We recently gathered together with team members, trade partners, and their families at Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery in West Point for our annual holiday dinner. Guests enjoyed delicious food and beverages, and some spirited board game competition. Photos of the event can be viewed below.
This year marked many milestones for Custom Craft, with a move into a new office space, multiple awards won, new team members added and more. Our holiday dinner was an opportunity for us to express our gratitude to the people who helped make these accomplishments possible.
Whether you are a team member, trade partner, client, or other friend of the company, please know that your continued support is appreciated. From our family to yours, we wish you all a joyous holiday season and a healthy, happy new year!
Clever Laundry Solutions For Your Home
Must Have Laundry Features
When it comes to remodeling, one of the most frequently overlooked areas of a home is the laundry room. Yet, when you calculate how much time is spent working in that space, it makes sense to give the design careful consideration. If you are planning to update your laundry, we recommend thinking beyond the washer and dryer by including user-friendly features to make your domestic chores less onerous.
There are a variety of clever features which can be incorporated into your laundry room to make your life easier, like this wall-mounted, retractable drying rack. Here are a few additional options to consider:
- Laundry basket cubbies/drawers
- Counters for clothes folding
- Built-in cabinetry surrounding the washer & dryer
- Pocket doors
- Utility sinks
We have collected several project photos to illustrate how these clever solutions can be used to make your household chores easier. Tap or click on any of the images below to launch the slideshow and learn more.
To start a conversation about your next remodeling project, contact us at 610-584-0665
Should You Move or Improve Your Home?
Move vs Improve
If you are frustrated with the current state of your home, then you are likely thinking about making a change. To move or improve, that is the question–and the decision it presents is difficult. After all, renovations are a significant investment. Starting fresh elsewhere may seem like an appealing and economical alternative. But before you start looking at putting your home on the market, take some time to educate yourself about the tangible and intangible costs of relocation.
Calculating the Costs of Selling Your Home
Curb Appeal Improvements
Even in a seller’s market, buyers can still be picky. To sell your home quickly, and at your asking price, your home needs to photograph and show well. Ask any Realtor, and they will advise you that there are basic interior and exterior improvements that must be completed before placing your home on the market. These improvements will likely include new interior paint, flooring, and appliances and curb appeal improvements to your exterior including mulch, landscaping, new shutters, and more.
Cost? Budget $15,000 to $20,000 on these basic renovations.
Closing Costs
When you are the seller, you pay the Realtor’s commission out of the sale price of your home. The cost of this commission is typically 6%, however, there is a 1% transfer tax that also has to be paid, as well as an assortment of other fees, plus the additional funds that need to be put in escrow for taxes on your new home.
Cost? The estimated closing costs for a $400,000 home are around $30,000.
Moving Costs
To pack and move your home will be time-consuming, and involve a great deal of heavy lifting. You can save time (and your back) by hiring someone to handle the packing and moving for you, but that will add to your out-of-pocket expense.
Cost? Budget $6,000 to $7,000 to hire a company to pack and move your belongings.
Purchase Price of New Home
The biggest expense associated with moving will be the purchase price of your new home. If you are buying in a seller’s market, it generally means you are unlikely to get a bargain on the price—especially for a home that has been renovated to include the amenities you felt were lacking in your current home. Unless, of course, you are purchasing a ‘fixer-upper’. And if that is the case, might we suggest that you focus on fixing up the home you’re currently living in and save a few dollars?
On the other hand, purchasing a home that has already been renovated means you will typically pay less for the renovation services than the original homeowner did and you will be able to finance those costs over the life of the mortgage. That said, there are likely to be things you will want to change and you will need to budget the funds for those upgrades, as well.
Cost? Variable.
Location, Location, Location
When determining whether or not to relocate, homeowners should evaluate their current neighborhood for its relative strengths and weaknesses. Start by asking yourself these questions:
- Do you like your neighbors?
- Do you like your proximity to amenities such as grocery stores, retail, banking, restaurants, schools, houses of worship, parks, and other sources of entertainment?
- Do you have access to conveniences like public sewer?
- Does your municipality offer public safety services like police, fire, and emergency medical?
Realtors often emphasize location as a major benefit of a particular property. If you answered “yes” to more than one of the questions above, then your current residence offers many benefits that may be difficult to replicate—and very costly to change again once you have moved.
Cost? Intangible.
Will You Move or Improve?
Ah, decisions, decisions. Yet only you can determine whether it would be more advantageous to stay and improve your home, or if relocating to start fresh elsewhere is the better option. Hopefully, this article provided the insight to help you make an educated decision. Whether you decide to move or improve, the team at Custom Craft would be delighted to help you make either home a better, more satisfying place to live.
Looking to improve your home? Contact Custom Craft at 610-584-0665.
Entertaining-Friendly Spaces
Host holiday and other gatherings in stylish comfort with these custom-made serving spaces
It never fails. Whenever guests gather for an event in the home, they inevitably congregate around the kitchen. This can create quite a challenge for the hosts of the event, as they attempt to navigate around guests while they serve dinner and drinks. Sound familiar? The good news is that with some thoughtful planning, and a little Custom Craft ingenuity, your kitchen can be equipped with entertaining-friendly features to resolve these kitchen conundrums.
If you enjoy entertaining and are longing for a more functional space, consider including these features in your next remodeling project:
- Cabinetry with serving counters placed away from the meal prep area
- Accent lighting beneath perimeter cabinetry
- Decorative glass to showcase stemware
- Under counter beverage refrigerators
- Decorative tile features for visual interest
In the slideshow below, we highlight a few of the solutions we crafted for our clients. We encourage you to toggle through the photos for ideas and inspiration. As always, if you have any questions about how you can achieve a more entertaining-friendly environment in your home, please do not hesitate to contact us at: 610-584-0665.
Our New Office Space is Nearly Finished
Progress Continues on New Custom Craft Office
Our craftsmen have been busy renovating the building at 1111 Forty Foot Road to prepare for our impending office move. Recently we completed the exterior grading, and the exterior walls were cleaned and prepped for paint. James Hardie siding was installed on the rear addition, and the nearby porch roof and ceiling trim was finished and stained. We passed all the rough mechanical township inspections (electrical, plumbing, and HVAC) which enabled us to make progress on the interior renovations, including insulation and finishing up drywall. In summary, our team has made great strides and we are counting down the days until we move in. Stay tuned for more updates, as well as information on the grand opening event we are planning for Spring 2019.
Remodelers are Like Surgeons for Your Home
You Need A Proper Diagnosis Before Being Prescribed A Cure
Your home is one of the biggest financial investments you are likely to make. It is also the hub of family life. For these reasons, when renovations become necessary it is important to select a remodeling contractor with great care–similar to selecting a physician. After all, home remodeling is a lot like surgery. Before any procedure is completed, it is critical to perform a thorough examination.
Understanding Patient History
As time consuming as it is to complete the survey forms before your doctor appointment, providing your physician with that history is important. Those factors need to be taken into consideration when analyzing your current condition and developing an appropriate treatment plan. The same concept holds true for your home. At Custom Craft, we dedicate the time to conduct a thorough interview with you to understand the circumstances that prompted you to contact us in the first place. Just like a doctors appointment, this initial assessment can be somewhat time consuming, but is essential to the success of the project.
Where Does it Hurt?
Like a doctor, we need to know what is causing your pain. Is your room too dark? Are pathways cramped? Do you lack storage? Are appliances in need of replacement? Is anything broken, leaking, or otherwise malfunctioning? These issues are what we commonly refer to as your pain points. Understanding these frustrations helps us to identify the sources of the problems, and plan appropriately to resolve these challenges to your satisfaction.
Forming the Diagnosis
Once Custom Craft has performed a thorough assessment of your home, we are able to identify the sources of the pain you are experiencing, and develop a custom solution to meet your needs. By necessity, these solutions are unique because you, your home, and your needs are also one-of-a-kind. We never use off the shelf designs. In medical terms, trying to utilize a cookie-cutter solution for a unique problem would be about as effective as applying a bandage to an ankle in order to treat a sprained wrist.
The Renovation Remedy
Similar to a surgical procedure, a remodeling project can sometimes be painful–especially during the construction phase. Let’s face it, remodeling is disruptive to daily life. That said, Custom Craft will work to ease that pain by communicating with you throughout the process, and taking measures to remove irritants like dirt and debris. We will also create temporary spaces for cooking and even doing laundry if necessary. In the end, our objective is to ensure that your renovation remedy will be well worth the investment of time and resources.
Have a problem area in your home in need of a diagnosis? Give Custom Craft a call at 610-584-0665
Read the Summer 2018 Craftsman Newsletter
Learn About a Fabulous First Floor Renovation in our Latest Newsletter
In the latest edition of the Craftsman Newsletter, we share the story of a dramatic first floor renovation recently completed for homeowners in Blue Bell PA. You can view the complete project photo gallery here.
We also highlight an innovative coffee making system that we installed in our client’s kitchen. Plus, we introduce the newest addition to the Custom Craft team and give an update on our impending office relocation.
Simply tap or click on the newsletter thumbnail image to view the newsletter PDF.
As always if you have any questions about the content of our newsletter, please give us a call to chat at 610-584-0665.
Save Space with a French Door Wall Oven
When it comes to designing kitchens, creating a safe, congestion free environment is always one of our top priorities. One of the most troublesome spots we address is the area around the oven–particularly when the oven door is open.
Traditional oven doors open from the top and extend about 20″ into the kitchen floor space on average. These drop-style doors force cooks to navigate around, and bend over, hot oven doors to get items in and out. Whilst the cook is tending to the oven, foot traffic in the immediate vicinity comes to a halt. To avoid this sort of congestion, we endeavor to place this style of appliance strategically. Because the oven needs to be located within easy proximity to the refrigerator, as well as the sink, this can create challenges and design limitations–especially in smaller spaces. Fortunately, appliance manufacturers have recently begun offering ovens with French doors which open in the middle.
When open, French doors take up significantly less floor space making them much easier for home chefs to maneuver around. In addition to their space saving benefits, French door wall ovens are easier on the back. Cooks can easily place and remove large sheets or roasting pans without awkwardly bending over a hot oven door. French doors are also easily opened and closed with one hand. In short, French door wall ovens provide home chefs with a safer, more convenient meal preparation experience.
We incorporated the GE Café Series 30” Built-in French-Door Single Convection wall oven (pictured here) in a project we recently completed for homeowners in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Follow this link to view the project photos. If you are curious to learn if a French door wall oven would be the right solution for your kitchen, give us a call at 610-584-0665. One of our designers will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Read the Latest Home Remodeling News from Custom Craft
In the Spring 2018 edition of the Craftsman newsletter, we share details of a stunning contemporary first floor renovation we recently completed in Wayne, Pa. Inside you will also learn about our latest award, and how to achieve a blemish-free back splash. Plus, we also reveal the newest addition to the Custom Craft family (hint: it’s a boy!)
Tap or click this link or the thumbnail image to read the latest home remodeling news from Custom Craft.
Custom Craft Designers Visit AD Design Show in NYC
Visit to the AD Design Show Yields Sore Feet and Design Inspiration
Back in March, Custom Craft Designers, Julie Novak Stafford and Brittany Murray, visited the 17th Annual AD Design Show in New York City. This perennial event showcased the latest in residential design products, and offered a look at emerging design trends from brands large and small.
Our attendees were dazzled by elaborate displays of home related products, from accessories, to art, appliances, flooring, lighting, tile, counter tops, hardware, home tech, and room furnishings. The event also featured giveaways, tastings, book signings, seminars, culinary demonstrations and more.
It’s a good thing our design duo wore comfortable shoes to the show, because the AD Design Show was vast, encompassing exhibits from over 400 companies. Suffice to say, Julie and Brittany returned from the experience tired, but brimming with ideas to incorporate into future projects.
Custom Craft Earns Multiple Awards
We are proud to announce that Custom Craft has recently earned several awards for our work. For the fourth consecutive year, we have received Best of Houzz honors in the Service category.
Custom Craft also earned both Local and Regional 2018 Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards in the Whole House Renovation Under $150,000 category from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
For this project we teamed with Beth Farquharson from BF Interior Design Studio on behalf of homeowners in Fort Washington, PA. As a Regional CotY Award winner, our project is automatically entered in the national competition. Winners of the National CotY Awards will be announced at the NARI Evening of Excellence in Charlotte, NC on April 20th. Wish us luck!
The kitchen pictured here is from the award-winning renovation. We are in the process of updating our website with photos from this project. To view the master suite photo gallery, click here.
Happy Holidays from Custom Craft
We recently celebrated the holidays with our team members, business partners, as well as their respective families at Moyo Yoga in Skippack. The festivities were the result of a successful team effort that included contributions from Barb Durante, as well as George and Mary Foering. Throughout the evening, there was much jolliness and consumption of holiday cheer. But if you were to ask any of the children who attended, they would likely say that the highlight of the event was discovering a wrapped present with their name on it under the Christmas tree. Suffice to say, a good time was had by all.
We hope your holiday celebrations are equally as merry. From the Custom Craft family to yours, best wishes for a joyous holiday, and a new year filled with blessings of good health and all of the comforts of home.
Explore a Historic Farmhouse Renovation in Our Latest Newsletter
The latest edition of our Craftsman Newsletter is currently winging its way toward mailboxes. Take a sneak peek inside and read all about a historic farmhouse renovation we recently worked on in Towamencin Township. We also highlight some exciting team member news, including a wedding announcement! Click on this newsletter image or use this link to learn more.
Kristen Foering is now practicing Dermatology in Lansdale
We are pleased to share that our favorite dermatologist, Kristen Foering, MD, MTR (aka Mike’s better half) has moved to a new medical office. She can now be found working at the dermatology practice of Allan Mineroff, MD, PC on Broad Street in Lansdale, PA.
Not only does this move reduce Kristen’s commute time, it also helps Mineroff Dermatology increase their capacity. Kristen is currently accepting new patients. If you or anyone you know is in need of a skin cancer screening, or other consultation, please contact Dr. Foering at 215-362-5555.
To tub, or not to tub. That is the bathroom remodel question.
Is a bathtub the right option for your bathroom remodel?
When remodeling a hall or master bathroom, some homeowners have elected to remove bathtubs in favor of enclosed shower stalls. A variety of factors from lifestyle preference, to resale value, to safety concerns have contributed to this trend. But a growing number of homeowners are adopting a hybrid approach that allows them to keep their bathtubs, while also incorporating a low or zero threshold shower. The bathroom featured here is a good example of this hybrid approach.
While there is no right or wrong answer, whether or not to maintain a bathtub in the space is an important question to consider when planning a bathroom renovation. If your family members enjoy a regular, or even an occasional soak in the bathtub, then the answer is most likely “Yes”.
At Custom Craft, when we meet with clients to plan a bathroom remodel, we ask numerous lifestyle questions like this to learn how you currently use your existing space, any frustrations you are experiencing, as well as your goals for the new space. By taking the time to fully understand your needs, we can better deliver a renovated space that will provide long-term satisfaction.
As always, if you have any questions on a planned bathroom or other home renovation project, feel free to reach out to us at 610-584-0665.
We Earned 2017 Guildmaster Honors!
Custom Craft Receives Guildmaster Award for Fourth Consecutive Year
We are very happy to share that we were recently recognized by GuildQuality with the 2017 Guildmaster Award. This marks the fourth consecutive year we have earned this title. So, what is a GuildQuality Guildmaster you ask? Allow us to explain.
The GuildQuality Guildmaster Award celebrates exemplary service among home builders, remodelers, developers, property managers, home services contractors, and real estate professionals. Once a year, GuildQuality bestows an award for exemplary quality and customer service upon a handful of its members, so we are thrilled to be honored again this year.
Guildmaster award recipients must achieve a recommendation rate of greater than 90% from clients surveyed through GuildQuality to qualify for these honors. To date, GuildQuality has surveyed 96 of our clients. As you can see from this graphic, our ratings are well above the 90% mark. We invite you to click the image to view our entire ratings report. These ratings validate that our team continues to meet or exceed the expectations of our customers.
Congratulations to all of our team members and trade partners on this most recent recognition. And, as always, many thanks to our valued clients for your feedback and support.
Dust Control is Critical to a Healthy Home Remodeling Environment
The Importance of Dust Control for Home Remodeling
Did you know that the vast majority (approximately 90 percent) of homeowners stay in their homes during remodeling projects? Unfortunately, some live to regret that decision. Why? Because of dust.
Without the proper control, dust can permeate every part of your home, from your toothbrush to your dog’s fur. Even with barrier walls in place, dust can and will find its way into your home. At Custom Craft, we recently implemented the BuildClean Dust Control System because it takes away up to 90 percent of the airborne dust, even on the most challenging projects. The BuildClean unit draws in the contaminated air and passes it through a series of filters before returning the “scrubbed” air back into the space. Watch this video for a brief demonstration of a BuildClean unit at work.
Dust isn’t just a nuisance. Remodeling and demolition dust can trigger asthma attacks, allergic reactions and problems for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Jobsite dust can also have an adverse effect on the health of pets that are in the home during construction. In addition, particles from sawing, scraping and sanding can contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, arsenic or lead.
You and your family deserve the best, which is why you need to make sure your contractor has a dust control plan to meet your needs.
We Won Best of Houzz!
Custom Craft Earns Best of Houzz Honors for 3rd Consecutive Year
Custom Craft has been awarded two 2017 Best of Houzz Awards in the categories of Design and Service. Our awards are the result of superior customer reviews and overall popularity among users of Houzz—an online community with over 40 million monthly users that connects homeowners with home improvement professionals. 2017 marks the third consecutive year that Custom Craft has earned these awards in both categories.
There are more than 3 million remodeling professionals on Houzz, but each year only a fraction of those pros are honored with Best of Houzz awards. Winners of the Best of Houzz Customer Service Awards were selected based on the number and quality of client reviews the professionals received in 2016. Custom Craft Contractors currently has 40 five star reviews on Houzz. The 2017 Best of Houzz Design Award winners’ work was the most popular among Houzzers.
Best of Houzz winners receive a special badge to display on their websites and Houzz profiles. The badges help consumers select remodeling professionals who are committed to excellence.
Many thanks to our fantastic clients, as well as our talented team of designers, project managers, and craftsmen, without whose support these awards would not have been possible.
How 3D Renderings Enhance the Remodeling Process
Once we have developed a floorplan for a project, the next step is to work through the style and finishes for the space. Among other things, this step involves selecting cabinetry, flooring, lighting, countertops, and fixtures. It can be challenging for homeowners to communicate their style preferences in this stage. From traditional to contemporary, and everything in between, the options for finishing a space are seemingly endless which can make establishing a style preference complicated.
Most homeowners we meet need help in defining their style preference. To get things started, we have our clients prepare ideabooks in Houzz with photos of homes they find appealing. While ideabooks can be helpful in advancing the material selection process, they have their shortcomings because what works in someone else’s space may not work very well in yours. Enter 3D renderings.
A 3D rendering brings the floorplan to life. Because it is an illustration based on the actual dimensions of the space, it enables a homeowner to better visualize how their design features and material selections will look when the project is complete. Take this image for example. The top photo is how the back wall of the kitchen looked prior to our client’s renovation. The middle image depicts the 3D rendering of the floorplan we designed. The bottom image is a photo of the finished space.
As you can see, the rendering closely reflected how the finished space would appear. By providing this tool, our clients gain greater confidence that the designs we have created for them are going to suit their style tastes and preferences. 3D renderings also reduce the incidence of expensive change orders, since our clients can see how the colors and finishes will work together within the space, and make any necessary adjustments prior to ordering materials.
Luxurious Master Bathroom Makeover
In this issue of The Craftsman Newsletter, we share details about a master bathroom that we transformed for homeowners in Blue Bell, PA. From the tile floor featuring radiant heat to the spot-free glass shower enclosure, following high-quality trends, our clients are thrilled with their new bathroom. In fact, they love it so much that they have already asked us to come back and update their hall bath with a similar beach house look. Read more about this luxurious master bathroom makeover.
Would you like to learn more about this master bathroom renovation? Give us a call at (610) 584-0665. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Read the Latest Craftsman Design-Build Remodeling Newsletter
Read About a Craftsman Design-Build Remodeling Project in Abington
In the latest edition of our Craftsman Newsletter, we share the story of a classic Craftsman kitchen renovation for “empty nesters” living in Abington, Pa. Tap on the image to learn more about this gorgeous design-build remodeling project.
Also in this issue:
- Read about the latest trend in double drawer dishwashers
- Congratulate Matt and Karen Hill on their recent nuptials
- Learn how we cleverly resolved a clients dilemma for hosting large gatherings
Video: Home Remodeling Construction Site Prep
Home Remodeling Construction Site Prep Overview
As you know, home remodeling can generate a lot of dust and debris. Prior to construction, a question we are frequently asked by clients is “How will you keep my home clean during construction?” We thought a video would help to illustrate the techniques we use to protect our clients homes during renovations. Watch this brief video to learn how homes are prepped when construction is about to commence.
Custom Craft Contractors Named GuildMaster for 3rd Consecutive Year
Custom Craft Earns 2016 GuildMaster Award
We are pleased to share that GuildQuality just announced that Custom Craft Contractors has been named a 2016 GuildMaster Award winner. GuildQuality is an independent research firm that has been recognizing excellence among remodeling companies annually since 2005.
The primary requirement for receiving a GuildMaster Award is exemplary customer service, as demonstrated by an extremely high customer recommendation rate. In the home building, remodeling, and real estate industry, the average customer recommendation rate for businesses is approximately 70%. In order to receive a Guildmaster Award, a member must achieve a recommendation rate of 90% or greater.
As a result of achieving customer satisfaction ratings of 90% and greater, Custom Craft Contractors has been awarded the coveted GuildMaster award for the third consecutive year. Many thanks to our valued clients and team members for your contributions toward making this award possible.
Now using BuilderTrend technology to serve you better
We are pleased to announce that we have implemented BuilderTrend software. This cloud-based software application offers many benefits for our team members, vendors, and clients.
BuilderTrend is a construction project management software with features to cover each stage of the project life cycle. Because it is cloud-based, it can be accessed from any location with internet service. The BuilderTrend developers have also created an app for their software which can be used on any mobile device.
One of our favorite features in BuilderTrend is the scheduling tool which adjusts and notifies the necessary parties automatically whenever schedule changes are made. The software allows tasks to be assigned easily to various team members or vendors. A daily log tracks work progress and can be shared with all parties, including photos documenting the work that was completed. It also has real-time commenting features and private messaging.
In short, BuilderTrend is a powerful home remodeling planning and communication tool that we are confident will help our company operate more efficiently than ever before.
