DIY Remodeling Ideas on a Budget

Looking for fun and cheap remodeling ideas that can add elegance to your space?

Here are some clever ideas I found on HouseLogic.com. HouseLogic is a great resource for home owners and it’s sponsored by the National Association of Realtors.

1) “Ceiling is Believing” – Ceiling medallions can add elegance. Knockoffs from the traditional plaster ornamentation, they are made of lightweight urethane. Installing one is an easy do-it-yourselfproject.

2) “Elegance Overhead” – They suggest painting the ceiling a dark color can quiet ambient light and can put emphasis on single objects.

3) “Wainscot Wonders” – It is easy to create faux wainscot by nailing 1 inch think boards and painting everything white. It can add detail to a room on a dime!

4) “Crowning Moment” – By adding crown mounding to your kitchen cabinets where the upper cabinets meet the ceiling, you can add a regal touch.

5) “Make a Big Splash” – back splashes are an easy, affordable way to add a chic touch to the kitchen. They suggest a stainless steel tile for a different look.

6) “Pattern Possibilities” – Try using paint or wallpaper to add pattern to a wall. You can use a variety of different patterns and colors. A chevron pattern is great idea for a small space such as a bathroom or pantry.

7) “Blast of Color” – Looking to add some dazzle…do it with paint. A hollow-core, interior door can be transformed by gluing on crown molding and painting it a bold, bright color that will compliment your current color scheme.

Any of these decoration ideas can add some jazz and elegance to your home. Whether you looking to add elements to help sell your home faster, or just looking to spruce up your current look., these ideas are great on any budget!

 

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FOCUS ON ENERGY® CERTIFIED

It’s that time of the year again! As the temperatures get colder, we crank up our thermostats and face rising energy costs. Did you know that C&M Properties & Construction is one of few new home construction companies in the state that puts every house we build in the FOCUS ON ENERGY® program? Every custom home and twin home we build gets certified by a FOCUS ON ENERGY® professional making them 20-30% more efficient than standard built homes.

FOCUS ON ENERGY® is Wisconsin utilities’ statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program. It is funded by the state’s investor owned energy utilities and participating municipal and electric cooperative companies. The program has been helping Wisconsin businesses save more than 314 million in annual energy costs since 2001.

FOCUS ON ENERGY® works with eligible Wisconsin businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Their efforts help: 1) manage rising energy costs 2) promote in-state economic development 3) protect environment 4) control Wisconsin’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.

Participating in FOCUS ON ENERGY® has helped us apply techniques to build extremely energy efficient homes and bring the energy savings to our clients!

Visit us on our website www.candmhomebuilders.com to see advanced building techniques we implement when building new construction. If you would like more information on the FOCUS ON ENERGY® program, visit www.focusonenergy.com.

 

 

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Press Release

Twin Homes Become Popular Choice in Chippewa Valley

C&M Properties and Construction is building several twin homes in the Chippewa Valley due to a positive reaction from buyers. “The twin homes in the Fairway Drive Development are a popular choice for a lot of different lifestyles and we’re seeing them sell quickly,” says Filipczak, who also owns C&M Realty, the listing agent of the twin homes. Of the 11 units to be built, seven have already sold in the Fairway Drive Development. “They are a new concept for the Chippewa Valley, but are very popular in other parts of the country. They provide very high quality finishes and upgrades, and are extremely energy efficient, low maintenance homes. An average heating bill, for example, is somewhere around $30-$40/month for a 1,600 square foot home during the coldest months of the year.” The River Prairie Development will soon be home to the Oak Leaf Medical Center, and already is home to Rivers Edge, a residential community.

Economic Impact of Fairway Drive Development

Throughout the 3-4 year building process of the Fairway Drive Development, over 100 full-time jobs in the construction industry are being created. In addition, the finished development will increase the City of Altoona’s tax increment by an estimated 10 million dollars. “The River Prairie District of Altoona is the future of the Chippewa Valley,” says Filipczak. “There is a lot of exciting new commercial development coming in, and everything is very accessible from here.”

About C&M Properties and Construction

C&M Properties and Construction, located in Eau Claire, is owned and operated by Cody and Molly Filipczak. C&M builds custom homes and twin homes throughout western Wisconsin. Taking pride in every project, C&M
works closely with clients to guarantee satisfaction in their end product. Their work has resulted in five “Best of Show” awards at the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Parade of Homes. C&M Properties and Construction recently expanded to include their real estate division, C&M Realty. With the
addition of Realtor, Shannyn Pinkert, the C&M family gains years of real estate experience and can now serve all of your real estate needs.

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Pricing Your Home

Yesterday I sat down for an interview with Katie Kunkel at WEAU to address the question, “How do I price my home to SELL?” To recap our brief conversation; here are Katie’s questions and my answers.

Q. Why is pricing your home correctly from the START so important?

A. There are a lot of factors in a successful sale: pricing, location, condition, and marketing. However, pricing is sometimes what brings buyers through the front door. Everything sells at the right price! Deciding on a strong, initial list price is so important because you do not get a second chance to make a great first impression.

Q. How do we determine the market value of our home?

A. Realtors and lenders use several tools to help determine market value of a property: Comparative Market Analysis (CMA’s), appraisals, and market knowledge. Real Estate is a global issue, but property values are very local. It is crucial to examine factors that can vary in every market: Supply vs. Demand, the local job economy, and home appreciation values.

Q. What factors do I need to consider when pricing my home?

A. Overpricing and underpricing can have significant effects and disadvantages. It’s important to evaluate several factors when pricing your home. First, determine your motivation. What is your personal situation? Do you need to sell quickly vs. do you have a lot of time? Then, try to look at your property from the buyer’s perspective. It’s essential to take the sentimental emotions away from the transaction. Last, evaluate the competition. What do they have that you may not have? What makes your property unique?

-Shannyn Pinkert, Realtor

 

 

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Volumne One “Best of” voting starts today!

Last year we were thrilled to be voted one of the “Best Of” in the Chippewa Valley for Carpentry/Construction — we’d love to have your vote again!

http://volumeone.org/polls/4/categories/678_shopping_spending

 

 

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The magic of a Mudroom…

One of the best trends in new construction to come out of the last decade is definitely the inclusion of the Mudroom. While this “do it all” space is not necessarily the most glamorous of rooms, it proves to be a key element of a well thought-out home. Typically these rooms are places to sit down and remove or put on shoes with lockers or coat racks to hang jackets and backpacks, and a little extra space for storage. Recently we’ve seen some great ideas to make this room a catch-all for day to day clutter, so great we wanted to share them with you! So here they are, some things to consider in your mudroom:

* Cabinets with pullout bins to store pet food in.

* Garbage and recycling bins to catch junk mail and the like as soon as you walk in the door.

* A counter especially for keys, phone chargers and laptops.

* Drawers and cabinets designated for cleaning and household supplies, a spot for the “junk drawer.” (So it’s out of the kitchen!)

* Place for a calendar or schedule to check when you come in or go out the door.

We hope you find these tips helpful when designing your Mudroom and make it one of your favorite rooms in the house!

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Home & Garden Show 2012

Tomorrow we set up for the Home & Garden Show at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center! The show runs from Friday the 24th through Sunday the 26th. We always look forward to this annual event to see what’s new in our industry and get a chance to sit and visit with everyone. Hope to see you there!

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Builder of the Year

We were so honored to have received the CVHBA Builder of the Year award for 2011! Thank you to everyone who voted and we look forward to another great year in 2012. Happy New Year!

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Welcome to the Eau Claire Custom Home Builder’s Blog!

Here at C&M Properties and Construction, we wanted to make sure that you – our customers – have the resources you need to make informed decisions about building your own custom home. Our blog will keep you updated with tips, ideas, and other helpful notes to make your home building process as easy as possible.

Stay tuned for more from C&M!

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