The owners of this home originally intended to do a relatively minor remodeling of the dated basement, a 1,600-square-foot space with poor lighting and low, beamed ceilings. But when Prestige Custom Builders began the remodel, the company discovered that the foundation was cracking, leaking and inadequate, says president Jeff Santerre.

What is it and will customers pay for it?

Twice a year I trek eastward to Harvard University to hear the latest research from the Joint Center for Housing Studies' Remodeling Futures Program. During one presentation this October, the speaker referred to "the Diderot effect" in remodeling. Denis Diderot, an 18th-century French philosopher, wrote an essay entitled "Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown.

The desire to present a consistent picture of oneself to the world, as represented by the goods we possess, is what researchers of consumer behavior refer to as 'the Diderot effect.'

An attractive business opportunity may be staring you in the face — the cabinet face, that is. More and more homeowners are determined to give their kitchens a new look, but kitchen remodels can be pricey, not to mention inconvenient for homeowners while the work is being done. Enter cabinet refacing, a faster, more economical yet equally stylish alternative.

Revenues dropped in 2003. According to Professional Remodeler's annual business results survey, total annual installed dollar volume dropped by 24.5 percent, from an average of $3.1 million in 2002 to an average of $2,340,370 in 2003. Firm size shrunk too, from anaverage of 18 full-time employees to 12.

Business benchmarks and how to hit them

Business benchmarks and how to hit them

Great design means fit and finish, not square footage. Get ideas on how to win consumers in the West - and the rest - with these elegant elevations and intricate interiors.

Great design means fit and finish, not square footage. Get ideas on how to win consumers in the West - and the rest - with these elegant elevations and intricate interiors.