Home Remodeling

Home Remodeling – Does It Pay to Spend Less?

It pays to spend less whenever you can, right? Well, not necessarily. There are some cases where the “less is more” principle doesn’t work.

Being cheap cuts costs for the moment, but usually cause you to incur additional greater expenses in the long run. That ends up being the antithesis of frugality. In other words, you’re throwing money down the toilet.

Here are a few instances where thriftiness can backfire:

1. Couponing

10% off, free plans, free sink, free toilet, free granite, free $500 upgrade, free, free, free. This is couponing.

Are you saving money? The answer is no. Let me ask you a simple question: Do you know of any store that allows you to walk inside, take something off the shelf, and happily walk out the door with it? Nothing is free. People can’t pay the mortgage, pay the utilities, or put food on the table by giving stuff away for free. You’re paying for it somewhere. The problem is you don’t know where. It’s hidden. That’s dishonest, deceiving, and just plain wrong. Is this the type of person that you trust in your home with your family? Is this the type of person that you trust you’re hard-earned dollars with?

The moment of truth always comes once the job is started and out comes the change orders, ever-increasing demands for cash to “buy materials”, things don’t get done that were promised and materials you thought you were getting are not what’s installed. Worse, you can’t see the work that was done behind the walls – and this is what’s going to get you big time down the round – and boy will it cost you. Of course, the cell phone number of the person who did the work is no longer in service – how convenient! That’s …

Wallpaper Tips for Your Home Remodeling Jobs

Putting wallpaper on your walls is one of the easiest and quickest ways to completely change the mood and appearance of a room. Wallpaper comes in a wide variety of styles, textures, colors, and designs. Here is some things you need to know to select and buy the right wallpaper for the job.

First of all, you need to estimate how much wallpaper is going to be needed for the project at hand. So here is a general formula to help you find out. First measure the height and width that needs to be covered. Then be sure to add an extra 10 – 15% to cover for waste. Once you have this number you can divide it by the square footage rating of whatever paper that you choose. That should give you the figure of how many rolls of wallpaper you are going to need.

Actually it's not a bad idea to add on a few that extra rolls too, especially if you have a complex pattern that requires it. And besides, you may need to make repairs in the future anyway, so having an extra roll or two available can come in very handy later on.

One warning to be aware of regarding wallpaper is that due to the production process, rolls that may appear to be similar in the store will not always look that way when you actually get them on the wall. That's why wallpaper rolls come in what is called dye lots that identify the rolls that actually match. So be sure as you go through and select your wallpaper, that you look for the rolls that all come from the same dye lot.

Most modern vinyl wallpapers already have paste on the back, so it's just a matter of soaking them in water …

9 Reasons To Remodel Your Home

Are your bored with the existing look of our house? Do you want to increase the value of your house? If so, we suggest that you go for a home remodeling project. This will renew your house in addition to make your rooms a lot more functional. Given below are 9 reasons to do a home renovation project.

Sales potential

For a higher sales potential and value, the exterior of your home carries a lot of importance. For improving the curb appeal, we suggest that you consider a neat landscaping, a new roof, clean shutters and fresh paint.

Prepare for retirement

If you have plans to stay in your house after your retirement, we suggest that you include some age-in-place features, such as step-in showers, special toilets and so on.

Go green

Are you paying a lot for utilities? If so, you can replace your windows with windows that are energy efficient. This will save you a lot on monthly bills.

The Kitchen

Kitchen is the center of every home. This is the place where family and friends tend to get together and spend their time. Most women fall in love with their kitchen. Therefore, we suggest that you consider getting a new stone. Aside from this, you can replace your refrigerator or get a new cabinet for making your kitchen a bit more functional.

Make it right

While your bathroom may be working fine, It’s a good idea to go for new plumbing and remove that old plain mirror. In other words, you should get a framed mirror. Aside from this, you should also do something about the lighting as well.

Countertops

You don’t have to waste your time looking at the avocado countertops. If you can’t invite your friends just because your home has outdated colors, you should …

5 Ways to Forfeit the ROI On Your Home Remodeling Projects

There’s a lot that can go wrong with the remodeling of the interior and exterior of your home. This is why it’s highly recommended that you work together with an outdoor remodeling contractor that is reputable and experienced. The purpose of most home renovation projects is to increase the property value. Of course, the homeowner gets to enjoy the perks while remaining in the property, but ultimately, they will enjoy a larger sale price whenever they decide to put it on the market.

Unfortunately, not all home remodeling projects will yield a sizable ROI. In fact, some may even decrease the value of your property. In order to avoid this, we put together a list of the top ways you can lose the ROI on a remodeling project.

You Decided to Do it Yourself

The problem with do-it-yourselfers is that they typically aren’t professionals in new home construction or remodeling. This means they lack the skill set needed to properly install cabinets, flooring and other types of furniture. Then there’s the issue with measuring – this is very important for making a project look professionally done. If you’re not great with measurements, then you may end up with a crooked countertop and cabinetry. In most cases, it’s always better to hire experts to handle your renovations.

Making it All About the Appearance

If your top priority is to make something look nice, then chances are you’ll end up with mediocre results. A lot of the materials on the market may look nice, but the actual quality is subpar. This is a mistake a lot of cheap landlords make when trying to give their properties a newly decorated look. However, once the tenant moves in, they have issues with warping, tears and other flaws related to poor quality materials. Make sure …

How to Find the Best Home Remodeling Contractor

It’s finally time to tackle that big home improvement project you’ve always wanted to do. Or, you may have waited so long, now you NEED to do the project. Which leads to your first question – “Where do I start?”

Well, the truth is… some jobs are simply too big, too complicated, or require too much time to handle on your own. Whether it’s remodeling a kitchen, installing gutters, or electrical rewiring for your business – you’ll likely need an expert.

A contractor, or subcontractor, can be your ‘knight in shining armor’ when it comes to completing your project. But, wait… you’ve heard so many horror stories connected with “shady contractors” that you’re starting to re-think this re-model. But statistics show that the huge majority of contractors out there are honest and hard-working professionals. Most people are happy with any improvement project they undertake.

“Fine,” you say. “How can I protect myself and make sure I find a great contractor?” I’m glad you asked. Here are some standard tips you can follow to make sure your repair, remodel, or installation goes well:

o Got License? Most states require that a contractor have a license to operate in that state. Once you find a contractor (referrals from friends, the Yellow Pages, or you can click here at http://www.constructiondeal.com to find an expert), you should check to see if he or she has a local contracting license to do the job.

o Check References – get at least three references from satisfied clients. And if you want to get really fanatical, go to the contractor’s current job site. See if the site is messy. Are the workers taking care of the property?

o Get Bids – if you have the luxury, get multiple bids from several contractors. Don’t always assume that the …