New apps to aid in home design and renovations

Home owners and renters looking to redesign or renovate can turn to new apps to help simplify the process and get the job done sooner and more efficiently.
Last year Americans spent approximately $130 billion on home remodeling projects, the highest amount since 2007, according the US Census Bureau.
As home spending ramps up, apps aim to ease some of the pain and expense.
A free web app called Sweeten links homeowners to contractors, interior designers and architects to help create their dream house or apartment.
“Home renovation is a big ticket item that can almost be the same price as purchasing a home. It’s intimidating to a lot of people,” said Jean Brownhill Lauer, founder of New York-based Sweeten.
After a user posts the project through the app, Sweeten finds experts for projects that can range from simple bathrooms to housing developments.
“There are just so many options when it comes to contractors. You might get recommendations from friends, other people in your building, or search online,” Lauer said. “But it’s challenging to understand which ones are better suited to your projects.”
The company monitors the projects and contractors and gets feedback from the home owners to ensure quality.