Last Updated on October 24, 2024 by Advance Design Studio – Home Remodeling

The Qualified Remodeler Top 500 list recognizes the best of the best in the home improvement industry. It is unique because it combines companies from all areas of the industry including full-service contractors, kitchen & bath specialists, design-build remodelers, general home improvement, and insurance restoration contractors nationwide! 

For the ninth year in a row, Advance Design Studio has been named to the national Qualified Remodeling Top 500 list, at number 292 overall and 41st in the design-build category. Our dedicated, local team is proud to continue to be named among some of the larger firms in the country, especially after enduring many industry-wide challenges that continue to linger.

QR Design-Build Takeaways

Qualified Remodeler also reports that many remodelers nationwide with an all-encompassing process, like Design/Build, have finally caught up with the backlog of thousands of homeowners who pulled the trigger on remodels back in 2020, 2021, and 2022. At the time of this remodeling boom, it was unclear whether demand would continue into 2024. Many design-build firms, and other industry experts, were hit with an unsustainable demand during those years.

Many of the challenges that arose during the COVID era have not subsided, and companies across the country are still experiencing a lack of skilled labor, price fluctuations, and material delays.

“The shortage of skilled labor availability and lingering supply chain issues hit us the hardest during and post-pandemic. Specialty subcontractor teams are feeling the challenges of finding and keeping skilled workers. We have concluded that the issues we’re facing may be a new normal for our industry at least for now, and we have put in place a number of changes over the past two years to help mitigate the challenges as much as we can. We always have and will continue to strive to foresee developments and do everything we can to make our clients’ renovation experience the best it can be,” says Nick Holm, ADS Director of Operations.

LOOKING AHEAD

Despite the influx of homeowners who pushed up their remodeling plans during 2020-2023, and the potential for economic pressures like increased inflation and interest rates in 2024-2025, the market has remained strong in 2024 with a positive outlook heading into 2025.

advance design qualified remodeler

Even after the pandemic, remodeling clients have been working at home more than ever. Communicating current information about project progress has put more and more strain on construction managers who used to be able to update clients on a weekly basis. More of their time is spent trying to give daily feedback while still scheduling crews and subs, managing deliveries, and even working on sites themselves since carpentry labor has been largely sparse compared to how they were accustomed to working in the past.

“The boom of the COVID-19 pandemic really stretched remodelers’ resources and processes. We were all forced to scale without necessarily the infrastructure or wherewithal to do so.  The opportunity in today’s environment is taking what we have learned in the chaos of the last few years, refining those processes, and fine-tuning their efficiency and execution,” one QR Top 500 company says.

TOP DESIGN-BUILD JOB TYPES

According to Qualified Remodeler, three project categories are dominating the remodeling industry this year. Whole home remodels, kitchen remodels, and basement remodels are at the top of the project list for homeowners partnering with design-build firms nationwide. These large-scale projects will continue to dominate the remodeling industry, as families that refinanced when rates dropped to historic lows over the past couple of years would rather remodel than move with a higher rate. Homeowners are still spending time at home working, and the importance of having a home designed to reflect your family’s needs is still fervently prominent.

kitchen and addition arlington heights

Our team has seen an uptick in all three of these projects in the past couple of years. Whole home remodels often start with a kitchen or single-room renovation that spills into adjacent rooms, especially when flooring is involved. We curated a breakdown of our most popular kitchen remodels and our top custom basements over the past couple of years to help you as you gather ideas for your own home.

There is no doubt that out of challenges, growth always occurs. As the world continues to shift, forward-thinking remodeling companies will no doubt come out on top with new ideas, new strategies, and continued successful implementation of those ideals as we forge into the future. Our team is grateful to be listed once again among the top remodelers in the nation, and we can’t wait to see what exciting projects 2025 will bring.

Is a home renovation on your current or future to-do list? Our team is ready to help. Let’s get started! Call us at 847-836-2600 or schedule a complimentary appointment with our design team.