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July 30, 2025

How to Hire a Professional Remodeler (and Why It Matters)

When it comes to remodeling your home, who you choose to work with matters just as much as what you plan to change. A great remodeler will guide you through a complex process with expertise, transparency, and professionalism. And in a world of DIY shows and social media inspiration, it can be tempting to cut corners or rush the hiring process. But a remodel is a major investment in your home — and your peace of mind depends on getting it right from the start.

So, what does hiring a professional remodeler actually look like?

More blog posts

August 25, 2022

Fall 2022 | Calendar of Events

Don’t miss these special events put on by select builders and remodelers during the 2022 fall tour! These free events will introduce you to the teams behind the homes on the tour, the latest design trends, and much more.

August 16, 2022

Parade of Homes First-Time Homebuyer $10K Giveaway Makes Homeownership a Reality

Like many young Minnesotans, Wyatt and Sarah dreamed of someday owning a home. After a year of renting following Wyatt’s return home from the Army, they decided to start house hunting. With the market as competitive as it is, they were nervous how long it would take to get an offer accepted and if they would be able to find a home in their price range.

August 10, 2022

8 Outdoor Features to Make Your Backyard Cozy & Inviting

Summer in Minnesota — a favorite season for many. And there’s no better way to spend it than outdoors. While cabins, camping, or trips to the lake are favorite ways to enjoy the summer weather, you can also make the most of your space at home. Soak up some sun or host friends from the comfort of your backyard. Whether it’s bringing in some new outdoor furniture or considering an addition, here are eight outdoor features and spaces that make for an extra-inviting backyard.

June 22, 2022

19 Outstanding Parade Homes Win Spring Reggie Awards

Since 1968, Housing First Minnesota has presented the Reggie Award℠, which recognizes excellence in design and construction of homes in the Parade of Homes. The Trillium Awards honor the associates and trade partners for their collaboration with these award-winning builders.

June 16, 2022

2022 Artisan Home Tour | In the News

The 2022 Artisan Home Tour is your chance to step inside homes designed and constructed by the region’s most exceptional builders and remodelers. These artisans create incredible residences that blend artistic vision with unmatched craftsmanship. Check out all the places this summer's tour of luxury homes in Minnesota has been covered in the press.

October 29, 2019

Blueprint for Energy Testing a New Home

Saving energy is on our minds these days, and is one of the best reasons to choose a new home when you’re ready to move. New homes are intrinsically more energy efficient than most dwellings you’ll find on the resale market.

Technology
October 4, 2019

6 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

When the air turns crisp, the leaves crunch beneath our feet, and the colors change, it’s only natural to want to cozy up your home for fall, when time spent at swimming pools and outdoor barbecues is replaced with reading by the fireplace, snuggling up on the couch for movies, and preparing for holiday entertaining.

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October 2, 2019

8 Maintenance Tips for Your New Construction Home

New builds certainly come with some perks—modern floor plans, energy-efficient appliances, and “smart” features, to name a few—but just because you’re the first to call the house “home” doesn’t mean you can neglect routine maintenance duties. Once the boxes are unpacked and the family photos are hung, add these eight important tasks to your to-do list to maintain that new home feeling for years to come.

Home Tips & Tricks
September 18, 2019

Smart & Stylish Mudroom Design

Stay organized and efficient with a well-designed transitional space.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
September 11, 2019

Your Home, Your Way: Specialty Spaces

Building new gives you the ability to design specialty spaces in your home that help you enjoy the things you love. Whether that be a pet-friendly space to show your fur babies how much you love them, a thoughtfully placed home office to keep you productive, the ultimate recreation room for entertaining, or something else entirely, the options are limitless.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
September 10, 2019

2019 Fall Parade of Homes Press Coverage

Catch up on all the places the 2019 Fall Parade of Homes Twin Cities has been covered in the press.

Home Tours
September 6, 2019

What’s Your Design Style?

Whether you lean traditional or modern, or fall somewhere in between, there’s an architectural style to fit every aesthetic preference. Not sure if you’d feel more at home in an 1800s-inspired Victorian or a Craftsman reminiscent of 19th century structures? Here, Twin Cities builders break down the defining characteristics of eight trending designs in new construction.

Design
August 28, 2019

Renovation Redux | Wit & Delight Remodeled Home Tour

Wit & Delight’s Kate Arends Peters and her husband, Joe, go back to the drawing board for a second round of remodeling on their 1925 English Tudor in St. Paul.

Home Tours
Real Stories
August 22, 2019

Noteworthy: The Ultimate Home Wi-Fi Experience

Get the lowdown on the tech that can help your home look better and live better.

Technology
August 20, 2019

Fall 2019 Calendar of Events

Add these Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase events from select builders and remodelers to your tour! These are the events that introduce you to new neighborhoods, the latest trends, and much more. Join us to learn how to find your dream home or transform your current house.

Home Tours
August 9, 2019

Now Trending: Smart Home & Tech

From automation and voice control to real-time monitoring, today’s home technology has made incredible strides over the past decade, and even the last couple of years. “I believe [smart technology] is becoming the norm in newer homes these days,” says Kevin Clancy, system designer for Lelch Audio Video in St. Louis Park. “It doesn’t take away from the design of the space, and it adds a lot of convenience.” Ready to improve your home’s IQ? Read on for his roundup of what’s trending in residential tech.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
August 5, 2019

Nine Dream Homes Featured on the Fall Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase

The selections are in, and you won’t want to miss the Fall 2019 Dream Homes! These are the homes that are ready to WOW you. The ones you’re pinning on Pinterest and ogling over in magazines. And they’re the perfect place to grab inspiration for your home. This year, there are five new homes and four remodeled homes hand-selected as Dream Homes. Plus, each time you visit a Dream Home, your $5 admission supports the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work as it builds and renovates transitional housing facilities for Minnesota’s homeless, veterans, and others in need.

Home Tours
July 29, 2019

Now Trending: Paint and Wallcoverings

Painting or papering the walls of your home is one of the simplest, most cost-effective changes to make when you’re craving a refresh of your spaces. And thanks to new techniques, materials, and designs, you are only limited by your imagination—or the height of your walls. “Now is the time to express yourself,” says Kathy Basil of Hirshfield’s. “There has never been a better variety.” Here, the manager of the Minneapolis family-owned design shop talks top trends that will add “wow” to your walls.

Design