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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

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.

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.

September 16, 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.

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.

August 20, 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.

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.

March 6, 2019

Building New To Fit His Lifestyle

New homes built in Minnesota today have better components, better materials, and they’re constructed in a way that is, quite simply, better. They’re more durable, safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly. Plus, you pick the floor plan and neighborhood that fit your lifestyle. We asked one recent homebuyer to share why he decided to build new.

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February 28, 2019

Calendar of Events: Spring 2019 Parade of Homes

Select builders and remodelers on the Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase are hosting special events that introduce you to new neighborhoods, teach you about the latest building and design trends, and much more! Add these special events to your tour, and join us to learn how to find your dream home or transform your house.

Home Tours
February 14, 2019

This Abundance | Parade of Homes Feature

Amanda Whiting, a minister and blogger, and her husband, Josh, a pilot, always knew they wanted to build new, but imagined it would happen closer to retirement.

Real Stories
February 6, 2019

Four Dream Homes Set To Impress on the Parade of Homes

These four incredible residences have been hand-selected by our BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation as the 2019 Spring Parade of Homes Dream Homes. These stunning homes from City Homes, Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Stonewood, and Sustainable 9 Design + Build will leave you in awe. Plus, a $5 tax-deductible entry fee to each of these four homes will go to the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation to support their mission of building and remodeling transitional housing facilities for Minnesota's homeless, veterans, and others in need.

Home Tours
January 1, 2019

2019 Home Design Trends

New year, fresh design. If updating your home is on your list of resolutions—whether it’s one room or the whole house—look to these expert-identified trends to bring your spaces into 2019 in style.

Design
November 30, 2018

Home Staging Tips: Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

After you’ve found your dream home on the Parade of Homes, it’s time to get your current place ready to sell. One of the keys to getting the best price for your current home? Home staging done right. Focus on your home’s strengths, downplay the weaknesses and appeal to the largest number of buyers with these home staging tips.

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November 8, 2018

A Lifestyle Change to Love

Downsizing happened somewhat serendipitously for Chuck and Kelly when he ran into a friend one night at a local restaurant. Chuck had retired recently, and while he loved his shop and the acreage they owned, Kelly had been suggesting a less-encumbered lifestyle might be a good choice for them. A new home was just what they were looking for.

Real Stories
October 30, 2018

Building the Perfect Home for One-Level Living

Why buy new? With a new home, you pick the floor plan and finishes that fit your lifestyle. You choose the community and neighborhood that speak to you. And you can even select just the right energy-saving features that balance your personal philosophy with your budget. We asked this family to share what drove them to new construction.

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October 29, 2018

Twin Cities Best New Homes Win 2018 Reggie Awards

BATC-Housing First Minnesota hosted the annual BIG (Building Industry Gala) Night on Oct. 25, 2018. Over 900 attendees joined together to celebrate the home building and remodeling industry and to find out which homes from the Fall Parade of Homes were judged the best — the best design, construction quality and value.

Builders & Remodelers
Home Tours
October 27, 2018

Design Trends From the Fall Parade of Homes

The Parade of Homes is a great way to see the newest trends in home design and the styles that are continuing to shine. From freestanding bathtubs to statement ceilings, this year’s fall tour had no shortage of details that were sure to leave tour-goers inspired. Here are a few of the trends we spotted from Minnesota homebuilders.

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October 10, 2018

Building a New Home for a Growing Family

Why buy new? With a new home, you pick the floor plan and finishes that fit your lifestyle. You choose the community and neighborhood that speak to you. And you can even select just the right energy-saving features that balance your personal philosophy with your budget. We asked this family to share what drove them to new construction.

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September 24, 2018

A Radical Change: A Real Family's Remodeling Story

Lisa and Eric have lived in their traditional Colonial home in Minnetonka for over a decade, but the segmented layout felt dated. They dreamt of a sun-drenched kitchen and a warm, inviting space to make lasting memories with their family — so they made their dreams a reality.

Home Tours
Real Stories
September 23, 2018

Remodelers Showcase Features Two Dream Remodeled Homes

These two stunning whole-house remodels from Black Dog Homes and Frontier Structures are this fall's Dream Remodeled Homes. Your $5 tax-deductible admission to each remodeled home will go to the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation to support their mission of building and remodeling homes and facilities for veterans and the homeless.

They're open for one weekend only, so grab your guidebook and head out to tour Sept. 28-30, 2018!

Home Tours