Remodelers Council hosts the 25th Anniversary Tour of Remodeled Homes.
Since 2000, the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines (DSM HBA) and its Remodelers Council have hosted a tour across the metro to showcase some of the finest work by area remodelers. This year’s tour is worth celebrating, because it’s the 25th anniversary.
“The Tour of Remodeled Homes is such a great event,” says co-chair Cole Stuedemann of Elk River Contracting. “For potential clients, it’s a good way to see how the remodeling process works. For people in the industry, it’s a chance to see what others are doing, to see where the bar’s been set and what we’re reaching for.”
DSM HBA President Chris Pickard says, “The thing that is special about the Tour of Remodeled Homes is how it can connect to the consumer more directly. This tour gives homeowners tons of great inspiration, along with showcasing the talents of all our great remodeling members.”
A dozen projects presented by nine different firms feature projects from kitchens and baths to whole-house remodels. And all but one of these professionals is a veteran tour participant.
“I travel a seven-state region,” says co-chair Matt Meneough of Andersen Windows. “The events the Des Moines HBA puts on are a model for so many other regions. The caliber of the work that’s on display during the HomeShowExpo and the Tour of Remodeled Homes is the goal that others are reaching for.”
“From our contractors and tradespeople to our customers and consumers, the HomeShowExpo and the Tour of Remodeled Homes are a real testament to how great a job all our local stakeholders have done at shepherding our industry and promoting positivity and growth over the long haul,” Pickard says.
Meneough, for example, has been in the construction industry for more than two decades, attending numerous home shows and remodel tours over the years. He says seeing what goes on behind the scene of the tour has been a new experience. “The amount of work that goes into an event like this with all the moving parts that have to come together is incredible,” he says.
Stuedemann says, “Matt and I have been fortunate that our first time as co-chairs is the 25th time this event has been held. There was a clear format for what needed to be done, and we’ve had a ton of help from everyone at the HBA.”
Neither Meneough nor Stuedemann had intended to volunteer as leaders, but when they saw the need, each was willing to step in and get his hands dirty. For Meneough, it was an opportunity to serve at an event he’s attended numerous times. For Stuedemann, everything was new.
“Elk River has only been in business four years,” Stuedemann says. “I just joined the Remodelers Council this year because I wanted to learn from people who’ve been doing this a lot longer than I have, and I want to become one of the guys who regularly has a project in the Tour.”
Pickard says, “Attending and supporting this event is about showing up for our industry. For builders and remodelers, it can provide real-time feedback in design trends. For trade contractors and other industry professionals, getting out and meeting the buyers, contractors, and potential customers participating in the show can be a great way to drum up some more business.”
Both co-chairs say their experience on this year’s tour has given them an even greater appreciation for the DSM HBA and for the Remodelers Council.
“Andersen Windows has a corporate initiative to be more involved with the organizations that our clients are involved in,” Meneough says. “So when I called my boss to tell him we needed to be a part of this event, he didn’t hesitate. Andersen became one of the sponsors for the pre-show bus tour, and we’re going to have a number of people in attendance that night.”
Stuedemann says that seeing the level of work on display in each of these remodeled homes has only fueled his excitement about the tour and about the level of work he wants to accomplish. “I think it’s important for homeowners who are considering remodeling to come see these projects. It’s a great way to educate yourself on what’s involved in a remodel project, what you can do with your existing home, and to see the craftsmanship you can get for your investment.”
Stuedemann says he’s encouraging others in the industry to attend as well. “As a contractor or a remodeler, we’re part of an aging workforce. We need to be looking at the shoes we need to fill—what’s standard, what’s the bar I can reach for. It’s just a great opportunity to soak up expertise from some really talented professionals.”
One way the DSM HBA supports that learning experience is through the pre-show Bus Tour, always held the night before the tour opens.
Katie Niebauer, Director of Events and Partnerships for DSM HBA, says, “We take a 52-passenger bus and invite sponsors, participants, and supporters to join us for a sneak-peek tour of each of the homes. It’s a popular event and typically sells out each year.”
Tickets for the 2025 Tour of Remodeled Homes scheduled for October 4 and 5 are available through the DSM HBA website.
“A remodel project is a big deal for any homeowner,” Stuedemann says, “and the best remodelers respect that. At Elk River, we always say that we’re there to remodel your home, not your life’s schedule. When a remodeler does that right, the homeowners are happy to show it off. That’s what this tour is all about.”
Meneough and Stuedemann might be biased, but this year’s tour is cause for celebration.
Learn More. Get tickets for the 2025 Tour of Remodeled Homes scheduled for October 4 and 5.
Tour of Remodeled Homes
- Woodharbor Kitchen Bath Home
WoodharborDesMoines.com - Grand Homes and Renovation
GrandHomesIowa.com - Alair Homes Des Moines
AlairHomes.com/des-moines - B St. Construction + Design, Inc.
BStreetDesign.com - Silent Rivers Design+Build
SilentRivers.com - Zenith Design + Build
ZenithDesignBuild.com - Woodharbor Kitchen Bath Home
WoodharborDesMoines.com - Whitey Exteriors / Whitey Remodeling and Interiors
WhiteyExteriors.com - Design2Build
D2B.Design - Revived Interiors
Revived-Interiors.com - Revived Interiors
Revived-Interiors.com - Whitey Exteriors / Whitey Remodeling and Interiors
WhiteyExteriors.com