Ready for the Big Game? Plasma, 1080i, LCD, DLP?
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
They say that nearly two and a half million people are considering a major HDTV purchase before this years Super Bowl football game on February 4th. That's a lot of plasma and LCD televisions and a lot of people, I'm sure with a lot of questions.If you're one of the many considering a purchase for the big game, you want to check out our Home Technology blog. We've got a lot of advice prepared on plasma versus LCD and some installation tips. Even if you're not buying for the football game, 2007 is turning out to be the big year for high definition television purchases as the prices continue to fall and new technology is improving an already nearly perfect picture.
Confused about 1080i or how high your plasma screen should be? Here are a few related posts for you:
- How High Should You Install the Plasma TV?
- Plasma versus LCD
- Advantages of Plasma
- Front Projection TVs
- The BEST Rear Projection HDTV
- Plasma TV Installation
Labels: HDTV, home theater, Plasma TV
Charles and Hudson: A DIYer Web Magazine
Monday, January 29, 2007
The site has been around since 2005 and has topics on repair, remodeling, design, restoration, real estate, tool reviews and tips, and build-it-yourself. They've been scouring the Internet, coming up with great ideas, as well as useful blogs and websites, that can help keep you informed. And, as we all know, knowledge is power. The more you know before you start on any remodeling or repair project, the more likely you are to succeed.
It's an excellent resource and a site you'll want to bookmark and keep handy before you begin your next DIY project.
Labels: References, Useful Links
Interior Design Trends for 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
We always know what's going to be the latest trend and which product will be the new "must-have" each year. When it comes to home improvement and remodeling, it's no different.What is different is that most renovation projects you do in your home will last much longer than the latest clothing trend or cell phone. When you redo your kitchen, you're going to be stuck with it for quite some time...
However, a new coat of paint, some accessories, and some window treatments can completely change the look of your room - for just a few hundred dollars - and if you don't like it in a few months... you can always change it again.
If you're interested in hiring an Interior Designer for even more help -- post your request with Construction Deal.
We've got a plethora of information on Design Trends for home this year. Check them all out:
2007 Home Design Trends has a new look at what's hot!
Wendy, over at the Spacelift Blog, has some insights into the coming 2007 trends in interior design. She talks about what's going to be hot in color choices (Color), comfort choices (Atmosphere), sustainability (Building) and touches on luxury products that could be trending your way... if you're rich (Luxury. Elevators?!)
To touch on a little of her insight (she's an Interior Designer in Omaha), she talks about new colors for '07 - oranges, greens, and blues. She mentions that these colors have been hot in fashion and you may have been seeing them in magazines and in stores but that it takes a little while for trends to move over to the interior design world. She predicts blues, greens, and oranges will be the "must haves" for this year.
I also like her idea of homeowners going for a more comfortable style. As people have rushed, in the recent past, to expensive materials to fill their kitchens and baths, it's nice to know that the stuffy or formal is fading away.
I've got an article on our Kitchen Remodeling blog that talks about Jumbled Kitchens - which is about homeowners who are looking for a mix of materials in their new kitchens. They don't want a solid row of kitchen cabinets that are all the same size and all the same color. They're mixing it up for a more comfortable, European flair. Mixing wood with steel, adding quartz counters alongside a bamboo counter, or maybe even putting a marble center in the middle of a hardwood floor.
Whatever you do with your interior design this year, please don't renovate or decorate just to "show off" like some do just to get a picture of their living room in a magazine. It always looks forced and overly formal. Untouchable. You want to strive for whatever makes you happy and whatever lets you and your guests feel comfortable in your own home that will be the latest and greatest for 2007.Finally, consider Construction Deal for any home improvement, decorating and design professional that you need. We've got a network of over 65,000 service pros, contractors, and designers to help you.
And it's all free for you to find a quality pro!
RELATED POSTS:
Kitchen Design Trends 2007
Remodeling Trends - The Home Office
From CNN: 5 Home Remodeling Trends
Labels: Design Ideas, Interior Design, Remodeling Trends, Trends
Wiki: How to Find a Contractor
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
For anyone who owns a home, no matter how old it is, at some point in time a homeowner will need to find a general contractor or service professional, such as a plumber or electrician, to help with installations and problems that arise.Homeowners need to find professionals for two main reasons - home repair and home renovation. The average age of the American home is close to 35 years so there will be a constant need to upgrade and maintain for homeowners. Besides fixing problems, there has been a significant desire to remodel older homes, spurred on mostly by the Baby Boomer generation. Home remodeling has skyrocketed for the last three decades, increasing year over year in total expenditures. In 2003, remodeling sales totaled $230 billion in 2003, which accounted for more than 2% of the U.S. economy.
Many homeowners in need of such services are choosing to do the work themselves. The DIY craze has been growing by leaps and bounds, thanks to many home improvement television shows, such as the HGTV, the DIY Network and the Discovery Home networks.
Sales at local home improvement stores, like Home Depot and Lowe's, had been on the rise for quite some time but have slowly fallen back down. More and more people have turned away to find more qualified installation professionals and better quality products than those available at the home improvement chains. In fact, some contractors are specializing in coming in to fix do-it-yourself projects that didn't go well. HGTV even has a show called Over Your Head about repairing a homeowner DIY job.
For homeowners who do not have the time, tools, or experience to complete a home repair or renovation project on their own, they have to hire someone. A contractor is an independent professional or company who can design, install, repair, replace, remove, or build parts of or parts within a house. Because these services are done by independent contractors and companies, many do not know how to find a reliable professional.
How to Find a Contractor
There are 3 main ways to find a contractor for an upcoming home improvement or repair project:
- Personal Referrals
- Homeowners should talk to family, friends, and co-workers about reliable companies to help complete projects. It's a great way to get a personal testimonial from some a trust source.
- Advantages of Personal Referrals
- Referring friend or family member may have already shopped around to find the best offer in the area
- Their opinion of the contractor's service is trustworthy
- Homeowners can view the quality of the work
- Disadvantages of Personal Referrals
- Homeowners may not need same type of work done on their houses
- Friend or family member may be able to afford a higher budget
- Friend or family member may have a different style of house or be in a different neighborhood
- Yellow Pages/Phone Books/Directories
- Homeowners can use a local directory to look up a contractor. Yellow pages and white pages have anything from a basic listing, which has the company name and phone number, to a full page advertisement, which lists the company's details and full range of services.
- Advantages of Yellow Pages
- Homeowners can choose from companies at their own pace
- Homeowners are able to call as many companies as they would like
- Homeowners can review company details in advance to determine how close they are, possibly how big the company is, and what services are offered
- Disadvantages of Yellow Pages
- Homeowners have to call each company individually, describe their requirements, and answer the same questions
- Homeowners tend to only call one or two companies - receiving fewer bids on a project could mean the homeowner will end up paying a higher price
- No direct referrals from trusted friends or family members to rely upon
- Online Referrals
- With the Internet revolution, there are a host of online companies that provide contractor referral services. Homeowners can post their project on these websites and let a set number of contractors contact them. It's usually a free service for the homeowner.
- Advantages of Online Referrals
- Homeowners will receive multiple bids, which allows them to get the best rate on the work
- Homeowners only have to post their project requirements once and answer questions one time, which saves time
- Homeowners may be able to find additional online resources, such as financing and informational articles
- Disadvantages of Online Referrals
- The website may not be a trusted resource, such as a member of a building association or the Better Business Bureau
- The online referral service may not have a contractor, in their network, close to the homeowner.
- No direct referrals from trusted friends or family members to rely upon
References:
Joint Center for Housing Studies
External Links:
Construction Deal.com - Online Resource to Find a Contractor
Home Time.com - TV Show & Home Remodeling advice
Better Business Bureau
Wikipedia - Home Improvement
Bob Vila.com - Home Improvement Advice
DIY Network - Do-It-Yourself advice
Labels: ConstructionDeal.com, Find a Contractor
How to Reduce Water Heating Bills
Monday, January 22, 2007
From RealEstateJournal.com: "When the days grow nippy, nothing beats a long, hot shower to warm things up. But at what expense? The Department of Energy says water heating accounts for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.Here are tips from the department for reducing your water heating bills:
- Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees F. If you lower it by just 10 degrees F, you'll save 3% to 5%. For most homes, 120 degrees F, or even 115 degrees F, is sufficient.
- Consider getting a more efficient water heater for your home. Natural-gas-on-demand or tankless water heaters can save you up to 30% compared with standard natural-gas storage tank water heaters. Or, just buy a new energy-efficient water heater. It costs more up front, but you'll save over time.
- If you buy a solar water heater, you might be eligible for a tax credit or rebate. Look for details in the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at www.dsireusa.org.
- Drain a quart of water from your tank every three months. You'll remove the sediment that lowers the efficiency of your water heater.
- Place heat traps on the hot and cold pipes connecting to your heater -- you'll prevent heat loss.
- Insulate your hot water pipes -- doing so can raise water temperature 2 to 4 degrees F."
RELATED POSTS:
Solar Water Heaters
Winter Has Come Early
Preparing your Home for Winter
If you need to find a local water heater company to install, repair, or maintain your water heating system - save time and money by posting your request for free with us. At Construction Deal, we'll match you with local Water Heater Experts who will contact you instead of searching and calling at random from a phone book.
Labels: Home Maintenance, Tankless Water Heaters, Water Heaters
How to Sell Your Home This Winter
Friday, January 19, 2007
How to Sell Your Home This Winter - or, at least give your home a chance to sell. Winter is usually an off-season for real estate sales and this winter a particulary bad time to try to sell with a depressed housing market.
According to Bankrate.com, winter can be difficult when showing a house because the days are shorter, greenery is in short supply, and weather can really be an issue.
Here are some of tips to help you sell your home over the next few months:
"There are good reasons for selling in the winter -- namely, less competition. But you still have to work hard to attract the best customers. It's all about staging:
According to Bankrate.com, winter can be difficult when showing a house because the days are shorter, greenery is in short supply, and weather can really be an issue.
Here are some of tips to help you sell your home over the next few months:
"There are good reasons for selling in the winter -- namely, less competition. But you still have to work hard to attract the best customers. It's all about staging:
- Keep walkways and driveways clear of snow and ice. You may not have to mow the lawn or trim the shrubs, but in the winter, consider this duty your 'yard work.'
- Present a warm and cozy home. Make sure the temperature is comfortable and not too cool for visitors coming in from the outside. Turn on gas fireplaces if you have them.
- Show during 'high-daylight' hours and make your home as light as possible. Clean blinds and curtains and keep them open during daytime showings. Put the highest wattage bulbs in amps and fixtures, and turn the lights on when you show. And wash your windows -- even a little bit of grime gives the impression that the home isn't well cared for.
- Set the mood with a little soft background music and some pleasant smells. Light a few candles that give off a nice scent, such as vanilla. Just don't overdo it -- you don't want people to think you're trying to mask a bad smell.
- Ask prospective buyers to remove their shoes or slip on paper booties over them. Doing so shows buyers that you are proud of your home and take meticulous care of it.
- Emphasize the features of your home that make it a good place to live in the winter. If your roads are regularly plowed and de-iced, be sure to make it known."
Something else to keep in mind. It's a good idea to wait to show your house until AFTER the Super Bowl. Why? Well, it can be pretty difficult to get men up off the couch on the weekends to go look at a house - until all the football games are done for the season. Naturally.
RELATED POSTS:
Housing Bubble HumorHere's a tip - if you need to find a contractor to update any part of your home, you can avoid flipping through the yellow pages to pick a contractor at random - you can post your project on Construction Deal and we'll have contractors call you. Saves you time. And, with multiple bids, you'll also save money. Even if you don't use Construction Deal to find a contractor fast - get as many bids on a job as you can and go with the company that is the right fit for you!
Labels: Curb Appeal, Housing Bubble, Improving Home Value, Real Estate
Home Maintenance: Termite Troubles?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Every home in every part of the country is vulnerable to the termite. Once they get inside your home, they'll eat just about anything: wood, insulation, cardboard, carpeting, even your drywall. After that, they might even start on your book collection and the shelf holding them up.
Here's the good news. Though the termites that invade your house can do a lot of damage, they're not exactly the fast eaters on the planet. It can take 4 to 8 years for serious damage to occur. It's good news because it gives you time to get your home inspected, do some research, consider your options, and decide on a plan.
What you don't want to do is rush into anything. If you're concerned, talk with a termite inspection company. However, if you do have an inspection done and the company or inspector doesn't seem trustworthy, beware of a scam. They may try to use a scare tactic on you, telling your home will fall down in the next few weeks if you don't act now. You shouldn't panic. It's how unscrupulous people take advantage.
Get another opinion. I recently had a rat problem in my garage. I called a big, big name in pest control to come out and review the problem. To lay some traps, plug some holes, and agree to come back and remove any dead rodents and set more traps was going to cost me $400 to $500. I called three other companies. I paid $220. After three dead rats and all the holes and problem areas sealed up in my garage the problem was solved. For a lot less.
Always get multiple bids. Never go with the first bid. Never panic.
Here are some signs you might have termite problems:
How can you Help Prevent Termites? Here are a couple of tips:
DIY: Home Safety & Maintenance
Curb Appeal: Improving Your Homes Look
Here's the good news. Though the termites that invade your house can do a lot of damage, they're not exactly the fast eaters on the planet. It can take 4 to 8 years for serious damage to occur. It's good news because it gives you time to get your home inspected, do some research, consider your options, and decide on a plan.
What you don't want to do is rush into anything. If you're concerned, talk with a termite inspection company. However, if you do have an inspection done and the company or inspector doesn't seem trustworthy, beware of a scam. They may try to use a scare tactic on you, telling your home will fall down in the next few weeks if you don't act now. You shouldn't panic. It's how unscrupulous people take advantage.
Get another opinion. I recently had a rat problem in my garage. I called a big, big name in pest control to come out and review the problem. To lay some traps, plug some holes, and agree to come back and remove any dead rodents and set more traps was going to cost me $400 to $500. I called three other companies. I paid $220. After three dead rats and all the holes and problem areas sealed up in my garage the problem was solved. For a lot less.
Always get multiple bids. Never go with the first bid. Never panic.
Here are some signs you might have termite problems:
- Sawdust - look for a fine powder of wood around cracks, crevices, and holes in your home. Also, around doors and windows.
- "Mud" Tubes - look for small pen-sized tubes on the interior or exterior foundation walls and floor joists. That may even be hanging down from the floor, under your house, in the open air. It's how termites travel back and forth.
- Termites Themselves - look for swarmers (winged termites that hover outside or inside your house) from late Winter to early Fall. They're hard to distinguish from flying ants, but you might be able to capture one and show it to an inspect. Also, look for termite bodies or wings near the sawdust.
How can you Help Prevent Termites? Here are a couple of tips:
- Termites Love Moisture - keep water away from your house: fix plumbing leaks, get good drainage from your gutters, clean up flooding or water damage fast, and fix that leaky roof
- Move the Wood - stack firewood off the ground and away from your house
- Let the Foundation Breathe - keep sod, soil, and mulch away from the side of the house where it might block vents. Keep plants farther from the foundation
- Store Elsewhere - many will lean things against the exterior house walls. Especially move all lumber away, but try not to store anything against your house because it can hide signs of termite damage or entry
- Ventilation is Key - make sure your attic or crawlspace has proper ventilation. If you store things up there, make sure they're not blocking vents. Make sure your insulation is not blocking things either
- Feeling Bold? Try putting a concrete walk/border around the outside of your house. It's drastic and dramatic to try it, but it could discourage termites if your house is in an area known for termite attacks
- Seal the Deal - eliminate any cracks, holes, crevices, or problems by sealing up possible entry spots for termites. One termite can crawl through a hole smaller than the period that ends this sentence.
DIY: Home Safety & Maintenance
Curb Appeal: Improving Your Homes Look
Labels: Pest Control, Termite Control, Termites
The Latest Kitchen Remodeling Trend
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
According to the Washington Post's article on 'The Hot and the Not' in home remodeling for 2007, the hot stainless steel appliance trend is on the way out. The author of the book 1,001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home Mark Nash interviewed hundreds of real estate agents and the results were surprising.
The remarks about stainless steel appliances stuck out the most with me. Besides wanting a granite countertop, the next most requested item for any kitchen remodel is usually the gleaming silver, industrial look from those appliances. There is apparently a negative backlash to the stainless steel surface from many potential homeowners.
As much as people "love the look" of various additions to a remodeling project, it always seems to come back to function and maintenance. If it looks great but is hard to maintain, it can quickly fall out of favor. This may be what's happening with stainless steel. The surface is easily marred with fingerprints, especially in a heavily-used kitchen or a house with one or more children or even pets. Keeping something clean will eventually outweigh the value of the pure aesthetic appeal of almost any new product.
The author received a lot of feedback from real estate agents, "I'm hearing people say, 'I'm tired of it,' " Nash said. "They say: 'I don't have time to polish it. I have kids. I have dogs. It's too high maintenance.' "
While stainless steel appliances in the kitchen might still seem like a great idea for your kitchen renovation project, consider what the value of those items will mean to potential buyers in 5 to 10 years. Many of the those buyers may have already had steel appliances in their homes and are fed up with them. Think of some of the "hot" kitchen trends from as recently as the 90's -- many of those have fallen out of favor and are being replaced in today's modern kitchens.
Many of the agents, however, did say that stainless steel appliances are still a big item. They provide a "wow" factor and can still sell homes. Many love the neutral look they give to any style of kitchen - whether it's a sleek Contemporary kitchen or a French Country kitchen. One agent said, "'People here walk in and see that stainless steel, and it dazzles them,'"
I think it's important to weigh your options and your needs when it comes to deciding how best to renovate your kitchen. For you, having those gleaming steel appliance surfaces is worth a little extra elbow grease to keep them looking great.
RELATED POSTS:
2007 Kitchen Design Trends
Kitchen Design Ideas
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
If you're interested in updating your kitchen and talking with a professional kitchen design company, post your request with Construction Deal. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a local kitchen company. Simply list your project details and kitchen experts will call you - no more looking up companies in the yellow pages and calling them at random! That saves you time.
And you'll receive as many calls as you want - this gives you multiple bids. Many bids can mean you'll get the best pricing options. That saves you money.
The remarks about stainless steel appliances stuck out the most with me. Besides wanting a granite countertop, the next most requested item for any kitchen remodel is usually the gleaming silver, industrial look from those appliances. There is apparently a negative backlash to the stainless steel surface from many potential homeowners.
As much as people "love the look" of various additions to a remodeling project, it always seems to come back to function and maintenance. If it looks great but is hard to maintain, it can quickly fall out of favor. This may be what's happening with stainless steel. The surface is easily marred with fingerprints, especially in a heavily-used kitchen or a house with one or more children or even pets. Keeping something clean will eventually outweigh the value of the pure aesthetic appeal of almost any new product.
The author received a lot of feedback from real estate agents, "I'm hearing people say, 'I'm tired of it,' " Nash said. "They say: 'I don't have time to polish it. I have kids. I have dogs. It's too high maintenance.' "
While stainless steel appliances in the kitchen might still seem like a great idea for your kitchen renovation project, consider what the value of those items will mean to potential buyers in 5 to 10 years. Many of the those buyers may have already had steel appliances in their homes and are fed up with them. Think of some of the "hot" kitchen trends from as recently as the 90's -- many of those have fallen out of favor and are being replaced in today's modern kitchens.Many of the agents, however, did say that stainless steel appliances are still a big item. They provide a "wow" factor and can still sell homes. Many love the neutral look they give to any style of kitchen - whether it's a sleek Contemporary kitchen or a French Country kitchen. One agent said, "'People here walk in and see that stainless steel, and it dazzles them,'"
I think it's important to weigh your options and your needs when it comes to deciding how best to renovate your kitchen. For you, having those gleaming steel appliance surfaces is worth a little extra elbow grease to keep them looking great.
RELATED POSTS:
2007 Kitchen Design Trends
Kitchen Design Ideas
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
If you're interested in updating your kitchen and talking with a professional kitchen design company, post your request with Construction Deal. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a local kitchen company. Simply list your project details and kitchen experts will call you - no more looking up companies in the yellow pages and calling them at random! That saves you time.
And you'll receive as many calls as you want - this gives you multiple bids. Many bids can mean you'll get the best pricing options. That saves you money.
Labels: Kitchen Remodeling, Remodeling Trends, Stainless Steel Appliances
Reducing Light Pollution
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Whenever homeowners remodel the exterior of their house, many times the landscape designer or deck builder will want to add bright glaring lights. The purpose is usually to highlight an architectural feature on the home or to light up a tree in the garden.The by-product of all this exterior lighting is light pollution. And it's a growing problem. However, unlike our other massive pollution problems, the light pollution issue can be easily fixed. With the flick of a switch...
What is light pollution?
Light pollution is any light that is shining up into the night sky or out into your neighbor's window. It's misdirected and misused exterior lighting. It creates that "sky glow" effect of an orange-ish haze that wipes out the black night sky and all the stars above. It can cause a glare that affects people walking or driving by the offending source. Finally, another result is what's known as "light trespass." This is when the light from your neighbor's property shines onto and into your own.
But what if you've spent a lot of time and money beautifying the exterior of your home?
You really need to consider your lighting needs. Reducing light pollution does not mean you have to turn off all your exterior lights from dusk to dawn. There are a multitude of options so that you can do your part to help:
- Turn off some or all of your existing exterior lighting
- Install motion sensors on security lights or any lights that shine up and out
- Install timers to turn off exterior lighting after a certain hour
- Reduce the wattage in accent, task, and security lighting
- Install quality "dark sky friendly" exterior lighting
Why should you worry about light pollution?
Besides the obvious problems of glare and light trespass, excessive exterior lighting requires a lot of energy. More energy consumption means the loss of valuable natural resources and the pollution of our air, water, and ground. Light pollution is harmful to wildlife and they know it can be harmful to people, as well. And, of course, there's the fact that the majority of Americans can never enjoy the beauty of night sky.
RELATED POSTS:
Curb Appeal: Improving Your Home's Look
Hot Modular Homes with Green Construction in Mind
Saving on Your Electric Bill
Labels: Electrical Installation, Electricians, Low Voltage Lighting
