ConstructionDeal.com Update

When you bought your home, you probably hired a Home Inspector to review your potential purchase before signing the contract. Or, if you've ever sold your home, you might have hired an inspector to make sure the house was ready to go on the market.

But, here's a tip: you can hire a home inspector to save you money... even if you're not buying or selling a house. How? Your home is getting older and older by the day. Things are settling, rotting, weakening, bending, and cracking all over the place. And you would never know it -- until there's a problem. Once there is a problem, you have to call a professional to come out and fix it.

Now, we at ConstructionDeal.com are here to help you find those service professionals when something goes wrong. But, when you have to hire a company in an emergency situation, you could really end up paying a lot of money to get things fixed.

A home inspector could come to your house, review anything and everything from your foundation to your roof -- or even just areas that you're concerned about, like your attic, insulation, windows and doors, and more. The inspector can give you a full report, which is a detailed and objective analysis of what work might need to be done. Also consider that this inspector has nothing to gain from any information provided so you can be sure that what he or she is telling you is accurate.

An example of how hiring an inspector could save you money. Say you notice a long crack in the paint in a room at the back of your house. Or a door leading out of that room no longer closes cleanly. You could have a home inspector come out and look over your basement and foundation. The inspection report tells you that your home is settling and it won't become a serious problem for another twenty years. What if you had hired a Foundation Contractor who wanted to begin house leveling work the next door -- at a cost of thousands and thousands of dollars?

The opposite could also have been true - what if you decided to not have your home checked out, waited until the cracks and closing doors became worse, and then had to hire a foundation company in the emergency situation?

Hiring a home inspector is not very expensive. Depending on the area of the country, the size of the house, and how much needs to be inspected, it can cost anywhere from $150 to $500. Not a significant amount to give you a detailed survey and analysis of all that your home needs. And it's a great way to give you peace of mind -- no more surprises and less of a chance of those emergency payouts.

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If you need to find a local Home Inspector, you can post your request on ConstructionDeal.com! If a free service for all homeowners.

Simply tell us what type of inspection you need and we'll send it out to our network of professionals. You'll get 4 free quotes, sometimes in a matter of minutes.

Labels: Home Inspection, Home Inspector, Home Maintenance, Home Repair

One part of your home that most homeowners never consider -- until something goes wrong -- are the appliances. Unless you're doing a major kitchen renovation, you'll likely never have to think about replacing your appliances either.

But when they break... then you know it's time to find some help. I wanted to provide some information for you for the next time something goes wrong with your refrigerator, freezer, oven, microwave, washer, dryer -- well, you name it. Any appliance in your home, whenever it breaks, can be huge inconvenience for anyone.

The question is - Do You Fix It or Buy a New One?

And it can be a massive expense to simply replace the item. New appliances can cost a lot -- and in most cases, it can be cheaper to have the appliance repaired than to buy a completely new unit. You could take a chance on buying a used appliance but you could end up inheriting someone else's problems, too.

Are You a Do-It-Yourselfer?

If you're good with your hands, tools, and you're not afraid to tackle appliance repair on your own then I've got the perfect tool for you. I've found an online forum that can help you fix your busted appliance. The site is a forum where you can get free advice on appliance repair - Free Appliance Repair Advice. They have individual categories for each major appliance listed in the forum. You can post a question on your particular appliance and get a response from a professional service technician.

Whenever you have a problem with your home appliance, you can describe the situation and hopefully get help to fix it on your own. This can save a ton of money in repair fees. Make sure you check through your paperwork so that you don't void any warranties -- but usually the appliance doesn't break down until the warranty is up. Right?

Make sure you give your specific brand and model number whenever you post any questions. That way the service tech answering you can provide more precise and accurate information. Make sure to check before you make a post on whether the appliance is electric, gas, or oil-powered as well. The more details others have, the easier is will be to help.

If it turns out you can fix the appliance on your own, you can also order parts from the company that hosts the forum.

Afraid to Try Appliance Repairs?

If you'd like to talk to a professional about repairing your appliance, consider submitting your request to ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast and easy service where you can get 4 free quotes from Appliance Repair pros.

For those of you without tools or strong mechanical ability, you can post your appliance repair project with us. Companies that specialize in fixing major appliances will see your request and contact you directly. It's a free service to find a local appliance repair specialist.

So whether you've got great mechanical repair abilities and want to fix it yourself or you'd rather leave it to the professionals - consider appliance repair before you run out to buy a new one. It could save you a lot of money and keep you going until the next appliance stops working for you!

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Sponsored Appliance Repair Post

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Labels: Appliance Repair, Home Maintenance, Stainless Steel Appliances

If you live in a climate affected by seasonal change, you're probably ready for Spring. It's important to consider what, if any, damage may have been done to your home during the Winter months.

Now would be a great time for a do-it-yourself home inspection. Leave the Spring Cleaning for next weekend.

Check Your Roof
Start at the top of your home and work your way down. The roof has protected you from wind, rain, snow, and ice from December through April -- do a visual inspection. You can visually inspect the shingles and gutters from the ground. Look for damaged, missing, and mis-aligned tiles or shingles. Check close to the roof edge, in the valleys, around the chimney, and near the vents. Avoid climbing on your roof, if you don't have to. It can be very dangerous. If you suspect a problem - consult a professional roofer. Check the gutter systems to make sure water is still flowing freely by spraying hose water onto your roof and watching it come down through the downspouts. The water should not be spilling over the gutter and the water should move away from the foundation at the bottom.

Check Your Siding
Wood, brick, and metal siding can be affected by temperature changes. It can shrink, expand, mortar can crack, and parts can come loose. Paint can also become separated from the siding and chip off. Make sure all paint chips are cleaned up to avoid children or pets from eating any pieces that may contain lead. Look for any damage caused by weather or falling debris, such as ice or tree branches. If your siding is not properly maintained it can let in pests, moisture, and warm/cold air that will affect your energy bills. Talk to a siding contractor if any problems have come up.

Check Your Windows
Your windows have likely been been closed and sealed for several months. Open up your windows, if you can, and make sure they're in proper working order. Wood and other types of windows have also expanded and contracted from the wild temperature changes of Winter months. Hold a candle up to the window - if there's a flicker, it could mean there's a draft. If the window rattles at all during moderate wind, it could mean the window needs to be replaced. Check for caulk seal breakage or any missing weatherstripping - you'll be letting warm air in and cool air out in the summer time. If the window needs to be propped up to stay open, it might also mean it's time to replace it. Check with a Window Expert to make sure.

Check Your Foundation
Snow and rain runoff have been dropping all around your house. You need to inspect your foundation to make sure that there is a sufficient grade to move water away from the home (and the foundation.) After you've run water over your roof and down your downspouts, check for water that may be pooling by the foundation walls. With April Showers approaching, you want to make sure the gutters and downspouts deposit water at least two to three feet away from the house. Check visible foundation areas for loose tiles, bricks, stones or blocks. Check for moist walls, cracks, or bulges that push in toward the house.

Inside your house, go to your basement walls and look for cracking, bulging, or any leaning of the foundation walls. Frost and water may be pushing in on the concrete and causing problems. Look for signs of a moist wall or any water accumulation. If you see any kind of problem, speak with a Foundation Contractor as soon as possible to make sure there won't be any larger problems. Here's a great online Foundation Diagnosis Tool! Check it out.

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Finding out what problems your house may have, before the Spring rains come, could prevent major home repair payments down the round.

Labels: Home Maintenance, Home Repair

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, assistants and even the show's producers 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 ConstructionDeal.com. On our site, we can match you with contractors and remodeling companies in your area - at no cost.

You're under no obligation to hire anyone, but it's a great resource to save time and money: you won't search at random through the yellow pages, leave messages, and repeat your plans over and over again (saving you time.) You'll also get multiple quotes on your project, allowing you to choose the right bid and company for the job (saving you money.)

Labels: DIY, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance

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."

Another tip not on this list - consider a water heater insulation kit. Kits come with supplies to wrap up your water heater and insulate it. Many are in cooler basements or outside altogether and insulation around the heater can improve efficiency.

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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 ConstructionDeal.com, 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

I've found a great resource to help you review the most important part of your house - your foundation.

It's not a sexy part of the home renovation process. But it is essential to make sure the structure of your house is in good shape.

This information is from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and it has a great section to help you do your own evaluation of the foundation. There are sections that help you ask the right questions, gives you options, and lets you know what will happen if you do nothing.

"Renovating a full-height basement can add value and extra living space to your house. Even if you don't have a full basement or aren't planning any basement improvements, the foundation of the house is the most important consideration in any renovation. The foundation supports the structure above it and resists the pressure of the soil around it. Fixing any foundation problems before you renovate is essential to preserve the durability and structure of your home."

The foundation for your house may be a full-height basement, a crawl space, a slab-on-grade foundation or even a combination of two or more types. Foundation materials include poured concrete, unit masonry, stone and preserved wood. Each type of foundation or material has its own associated problems.

The most common problems related to structure or soil conditions are:

• Cracks in slabs, walls or footings;
• Crumbling mortar or concrete;
• Unstable or weak soils;
• Uneven settlement;
• Warped or bowed foundation walls;
• Adfreezing (frozen soil sticking to the foundation and lifting it) or frost heaving;
• Low ceiling height;
• Inadequate support of the main floor system;
• Soil gas or radon infiltration;
• Odors or generally poor indoor air quality (IAQ);
• High humidity;
• Pest infestation"

You can read through the sites questions and suggestions. They also provide a Basement Assessment Worksheet to allow you to check off the problems and locations. It's a great way to let you know it's time to bring in professional help.

Here's a sample of the some of the questions, options, and consequences of ignoring a problem:

"Ask Yourself...

• Is there any porous, powdery or crumbling concrete or mortar?
• Are there honeycombs (voids) in the concrete?
• Is the surface layer of concrete breaking off (spalling)?
  

Consider Your Options:

• Patch small areas of crumbled, honeycombed or broken concrete with a cement-based material. Consult a structural engineer for widespread problems.
  

And If You Don't...

• Small areas of crumbled, honeycombed or broken concrete will allow moisture and soil gas to enter. Deterioration may continue, affecting the structural strength of the foundation.
• Large, damaged areas may be unsafe if they don’t adequately support the existing house or proposed renovations."

Check out the site - even if you're not Canadian. There's some really good, useful information there. If you review your foundation and find some problems, you can always use ConstructionDeal.com to help you find a quality foundation repair company.

It's a fast, free, and easy way to find a service professional.

Labels: Building Foundations, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance, Home Repair