Waukesha County Home

NOVEMBER 2014 HOMES PLUS 3 236095001 FULL SERVICE • Fall Clean-Up • Fertilization • Lawn Reseeding Free Estimates Competitive Pricing 262-337-2600 238703004 LAWN SERVICE evolutionary room that have come into existence from several avenues, Anundson said. These areas have come to light more often because of the need for more expe- sive electronics that need charging and are too valuable to leave laying around among other things, the elimination of desks in kitchens, increased level of chil- dren's activities, and a single location that everyone walks past and observes in and out of the home creating a thus no-excuse location to place items of importance. "One of the primary goals is to make this room as attractive as the balance of the home," he said. "Most often, this room is immediately off of the kitchen or fami- ly room and therefore should be compati- ble in the level of appearance." Anundson said cost of remodels is influ- enced by several factors including the size of the room, the level of quality desired by the homeowner and the revisions neces- sary to create the best layout. Anundson said costs have ranged from $5,000 to $25,000. "Clients always state that only the peo- ple we don't want to talk to are the folks that come to the front door, which means that our friends, relatives, and neighbors are walking through the mudroom and therefore is should be a purposely designed and attractive room," he said. During the process of a remodel, Anund- son said people can expect a wide range of experiences and emotions. "Remodeling is significantly more emo- tional than it seems it should," he said. "We have many different people working in your home and at all times of the day," he said. In addition to the emotional aspect of a remodel, Anundson said there is also dust, and lots of activity that is not currently part of your daily routine. "While we do our very best to not inter- fere, it still becomes part of your life for a short time," he said. "My favorite advice is to try and enjoy the entire process, always visualizing the end result and the reasons why you wanted this in first place." Anundson said the most successful and enjoyable remodeling projects are those where the clients work as a partner with their contractor to overcome any small speed bumps or issues, as well as remem- bering that the workers in their home care about the quality of their efforts and that you are ultimately thrilled with the out- come. "It does not hurt to set a little money aside for unexpected things," he said. "Most often, we do not uncover hidden problems that require most effort or cost; however it is more common that a client may request additional items or changes once they see how the new space is evolv- ing. In both cases, a few extra dollars feels good to have available." O'Connor suggested that when home- owners are seeking a company, it's best to receive a thoroughly written accurate pro- posal with all details of the project. "Nothing should be left to the imagina- tion," he said. "Everything In writing is the best policy." Anundson said if you contract with a professional company you will get exactly what was designed and therefore envi- sioned. "This is primarily accomplished through our use of 3-D modeling of the space, so there are no surprises with not getting what you expected." Anundson said people are often sur- prised at the actual amount of effort it takes to transform a space and that it is not as neat and tidy as shown on the remodeling TV shows. "Give yourself an abundance of time to complete the project," he said. "Unless a baby is being born or there is another life- altering event, don't create deadlines that cause further stress. Understand the process and allow sufficient time for each step to occur, and enjoy the process." Anundson said his team asks a lot of questions to dig deep and determine how people use their homes. "Every single aspect that a client is will- ing to share goes into the design efforts, as well as the efforts of the crew and actual- ly how they perform their tasks," he said. O'Connor said what usually prompts a homeowner to seek a remodel in the mud- room is their desire to improve their lifestyle and live better in their home. "We care as much about your home as you do," he said. Laundry continued from Page 2

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