the home of a blinded war veteran, and a new home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Three homes are featured this spring, each with a $5 donation at the door (#3 in Edina, #106 in Excelsior, #114 in Wayzata).

This Spring’s Guidebook features the personal stories of four local families who’ve recently bought new homes from Parade of Homes builders. Two of them are Dream Homes (#106 and #114) and open to tour, plus #111 in Minnetonka and #226 in Hugo, are also on the tour and open.

This Spring’s Tour again features an Energy Efficient Home Tour in partnership with Xcel Energy. These 115 independently-verified homes give people a chance to tour a wide variety of energy efficient homes during the tour.

The Parade of Homes is introducing a new green build program this Spring called Minnesota’s Green Path. Twenty-four homes have achieved certification, and will display their Home Performance Report which documents the home’s HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index plus all above-building code green features.

Visitors to any of the 24 MN Green Path homes will get a scratch-off game piece, earning them the opportunity to win great prizes like a Holiday Blue Planet gas card, iPod, golf at Legends in Prior Lake, or one of 24 keys. Game piece key’s can be exchanged for real keys at an event held on April 12th. One key will open the grand prize, a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI from Schmelz Countryside Volkswagen.

All homes and their builders are featured in the Guidebook available free at metro Holiday StationStores around February 20th.

The Parade of Homes online presence continues to be a hub for housing information in the Twin Cities, including easy mobile searches and an iPhone app. The website, paradeofhomes.org provides a number of filters, including location, home style, school district and price. The site also includes links to social media and blog, plus handy resources for home buyers and homeowners, as well as the e-magazine Guidebook.

The most expensive Parade Home (#82) is priced at $2,000,000 and is built by Denali Custom Homes, Inc. in Chanhassen. The least expensive Parade Home is an association-maintained attached home priced at $139,900 built by Dominium Dev. & Acquisition, LLC (#215) in New Brighton.

The homes are scattered across a broad spectrum of prices. Six are priced below $170,000 and 17 below $200,000. A total of 196 homes are priced below $500,000, which represents over 60 percent of the entries. There are 45 homes priced from $500,000 to $599,999; 21 from $600,000 to $699,999. A total of 24 homes are priced over $1,000,000, with the most expensive house on the tour listed at $2,000,000.

A total of seven of the 70 cities represented within the region have 10 or more homes open for viewing this spring, they are: Blaine: 28, Maple Grove: 15, Woodbury: 22, Chanhassen: 10, Plymouth: 25, Lakeville: 19, Savage 14.

The 2012 Spring Parade of Homes is presented by the professional builder members of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities and sponsored by Wells Fargo.

2012 Spring Parade of Homes® Event Overview

2012-02-10T17:03:55Z

The Parade of Homes® is the Twin Cities home tour with the largest variety, widest range of prices, and most inventory, including 24 green certified homes that are included in the 115 homes on the Energy Efficient tour and 3 Dream Homes. Want to see a home that has it all? Our Parade of Homes front cover features TV icon Don Shelby, his granddaughter Beatrice, and a stunning home that meets almost every category, and is a green Dream Home. You can also explore 306 top quality new homes to help you get your fill of the latest and greatest in home trends, all across the metro area.

All of the new homes and neighborhoods on the Parade of Homes will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Admission is always free except for The BATC Foundation Dream Homes, Parade Homes #3, #106, #114, where a charitable donation of $5.00 will be requested at the door. Dream Home proceeds help fund The BATC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), which rebuilds, remodels and constructs new homes for families in need.

Visitors can choose to tour new homes, remodeled homes, or both during the final weekend of the event with the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase® March 30th to April 4th. Each of the events have their own Guidebook, tailored to readers interested in new or remodeled homes.This spring, the tour coincides with the launch of the green certification program MN Green Path. The 24 MN Green Path homes on the Parade of Homes each have a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score indicating how energy efficient the home is. Our MN Green Path Dream Home in Excelsior (#106) has a hers rating of 18, meaning that it is 82% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference home that is built to code. Because a HERS rating is often compared to the MPG sticker given to automobiles, the MN Green Path program is giving away Holiday blue-planet gas cards, Apple iPods, golf at Legends Golf Club and 24 keys for the chance to win the grand prize, a 42 MPG Volkswagen Jetta TDI from Schemlz Countryside.

Parade of Homes Guidebook and website work together. As always, the Parade of Homes is easy to navigate with the comprehensive Guidebook and interactive website. Free Guidebooks are available at any regional Holiday StationStore. The Guidebook includes a number of directories that list homes by builder, price, location, wheelchair visitable homes, and school district. The Lifestyle Categories allow visitors to choose homes based on the way their family lives.

The Parade of Homes online makes touring even easier. Advanced search options at www.ParadeofHomes.org let visitors choose exactly the features they want in homes to tour. They can get driving directions for each home, even map the quickest route using their own personal TourPlanner. And, the Parade of Homes social media neighborhood is always available to check for the latest information on the tour and the latest in housing trends. The social sites include: The Parade of Homes page on Facebook, the Parade of Homes blog, #pohtc on Twitter and the Parade of Homes YouTube channel. With the new Parade of Homes mobile website, smart-phone users can search easily for both new homes and remodeled homes, and iPhone users can find the app under Parade of Homes Twin Cities.

The 2012 Spring Parade of Homes is presented by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities and sponsored by Wells Fargo.

2012 Spring Real Family: Building for the Heart and for the Family

2012-02-14T22:17:05Z

Don and Barbara Shelby’s new home is not quite what you’d expect from a local celebrity. Unless you’ve followed Don’s career since he retired from the anchor chair at WCCO TV. Today, he’s writing and producing work that speaks to his personal passion about the environment. This home is the embodiment of that passion.

“I’m conservative in the sense that I think waste of any kind is wrong,” explains Don, who applies that ethic to the way he lives life, and now, to the way his home was designed and built.

“Most homes can lose as much as 45 percent of the energy used to heat and cool them. Why waste that?” he insists. “On the other side, if the over-use of that [fossil] fuel is causing damage to the planet, then I don’t want to be a part of that either.”

Those two ethics intersect for Don in this home, which was designed and built to conserve energy and resources during construction as well as every day they live there. You can read more about the home, designed and constructed by the Landschute Group, on page 27.

Environmentalism isn’t just a philosophy for Don, it’s a personal conviction stemming from his deep belief in family and his love and concern for the Inuit people and their culture. He personifies the Native American admonition to live sustainably and work for the benefit of the seventh generation into the future.

Don’s waste-not education began quite early. “My dad and mom were both conservative,” and their garage was the proof. “It was filled with coffee cans full of nails and screws. We never had to go to the hardware store because my dad thought, why waste a perfectly good [used] one. I spent hours of my life just organizing all those screws by size.”

Don’s parents wanted to make sure he had a good career too, and that didn’t mean television. “My dad made me apprentice to a carpenter for four years and become journeyman carpenter when I was in college.”

Those early experiences have informed Don’s life ever since, contributing to his success as a journalist and to the legacy he is leaving to his three daughters as well as Beatrice and his other two grandchildren, Hudson and Josephine. This house is a part of that legacy.

The Inukshuk

Prominent in Don and Barbara’s front yard is an interesting and imposing granite figure, an Inukshuk. “The classic figure of the north tundra is the inukshuk,” Don explains. “It is a sort of human-form cairn made out of found stone by the Inuit people of the far north. Inukshuks are built on the horizon and the caribou herds think they’re human. By placing the Inukshuk closer and closer together, the Inuit are able to herd the caribou.

The arctic is a place Don loves and visits often. “I like the cold, and have a fascination with polar exploration,” he says. He’s been on expeditions with Will Steger, Ann Bancroft, Paul Shurke and Sir Richard Branson. But what really made an impact on Don was getting to know the native Inuit people.

“The temperature is rising twice as fast in the arctic as it is globally. It’s causing the sea ice to melt,” says Don, who has seen the evidence first hand. “The lives of the Inuit people are changing, so much so that their culture may soon disappear.

“The Inukshuk will sit in front of the house because it will represent to me those people we should be keeping in mind. We should understand that the effects of our behavior can harm them.”

Triple Certification

We’re really thrilled to feature Don Shelby’s new home in our spring Parade of Homes. Sure, we like that fact that you all know Don and he’s an incredibly interesting guy. But more than that, we love being able to show you his beautiful and extremely green home that will have certification in three different green build programs.

Minnesota’s Green Path: You can read a lot more about this new green certification program throughout our Guidebook, and Don’s home has earned its highest level — Master Certification. All MN Green Path homes receive a Home Performance Report (HPR), a “window sticker” which details the home’s HERS (Home Energy Rating Score) rating, all its green features, like Don’s geothermal heat and LED lighting, which saves 90 percent over conventional lighting. The HPR also graphically details the home’s position along the Green Path (from basic code to totally green). Don’s HPR is pretty amazing, with an incredible HERS of 18.

LEED for Homes Platinum: This leading international holistic green program is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, and designed to promote building sustainability. LEED certification is a rigorous program that requires meeting a high standards in the five green categories: sustainable sites water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Don’s home is at the highest level, Platinum.

Minnesota GreenStar: Like LEED, Minnesota GreenStar is a rigorous, holistic program, and has been designed for the upper midwest’s temperature and humidity extremes. Don’s home will be certified at its highest level as well. And while Don is an emeritus director to the GreenStar board, his home earned this certification all by itself.

Spring 2012 Feature Family: It's Our Perfect Home

2012-02-13T22:03:28Z

Peter & Mary Jo (MJ) knew what they wanted in a home, but they weren’t sure where to find it. For instance, the couple knew that they wanted a three-story house and they knew that they wanted to live in Wayzata where Peter grew up. They wanted a traditional layout with the bedrooms on the top floor and they also wanted an additional bedroom for guests. They loved the expansive feel of an open concept design with the functional amenities of a modern home while still capturing the character and nostalgia of an established abode. They even knew that a large lower level would be a necessary playroom for their two kids, Liam (2) and Gabriella (10 months). They knew a lot. The only thing that they didn’t know about their future home was where to find it.

Locating an ideal place that would please the whole family wasn’t easy. Peter and MJ explained that, “We looked at so many houses it made our heads spin!” Each home that they visited had qualities that they liked coupled with qualities that they really didn’t care for. Because no home could satisfy all of their needs, Peter and MJ were resolved to find their best option and then plan to invest time and money into a future remodel. “Our plan was to buy something a little bit older in an area we liked and then slowly fix it up over the years,” Peter explained. While remodeling an existing home was an acceptable solution for the family, it sure didn’t feel like the most appropriate one. “Something dawned on us,” Peter and MJ said. “Why not build and ensure that the house has everything we are looking for?”

As luck would have it, four lots in their desired neighborhood became available that very summer. What’s more, the couple was familiar with the builder, Pillar Homes, having already toured several of their models in the past and having liked the overall quality and style of homes that they build. The family was “very pleased to learn the featured builder was Pillar Homes! This made it an easy decision and we moved forward immediately.”

Pillar Homes designed and built the exact layout that the family had been looking for all along. And, in addition to what the family wanted in their dream home, they also had the opportunity to add special dream features that “weren’t on the original wish list.” One such addition was the screened-in porch with stone fireplace (Peter’s favorite). Because the cottage-style house is built on a small lot with limited yard space, the couple also opted to add an indoor sports court. Pillar Homes dug under the garage to install this fantastic play area that the kids will grow into. The room will also become like an indoor playground during Minnesota winters. Despite the small yard, the home’s location is more than ideal for summertime as well. They are close to several outdoor playgrounds, and within walking distance of their boat and Wayzata beach.

For a family who had been looking for the ‘perfect home’ even before their son was born, Peter and MJ know the importance of exploring all of their housing options. Yet, even though the family knew the essential features that they wanted in their home,building new can often generate hundreds more options to consider. “We had heard stories of how difficult the process can be as you have to pick out everything,” MJ shared. With help from the Pillar Homes team, however “we found it to be quite easy. KC Chermak and the team at Pillar Homes were fantastic to work with. They listened to what we had to say and then structured a house that met all of our needs.”

Spring 2012 Feature Family: The Tree House Effect

2012-02-13T22:21:33Z

While this family doesn’t exactly have a backyard tree fort, Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling built Mike and Lynsey, and their two boys, a dream home with something even better. They have a custom-built home personalized with the family’s favorite features like a laundry chute, 1,200 square- foot playroom basement, wainscoted dining room, and kitchen dinette snuggly situated in an alcove overlooking a wooded lot.

According to Lynsey, this cozy breakfast nook is the perfect spot to take advantage of the natural light and serene landscape of a tree house inspired look. “We call it the Tree House Effect,” she explains.

The dinette is just one of the unique visions that the family had in mind when they dreamed up their perfect pad. Lynsey envisioned a vintage style home that celebrated the quality of a home built 75 years ago, while ensuring that her two boys, Jack (age 8) and Owen (5), could enjoy the house today and grow into the home tomorrow. “We were able to sit down with Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling and share our vision about the home we wanted to raise our family in,” explained Lynsey. “We wanted the modern features of a well built new home, and we also wanted to make sure it had the character and uniqueness of a well established home.”

Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling understood this vision and, as a design-build firm, offered the quality building technique and stunning design that was important to the family. Mike and Lynsey also knew that they wanted to work with a local family-owned company and, more specifically, one that was masterful in fine trim work. “We felt that the quality of Lecy’s workmanship, specifically their trim and finish work, set them apart,” shared Mike.

Another important concern was how the family could custom build a new home while maintaining a reasonable budget, and without having to compromise on quality. Very pleased with the fact that they were able to build a livable dream home without having to settle on anything, the family concluded, “Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling did a great job at building a high quality home in a sensible way; they made our dream home a reality.”

While the family has yet to add a backyard tree fort, they have a “special spot” in their tree house inspired dinette. “We share every dinner together,” said Lynsey, “ so we’ll be using this room every single day.”

Help the BATC Foundation by Touring Parade of Homes Dream Homes

2012-02-13T22:49:54Z

As the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, the mBATC Foundation taps the talents and resources of our member builders, remodelers, suppliers and others to support our communities. We build homes, remodel and repair homes, and offer scholarships for young people entering the construction industry.

In 2011, the Foundation was able to complete an impressive four projects to help local families:

Room for All

The Vang family had been through a lot, starting with an injury that led to job loss and finally homelessness. They were thankfully getting back on their feet, but living in a tiny Minneapolis home that was simply too small for this family of seven. The BATC Foundation, with the help of its remodeler partner Showcase Renovations, created room for all by finishing the basement with two bedrooms and a bath. At the “key” ceremony, a tearful Mrs. Vang thanked the Foundation profusely and presented it with a diagram in fabric of her family’s journey from Cambodia to Minnesota.

Breathing Easier

A broken air conditioner may make life a little uncomfortable for most of us, but for this single mom with an asthmatic daughter, it was a disaster. Interfaith Outreach called the Foundation, which enlisted Thompson Plumbing to install a brand new one to give this family a breath of fresh air.

A Way to Say Thanks

Wesley Cureton bravely and honorably served his country through seven active duty tours, the last ending in a roadside bomb which robbed him of his sight and left him with other serious injuries. With remodeling partner, James Barton Design Build, the Foundation renovated Wesley and his wife Susan’s home to make life safer and more comfortable. Thank you for your service, Wesley.

Building a New Family Home

We respect the work that Habitat for Humanity does, and were pleased to partner with it to build a new home in Shakopee for the Ahmed family. This family had emigrated from Somalia, looking for freedom and a better future for their five children. The Foundation, under the supervision of project manager, Mike McCalvy, welcomed the Ahmeds to their brand new home late last year.

Thank You for Your Help

We want to thank all of you who visit our Parade of Homes Dream Homes and Dream Remodeled Homes. Your $5.00 donation makes a huge difference. It is primarily through these donations that the BATC Foundation generates the funds to complete projects like those above. We invite you to continue to participate in our work by nvisiting our three new Dream Homes, including the incredible Green Dream Home of local icon, Don Shelby.

REFINED Dream Home

2012-02-13T22:02:20Z

A true Dream Home starts with a dream location. Situated perfectly in the sought-after, kid-friendly Brucewood Neighborhood, within the Edina School District, and just steps from the highly desired 50th and France Shopping District, a location better than this is hard to find. This beautiful Dream Home was designed to blend seamlessly into the classic neighborhood and take advantage of the large, flat rear yard, making it perfect for entertaining. The exterior materials used on the home, including a pleasing blend of stone, copper, and cedar siding with a cedar shake roof, even whisper Dream Home as they exude the esteemed character of the neighborhood.

Upon entering this exquisite home you will immediately feel this Dream Home come to life. Details throughout the home are unique, yet functional, designed to make family living in a Dream Home a reality. On the main level the wire brushed, white oak floors with grey stain are sure to impress. You will fall in love with REFINED’s signature “pocket office” concept off the kitchen, a dream for anybody managing the day-to-day activities of a busy family. This is the perfect office nook solution designed to function as home central to balance after-hour workloads while staying connected with the family. Another unique detail, sure to amaze, is the butler’s pantry, which not only has access from both the formal dining room and great room, but also includes interior windows that actually open to create a wet bar for entertaining.

Moving on to the second level of the Dream Home you will be overwhelmed by the functional elegance of this home. Jack and Jill bedrooms, perfect for his-and-her, create the ideal balance between design and everyday living. The Dream owners’ bath, complete with elegant Carrera marble throughout, double-headed shower, and the newest Kohler freestanding tub design, will leave you with a feeling of pure bliss.

In the basement of the home is another REFINED signature item, the “raised bar” area, a dream for entertaining. This lower-level bar includes an oversized walk-in wine cellar, grey stained oak pubstyle bar, and hardwood flooring. As you exit the home you will be impressed by, the dream porch concept included to maximize both ,indoor and outdoor living and showcase sustainable living features. The porch includes a wood-burning fireplace constructed from recycled stone taken from the original residence, and a wooden mantle reclaimed from an old barn. Rustic shiplap walls and ceiling, as well as a retractable Phantom screen, complete this dream concept.

The Dream details go on and on. Don’t miss the opportunity to tour this impressive Dream Home, brought to you by REFINED, while helping the BATC Foundation continue to do charitable work with your $5.00 donation.

Don Shelby Green Dream Home

2012-02-13T21:30:16Z

The Landschute Group teamed up with clients Don and Barbara Shelby to create a home that is definitely an unexpected pleasure. It’s not so big in size, architecturally true to its turn-of-the-century Excelsior neighborhood, and a testament to the green building ethic.

“This is the only house we’ve ever built,” Don says. “In The Landschute Group, we found an architect (Jon Monson) and designer (Mary Monson) that understood exactly what we wanted to do,” which was to create a home that lived the way they wanted but had minimal impact on the planet.

Don and Barbara were deeply involved from the beginning. Barbara took the lead in layout and design while Don challenged their builder in the area of technology and infrastructure, and is ecstatic that the result will be triple certified by three Green building programs.

The Shelby’s weren’t enamored with the postmodern architecture typical to a lot of green homes today. So, “we created a home that kind of flies in the face of the whole LEED Platinum look,” Don smiles. “Barbara and I both love the country cottage farmhouse look.”

From the outside that’s exactly what you see, a home that looks as comfortable in its environs as the neighborhood cottages that have been there for decades. But look a little closer. Slim-profile solar panels top the garage; and greenery-filled planters deck the porch roof, a faux green roof, which increases carbon dioxide absorption over the built space.

Landscaped swales and rain gardens “were designed by the Director of Green Infrastructure for the New York City Department of Transportation — Lacy Shelby,” Don says proudly of his middle daughter. She insisted on a three thousand-gallon cistern to capture roof rainwater, combined with permeable pavers on the driveway to assure zero runoff into the sensitive Lake Minnetonka drainage basin.

There were plenty of other opportunities to be environmentally conscious, and the Shelby’s took advantage of every one. “Instead of demolishing the [existing] house and putting it into the landfill, we took it apart board by board.”

Those boards were added to a stockpile of other old wood, some re-sawn, some kept in its patina’d state, and reused in every way possible. “Our flooring is re-sawn barn timbers and old bridges that was cut a hundred years ago — from, I suspect, Big Island and the old-growth forests that surrounded Lake Minnetonka.”

Minimal impact thinking also drives the floor plan. Compact, yet open, the living spaces promote family togetherness while the main floor includes both a sunny, green oasis (solarium) and office space for Barbara. Upstairs, clever details, a fabulous bath, and spacious closets make the small squarefootage bedrooms simply sing.

There’s one more space above the garage in which Don plans to spend a lot of time. It’s where you’ll find his collection of books and mementos from an extraordinary career that isn’t over yet. It’s his “media room/studio where I can record voice work and write my stories for Minnpost, Salon, and Slate, among others on the issue of energy conservation and the environment.”

This unexpected pleasure should be a first stop on your Parade of Homes tour. If you share Don’s passion for the environment, you’ll definitely want to see its Home Performance Report and HERS rating (you won’t believe his score). If not, you’ll still find a home of charm and grace — a perfect Dream Home. Your $5.00 donation to visit this Green Dream Home will benefit the BATC Foundation and the Washburn Center for Children.

Pillar Dream Home

2012-02-13T21:53:15Z

When dream home and dream location come together, the resulting magic is a dream tour you’ll definitely have to see to believe. This home sits on a special city lot, 65-feet wide, that is less than one block from the Wayzata Depot and within walking distance of Lake Minnetonka.

Perfectly poised sidewalks and a cottage-style streetscape pave the way to a quaint front porch, beautifully manicured lawn and an enchanting outer facade. The cross gable roof gives the home a peaked silhouette, lined with white trim that compliments the home’s cream colored siding.

Hidden below the three-car tandem is a sport court with 11-foot ceiling, white walls, bright sport lights and glossy floor. A glass wall divides this play area from the surrounding lower level, allowing court-side seating without any noise interference. With an extra bedroom and bath, the lower level of the home can keep company entertained for as long as they are welcome. Lookout windows, recess theatre room, and a walk-up wet bar means that this extremely livable, it’s also a dream retreat on its own.

More divine design awaits upstairs as you make your way to the main level. Past the foyer, a French door beckons visitors to the study, a homemanagement center with a custom desk and built-in organization. The study is similar in effect to a sun room since the opaque glass doors let in natural light and the room’s cozy ambiance inspires a quiet peacefulness no matter the time of day.

A center hall pulls you to the back of the house where the kitchen and main room make this the central gathering spot for the family. A wood ceiling, elegant soffits and fireplace encourage conversation, while the serving buffet, wine refrigerator and center island from the connecting kitchen, gets the family excited for meals. All of this flows out to the backyard and patio where another set of double French doors extend into a screened porch with enameled woodwork, stained alder cabinets and rich wood floors. A special gas fireplace provides soft warmth from the open flame. The upstairs is equally as warm, particularly from the heated tiles and steam shower in the owners’ bath. Complete with frameless glass, this room just might be the fairest of them all.

Don’t miss this incredible lake-area Dream Home. Your $5.00 donation to the BATC Foundation will provide much-needed housing help to deserving area families.

The 2012 Spring Energy Efficient Home Tour

2012-02-13T23:21:45Z

Xcel Energy has once again sponsored the Energy Efficient Home Tour for this Spring’s Parade of Homes. Visitors can visit 115 homes on the tour.

All Minnesota new homes are built to high energy standards, but the homes that qualify to appear in the Energy Efficient Home Tour are those that have taken the extra step to be independently verified by certified Resnet testers. These homes have been inspected during construction and at completion, and have each received a HERS score.

What is a HERS?

Outside of a mortgage loan, the highest cost of homeownership is energy. So it makes sense for every potential home buyer to learn something referred to as the “Home Energy Rating System” – or HERS Index before buying a home. In simplest terms, the HERS Index provides a standard measurement of a home's energy efficiency. It can range from zero to 100. The lower the score, the better.

“Think of a HERS Index for the home like miles per gallon for your car,” says Mat Gates of Residential Science Resources in Eagan. “The lower the index number, the more energy efficient the home is.” Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption. So a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than a home with a HERS Index of 100. A home with a HERS Index of 100 is equal in energy usage to a home built to code.*

On the other hand, a home with a HERS Index of zero is a home that uses no net energy, and is able to generate the needed power on site with renewable technologies like solar or wind. The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), a California-based national association of home energy raters and energy-efficiency mortgage lenders. To calculate a home’s HERS Index, a rater uses a computer program. The rater enters data about the home into the program which compares it to a “reference home.” The reference home is an imaginary home of the same size and shape as the home being rated, and is based on the 200 International Energy Conservation Code.

“One thing to note, however, is that a larger house with a HERS Index of 50 may still use more energy than a small house with a HERS Index of 100,” says Gates. “The size of the home is irrelevant to the HERS Index and should be taken into consideration for overall energy use.” Ratings are used for both new and existing homes. In new homes, ratings often verify energy performance for the ENERGY STAR® and MN Green Path homes programs, energy efficient mortgages, and energy code compliance. Homeowners who want to upgrade the home's energy efficiency can use the energy rating to evaluate and pinpoint specific, cost-effective improvements. Cost effective improvements often include: improved air sealing and insulation, upgrading to high efficiency lighting, and mechanical systems, as well as installing more efficient ventilation.

For existing homes, homeowners can receive a report listing cost-effective options for improving the home's energy rating. Common cost-effective improvements include: upgrading insulation levels in the walls or attic, reducing attic air leaks, and installing a new furnace, water heater, or boiler. An energy rating allows a home buyer to easily compare the energy performance of the homes being considered.

“As you can imagine, we’ve come a long way on building more efficient homes,” says Carole Griffith of Robert Thomas Homes. “We now incorporate things like high-efficiency windows, appliances and lighting which they didn’t do fifty years ago, so that makes a big difference.”

Case in point: the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that houses built in line with today's energy code use 30% less energy than older homes. Many builders today are building homes that use 70% less energy than existing ones.

“We know more now and that includes home buyers who are asking more questions and educating themselves,” says Gates. “Knowing the HERS Index is just one more way to make smarter choices when it comes to buying or even remodeling a home"

*A home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100. Minnesota’s stricter energy code puts Minnesota’s code-built homes HERS at 80.

Cheap Tips for BIG Energy Savings

2012-02-14T16:06:30Z

Cheap Tips for BIG Energy Savings

No matter the season, there are always ways to save energy and money.

Free Tip 1: Set your thermostat to 68 degrees and turn it down when you leave.

Turn your thermostat down 5 degrees at night or when leaving your home to save up to $70 on energy costs each year.

Free Tip 2: Use your appliances wisely.

If you live in a typical U.S. home, your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20% of your energy bills. Here are three ways to use less:

Set your refrigerator temperature between 34 and 37 degrees and your freezer at 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Run your dishwasher only when it’s full.
Use cooler water to wash clothes. (About 80% of the cost to run your washer is used for heating the water.)

Free Tip 3: Set your water heater to 120 degrees.

Turn down your water heater to a slightly cooler setting. Each time you lower the temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit you'll save 3-5% on your water heating costs.

Free Tip 4: Let the sunshine in.

Open shades and blinds on cold winter days to let the warm sunlight help heat your home. Also, consider closing window coverings in rooms that receive no direct sunlight to insulate from cold window drafts. When the sun goes down, close window coverings to retain heat. Up to 15% of your heat can escape through unprotected windows, but the solar heat gain from the sun during the day can conserve valuable energy.

Free Tip 5: Sign up for Xcel Energy’s Saver’s Switch.

Signing up is free and you receive a credit on your energy bill for participating. We attach a small device outside of your house near your central AC unit that cycles it on and off for short intervals during the hottest days. You get credit regardless of whether we ever cycle it off.

Low Cost Tip 6: Replace your furnace filters regularly.

Dirty filters reduce airflow, making your equipment work harder and use more energy. Replace your furnace filter monthly (unless it is a high- efficiency filter designed to last several months) during the heating season to reduce costs by up to 5% or about $35 a year.

Low Cost Tip 7: Install a programmable thermostat.

For a small investment, consider purchasing a programmable thermostat to adjust your home's temperature settings automatically when you're sleeping or away. Set it and forget it.

Low Cost Tip 8: Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.

1.8-gallon per minute showerheads can reduce your hot water consumption by as much as 10%. You'll see savings up to $6 per year for a sink faucet aerator and $20 per year for a showerhead.

Low Cost Tip 9: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Now available for as little as a buck a piece, CFLs save $5 per year – which is usually about $50 over the life of just one bulb.

Low Cost Tip 10: Weatherize your home.

A handy homeowner can seal up holes to the outside by weather-stripping doors and sealing windows and gaps along the home's foundation. You can save up to 10% of your heating and cooling costs.

For more information and other energy efficiency tips, visit responsiblebynature.com

Minnesota's Green Path, It's What's Next

2012-02-13T23:00:07Z

A Funny Thing happened over the past five years in the housing market: energy efficiency and home performance entered the mainstream. More than they ever had previously, homeowners rank energy efficiency as a primary consideration when making home purchasing and lifestyle decisions.

Understanding this, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) set out to build a useful green certification program that would give Minnesotans what they want: a common-sense, affordable option to measure and certify their home’s energy efficiency, home performance, and green features. We named the program Minnesota’s Green Path. The beauty of MN Green Path lies in its options – from the relative simplicity of taking the first step on the path, to the rigorous road to Master Certification – all Minnesotans have a place on the path.

Green Path certification is straight forward, and understandable. All homes are third-party tested throughout the construction process, receiving a minimum of three on-site inspections by a certified Home Energy Professional. This testing results in a home efficiency rating called a HERS® Index.

But the real beauty of MN Green Path is that every certified home receives a Home Performance Report (HPR). The HPR provides the homeowner (as well as its future home buyers) documentation showing the home’s HERS Score as well as all beyond-code green materials and techniques. Think of it like a car’s MPG window sticker — something every home buyer will be looking for in the future.

Tour and see 24 HPRs

There are 24 certified MN Green Path homes open to tour on this Spring's Parade of Homes. They each will display their Home Performance Report, and feature HERS scores ranging from 70, the maximum for certification, to 18 in Don Shelby's super green home. You can find all 24 MN Green Path homes clearly marked in the Parade of Homes Guidebook, and online at www.paradeofhomes.org.

Game Pieces for Prizes, including a car

At each of the 24 MN Green Path Homes, visitors can pickup a free Game Piece (limit one per home). The MN Green Path GO game lets visitors tour, play, and win. Over 400 scratch off game pieces will reveal prizes including $5 Blue Planet Gas Cards from Holiday, iPods, rounds of golf at Legends, and 24 will become finalists with an imprinted key.

On April 12th, the 24 finalists will come together to exchange their game piece for a real key. The key that opens the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI from Schmelz Countryside will get to keep it. Rules and Details will be found at www.paradeofhomes.org when the site launches on February 20.

Spring 2012 Feature Family: Three Times a Charm

2012-02-13T22:33:39Z

John and Linda set their home buying experience in motion when Len Pratt of Pratt Homes equipped them with a pair of golden shovels and let them dig the first shovel of dirt from their lot to officially begin the build process. For the couple, this was a unique and fun way to begin the four-to-five month journey of creating a built-from-scratch home, a feat that some people would find daunting. The Stricklands, however, are unlike most homeowners choosing to build because this wasn’t a first. The couple, who are now retired, have built four homes throughout their married life, and the last three with the same builder, Pratt Homes.

Linda explained that when they first set out to build new, “We were not familiar with Pratt Homes at all.” In 1987 the couple saw an advertisement for a Pratt Homes development in New Brighton and, living close by, thought that they should take a look. They immediately became interested in building. “Then we did our research on the builder,” explained John. The couple visited other Pratt Homes’ models in the White Bear Lake area, spoke with past clients and were truly impressed by the quality of craftsmanship, customer retention, and unique style of Pratt Homes. The couple built their first Pratt Home in 1987, their second in 1998 and, since May 2011, are now living in their third Pratt Home.

“The interesting thing about working with Pratt throughout the years,” John explained is “that the neighborhoods have really maintained their original look, freshness, and feel.” The couple described Pratt Homes’ building style as “timeless - not necessarily traditional or trendy,” a classic look that sustains itself over the years. That coupled with high standards of quality and workmanship give each home and the neighborhood a feeling of timelessness.

After building three homes with Pratt, John and Linda have formed a unique bond with the Pratt team. Many of the same people who worked on their current home, both contractors and Pratt employees alike, worked on their previous homes as well. “We thoroughly enjoyed the daily interactions we had with all of them during the build process and the level of professionalism they all displayed. Sustainability is a big challenge in a depressed housing market. Being able to maintain the value of your brand, consistently deliver a great product, and maintain the loyalty of employees and contractors reflects well of a company you can trust,” John said. “Pratt Homes is like our extended family,” Linda joked. “The only reason we kept coming back was because of that. We trust Pratt and we knew that we were going to have a beautiful product in the end.”

With a wealth of building experience behind them, the couple knew what they wanted and built a home that aligns perfectly with their current lifestyle. The home is cozy, warm, and a touch of rustic by design, with extensive use of natural materials, colors, and emphasis on wood and stone. The openness of the main floor from the kitchen and dining area, through the great room and into the den, coupled with lots of windows and natural lighting gives the home a great look and feel, and with the high elevation the sunsets are spectacular.

Unlike John’s dad who lived in the same home for over 64 years, John and Linda enjoy change. “We like to move around a bit, get to experience new areas, and make new friends,” John explained. “It’s about creating new life experiences and reaching out and stretching yourself by trying new things. That’s been behind a lot of our moves. We have been incredibly fortunate to be able to do this.” For Linda, “Life is just too short” not to.

For now, the couple plans to stay put. “You learn a lot over the course of building a home,” John explained. “We did a lot of things that we didn’t do in the other houses here.” While each of the Strickland’s homes has reflected different times with their family, this house is a true reflection of the couple’s personality and lifestyle today.

Still open to the possibility of a fourth Pratt-built home, however, John joked “I won’t call it the end of the journey...” Smiling, he added, “but we built this home to stay here for a long while.”

MN Green Path to hold Press Conference 3.1.12 Announcing Program Launch

2012-02-10T15:53:55Z

When: Thursday, March 1, 2012 • 11:30 am

Where: A Minnesota’s Green Path^SM Certified home at 5430 Polaris Lane N., Plymouth (Hampton Hills neighborhood)

Who: Speakers will include

James Vagle, MN Green Path Executive Director
Tim Liester, MN Green Path founding member
Don Shelby, MN Green Path certified home owner
Bob McDonald, McDonald Construction, Inc., MN Green Path builder

What: Explanation of MN Green Path with tour of a Green Path home, video featuring MN Green Path builders, dissection of the Home Performance Report, and lunch from Common Roots Cafe. Plus, information about the homes open to the public during the Spring Parade of Homes^®, and the Go. Play. Win. game where one visitor can win a car from Schmelz Countryside Volkswagen.

About Minnesota’s Green Path: Created by The Builders Association of the Twin Cities, MN Green Path was developed in response to ample data showing that homeowners rank energy efficiency as a primary consideration when making home purchasing and lifestyle decisions. The new program is a common-sense, affordable option that measures and certifies a home’s energy efficiency, home performance and other green features.

Options are at the core of MN Green Path. The program offers a base certification that includes third-party testing to verify improved energy efficiency and environmental quality, but also steps up to advanced and master certification, both requiring additional green features from all five green building disciplines (energy efficiency, environmental quality, water conservation, resource management, and site/development). Every certified home receives a Home Performance Report (HPR). The HPR provides the homeowner (as well as its future home buyers) documentation of all of its energy and green features, including its HERS (Home Energy Report System) score.

24 certified homes will be in the 2012 Spring Parade of Homes® and over 60 more homes in process to certify under the new green building program that streamlines certification and encourages participation across the market.

Real Family Remodel: Centennial Celebration

2012-02-13T22:53:19Z

Mindy, an interactive marketing manager, had lived in her 1903 home for eight years. It was tiny and set on a narrow lot, but it had what she needed and was in a great location in south Minneapolis. That was before Mike and Olivia (now four) came into her life. With a new baby on the way, what was comfortable for one was just not workable for a family of four. Their first thought was to move.

“We were looking at some houses down by 50th and France that we walked through and really liked,” explained Mike. “We were thinking more about buying than renovating at that point.”

“But we really loved this location. It’s close to the lake and Linden Hills,” Mindy said. “That was the main driving force.”

Remodeling it was, and Ryan Hochbrunn and High Ground Construction was the remodeler they selected to add more space and update the old layout. “We had Ryan over and asked for some ideas,” Mindy reported, but they didn’t stop there. “We have some friends down the street who had recent- ly renovated, and we started coming up with ideas of our own.”

“We struggled with the design idea because we have such a narrow lot,” Mike added. And, like a lot of families who plan a remodel, the project grew a little. “Initially we started with a much smaller renovation,” Mindy smiled. But they realized they wanted to look further into the future, to “a permanent renovation so we wouldn’t have to move again.”

The final plan solved their concerns beautifully. An addition to the back expanded all three levels (main, upstairs and basement), plus a bump-out on the side was able to accommodate a locker-filled mud room, powder room and new staircase to the upper level. The new plans also opened up the main floor to become a delightful and functional living and entertaining area.

“We like to entertain a lot and wanted an open space where we could have lots of people over and not feel so separated,” Mindy said. “The way the house was set up before, the entertaining space was in the front and the kitchen was in the back.”

Now they’ve got a formal dining room to the front with an extended kitchen and great room flowing together behind. The kitchen’s granite- topped island seats six, with a corner desk/office space and galley kitchen layout that boasts a wine cooler, drawer microwave and gorgeous green glass tile walls.

Now, “there’s just plenty of space. The guys can be watching football or TV in the great room, and the girls can be in the kitchen, which we set up as a sort-of bar area, mingling spot,” Mindy explains. “We’ve had 12 peo- ple over and it doesn’t feel crowded, and everybody can be together.”

When asked how the whole process of remodeling went, the couple shared a smile. “Mindy managed most of the process,” Mike admitted.

“It was a process for sure,” Mindy responded, complicated even more by Mindy’s pregnancy and a desire to complete the remodeling before her due date. But, they “had a pretty good plan and some guidance.” And they got help from Ryan’s design- er, Tracey Bailey of Chez Soi, “who helped guide us through the design process.”

The entire project took about four months, and was finished just in time for baby Maylin’s arrival in late July. And along with their new bundle of joy and beautiful new home, the family decided to go all in. “We got all new furniture, all new decora- tions, and donated all of our old furniture to Bridging,” said Mindy. “I feel like I’m living in a dream home.”

January 2012 Hot Sheet

2012-02-02T18:11:18Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities January 2012 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB: Latest Remodeling Market Index Numbers and the UST: Residential Real Estate Price Report Index - Dec. 2011.

HS_January_2012.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Spring 2012 Remodelers ShowcaseSM Fact Sheet

2012-02-14T16:40:06Z

The Parade of Homes Spring Remodelers Showcase is presented by Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) Remodelers. The Spring tour runs March 30 through April 1st, 2012.

This is the 24rd annual Spring Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase presented by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities RemodelersSM Council. A total of 68 remodeled homes from 52 professional remodeling firms are showcased on the tour. All remodelers are members of the Council.

This is a unique opportunity to tour 68 remodeled homes in 25 communities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase homes will be open Friday March 30 from 1-7pm, and Saturday and Sunday March 31 & April 1 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Admission is free (except for the $5 BATC Foundation Dream Remodeled Home) to the general public and remodeling representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

The Remodelers Showcase Guidebooks are available free at all metropolitan area Holiday StationStores. Also available online in an E-Magazine form at at ParadeofHomes.org.

The accompanying web site, ParadeofHomes.org, includes interactive maps, easy to use searches, social media links and resources to help consumers make smart housing decisions.

All remodeled homes are featured on the mobile site at m.paradeofhomes.org, as well as available to iPhone users via an iPhone app available at the app store (search TC Parade of Homes).

One fabulous Dream Homes was selected as this Spring’s Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) Foundation Dream Remodeled Home. The home is a historic whole-house renovation located in the Minneapolis Lake Harriet neighborhood and was remodeled by Feehan Design & Build, Inc. Visitors will be asked for a $5.00 donation to the Foundation, the charitable arm of BATC, with all proceeds used to help house families in need.

Virtually every type of remodeling is showcased on the tour, including 12 whole-house remodels, 39 kitchen renovations, 19 additions, 16 baths, and 13 lower-level finishes. Other projects include decks, porches and exteriors, owners’ suites, mud rooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and garages.

Homes are open in 25 communities across the Twin Cities area. Minneapolis features 14 homes and there are 9 in Edina. Other homes are located all around the region from Stillwater to Lakeville.

The Remodelers Showcase has a Calendar of Events, from educational to inspirational these events are held at Remodelers Showcase homes, offices and showrooms. Find out more online at ParadeofHomes.org.

For the 12th year, the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase is sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors.

Twin Cities Residential Construction Makes a Strong Start to 2012

2012-01-30T15:12:15Z

Residential housing began the new year strong, with more than twice the number of permited units issued in January 2012 than in January 2011. Several larger multi-family projects boosted this months numbers, including 44-unit projects in both St. Paul and Hudson, Wisconsin, plus three projects (45, 60 and 75 units) in Minneapolis.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 185 permits for a total of 465 units during four weeks in the month of January, 2012.

“There are plenty of indicators trending in the right direction for Twin Cities housing.” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2012 President and owner of Lee Lyn Construction, Curt Christensen. “According to Metrostudy, a national housing research firm, the Twin Cities ranks as one of the healthier markets in the country.

“Our members are gaining more confidence as the economy improves, and agree that a 10 to 15 percent increase for 2012 could be realistic,” Christensen said.

Minneapolis led the metro in building activity for the month with 178 units permitted. St. Paul followed with 46 units. Hudson, WI, trailed by just one, at 45 units, followed by Eagan with 18 and Maple Grove issued 16 for the month.

Jan._2012_Permits_Chart.pdf

Builders Association of the Twin Cities Inducts 2012 Board

2012-01-09T19:57:40Z

ROSEVILLE, MINN (January 6, 2012) — The Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) has announced the election of its 2012 President and Board of Directors. Curt Christensen, owner of Lee Lyn Construction, was elected to serve as the Association’s president for 2012. Curt will lead a 17 member board during his year long term as President.

Christensen will oversee the activities of the over 1,000-member trade association that provides a meeting place for the industry, education for its members, interaction with cities and regional governments, and annually sponsors the Parade of Homes® , with its two new-home tours, two remodeling tours, and a year-round on-line housing resource, www.paradeofhomes.org.

Under the leadership of Christensen, the Association will focus on three major goals in 2012: growing membership and involvement, increasing awareness of BATC government affairs efforts, and the redesign of a consumer focused Parade of Homes website and mobile site.

Christensen’s hands-on leadership style will contribute to an unofficial fourth goal, governing BATC with an emphasis on the personal touch. “There is great value in a face-to-face meeting with one of my homebuyers and there is great value in eye-to-eye contact with one my subcontractors,” explains Christensen. “Sometimes, email is a weak substitute to a simple phone conversation. And there is equally great value in getting together personally at BATC. This is my goal for 2012. That we bring back the face-to-face, the phone conversation and the breaking bread together over dinner.”

Christensen has been actively involved in the BATC Board for more than five years, serving as the chair of Parade of Homes, Board Treasurer, and 2011 Vice President. He spent 21 years as a volunteer fireman, holding nearly every position (he retired as assistant chief), and has owned and operated Lee Lyn Construction for over 31 years. His firm, based in Watertown, builds mostly single-family homes in the western suburbs. Christensen is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing, hunting, golf, and spending time with his wife Debbie and their two daughters, Dana and Jessica, at the family’s cabin near McGregor.

“Thank you for your confidence in me as your leader. It is a humbling capstone to my career in this industry to serve this great Association and you know I’ll give it 100 percent.”

2012 BATC Officers and Board Members

As a member-run organization, the BATC President and Board of Directors provide critical oversight to the day-to-day operations of the association. These volunteer members elected to the 2012 Board of Directors include:

Executive Board:

President CURT CHRISTENSEN - Lee Lyn Construction, Inc., Watertown, MN

Builder Vice President PAMELA BELZ - Senior Housing Partners, Roseville, MN

Associate Vice President JOHN ZIRBES - Lyman Lumber Co., Chanhassen, MN

Treasurer SHAWN NELSON - New Spaces, Burnsville, MN

Secretary KERRY MULCRONE - Kerry & Co., Hudson, WI

Past President RICH RIEMERSMA - Imperial Homes, Inc., Shoreview, MN

Past Associate Vice President JON COTY - Fullerton Lumber; The Builder’s Choice, Plymouth, MN

Past President’s Advisory Council RICK KOT - R.A. Kot Homes, Inc., Apple Valley, MN

Board of Directors:

BOB MICHELS - Bob Michels Construction, Inc., St. Paul, MN

CHRIS CONTRERAS - Ryland Homes, Eden Prairie, MN

JASON McCARTHY - Westwood Professional Services, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN

KATHE OSTROM - C.N. Ostrom & Son, Excelsior, MN

LARRY CRAMER - L. Cramer Designers & Builders, Edina, MN

MARV McDARIS - Pulte Homes of Minnesota, Eden Prairie, MN

PAUL DONNAY - Donnay Homes, Inc., Maple Grove, MN

PATTIE MARTIN - Glowing Hearth & Home, Burnsville, MN

TODD POLIFKA - Brush Masters Co., Plymouth, MN

Year End Twin Cities Residential Construction Remains Solid

2012-01-04T21:24:05Z

Roseville, MN (January 4, 2012) – After a slow start in 2011, residential construction in the region ended the year relatively well. With the help of two large multi-family projects, December’s permit and planned unit numbers were higher than any December since 2006. Year-to-date, permits came in higher than any year since 2007. While planned units lagged behind 2010 by almost 20 percent, this can be almost entirely attributed to the 50 percent drop in multi-family units (in buildings of 17 units or larger), with single family homes coming in two percent higher in 2011 than in 2010.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 293 permits for a total of 568 units during four weeks in the month of December, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,978 permits issued for a total of 4,529 units.

“While our builders have been seeing small signs of recovery all year, it was pretty clear that any sustained growth would remain elusive.” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “Both our spring and fall Parade of Homes® events drew more visitors than we’ve seen in awhile, but many of those folks remain hesitant to buy.

“Cautious optimism continues to be the guiding principal for our industry,” Riemersma said.

Burnsville led the metro in building activity for the month with 141 units permitted. Lakeville followed with 102 units. Chanhassen and Woodbury both had 31 units permitted, with Blaine rounding out the top five with 25 units. For the year, Minneapolis led the way with 416 units permitted, followed by Blaine with 336, Woodbury with 292, Plymouth with 286 and Maple Grove with 265.

Dec._2011_Permits_Chart_only.pdf

December 2011 Hot Sheet

2012-01-04T17:48:54Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities December 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB Builder Confidence Issue and the UST: Residential Real Estate Price Report Index - Nov. 2011.

HS_December_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Lighten Your Laundry Load, When You're 50+

2011-12-22T18:39:50Z

No matter what age, lightening your laundry load has universal appeal. I can say this as someone who has done a lot of laundry in my young life, including a brief career as a laundress for my university’s football team. I’ve since fared well with a profession that’s far less foul, but the laundry loads in my life still pile up every week (I’m sure you can relate).

For the 50+ Housing market however, laundry can lead to more trouble than simply being inconvenient. Easy access to the laundry room and space optimization are important discussion points for 50+ demographics, especially since this market is choosing to stay in their homes longer. According to Whirlpool’s senior design manager Terri Connett, the 50+ housing market is at a face-off with “The Great Laundry Migration.”

“No longer a staple fixture in the corner of the basement, laundry rooms are moving closer to bedrooms or living quarters,” says Connett. “For seniors seeking single-story, open-floor plans, positioning the laundry room on the main floor close to the master bedroom is an excellent selling point.”

Find out how Connett addresses noise concerns, limited storage and functionality issues that can occur when the laundry room moves from the basement to the main room.

*Photo Credit

Holiday House-Warming Gifts

2011-12-14T18:50:23Z

Even if you’re not moving to a new home, when the ground is white and the fireplace is your go-to spot, a housewarming gift is relevant to everyone. Here are ten unique Holiday gift ideas (under $40) that will warm your heart and your home.

1) 12-Volt Heated Car Blanket: $26.99, sears.com

Why wait until home to cozy-up in a warm blanket when you can stay toasty on the trip to get there? It takes only 15 seconds to heat! Perfect timing on frigid nights when the car is slow to warm-up.

2) Monogram Mug: $6, Anthropologie.com

You’ll always know which cup is yours when you sip hot coco, coffee, or whatever your cup of tea.

3) Battery Wax Candle (3 piece): $39.99, mrlight.com

A candlelit look can keep a dorm room feeling homey when flames aren’t allowed.

4) Scrabble Flash: $19.89, target.com

Flash forward and try a new twist on an old classic. With multiple game options, you can play with friends or scrabble solo.

5) Blueprint Placemat: $22, cakevintage.com

Where prim and property meet down-home dining.

6) Popover Pan: $19.95, william-Sonoma.com

Served straight from the oven this light and airy dish tastes delicious.

7) Table Topics Box: $24.95, generalstoreofminnetonka.com

Get the conversations flowing and discover something new about a family member, co-worker, or loved one.

8) Mini Cook & Serve Dish: $24.95, patinastores.com

Say goodbye to the TV dinner tray and hello to this cute single serve dish for a quiet evening at home.

9) Rubber Address Stamp: $19.95, etsy.com

Personalize the home-front with fonts that are handcrafted from Etsy.

10) Design Sponge at Home: $35, Barnesandnoble.com

Cuddle up with a book all about rejuvinating your home. We guarantee you’ll be inspired!

Is Your Home Ready for Tangerine Tango?

2011-12-09T17:22:17Z

Every season, Pantone spins their magic color wheel to reveal the latest in color trends. Trying to stay current and keeping your home up to date with an ever evolving palette is enough to leave a homeowner’s head spinning! Here’s how you can keep your home looking fresh, without falling out of style and (dare I say it) having to repaint the walls:

Tangerine Tango is the 2012 color of the year according to Pantone, the leading worldwide authority on color trends. The hue is a vibrant red orange that is energizing and uplifting. With a color this lively, a touch of paint doesn’t sound that bad and Apartment Therapy (featured in the picture above) seems to agree.

However, while Tangerine Tango makes a fun statement, the color could overpower a room if used in excess. So, if you can’t pull off Tangerine Tango walls, check out HGTV for ideas (and pictures) on how to utilize Pantone shades in your home this season.

Parade of Homes' Builder's Mixer Leads to Weight Gain

2011-12-08T22:56:23Z

BATC Holiday Mixer Leads to Weight Gain

THE HOLIDAY MONTHS DON’T ALWAYS SIT WELL WITH OUR STOMACHS. We have an appetite for shopping, but our spending can feel like a punch in the gut. The stress of hosting dinner can leave us spread thin and why is it that Uncle Dave’s jokes always hit below the belt? And then there’s the food. We’ve indulged in Turkey, loosened our drawstrings and OD’ed on tryptophan, and that’s just the warm up. Bring on the cookies – gingerbread, shortbread, candied fruit bread (did I mention plain old bread?) – all in an effort to carb load before the inevitable resolution to lose all the weight we’ve pounded on!

While this list may sound familiar to some, it’s especially true for the attendees at our very own BATC Holiday Mixer. For Mixer goers, however, it only took one night to really pack on the pounds – 372 of them to be exact!

That’s right, this year’s Holiday Member Mixer has led to an incredible weight gain of 372 pounds, but not all was gained in lb’s. That’s because members truly tipped the scales by donating over 220 canned goods and 346 boxed goods to Second Harvest Heartland, weighing in just under 400 lbs.

Donations were delivered on Tuesday to Second Harvest Heartland, the upper-midwest's largest hunger relief organization and member of nationwide food distributer Feeding America, which encompasses more than 200 food banks nationwide. According to Feeding America’s website, approximately one in six Americans does not have access to enough food.

In the land of plenty, and during a season of indulgence, the simple act of donating canned goods to someone in need can make all the difference between celebrating the Holiday season with a spirit of mirth and celebrating with a belly full of girth.

Thank you again to every member who donated at our Holiday Mixer. You really stepped up to the scale!

To learn more about hunger in North America take this survey from Feeding America.

While this list may sound familiar to some, it’s especially true for the attendees at the Parade of Homes' Builder's Holiday Mixer. For Mixer goers, however, it only took one night to really pack on the pounds – 372 of them to be exact!

Thank you again to every member who donated at our Holiday Mixer. You really stepped up to the scale!

To learn more about hunger in North America take this survey from Feeding America.

November 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-12-01T21:10:54Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities November 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB Housing Affordability Index and the UST: Residential Real Estate Price Report Index.

HS_November_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Twin Cities Residential Construction Continues Apace

2011-11-29T18:41:42Z

November marked another month of relative stability in residential housing permits. Single family permits remain in positive territory, up a little more than eight percent over November 2010. Even with three large multi-family projects (two in Minneapolis at 104 and 47 units each and one in Forest Lake at 30 units), this month lagged behind November 2011 in total planned units by 35 percent.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 235 permits for a total of 442 units during four weeks in the month of November, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,685 permits issued for a total of 3,961 units.

“While we have continued to see scattered improvements, we are also regularly reminded about how fragile the housing industry truly is,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “We were truly sad to see the demise of Rottlund Homes, the last of our local large-volume production builders.

“Rottlund Homes has been a leader in our association, in our industry and a huge supporter of our Foundation. We will miss them tremendously,” Riemersma said.

Minneapolis led the metro in building activity for the month with 153 units permitted. Forest Lake followed with 34 units. Woodbury saw 27 units permitted, Maple Grove followed with 23 units and Plymouth rounded out the top five with 20 units.

Nov._2011_Permits_Release_chart.pdf

New Homes of the Future

2011-11-22T22:33:59Z

Good bye McMansions, hello performance and function! The economic downturn has changed the way Americans look at a lot of things, including what they are looking for in their next home. A study by the National Association of Home Builders suggests that prospective home buyers have shifted their perspective on the housing they want and need, and that the new home of the future will focus more on efficiency than indulgence.

Here's what NAHB reports about the survey and it's results:
The survey asked builders, designers, architects, manufacturers, and marketing specialists about what they thought the likely characteristics of the average, new single-family detached home would be in 2015.

First, the typical size of new homes will continue to shrink, with respondents saying they expect homes to average 2,152 square feet. That is 10 percent smaller than the average size of single-family homes started in 2010. Census Bureau data shows that the average size peaked in 2007, at 2,521 square feet.

This decrease is likely influenced by economic hardship, with consumers focusing on lowering the cost of heating and cooling their homes as well as no longer having a lot of equity in their current homes to finance purchasing a much larger one. An aging population — 29 percent of the U.S. population will be 55 and older in the year 2020 — will also increase demand for smaller homes as empty-nesters downsize into easier-to-manage properties.

A smaller home means the space must be better suited to modern lifestyles. Fifty-two percent of builders expect the living room to be merged with other spaces in the home by 2015 and 30 percent said it will vanish entirely. Respondents also expect the entry foyer and dining rooms to become smaller, or merge with other spaces. A great room comprised of the kitchen, foyer and living room is the most likely room to be included in the average new home. Some of the rooms least likely to be present include two master bedroom suites, a sunroom, a hobbies room, and a media room.

Kitchens are also expected to become more functional. Double sinks, recessed lighting, table space for eating, a breakfast bar and pull-out drawers are the features most likely to be in the new home kitchen in 2015.
In addition to floor plan changes, it is expected that new homes in 2015 will include more green features and technology, including low-E windows; engineered wood beams, joists or tresses; water-efficient features such as dual-flush toilets or low-flow faucets; and an ENERGY STAR rating for the whole house. (Stay tuned for the Spring 2012 Parade of Homes where you'll get to see 19 homes certified under the new Minnesota's Green Path, each boasting of a Home Performance Report that shows you exactly what energy and green features are included.)

Surprisingly, some new home features that have been popular in recent years are expected to lose favor with home buyers in the future. Less than a third of survey respondents said they thought more technology features, more universal features and more outdoor living features would be the first or second most probable trend.

OSHA Fall Protection Training Course Scheduled

2011-11-18T14:48:08Z

The Builders Association of the Twin Cities is offering a comprehensive OSHA training course on Fall Protection.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

9:00 am to 12:00 noon

at the Builders Group, 2919 Eagandale Blvd., Eagan, MN

$75.00 for Association members, $125 for non-members.

Reservations online at www.batc.org, or call 651-697-1954 to reserve a space.

OSHA_training_press_release.pdf

Give to the Max Today

2011-11-16T17:23:17Z

While the Christmas Holidays lend to a spirit of giving, in the month of November, we garner a heart of thanksgiving. Today, you have the special opportunity to incorporate both aspects of this holiday season.

You have the chance to show your thanks and support to a special charity or nonprofit by making a simple contribution for Give to the Max Day, a special 24 hour day where Minnesotans come together to support local nonprofits and help them win big. For every donation made, the BATC Foundation has a chance to win an additional $1,000 prize grant. These grants are awarded every hour until midnight tonight so don’t delay.

We appreciate your donations and support! Here are the folks who your donations helped this fall:

The BATC Foundation renovated the home of Wesley Cureton, a wounded Veteran who served his country with seven active duty tours. His remodeled home will be safer and more comfortable for this American hero.

We also just finished a new home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity for the Ahmed family of seven.

Your donation today will help us do more!.

Garage sale on TV

2011-11-14T21:28:43Z

This could be yours, and so could an assortment of furniture, cabinets, lighting, appliances and accessories! With items donated by Parade of Homes builders, this weekend’s BATC Foundation Garage Sale is the perfect excuse to pamper your pad after a favorite Parade Home.

Items will be on sale November 18-20 at the Midwest Home Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Be sure to come early for great finds, or stop by before the show wraps for great deals (Sunday discounts!).

Can’t wait for this weekend’s garage sale? Tune in to KARE 11 today and tomorrow for a preview of select sale items. Watch at 4 p.m. today and 11:30 a.m. tomorrow for a special sneak peak.

BATC Foundation garage Sale

2011-11-03T21:05:38Z

We know a lot of you visit all those gorgeous Parade of Homes models to get decorating ideas and see whats new in furnishings. Now you can get some of those furnishings for yourself! Our charitable arm, the BATC Foundation, is holding their 3rd annual Midwest Home Show Garage Sale. A number of our Parade builders have donated tons of cool furniture, accessories, and building materials (lighting, cabinets, we even are selling the kitchen sink).

Come on down to the Mpls. Convention Center to the Midwest Home Show on November 18-20 and pick up some cool deals for your home.

Here's how our warehouse looked several weeks ago -- we've got plenty more items that have come in since.

BATC Foundation 3rd Annual Garage Sale at the Midwest Home Show

2011-11-03T17:40:27Z

EVENT: The charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), the BATC Foundation (formerly the Builders Outreach Foundation) has been collecting donated items from its members to sell at their 3rd annual Garage Sale. Prices will be low, and items are new or nearly new.

WHEN/WHERE

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 18-20, 2011

Show hours: Friday 1 - 6 pm; Saturday 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday 11 am - 5 pm

At the Midwest Home Show Minneapolis Convention Center

ABOUT THE SALE Items have been donated by builders, remodelers and suppliers and include a wide variety of model home furnishings (couches, dining sets, side tables, dressers and much more); model home accessories (paintings and prints, vases); building materials and products (light fixtures, wall switches, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, including the kitchen sink).

ABOUT THE BATC FOUNDATION The BATC Foundation is a nonprofit organization that partners with local building professionals to rehabilitate old homes and build new homes in the Twin Cities Community. They help make the dream of home ownership come true for low income families. It is the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, presenters of the Parade of Homes® and Remodelers Showcase®, and represents more than 1,000 member firms involved in all phases of the home building and remodeling industries and is dedicated to providing a diverse selection of quality and affordable housing to the Twin Cities area. BATC is among the top 10 local Home Builders Associations in the United States.

October 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-11-01T20:42:08Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities October 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB Remodeling Market Index and Bloomberg: Case-Shiller Report.

HS_October_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Charles Cudd DeNovo wins top Reggie Award

2011-10-28T12:50:40Z

The Reggie Awards gala a couple weeks ago was a lot of fun for all who attended, but a real treat for the winner of the million-dollar homes category, Charles Cudd DeNovo. We thought you'd like to see a few photos, and don't forget to check out the video here.

Twin Cities Residential Construction Continues Stable in October 2011

2011-10-28T12:42:14Z

October continued the recent trend in residential construction for stronger single family activity and fewer large multi-family projects. The Twin Cities saw another rise in permits in October, with with 264 single family homes and 25 permits for multi-family buildings of 16 units or less. There were no large buildings permitted in October.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 289 permits for a total of 378 units during four weeks in the month of October, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,450 permits issued for a total of 3,519 units.

“Without a doubt, the housing market remains well below where we would like it to be,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “But we’re very pleased to see a few positive signs, like the monthly gains in single-family permits and lower housing inventory across the region, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS.

“Another positive sign is that even with distressed and foreclosed home sales prices included, Case Shiller reports the Twin Cities metro has been showing some strength since May,” Riemersma said.

Blaine led the metro in building activity for the month with 37 units permitted. Woobury followed with 35 units. Farmington saw 32 units permitted, Plymouth and Savage rounded out the top five with 24 and 21 units respectively.

Oct._2011_Permits_Release_chart_only.pdf

14 Parade Homes earn Reggie Award

2011-10-17T19:16:08Z

Last Saturday was an exciting night for Parade of Homes builders! 14 of the gorgeous Parade Homes earned the coveted Reggie Award! These homes were judged by builders, industry professionals and regular folks in the community. The gala red-carpet event was a night to remember, especially for these 12 builders (two won two awards!). (The price category is listed in parentheses.)

BlueStar Homes, LLC #243 for their home in Andover ($129,900 to $179,999)

Stone Cottage Construction, Inc. #88 for their home in Farmington ($180,000 - $203,999)

Hans Hagen Homes, Inc. #157 for their home in Cologne ($204,000 - $244,999)

K.A. Witt Construction, Inc. #91 for their home in New Prague ($245,000 - $269,999)

Knoblauch Builders, LLC #117 for their home in Shakopee ($270,000 - $284,999)

TJB Homes, Inc. #256 for their home in Blaine ($285,000 - #304,999)

Lee Lyn Construction, LLC #173 for their home in Delano ($305,000 - $354,999)

Homes by Tradition, LLC #72 for their home in Lakeville ($355,000 - $384,999)

Hartman Homes, Inc. #32 for their home in Hudson ($385,000 - $419,999)

Hartman Homes, Inc. #18 for their home in Lake Elmo ($420,000 - $474,999)

D.T. Carlson Co. #55 for their home in Cottage Grove ($475,000 - $574,999)

Homes by Tradition, LLC #73 for their home in Lakeville ($575,000 - $749,999)

J.B. Woodfitter & Associates, LLC #93 for their home in Credit River Township ($750,000 - $999,999)

Charles Cudd DeNovo, LLC #128 for their home in Edina ($1,000,000 and above)

Congratulations also to these suppliers and vendors that earned Trillium Awards for their part in the creation of these fabulous homes. Glowing Hearth & Home won four Trillium Awards, Granite-Tops, LLC won three, and six firms won two Trillium Awards each (Aspen Electric, Inc., Bayer Interior Woods, Designed Cabinets, Inc., Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Southern Lights, and Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.) Here are all 17 companies:

Trillium Award Winners:
Aspen Electric Inc., Savage MN
Brock White Company, St. Paul MN
Brush Masters, Plymouth MN
Designed Cabinets, Inc., Lakeville MN
Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery, Golden Valley MN
Gallus Painting, Inc., Delano MN
Glowing Hearth & Home, Jordan MN
Granite-Tops, L.L.C., Cold Spring MN
Mayer Lumber Co., Inc., Mayer MN
MCI Paint & Drywall, Farmington MN
Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Osseo MN
Martha O'Hara Interiors, Minneapolis MN
Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., Brooklyn Park MN
Southern Lights, Burnsville MN
J.J. Vanderson & Co., Blaine MN
Village Floor & Wall, Inc., Blaine MN
Warners' Stellian Co., Inc., St. Paul MN

Builders and Suppliers Honored at the 2011 Awards of Excellence

2011-10-17T18:45:38Z

At a red carpet gala on Saturday, October 15th, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) honored the best of the best for excellence in home building. Held at the DoubleTree Park Place in St. Louis Park, the evening showcased the 44th annual Reggie Award(SM) winners and honored their partners (suppliers and sub-contractors) with the 22nd annual Trillium Awards(SM). Additionally, the association presented the Robert Hanson Service Awards plus the coveted Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year awards.

“BATC’s annual award gala is a truly special night for members of the home building community,” said Rich Riemersma, 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes. “While the industry has faced some tough times over the past several years, our members have continued working hard to create innovative designs, exceptional craftsmanship and real value for home buyers across the region. This is the night we recognize the very best of those talents.”

Since 1968, BATC has presented the Reggie Award to builders for outstanding achievement in the design, quality and value of their homes as judged by their harshest critics, builders and professionals within the industry. This year we added a little twist, including one consumer judge in each category. All of the homes judged were on display to the public during the 2011 Parade of Homes Fall Showcase(SM), and then the judges in each category met to compare notes and select the winner. A total of 144 homes were entered in the competition, divided into 14 price categories, with one winner awarded in each category.

The Trillium Awards were designed over two decades ago to recognize the partnership between builder and their suppliers and sub-contractors in creating excellence. This year, the program was revamped to allow companies that worked with the builder in the design and construction of each Reggie-entered home to participate at their choice. The Trillium Awards were then presented to all participating companies for their work on homes winning a Reggie.

In addition to the Reggie and Trillium Awards, BATC recognized two members with the Robert L. Hanson Service Award for their contributions to the home building industry. The evening culminated with the presentation of BATC’s most coveted honors, the annual Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year Awards. These companies are selected by the companies with which they do business for their excellence in the areas of trust, communications, and business ethics.

2011 Reggie and Trillium Award Winners:

Two firms each won two Reggie Awards, Hartman Homes, Inc. and Homes by Tradition LLC. Glowing Hearth & Home won four Trillium Awards, Granite-Tops, LLC won three, and six firms won two Trillium Awards each (Aspen Electric, Inc., Bayer Interior Woods, Designed Cabinets, Inc., Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Southern Lights, and Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.

$129,900 - $179,999: BlueStar Homes, LLC #243 for their home in Andover

$180,000 - $203,999: Stone Cottage Construction, Inc. #88 for their home in Farmington

$204,000 - $244,999: Hans Hagen Homes, Inc. #157 for their home in Cologne

$245,000 - $269,999: K.A. Witt Construction, Inc. #91 for their home in New Prague; Trillium Winner: Minnesota Exteriors, Inc.

$270,000 - $284,999: Knoblauch Builders, LLC #117 for their home in Shakopee; Trillium Winner: Glowing Hearth & Home

$285,000 - #304,999: TJB Homes, Inc. #256 for their home in Blaine; Trillium Winners: Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., and Village Floor & Wall, Inc.

$305,000 - $354,999: Lee Lynn Construction, LLC #173 for their home in Delano; Trillium Winners: Brock White Company, Brush Masters, Gallus Painting, Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, Granite-Tops, L.L.C., Mayer Lumber Co., Inc., and Southern Lights

$355,000 - $384,999: Homes by Tradition, LLC #72 for their home in Lakeville; Trillium Winners: Aspen Electric Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, and Southern Lights

$385,000 - $419,999: Hartman Homes, Inc. #32 for their home in Hudson; Trillium Winner: Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.

$420,000 - $474,999: Hartman Homes, Inc. #18 for their home in Lake Elmo; Trillium Winner: Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.

$475,000 - $574,999: D.T. Carlson Co. #55 for their home in Cottage Grove; Trillium Winners: Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery, Granite-Tops, L.L.C., and MCI Paint & Drywall

$575,000 - $749,999: Homes by Tradition, LLC #73 for their home in Lakeville; Trillium Winners: Aspen Electric Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, and J.J. Vanderson & Co.

$750,000 - $999,999: J.B. Woodfitter & Associates, LLC #93 for their home in Credit River Township; Trillium Winners: Designed Cabinets, Inc., and Granite-Tops, L.L.C.

$1,000,000 and above: Charles Cudd DeNovo, LLC #128 for their home in Edina; Trillium Winners: Designed Cabinets, Inc., Martha O’Hara Interiors, and Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.

Robert L. Hanson Industry Service Award

“So many of our members are active in our association,” said Riemersma. “They spend time away from their families to make sure our association and our industry remain strong. Our Robert L. Hanson Award is named for BATC’s long-time Executive Vice President, Bob Hanson, and let’s thank them for their dedication and commitment in a big way.”

The 2011 Robert L. Hanson Industry Service Award Winners are:

Tim Liester, Lyman Lumber Company, Chanhassen

Kathleen (Kathe) Ostrom, C.N.Ostrom & Sons, Inc., Excelsior

Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year

These awards are truly BATC’s most coveted honors. The winners are selected based upon evaluations of trust, communications, loyalty and ethics. Nominees sent surveys to 20 of the firms with which they do business, asking them to rate the firm on a variety of questions. The companies earning the most points won.

2011 BATC Builder of the Year: JMS Custom Homes, Edina

2011 BATC Associate of the Year: Builders Choice/A Fullerton Company, Plymouth

The Builders Association of the Twin Cities, presenters of the Spring and Fall Parade of Homes®, the Spring and Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase®, and the online open house directory, Parade of Homes OnTourSM represents over 1,000 member firms involved in all phases of the home building and remodeling industries and is dedicated to providing a diverse selection of quality and affordable housing to the Twin Cities area.

# # # #

Photos available on request. Contact: Wendy Danks, wendy@batc.org, 651/697-7565.

Winning firms are listed below including the city in which their home office is headquartered:

Reggie Award Winners:

BlueStar Homes, LLC, Cedar MN

D.T. Carlson Co., Minneapolis MN

Charles Cudd DeNovo, LLC, Plymouth MN

Hans Hagen Homes, Inc., Fridley MN

Hartman Homes, Inc., Hudson WI

Homes by Tradition LLC, Lakeville MN

Knoblauch Builders, L.L.C., Excelsior MN

Lee Lyn Construction, L.L.C., Watertown MN

Stone Cottage Construction, Inc., Apple Valley MN

TJB Homes, Inc., Blaine MN

K.A. Witt Construction, Inc., New Prague MN

J.B. Woodfitter & Associates, LLC, Prior Lake MN

Trillium Award Winners:

Aspen Electric Inc., Savage MN

Brock White Company, St. Paul MN

Brush Masters, Plymouth MN

Designed Cabinets, Inc., Lakeville MN

Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery, Golden Valley MN

Gallus Painting, Inc., Delano MN

Glowing Hearth & Home, Jordan MN

Granite-Tops, L.L.C., Cold Spring MN

Mayer Lumber Co., Inc., Mayer MN

MCI Paint & Drywall, Farmington MN

Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Osseo MN

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Minneapolis MN

Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., Brooklyn Park MN

Southern Lights, Burnsville MN

J.J. Vanderson & Co., Blaine MN

Village Floor & Wall, Inc., Blaine MN

Warners' Stellian Co., Inc., St. Paul MN

Congratulations Mary Young- Dream Home Limo Tour Winner!

2011-10-05T02:06:09Z

The Parade of Homes® and Remodelers Showcase® concluded in style this past weekend with a VIP event. Mary Young of Minneapolis and her entourage toured the five Dream HomesSM Sunday afternoon.

Awaiting Mary and her group was a white stretch limo by Renee’s Royal Valet stocked with delicacy’s from Keys Café. There was much to celebrate toasting champaign to a beautiful day, good company and luck of the draw.

Mary was the one winner chosen this fall for the limo tour of the Dream Homes out of over 1,000 entrants that stopped by the Parade of Homes® booth at the Minnesota State Fair.

The Spring PreviewSM dates are March 3- April 1st and the Remodelers Showcase is March 30th- April 1st. This is no fools day joke, save the date of April 1st if you’ll be chosen as the winner for our next Dream Home Limo Tour Giveaway. Stop by our booth at the Home and Garden Show, Feb. 29 - Mar. 4, 2012.

What Does It Mean to Go "Zero-Energy?"

2011-10-01T00:19:27Z

Parade visitors learned what it means to go "zero energy" during a tour of home #199 last weekend. Builder Rocky DiGiacomo discussed how a combination of technologies, such as geothermal heating/cooling, photovoltaics, spray foam insulation, LED lighting, and Energy Star appliances, can reduce a home's initial and on-going energy footprints so that, over the course of 12 months, it can operate with almost no net energy.

DiGiacomo shared eight-months worth of Xcel Energy and Centerpoint Energy utility bills from the 4,200 square foot parade home in Golden Valley. He projects, at current energy prices, that it will cost no more than $650/year to heat, cool, and operate the home.

Check it out for yourself at Parade Home #199 this weekend! DiGiacomo will be available to answer questions or contact DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation directly: www.designbuildmn.com.

September 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-09-30T19:10:45Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities September 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the UST Residential Real Estate Market Index and NAHB Builder Confidence.

HS_September_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Single Family Home Construction Continues to Lead Twin Cities Residential Construction

2011-09-29T12:46:05Z

New residential construction in the Twin Cities remains relatively stable, with single family construction leading the way. The region had more permits pulled in September than in any other month during the past year, and more than any September since 2007. Multi-family construction has dropped, however, with September units down over 40 percent from September 2010, and making up less than 35 percent of total units year to date.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 272 permits for a total of 352 units during four weeks in the month of September, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,161 permits issued for a total of 3,141 units.

“Builders participating in our Fall Parade of Homes have reported a real interest on the part of consumers,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “Yet, most agree that many prospective buyers continue to be skittish about making a decision right now.

“While foreclosures and distressed and sales continued to drive down resale prices in the region, we were pleased to see BuilderOnline.com, the online Builder Magazine by Hanley Woods, name the Twin Cities as the healthiest housing market in the United States.” Riemersma said.

Maple Grove led the metro in building activity for the month with 44 units permitted. Plymouth followed with 43 units, Forest Lake came in with 37 units, Woodbury with 31, followed by Blaine and Chanhassen with 22 each.

Sept_2011_Permits_Chart_only.pdf

Sept_2011_Permits_Release.pdf

Parade of Homes® Event Recap

2011-09-21T19:49:49Z

During the Tear Down and Rebuild Process Simplified event attendees learned that when considering a tear-down/rebuild project, it all starts with a land survey and the parameters of the lot. Determining if what they want to build will fit within the limitations the lot may present.

Bjorn Freudenthal and Bonnie Trowbridge with College City Design/Build, Inc. discussed features of the current home that may impact the scope of the new build. Some features include the existing foundation (could this be re-used?) as well as the locations of the existing building systems, such as plumbing and HVAC.

Participants left with an understanding of the steps that move the project from start to finish working with both the city and builder, as well as a rough idea of what to expect with timeframes and general costs.

The September 17^th event was held at Parade of Homes® entry #130 and model by College City Design/Build, Inc.

New! 2011 Fall Dream Home Videos

2011-09-14T22:14:09Z

Wow, our two new BATC Foundation Dream Homes on display during this fall's Parade of Homes are fabulous! Check them out on our hot new videos.

Charles Cudd DeNovo, #128 in Edina

and

Smuckler Custom Homes, #167 in Orono

Real Families Remodeling Stories

2011-09-13T21:07:52Z

We asked four families on this fall’s Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase how they got through the remodeling process while still loving their homes, and even each other!

Four Generations Strong

Jon and Candace, a young retired couple, had lived in this 1950’s two-story home for almost a quarter century. They put a lot of love and sweat into it over the years. Jon’s DIY (Do it Yourself) projects kept the home maintained nicely. And Candace’s green thumb created an outdoor wonderland of cozy gathering spaces set amid a riot of colorful blooms, waving grasses, even a trio of fruiting artichoke plants she’d fooled into thinking they were still rooted in California.

They’ve been happy in their St. Paul neighborhood. It’s close to so much, and has been a great place to raise their daughters, Samantha, Paige (both out on their own) and Zoe (just graduated), and now their teenaged grandson, Iain. “We love this neighborhood,” Jon explained. “It’s like a small town, where neighbors stop to visit when we’re outside.”

Their remodeling project began when they decided they needed to bring Candace’s parents home. For the past several years, Candace had been traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for one week out of every month providing long-distance care to her parents, Daniel and Elaine. “It was last Labor Day when I realized I just couldn’t do this anymore,” Candace explained. Her parents needed full-time caregiving and she and Jon decided they should be the ones giving it.

Their original plan was to add an accessible bathroom to the existing family room on the main level of their home, and create a bedroom out of the space. “That’s when we called Tom,” Candace said.

They found Tom Schiebout, owner of Tomco Company, via internet searches. Candace had also spent some time on caregiving websites and found a consistent theme — that in-home care worked best when living spaces were adapted to suit. So when Tom came out to examine their home and discuss their needs, he helped them see how to best build upon what they had.

“It made so much more sense to rebuild the east side of the house,” Tom said. “They needed space that was safe and accessible for Daniel and Elaine, and by adding a small addition, reconfiguring the existing porch and digging out a full basement, they would be able to provide their parents with a suite that opened directly to the accessible patio with its own front entry, while enlarging their living space for this four-generation family.”

With the plans in place and construction barely started, they couldn’t wait any longer and moved Daniel and Elaine into temporary sleeping quarters with the rest of the family upstairs. “We have four bedrooms but just one bathroom up there,” Candace said with a smile. “It was a little rough.”-≠

Construction took about three months and despite the cramped quarters. “It was fun, I really enjoyed it,” Candace recalls. “I think the reason it was so fun was because of the relationships we had with Tom and all of his guys.”

Part of her enjoyment was in choosing the materials and colors. The new space is filled with light, a little contemporary with an Asian influence. The accessible bath has a window overlooking the back gardens, and closes off through Shoji doors that are usually slid back. A sliding glass door opens directly to the back patio from the bedroom space, and the sitting room is just right for relaxing in front of the flat-screen TV.

Even better, “It’s really solid and quiet in there,” said Candace. “Tom had us put in materials we’d never have used if we were doing it ourselves. It’s a whole different quality that makes a real difference.”

Serendipitous Next Stage

Planning for a modern retirement lifestyle, Marybeth and Dennis found the perfect palette right around the corner. This soon to be retired couple was transitioning from more than 30 years of small town life in Redwood Falls to condo living in Centennial Lakes of Edina.

“We were looking for an easy-maintenance home that was big enough for out-of-town guests and to gather our large extended family together.” Another requirement, “location!” says Marybeth. They wanted to be close to their daughter in the cities, and to the airport for quick trips to Los Angeles to visit their second daughter.

Edinborough condominiums in Edina fit the bill. They loved the location, and purchased a unit there when their daughter was in graduate school and they were caring for their ailing parents. It had views of Centennial Lake and great neighbors, but it was simply too small. Then fate stepped in. An unusual unit in the same building complex went up for sale. “It was literally two mirror-image units with the separating wall removed. The space still had double everything including two kitchens and an odd rambling layout,” recalls Marybeth.

Once they decided to purchase the unit they started interviewing remodeling contractors. They were most comfortable with College City Design/Build. “What a great team,” says Dennis. “They listened and worked with us on all the details. We always felt very well taken care of.”

With over 2,100 square feet to redesign, they had a lot to take into account. Given that all major plumbing had to stay in place, you can imagine the complexity of the design phase. Marybeth also really appreciated how the company took care of presenting the plans and engineer's reports to their condo association and city inspectors for approval.

“We got new everything: flooring, appliances, fixtures, a walk-in shower, widened corridors, plus a really open kitchen and great room. The remodelers also utilized Universal Design to help us plan for living in this home for a long time to come,” explains Marybeth. Tying it all together was another member of the College City team, designer Bonnie Anderson.

During the demolition phase, one of the workers accidentally hit a sprinkler and set off the water system. “This turned out to be proof positive of how well College City works as a team. I was there about six hours later. The water was gone and they had dryers and fans going everywhere. They were really aggressive in tearing out, and removing sheet rock and repairing any possible damage as well,” remembers Marybeth.

“We've already had our neighbors over for an open house to thank them for their patience and putting up with the construction process, plus hosted a family gathering. It's been great to see the planning being put to use. We entertained 30 people comfortably,” says Marybeth. “It really feels like home with so many loved ones in the same spot.”

“The entire space will be lived in,” says Dennis. “We're really pleased with the results and looking forward to the next stage together.”

From One Generation to the Next

Jen and Todd were already looking for a house to buy in the popular Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul when Todd’s parents approached them. Todd’s paternal grandparents had recently passed away, and the house that they had built new for the family in 1946 would soon be up for sale. “When we were given the opportunity to buy the house, we decided we wanted to keep it in the family,” says Todd. He and Jen, who were living in Brooklyn Park at the time, loved the idea of taking over the family house with its memories and ideal location. The house was on a scenic block, close to parks and shops and centrally located for their daughter’s schooling.

While the home provided a perfect location for Todd and Jen, it offered little else to meet their modern family needs. The 960-square-foot rambler with its green carpeting, dark paneled walls, and 1950’s finishes was long overdue for an update. Except for one room in the basement that housed memorabilia and an impressive toy train set, everything else was available to be changed. Remodeling a house was a new experience for Todd and Jen, who first needed to find the best remodeler to suit their needs and one who could completely transform the home.

Chad and Andy, owners of Bluejack Builders, stood out with their skill and ability, as well as their willingness to work with Todd and Jen from the beginning. Bluejack Builders was able to take control and guide the busy parents and career professionals through every part of the design process, from the ideas stage to making the final selections. “We started with a basic design, but the plan changed several times,” says Jen. “The amount of time Bluejack Builders put into the project blows us away. Due to our busy work schedule, Bluejack Builders helped us with every design element selection to create the home of our dreams.”

Bluejack completely gutted the existing main level and raised the roof to add a second level, enlarging the house to about 2,200 square feet of living space, which does not include the unfinished basement. Bluejack also designed the home’s exterior to blend beautifully with existing homes in the neighborhood, offering a timeless yet modern appearance with traditional materials and craftsmanship.

The main level now has an open floor plan that includes a grand two-story entryway, an office with two custom-built workstations, a dining room with beautifully enameled paneling, and a large kitchen with a granite-topped island and oil-bronzed appliances. “We wanted something different than stainless steel,” says Jen. The powder room is also a standout with its wall-mounted faucet and clear-glass sink bowl that sits on top of a distinctive marble countertop. The new second-level addition has three bedrooms, one custom painted for three-year-old Taylor, a laundry, a full bathroom, plus a fabulous owners’ suite with a large bath.

Throughout the transformation, Bluejack took extra care to protect and preserve the train set that had great sentimental value for Todd and Jen. “The train was part of the house, and we wanted to keep some mementos of the grandparents,” says Jen. “It makes us feel as if they are still with us and that they are okay with our decision to redo the house.”

The remodeled house gives the family plenty of room to grow in comfort and style, preserving Todd and Jen's wish to transform and maintain their family treasure for long into the future, while still retaining some of the fun family history.

Changing Course Midstream

With three kids under the age of five and her husband away on a business trip, Karel, an emergency room physician, signed a purchase agreement for a house that was, well, not exactly her dream home. “We thought in this market buying would be easy and selling would be hard,” Karel says. But that’s not how the couple’s experience played out.

Karel and Doug’s previous home had two flaws. First, it wasn’t located in a school district that met the couple’s standards; Everett and Stella would soon be heading to kindergarten and Karel and Doug wanted the twins to begin their education careers in Edina. And second, it wasn’t handicapped accessible for Karel and Doug’s brother-in-law Dave, whose multiple sclerosis had progressed to the point where he now depends on a wheelchair.

Shortly after beginning their home search, Doug and Karel signed a purchase agreement on a house in Edina that had just about everything they wanted, or so they thought. “There were unexpected problems with the inspection, and we couldn’t come to an agreement with the owners,” Karel explains. By the time the purchase fell through, Doug, an international grain trader, was already in China on business, and the family’s previous home was sold. Karel, the twins, and three-year-old Lucy would have to shop for a new home without him.

Having exhausted the Edina listings within the couple’s price range, Karel and Doug’s realtor suggested they buy a home to remodel and recommended J & J Remodelers, based in White Bear Lake. The team zeroed in on two houses, then chose the one offering the most potential.

Still in China, Doug relied on his wife’s recommendation, agreed to buy the home, signed the paperwork remotely, and returned it by fax. When he returned to the states and saw the home for the first time, however, he wasn’t sure he had made the right decision. “It was a classic 1950’s rambler. The bedrooms were cut off from the living areas. There were lots of rectangles in the house,” says Karel. “It took Doug a minute to come around; he had to see the potential.”

After five months in the home, the couple and their three young children moved out for the remodel, splitting their time between their cabin in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Karel’s parents’ house near Madison, Wisconsin, Doug’s sister’s place in Woodbury, and their new home whenever possible. “We had to brace for some hassles,” says Karel. “There was some concern when we were at the cabin that the snow removal people would get the snow plow to our driveway in time for me to get to the hospital.”

But everything worked out fine. Instead of tearing down the house and replacing it with a “McMansion,” Doug and Karel opted to retain the mid-century style and architecture of the home, while modernizing it. J & J Remodelers finished the job ahead of schedule in less than 14 weeks, transforming the five-bedroom, three-bath, compartmentalized home into a five-bedroom, four-bath home with a modern floor plan, and constructed a powder room large enough for Dave’s wheelchair.

“J & J Remodelers’ focus on quality and on customizing the job to meet our needs converted our house into our home,” says Karel. “We recommend them without reservation.”

Throughout the transformation, Bluejack took extra care to protect and preserve the train set that had great sentimental value for Todd and Jen. “The train was part of the hourse, and we wanted to keep some mementos of the grandparetns,” says Jen. “It makes us feel as if they are still with us and that they are okay with our decision to redo the house.”

The remodeled house gives the family plenty of room to grow in comfort and style, preserving Todd and Jen’s wish to transform and maintain their family treasure for long into the future, while still retaining some of the fun family history.

Fall Remodelers ShowcaseSM Event Overview

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ROSEVILLE, MINN. (September 12, 2011) —The 2011 Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers ShowcaseSM is set to run September 30 through October 2. The 24-year-old tour opens with 86 beautiful remodeled homes from 67 remodeling firms, in 28 communities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area. Homeowners will find inspiration and ideas to remodel their own homes, while getting a chance to interview professional remodelers about their capabilities, all without obligation.

All of the remodeled homes on the tour are open from 1-7pm on Friday September 30, and 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday October 1-2. Remodeling representatives will be on hand at each home to answer questions and tell visitors about the project. Admission is free to all with the exception of three Dream Remodeled Homes where visitors will be asked for a $5.00 donation to help fund the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) Foundation, the charitable arm of BATC.

The accompanying Guidebook includes feature editorial about four real families who recently remodeled their homes. Read about their experiences, then visit their homes on display during the tour. The guidebook also includes a calendar of events where consumers can enjoy everything from wine tasting to learning about kitchen design.

Searching for Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase projects is easy at www.ParadeofHomes.org. The interactive map pinpoints projects by location, and searches can be fine-tuned by region, remodeler and/or project type. The handy Tour Planner saves favorites for later reference, and a notes area ensures visitors can record what they liked most. Many of the projects link to virtual tours, and all link to a personal page about each of the remodelers on the tour, and on to their own web sites. New this fall, smart phones will automatically get to access all 86 homes on the mobile site, m.paradeofhomes.org. A brand new iPhone app. also complements the tour.

Virtually every type of remodeling is showcased on the tour, including 20 whole-house remodels, 53 kitchen renovations, 21 additions, 23 main level renovations, 20 baths, and 19 lower-level finishes. Other projects include decks, porches and exteriors, owners’ suites, mud rooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and garages. The Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase really allows homeowners to consider the benefits of remodeling their home, no matter how much they want to change. And, it showcases the capabilities of a wide range of professional remodelers, all without any pressure or obligation.

Dream Home Inspires

The 2011 Fall Remodelers Showcase will showcase three fantastic BATC Foundation Dream Remodeled Homes. These whole house remodels each showcase creative design and exceptional craftsmanship. Summit Design Build, LLC has A Truly Modern Remodel home in Roseville, while Edina is even more En Vogue with M l A l Peterson Designbuild’s residence. The Victorian Historic Renovation by John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. in St. Paul is Rich in History. Visitors to the Dream Remodeled Homes are asked to make a $5.00 donation to the BATC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. All proceeds will go directly to the Foundation’s work of helping house families i need.

See Homes All Across the Region

You’ll find Remodelers Showcase homes in 28 communities across the metro area. St. Paul features 14 homes and there are 22 in Edina. Other homes are located all around the region from Watertown to Stillwater.

All the homes on display during the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase will feature a bright yellow and red site sign displaying each entry’s distinct Remodelers Showcase number. These numbers correspond to the mapped sections of the Guidebook and Web site, and make locating the remodeling projects easy.

2011 FALL Remodelers ShowcaseSM Fact Sheet

2011-09-13T20:31:25Z

• This is the 24rd annual Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase presented by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities RemodelersSM Council. A total of 86 remodeled homes from 67 professional remodeling firms are showcased on the tour. All remodelers are members of the Council.

• The event will run September 30, October 1 and 2, 2011. This is a unique opportunity to tour 86 actual remodeled homes in 28 communities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area.

• Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase homes will be open Friday September 30 from 1-7pm, and Saturday and Sunday October 1-2 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Admission is free (except for the Dream Remodeled Homes) to the general public and remodeling representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

• The Remodelers Showcase Guidebooks are available free at all metropolitan area Holiday StationStores. Also available online in an E-Magazine format at paradeofhomes.org.

• The accompanying web site, www.paradeofhomes.org, includes interactive maps, easy to use searches, social media links and resources to help consumers make smart housing decisions.

• All remodeled homes are featured on the mobile site at m.paradeofhomes.org, as well as available to iPhone users via an iPhone app available at the app store.

• Three fabulous Dream Homes were selected as this fall’s Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) Foundation Dream Remodeled Homes. Two of the homes are whole-house remodels; one in Roseville by Summit Design Build, LLC and one in Edina by M l A l Peterson Designbuild. The third home is a Historic Renovation in St. Paul by John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. Visitors will be asked for a $5.00 donation to the Foundation, the charitable arm of BATC, with all proceeds used to help house families in need.

• Virtually every type of remodeling is showcased on the tour, including 20 whole-house remodels, 53 kitchen renovations, 21 additions, 20 baths, and 19 lower-level finishes. Other projects include decks, porches and exteriors, owners’ suites, mud rooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and garages.

• Homes are open in 28 communities across the Twin Cities area. St. Paul features 14 homes and there are 22 in Edina. Other homes are located all around the region from Watertown to Stillwater.

• The Remodelers Showcase has a Calendar of Events, from educational to inspirational these events are held at Remodelers Showcase homes, offices and showrooms. Find out more online at www.paradeofhomes.org.