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If you’re pondering a drastic transformation for your home, but you have trouble visualizing the end result, a visit to a home tour may be a natural next step.

Remodeling professionals can help you combine your dream color scheme with your appliance wish list, existing space and projected budget.

Sixteen examples of what’s possible will be on display Friday through Sunday with the 2009 Tour of Remodeled Homes. Thirteen members of the Greensboro Builders Association’s Remodelers Council are showcasing their projects in the show, themed “Transformations in Classic Neighborhoods,” so named to reflect the areas where the homes are located such as downtown Greensboro, Sedgefield and Irving Park.

Visitors will have the opportunity to see firsthand the latest trends in the industry and talk to the professionals who did the work. Remodeling companies and vendors that supplied products and services will have representatives at each site. Typically two to three people involved in the project will be on hand, said Mark Bolens, chairman of the GBA’s
Remodelers Council and co-owner of Acorn Construction.

The goal of the Tour is to show consumers what’s possible, giving them the opportunity to gather information about how to choose a remodeler, what to expect out of a project and pricing, Bolens said.

According to National Association of Home Builders surveys, the following remodeling projects are the most popular with clients: kitchens, bathrooms, room additions,
whole-house remodeling, window/door replacements, bathroom additions, finished basements, siding, decks and roofing.

The trends hold for Greensboro residents. Eleven kitchen projects are on the Tour, along with four complete renovations and one screened porch addition.

“I think kitchens always stand out because they a have a lot of wow factor to them,” said Bolens, who has a kitchen project on the Tour. “People tend to do kitchens and bathrooms, especially in this economy, because they feel like they’ll get a better payback on them.”

The pros agree on what clients want in their new kitchens: More comfort and space; granite countertops and tile backsplashes; gourmet appliances; larger storage areas; natural lighting; and energy-efficient appliances.

Energy use and conservation are on the minds of consumers, so more builders and remodelers are looking at Energy Star and green building techniques.

And they’re receiving more inquiries about energy-efficient products and techniques. “I think within the next five and 10 years it’s going to be much more of a deciding factor in remodels and new homes,” Bolens said.

Kevin Jones of Kevin Jones Design-Build said energy efficiency is a goal of many clients, though they don’t necessarily want projects to be certified through Energy Star or NAHB programs. They’re primarily interested in the smaller utility bills achieved through tighter design and stronger insulation, natural lighting, more efficient windows and appliances, and water conservation through items like tankless water heaters.

Jones has two projects on the Tour, a kitchen remodel and a complete renovation that included a new kitchen.

“It’s all about efficiency and building green, and really about staying in the house you have,” he said of the trends.

The economy has had an impact on remodeling, but not how you may expect.

Jones said he’s seen an increase in business in the past year. He thinks more people are turning to remodeling to transform their existing homes into their dream spaces, rather than moving. And “everybody wants a new kitchen,” he said.

According to NAHB research, Americans spent an estimated $225 billion in home remodeling in 2008 and the market forecast for 2009 was steady, bolstered by necessary home maintenance work. For 2010 and beyond, the NAHB projected increasing growth is expected because of aging housing stock, needed aging-in-place remodeling work, and increasing interest in improving home efficiency and green remodeling.

Remodelers hope to attract these expected customers with this weekend’s Tour, which they see as an educational event to show area residents what can be achieved with the latest building trends and products.

“We really just want to promote good remodeling in our industry,” Bolens said.