Growth in the Remodeling Industry

According to panelists at the 2012 International Builders’ Show, the residential remodeling market will continue to experience measured growth in 2012 after the Remodeling Market Index rose to a five year-high at the end of 2011.

While the new home housing market has continued to suppress the remodeling industry, there has been a growing trend among home owners to stay in their homes and to just add on.

Paul Emrath, NAHB’s vice president for survey and housing policy research predicts that “… residential remodeling will rise 8.9 percent in 2012.”

In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Remodeling Market Index, which measures current market conditions, showed that it rose from 43.0 to 48.4. The RMI is based on a quarterly survey of professional remodelers. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is lower than report it is higher.

American Housing Remodeling, Inc. is a builder of one and two story room additions and custom homes in the Tampa bay area, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, The Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Located in the Pinellas Park area of St Petersburg, Florida,

The owners of American Housing have been building new homes and room additions in the Pinellas County area for over thirty years and are members of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA,) the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB,) the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI,) the Better Business Bureau and the local Chambers of Commerce.

For more information, contact Lee Kretzer, an owner of American Housing at 727-546-6611, email us at info@amhousing.com, or go to the “Contact Us” page of our web site and send us a request for information. We look forward to hearing from you.

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The Money Squeeze!

Like most businesses, American Housing has had to tighten its belt over the past few years and now that production cost increases again loom on the horizon, we will soon be having to add these increases on to the price of our one and two story Room Additions.

Over the past couple of months, we have been put on notice by several of our suppliers that material prices will be increasing by the end of the year. They have informed us that because of increases they have had to bear in obtaining health, auto and liability insurances, along with having to pay more for diesel fuel for the transporting of the materials, they can no longer absorb these costs and are being forced to increase the price of their products.

So far, we have been informed that concrete products will increase by 15%, steel rebar and rebar products will increase by 10%, all metal truss straps, anchor bolts and wire mesh will increase by 15%, all masonry bag goods will increase by 15% and drywall materials may increase by as much as 35%.

We at, American Housing, would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our past customers for allowing us to be your builder and thank you for supporting us throughout the years. The past few years have been difficult for those in the building industry, but because of the loyalty of our customers, we have survived this anemic building climate and we look forward to working with our new customers in the exciting years to come.

So, if you, or anyone you know is interested in a one or two story Room Addition, please call us at 727-546-6611, so we can lock in at today’s pricing.

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REMODELING FOR PET OWNERS

According to the Humane Society, almost four out of every 10 households in the United States own a pet. The Humane Society says there are approximately 73 million dogs and 90 million cats living in American homes.

You may think a person would have to be a bit eccentric to go to the expense of building or remodeling with their pets in mind. But if you consider that you create your home to suit yourself and your children, and even guests, it’s not a leap to go beyond that and consider your pets. If you are going to share your life with your pets, then it makes perfect sense to build or remodel your home with your pets in mind.

Pets fills a need in many people’s lives and that bond between them can run very deep. Pet owners who place a high premium on their pet companionship includes young single people who move away from home and family for employment reasons, divorced individuals, empty nesters, childless couples and families with children. Pets are often an extension of the family unit and are even sometimes included in family vacations.

As home remodelers, we have seen many pet owners plan for their pets as they prepare to remodel their home. Now, most cats don’t necessarily need catnip-filled satin pillows nor do most dogs need their own doggie bedroom, but as a pet owner, you may want to provide them with a little something extra like a little cubby they can call their own or a small window at floor level so they can sit on the floor, feel the outdoor breeze and stare into the garden at birds and such.

A few other ideas that come to mind might be an indoor pet retreat that would be located by an outside door or a platform bed designed as a window seat or a cat ramp that would diagonally run up a wall to meet a shelf. How about a doggy overlook that would let your dog stick his head through a square opening on the second floor in order to keep tabs on his owners below. Another simple thing you might want to consider would be stain-resistant fabrics and carpeting.

Pet-friendly home remodeling is a recent but very popular trend and since many of those folks consider their furry companions as a part of the family, then why not take them into consideration when remodeling. Home remodeling for pets gives homeowners a chance to incorporate some innovative decorating ideas that not only help the home stand out when it’s time to sell, but makes it more suitable to their lifestyle while they are still living there.

Even though some pet owners may go to extremes to pamper their furry friends, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or give up much space in order to provide your pet with a little something special just for them. In fact, pet owners have always made simple home improvements to accommodate their pets, such as installing a dog or cat door, but more and more pet owners are taking it a step further and creating something special for their pets and are creatively incorporating some of those ideas right in to the design of their home.

For more information on Room Additions and Remodeling for you and your pets, contact American Housing Remodeling, Inc. at 727-546-6611.

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When Adult Children Move Back Home

Great Education, but No Job!

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center in Washington D.C., it appears that about 13% of adult sons and daughters have been moving back home annually over the past few years.

There may be other factors involved, but the main reason for these kids moving back home is the economy. While the recession has touched Americans of all ages, it has been particularly hard on young adults. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 16% of 20-to-24-year-olds are unemployed and according to Pew Research, a whopping 85% of college seniors had planned to move back home with their parents after graduation. That is a lot of college graduates moving back home and when kids do move back home, parents need to make more room.

Whether it be a media room, a hobby room, or an in-home office, once a child moves out, many parents have changed their home to suit their new lifestyle. So, when an adult child moves back home, changes again need to be made. It may be the perfect time to add another room on to your home, or it may even be time to add that second floor on to your home and really make it the home you always wanted. For whatever reason and whatever you decide, American Housing Remodeling, Inc., can accommodate your needs and desires. American Housing specializes in one and two story room addition, are FEMA specialists and have been building quality additions in the Tampa Bay area for over 15 years.

For more information on American Housing Remodeling and to learn more about the many types of projects we have dealt with over the years, simply go to the “Contact Us” page of our web site or even better, contact us at 727-546-6611 and talk to owner Paul Venuti for a free in-home consultation visit from him or one of our representatives.

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In-Law Suites

In-law suites, or as some like to affectionately call them, out-law suites, have become a very common type of room addition for many homeowners today. For whatever reasons, more and more parents are opting to move in with their children and are enjoying the best of both worlds.

Many retirees today travel and feel comfort in knowing they have a place to come home to and a place where they can enjoy being with their children and grandchildren. For may people, it is a win / win situation. Ahhh, the joys of being a grandparent.

For more information on the possibility of adding an in-law suite to your home, or adding another type of one and two story room addition to your home, you can contact  American Housing Remodeling at 727-546-6611 for a free, no obligation quote.

FLORIDA’S ONE AND TWO STORY ROOM ADDITION CONTRACTOR

There are as many reasons for adding a room addition on to your home as there are people who own homes. A few reasons might be: because they like where they live and don’t want to move, or they like the schools their children attend, or they are close to their favorite stores for shopping, or they have many good friends and neighbors where they are living now, or they live close to their favorite links and love to play golf, or maybe they live on the water and enjoy watching the sun rise or set on their back deck. For whatever reasons, there are many people who just want to stay where they are and add on to their existing home because they simply know it would be difficult to find another place quite as nice to live.

As people’s lifestyles change, so do their needs and wants. As a person gets older there are many changes that will occur that will affect their lifestyle and what type of home they will want or need. Then, as time goes on, there will be other factors that will determine what type of home they will desire. Like most of us, you get married and have children and that usually means you may need a little larger home with extra bedrooms and bathrooms. Then as your children grow up, there comes a time when your children will want to move out, but then by that time you may have parents that need a place to stay, and then you never know, your children may want to move back home for a while. “When will it all end?” you ask yourself. But then the time will finally come when your parents will be back on their own and your children will move back out and you will finally say to yourself, “Free at last,” “free at last,” but now what do we do?

Ahhh! This may be the time in your life when you can do what you want to do. Maybe you have always wanted an oversized garage to put your collection of motorcycles or antique cars in, or maybe even that workshop you have always wanted. Or maybe you always wanted a room to showcase your collectables or a room to work on your hobbies, or just a room to call your own and do whatever you want. Something very popular today is a media room where you can entertain friends. A room where you can watch movies, HGTV or a football game without being disturbed. You could even have a popcorn machine off to the side making popcorn while you are watching your favorite movie on that big screen TV. There is something about the smell of popcorn that makes a movie seem even better.

As your lifestyle changes, there may come a time when you realize that you need a larger master suite or a larger living area with maybe a new kitchen and a new bathroom. After all, your home is a special place. Your home is a place where you can relax, entertain, and escape the realities of the real world. Your home is your castle and sometimes you just need to make some changes. You may not want to go as far as adding a “mote” around your castle, even though your neighbors would be really jealous, and instead just go with a new “re-mote” for that big screen TV in your new media room instead. Just a thought.

So, whether it is a one story or two story addition you are considering, a room addition can be an exciting venture for any homeowner. It is a chance to transform your existing home into something extraordinary in order for you and your family to better enjoy the comforts of life. So, as the economy continues to improve, it may be the perfect time for you to consider adding that extra room on to your home and American Housing Remodeling is the right company that can do it for you. We will work with you from conception to completion and will take care of all of the design work, plans and permitting and building of the project.

There are four owners of American Housing Remodeling, Inc.  Paul Venuti, the president and part owner of American Housing Remodeling, originally came from Massachusetts, where he owned and operated his own building contracting firm for over 25 years. Paul has been building in the Pinellas County area for close to fifteen years.

Mick McKenzie comes from a family of home builders and is a 3^rd generation home builder.  Mick was raised in the building industry and was Florida State Certified in 1978. Mick has been building homes and room additions in Pinellas County for over thirty years. Mick’s motto has always been to treat a customer’s home as if it were our own.

Lee Kretzer was raised in the Manatee and Pinellas County areas.  Lee has been in the construction industry and real estate business all his life.  Lee feels that our customers are like family and we need to treat them like family.

Stuart Cohen came from Detroit, Michigan and has been very active in the building and real estate industry since arriving in Pinellas County in 1974.

American Housing Remodeling, Inc. is a fully licensed and insured, design/build construction company specializing in residential construction. American Housing Builders, Inc. and American Housing Remodeling, Inc. are members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA), the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

American Housing Remodeling, Inc. is located at 6580 72 Avenue North in Pinellas Park, Florida 33781 and can be contacted at 727-546-6611.

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BUILDER / REMODELER CHECKLIST

Redington Beach 2nd Story Room Addition

American Housing Remodeling, Inc. wants to be your remodeling contractor, but we know we have to earn your trust first. This is a great checklist from the NAHB that will help you select the right home builder or home remodeler to work on or build your home. After checking us out, we feel confident that you will see why so many others have selected American Housing to be their builder for life.

• Ask family, friends or coworkers for recommendations.
• Make sure the builder or home remodeler has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers.
• Find out how long they have been in the building business. It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. You want to make sure they will be around after the construction is complete to service any warranties.
• Check out the company’s rating and if there have been any complaints filed with your local Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbb.org/.
• Make sure the builder/remodeler has sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance. If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises.
• Ask the builder/remodeler to provide you with names of previous customers. If they won’t, beware. If they do, ask the customers if they would hire the builder/remodeler again.
• Ask if you can see the builder/remodelers work, both completed and in progress. Check for quality of workmanship and materials.
• Do you feel you can easily communicate with the builder/remodeler? Remember you will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process and afterward as you live in your new home.
• Make sure the builder/remodeler provides you with a complete and clearly written contract. The contract will benefit both of you. If you are having a new home built, get and review a copy of the home warranty and homeowner manual as well.
• Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. If the builder/remodeler is unable to pay for the materials and labor as the project proceeds, this may indicate a potential problem. Keep in mind that less expensive does not necessarily mean better!

Click here for more information from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

American Housing Remodeling, Inc. is located at 6580 72nd Ave North in Pinellas Park, Florida 33781 and can be contacted at 727-546-6611.

New Second Story Room Addition on Redington Beach Now Under Way!

We recently broke ground on adding a second story on a home on Redington Drive in Redington Beach. While adding on this second floor to this home, the owners will be living right there monitoring the activities on a daily basis.  This is a huge job and the owners are very comfortable knowing that with the knowledge and experience that American Housing has in doing these type of projects, that their home is in good hands.While removing the existing roof, many precautions are made in order to keep the integrity of the existing home intact, while at the same time keeping things dry in case of inclement weather. Everything has been pre-planned well ahead of time to avoid any unplanned mishaps.

As the job progresses, we will be posting more information and more photos of this job, along with others.

For more information on American Housing Remodeling and the services they have to offer, please contact us here at 727-546-6611 for a free in home evaluation of you home remodeling needs.

It’s Time. Let’s Get ‘er Done!

If you are considering adding a Room Addition to your existing home, then you are at the right place. Whether it is a one story Addition or a second floor Room Addition, American Housing Remodeling, Inc. has the experience, expertise and the professionalism it takes to guide you through every stage of your project from concept to completion.

Once you decide you want to add that room, you will have three important decisions to make. First, you will have to decide what it is you want to do, second, you will have to decide how much you are going to spend, and third, you will have to decide on a contractor.

The first part is actually the fun part and that is deciding on what kind of room addition you want to add to your home. Whether it be a bedroom, bathroom, family room or an entire second story, you should remember that you may eventually want to sell your home and that potential buyers will probably compare your home to new ones being built. Therefore, you may want to look at some of the design trends and amenities being included into some of the new homes being built today.

Now comes the part that is not quite as much fun and that is trying to figure out how much money you will need for your project and where the money will come from. When figuring costs, you can use a square foot price of about $125 for first floor room additions and about $185 for second story room additions, but this is for estimating purposes only. It is not really practical to use a square foot price when figuring costs because there are always so many factors that have to be taken into considering that will affect the actual price, but it will at least give you a general idea. As for where the money will come from, only you can determine that. If you do not have enough cash, then you will have to consider some type of loan and we can help you in deciding what type of loan is best for you.

One more thing to consider when deciding on how much you want to spend for your project is your home’s value in relation to your neighborhood. The general rule of thumb is that any remodeling project that brings your home up to the level of your neighbors’ is a worthy investment. It doesn’t always pay to be the most expensive home on the block and many real estate experts recommend that a remodeling investment should not raise the value of your home to more than 10-15% above the median sales price in your neighborhood.

Next, you will have to decide on a building contractor. Hmmm! Now this is where it gets tricky because there are two roads you can take here. You can take the high road, or that other road. You will need to select a contractor that you feel confident will do your job right. At first you may be tempted to find that guy who works out of the back of his truck, or maybe that guy who may or may not have a valid builders license, or maybe that guy who may or may not have the proper insurances, or maybe that guy who is hurting so badly for work that he will be willing to do your job at a really, really “good” price. Of course, you know that a really, really, “good” price actually means a really, really, “cheap” price, and a really, really “cheap” price is the prescription for a “dream” home project to turn into a “nightmare” home project. This is your home and only you can decide which fork in the road to take here.

So, when deciding on which contractor to use, you want to select someone you feel comfortable with, someone you can communicate with and someone you know you can work with throughout the entire project.

You will want a quality contractor with a Florida State builder’s license, a contractor who is a member of the Better Business Bureau and a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and you will want a contractor who is fully licensed and insured. You will want to find a contractor who has a history of doing quality work at a fair price, a contractor with a proven track record and a contractor who will provide you with a ten year structural warranty. After all, this will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make regarding your home and American Housing Remodeling prides itself on being a “dream” maker, not a “nightmare” maker. We are the “Dream Catchers” of the Tampa Bay Remodeling industry and we will capture your “dream” of what you want your home to be and make it a reality.

Once you have made the very wise decision to use American Housing Remodeling as your remodeling contractor, we will walk you through the entire process from beginning to end. We will explain the permitting process, how inspections work, how and when material will be delivered and how the work schedule will progress. All of these concerns, along with any other concerns you may have, will be addressed so you will know exactly what to expect throughout the entire project.

More and more Tampa Bay area families are deciding to improve their existing home rather than move because they, like many people in today’s times, realize that they can have the home of their “dreams,” without having to move. It means you won’t have to give up your neighborhood, your neighbors, your friends or the schools your children attend.

Once the decision has been made, it is time to contact American Housing Remodeling, Inc.  America is on the move again and if you have been considering adding that extra room on to your home, it is time for you to make that commitment now. It is time for you to get started. It is time to call 727-546-6611 and say “Let’s get er done!”

The Doctor is In!

The House Doctor!

Everyone knows if your tooth hurts, you call a dentist. Everyone knows if you are sick, you call a doctor. But what do you do when your home needs help? Well, you call a home Professional; you call a Home Doctor; you call American Housing Remodeling.

Paul Venuti, President and owner of American Housing Remodeling, Inc. is the one and only “House Doctor” of Pinellas County. Paul has been building one and two story room additions and remodeling homes for over thirty years and has spent the last fifteen years building them right here in Pinellas County. Paul has the experience and the professionalism to create for you the home you need, the home you want and the home of your dreams.

Your home is your castle and it is something to take pride in owning.  But as changes happen, even your castle needs to be modified to meet your ever-changing lifestyle.  Now you probably won’t need to add a moat around your castle or even a draw bridge to cross your moat, but you may need to add more room on to your home, you may need to modernize your bathrooms or update the kitchen and American Housing Remodeling can write the prescription to get these things done without the pain that usually goes along with this type of endeavor!

As  time moves on, your life changes and so do your needs.  Since moving in your home, you may have had a child or two, or you may now have a parent living with you, or maybe you just want to add an office or exercise room, to suit that ever-changing lifestyle.  Whatever your reason for wanting to improve or add on to your existing home, American Housing Remodeling, with its long-standing history of performing quality work, and specializing in building one and two story Room Additions is a smart choice!  Paul Venuti, along with his partners, Mick McKenzie, Lee Kretzer and Stuart Cohen, have been building New Homes and Room Additions in the Pinellas County area of Florida for well over thirty years.

So, when you get to that point in your life when you just KNOW it’s time to act and make those changes to your home, please call the American Housing Home Doctor and give him a chance to show you how he can make that dream come true.  Call 727-546-6611 for a FREE in-home consultation with either Paul Venuti or one of our American Housing consultants.  The time is right and the time is now.  Go ahead and make that call and we promise, it won’t hurt a bit!