Spending Smartly During Your Remodel
If you have started a home improvement project recently, you understand that home remodeling costs can be a very expensive. As a result, you likely are looking for ways through which you can save some money on the overall costs of your particular project. To this end, you would be well served if you could trim expenses associated with the purchase of those tools that you do need for your particular home improvement project.
One method that you might want to utilize for trimming the cost associated with the tools you need for your home improvement project is to purchase refurbished tools for your home improvement endeavor. You may be wondering what, exactly, are refurbished tools. In simple terms, refurbished tools are those that have had a previous owner. Once that owner has finished with one or another of these refurbished tools, they are sold to a business that specializes in refurbishing — tuning up and “remodeling,” if you will — previously used home improvement tools and pieces of equipment. Thus, these tools end up in better shape than they were in when the original owner parted with the items.
There are some definite benefits to buying and using refurbished tools. First and foremost, these items tend to be significantly cheaper than similar items purchased new. Indeed, you can save a significant amount of money by purchasing refurbished rather than new tools for your particular home improvement project.
In addition to being less expensive than new products, refurbished tools normally are in very decent shape and condition. While not new per se, these tools tend to be as close to new as is possible when it comes to previously owned and utilized products.
If you are interested in finding and buying refurbished tools for your own home improvement project, the Internet is a solid starting point for your search. By surfing around the Net, you should be able to find a decent selection of different opportunities through which you can make the purchase of refurbished tools.
There are also a wide array of different stores in the brick and mortar world that feature refurbished tools within their inventories. In short, there are many options available to you when it comes to resources for refurbished tools. These can help contain home remodeling costs.
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Your Children During Your Remodel
Des Plaines, Ill., May 23, 2006 Summer break and peak remodeling season clash every year, as if home remodeling costs weren’t bad enough monetarily, bringing workers into homes filled with curious and energetic young ones. As the two seasons get into full-swing, there is growing excitement over fresh ideas and new experiences. Now is the time for homeowners with children to plan for necessary precautions that should be undertaken during a home remodel. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers the following tips to keep children out of harm’s way during a remodel.
Communication is Key “Communicate with your remodeling contractor openly and let him or her know what to expect while working in your household,” urged Everett Collier, CR, President of NARI, “inform them about your children, their ages, their behavior patterns and how mischief-prone they may be so the contractor’s crew can be safety-aware at all times.” He also recommends having a discussion about where tools and materials will be stored, who will be responsible for cleaning the area, and what sections of wall or floor can be covered at the end of the day. Ask to be notified on days when the remodeling crew will be carrying in large pieces of equipment or building materials and plan an activity for your children that day.
Communicate with your children as well, and be sure both they and you can anticipate the number of workers likely to be in the house at a given time, and the general work hours. Consider the proximity of the work area to your child’s room or play area, and if necessary, designate a new, safe area for play and toy storage. It’s also important to set safety rules that they will need to follow while the work crews are present.
If possible, designate an entrance for workers’ use only, and advise your children never to use that entrance. This will help keep children out of the contractor’s way, and vice versa.
Environmental Hazards Lead is always an important consideration while remodeling, but it is especially significant in its harmful effects on children. Lead-based paint from the demolition portion of a project can send paint dust airborne. Lead paint is often found in homes built before 1978 and can be especially detrimental to young children. Review the risks with your remodeling contractor or check with your local Environmental Protection Agency office for guidelines to follow. Be cognizant of when your remodeling contractor will be using hazardous chemicals and work with them to devise a proper ventilation plan. Planning a short get-away is sometimes advised after the use of strong chemical agents to allow the home to properly air out.
Windows and Ladders Another safety area to consider is an open window. Try to keep ladders and tempting easy-to-climb structures away from open windows. Remember that insect screens are meant for keeping out insects, and won’t suffice in protecting your child from a fall.
Adding a Pool? The child with the pool is the most popular kid on the block, which makes you the most responsible parent. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 350 children under the age of 5 drown each year in residential pools, and thousands more are treated each year for near-drowning accidents. Preventative safety measures can be taken in the pool-building process. During the design process, consider the proximity of the pool to the house. If it is very close to a second-story deck, or even overhanging tree branches, children might be tempted to jump from the structure into the pool. Those are some home remodeling costs you don’t want to have to consider.
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Getting Your Home Appraised
Before obtaining the services of an appraiser to have your house appraised for the purposes of selling your own home, make sure they are licensed, experienced and knowledgeable in the area of property you want appraised. Also make sure they don’t skimp on data sources just to save money; a qualified house appraiser should use up to date sources to insure the appraisal will be as accurate as possible.
Make any necessary minor home improvements. This includes leaky faucets, missing door handles, missing kitchen cupboard and drawer knobs or handles, missing or damaged trim work, broken light fixtures or light switches, cracked windows, torn screens, etc.
It would be worth while to install smoke detectors on all floors, especially near bedrooms. Repaint surfaces that haven’t been painted since 1978 – since many paints before at time were contaminated with lead. Also make sure all stairways, inside and out, have sturdy handrails. These measures increase the safety status of your home.
If carpet visibly needs cleaning, acquire the services of a professional carpet cleaner. Steam/hot water is best for the most through cleaning possible. Unless carpet is Berber or sculptured, have the professional carpet cleaner groom the carpet after cleaning so that fibers in the traffic area dry in an upright position, enhancing carpet’s appearance.
When setting up an appointment to have your house appraised, ask the appraiser if there are certain things that should be done before they arrive.
When getting ready to have your house appraised, have the following documents ready:
1.) Any written property agreements. This might include a maintenance agreement for shared property, such as a drive way, hedge divider, etc.
2.) Your home inspection report, which should be done before acquiring the services of a house appraiser.
3.) Any other important reports that relate to your property, such as water/soil analysis, reports for termites, septic systems, etc.
4.) A “brag sheet” that lists all notable home improvements, including the when the improvement was made and cost. Include such home improvements as interior, exterior painting, paneling, siding, the addition of central air conditioning, a new roof or roof repairs, remodeling of rooms, finishing off a basement or attic, permanent lighting, light fixtures, etc. Also include building permit confirmation, if applicable.
5.) Any other relevant information, such as a purchase agreement, if a sale is pending.
When the house appraiser arrives:
1.) Be sure all areas of the home are accessible. This also means the attic, basement, crawl spaces, and garage.
2.) Make sure the house is clutter free for maximum visual effect.
3.) Make sure house has no mal odor, and has a pleasant fragrance. Before the house appraiser leaves, ask when you can expect a copy of the appraisal report for your real estate listing.
A word about FSBO advertisements
More and more, homeowners are taking the initiative and selling their own home. Because many buyers prefer working directly with the home owner instead of going through a real estate agent, advertisements that include FSBO (for sale by owner) are very appealing.
Homeowners who do their research and become knowledgeable about the process of selling their own home can be more flexible about asking price, while realizing more money in pocket.
By using multi venues for advertising their real estate, home owners stand a greater chance of making a quick sale. Advertising FSBO online can be especially effective. Not only can it be more cost effective than other types of advertising, but the advertisement is available to potential home buyers world-wide; 7-days a week, 24-hours a day.
There is another benefit to FSBO advertising online. At Virtual Real Estate Listings, at www.virtualrealestatelistings.net, for instance, a modest one-time fee provides a professionally written, full page advertisement, complete with interior and exterior pictures; information on the surrounding area where the property is located and contact information is also provided. And, the advertisement remains posted until the property sells!
A considerable amount of money can be saved when advertising through newspaper classifieds, photo classifieds, and FSBO publication advertisements. How? By purchasing much smaller space for smaller ads in these type venues, and including the URL to the online advertisement.
A descriptive ad in newspapers and FSBO publications isn’t necessary, because all information about the property for sale is already online, waiting to be discovered!
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Managing Your Stress Levels During the Build
Aside from the monetary burdens of remodeling, there are also several other factors when you choose to redo and area of your home that can lead to a significant amount of stress. Depending on the area you are redoing and the amount of work involved, remodeling can be an experience that throws the entire family for a loop and may take a long time to be finished.
One of the areas in which stress can factor highly is the presence of workers who are doing the remodeling in your home. Many homeowners have started to attempt their own remodeling, but the fact remains that there are some projects, such as installing ceramic tile floors and even painting- that require a professional to do the job right. Many people just do not have the time to try do-it-yourself remodeling. In these cases, the homeowner will have to deal with people from outside of the family using the home on a regular basis.
For most of us, our home is our sanctuary, where we can get away from the pressures of work and can relax among the people who love us. Having workers in the home takes away a lot of the sense of privacy critical to the enjoyment of our homes and the relaxation of the day. It is important that when you hire people to do your remodeling job for you that you make them aware of the ground rules in your house. Remember, they are your employees and you have the right to tell them some basic rules about the usage of your house. If you do not like the workers using areas of the house that they are not working in, make sure to tell them so. Also make sure to provide them with the ideal path in terms of exiting and entering the work area. It may sound strange, but you might also consider getting to know the workers a little bit. A degree of familiarity can take away the stress that may come with the belief that a total stranger is in your home.
Another area in which remodeling may add considerable stress is in the access to your home and especially in certain areas. If you are planning on remodeling your entryway, you will want to make sure that you have an alternative entry point and that it is easily accessible to the whole family.
There are several ways to totally reduce the stress that comes with remodeling. One way is to make plans to be out of the house when the remodeling is taking place- plan your vacation around the schedule. If you take this route, make sure that there is someone such as a neighbor who can check up on the work being done and ensure the schedule is being adhered to. You could also consider staying with family or friends in town, although many people will find that this just adds a different kind of stress to the remodeling process!
Finally, make sure that the remodeling is set to a precise schedule. Day after day of sawing and hammering will inevitably begin to grate on the nerves, and studies have shown that humans have a greater tolerance for ordeals when there is a definite end pointing sight.
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Finding the Right Contractor
In today’s world the most valuable asset owned by people is their home. And when considering any size home improvement project, protecting this investment should be top priority.
If you are planning for renovating or remodeling your home and facing difficulty in finding the proper contractor, here are some tips to be keep in mind while selecting a contractor for your home improvement project.
How to find a Qualified Contractor:
One source for locating a qualified, experienced contractor is from other people who have had similar remodeling work done. When talking with contractors, request references and take the time to check them out.
Check with a service that keeps track records of various contractors.
You can also use online resources and directory for locating a qualified contractor in your area. You can also use sites like LocalContractorBids.com, where you can submit your project so that contractors can place a bid on your project. After reviewing all the bids you can select the most appropriate one.
Hire only a home improvement contractor with strong referrals and high rankings. Depending on the type of project you are planning, you may need to deal with any of the following professional contractors:
Architects are designers of homes, buildings, and home improvement remodeling projects. You may want to consult one if your project includes new construction or structural changes.
Questions you should ask to Possible Candidates:
How long have you been contracting? What licenses and certifications do you carry? How many projects have you completed in the last year; what were they, and who were they for? How many years you are working on home improvement projects? “What references do you have? Will there be any subcontractors, and if so what are their credentials? What insurance coverage do you have? What permits are required for my project?”
Also check with the appropriate government office to see whether or not there are any unresolved complaints against the contractor before making your final selection.
Call all references and ask questions such as: Was the project completed on time and were you happy with the results? How well did the contractor communicate with you throughout the project? Were there any cost over-runs?
Also ask if the contractor employee’s were on time, courteous, and whether or not they cleaned up the home improvement site when they were finished?
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