Home improvement

Real estate is an exciting and extremely challenging industry despite the economic and financial turmoil that directly affect this sector. There are definitely countless possibilities and ventures that offer profitability and productive measures as long as you know how to do it right. Selling a house is a promising investment although there are possible hindrances in its productivity since the massive impact of the ailing economy decreased the number of potentially sure home buyers in the market. Furthermore, the increasing growth of the overflowing competition makes it more difficult to succeed in home selling. To remedy this dilemma, it is important to consider home improvement as a viable tool to maximize.

Upgrading your house to boost its market value and thus increase your chances of selling your house in a jiffy is simply an asset in this milieu. You need to basically make a careful and thorough research on the fundamental home renovation ideas and techniques since not all parts of the house are created equal. For instance, there are rooms or areas in the house which are more viable and profitable when addressed accordingly. Hence, know what adds the most value to your property and put your utmost attention and resources into it.

It is imperative that you know what must be included and placed on top of your priority list for your home remodeling project. Prior to touching anything in the house for updates, make sure that you have a clear plan ahead, envisioning what you deem necessary and helpful in boosting the worth of your house. If you do not have initial plans, you certainly risk costly losses due to unpredicted mistakes and discoveries while in the middle of your renovation process.

There are two salient parts of the house which are primarily considered focal points in terms of its selling potentials. These are the first areas where potential home buyers basically look into and great influence their decisions whether or not to buy your house. The kitchen is one of the most important areas of the house since it is the most frequented and used. Most family functions, gatherings and even day to day conversations and activities are commonly shared in the kitchen or dining area. Furthermore, this is where you prepare the food that nourishes your body for your everyday function. Thus you basically need to make sure that the place is truly a venue for your wellness and overall quality of living.

Start your home enhancement by checking repair and fixture issues in your kitchen such as the plumbing, drainage and electrical systems facilitating your daily kitchen activities. Make sure that you promptly and accordingly addressed these issues since it gravely affects the property’s worth in the market. You may also need to consider the flooring, walls, faucets, dishwashing and built-in appliances if they are properly functioning or not. The same process of upgrading is equally important in your bathroom through checking the components for some defects that needed fixtures.

Adding value to your home is of utmost importance if your ultimate goal is towards profitability and a productive venture in real estate.

By: Marikor Hidalgo

Contractors can make the process of completing a home remodeling project quite pleasant…or a total nightmare. So choose carefully. And if you choose to hire unlicensed contractors, be sure to know the applicable laws in your state…as well as the potential risks and liabilities you are assuming.

Even if you prefer to do it yourself (DIY), there will be times when you need the services of outside contractors. One way to save money is to act as your own general contractor and deal with the subcontractors and skilled labor directly — although you should be prepared to handle lots of associated headaches. You can try beating the bushes for reasonably-priced, high-quality workers on your own. It has worked well for me. For example, I learned that our hard-working maintenance gardeners were also competent at simple fencing, plumbing, irrigation, grading, and brickwork. Ask around through your network of friends and neighbors. Also, I’ve met good workers by chatting up the crowd on my trips to the local home improvement store (be sure to ask for references, though!).

However, I wouldn’t suggest doing it this way on large renovations or new construction — it’s just too much for an amateur to handle. But it has worked for me on the smaller updating, upgrading and enhancement projects that I focus on (although I’ve had my share of bad experiences).

Beware that if the workers you hire are not licensed, bonded and insured or if they are not legal residents, you might run the risk of getting entangled in legal or liability issues — not to mention ethical questions. If you hire unlicensed workers, be sure to check out the laws in your state. For example, in California, any contractor who is paid more than $500 for a job technically must be licensed by the state board. Also, unlicensed contractors are not covered by state worker’s compensation. The California Contractors State License Board (cslb.ca.gov) recommends that homeowners get at least three bids, ask to see their license, and be wary of door-to-door solicitors.

You can certainly save a lot of money by acting as your own general contractor and hiring your own specialty subcontractors — licensed or unlicensed. However, when you use unlicensed workers, you might end up spending a lot more if you have to bring in people later to fix problems. So make sure you have confidence in who you hire — particularly for plumbing and electrical, in which the consequences of shoddy work can be catastrophic, and likely leave the liability squarely on your shoulders.

Let me leave you with one more tip. Try to avoid paying any contractor in advance — for construction materials or anything else. There is nothing worse than having a contractor start the demolition stage, but then leave your project idle for days at a time because another (ostensibly more important) client needs him to do a new project or repair an older one. You won’t be in a position to fire him and bring in someone else if you’ve already paid him a chunk of money upfront — and all the while your house remains a shambles from the demo. In other words, don’t give away all the leverage!

Seek simplicity, comfort and value!

By: Laura Martindale

It’s time to remodel your home, and you’re looking for a contractor that you can trust and someone who will give you a reasonable and fair price for your remodeling project. There’s nothing new here, people have been looking for the same thing for years.

This is probably one of the best home remodeling or home repair magazine topics and will continue to be for many years. There are thousands of remodeling contractors out there who seem to do pretty good work. Some of these remodeling contractors even separate themselves by doing exceptional work and over delivering.

So how do I actually find a good home remodeling contractor? I’ve looked in the Yellow Pages, I’ve asked all of my friends and they all tell me the same thing. I have someone that I would recommend, they do pretty good work and I think that you would be happy with them.

I don’t think this is what you’re looking for, when you’re trying to find a good, and I would like to emphasis the word good home remodeling contractor. You’re not looking for a referral from somebody who was satisfied, you’re looking for a referral from someone who was extremely happy.

Where are these contractors located? Here’s the best piece of advice that I could ever give anyone who is looking for a home remodeling contractor. Stay away from online services. Some of these services charge hefty fees to their contractors. I know one that charges 10% of the total price of your job. In other words if you hire a home improvement contractor from this particular online contractor referral service, you can expect them to add at least 10% to the overall total cost of your job.

Most of the referrals that I have gotten and seen others receive, often seemed to produce the same results as having a monkey select someone out of the phone book. In other words, I have met quite a few homeowners who weren’t very happy with their referrals.

I would like to leave you with the best tip that I could possibly give any homeowner who is looking for a remodeling contractor. Go with your gut feeling, write down a few questions to ask your contractor and asked them. If you’re not comfortable with his personality or any of the answers that these contractors have given you, try to find another contractor who you get along with.

It’s not always going to be the best price, the lowest estimate, the best referral or even hiring a contractor who has completed the greatest number of jobs. Sometimes, you simply need to use your intuition, along with the information that you have gathered to make the best decision about hiring any remodeling contractors.

By: Greg Vandenberge

Regardless if you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer, the days of just picking up your hammer and starting a home addition or home remodeling project are long over. It is critical that you first make your municipality aware of your home building intentions.

Municipalities are increasingly cracking down on the weekend DIY construction homeowner to protect themselves against possible future lawsuits, and to maximize their property tax revenue. If you don’t contact them, be assured someone else in your neighborhood will, so before you have legal problems and fines to contend with, it is best to contact them first.

Also note that besides legal issues and fines associated with not pulling permits, municipalities also can require the destruction of the home addition.

There are federal, state and local building codes that municipalities require in home construction. These codes are in place to protect the occupants of the home, and others living near or around the home from fire, collapsed framing construction, electrical shock and many other dangers that can occur when a home or home addition is not constructed properly.

These codes also serve to protect the investment in your home. Most of today’s homebuyers request a home inspection as part of the purchase and sales agreement. If a home inspection determines your home addition does not meet home construction codes then chances are the buyers will renege on their offer, and rightfully so. To ultimately sell your home you will probably need to bring your home addition or home remodeling project up to legal building codes. As a result, you will wind up ultimately spending more money in the end on the project by not pulling the permits during the pre-construction phase of it.

The other advantage in pulling the appropriate permits on a new home addition or home remodeling project is that you enable your project to be regularly checked during the construction by the local building inspector. As a result, you can feel more comfortable knowing that the project not only meets the national and local building codes, but is also safe and your financial investment is protected.

The costs of building permits are quite minor, relative to the total cost of a home addition or home remodeling project, and consequently there should be no excuse not to pull them. Yes the permit process may force you to use licensed contractors that you had previously no intention in hiring, but again this cost delta is peanuts compared to a cease and desist, or deconstruct order from the town or city.

Not pulling permits on a home addition project is fraught with danger and liabilities, and the liabilities can last the life of the home addition. Consequently, if you are planning to build a home addition, always go to your local municipal building inspector first and determine what permits you will need. In some cases you may be able to pull the permits yourself, and in other cases a licensed contractor will need to pull them for you.

By: Mark Donovan

At any point in the life of your New York home, the need to hire contractors will inevitably arise whether for emergency repairs or a grand remodeling project. In fact, one of the keys to a successful home improvement is craftsmanship and to afford your project one of the essentials to an efficient completion, it is important that you give much attention to which service you choose. Whether you are in Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, or Manhattan; give the best bang for every remodeling buck by choosing the right contractors.

Finding Contractors

Looking for professionals is not so hard a task but finding the most qualified one to handle your project in the most time and cost-efficient manner is what’s hard. Knowing where to look is crucial to avoid getting ripped off by cons.

The most effective as well as most damaging form of marketing is word of mouth, so try and look around for well-reputed contractors. The best resource there is are referrals from your circle of trusted people from your close family to friends and neighbors who have worked successfully with the same home improvement.

Other sources are your local building department, contractors’ websites, and your local associations of homebuilders and renovators. Be wary about referrals that you get from home improvement stores. They might have been mentioned out of some referral-fee-scheme.

Factors to Consider

Choose contractors that have everything that it takes to make a success out of your home improvement including the skill set when it comes not only to technical matters but interpersonal and business as well. Other than these qualities, here are other things to check on:

· Membership and good reputation at your local BBB or Better Business Bureau.

· Valid and proper coverage of insurance

· Appropriate licenses and trainings that make them qualified to take on tasks, especially if the renovation involves areas needing specific expertise such as electrical systems and plumbing

· Satisfied referrals to backup quality of work and professionalism

Taking the time to make sure that your contractor candidate has all these will avoid problems along the way that can be both disastrous as well as costly. Make sure that you work with someone who has the experience and has already established a name in the industry. Other than knowing how to go about the actual remodeling, the experience and network helps professionals know what to do when problems arise as well get subcontractors and immediate professional help when necessary.

Getting Multiple Bids

To land only with the best contractors, it is important to get multiple bids from at least three qualified candidates. By doing so, you can further evaluate what each of them has to offer other than skills, experience, and quality results. With the different bids at hand, compare the scope of work they will be covering, the timeline and rates inclusive of the service. Comparing such would help you decide who offers the best deal as well as spot scams such as hidden fees and other project cheats.

By: Eugene G. Makeev

If you are taking up home improvement project for the first time, it might seem to be a tough task to accomplish. However, you would be happy to know that it is actually not as tough as it sounds! You just have to be careful about the home improvement contractor you are hiring, the budget you are keeping aside for the project and most importantly, the improvements or changes that you want in your house.

Although there are quite a number of things that you might consider while taking up such project, here are some common remodeling considerations:

* Areas which sustain moisture or water throughout the year – like bathroom, basements, and often kitchens – should be considered for mold remediation and water cleaning.

* You can consider converting the spare spaces in the attic and basement into usable rooms. You could also remodel your interiors to make it spacious and airy. This might also help in increase the value of your property too!

* Consider the quality of materials you are using for the project. Use of good quality sinks, cabinets, appliances and other materials should be preferred even if you have to pay a few dollars more. Use of cheap items apart from causing inconveniences to the homeowners might even reduce the value of your home.

While these are some common considerations for home improvement project, there are certain things that you should keep in mind. Firstly, if you are taking on the remodeling project just to improve the value of the property and is considering a resale soon. In that case, you should avoid expensive home improvement projects and ask the home improvement contractor to do just the bit which would increase the value of your house.

It is also important to research to determine the average value of houses in your neighborhood. You should only do enough improvement of the house to match the average cost of houses in your area. The improvement project should never be so high so as to gulp down your profits in selling the house.

But, remodeling projects should never be tried based on the do-it-yourself tips you might find over the Internet. Ignorance about the home remodeling task and the ways to operate the machines and equipment might cause fatal accidents and other health hazards.

By: Alice M Shown

Home improvement refers to the process of making changes and modifications to the appearance and facilities in your home. It includes recreating your bedrooms, bathrooms, home office, kitchen, decks, patios, garage, etc. This is often the result of not being happy with your home’s ambience or facilities. People have a concept about the way their home should look and feel. When it isn’t so, home improvement remodeling is the answer.

Remodeling your home includes activities such as recreating your kitchen, bathroom, basement, attic, doors, roofing, decks, drywalls, and patios. It is intended to provide a complete makeover for your home. But how would you go about this activity? The following tips can help you with your project.

1. First, be clear about what is it that you want to change. How could you convert it so that it is closer to your dream home? But, above all this, you need to consider how the remodeling would impact the overall look and feel of your home.
2. Talk to family and friends who have already remodeled their homes. Understanding other’s experiences and taking a look at already finished jobs would be helpful in ensuring that you know what you are getting into.
3. Plan ahead to ensure that your home improvement project completes successfully. Now, you have an idea of what you want and how things will shape up, therefore a little planning will go a long way in ensuring that your home is remodeled successfully.
4. Understanding your budget limitations is the next important step. It is essential that you plan your finances and use it effectively so that you are not left with a broken home and an empty purse.
5. Home improvement is as crucial a project as home construction. If things are not planned well it could lead to a lot of disappointment and frustration. Therefore, ensure that you are satisfied with the work that is being performed.

What are the important steps in your home improvement remodeling project?

1. Create a design and a plan for your project. You need to ensure that your plans do not cross your budget limitations. Identify things that you can do yourself and those that require professional expertise.
2. Ensure that your foundation, sidings, roof, and windows are sturdy and stable. These are aspects that would remain even if you renovate or remodel your home in the future.
3. One of the most important aspects in remodeling is demolishing the existing structure to make way for the new. Great care needs to be given to this aspect, as it should not affect other parts of your home. It includes structural carpentry activities such as re-constructing or moving walls, modifying windows, doors, and stairways, etc and requires professional help.
4. Ensure that all remodeling and renovation work are completed before you install your flooring. This will avoid damage to your floor surface. Then, re-install or replace your windows and doors. Once all this is done, it is time for your interior decoration. You can start with installing your sidings.
5. The final touch includes aspects such as sunroom, swimming pools, etc. After all these enhancements are completed, your project comes to a successful conclusion.

By: Amanda W Jacobs

Green building has been all the rage the last couple of years and for good reason. Reducing waste, conserving and re-purposing materials and creating a sustainable structure and project benefit’s everyone and protects the environment.

But did you know that you could apply these same principals when hiring home remodeling contractors that will protect your money by reducing the potential for wasting it while creating clear and concise guidelines that both parties can consistently depend on to guide them throughout the project?

Using these same principals when planning to hire the right contractor for your project will translate into a successful and satisfying remodeling project. There are 3 very simple but key strategies homeowners can incorporate that will give them a sustainable project that moves forward with fewer problems, less waste and conserves their money.

A homeowner can reduce wasting their money by:

#1. Reducing their exposure to “extra work” not covered in the contract and spec sheet. Extra work becomes a “change order” which means more unexpected money is spent. The potential to go over budget becomes very real if you’re not familiar with these risks. Solution: Never assume oral agreements made will be part of the contract. Having a thoroughly written specifications sheet that spells out every detail of the scope of work to be performed, materials and supplies that are to be used in the project.

A homeowner can conserve their time, energy and money by:

#2. Reducing their exposure to Mechanic’s Liens filed against their property. It’s not uncommon for homeowners having to pay twice for work or supplies that were “presumably” already paid for by the general contractor.Solution: Stipulate in the contract that the contractor is to obtain all Lien Releases from subcontractors and material suppliers for the work performed to date upon each payment made to him.

#3. Hire the right contractor whose business ethics, competency and proven track record are transparent and verifiable. Choosing a contractor with little research on the part of the homeowner, other than a license check is a recipe for disaster. Solution: A homeowner must go beyond the usual check licenses, references and complaint history. Conducting a thorough background search that reveals related lawsuits, complaints filed with online consumer agencies, verifying various insurance coverage’s and conducting an extensive interview related to past performance and customer care.

These 3 simple strategies contribute to creating a sustainable project that will have fewer problems with less waste in money, time and energy spent.
Choosing the right contractor, knowing and protecting your rights along with having a thoroughly written agreement that provides clear direction in performing the work translates into a positive “green” renovation experience for everyone.

By: Jody Costello

Hiring a competent and reliable contractor is essential to making sure that the job is done right. While it may seem as if it should be as easy as opening the yellow pages and choosing one in your area, smart homeowners know that finding a good contractor takes as much time and effort as other aspects of your remodeling job.

Remember, the person you choose to do the work for you will have complete access to your home and family for several days or even weeks, so you must be completely comfortable with having them in your home for an extended period of time. The best way to find a contractor that you can trust is to:

Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers for referrals Check references with people the contractor has done work for in the past Ask salespeople at the local lumber yard or home renovation center who they recommend Check with your local zooming and/or code enforcement office for a list of licensed contractors in your area

Once you find a few contractors that you’d like to consider using for your remodeling project, it’s time to schedule an interview. The Federal Trade Commission suggests that homeowners ask the following questions to determine if a contractor is right for you and your project:

How Long Have You Been In Business? Are You Registered and Licensed With the State and Local Building Authorities? How Many Projects Like Mine Have You Completed in the Past Year? May I Contact Some of Your Former Clients? Will You Be Hiring Any Subcontractors for This Project? What Types of Insurance Do You Carry?

Once you’ve chosen your new contractor, be sure to insist that you get all the details of your project (including price and delivery estimates/completion dates), in writing before paying any deposits. A written contract is essential to ensuring that the work is done properly and on time.

Unfortunately, not every contractor is reputable, and homeowners need to be on the look-out for potential rip-offs. Here are a few things to watch for when hiring a contractor:

Door-to-door solicitation. Offers to use leftover materials from another job. A contractor who only accepts cash payments. Someone who insists on receiving payment in full before commencing work. Pressure to make an on-the-spot decision. Offers to help you secure financing with their own “lender”.

Hiring a reputable contractor seems like it should be easy, but oftentimes it isn’t. Homeowners should be aware of the dangers of hiring the wrong person to work on their home and take all necessary steps to ensure that the work is completed to their specifications, timetable and budget.

By: Matt Hick

1. What experience does your contractor have with this type of project?

How much experience does the home improvement contractor have in doing projects like yours? Does s/he specialize in this type of project, or will s/he be using your home as a learning project? Typically, contractors who have done several projects like yours will have a better idea of the actual costs and production issues involved in your project. Remember, however, that every remodeling project is a little different, and it is doubtful that any contractor has ever done a job EXACTLY like yours.

2. Who will be doing the actual work?

Will the individual you’re talking to be doing the work himself, or will they be using subcontractors or employees? Each scenario has its own advantages and disadvantages, but make sure you know what to expect on your job. Who will you ask questions once the project begins? Should you talk to the subcontractors, a jobsite manager, or the owner of the business? It is very important you have one person who will consistently answer your questions and not give you the run around.

3. What happens if changes are required to the initial bid?

What is the contractors’ process for making changes in the middle of the project? Most times you would like to avoid making changes mid-project but there can be unforeseen obstacles that arrive and it is good to know ahead of time how your contractor will deal with those obstacles. Most contractors use some sort of change order form that details the exact work and cost involved in changes once work has begun.

4. Am I prepared to be flexible when the unexpected arises?

Invariably, every job has something that wasn’t planned on come up. Delays due to weather, unforeseen conditions which present themselves once walls are torn down, changes to design or material choices, and problems with employees or subcontractors can all upset the planned flow of the project. Are you prepared to be flexible and work with your contractor to find solutions when these problems arise?

5. How do I feel about working with this contractor?

What is your gut feeling on working with this individual? Do you trust him or her? How do you feel about their design ideas as compared to your own? Can you communicate openly and clearly with this person? If it’s a remodeling project, how do you feel about this person being in your house for several days or weeks at a time often when you are not home? This is a really important factor to consider if you don’t trust this person don’t hire them.

By: Gregg Hicks