NEW YORK (AP) The Home Depot Inc. said Monday that it has closed its $94.9 million acquisition of U.S. Home Systems Inc., which makes kitchen cabinet refacing products and bathroom cabinets.

The deal was approved by U.S. Home Systems stockholders at a special meeting Friday.

Atlanta-based Home Depot said in August it would pay $12.50 per share in case for the Irving, Texas, manufacturer. U.S. Home Systems had about 7.6 million shares outstanding as of March 31. The offer was a 38 percent premium over its closing share price of $9.06 the day before the deal was made public.

U.S. Home Systems currently exclusively provides The Home Depot with kitchen cabinet and bath refacing products and services, as well as products for organizing closets and garages. With the closing, the company became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot.

The new unit has more than 1,000 employees and more than 40 branch offices. The company manufactures its own cabinet refacing products and bathroom cabinetry. It currently exclusively provides The Home Depot with kitchen cabinet and bath refacing products and services, as well as products for organizing closets and garages.

U.S. Home Systems shares were delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market with the closing.

Home Depot shares closed Friday at $60.04, up about 43 percent since the start of the year.

Stocks were not trading Monday because the stock exchanges were closed because of Hurricane Sandy.

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Home Depot closes $94.9M US Home Systems purchase

LA CROSSE, WI--(Marketwire - Oct 16, 2012) - The recent recession took a toll on pocketbooks and zapped small business bank lending, but it didn't diminish America's entrepreneurial spirit.

About 9.5 million Americans are self-employed according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the non-profit Kauffman Foundation reported last year that the startup rate is at its highest level in 15 years.

So how are people getting started? By embracing low-investment opportunities offered by home-based franchises like Kitchen Solvers.

When most people think of franchising, they think of gigantic brands like McDonald's that cost $1 million or more to open. But you don't need to be sitting on a fat wad of cash to start a successful franchise business.

Kitchen Solvers, for instance, has start-up costs as low as $52,535 for a home-based operation, and that includes all of your training, business software, initial supplies and franchise fees. Thanks to financing, many franchise owners are able to start a Kitchen Solvers business with as little as $30,000 cash on hand.

Why the timing is perfect for kitchen cabinet refacing

Kitchen Solvers is a kitchen remodeling business that specializes in cabinet refacing -- a process that saves customers money by refinishing old cabinets and replacing only worn-out or outdated components. The end result looks every bit as good as a full remodel, but usually costs a fraction of the price.

That's a message that resonates in the aftermath of the Great Recession, which has convinced Americans to put a greater emphasis on value, even as they tackle remodeling projects in growing numbers.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University projects remodeling activity to increase by 5.9 percent through 2012 and reach a 12.2 percent growth rate by early 2013.

Several trends are causing the boom: Homeowners are finally tackling projects they delayed during the recession; buyers who snap up foreclosures are setting aside money for immediate remodeling needs; and Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age.

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Home-Based Franchises Like Kitchen Solvers on the Rise

ORLANDO, FL--(Marketwire -08/15/12)- After two decades in the Navy, Evette Soto of Orlando is trying to achieve her dream of business ownership. She has the business picked out: Kitchen Solvers, a kitchen cabinet refacing and kitchen remodeling franchise. She has an interior design degree. She just needs startup capital.

So she's trying to raise $50,000 through an Orlando-based company, Sprigster, that uses crowdfunding to help veterans finance franchises. Sprigster's "Boost a Hero" program works like a Kickstarter campaign: Veterans post videos explaining their backgrounds and their business goals. For 90 days, people can donate as much as they want or as little as $1. You can find a link to Soto's video at http://bit.ly/NA9mh3.

Sprigster CEO Mark Mohler says "Boost a Hero" addresses a huge problem: veteran unemployment. Of the veterans who have served since 2001, 12.1 percent were unemployed in May -- compared to the overall U.S. rate of 8.3 percent.

"Veterans' skill sets often don't translate well onto rsums," Mohler said. "When we looked at ways to help vets, we found that franchisors understand the value of veterans and their systems-based training. We also focused on franchise financing because, since they're FTC-regulated, we don't have to worry about veterans being targeted by bad business schemes."

Soto found out about Kitchen Solvers and "Boost a Hero" while researching financing for veterans. She also discovered that Kitchen Solvers discounts franchise fees for veterans as part of the International Franchise Association's VetFran program.

Soto served from 1983 to 2003. As a former real estate agent, she knows that kitchen remodels are popular and that homeowners benefit from having an expert to guide them.

"I'm excited to start my Kitchen Solvers franchise," Soto said. "I'm asking people to pledge a dollar, and share my video with friends."

Kitchen Solvers President Gerry Henley said he and his company are happy to be part of the "Boost a Hero" program.

"I've seen people buy lunch for troops to say, 'Thank you,'" Henley said. "This is another way that Americans can thank their troops -- and help them for a lifetime."

To learn more, visit http://www.KitchenSolversFranchise.com.

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Orlando Veteran Hopes Donors Will 'Boost a Hero,' Help Her Buy a Kitchen Solvers Franchise

(PRWEB) July 27, 2012

The company is seeking remodeling contractors or finish carpenters who are interested in becoming certified Refacing & More contractors. "The home construction and remodeling sectors have been hit hard during the recession and many skilled workers haven't been able to stay busy with the same work they've always done," suggests Scott Korsten, Showplace director of marketing. "A good trim carpenter can quickly and easily learn refacing as an additional skill, providing another source of income in a field that is familiar."

Refacing & More was developed by Showplace to address the increasing demand by homeowners for cabinet refacing, while also providing new business opportunities to small remodeling contractors throughout the country. Refacing & More is an entry point into the family of Showplace quality and selection, specially tailored for independent refacing contractors. Refacing products from Showplace are of the same quality in every way, and are manufactured right along with other Showplace products.

Refacing & More is much like a franchise, but without the fees or royalties adds Jon Bour director of refacing sales and development at Showplace. Showplace supports participating contractors with things like training, bid and labor estimation programs and marketing support, allowing them to expand their business opportunities in a tough housing market.

What makes the Refacing & More process from Showplace different from that of other refacing providers is that, while certified contractors update the look of their clients existing cabinetry, homeowners also have the creative freedom to add entirely new elements, using top-quality Showplace components, that simply werent necessary or available when their existing kitchen was first designed a blending of new and refaced cabinetry.

According to Bour, things like custom hoods or islands can be easily integrated into the project using products that are visually the same as the refaced cabinetry. Once a project is completed, youd be hard pressed to tell which cabinets are new and which were refaced, he said.

With Refacing & More, homeowners are able to keep their existing structurally-sound cabinets, while transforming them with a fresh, new face using the styles, wood species, and finishes that are popular today.

Refacing can typically be completed in two or three days, which makes it an ideal solution for homeowners happy with their existing kitchen or bath layout and simply looking for a quick make-over with little disruption to their home life.

For many traditional kitchen and bath dealers, refacing is unknown territory and may be someplace that theyd rather not go. Its understandable that many highly-trained and creative designers at these dealerships prefer starting with a blank sheet and creating completely new living space for their clients. But theres also a market for cabinet refacing that has been a force in remodeling for some time and has strong appeal to increasingly cost-conscious homeowners.

Independent contractors interested in more information on becoming a certified Refacing & More contractor are encouraged to contact Jon Bour at info@RefacingAndMore.com or 1.877.581.1413.

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Cabinet Leader Showplace Wood Products Creates New Business Opportunity for Remodeling Contractors - Cabinet Refacing ...

NAZARETH, Pa., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Kitchen Magic, the Northeast's largest kitchen cabinet refacing and remodeling company was a co-sponsor of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Committee's business luncheon on May 15, 2012.

The LVEDC luncheon was held at the Bethlehem Hotel in Bethlehem, PA, in celebration of the Lehigh Valley's enthusiasm toward corporate expansion and economic growth. The LVEDC event gathered about 290 people, and featured speeches from Governor Tom Corbett and Chris Martin IV, the chairman & CEO of Martin Guitar. While Governor Corbett focused on the economic future for businesses in the Lehigh Valley area and the state of Pennsylvania, Chris Martin Guitar reminisced about the first and third generations of his company.

"Kitchen Magic is very grateful for the help we received from the LVEDC in moving back into the Lehigh Valley," commented Brett Bacho, President of Kitchen Magic. "We were happy to show our support by co-sponsoring this luncheon. It was a great event," he added.

The event was held in honor of both the 50th anniversary of Lehigh Economic Advancement Project, Inc. and Northampton County Economic New Jobs Corporation. The two groups, now part of the LVEDC team, began in the 1960s and have been focused on attracting economic development to the area. They were credited for starting efforts to diversify the region's economy well before the LVEDC was founded in 1995.

The mission to empower the economic standing of the Lehigh Valley through support of business and entrepreneurship has continued since the projects were set in motion.

Kitchen Magic was founded in Allentown Pennsylvania in 1979 by Jost and Reine Fleck.

Kitchen Magic has spread its services to reach beyond the Lehigh Valley and now serves seven Northeastern states: NJ, PA, NY, CT, MA, NH, DE & RI. After several years headquartered in New Jersey, in May of 2010 Kitchen Magic returned to its roots in the Lehigh Valley when they moved into their new factory and headquarters in Nazareth, PA.

A leader in kitchen remodeling, Kitchen Magic offers custom refacing, handcrafted cabinetry and luxury countertops. Today Kitchen Magic continues to be family owned and operated, now in the second generation. The 'Kitchen Magic family' is comprised of over two hundred employees.

For further information, visit http://www.kitchenmagic.com or call 1-800-237-0799.

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Kitchen Magic Sponsors LVED Business Luncheon

Hui Anne and Stephen's basement is a multifunctional space that does triple duty as office, TV room and playroom. Their family room is spacious, but it had way too much going on, and none of it was working. When you walked in, you just didn't know where to look there were distractions everywhere. The room had become a repository for old, mismatched furniture and storage boxes. But the space had huge potential, and I focused on creating a stylish yet hardworking room, perfect for this young family.

First, I focused on the bulky, broken fireplace. Transforming this eyesore into an eye-catching focal point was as easy as expanding the width and refacing it with gorgeous, 12- by 24-inch natural stone in "wooden beige" color. We popped in a sleek gas insert and flanked the fireplace wall with playful wooden tiles made of oversized jigsaw-puzzle pieces. The black-onyx puzzle pieces provide the perfect backdrop for the fireplace wall, giving it dimension and subtle pattern, and attracting the attention it deserves.

Beside the fireplace we positioned a big-screen TV on a funky high-gloss gray media cabinet. To provide loads of comfy seating, I selected the mother of all sectionals a mammoth charcoal three-piece sofa that will stand up to the kids while offering space for the adults to entertain downstairs after hours. Wall-to-wall rich espresso-brown carpeting is soft underfoot and grounds the space, while a creamy area rug positioned under the seating area really sets off the sectional. A couple of funky white stools and a two-piece solid wooden coffee table complete the furnishings in the lounge area of the family room.

When they're not relaxing on the comfy sofa, Hui Anne and Stephen can get to work at the other end of the room. A stylish salvaged wooden desk was given new life with some walnut stain, and we installed the same high-gloss gray cabinetry on both sides of the desk, as well as beside the fireplace, to provide plenty of storage and surfaces to display fun accessories and artwork. The entire wall behind the desk is made from a magnetic dry-erase board, making it the one wall the kids are actually encouraged to write on.

To light up this basement family room, we removed the old acoustic-tile ceiling and installed recessed pot lighting. We selected wonderful new ceiling tiles styled to look like white wooden planks, and the effect is marvelous. The new lighting changes the whole mood of the space, and we accented with task lighting at the desk and with lamps on either side of the sofa.

Maximizing the illusion of height at the small windows, we hung floor-length draperies and custom graphic printed shades that truly create the feeling of larger windows and instantly banish that below-ground basement feeling.

Finally, to finish off the wall behind the sectional and give it a personal touch, we selected several different salvaged frames some painted and some raw wood and hung them on the wall empty. Then, we positioned conversation pieces inside the frames we selected large old white keys, an antique bicycle horn and some of the kids' artwork. But you can try this idea at home with any kind of eclectic filler. Have fun and let your imagination run wild.

The basement had huge potential, but it was a diamond in the rough. The broken fireplace was a problem, and the room lacked focus and a focal point. We transformed the fireplace into the centerpiece of the room, and created a stylish and inviting lounge area with lots of seating for family and friends. The couple also has a working office space now, with tons of storage and some fun touches like the whiteboard wall.

Best of all, we banished the basement blues with floor-to-ceiling window treatments that give the illusion of larger windows, and installed more-inviting lighting fixtures that complement the room's funky yet functional style.

Now, all we need to add is the family to make this room really come alive.

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Fireplace becomes an eye-catching focal point for family room

There is no perfect house. No matter how hard you look or how many homes your real estate agent shows you, getting everything you want when buying a home -- and getting it in perfect condition -- is impossible.

Even new homes will have a feature or two you may not like and will want to change.

If you've ever toured homes for sale, or watched hard-to-please homebuyers on HGTV's "House Hunters," you know there are always kitchen cabinets that are outdated, pink walls to be repainted or bathroom wallpaper that looks like it is 100 years old.

After shopping around for the lowest mortgage rates, you don't want to walk away from a house you like because it needs a few minor repairs, real estate experts say. The repair's price should be factored into what you're paying for the home, and mortgage lenders can help you pull money out of a home sale. For example, sellers may contribute to the repair bills, and some mortgages, like an FHA 203(k) loan, factor repair costs into the overall loan amount.

Sep Niakan, a real estate broker in Miami, says he's had clients walk away from homes because they can't see past minor flaws.

"Many buyers want to see an end product. They don't have a vision for what it could be with just a couple of tweaks," Niakan says.

So before you decide to cross a house off your list, here eight minor home flaws that shouldn't deter you from buying a home:

No. 1: Unappealing paint. This is one of the easiest and cheapest fixes, especially if you do it yourself. Don't let someone's poor taste in paint colors convince you not to buy. Most buyers who Niakan has worked with would rather pay a premium for a house that doesn't need fixes than take the time and money to do the repairs themselves. That's true even when the changes will cost less than a "perfect" house, he says. Even buyers of premium homes that don't need many changes still alter the home after they move in, Niakan says, and painting is often the first change.

"It's very, very rare for a buyer to buy a house and not personalize it in some way," he says.

Read: Go green when renovating: Choose deconstruction over demolition

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Homebuyers: It's OK to overlook these 8 flaws

DALLAS, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (USHS) today announced that Murray Gross, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in the Benchmark Company, LLC One-on One Investor Conference on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at The Pfister Hotel, 424 East Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. The conference has a one-on-one format for meetings arranged by Benchmark with investors. Investors planning to attend the conference should contact their Benchmark representative to arrange a meeting.

About The Benchmark Company, LLCHeadquartered in New York City, The Benchmark Company, LLC is an institutional brokerage firm with a strong sales/trading presence in addition to its rapidly expanding research and investment banking arms.

About U.S. Home Systems, Inc.U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (www.ushomesystems.com) manufactures or procures, designs, sells and installs custom quality specialty home improvement products. The Company's product lines include kitchen cabinet refacing products utilized in kitchen remodeling, bathroom tub liners and wall surround products utilized in bathroom remodeling, and storage organization systems for closets and garages. The Company manufactures its own cabinet refacing products and bathroom cabinetry.

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U.S. Home Systems to Participate in 3rd Annual Benchmark Company Investor Conference on May 31, 2012

Reprinted with permission from Cecilia Paredes

Even new homes will have a feature or two you may not like and will want to change.

If you've ever toured homes for sale, or watched hard-to-please homebuyers on HGTV's "House Hunters," you know there are always kitchen cabinets that are outdated, pink walls to be repainted or bathroom wallpaper that looks like it is 100 years old.

After shopping around for the lowestmortgage rates, you don't want to walk away from a house you like because it needs a few minor repairs, real estate experts say. The repair's price should be factored into what you're paying for the home, and mortgage lenders can help you pull money out of a home sale. For example, sellers may contribute to the repair bills, and some mortgages, like anFHA 203(k) loan, factor repair costs into the overall loan amount.

Sep Niakan, a real estate broker in Miami, says he's had clients walk away from homes because they can't see past minor flaws.

"Many buyers want to see an end product. They don't have a vision for what it could be with just a couple of tweaks," Niakan says.

So before you decide to cross a house off your list, here eight minor home flaws that shouldn't deter you from buying a home:

No. 1: Unappealing paint.This is one of the easiest and cheapest fixes, especially if you do it yourself. Don't let someone's poor taste in paint colors convince you not to buy. Most buyers who Niakan has worked with would rather pay a premium for a house that doesn't need fixes than take the time and money to do the repairs themselves. That's true even when the changes will cost less than a "perfect" house, he says. Even buyers of premium homes that don't need many changes still alter the home after they move in, Niakan says, and painting is often the first change.

"It's very, very rare for a buyer to buy a house and not personalize it in some way," he says.

Read:Go green when renovating: Choose deconstruction over demolition

See the original post here:
8 Common Flaws Homebuyers Shouldn't Worry About

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U.S. Home Systems to Report 2012 First Quarter Financial Results on May 15, 2012