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Cheers to the New Year!

Dear Friends of McBride Remodeling,

As we come to the close of 2021, I want to thank you all for your support. This was a year like no other, filled with challenges that none of us could have ever imagined. Unfortunately for many of us, these challenges often included devastating stories of sickness and loss. 

Here at McBride Remodeling, we tried to navigate the new business realities and provide the highest level of service possible. Though we didn’t always succeed, we know we did our best — and we look forward to the opportunity to do much better in 2022!

2021 was also a year filled with blessings. We’ve grown our team throughout the year and are very excited about our new hires. Together, we crafted many wonderful decks, kitchens, baths, and whole home remodels that are sure to be enjoyed this holiday season and beyond. As a bonus, we’ve had no on-the-job injuries — a great safety milestone we’ll continue into 2022.

Blessings continued outside of the job sites as well. Stratton Zervoudakis, one of our outstanding carpenters, welcomed a baby girl, Stella. And, of course, we all celebrated when the University of Michigan football team earned the chance to play in the national championship game and won!

Thank you all again for your support. Everyone here is looking forward to 2022 — McBride Remodeling’s 40th year in business!

Enjoy the holidays and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Dave McBride

home addition contractors

Why Should You Consider a Home Addition?

There are a lot of reasons why you might consider adding more space to your home. Sometimes this might be an elective choice, and in some instances, there could be some unexpected changes that can force you to find a home addition contractor. Here are some reasons why you might consider adding space to your home.

Your Family has Grown

This is one of the most common reasons why people add on to their homes. If you are considering adding to your family, or you have already welcomed another family member, sitting with a home addition contractor and discussing your space needs is a good idea. Perhaps you just need an extra bedroom for when your loved ones are visiting. There’s no need to purchase a new home to create more space. With more room in your current house, you will be able to accommodate everyone comfortably.

Working From Home

Many people are now working remotely. It can be difficult to complete any work with kids running around and trying to have fun indoors. The best solution would be to create an extra space designed for productivity. A home office will allow you to focus on your work without any distractions. Your kids can also use this space to do their homework and study when you are not using it.

Home offices are becoming quite popular. According to the 2019 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, one in 10 homeowners added or upgraded their home offices.

You Need Space for Kids to Play

If you don’t come up with a dedicated space for kids to play, they could take over the entire house. This might not seem like a bad idea until you want to relax and there’s a circus in the living room or you step barefoot on a Lego piece. To avoid this, you can add on to your home and create a playroom for your children. A playroom is a great way to keep kids away from the main living area. This would also make it possible for your kids to invite their friends over for a playdate. Your home will also stay cleaner and tidier since the toys will be confined to one space.

These are some of the reasons why you might want to meet with a home addition contractor and discuss your additional space needs. Apart from these reasons, you must also consider that adding space to your home will add value to your home.

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McBride Remodeling Presents the 2021 Dick Crawford Award

Along with building quality homes, McBride Remodeling also prides itself on helping to build a stronger community. Recently, McBride was honored to sponsor the Dick Crawford Award, presented at the 50th annual awards dinner for the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Northern Michigan. 

Dick Crawford was a trained and educated architect who helped many local builders navigate the permit process and construction details. He was a true leader in the industry, working tirelessly on local and state levels to streamline the permit and code review process as an Emmet County Building Official. 

The HBA of Northern Michigan presents the Dick Crawford Award to a builder, associate, or affiliate member in recognition of extraordinary dedication of time and talent in service to the community. Dedicated to supporting service activities, this association has made great strides toward making an impact at local, state, and national levels. This year, the Dick Crawford Award was presented to the Harbor Brenn Insurance Agency. Lee Holbrook, pictured here with Dave McBride, accepted the award on behalf of the company. 

Recognizing those who make a difference in the community is important in encouraging more people and organizations to give back. Together, we can all make a significant impact in our world to make it a better place. Relentless work ethic is hard to find and does not go unnoticed. Thank you, Harbor Brenn, for going above and beyond for the HBA of Northern Michigan. 

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Building Lives: In Memory of Mike

McBride Remodeling team members may start as employees, but they quickly become family. We pride ourselves on hiring fantastic people and providing them great growth opportunities, so they stay with us for the long term. After all, we like to say we build more than houses — we build lives. 

This was certainly true for McBride’s first official employee, a loyal and talented lead carpenter named Mike Stolt. Mike retired in 2007 after twenty-two years with us. We celebrated his decades with us at Julienne Tomatoes — a wonderful local Petoskey restaurant. Mike was presented with a set of golf clubs to enjoy during his much-deserved free time. Dave McBride, his brother Jim, and Mike made use of the new clubs right away at a golf outing shortly after. 

On October 15th, the McBride team donated and planted an apple tree in Mike’s honor. The tree was planted at the Stolt family farm with help from Richard Hoffman Landscaping. Pictured below is Dave McBride with Mike’s daughter, Brenda. 

It was a beautiful day, and we’re so happy to have paid tribute to Mike in this way. As one of our founding employees, we owe much of our early and ongoing success to him. 

This memorial was an important time to pause, reflect, and have gratitude for all the wonderful people who helped get us to where we are today. We’ve created so many bonds through the years. We spend time getting to know each of the clients who trust us with their home, and we’re happy to say that many have become true friends. Our team members go above and beyond because they’re not just putting in a day’s work — they know they’re part of our greater mission of changing lives by improving spaces. 

Thank you for being part of the McBride family. 

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Cheetos Club: Building Kindness in Petoskey

At McBride Remodeling, we don’t just build quality homes; we also help build strong communities. Our passion for supporting civic and charitable organizations is part of our core values of professionalism, relationship management, integrity, dedication, and excellence. One of our recent contributions was to Petoskey High School’s Cheetos Club — a group of students who carry out acts of kindness to fulfill their mission of “Planning to be Kind.” 

About Petoskey’s Cheetos Club

The Cheetos Club began in 2018 after Petoskey High School student Spencer Tibbits tragically passed away on his seventeenth birthday. Spencer was especially kind and caring and always looked for ways to help his fellow students going through challenging times. Spencer was known for giving a bag of Cheetos to anyone who seemed down, saying, “Nobody can be sad while eating Cheetos.” This became the inspiration for the Cheetos Club and all the acts of kindness done in Spencer’s honor. The group focuses on initiatives that make people smile, such as birthday bags, locker love, kindness kits, new student tours, teacher treats, and more.

Be Kind Bumper Stickers

As the Cheetos Club continues to grow, so does its impact on the community. When Dave McBride learned of it, he knew he wanted to support the organization so it could continue to create positive change. McBride Remodeling’s donation helped purchase Be Kind bumper stickers, which were distributed to community members by Petoskey Interfaith Common Ground. All the team members at McBride Remodeling proudly display these bumper stickers on our vehicles — a gentle reminder of the great need for compassion in our lives and the rippling effect of kindness. 

The Cheetos Club is making a big difference in the lives of Petoskey youth. With more support, its effects can reach even further. Interested in donating to this great cause? Click here to learn more about Cheetos Club and make a donation. 

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How to Design a Kitchen Perfect for Entertaining

There’s a reason people consider the kitchen to be the most important room in the house. It becomes the centerpiece for family gatherings, entertaining, and cooking delicious meals for everyone. If you love home entertaining, then we have some kitchen remodeling ideas that will impress your guests.

Incorporate Extra Seating

If you’re entertaining, the first port of call is to ensure everyone has a comfortable place to sit. This isn’t a problem if your kitchen is spacious. Adding a kitchen island is the best way to provide seating for guests in your kitchen.

Depending on the size of your kitchen, you can even add two islands, so you have enough counter space for entertaining guests while also preparing food. A kitchen island can also double as a bar area where everyone can gather around for some drinks, snacks, and great conversation.

Small kitchen? There are still many clever ways to incorporate adequate seating. Why not install a bench in your kitchen instead of individual chairs that take up more space?

Consider an Open Plan Design

If your kitchen is closed off from your dining area and living room, consider knocking off a wall to create an open plan design. That way, you will be able to extend the entertainment area. With this type of layout, you can still interact with your guests when prepping. Setting up the food and drinks is also easier without a wall in the way.

Add Extra Storage

When entertaining, you don’t want your home and kitchen to feel crowded. Fortunately, you can avoid this problem by ensuring you have ample storage space. A kitchen remodel can provide you with enough storage space to keep your counters neat and tidy. This also prevents accidents that may result when people bump into cooking equipment and other kitchenware.

Install the Right Type of Lighting

Lighting can really set the mood for any occasion. To create a comfortable and relaxing environment when entertaining, avoid harsh lighting that’s too bright. Instead, opt for soft and layered lighting that makes your guests feel welcome and relaxed.

Kitchen remodeling offers many benefits. Besides helping you be a great and welcoming host, you also boost the value of your home. According to the National Association of the Remodelling Industry and the National Association of Realtors, full kitchen remodeling enables you to recoup nearly 60% of the cost.

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Signs it’s Time To Remodel Your Kitchen

Kitchens are the centerpiece of any home, where you can share family memories and good times. It’s where everyone ends up at one point or another, so it makes sense that you would want it to be functional, bright, and inviting. So how do you know it’s time to remodel? Here are a few signs to watch out for.

1. Your Cabinets Are Old and Outdated

Old kitchen cabinets are drab and boring, and they detract from the rest of your decor. This is a great place to start when you’re thinking about remodeling. New cabinets will go a long way in making your kitchen more attractive while adding extra storage space.

2. Your Countertops Are Worn Out

If you have an old laminate countertop, this is also a good time to think about renovation. Laminate is affordable but not necessarily attractive or durable. For a simple kitchen remodel, new countertops are quick and easy to install. Get some ideas of your own by searching online or visiting showrooms where you can see samples of different types.

3. Your Cabinets Are Too Small

If you’ve got cabinets that are too small, it’s time to do some thinking about your kitchen layout. You can continue to use them, but they won’t be functional because you won’t be able to store much inside them. If you’re looking for a simple renovation, replacing old cabinets with newer ones is a great idea.

4. Your Kitchen Flooring Is Worn Out

If you’ve got ugly and worn flooring, it’s time to think about getting new flooring installed. You can choose from many different types of flooring, so take some time doing your research. For a simple kitchen redo, tile flooring is affordable and easy to install. There are many different colors to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that will work for your home.

5. Your Sink Is Corroded

If your sink looks dirty and rusty, it’s time to think about getting it replaced. This is a simple renovation that will make your kitchen look cleaner and brighter. And it doesn’t cost much to do either.

6. Your Paint Is Faded and Chipped

If your kitchen paint is faded or chipped, it’s time to have a professional come in and fix this. Blue in kitchen walls is a new trend, with 7% of remodeled kitchens employing it (up from 5% in 2019), according to a U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. This can add a touch of sophistication to your home.

Kitchen renovations are a great way to make your kitchen look better and bring in more style, function, and value. However, for you to enjoy all these benefits, you’ll need to hire the right kitchen remodeling contractor for the job.

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McBride Remodeling Named Top Remodeler

How can you be sure you’re hiring a top-quality remodeling team for your home improvement project? One way to know for certain is if they’ve been acknowledged by Qualified Remodeler — the country’s premier publication serving builders and remodeling specialists. This year, McBride Remodeling has once again made Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list, as well as earning a Top 100 Satisfaction Leader Award. But what does this mean, exactly?

Recognizing Trusted Remodelers

For the last forty-three years, Qualified Remodeler has been ranking the nation’s largest firms based on remodeling revenue. Companies on this list are the top-performing remodelers in the US.  

Top Satisfaction Leaders are selected based on data gathered by GuildQuality — a customer service surveyor used by remodeling professionals to interview their clients about their remodeling experiences. McBride Remodeling has consistently achieved high customer satisfaction ratings, with 100% of surveyed homeowners reporting they would recommend McBride Remodeling to a friend. 

What This Means for Homeowners

Such high ratings are a significant achievement, especially during this time of supply and labor shortages, delays, and increases in material costs. McBride Remodeling has overcome these challenges and kept clients happy by communicating weekly through our BuilderTrend software throughout construction, remaining transparent with timelines and budgets, and being clear about expectations from the very beginning.  

Our achievements with Qualified Remodeler are evidence that we are not only Northern Michigan’s go-to remodeling firm but that our past clients have had great experiences with a process that can be especially stressful. 

If you’re searching for an award-winning design-build firm notorious for quality craftsmanship that is on-time, on-budget, and has hundreds of satisfied customers, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us today for your next Petoskey-area renovation.To learn more about Qualified Remodeler’s awards, visit www.qualifiedremodeler.com

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Unique Ideas for Transforming Your Basement

Home remodeling is popular. However, when considering a whole home remodel, there may be some rooms that you want to change more than others. Basement remodels are one such improvement, and many homeowners are looking into updating their finished basements to make them more unique and inviting.

If you are considering a whole home remodel, here are some ideas to keep in mind when it comes to updating your basement.

1. Turn It Into an Office

With more and more people working from home, creating your own office space can be essential. It can also make workdays easier. A finished basement is a perfect area to create an office in as it is both quieter and more separate from the rest of the house.

If you’re planning on working from home for the foreseeable future, this is definitely something to keep in mind.

2. Create a Playroom

If you have young kids, the basement can be a perfect place for them to play and be loud without disturbing the rest of the house. Kids love having their own “secret” place away from everyone else too.

If you have older kids, the basement can be remodeled into a great hangout spot where teens can watch TV, play games, and (maybe) do homework. This also benefits you as you’ll always know what your teen is up to because your basement will be the best hangout spot in town.

3. Set Up a Private Theater

Basements make great theaters due to their lack of light and soundproofing. By installing a large projector screen, and some comfortable chairs — or even a modular couch — you can create the most comfortable movie-watching experience possible. You can even install a mini bar in the back where you can serve up treats and popcorn before the movie begins.

These are just three of many possibilities that you can consider when it comes time to update your basement. While it may not be the first room on your whole home remodeling to-do list, it can be the one that you fall in love with the most.

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Fun & Inviting Garage Guest Suite

What do you do when you love to have overnight guests at your home but don’t have the square footage to provide them the space and privacy they need? For these Indian River homeowners, the answer was to convert their garage to a fantastic suite where visitors, especially their beloved grandchildren, could stay comfortably.   

After hiring us in the past to remodel their cottage, these homeowners knew that McBride Remodeling was the right team for the job. They sat down with our talented in-house designer Paul Drayer to help them bring their vision to life, and it turned out to be everything they hoped for and more. 

Privacy & Convenience

We added an exterior door to grant entrance into the living space and to make it feel more separate from the garage. Matching exteriors help the space feel connected to the main cottage and give it a warm, home-like appeal. 

While some homeowners choose to completely convert their garage to a guest suite, this family decided to craft the best of both worlds. Though the spaces are distinct, there is still space for one vehicle inside — making this space especially functional and convenient. 

Charming Kitchen & Living Area

The charming kitchenette has everything guests might need for a midnight snack or a refreshing drink, including a beverage fridge, sink, microwave, and storage space. A pair of bar stools tucked under the counter provide the perfect place to eat, play cards, or wait for the popcorn to finish in the microwave. 

In the living area, natural light from the corner windows makes the space feel bright and comfortable. Guests have multiple seating options, and there’s even room for a TV to watch their favorite movies or shows. 

Lovely Loft

What child doesn’t appreciate a fort-like loft area to spend the night? This space-saving ladder provides a fun way to access the loft without a large footprint. Once overnight guests climb up, they’re greeted by a beautiful space with rainbow-colored beds, a picturesque view of the lake, and plenty of room to play.

This tailor-made garage space is a treasured family retreat that offers the right balance of closeness and privacy. It will be a gathering place where special memories are made for many years to come.  

Thinking of adding a guest or in-law suite to your Petoskey home? Contact Us today and have it ready by spring!