Invest Your Tax Return Into a Home Remodel

Tax season is upon us, so Wineteer Construction wants to provide some ideas and insight into ways to Invest Your Tax Return Into a Home Remodel. When homeowners think of home remodeling projects, it’s easy to think about the huge remodeling projects. However, remodeling companies like Wineteer also specialize in single-room remodels, specifically for your kitchen, bathroom, aging in place modifications, and outdoor space remodels. You can also stretch your tax return money by completing those minor home repairs, like patching a leaky roof, repainting a room, installing new flooring, or even upgrading your lighting around your home. However, major home improvements—projects that substantially make a property more valuable or useful—are tax-deductible.

Home renovations can maximize your tax return

Home improvements happen to be the specialty of Wineteer Construction. These capital investments can transform a room into an entirely new space, and can fall within a budget, timeline, and color/design palette.

Yet, even though a renovation project is a large investment, you cannot deduct the cost from your yearly federal income taxes. Still, these projects will most likely increase the resale value of your home. So, it is critically important to keep records of these expenses to reduce the taxes you owe when selling your house. A lower tax obligation means more of a profit at the time you sell your home.

Energy efficient improvements can yield long-term savings

Home improvement expenses that can be deducted the same year include installing alternative energy equipment, like solar paneling or wind turbines, or purchasing Energy Star appliances. “Certain energy-saving home improvements can yield tax credits at the time you make them,” according to “Home Improvement and Your Taxes” from TurboTax.

Home improvements can qualify for tax deductions as medical expenses. If a home modification is more about being medically necessary than about increasing the value of your home, deductions can be claimed for materials and installation. To learn more about medically necessary home improvements, read a recent blog from LifeWise Renovations, a Wineteer Company.

Reinvest and remodel

If you’re ready to invest your tax return into a home remodel, reach out to the true locally-owned and operated home remodeling company, Wineteer. Our in-house design and build team can bring your vision to life. Reach out today to schedule a design consultation! 913-717-6325 or https://wineteerconstruction.com/contact-us/

9 Advantages of Hiring a Design Builder for Your Home Renovation

If you want to remodel your home, many people will suggest you hire a design-builder. One may ask… what exactly is a design-builder? According to wikipedia, it is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design–builder or design–build contractor. It can be subdivided into architect-led design–build (ALDB, sometimes known as designer-led design–build) and contractor-led design–build. A homeowner may explore the design-build contractor options and determine they are the most qualified for home renovation projects, as they will save you money over the years. So, let’s get to know more about them.

What Is Design-Build?

Again, when designers, builders, and other specialists work as a team under one single contract with the project client or owner to provide construction services, this method is called ‘design-build.’ In brief, in a design-build project, there is only one contract, one organization, and one coordinated flow of work. Wineteer is continually reminded by our clients how important their seamless process is for a stress-free home remodel. With Wineteer, you will have a dedicated team of professionals that will walk you along each step of the remodel. This isn’t always the case with home remodeling companies, so be sure you ask questions and understand the contractual and design/build side.

Reasons to Hire A Design Builder for Your Home Remodeling Project

There are many reasons why you should consider hiring a design-builder for your bathroom, kitchen, whole home, and aging in place remodeling project. Here are the main reasons:

1. Single Point of Contact

In traditional remodeling projects, homeowners dealt with designers, contractors, subcontractors, architects, retailers, workers, and other people depending on the home remodeling scope of work. This makes the work slow, adds additional stress, causes budgeting nightmares if not monitored correctly, increases disruptions to daily life, and has more chances for miscommunication.

But when you hire a design-builder for the project, the company combines all of the activities under a single umbrella, and thus the homeowners will work with the same team from the first meeting to the completion of the project. As Wineteer explains it… once you partner with us, you will become family. The homeowner will see the same crew each day during the remodeling project. In this way, everyone will function more effectively, and challenging problems can be handled more efficiently.

2. Fixed-Price Contract

If you don’t hire a design-builder, you will naturally spend extra because of inaccurate or unanticipated problems, or change orders as they arise. However, a design-builder can give you an accurate cost-analysis before starting the work and prevent unexpected expenditures during or after your project is done.

However, you can always decide to add more to your project or make changes throughout the process, which can easily be adjusted in the design-builder billing. It’s a much easier and more seamless way to make the changes compared to tracking down a contractor to implement the changes, pay them, then get back on track.

3. Efficient Communication

Since the work is centralized and team members are connected to each other through the central hub, communication becomes easier, faster, and more efficient. Many local home remodeling companies have extensive experience and relationships with vendors that will allow for superior customer service and finishes.

4. Faster Project Completion

In most cases, it’s crucial for you to get the remodeling project done within the agreed-upon schedule. Also, knowing when the project will end will help you save money and get started with other finishing projects. When you work with a design-build company, they always finish their work on time, sometimes even faster than the estimated time.

5. High-Quality Craftsmanship

Understanding functionality and needs is crucial for any remodeling project; it’s much more than just being appealing. When skilled designers remodel a house, they first make it a high-functioning area with minimal disruption, and bring a vision to life.

Moreover, with a design-builder, you can get the combined expertise they’ve gathered by working on many different projects over the years. They won’t take any shortcuts; rather, they will combine all their knowledge and information to make your project the best one.

6. Minimize Risks

We all need to keep in mind that unforeseen problems can occur while remodeling and renovating a home. However, the risk can be reduced if you work with a design-build company. They can minimize risks as their team has the skills and knowledge to address any issues and fix them in the best way possible. The communication will go directly between the homeowner and the design-builder, and won’t be a game of telephone to figure out what’s happening.

They can also take preventive measures beforehand to eliminate the possibility of risks. In this way, the cost of emergency risk management will also decrease.

7. Stress-free Environment

Handling the remodeling of your home can be very stressful from time to time. You may get confused about how you should start the project, whom you should contact, when invoices are due, or what you are responsible for during the process.

However, with the design-builder to guide you through each and every step with their knowledgeable assistance, you will feel relaxed throughout the remodeling process.

8. Flexibility

Design-build firm members can always handle unexpected and challenging situations better. Also, they can provide you with a quick solution if you want to add or remove anything from the planned project. Their flexibility makes the homeowner satisfied in any kind of situation.

9. Fewer Disputes

When work is not properly organized and there are miscommunications, disputes among the parties and workers arise. But when a centralized design-build firm handles the remodeling project, everything is properly organized and there are fewer disputes.

Is a Design-build Firm Right for Your Project?

Depending on your project’s unique requirements, you may want to explore the consideration of a design-build company. You should have an open and honest question with potential home remodeling design-builders and discuss your budget, timeline, goals, vision, etc. You can determine quickly if the project will be a match for the said contractor.

Advantages of Hiring a Design-Build Firm

Promotes continuity in the project’s goal with streamlined communication.
Legal and safety risks are reduced.
Quick response to handle unexpected challenges and changes.
Quality-control of the project is monitored.
Accountability is mandated.
More efficient project management can be achieved.

Hiring a design-builder is definitely a good idea for homeowners who want to partner with a company who cares about their reputation and the project itself. If you think about it, the design-builder has so much more on the line than a single contractor who comes in for a day, does their job, and leaves. If you’re considering a home remodeling project in the Kansas City area, reach out to Wineteer to see if we can answer your questions. We are there to help you bring your vision to life!

Custom Deck for Indoor/Outdoor Kitchen Living

What a project! When this client called us to look at their dilapidated deck (due to a bad manufacturing lot of pressure treated lumber) and wanted to update their outdated and poorly laid out kitchen we jumped at the opportunity to make the magic happen! Our main objective to solve the client’s need was to bring the kitchen and the deck into a contiguous space that was built for entertaining. We also had the chance to replace numerous windows and add a new set of French doors between the kitchen and deck spaces.

We replaced a grand total of fifteen (15) windows across the home that were old, rotten, and well overdue for window replacement. For security reasons all window replacements are started and completed within the same day. All of the new windows are Pella brand, but have a variety of interior colors. All of the windows are aluminum-clad with wood interior for the energy-efficient purposes. Some windows are painted on the interior and some are stained, simply based on what textures and looks fit that particular room the best.

All of the new windows use Low-E glass and are filled with argon gas. The Low-E glass (short for Low-Emissivity or Low-Emittance) contains a microscopic coating that makes a window more thermally efficient, saving you money on your heating and cooling. The coating is thin, non-toxic, and virtually colorless, so you won’t even notice it when your windows are installed! Argon gas has been used in window manufacturing for years with double-pane windows. This gas filling can help insulate a room and minimizes heat transfer through glass, again helping to save you money.

We knew that the new deck needed to have a screened in porch with a covered roof; our client liked the idea of a tall ceiling on the deck as well. We chose to install a car siding tongue-and-groove ceiling. To bring in the Colorado-esque cabin vibe, we vaulted the center gable. We elected to leave it open to bring light in which leads to the outdoorsy feel that the client was targeting. They also had low to no maintenance as a goal for the deck, so we chose to steel frame the structure so it would never rot out.

This high-end, custom request for a deck accomplished exactly what the client asked for, which is the beauty of remodeling with a company that puts customer relationship first! We took the time to ask our client the important questions and execute on the components of the project that were most impactful to our client. The decking is TimberTech and we used a fortress AL13 aluminum railing system – a high-end material that won’t rot. The clients also added heaters for the chilly fall months to be able to watch football games (Go Chiefs!) and have a seamless entertainment experience.

As we now had a screened in porch to work with (as opposed to a deck only) we had the ability to make what was a single 36-inch wide door onto the deck into two 8-foot tall by 6-foot wide French doors. This certainly elevated the space and brought character to the indoor/outdoor living concept. The two French doors can be completely open to the deck with no bugs getting into the kitchen. They allow our clients to experience the outside weather comfortably.

It was important to our clients to still allow privacy in the kitchen and to separate the two spaces when desired so we elected Pella doors with blinds between the insulated glass. No more cleaning those pesky blinds! All our client has to worry about is keeping the glass panes clean yet they still receive the benefit of blinds that are functional. The doors also have a triple locking mechanism for security, since they do open to the outside.

The outsides of the French doors are aluminum-clad with a wood interior. Aluminum does not rot and holds up to the elements, adding longevity to the doors. The wood interior insulates the home creating energy-efficiency. The combination of the two materials produces an energy-efficient, long-lasting product. We love the way the french doors really helped to make the space come together to truly create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. Stay tuned to hear more about the kitchen updates!

Don’t be an April Fool

Though the cold weather is sticking around longer than normal, spring has arrived and so have new home trends for the season. Don’t be an April fool; keep these outdoor remodeling ideas from the 2017 U.S. Houzz Landscape Trends Study in mind in order to freshen up your home for spring.

Outdoor Lighting

According to Houzz, 45 percent of outdoor-renovating homeowners are updating their lighting. Whether for design and/or functionality, increasing the lighting in your lawn eliminates the time restraints placed by the setting sun, allowing homeowners to continue evening festivities or landscape work. Additionally, 19 percent of homeowners updating their outdoor lighting chose “smart” lighting, which can be controlled by an app on a smartphone or computer.

Upgraded Structures

Adding in arbors, gazebos, pergolas or trellises are popular among outdoor renovations, with 26 percent of homeowners including this in the project scope. And to offer homeowners more reason to stay outside and enjoy the fresh air, adding to or upgrading patios, terraces and decks has also become more popular. Concerning materials, pressure-lumber is the most popular choice for decking materials, and pavers, mulch and crushed rock are the top choices for patios and other hard surfaces.

Hardscapes

Lightening the burden of yard work and increasing the design of the lawn, homeowners are moving away from landscapes and moving toward hardscapes such as pavers and stones. According to Houzz, 66 percent of homeowners reducing their lawns renovated landscapes to hardscapes.

Complementary Features

Homeowners aren’t stopping at the outdoor structures though. Go all out with your patio and/or deck this spring by considering outdoor lounge furniture, fire pits, dining furniture, benches and more. In addition, borders, shrubs and perennials complement the front yard well and allow for a much-improved curb appeal, according to Houzz.

Celebrate Father’s Day in Style

One of the best ways President and CEO Mike Dodd and his daughter Katy Dodd know how to celebrate Father’s Day is enjoying the day on the back patio. They started celebrating early this past weekend by grilling up some delicious (and healthy!) bison burgers. What’s on your grill this Father’s Day?

2017 Patio & Deck Trends

Did you know that on average, we spend almost 7 hours/week outdoors in the summer? If you missed it, check out our recent post on the top outdoor remodeling trends post here.

Celebrate Father’s Day in style by updating your back deck or patio with new flooring, beautiful railings, overhangs, screened in sections and custom designs. Take a look at some of our recent outdoor projects on our Houzz ideabooks page or view our gallery to gain some design inspiration!

We’d love to hear back from you! Follow our social media channels to keep the conversation going, or connect with us online!

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Have a happy and relaxing Father’s Day weekend!

Unlock Home Remodeling Trends for Summer

Whether your summer get-together plans are outside on the back patio/deck to enjoy some sunshine, or escaping inside to keep cool, make sure your home remodeling to-do list is complete! With the first day of summer just around the corner, check out the following 2017 trends in home remodeling projects to prepare for:

Create Open Ceilings

Make your room feel even larger with an open ceiling, allowing guests to feel welcomed and free to move around easily.

Provide Open Floor Plans

Create more space for people to comfortably gather and connect.

Build a Spacious Outdoor Space

Create a simple, yet elegant outdoor space with natural surroundings allows for guests to enjoy the view and relax!

Soak in the Natural Light

Let the sunshine in! Provide ample windows that allow for natural light creates a vibrant, comfortable atmosphere.

Splurge on Your Entryway

The front door is your guests’ first impression of your home. Create an inviting atmosphere the moment they arrive!

Ready for your home’s summer “touch-up?” The experts at Wineteer Construction are here to help. Planned Right. Priced Right. Done Right. We work with you to help keep your next remodeling project on the Right track.

Contact us to schedule a consultation today!

Spring into Action – Remodel Your Outdoor Space

Happy first day of spring! We hope you are excited for warmer weather and outdoor activities like gardening, sunbathing and sports on the lawn with your children.

Even if the April showers come, we know that means May flowers are soon to follow. Enjoy the season even more with a newly remodeled outdoor patio. From designing decks to screened-in porches, we can do it all! Check out more of our projects to spark your imagination.