The Blog

As Metro Denver and the nation continues to adjust and adapt to the new normal during the Coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans have been confined to their homes. People need more space. Remodeling homes for offices and flex spaces are satisfying a need families are trying to adjust to, a safe space.

Social distancing guidelines and health advisories are still in large effect which continues to shape the daily lives of everyone. This, coupled with the fact that companies are continuing to reduce their office workforce and implementing more telecommuting and work-from-home policies, people are looking to adapt and make the most out of their home situation. For some, this means creating a unique space for themselves that attends to all the amenities they once had from a business office.

Homeowners, neighborhoods, and our local communities can fight against the housing crisis and density issues Denver faces through the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Also known as granny flats and carriage houses, these structures can not only help provide a sense of gentle density, they additionally provide homeowners with supplementary sources of income and increased property values. Even though Denver officials seem to be encouraging the rising trend of ADU construction, the harsh realities of building an ADU make it difficult for homeowners to navigate the process and succeed. To avoid these pitfalls so you are able to start planning your Accessory Dwelling Unit build today, here are five main points that will help as a primer to anyone looking at building one for their home.

Finishing a basement, it’s probably one of the best and most rewarding projects you can do for your home. But there are some things you need to know when planning your basement remodel.
It might not be a surprise but before finishing a basement needs to be clean and empty. This means cleared-out, clean, and open. This might be the first hurdle for homeowners as unfinished basements tend to be converted into convenient storage. A good suggestion, rent out a storage container and offload all that clutter from your basement into it. Having a clean basement is necessary so when basement remodelers arrive at your home, they can take quick and accurate measurements. Also, a benefit of clearing up a basement is the ability to see an open space for visualizing what it will become. Like they say, “start with a clean slate!”.

Working with Hearth Financing is a streamlined process for homeowners to work with approved lenders under a single source for financing their home improvement project. Now that Sustainable Design Build has partnered with Hearth, SDB can offer a more efficient route to customers financing home improvement project.

What is hearth?
First, Hearth is a Financing company that came from a technology firm. Why is this important, you ask? Hearth developed a program and app that intuitively handles the process of providing multiple loans from various lenders. This tool helps clients get immediate and accurate feedback on what their budget can be for any home improvement. This aligns with Hearth’s goal, to give Americans up to date financial tools so that they make smarter decisions during their home’s improvement.

Do I need a permit for my remodel? This is a very common question. Permitting a project can cause some delay and added cost. The inspections take time out of the schedule. Permits cost money and time, and the inspectors may find something that breaks the budget to bring up to code. With all of these concerns why not just do the work and avoid the hassle?

Document Your Home Improvements
Firstly, permitting a project will document the work that you have done. This assures that the work you are paying for is of high enough quality to appease the code. If you plan on adding any square footage, upgrading some components that may need electrical or plumbing service, or repairing a damaged area, the permitting process assures that this work complies with modern building codes and meets the industry standards.