New home construction and remodels are some of the biggest and most intensive projects homeowners undertake. Construction and remodeling trends change rapidly, and now that 2020 has kicked off a new decade, people are looking to update their homes now more than ever. Today’s homes look nothing like they did 20 years ago.
Gaines Group Architects participated in the survey as one of the most prominent experts in the Home Construction Industry in 2020. Fixr also asked other experts to weigh in on what they think the latest trends in home construction and remodeling are. Their insights can help homeowners and designers alike to strike balance in their home designs and stay ahead of the curve for the years to come.
Some of the key findings include:
Open floor plan and two story homes represent the most popular layouts
Smart homes rank first among the most popular design choices
Most homeowners make accessibility modifications to their home for future personal use
Low energy homes are among the top designs for green construction
Outdoor kitchens are the most popular outdoor living addition to a home
Married couples with children are most likely to both build and invest in outdoor living spaces
Contemporary and modern will be the most common styles used in modular construction
Tight building envelopes will be the most common way to prevent energy transfer on home exteriors
The results were compiled based on 51 subject matter experts’ responses to a series of multiple choice and open-ended questions. To help you better understand the data, our team has organized the answers and edited them for clarity.
Each of the survey participants was selected based on their standing in the home construction industry, their previous professional achievements, their social media reach and influence, and prior industry awards and recognition. The experts all appear on Fixr’s 2020 Home Construction Expert List, and they represent a wide range of expertise in the industry, including construction, design, manufacturing, and publishing.
Gaines Group Architects is a small firm with a big idea – design can build a better community, enhance livability, reduce construction and operation costs, and protect our environment. Design matters. We work hard to understand the best practices in the industry so we can provide our clients with functional, affordable, and beautiful design solutions. We do this through a focus on quality, value, building science, and timeless beauty. Gaines Group Architects is located in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Virginia. We serve a wide range of clients from custom homes, renovations, additions, commercial, retail, industrial, ecclesiastical, and non-profits.
Mission statement: Through design we want to build a stronger more vibrant community. We want to design solutions that make positive changes for everyone in our community.
Why we do it: Because we want a better future for our clients, community, and world.
About Fixr:
Fixr is a home improvement resource with the mission of helping consumers make the best remodeling decisions. Fixr provides unbiased, thorough and updated cost guides, price comparisons, and cheat sheets for hundreds of remodeling, installation, and repair projects. When the homeowner is equipped with the necessary knowledge, Fixr helps connect homeowners with the best matching pros in their area to begin their home improvement projects.
For further information about the report: press@fixr.com
To contact Gaines Group Architects: charles (at) thegainesgroup.com
Charles Hendricks was named a top home construction expert in 2020. This is the fourth year in a row that Mr. Hendricks has been included on this list.
The annual Top 200 Home Construction Experts, presented by Fixr, is a prestigious list that recognizes excellence and innovation in the home remodeling and construction industry. Fixr employs a rigorous methodology to assemble this exclusive compilation of industry visionaries, based on innovation, expertise and influence in the industry. Fixr’s methodology analyzes each expert’s social media and online presence, awards and recognition received, and overall industry contributions.
The list includes home remodeling and construction experts in construction, architecture, publishing, and other related fields. “Inclusion in this list is a testament to the professional achievements of each expert,” said Yuka Kato, industry analyst at Fixr. In an industry constantly evolving based on environmental concerns, new smart home technologies, an aging population, and many other outside influences, “these experts have specialized and stayed relevant, and their efforts and accomplishments deserve recognition.”
By earning a spot on this list, Fixr confirms that Charles Hendricks has shown creativity and exceptional prowess in the home remodeling and construction industry, and Charles Hendricks’s professional efforts have advanced the field and shaped industry trends going forward into 2020.
About Fixr
Fixr is a home improvement resource with the mission of helping consumers make the best remodeling decisions. Fixr provides unbiased, thorough and updated cost guides, price comparisons, and cheat sheets for hundreds of remodeling, installation, and repair projects. When the homeowner is equipped with the necessary knowledge, Fixr helps connect homeowners with the best matches in their area to begin their home improvement projects.
For the complete list of the Top 200 Home Construction Experts, visit fixr.com.
Blogging and Social Media use for the Construction Industry is an interesting topic for me that continues to evolve in how I see it. Social Media in our industry is brand new to some even today, a waste of time to others, and old hat to many. I used to do presentations on how to do social media in our industry years ago to help builders create an online brand. I was thinking about how I use Social Media this week a few different ways. What is Social Media etiquette? What blogs do I need to write? How personal should I be on my blog that has been in existence for 10 years – can I change direction on content? Am I adding to the noise in life or adding value with my blog and monthly newsletter?
Earlier this week at our Rotary meeting someone mentioned in passing that they followed me on Twitter. They were required to start an account for their job and don’t really use it, but followed me since they know me. He also mentioned that he was impressed that I have so many followers. It was an interesting comment since I don’t have many followers on Twitter compared to many that I follow. When I started my Twitter account ten years ago it was a lonely place – not many locals had heard of it or were using it. I basically used it to read the morning news subscribing to specific sources for the stories I wanted to hear. It was a way to filter information for me. Deb Van Horn and I used to have Tweet-Ups locally where we would invite the dozen or so local people we knew on the platform to lunch through the platform. It was a fun way to get to know people that we had only met virtually in some cases. Ten years ago Twitter was for me a calm place with the ability to create groups and build relationships. Now it seems there is simply too much information there to ever feel caught up leaving me not to use it as often or as much. Twitter’s growth locally reduced the usefulness for me somehow.
Facebook for me started as a way to connect to friends from the past. I eventually started a business page and now manage a couple of non-profit pages as well. The platform continues to change the way information is shown reducing the free views for businesses. It is a struggle for me to keep the pages all fresh with interesting content knowing that FB is throttling the views because I am not paying to “boost” them. However, it seems you must have a Facebook account as much as you need to have a website to be in business.
The amount of information that is available through blogs and social media can be or IS overwhelming. How you use those pages to benefit your business continues to evolve. For me there are questions that need to be asked on a regular basis to understand your audience and stay relevant. Where do you look for trusted and manageable amounts of information in the Construction Industry? How can you digest and share the right amount of information to stay relevant? How much should you share from your experience?
I have been doing online marketing for 10 years now. I have worked hard to stay authentic, build trust, and to stay relevant. My blog posts range from projects to building science to personal life stories. I have built a brand that people recognize in our community. I have readers and supporters of my work across the country. It is gratifying to see the work pay off. However, I continue to wonder how to improve. What should I write about next? How can I get better? Is there a better way of doing this online work? Am I being a good citizen online, in the construction industry?
Mark your calendar for Valley Business Keynote – July 18, 2017 – JMU’s Forbes Theater #VBKengage
ValleyBusinessKeynote facilitates engaging ideas for local leaders to help them fulfill the Valley‘s vast potential by bringing excellent speakers to our area.
The premier leadership event in the Valley returns to Harrisonburg on July 18, 2017. Valley Business Keynote is a must attend event. VBK inspires business leaders in the valley from Lexington to Winchester. Steve Rizzo, a former professional comedian and an executive coach will speak about the importance of quality of life for a healthy local economy. Steve is a self-proclaimed “attitude adjuster.” Most of all He provides common sense strategies to harness the power of your “humor being” to make the most out of every day. Steve is a hall of fame comedian turned motivational speaker. In conclusion, you will come away from this keynote with a fire in your belly for making life more enjoyable and productive.
VBK organizer Andy Vanhook states “I think Steve brings a message that is important to everyone in the valley. It can tie us all together. There is a lot going on in our world that could pull us apart and divide us. Steve’s humor is one of those things that brings us together and builds community.”
Jennifer Owen-O’Quill will kick off #VBKengage this year. She will help local business leaders understand how to leverage change and conflict to deliver constructive results. Hence, this power packed duo will inspire, challenge, and invigorate you.
VBK organizer Cari Orebaugh states “Jennifer is a great fit for VBK. She speaks to how we are trying to help business leaders in the valley find ways to thrive.”
Finally tickets this year are $25 and sponsorship opportunities are available. Just go to valleybusinesskeynote.com for more information.
Canstruction is an international charity competition where architects, engineers, contractors, and students they mentor, compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food. At the close of the competition all of the food is donated to local food banks where the competitions are held.
For a preview of what you will find at the SVBA Home and Living Expo, Blue Ridge Architects have created their structure in advance at the Harrisonburg Municipal building. Stop by and see the chick emerging from an egg.
Plan to stop by both the municipal building and the Home and Living Expo to see these creations and don’t foget to bring your own food donation. There is a huge need in our community where there are families that are going hungry. This local food bank serves an average of 114,400 people per month. Last year they distributed 24.6 million pounds or 20.5 million meals.
This contemporary cottage, designed by Ray Gaines in the Charlottesville office, features bold colors, careful details, beautiful tile, classic hardwoods, large screen porch, and lots of natural light. The clerestory windows and vaulted ceiling provide beautiful gathering spaces inside with connection to the outside. The large basement offers plenty of storage and expansion for the future. The railing detail creates interesting shadow lines while maintaining an open view.
Read about another cottage by the Gaines Group here.
This contemporary cottage, designed by Ray Gaines in the Charlottesville office, features bold colors, careful details, beautiful tile, classic hardwoods, large screen porch, and lots of natural light. The clerestory windows and vaulted ceiling provide beautiful gathering spaces inside with connection to the outside. The large basement offers plenty of storage and expansion for the future. The railing detail creates interesting shadow lines while maintaining an open view.