Remodeled Home Tours
See Designer and Contractor Work For Yourself
Checking contractor references over the phone is easy enough, but getting an up-close look at completed remodeling jobs can be a challenge. No matter how pleased with the work, most homeowners don’t extend a standing invitation for strangers to come by and see it.
Fortunately, some are willing to offer a weekend invitation. Though not as common as tours of new homes, scattered-site remodel tours open to the public are becoming more popular. Held during spring, summer and fall, the remodel tours last from one to three days and showcase from four to more than 90 projects. Tickets typically cost about $10 or $15; part of the proceeds sometimes goes to charity.
Keep in mind that most of the featured projects will be expensive, high-end remodels. If all you need is a new sink, this is not the way to find a contractor.
Tips Before the Tour
In addition to a list of addresses, the more established tours offer descriptions and/or pictures of each project to help you decide which ones to visit.
- If no map is provided, take the time to map out the sites before leaving home.
- No eating, drinking or smoking will be allowed inside the homes. Leave pets behind, too.
- Be prepared to take off your shoes or wear the provided disposable booties at each home.
- If possible, find a sitter for the kids.. The homes may not be accessible to strollers or child-proofed.
Clues to Quality
If you’re actively looking for a contractor, take some time to inspect the quality of the products and of the work. Don’t let yourself be dazzled by all the new stuff: look for the details that can be easily overlooked at first glance but affect functionality and long-term satisfaction.
- Sealing around windows, doors, counters and fixtures
- Alignment of tile on backsplashes and floors
- Location of countertop seams
- Convenient outlet placement
- Transitions between the kitchen and other rooms: treatment of walls, floors, ceilings
- Plumb, square walls – except in old homes, which may require a little fudging to cope with settling
Tour Listing
Though not comprehensive, our listing includes many of the most popular and longest-running remodeling tours from coast to coast.
CALIFORNIA
San Diego
American Society of Interior Designers San Diego Home Remodel Tour
asidsandiego.org/events_remodspr08.shtml
ILLINOIS
Chicago
Remodel Chicagoland, Home Builders Association of Greater Chicagoland
www.remodelchicagoland.com
IOWA
Des Moines
Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.desmoineshomebuilders.com/hba-events/tour-of-remodeled-homes.htmlKENTUCKY
Fort Mitchell
Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.tourofremodeledhomes.comLouisville
Home Builders Association of Louisville Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.hbal.com/consumers_shows.htmlMICHIGAN
Ann Arbor
Washtenaw Country Home Builders Association of Washtenaw County Remodelers Home Tour
www.hbawc.com/se_remodelors.cfmBrighton
Livingston County Cavalcade of New and Remodeled Homes
www.hbalc.com/hbalc_cavalcadeofhomes.cfmMINNESOTA
Minneapolis and St. Paul
Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase
www.paradeofhomes.org/remodeled-home/remodeled-home-search.aspxRochester
Rochester Area Builders Remodelers Home Tour
www.rochesterareabuilders.com/remodelerstour.phpMISSOURI
Kansas City
National Association of the Remodeling Industry Remodeled Homes Tour
www.remodelingkc.com/homestour08.htmlNEBRASKA
Lincoln
Home Builders Association of Lincoln Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.hbal.org/public/trh/NORTH CAROLINA
Greensboro
Greater Greensboro Builders Association Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.greensborobuilders.org/torh.cfmOHIO
Cincinnati
Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.tourofremodeledhomes.comColumbus
Building Industry Association of Central Ohio Showcase of Remodeled Homes
www.biahomebuilders.com/Showcase/Showcase_of_homes.htmOREGON
Portland
Home Builders Association of Metro Portland Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.remodeltourportland.comTEXAS
Austin
Austin National Association of the Remodeling Industry Tour of Homes
www.austinnari.org/hometour/WASHINGTON
Seattle
Master Builders Association Remodeled Kitchen & Bath Tour
www.mbaks.com/rkbt
Master Builders Association Remodeled Homes Tour
www.mbaks.com/rhtTacoma
Master Builders Association of Pierce County Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.mba-tour.comVancouver
Building Industry Association of Clark County Remodeled Homes Tour
www.remodeledhomestour.comWISCONSIN
Madison
Madison National Association of the Remodeling Industry Tour of Remodeled Homes
www.remodelingmadison.org/Milwaukee
Milwaukee National Association of the Remodeling Industry Spring Home Improvement Showcase
www.milwaukeenari.com/2008-spring-showcase.php
Metropolitan Builders Association Fall Remodelers Tour
www.mbaonline.org/events/falltour/falltour2007/falltour2007_home.htm
