You must first hire a contractor when doing a new home project, buying home design plans, or changing materials for a renovation. DIY is great for small projects like painting, but for much more than that, you will need a licensed professional to hire, trust and do the work for you. This relationship is crucial…
If you’re preparing for a renovation and need new cabinetry, it’s worth taking time to understand how cabinets are built, priced, and installed. Cabinetry has many moving parts—literally—and knowing the differences between box-store cabinets, cabinet shops, and semi-custom options can help you make the right decision for your space, budget, and long-term needs. Start with…
How do you best communicate with your builder to make your relationship productive over the course of your home project? Below are a few tips to keep everyone on the same path moving forward. They are, in my experience, necessary to the completion of a great project. One of the primary purposes of creating Amy…
I get it; it’s intimidating thinking about starting a construction project. Some clients will push back their projects for many years due to the impending hurdles. Others move forward headstrong and hit financial and logistical barriers; some give up and buy a spec house. With Amy Dutton Unfold, we are bringing the concept that you…
Being an educated consumer is the most power you can give yourself when purchasing house plans online. To help guide you, here’s what you should be looking for before you click “buy.” Why I Don’t Redraw Online House Plans People often reach out asking if I can draw up architectural house plans from a screenshot…
When planning a home project, one of the most common hurdles homeowners face is zoning compliance. You may envision adding a new room, expanding your footprint, or building closer to the property line—only to find that your plans fall outside the city’s zoning rules. That’s where a variance comes in. A variance is essentially permission…