Construction Deal Update

If you're working on a remodeling project or a home addition, it's sometimes hard to try to visualize how everything will look and where it will all go. You may be planning on buying new furniture or you've got existing furniture and you want to see if it will fit. You might just be considering ways to move your furniture around in your living room, too.

Well, I've found a neat tool that could help you see your room configuration a little better. It's a room planner from a furniture site called Raymour & Flanigan.

It's free to use. You may need to have the correct software to enable it but they have a link for the player. It could come in handy when you're planning a remodel. It allows you to print up your designs after you're done. It even has an option to email it to your designer or contractor.

Labels: Furniture, Home Improvement, Interior Design

Here are 20 questions to ask an architect to make sure your remodeling or building project is a complete success. These questions come from the New Hampshire chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA):

1. What do you see as important considerations in my project? What are the challenges of my project?

2. How will your gather information about your needs and goals?

3. How will you establish priorities and make decisions?

4. Who from the architecture firm will I be dealing with directly? Is it the same person who will be designing the project? If not, who will be designing it?

5. How interested are you in this project?

6. How busy are you?

7. What sets you apart from the other architects I could hire?

8. How do you establish fees? When will fee payments be expected?

9. How will I be able to relate fee payments to milestones in your scope of work?

10. What would you expect the fee to be for this project?

11. What are the steps in the design process?

12. How do you organize the process?

13. What do you expect me to provide?

14. Do you have a specific design style? Can you show examples of past design work?

15. What is your experience or track record with cost estimating?

16. What will you show me along the way to explain the project? Will I see models, drawings, or sketches?

17. If the scope of the project changes later in the project, will there be additional fees? How will these fees be justified?

18. What services do you provide during construction?

19. How disruptive will construction be? How long do you expect it to take to complete my project?

20. Can you provide a list of past clients with whom you have worked?

If you need to find a local architect, home engineer, or design-build firm you can use the free resources of Construction Deal. We'll match you with a local architect firm to discuss your building, home addition, or home remodeling project. It's a great service that can save you time and money and it's absolutely free to use (and you're under no obligation to hire any of the quality architects in our network!)

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Source - Stu Silverman

Labels: Architects, Architectural Ideas

Doing any home remodeling project on your own can have a dark side. People love to watch the DIY Network and HGTV to see all the home improvement shows and renovation projects. The problem is - they make it look rather easy. They don't show you the team of carpenters, subcontractors, and installers all doing work "in the wings" to make the finished room. They also don't show you all the expensive tools they use.

So many homeowners decide to save a little money by doing the project themselves. And the results are not always up to standard. I found this article by David Bradley that talks about the Do-It-Yourselfers Home Improvement Penalty:

According to real-estate agent Nancy Raddohl, many of the potential buyers that she brings to a house notice a do-it-yourself project... right away. "'A buyer's first impression is I don't want to go any further into the house. They won't get beyond the front entrance," the suburban Minneapolis-based Raddohl of ReMax Carriage House said."

"Raddohl's candor is a zinger through the heart of homeowners who may think their handiwork is up to professional snuff. Quality upgrades can add value to a home, but shoppers easily are turned off by badly executed projects. The listed price can drop accordingly."

"Errors are especially onerous in highly visible glamor rooms such as kitchens and baths. Even minor miscues such as sloppy painting can have a negative effect on buyers."

"So before you power up your hand tools, consider this: Sellers risk thousands of dollars of their asking price because of shoddy workmanship. It's common lore among real estate agents that buyers set the value of a home, not the seller."

"I call it 'the home-improvement penalty.' Thinking your end result is good enough won't cut it in remodeling circles.'"

"Of course, this deflates do-it-yourselfers who puff their chests in pride at a job well done. So what if drywall seams show or spacing between bathroom tiles is a little off? To buyers, however, any glitch is a big deal."

"Even little errors may cause buyers to turn tail to the next property. Their perception is the seller's reality: If one thing is wrong, are there other problems very far behind?"

"Homeowner mistakes can be pounced on by real estate agents and contractors. Raddohl won't hesitate to make poor work a negotiation point to shave thousands off the listed price. Using the example of an amateurish countertop, she said she would advise buyers to press the issue."

"'I'd ask sellers to have work redone, and it could cost $5,000 or more,' she said. The repair costs come straight out of the seller's pocket.'"

"Contractors equally are keen to benefit from improvements gone bad. If a bathroom project goes down the drain, a contractor knowing the homeowner is over a barrel for needed repairs may be less inclined to negotiate and can charge top dollar."

"On top of materials and labor, homeowners also may be stuck for structural repairs if a job that really went haywire caused damage to portions of the home."

"If a project doesn't fit a contractor's schedule, the eyesore could serve for weeks as a reminder not to take home-improvement projects lightly."

"There are other risks, too. Homeowners inadvertently may skirt local permit requirements. Even if the work is passable, appraisers or building inspectors may nix a project weeks, months or years after completion and require work be redone to meet local codes."

"Again, homeowners will dust off their checkbook to pay for mistakes."

"The bottom line: Homeowners must bluntly assess their DIY abilities."

"Impressive work involves more than skills. It also requires the right tools, materials, planning and project management."

You can read more about the home improvement penalty on rgj.com.

The author of the article also has a checklist that you should go through before you begin any home improvement project:

• "Do I have all the skills to do the job right the first time?
• Do I have the time to acquire the skills or to do the work?
• Can I commit to performing the work to a professional degree, or will it look as if an amateur did it?
• Are all the right tools available? Can I afford all the right tools?
• Have I planned for all the details to make sure the job looks good?
• Do I need a license for a task that involves electrical or plumbing prowess?
• Am I balking at hiring the work out just to save money?
• What do I risk if I do the work myself? Will I lessen the value of my home? Is there a risk I will damage the home?"

If you don't want think you like the answers to these questions, you can always find a quality professional through Construction Deal.com. On our site, we can match you with contractors and remodeling companies in your area - for free. You're under no obligation to hire anyone from our network, but it's a great resource to save you time and money: you won't have to search at random through the yellow pages, leaves messages, and repeat your project plans over and over again (saving you time.) You'll also get multiple bids on your project, allowing you to choose the right bid and company for the job (saving you money.)

Labels: DIY, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance

If you're looking for energy savings in your home, there are a lot of easy and inexpensive ways to not only cut down on your electric bill but also do your part to help the environment. These days, everyone is looking to "green" up their home. I've got a great product for you to consider. And you may not have even known this product was energy efficient - it's the ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can be a great way to help you lower your environmental "footprint" as well as the monthly utility bill.

And don't think that a ceiling fan only helps in the summer time. You know that cold air tends to stay low to the floor and warm air tends to rise above your head. Did you know that a ceiling fan can help push all that warm air back down to your level? The room will feel warmer and your heater will not have to work as hard. A ceiling fan in use in the winter time can reduce your energy bill by 10 to 15%. The ceiling fan can also help prevent those "sweaty" windows during the winter months when condensation is eliminated by the quality air circulation. Naturally, the ceiling fan can be reversed to work hard for you in the summer, keeping your air conditioned air circulating and cutting utility bills by up to 15%.

The nice thing about these fans is that they require very little electricity to run. And they can easily be installed by a professional electrician or handyman, but if you've already got an overhead light in the room -- it's a project you can do easily on your own. The right fan can add a beautiful fixture to accentuate the decor of any room. A lot of ceiling fan models also come with a lighting option to help with overhead and accent lighting. So, what's not to love? Energy savings, aesthetics, easy installation, and additional lighting... All for a very low price.

And when it comes to price, consider shopping for your next fan online. More and more, people are going online for information and to find a better deal than they find in a brick and mortar store. And there are so much variety in ceiling fan styles and colors and sizes that the local home improvement store will probably not carry the right fan for you. When I bought my last ceiling fan for my bedroom, I purchased online from Littman Bros. Lighting. What I liked about Littman was they have an established store with experience near Chicago - and they deal with homeowners and builders alike (and to know you're getting the best product and price, always shop where the builders shop!)

What to look for in a ceiling fan?

• Prices vary, from $25 to $1000. Higher priced fans electronics that allow motors and lights to be turned on remotely, either on the wall or with a remote control, and can reverse direction automatically.
  
• Higher quality fans are more quiet, with stronger motors and balanced blades to allow for a long life.
  
• You'll notice that fans that list a pitch of 12 degrees or more usually have a highly efficient motor, because it requires more power to turn the blades at those angles. Avoid fans with less than a 12 degree pitch.
  
• In small rooms, go with a 29 to 36 inch fan; medium-sized go with a 36 to 42" fan; and a large room you can go with a 50 to 54" fan.
  
• Optimal placement is 8 to 9' in a room, so make sure the kit comes with rods to drop the fan down if you have 11 to 13 feet ceilings. Avoid fans that are too close to the ceiling - they're ineffective.
  
• Look for high quality fan motors that have heavy duty windings and sealed bearings.
  
• Finally, make sure you've got a good lifetime warranty on your fan choice.
  

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Labels: Ceiling Fans, Electrical Installation, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement

You've remodeled your basement or you've added a family room on to the back of your house. Now you need to add new furniture to complete the space. The first thing you're likely to do is rush out to the local IKEA or furniture store. And that's probably a big mistake.

Here are some helpful tips from Sixwise.com that can help you avoid a furniture shopping disaster.

1. Compare Prices Online First: even if you don't buy online, do some research to find out how low the prices might be on some similar items. Some are even buying furniture online, which I don't recommend because you can't really test it out and returning it is not easy (if it's even possible.) But information and price comparison can be very valuable
   
2. Negotiate the Price: most people hate the haggle. But furniture can be expensive so hold your ground to get a 10 to 20% discount at mid to high end retail shops. If you can't get them to drop the price, work out better financing or hold out for a sale
   
3. Ask for Extras: ask for a deal on delivery or assembly if it's an extra cost. Get a warranty in writing, too
   
4. Shop Prepared: know your room dimensions before you leave the house. Know what styles you like and that are right for your room. Know what colors you have to work with (curtains, other furniture, blinds, carpet, hardwood floors, interior paint, etc.) Get swatches from a paint store that match the items already in the room and take them to the furniture store. Find out what the store return policy is in case the new items don't work in the room
   
5. Mind your Cushions: the cushions are the most important component of any chair or sofa. Ignore talk of the frames and springs and construction. The cushions make or break the comfort and usability of the furniture. Test it out, try it out, and make sure it will work for you for a long period of time
   
6. Skip Fabric Protection: you can apply all the fabric protection you need aftermarket and for a lot less (if you don't mind the chemical factor)
   
7. Higher Prices Don't Mean Higher Quality: in '02, the FTC pulled accurate label requirements for furniture which means you cannot trust what you believe on any label or from any salesman anymore. Just because it says it contains this or that or can do this or that, don't believe the hype.

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Labels: Design Ideas, Interior Design

I've discovered a neat little product you can install yourself to help protect your gutters. I was cleaning a ton of crap out of my gutters while I was installing my Christmas lights this year so I did some online snooping and found a company called GutterPlus. They've got a gutter system that doesn't require any nails or screws or any kind of add-on to your roof or gutters. It's a filter that keeps the leaves, branches, and even the snow and ice out while letting the water flow through and away from your house.

I didn't really think something like this would work, so I contacted the company owner to talk about it. Joe Iarussi had been installing, cleaning, and removing junk from gutters for over 30 years -- so he knows the type of product that would be needed to do the job. His company sells the Freedom Filter - a high quality gutter filtration system that will not get dislodged, not clog, and not wear out. He even put a 20-year warranty on it.

From the design, I could see it would work. But my concern was that the filter would eventually break down from being exposed to the elements (wind, rain, UV light, and all the problems that come with overexposure to water, like mold and fungus.) Joe explained it has a Biocide that is part of the material and kills the fungus and mold. It's also a fast-drying material and only retains a small percentage of moisture which limits any biological matter from forming. The fact that it allows water to move through quickly also prevents dangerous and heavy ice and icicles from forming on your gutters.

It's very important, number 1, to have gutters. Gutters help protect your home by channeling water away from the roof, siding, windows, and the foundation of your house. If rain runs off the roof and down into your foundation, it can weaken it or contribute to flooding in your basement.
And, number 2, if you have gutters they need to stay free of debris. If they are clogged and cannot move water away from your home, it's the same as not having any gutters at all.

Joe's Freedom Filter will help keep your gutters from clogging and he guarantees it. I'm going to be ordering my set very soon - it's just not safe to keep climbing up on a ladder every month to clean all the pine needles out of my gutters. Sooner or later, something bad could happen.

If you'd like to order your Freedom Filter, or you have any additional questions about it, give Joe a call at 216-319-1942 (email him at Joe (at) GutterPlus.com) or visit his website and check out his Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you need gutters installed first - you can go to our Roofing & Gutters page and post your request for free. We'll connect you with our nationwide network of Gutter Contractors - for free - and they should have no problem installing your Freedom Filter at the same time!

Update: Joe emailed me to say there is a 20% discount on all orders until March 1, 2007! It's an early Spring discount.

Labels: Gutters, Product Reviews, Roofing