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About half of the reasons homeowners give for delaying designing, remodeling or building has to do with doubts about affordability: “Can we do what we want to do without breaking our budget? How do we know that the firms we talk to will offer us the best deal we can get?”

The other half involves uncertainties about what kind of firm they need to involve: “Should we get an architect…a residential builder…a construction company…the handyman we know from church?”

At VISION Builders, we believe we can resolve all those doubts and uncertainties for our prospective clients with one, simple tool. We call it our “Ah-ha!” Meeting.

A NO-OBLIGATION INFORMATION SESSION WILL CLARIFY THE PROCESS FOR YOU

The “Ah-ha!” Meeting is intended to answer all the questions and concerns listed above and several more besides. During this informal time together we will be listening to you share your special vision with us. As you talk, we will be sketching and tabulating. The vision for your home that you share with us will gradually take shape in the form of a rough design and initial cost figures.

The most important ingredient in this kick-off meeting is your vision. It drives everything. We don’t want to emerge from that meeting with all the right data (square footage, room functions, cost figures, etc) but having abandoned the vision that brought you to us in the first place!

OUR PRIORITY: YOUR VISION AND YOUR BUDGET

After over 30 years in business, VISION Builders has come to specialize in the challenges of matching budgets with visions. We pride ourselves on being creative and flexible – able to offer a variety of materials and capabilities, as well as contract and payment options.

In addition to knowing how your building or remodeling dreams translate into affordable costs, you’ll also leave knowing what kind of turnaround time you can expect. Your deadlines, like your vision, become our commitment to you.

Finally, you’ll take away a written breakdown of your remodeling or building project, complete with estimates (dollars and time).

OUR BEST ADVERTISING IS PEOPLE

Over our long history of turning remodeling and building dreams into reality, VISION has had the privilege and pleasure of working with hundreds of area homeowners. Over 90% of our clients during the 30 years we have been in business have come to us through referrals. Our new business comes through the positive experiences of customers we’ve already served! We are proud and grateful to be able to say that. We won’t be satisfied until you are one of those satisfied customers.

Give us one short meeting. We’ll give you an affordable way to turn your vision into a livable reality!

Many homes in the Kansas City area have basements, but if you use yours for a laundry room or to store things you don’t use but once in a blue moon, you may be considering basement finishing. Why not transform that space to a work-out room, children’s play area, or a relaxing media room where you can enjoy your favorite music and movies? No matter what you intend to do with it, remodeling the basement of your Overland Park home will go smoother if you plan in advance.

Here are a few helpful tips to make the process of transforming a damp, dark basement into one of your favorite rooms in the home.

Basements tend to be damp. When the ground is not graded properly or gutters not installed, water can do a number not only on your foundation, but your basement. Take steps to waterproof so that your basement can avoid future water damage. This may involve checking the plumbing, and improving air circulation in addition to grading the ground so that water flows away from your foundation.

Brighten up the space in your basement. Some basements in the Kansas City area are almost completely underground, leaving only tiny windows as light sources. Consider electrical lighting options that can light up the space or even making changes to the design in order to add additional natural light.

Exposed beams and ducts are not attractive. When you’re using your basement as nothing but a laundry room or for storage, it doesn’t really matter. However, if you intend to transform your basement to a livable, appealing space, you will want to create soffits to box in ducts or HVAC piping that may be exposed. Painting ductwork or even a dropped ceiling built to cover these unsightly but necessary components can work wonders.

Basement finishing gives you more functional space in your Kansas City home, and adds to its value. Looking at your basement right this moment, you probably cannot imagine it being as beautiful as other rooms in your home, but it can be a very inviting and comfortable space your family will enjoy.

At Vision Builders, basement remodeling is one of the services we offer to clients in the Kansas City and Overland Park areas. Choose professionals for the work, and expect professional results!

If you’re considering a kitchen remodel for your Johnson County home, you’re certainly in good company! The kitchen is the one room in the home that is remodeled more than any other, either to make the home more appealing before putting it on the market, or simply to give it a fresh, updated look the homeowners will enjoy. Either way, our Overland Park kitchen remodeling experts have a few tips and trends for 2014 and beyond.

Right now, what’s “in” in the kitchen includes:

Sconce lighting. A combination of function and decor, this type of lighting isn’t just for tasks. Sconce lighting often features aged brass, iron, or black finishes, and may have adjustable arms so that you can direct the light to any area you like. Whether you prefer a country, rustic, modern, or contemporary look, there is a wide array of style and decor options available.

Natural and raw materials add natural beauty that’s stunning. From natural stone and brick surrounding islands to exposed natural beams, open shelving, and reclaimed wood, homeowners love the warm, charming, and somewhat “old world” rustic look of a kitchen that embraces natural materials. Natural elements create a natural atmosphere that feels welcoming, and looks wonderfully distinctive.

Open shelving. Why hide your collectibles and fine china, when you can incorporate it into a beautiful display with open shelving? Not only can you easily find what you’re looking for, it’s a great way to create eye-catching accents. While you probably won’t want every cabinet transformed into open shelving, selecting one area to display all of your travel souvenirs and pieces designed more for decorative purposes will create a great focal point for the room. Older homes used to be built with open shelving; somehow, everything old eventually becomes new again!

Kitchen remodeling in the Overland Park area can consist of a few minor changes, or a complete renovation that starts from scratch. Updating your kitchen not only renews your enjoyment of your home, it adds to the value as well. If you’re considering a re-do of your Johnson County kitchen, call Vision Builders today. We’re the most trusted name in the home remodeling industry! Let us transform your kitchen into one all your neighbors will envy.

Johnson County residents enjoy nothing better than the great outdoors in spring and summer months. The problem is, if you don’t have a deck or covered porch you may be left dragging your chairs into the grass – not a particularly enjoyable proposition if ants, tics, and other creepy crawly critters inhabit your yard. The Kansas City deck builders at at Vision Builders transform outdoor spaces for KC homeowners who want to entertain, add to curb appeal, or simply enjoy their own homes more while increasing value.

For many homeowners, a deck is the ideal place to relax after a long day at work, or entertain friends and family. Depending on your own preferences, exterior decks can range from simple, one-level designs to multi-level, more complex designs. Built-in seats, steps, landings – how basic or fancy you get is all up to you! No doubt your deck will get plenty of use throughout the years as you grill outdoors, host a get together for neighbors, or simply enjoy soaking up the sun or reading a good book yourself.

While exterior decks are highly popular, covered and screened-in porches are other options you may want to consider. A covered porch makes it possible for you to enjoy being outdoors even during a spring or summer shower. Enjoy the fresh air without getting soaked! Screened-in porches protect you from the weather as well, but provide the added benefit of keeping out flied, mosquitoes, and other pesky bugs. A screened-in porch can also provide your family with an added measure of security.

You may have an existing porch you would like to have covered or screened-in, or perhaps you’re considering adding an entirely new focal point to your Johnson County home. Thinking about a new deck, but also like the idea of a screened-in porch? It doesn’t have to be either/or. In fact, a combination of both not only adds functionality to your home, but plenty of personality as well. Outdoor living combinations can add a distinctive touch to your home that makes it stand out from the rest – your neighbors will be envious!

At Vision Builders, our goal is to provide homeowners in the greater Kansas City area with exterior decks, screened-in or covered porches, home additions, remodeling, and other services that make your home your dream home while improving function and increasing its value. Give us a call today for all of your home improvement needs!

Many Johnson County homeowners toss around the thought of adding on to their homes for various reasons. Perhaps you need more space for a growing family, your kitchen seems to have become too small, or you feel that adding on a room would add to your home’s value should you decide to sell. Whatever the reason, you may be wondering if home additions are worth the cost. The simple answer is, it depends.

It’s important to keep in mind that a Kansas City home addition may be worth the money spent just for your family’s enjoyment, regardless of to what extent it increases your home’s value. There are certain renovation projects which offer a great return, such as kitchen remodels. Most homeowners want to know that they will be able to recoup most of the money spent on an addition or remodeling project. It is understandable that you don’t want to spend $35,000 on a room addition, only to be able to raise the value of your home by $5,000.

Here is something to keep in mind:

If you do decide to add a room onto your home, keep its original design in mind. Potential buyers who are driving around the neighborhood will notice a home that looks odd, or has obviously been added on to. The design should remain consistent with the rest of the homes in your neighborhood. Any addition should flow seamlessly with the rest of your home, or in other words look as though it is an original part of the house.

Add on because you need the space or would enjoy more room yourself, not because you think it will make your home more attractive to buyers. Ultimately, the condition of the real estate market and economy at any point in time may affect the return on your investment. There are times when your home may sell for more, and times it may sell for less, regardless of your addition.

The enjoyment you get from your Johnson County home really cannot be measured in terms of dollars and cents. Some additions, such as a bedroom or living room, are more lucrative financially speaking than others. You are the one who will live in your home, and home additions can definitely enhance your living experience and enjoyment of your home!

At Vision Builders, we specialize in home renovations in the Overland Park/Kansas City areas, helping homeowners enjoy a home that truly is the place you want to be at the end of the day. Give us a call today for your home addition needs, basement finishing or kitchen remodeling needs.

A beautiful home with amazing curb appeal is the dream of most Overland Park homeowners, but did you know that many exterior renovations can not only enhance the appearance of your home, but increase energy efficiency as well?  Many materials used today to renovate the exterior of a home improve energy efficiency, which means your home will not only feel more comfortable year-round, you will save on energy costs as well. (more…)

If you are a Kansas City area homeowner considering a remodel of your kitchen, bath, basement, living room, garage, or all of the above, you may wonder about the benefits of remodeling.  Most homeowners desire to update or renovate various rooms of their homes to create additional space, or simply to give the area a fresh, updated new look.  You may not realize it but there are several benefits of remodeling your home, whether you have one room renovated, add an addition, or transform your basement into a comfortable, functional living space. (more…)

Some homes in the Kansas City and Overland Park area have carports, some have garages, and some have neither.  Considering the ice and snow we’ve had this winter, a garage is a good idea for protecting one of your most costly investments – your car.  As highly regarded home addition professionals, we realize that many homeowners use their garages for far more than parking their vehicles. (more…)