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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

Staff Picks: The Best Twin Cities Coffee Shops

Explore the best local coffee spots recommended by the Parade of Homes staff. From cozy neighborhood cafes to trendy urban roasters, these are the places we keep coming back to for a perfect cup of coffee (or tea!).

Things You Should Know About Buying & Selling a Home In The Winter

With fewer people actively looking and unique seasonal advantages, Minnesota’s colder months can offer hidden gems for buyers and motivated opportunities for sellers. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your winter real estate journey.

Timeless Textures

With their steady rise in popularity over the past several years, it’s clear that statement walls are here to stay. After all, they’re perfect for giving a space a facelift without the time, effort, and expense of redoing an entire room, and — with endless possibilities available! — loved for their versatility.

Pulling It All Together: Top Hardware Trends

A well-designed home focuseson the details that truly make a difference. Cabinet hardware can pack apowerful punch in your kitchen, bathroom, or closet design. Selecting carefullycurated finishes for your remodel or swapping out old knobs or handles is aquick and cost-effective way to upgrade your space.

So, what’s hot in hardware?Industry experts share the most popular designs with 2024 homeowners.

Move-In Ready Vs. Built-to-Suit: Which Home is Right for You?

Few things are as exciting as purchasing a new home. Whether you're searching for your first house or moving into your dream home, there’s an important decision ahead: should you buy a move-in-ready home or build a custom home? Both options offer unique advantages, but they come with different experiences. So, how do you decide? Keep reading to learn the benefits and what to consider for each option!

Defining Home Types on the Parade of Homes

Every year, home enthusiasts, prospective buyers, and curious neighbors look forward to the Parade of Homes. Taking place in the spring and fall, the Parade of Homes is a chance to explore some of the most beautiful, innovative, and thoughtfully designed homes across the Twin Cities area. Whether hunting for your dream home or gathering inspiration for your own, the Parade of Homes is a can't-miss event.

November 8, 2019

Best New Homes in the Twin Cities Win 2019 Reggie Awards

Housing First Minnesota hosted the annual Building Industry Gala (BIG Night) on Oct. 25, 2019. More than 800 attendees joined together to celebrate the homebuilding and remodeling industry and to find out which homes from the Fall Parade of Homes were judged the very best — the best design, construction quality, and value.

Home Tours
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