Since last year, several of the major amusement and theme parks in the greater Tokyo area have successively been undergoing major renovations. J-Cast News (Jan 11) considers the factors affecting leisure business.

The preponderant motivation has been the aging and weathering of the facilities. But their corporate management has also implementing new business strategies.

The prolonged coronavirus pandemic has certainly had a serious impact, particularly in that more people feel inclined to avoid long trips, sticking closer to their homes when seeking recreation.

First is Yomiuriland. Located in Inagi City in the Tama Hills area west Tokyo, the park has constructed a new baseball stadium for the Yomiuri Giants B team (second string squad) and the accompanying commercial concessions have been placed under joint management.

Before undergoing a takeover bid, Yomiuriland Corporation had been listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Since the takeover, it assumed the status of a subsidiary, with the parent Yomiuri Shimbun owing 34% of shares in the newly reorganized company.

Along with revenues from admission tickets to baseball games, the corporation will engage in sales of food and beverage sales and baseball merchandise.

Toshikazu Yamaguchi, president of Yomiuri Shimbun, tells J-Cast news that considering the inevitable downsizing of the newspaper market, the company's new strategy will be "to position Yomiuriland as a core business for sports, culture and entertainment."

The Seibu Railway Company, meanwhile, has been proceeding with renewal activities of its 70-year-old Seibu-en amusement park in Tokorozawa City, Saitama, which it temporarily closed last November. The company plans to complete construction and repairs by this spring.

Among the new features will be an emphasis on Showa-era nostalgia, boasting a town in the style of the 1960s, along with new attractions tailored to the same theme. Visitors will be greeted by an old-style streetcar (tram) at the entrance and rows of shops will offer examples of Showa-era commerce, complete with live performances.

Some 10 billion yen will have been invested in renovations. Director Takashi Yamazaki, well known for his award-winning "ALWAYS Sanchome no Yuhi" film series, and theme part expert Tsuyoshi Morioka, who oversaw the renovation of Universal Studios Japan, were consulted on the project.

Last August, the Seibu Group shut down Toshima-en, its other theme park located in Tokyo's Nerima Ward. A portion of the property will be used for new facilities based on the Harry Potter film series in collaboration with the Warner Bros film studio, with opening planned in the first half of 2023.

Visitors to the park will be able to experience some of the famous scenes appearing in Harry Potter films. The new park will be the second of its kind to be operated by Warner Bros, following the one in the UK that opened in March 2012.

Most of the remainder of Toshima-en will be sold to metropolitan Tokyo, which plans to develop it as a park for evacuation in the event of a natural disaster. The sale of this valuable land situated within one of Tokyo's 23 wards is expected to considerably enhance Seibu's bottom line. While occupying a smaller area than does Toshima-en, the new Harry Potter facility is expected to become a lucrative new attraction for its operators.

Japan's Numero Uno in the theme park realm, Tokyo Disney Resort, has adopted a business model into which huge amounts of capital have been invested. While its gate is currently reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, merely by virtue of its being located on the periphery of a huge metropolitan area TDR is banking on current renovations and additions, such as the LEGO Hotel scheduled to open later this year, in expectation these will ultimately contribute to future success.

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Tokyo area theme parks remodel themselves while waiting out pandemic - Japan Today

In June 2019, the Brainerd City Council agreed to move ahead with renovations to its historic city hall. According to the 2017 study, issues of city hall included a failing heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC system, and space issues in both the main part and the annex portion of the building. There also were configuration issues in the police and fire stations and the separation of city departments among multiple buildings throughout Brainerd.

By July of this year, the interior of Brainerd City Hall was nearly complete after offices were remodeled and a new HVAC system was installed. The city also worked on the exterior of the century old building, which includes fixing the front entrance steps. The staircase had several issues including unevenness, a slippery texture and overall aesthetics. The city retained the staircases historic granite look.

City hall went to LED lights, got new windows, a new security system and replaced the roof. There was a setback May 18 when a fire ignited during the lunch hour while contractors were working on the roof. Black smoke and flames billowed from the roof at city hall, as firefighters battled not only the fire but the 36 mph wind gusts.

The fire caused minor water damage on the second and third floor of city hall and light smoke damage throughout the building.

The remodeling project of the police station off East River Road includes:

Constructing a secure, enclosed vestibule entrance and a new intercom.

A secure waiting room near newly designed interview rooms, which will allow for those coming in to give statements to be out of the public eye.

Relocation of the server room to a space with its own HVAC system.

Reconfigured investigator rooms so investigators can have spaces separate from their colleagues while working on cases.

The citys multi-facility remodel project is getting rid of the parks and recreation building in Lum Park and relocating staff. Administrative parks staff will move into the newly remodeled city hall, while maintenance workers will be housed in the street department maintenance garage on Thiesse Road.

Construction has been in full swing ever since the 2018 passing of a $205 million referendum for the school district. Contractors finished working on the remodels at Nisswa and Harrison elementary schools and finished building the new Baxter Elementary School.

Updates to the Brainerd High School continue, including the performing arts center taking shape. Work also continues on reconfiguring the building to house all students under one roof and an eight-lane competition swimming pool.

North campus construction is slated to be completed in the fall of 2021.

Work began this year at Garfield, Lowell and Riverside elementary schools and the groundbreaking for the Early Childhood Family Education center occurred in late September. A new name also was chosen for the center the Warrior Early Learning Center in Baxter.

Brainerd School Board members approved designs for the south campus at Brainerd High School Sept. 28. Construction is set to start in the spring of 2021 and wrap up by fall 2022.

South campus will be transformed into space for special education and transitional programming, while ongoing construction on the north campus will allow for all traditional high school students to be housed there.

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Dispatch Top 10 - No. 10: Construction continues in city and Brainerd schools - Brainerd Dispatch

Remodeling has been ongoing at the old Fayette County Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) building, according to county commissioner Dan Dean. Plans for the building on East East Street in Washington C.H. are various including the relocation of a few county offices and the creation of a handicap-accessible dinner/meeting room.

The meeting room is planned to be available for public use with prior sign-up and to be able to host approximately 50-80 people, according to Dean. Not only could the public request use of the meeting room but education classes could be hosted within the room, such as defensive driving courses.

Another idea for use of the room is an additional polling location if needed by the Fayette County Board of Elections.

Other plans we have for that area, and some of them are currently done, is (Fayette County) Job and Family Services moved Ohio Means Jobs to the rear of that building and the office in the back and are operating there now, said Dean.

Ohio Means Jobs was previously located at Southern State Community College. According to its Facebook page, Ohiomeansjobs Fayette County, Ohio Means Jobs is a partnership of various agencies working to promote employment and community development.

Also moving into the space downstairs will be the Fayette County Economic Development office and the Fayette County Travel and Tourism office.

The funding for the construction came from the following:

Theres a fund the (Fayette County) Clerk of Courts has called certificate of title. Its funds that are paid when people register their cars in our county. The funds accumulate on good years more than what the clerk needs to expend on some of the things she needs to fix in her office. So (prior Fayette County Clerk of Courts Evelyn Pentzer) always returned those funds to the county in order to do capital projects. Thats how we got a lot of our parking lots upgraded, some of the remodeling in the bottom of the courthouse, and the BMV remodeling for where the current BMV and Title department are, said Dean.

He further explained that the current Fayette County Clerk of Courts, Sandra Wilson, has been doing the same thing returning excess funds to the county to be used to help cover projects such as the remodeling of the old building.

Marquee Construction is the company handling the project as it had the lowest and best bid, according to Dean. The project has begun and is planned to be completed this spring.

The only thing that can hold everything up these days is if a group of folks on any workforce catch COVID-19, said Dean. If that happens, it can cause delays. Thats the only thing you cant account for, but right now everythings going great.

Reach journalist Jennifer Woods at 740-313-0355.

The old BMV building is undergoing remodeling to add in a meeting room and relocate a few county offices to handicap-accessible locations.

A few county offices to relocate, new meeting room to be added

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Remodeling of old BMV continues - Record Herald

The bathroom is the space we go to relax and unwind. After a long hard day, the bathroom is where we can go soak ourselves in a hot tub and have the time of our lives. But as we get comfortable in our space, it starts getting out of hand, and sometimes we mess our bathrooms up so much that we start hating the place. Thats why to create a refreshing bathroom space, you need to remodel it from time to time.

Clear the clutter, thats the most important thing you need to do. You need to upgrade your Bathroom Sink and Tap Sets too. It can give you more space in the bathroom and makes it look cleaner. A custom storage option is a great way to keep things sorted in the bathroom. You can have cabinets attached to the wall or have closets, to streamline your space.

Update the layout of the bathroom from time to time. The thing with bathrooms is what worked 10 years ago for your family wont work now for your growing family. Thats why you need to keep updating the layout, and if you can increase the size of your bathroom.

Change the lighting to suit your needs. Make use of some fancy options like circular pendant lighting. If you want to do makeup, then you need proper lighting. However, too much lighting can be a headache and dim lighting can be annoying. So choose a lighting system that can work wonders for you.

Make sure when you remodel your bathroom you add all the things that are in vogue. If you do not want to update the style then you can always personalize your space with little trinkets. It is a nice way to add more coziness to the bathroom space, adding a new bathroom cabinet, getting rid of a chunky old mirror, all this can change your bathroom decor for good.

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Bathroom Remodeling Ideas To Spruce Up That Old Layout - California Herald

By Kyle Kuphal | on December 31, 2020

A crane lowers a precast section of wall into place for the new weight/fitness room at Pipestone Area Schools Middle and High School on Monday, Dec. 28. K. Kuphal

Another story we reported on quite a bit in 2020 was the construction of Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) new elementary school and remodeling of portions of the existing middle and high school.Signs of the pending construction began in March when a perimeter fence was erected around the area where the new school would be built on the north side of the existing middle and high school. Construction officially began April 6. During the first month, workers put in footings for the new structure and installed drainage pipes in the ground.The project was off to a good start due to favorable weather and the fact that students were not in school because they were distance learning as a result of the pandemic. Superintendent Kevin Enerson told the school board in April that the project was about two weeks ahead of schedule. He said the school closure for the remainder of the year would allow workers to begin remodeling work on the inside of the building in May.By June, the project had taken a vertical turn. Tyler Kaczmarek, project manager with construction management firm Kraus-Anderson, explained that the two block structures that had taken form in recent weeks were stair shafts that would be located at the end of the two wings of the new elementary building.By July, structural steel framing was being put up, revealing the skeleton of the new building. The precast walls for the gymnasium were put up and the installation of foam sheathing had begun by the end of July.In August, PAS School Board members approved building a new larger weight/fitness room and expanding the wrestling room into the existing weight room at the middle and high school for an additional cost of $1,028,386. The project had been considered as part of the construction of the new elementary school and remodel of portions of the middle and high school, but was ruled out in the initial plans to keep costs down. The bond sale and bids for the new elementary and remodeling projects came in more favorable than originally anticipated, however, which allowed the school board to add it back in.This is one of those things that we said, well it doesnt fit in our numbers, so we left it off, but now the numbers have kind of come back and it looks like we can make it work, Enerson said.By the time school started in late August, the remodeling of the middle and high school office was completed and visitors had to use a new entrance that brought them into the office area. Once inside, visitors now have to scan their license or identification in a new visitor management system.It does a low end background check, said Josh Stukel, technology coordinator at the school.The old circle drive had also been replaced with a new parking area and drop-off area by the start of the new school year.By early September, the structural steel work was complete, much of the exterior sheathing was complete and brick work had begun on the west side of the new building.As the weather turned colder, workers sealed up the exterior envelope of the building. Some of the gray and green steel panels had been installed on the outside of the building, providing more of a glimpse of what the final product will look like.Inside, in-wall electrical and plumbing work, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning work was being done. Classrooms and other interior spaces began to take shape with the installation of sheet rock starting in November.Work on the new weight/fitness room was progressing with footings and the foundation installed and underground utilities put in. Structural steel and precast walls for the new space were being put up at the end of December.Inside, sheet rock work continued, painting had started in some areas and ceramic tile was being installed in the bathrooms.The project will continue into 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2021-22 school year.

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2020 Top 3 Stories-#2 Construction of the new school - Pipestone County Star

Sunny Bowman, owner of Dakota County Lumber in Farmington, talks about how 2020 has been a good year for the company on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Sales this year have surged 40 percent, she said, because of the pandemic. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Many businesses are raking in COVID cash, even as the disease spreads into their workforce.

I feel a little guilty about it, said Sunny Bowman, owner of Dakota County Lumber in Farmington. Sales this year have surged 40 percent, she said, because of the pandemic.

The coronavirus has taken its toll, with more than 5,000 Minnesotans infected having since died. It has also forced the doors closed of many businesses as health officials stressed keeping us far enough from each other to stop its spread; bars and restaurants have been hit especially hard. But it has also spurred innovation. Companies have had to re-envision the office and how we connect. Others have retool to provide protective equipment and the basic essentials in the middle of a pandemic.

Home remodeling and construction is one industry that is thriving, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Others include business that handle groceries, liquor, hardware, in-home exercise equipment, cleaning services, used cars, deliveries, tutoring and garden supplies.

Mary Beth Stevens knows why cleaning businesses are on the list. She owns MBs Cleaning Services, which moved into a larger office in West St. Paul in the midst of the pandemic.We are getting new customers every week, she said.

Like the virus itself, her business is quickly evolving. She added a High Touch Point service sanitizing doorknobs, TV remotes, toilet handles or anywhere hands can go. She pared down her schedule when customers started to ask for only one cleaner at a time instead of the normal two-person crews. And the business evolved instantly when three workers came down with COVID-19 after exposure from their families.

Now we take temperatures every day, said Stevens. If you have any kind of a sniffle, you stay home.

Business is good, she said, but not as good as what she expects next year.

I feel that business will absolutely explode, she said. We are all so much more conscious of being clean.

Jim Neumann, manager of Beisswengers Hardware in New Brighton, said that sales in 2020 will be roughly the same as last year.

We have not missed a beat, he said.

The first half of the year was stronger, said Neumann, because of COVID relief checks to families. Now, people are not assured that they will have jobs, Neumann said.

Sales for December had been down because of a lack of snow early on with all the salt, shovels and snow-blowers sitting in the store. But Christmas tree sales are strong, said Neumann, as home-bound workers try to make their surroundings more cozy.

When several workers at Dakota County Lumber came down with COVID, Bowman quickly identified the culprit.

It was her. I caught it from my toddler, she said, sheepishly.

She immediately shut down the office, sent everyone home, and was able to re-open later with no hint of COVID.

In spite of the attack on her workforce, business is booming. It surged in April, when home-bound workers decided to start building decks. They then decided to fix their interiors, refinishing basements and adding home offices.

New construction kept business humming, too. She has seen customers who sold their homes in the core cities, then moved to the exurbs for a lower-stress lifestyle.

The business thrived despite COVID spreading to her husband, another child, herself and her co-workers. The originator of all that illness her son didnt get sick himself other than a rash.

COVID-19 took a lot from Minnesotans: their fun, their livelihoods and, for 5,000, their very lives. As we surveyed the wreckage of 2020, we also saw the silver linings that came out of the pandemic for this daily series of stories. Other silver linings:

CHRISTMAS: Churches making the best of the pandemic; giving is up and seniors adapt to online

SATURDAY: A gift from COVID: No crowds on freeways or mass transit

SUNDAY: Families add hockey rinks, adopt kittens to help each other cope through pandemic

MONDAY: Pandemic spurs teachers to find ways to keep kids reading

TUESDAY: Students find opportunities for growth, quality time in pandemic

To read more articles on the pandemic, go online to twincities.com/tag/coronavirus

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Some MN businesses are booming amid the pandemic - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

PASO ROBLES, Calif., Jan. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Windows are important for insulation, air flow, light and the right design in windows adds beauty and value to both residential and commercial property. Frank Cueva, owner of the Paso Robles contracting company, Central Pacific Construction, has some tips to help property owners choose the window styles that deliver the best of all the benefits.

"The first thing to consider is that the window style compliments the building style," said Cueva. "No matter how beautiful the home or commercial building, or the window style, if they don't match you are not going to get the look you'll be happy with."

For example, Victorian style buildings look their best with windows that were commonly used in Victorian style homes. Those are windows typically called "bay and bow," "arched," and even oval or round. Rectangular windows are also common for Victorian structures.

Window considerations include:

Whether constructing a new building or remodeling an existing home or business, the windows need as much attention as the roof, walls, floors, plumbing and electrical wiring. Not only do the best windows you can afford add value to the property, well-fitted and be appropriate for the weather.

When remodeling, old windows frequently need to be replaced because of age, building shift, or faults with the glass. Windows that don't open and close easily or that are weak, loose or damaged need to be replaced. New, energy-efficient windows can also significantly reduce energy-costs.

Two final tips:

The Paso Robles construction team can inspect and evaluate windows that need to be replaced, and help recommend new windows for remodeling and for new construction. Central Pacific Construction has provided the highest levels of service and workmanship for a wide range of building projects since 1997. The company specializes in remodeling and new construction of homes, restaurants, retail and other commercial as well as tenant improvements. "We bring a high level of expertise to everything we do and enjoy taking on new challenges," said Cueva.

Central Pacific Construction 3200 Riverside Ave Ste 120 Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 471-4749

Media Contact

Scott Brennan, Access Publishing, (805) 226-9890, scott@accesspublishing.com

SOURCE Central Pacific Construction

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Paso Robles Contractor Reports 'Tips for Choosing the Best Windows' - Benzinga

The world is becoming more connected as the Internet of Things makes its way into every part of our homes. Bathrooms have become a focus for homeowners looking to renovate their homes in the 21st-century, with a 40 percent rise in remodels by 2015, Home Advisor reports. Working with a reputable contractor to make your bathroom remodel dreams come true, is a good option in Houston and other parts of the U.S. Smart bathroom technology is evolving and making its way into the bathroom to make our lives simpler.

When you think about the luxury of your bathroom, you may consider the use of Kohler Luxstone before thinking about including technology. One of the simplest ways of introducing technology into your bathroom is to look at introducing voice technology into your bathroom to allow hands-free operation of devices. By 2021, the three major digital assistants introduced by Amazon, Google, and Apple will have reached two billion global users. The introduction of a digital assistant into your bathroom will add value to your property when it comes time to sell. Smart technology allows your digital assistant to turn on faucets, showers, and lights to make it easy for you to control every aspect of your bathroom.

Smart technology has changed the way we live for the better, with light now seen as an important part of boosting energy levels. The science of Chromatherapy is disputed, but it has become a Smart Home trend over the last few years. Smart technology has moved into the shower, with the introduction of lights designed to boost energy levels and reduce stress. Chromatherapy is a science that some believe offers health benefits, while others enjoy the show of different colors when showering.

Speaker systems have come a long way since the 1980s when a whole-house speaker system gave a home a sense of style. Affordable luxury now includes a shower speaker that is connected to the digital assistant chosen for your home. HGTV explains the latest shower speakers are installed into the wall cavity to be out of sight at all times. Whatever you choose to do in the bathroom, you can enjoy music to create the mood you desire at all times.

The introduction of digital assistants capable of turning on the water and setting the temperature has changed the bathroom use of many of us. What has not changed is the technology we use to heat our water, which can be poorly calibrated. Switching to on-demand water heaters can provide accurate water temperatures for your shower, but the use of warning lights is just as impressive. Smart showers are available that warn you when the water in your shower is heating up with flashing red lights. The system uses white lights when the water reaches an optimum temperature, with blue flashing lights used to warn of the water cooling down.

The development of Smart toilet technology is no longer focused on Japan. Smart toilet technology has made its way into U.S. homes, where it is solving problems that have plagued us for centuries. In the era of COVID-19, hands-free technology is more important than in the past as we try to avoid germs. Smart toilets offer a hands-free experience, including the ability to control the lifting of the toilet seat through motion sensors. Other technological breakthroughs include voice controls that give you the power to ask for the toilet to be flushed and your body washed and dried from your comfortable position. Self-cleaning options are available that take the hassle out of cleaning your toilet.

Keeping track of the news in New Orleans can be a full-time task, meaning you need connectivity in your bathroom. The quality of your bathroom decorations can be upgraded with a vanity mirror TV. The use of hidden technology has been growing in the last decade, with the inclusion of a mirror that transforms into a TV changing the use of your bathroom. The disappearing TV transforming into a mirror allows you to control the mood of a room growing in importance.

The latest Smart technology has been available in public restrooms for decades without making the switch into our homes. Faucets in public restrooms have used motion sensors that turn on and off when you approach and remove your hands from the sink. The Smart technology we all love has been given an upgrade and moved into our homes with digital assistant use included. Your voice is used to turn your faucet on and off when a digital assistant is used. The problems of getting your water hot for shaving or washing your face is no longer seen with Smart faucets making it simple for you to fill your sink with hot water. By using a Smart faucet, the Internet of Things can be used in your home.

Photo byJared RiceonUnsplash

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What Homeowners Need to Know About Making Their Bathroom Smarter - RealtyBizNews: Real Estate News - RealtyBizNews

The Court of Appeal upheld a Coastal Commission cease-and-desist order requiring demolition of a seawall and payment of a $1 million penalty by homeowners who performed major reconstruction on their coastal home without notifying the Coastal Commission. 11 Lagunita, LLC v. California Coastal Commission, No. G058436 (4th Dist., Dec. 18, 2020).

In 2015, the Coastal Commission issued a Coastal Development Permit allowing reinforcement of an existing seawall at the base of a 1950s era Laguna Beach home. The CDP contained a condition stating that the permit would expire and the seawall would have to be removed if the home were redeveloped in a manner that constitutes new development. It also provided that questions of intent or interpretation of any condition would be resolved by the Executive Director or the Commission.

In 2016, subsequent owners reinforced the seawall and commenced a significant remodel of the home. The project included demolition of all exterior walls down to the studs, removal and replacement of roofing materials, and reinforcement of the entire framing system. The owners obtained building permits from the city, but did not notify or seek permits from the Coastal Commission.

When Commission staff learned of the work, they sent an enforcement violation letter alleging that new development was occurring on the property in violation of the conditions of the 2015 CDP. The notice stated that the owners would need to apply to the Commission either to remove the seawall or to modify the permit, and asked that all work on the home cease until that occurred. After the owners refused to halt the project, staff initiated cease-and-desist proceedings before the full Commission. Following a lengthy public hearing, the Commission voted unanimously to issue a cease-and-desist order requiring the owners to remove the seawall and imposed a $1 million administrative penalty.

In the owners subsequent lawsuit, the Court of Appeal upheld the Coastal Commissions decisions in all respects. The court found that testimony at the hearing and photographs of the remodel constituted substantial evidence that the owners violated the conditions of the 2015 CDP and supported a finding that the residence was redeveloped in a manner that constitutes new development by any reasonable definition or understanding of those terms. The court rejected the owners claim that because the city did not consider the work a major remodel, they reasonably proceeded with the work without notifying the Commission. The court noted that whether the work constituted a minor or major remodel under the citys code was irrelevant to the determination of whether it met the definition of new development under the Coastal Act, which it plainly did.

The court also upheld the $1 million penalty. The Commission properly determined that the owners had violated the Coastal Act by performing the work without notice to the Commission and the now-unauthorized seawall was illegally limiting public access along the beachfront and causing erosion and other adverse impacts to coastal resources. The $1 million penalty was not unreasonable in light of the gravity of the violation, the cost of enforcement, the owners refusal to cease work when originally notified of the violation, and evidence that the owners deliberately sought to avoid Commission review based on the likelihood Commission staff would find it constituted unpermitted new development.

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Coastal Commission Order to Homeowners to Remove Seawall and Pay $1 Million Fine Upheld - JD Supra

The flurry of home remodeling and design continues into the cooler weather, as people are continuing to work at home and get those projects done that theyve always imagined doing. Not only are people making small changes to their homes, but big ones as well.

With the huge number of design/build companies out there, its crucial to understand that companies like Encore Construction can be trusted to deliver.

Encore is a company that people can trust, said Kathy DeMeyer, owner and general manager of Encore Construction Co. The design/build process really pulls everyone together the clients, sales, and the project manager. The client needs to be able to trust the person theyre asking to take care of one of the most expensive things theyll ever spend money on. The client needs to know that the person theyre trusting is as good as their word and you can show past jobs and have them talk to past clients who have experienced that.

Encore specializes in large-scale remodels and new additions, says DeMeyer. We do new homes as well as additions. But most of our work tends to be focused on large-scale remodels kitchens, bathrooms, replacement windows the entire house. For us, its definitely the second-home market. Most of our clients own a second home on the Cape.

Typically, she said, if a potential client wants to talk about a project, Encore will meet that potential client at the home and go over their wish list.

Most of the projects start in design because most people are looking for the open concept for a larger master suite, for example, and you really have to get into the design of that project before you do anything else, DeMeyer said. We ask them to set up idea books from both Pinterest and Houzz. Just having that wish list helps us a lot, even before we start designing any project.

Some of the things to be discussed at the initial meeting will include the reality of what can actually be done. The client may have a wish list of what they WANT to do, but will need to understand what they CAN do, DeMeyer said.

Right now, were coming into a lot of smaller lots that people want to expand upon, but either the setbacks are too close, or the house is already non-conforming, etc. she said. We, in the building business, have had to really step up our game and learn all the new zoning regulations so that, before we even meet with the client, we know already know whether or not they can do that type of a project.

If a client has a non-conforming home, she said, it will trigger a visit to the Board of Appeals which, most of the time, is for a special permit, and that alone can take up to three months to acquire. The towns are being very restrictive on what people can and cannot do. If the house is conforming, and the client wishes to go out of the boundaries, thats very hard to do in this area, DeMeyer said.

The COVID- 19 pandemic has affected almost every type of business and industry out there, but many companies have turned to smarter means of communication to continue working.

Were still meeting people face to face, with masks, outside if we can. In the early months of the pandemic, we were not meeting people in their home, but we are now with proper precautions, said DeMeyer. Builder Trend is an application which we use for schedule tracking, building, the selection process everything gets entered in there to keep the lines of communication opened. Its a great application and weve found it very helpful. It helps keep everybody on schedule. Clients can message us through Builder Trend, as well.

DeMeyer and her team are seeing a huge uptick in the need for both home offices and outdoor living spaces from clients.

There are a lot more people looking for a home office, or a space they can call a home office, because theyre working from home, she said. Even people who live in Boston, if they have a house here on Cape Cod, theyre here. Theyre really seeing a conflict between the space theyve set aside for living, and the space they need for their office.

Additionally, she added, open living space like a screened porch, has become an extremely needed space for many people. While spending so much more time at home, they want to be able to enjoy the seasons, and want a three-season or screened-in porch.

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry has presented its particular challenges to DeMeyer, even in this modern day and age.

Ive had about 25 years of construction experience, she said. A lot of people who meet a woman in the construction field assume shes more likely a secretary or the books person, or the one who takes care of paperwork at the office. I constantly get asked if my husband is my partner in our business. People still assume that, and that is not the case, she added.

Ive had my construction supervisors license, which I worked very hard for, for almost 20 years, said DeMeyer. Knowing what the codes are and what the bylaws are in each town is huge, and I feel that both myself and Dale, the other owner, are always current on the changes that are being made on a yearly basis, and this can be a really good resource for a client.

For more information on Encore Construction, visit them atencoreco.com.

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Homeowner's Headquarters A Discussion with Encore Construction on Remodeling Trends - CapeCod.com News