Thou shalt... When hiring a contractor!

Ten Do's When Hiring A Contractor For Home Renovations!

Since folks are staying in their homes longer now we all need a little help with how to choose the best contractor! I've learned from experience! Take the extra time up front to avoid heataches and pitfalls later! Stay warm! Darla ;-) 

 

Here are a few tips on hiring a reputable contractor and setting realistic project expectations from Jim Caruk (www.thecarukgroupcom), host of Life Television's Real Renos in Canada.

 

1)      Make sure you're hiring a professional. Check that contractors carry liability insurance and workers' compensation. It's even better if they are members of one or more professional associations (e.g., the National Association of Home Builders; www.nahb.org) that help regulate industry standards.

2)      Ask for references, AND do check them out.

3)      Go see contractors' work - in fact, see work in progress, or else a contractor will show you only finished gems, not how you can expect a project to go.

4)      Don't pick the cheapest or costliest guy on the block. Some companies quote low but nail you for extras, while those with higher quotes may actually be more honest in spelling out everything right from the start.

5)      Allow for the final bill to come within 10 to 15 percent of the original quote. There are always additional expenses along the way, but the final price shouldn't be more than 15 percent from the budget set out.

6)      Plan months ahead. It's true of construction people too: All the good ones are taken, so don't expect to pick up the phone and have someone start next week. If they're any good, they're likely booked solid.

7)      Propose a retainer instead of a deposit. There's no need to pay one-third up front, which some contractors typically ask, unless it's for things, such as kitchen cabinets or windows, that need to be paid for right away. For big jobs just a monthly retainer should be acceptable until the job officially starts and you agree on a pay schedule; a retainer isn't necessary for smaller jobs (e.g., $10,000).

8)      Know the scope of the work to be done. The more you know about what you want and the better you can communicate that to the contractor at the inception of a renovation project, the smoother things can go. Making up your mind, or changing your mind, along the way only eats up time and drives up the final price.

9)      Don't get mad at Mother Nature. Expect weather to affect the project's timelines and maybe even create challenges and setbacks.

10)  Check your ego at the door. Emotions can flare up wherever there's drywall and nails, and some clients start to think they should be directing the project. People ire a contractor because they don't have the time or skills to do the project themselves, so let the professionals do what they know how to do.

 

Be realistic, and keep an open mind. That means setting a realistic plan, then realizing that projects are fluid things that change and that there are always labor pains. Be ready to roll with the punches. ~Angela Pirisi, The Costco Connection, 2/09

Housing Stimulus Means What To You?

 

Hello everyone! I thought you could all benefit from this first hand information from Steve Murray publisher of Real Trends. It's written in easy to understand terms. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Warmest, Darla RealtorDarla@aol.com or 614-431-1003

 

On the Positive Side:

Stimulus advances with tax credit changes

The $790 billion stimulus package hammered out by House and Senate conferees increases the homebuyer tax credit to $8,000, from $7,500, and drops the repayment feature for buyers who hold on to their property for at least three years.   The legislation also extends the effective date of the credit to December 1 from June 30, and extends eligibility to borrowers who buy their home with the help of state or local financial assistance that comes from the proceeds of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  The credit remains open only to first-time buyers (those who haven't owned in at least three years) and some income eligibility restrictions apply, but those are unchanged from the existing program.   Other provisions reportedly in the bill that could help housing markets and communities include:   * FHA and conforming loan limits. Specifics have not been released but reports indicate that the 2008 limits have been reinstated for 2009 ($313,000 purchase limit for Columbus, OH) except in those communities where the 2009 limits are higher. Additional increases in individual communities may also be available at the discretion of the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.   * Foreclosure mitigation and neighborhood stabilization. Funding for states and localities to be used for neighborhood stabilization activities for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes are authorized. Some news reports put the funding level at $2 billion.   * Rental assistance. Up to $1.5 billion to provide short-term rental assistance and other aid for families during the economic crisis.   * Low-income housing grants. Allow states to trade in a portion of their 2009 low-income housing tax credits for Treasury grants to finance the construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of low-income housing, including those with or without tax credit allocations   * Tax-exempt housing bonds. Tax-exempt interest earned on specified state and local bonds issued during 2009 and 2010 will not be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). In addition, financial institutions will have greater capacity to purchase tax-exempt state and local bonds   Energy efficient housing. Grants for energy retrofits for federally assisted housing (Section 8), funding for energy efficiency and conservation block grants to states, and increases in the residential tax credit through 2010 for certain energy efficient upgrades.   Source: NAR, AP, Washington Post, New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal   REAL Trends Comment:  As we have said in earlier REAL Trends E-mail Updates, the Congress missed the boat with the limited additional assistance to the housing market included in the final bill.  While virtually every national political leader has said that arresting the decline in the housing market is critical to economic recovery, the final bill poured the proverbial "spoon" of medicine on a raging infection (or so say political leaders and those at the Federal Reserve Board and the Treasury). The purchase of homes triggers thousands of additional dollars in spending on paint, carpeting, fixtures, furniture and appliances and would have initiated more economic activity than almost any other use of the funds. The fact that the Congress missed this so badly does not bode well for other actions taken by the Federal government who seem to be deaf to economic reality.

Fannie, Freddie, banks suspend foreclosure sales

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will suspend all foreclosure sales and evictions of occupied properties through March 6 in anticipation of the Administration's national foreclosure prevention and loan modification program.

Handy Tip-Washer Dryer Maintenance!

Washer/Dryer Maintenance

Household washers and dryers are often taken for granted. A little maintenance goes a long way. Check washer water fill hoses for cracks or blisters, which can signal a coming failure or cause corroded fittings and leaks. Generally, you should replace washer fill hoses about every four years. You might want to try stainless steel fill hoses which are more durable, reliable and, ultimately, can pay for themselves as well as provide more peace of mind. Remember to turn off the water to the washer whenever you go on vacation and here's an important safety tip; If you have a 1st or 2nd floor laundry room you should have a washer pan and a hot water tank pan. In case of leaking the pan can catch the water so any damage you experience will be MUCH less! They can be found at most hardware stores. A leading cause of dryer failures is lint buildup. It can cause significantly increased drying times and costs. Most importantly lint buildup is also responsible for thousands of house fires each year. Use a dryer vent brush (available online or at most hardware stores) to remove lint build up in the vent that leads to the outside.

Real Estate Success! Darla ;-)

How Ice Dams Form

Hi folks!

 

Since I've had hundreds of icesickles around the perimeter of my home I started educating myself on Ice Dams BEFORE I started having a problem. I even saw folks on ladders w/hammers breaking up the dams. No... I did not go that far but I read the article ;-) Hope this is helpful to you! Warmest, Darla ;-)

How Ice Dams Form

Ice dams are literally dam-like buildups of ice on a roof.

The ice itself is not a problem. What is a problem is that melted water from the snow can form a pool behind the dam. Most roofs are very effective at shedding water. Very few roofs, however, are designed to cope with pools of water.

Roof leaks that the dams cause can reak all kinds of havoc with wiring, drywall, paint, carpet, flooring, and all manner of interior furnishings. They can also cause problems for your exterior siding plus the wood and insulation behind it.

Ice dams occur most often when we get snow followed by below freezing temperatures, but they can only happen when part of your roof warms up enough to cause snow to melt. The melting water flows down to another part of the roof that is cooler, (which is usually either over the eves or over a better insulated part of the attic) and the water refreezes. The ice forms a small dam that builds up slowly as more and more melt water refreezes. Eventually, water backs up behind the dam and works its way up under the shingles until it begins to leak through the roof into the living space below.

Ice dams are not caused by clogged gutters. Clogged gutters can certainly aggravate an ice dam problem, but they are almost never the actual cause.

Shovel Your Snow Please!

Hello from Darla!

I need your help! I've shown over 100 properties in the last few weeks and my biggest problem? Sellers who don't shovel their driveway, their entrance way, their front steps... HELP!!! Do you really want your home's 1st impression to a potential buyer to be wet feet, exhasted fighting an uphill battle with over a foot of snow, waiting as ice sickles, bigger than swords, drip down our backs as I open the lockbox, no small area rug to wipe our feet on as we enter... You get the picture? And you have the audasity to be angry because your carpet get's dirty? Please... Do your part... I got the buyer's there! Please put ona good show for them! An easy entrance, area rugs at both front and rear doors so we can wipe our shoes off, lovely smells, fresh baked cookies or a dish of chocolate... that's the way to start out a positive showing!

Real Estate Success,

Darla    
It's A Great Market With The Right Agent! Dial Darla ;-)

What Is In And What Is Out in Home Upgrades!

Home Upgrades: What's In & What's Out!

 

This article came to me from the Ohio Assocaition of Realtors today! I agree with most but I would never give up my fireplace!! Keep in mind when you are building or upgrading your home to make sure you are adding ammenities that are good for resale or if it's something you must have... enjoy it but don't expect a dollar for dollar return when you sell. When you install that $25 per tile backsplash costing $3000 you are doing it for your own enjoyment and hopefully it will help sell the home more quickly. Can you add $3000 to the price of the home, even if you just did it yesterday? Probably not! Ciao & Enjoy, Darla ;-)

Some home features don’t stay popular forever. More homes are inching away from incorporating the following home features, according to recent consumer preference surveys.

 

1. Fireplaces: The fireplace skyrocketed in importance in homes in 1991 with 62 percent of new homes having one or more. But the number has steadily been decreasing ever since. In 2007, the number dropped to 51 percent.

 

2. Carpet: While 54 percent of homes still have carpet floors, the number is decreasing and hardwood floors are taking their place. Vinyl and ceramic tile flooring also are being bypassed more by buyers. Seventeen percent of new homes contain hardwood floors throughout the entire house.

 

3. Living Rooms: These once-decorative centerpieces of homes are slowly vanishing from newer homes. Thirty-four percent of consumers say they’re willing to buy a home without a living room.

 

4. Desks in the kitchen: These desks were once looked at as great storage areas but they’re often too small and quickly become clutter spaces in a home, said Gayle Butler, editor in chief of Better Homes and Gardens. Instead, more consumers say they prefer larger desks in or near the family room—equipped with a messaging center—where they can keep an eye on their kids as they work on the computer.

 

5. Skylights: The little windows that allow natural light to seep into a home from above are falling out of style. Only 10 percent of new homes will include them this year, a continuing downward spiral for skylights.

 

6. Upscale kitchen finishes: Granite countertops are slowly becoming less desirable among buyers who are now moving toward affordable, low-maintenance laminate countertops—which tend to last longer and now come in various styles.