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With
the cost of labor on the rise, you can save yourself lots of money
if you do-it-yourself.
Most
of the people that have a
remodeling contractor build their home today run
into problems. You get into your new home and find that you missed
a few things on the walkthrough. Now you have to call the
remodeling contractor back and have him make it right. Good Luck! You may have wanted
to have upgrades in your house but the cost made it out of your
budget and so you passed or maybe will add it later. Either way,
you still don't have what you wanted.
You
can be the
remodeling contractor or owner builder as it is called. It may not
be for everyone, but you are going to be in control of every aspect
of the building of your new home, addition or
home remodeling project.
You
don't have to know everything about what you are doing and there
are books on almost every subject on
home remodeling. You can read
on, that will tell you and show you how a job is done properly.
This and common sense will often keep you out of trouble.
If
you are a handy type person, there are so many things you can do
for yourself and save the harder chores and projects for a sub-contractor.
When the time comes and only after you have done your part of the
construction, you will have saved yourself thousands of dollars.
What is the worst that can happen? You'll have to pay him to correct
your work anyway. You may surprise yourself finding out that you
are able to do more than you thought.
The
steps that are going to save you the most money is the planning,
shopping, and execution of each phase of your project. Some states
require you to be a licensed contractor, but you can also apply
as owner builder and do it yourself. You will still have to get
insurance to protect yourself and anyone that walks on your property.
To
save yourself even more money, make a company name up doing business
, and apply for a tax-exempt form, so when
it comes time to buy materials, you can reap the rewards of buying
the materials at wholesale. For example, Kitchen cabinets retailing
for $5,000 would cost $1,200.00 wholesale.
Don't be taken! If you find you need to take a course to learn
about tiling or wallpapering, check with your local stores. They hold classes for the public and most are free
to attend.
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If
you're hiring a
remodeling contractor to do repairs or renovations in your
house, you'll want to make sure that he or she can do the job. Here
is a list of questions you can ask to garner essential information
before making your choice.
1.
Does the
remodeling contractor have appropriate experience for the renovation?
Approximately 80 percent of today’s builders are trained exclusively
in new construction techniques, and they “pick up” experience with
existing structures along the way. If a renovation involves work
on an existing home—and especially if you live in a historic district
or historic home—make sure the
remodeling contractor has the right experience
so that your home does not become a learning laboratory for the
remodeling contractor.
2.
Has the
remodeling contractor worked with
the architect or other skilled workers on previous jobs? A
remodeling contractor with a proven
history of good communication with the project’s architect can help
get the renovation done in a timely manner.
3.
Can you communicate effectively with the
remodeling contractor? You will find
yourself dealing directly with the
remodeling contractor throughout the course
of your project. If the
remodeling contractor dismisses questions or comments
with a “Sure, sure, I know what you want,” beware. A discussion
with the
remodeling contractor’s former clients about the contractor’s ability
to communicate may be in order.
4.
Does the
remodeling contractor have experience with your type of home? Specifications
for home construction are very different from commercial construction.
Make sure the
remodeling contractor has a thorough knowledge of local building
and safety codes. Ask to tour some projects the contractor has completed.
Look especially at the quality of trim work details, which often
reveals the overall handiwork and attention to finer points.
5.
How soon can the
remodeling contractor get started, and how much time will
he or she have to complete the project? You may find the perfect
remodeling contractor only to discover there are several clients already on
the waiting list and work cannot start for months. Or perhaps the
remodeling contractor has several jobs scheduled three weeks from now, and
your renovation will take at least six weeks to complete. You must
decide if you want that
remodeling contractor’s services badly enough to wait
for the repairs or renovation to begin.
6.
Does the
remodeling contractor guarantee the work? A good
remodeling contractor will want
to do the utmost to ensure your satisfaction with the repair or
renovation work. Ask what kind of guarantees the
remodeling contractor offers
on the kinds of work to be done on your home.
You
will also want to find out how the
remodeling contractor expects to be paid.
There are three main types of approaches to renovation and repair
fees:
1.
Guaranteed maximum price (GMP). The
remodeling contractor states the maximum
price that the project will cost and guarantees the project within
that cost.
2.
Bid or stipulated-sum. A fixed price is given for a defined scope
of work. Cost savings on the job goes to the
remodeling contractor and changes
to the original plan are charged to you.
3.
Cost-plus-fixed fee contract approach. All actual invoices are submitted
to you and you pay the labor and material costs plus a flat fee.
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If you’re getting ready
to sell your house, you’re probably wondering how to get the highest
offer with a minimum investment. After all, what good does it do
to work hard on a house you’re going to be leaving? There are many
simple, inexpensive things you can do to improve the appeal of the
home you’re selling to make it much more attractive to buyers.
The most important factor in selling
a house is curb appeal. Many potential buyers will simply drive
by your house and determine if it deserves a second look. Make sure
this first impression is a good one by creating an attractive view.
Keep your lawn mowed and edged. Trim bushes and shrubs neatly, and
make sure walkways are clear. Decorate conservatively according
to season. If it’s winter, keep walkways and driveways shoveled
and salted and avoid gaudy holiday decorations. If it’s spring,
hopefully you’ve planned ahead with lots of bulbs that will sprout
and flower. If it’s summer, plant beds of annual flowers to spruce
up the yard. If it’s fall, keep leaves raked to emphasize neatness
and draw less attention to the yard work required. Apply a fresh
coat to all painted surfaces, in a neutral color. Take a look at
your home as you drive toward it on the street and try to see it
from a visitor’s point of view.
When the potential buyer tours the
inside of your home, he or she will not be interested in how well
you’ve organized your belongings. The buyers will want to visualize
their own furniture in the space, and to see how much work needs
to be done to make it home – for them. Keep your home clutter-free
and store anything that doesn’t add to the decor in your own furniture
instead of in the closets. You may consider renting a storage space
for anything not needed during the time your house is on the market,
especially items of personal value. Not only will this create the
illusion that your home is roomier than it actually is, it will
also help buyers visualize the home as theirs.
Paint is the cheapest and easiest
home improvement for home sellers. If there are rooms painted in
unusual colors, or rooms that appear dark and small, a coat of white
paint will easily transform those areas into attractive spaces.
White paint is safe – it’s a blank canvas and makes any room appear
brighter. Avoid painting any areas that aren’t already painted,
such as bare wood or cement, unless they’re in a bad condition.
Be honest about your home’s flaws,
such as leaky plumbing or a poor roof. If the defect will detract
from the home’s curb appeal, fix it before the home is on the market.
If it’s a concern for potential buyers after they look around, decide
in advance how much you will drop your asking price in consideration
of the problem, and choose whether it’s better to fix it or lower
your price. Keep in mind that in average market conditions, sellers
will lower their price or make other arrangements to meet buyers’
demands, and that no house is perfect. Don’t do too much for your
potential buyers – your return may not be worth it. It may be better
to reject an offer and wait for something better than to agree to
home repairs or upgrades to make the sale.
By doing some planning and simple
repairs and upgrades, you can increase the market value of your
home dramatically and improve its chances for quick sale. Make it
attractive from the curb, reduce clutter, and apply fresh paint,
and potential buyers will be suitably impressed. Be honest about
flaws but don’t agree to more work than the offer is worth. Take
your time and be prepared to reject unreasonable offers – have confidence
in the work you’ve done to prepare your home for sale.
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What to look for when hiring a home