Posted by - April 26, 2011 - Home Improvement, Real Estate
It’s hard to find good help and especially if your planning to market your home or you have just purchased one that needs some updating. Complaints about home improvement contractors rank high on consumer agency lists. Here we’ll offer some do’s and don’t for home buyers and sellers when planning to hire an outside contractor to repair or renovate their home.
Do’s
-Verify their insurance. Ask to see copies of liability insurance and amounts before signing a contract.
-Ask for references. Request a list of references from past and current clients. Call and discuss with them the pluses and minus’ of the contractor. Take the time to visit homes where work was done, check for timeliness and attention to detail on work sites.
-Request information on suppliers and subcontractors. Contractors are only as good as their support system. Vendors and subcontractors can share insight into the business practices of your potential contractor.
-Check with local Better Business Bureaus and with local building and planning officials. Most likely you’ll need building permits and certificates of occupancy from the local office that regulates renovation and building. These officials should be familiar with you contractor and their work.
-Get at least 3 estimates. We used a service last year called RoofCleaners.com for roof cleaning our house to get a few estimates. You will be surprised at how different the costs can be for the same work. Have plans and specifications in writing to deliver to contractors who bid on work. A flat fee for a project is more cost effective than time and materials. Detail materials, paint colors by brand, appliance make and model and warranties.
-Draft a complete contract. Make sure it lays out who is doing what, when it should be done by and what happens if it is not done to your satisfaction. Include payment schedules and how changes to plans will affect costs and the contract. Options should be listed separate from the main contract.
-Address refusal to complete work. It’s not likely that your contractor will refuse to complete work or abandon the project, but it pays to include a course of action if these situations arise in any contract.
-On occasion provide food treats and beverages. On hot and humid summer days or below freezing winter ones, make the effort to provide chilled bottled water, steaming coffee and a quick pick-me-up to contractors.
-Be appreciative verbally. After a rough or long day at your home, I have found it always pays to let contractors know that you appreciate their extra efforts. Staying late to complete the plumbing to get a toilet running or leaving the job site broom clean without asking is worth a hearty thank-you.
Dont’s
-Ignore making scheduled payments on time. A sure bet to get slow follow-through from contractors. If the contractor is performing as stated in the contract, so should you.
-Forget patience. Delays by cabinet or door manufactures can be out of the contractors control. Don’t be afraid to double-check though if they have been ordered to meet job lead times.
-Make the contractor guess what you want. Start a clip file before you have a contractor over to review job. Pick up some home magazines and tear out colors, finishes, appliances and overall looks for a room that you like. Develop a list of dislikes, anything helps to eliminate and communicate your thoughts.
-Be cheap. Good work costs sometimes comes at a higher price. And buyers know chintzy materials and craftsmanship. Don’t nickel and dime your contractor, and pay for all change orders you request.
-Be unavailable for contractor questions. There are always a couple of items that sneak past the drawings and specifications or surprises that you run into in an older home. Make al your contact information to your contractor so if they need to reach you to make a decision that if you don’t could hold the job up.
-Forget that we don’t live in a perfect world. It’s difficult to have strangers in our homes and even more so when the inconvenience of a remodeling job interrupts our personal refuge. Contractors like to complete work in a timely manner, but they don’t control all the remodeling moons to align them perfectly on every project.
Posted by - December 25, 2011 - Real Estate, Tips For Sellers
One of my often used sayings with those selling their home at a listing presentation is; “Marketing a home is not the same as living in one”. The rebuttal from property owners is usually a groan and then after the staging and streamling is completed, the question is what do we need to do before each time our home is shown? I developed a handy checklist that is a good reference guide for day-to-day pre-showing “must do’s”. Pass this list on to house and pet sitters, nannies or anyone else who will be responsible for preparing your home for a buyer showing.
Following these simple tips will make your home shine in the best possible light. Plus you’ll be anxious to know how the showing went. I’ve included some standard “showing feedback” and what it means to home sellers.
-During daylight open all draperies, shades, and blinds. Natural light is at the top of most buyers’ wish lists.
-At night turn on all the lights. Dark homes are not inviting. Don’t forget outside light by front door. Can your house numbers be read at night?
-Have photos of your garden available. Remember to display before and after pictures of major remodeling projects.
-Use feature cards around your home to reinforce home benefits such as air-conditioning or nearby parks in winter months.
-Clean sinks, bathrooms before each showing.
Vacuum rugs and carpets before each showing.
-Wash dirty dishes and put away.
-Empty waste baskets and trash.
-Put away clothes and personal items.
-Organize mail, magazines, and newspapers.
-Fold towels and make beds.
-Eliminate offensive odors from pets or cooking. No smoking in the house when your “on market”.
-Keep landscaping neat and mowed. Sweep driveways and sidewalks. Shovel snow.
-Pick up litter on property.
-Clean litter boxes and pet food and water bowls.
-Pick up animal droppings in yard.
-Minimize religious effects.
-Put sexually explicit materials away.
After the showing you’ll be able to get feedback from the buyers agent. Here is some common feedback and what it means.
-First day out.=Just started home search, could come back.
-They’re thinking about taking another look.=Second showings usually show elevated interest, but if it isn’t how they remembered it, it’s over.
-Loved it!=Looks like they could be writing an offer.
-It’s on their short list of homes to buy.=Find out what your competition is.
-They have some questions.=Good sign, serious interest. Don’t be vague or untimely with answers.
-They want to bring their parents back.=Family members or friends can build confidence in or kill a home sale.
-Nice first floor (in a 2-story home).=The second floor layout or number of bedrooms on the second floor didn’t work.
-Too many projects.=Buyers are not prepared to do major updating or remodeling.
-Too much wallpaper.=If this becomes reoccurring feedback, take it down.
-Poor room flow.=Hard to change.
-Tired or needs tender loving care (TLC).=Buyers can’t see past the clutter, dirt, or damaged walls, floors, or fixtures.
-Overpriced.=Be thankful they’re honest. The rule of thumb is after 20 showings or 30 days and no offers, you need to adjust the price, and not up!
-Just didn’t work.=The buyers might not have clear home parameters, or their agent stretched them.
-Nice house, wrong location.=The house worked but buyers have different location needs than your home offers.
Posted by - October 31, 2011 - Interior Design, Real Estate
Stagnant decor can benefit from a quick glamour update that doesn’t have to break your bank. Here are some quick ways for you to add glamour to your home.
-Add a large vase or urn on desk, table or vanity. Fill with fresh flowers on special occasions and european silk flowers for everyday. Use tone-on-tone colors such as white-on-white. Big blossoms say luxury.
-Lighting can set a glam mood. Picture lights, up-lights behind sofas and potted green plants and candles on pillar style holders in big scale say drama. Don’t forget to put table lamps, sconces and recessed cans on dimmers.
Shimmer and shine. Chrome, crystal and shiny fabrics like velvet can zip up a tired look. Large mirrors with silvered frames add punch and reflect the glamour from around the room.
-Furniture paint finishes add luxe. Glossy paint and lacquer looks say quality. Opt for black when in doubt. Antique white works best in bedrooms.
-Paint walls deep rich colors. Ming red, dark brown and turquoise are great backdrops for glamorous furnishings.
-Fabrics can balance dramatic statements. Raw silk and linen in solid colors complement glamour touches.
Posted by - October 12, 2011 - Real Estate
Here’s a step by step guide to buying a home.
The home buying process can be complex. These key steps are the critical steps to follow:
1. Choose & Meet Your Realtor
Building a solid relationship with a Real Estate Agent is important. He or she will be working closely with you in finding the perfect home to meet your unique needs. Professional agents have extensive market knowledge and will provide guidance in your buying process.
2. Finding the Perfect Home
Your Real Estate Agent will show you homes based on the criteria that you have given him. The more precise and direct you are with your agent, the more successful your search will be.
3. Determine the Seller’s Motivation
Once you have found your perfect property, your agent will research the homeowner’s motivation for selling, helping leverage your negotiating power in an offer to purchase.
4. Offer to Purchase
Your agent will draft a purchase agreement, advising you on customary practices, local regulations, and protective contingencies. You will need to provide an “earnest money” deposit at this time, usually ranging from 1%to 3% of the purchase price (deposit amount is not cashed until your offer is accepted by the seller). Your Realtor will present your offer to the seller’s agent. The seller will then either accept your offer, counter your offer or reject your offer.
5. Seller’s Response
You and your agent will review the seller’s response. Your agent’s knowledge of the process and strong negotiating skills will help you reach an agreement you feel good about.
6. Open Escrow
Your agent will open escrow for you once the purchase agreement is accepted and signed by all parties. Your “earnest money” will be deposited at this time. All funds associated with your transaction, either held, received, or distributed, will be handled by your escrow or title company
Posted by - September 18, 2011 - Moving
When it comes to moving one of the things that most people don’t even bother doing is finding a reputable moving company. The best way to find reputable moving firms in Miami is to first call your friends and family and see who they recommend. The reason why this is one of the first things you should do is because your friends and family are going to help you weed out the bad companies and therefore it will save you a good amount of time in the next step.
The next thing that you need to do is call the different moving companies that you think would be good to work with and then ask them if they have any references they can give you. If the company has been around for a while and they are providing a great service then they should have at least a few good references that you can use. The only thing that you need to understand is that you can’t call and bother the references, you can ask them a few questions and then let them get on with their life. You never want to bother somebody because then they won’t be a reference anymore and if that happens then you will ruin the entire process for people after you looking for the same information.
Another thing you should do in order t find a reputable moving company is to call furniture stores and see who they recommend. The reason why you should do this is because a lot of times people will buy things for their new house and get the movers to go and pick it up. This is a common situation and that is why many furniture stores know who is used the most and who they have never seen before. Trust me, doing all of this will make sure you get the most reputable moving company in Miami.
Posted by - September 5, 2011 - Green
By the Real Estate Lawyer
The real estate market is in its worst shape in decades. Declining home prices, widespread negative equity and legal issues concerning mortgage ownership have brought about a full-scale collapse in residential markets. Optimists point to record-low interest rates and increasing investor enthusiasm for real estate as signs the market is on the rebound. Pessimists highlight the problems in the mortgage market and the unprecedented nature of the collapse as reasons for expecting the decline to continue. Whichever side is right, the key problem for homeowners stuck in a house they want to sell is how to make their home attractive to buyers.
An answer to their dilemma can be found in the so-called “green” movement. As it turns out, making a home more energy efficient has a positive impact on buyers. Energy efficiency can help homeowners sell their homes and move on and has even become a part of a number of different
real estate courses. The trend has even caught the attention of new home builders. KB Home, for example, has come up with a standard it calls the Energy Performance Guide (EPG). (1) Similar to miles per gallon, EPG estimates the monthly utility bill payments and posts the results in all model homes. Lower payments means that the home is more energy efficient. Home builders have started to compete with one another to make new construction green.
The trend is further confirmed by a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The survey reports that 90 percent of home buyers think energy efficiency is very important when looking for homes. (2) A sub-council of NAHB, the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers (NAHBR), recommends several steps for homeowners that will increase energy efficiency. These steps include installing insulation with a high R-value, upgrading to a tankless water heater and updating to a high-efficiency HVAC system. Energy efficiency is a growing concern among consumers. Environmental awareness and saving money are the two biggest reasons driving it.
Insulation
One of the most important projects a homeowner can undertake is to make sure everything is insulated properly. Improper insulation can waste hundreds of dollars per year. Insulation can rot, become moldy or be eaten away by animals living in the attic or walls. Aside from these dangers, it is also important to make sure the right kind of insulation is installed. Building codes often require insulation to have a certain R-value, which measures resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.
Tankless Water Heater
These devices are relatively new inventions. A conventional storage water heater can cost up to $450 per year to operate. Twenty percent of the energy use of a home goes to heating water. (3) Tankless water heaters solve this problem by eliminating “standby loss,” which is the energy wasted to maintain a certain temperature in the tank. A tankless water heater connects directly to the outside water supply. When a faucet is opened, the water heater goes to work, and heats the water as it enters the pipes. No water is stored in a tank; the heat is applied when it is needed, saving the homeowner money.
HVAC
This acronym stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. An HVAC system provides the homeowner with climate control. This is another area where money is wasted every year. Problems with the HVAC are often related to insulation problems. Leaks in the air ducts, an inefficient gas-fired heater or dirty registers can contribute to wasted energy. Having the duct system cleaned at least once per year will help alleviate this situation. Changing the filters out regularly will also lower energy costs. Having the whole system replaced may be necessary if it has not been updated in a long while. Regular maintenance may be enough to prevent any serious problems.
Conclusion
Upgrades like these make the home more attractive to buyers conscious of minimizing their environmental impact or looking to save money on their bills. Energy efficiency will help sell a home in a market that currently favors buyers. As energy efficiency spreads, the real estate market may start moving again. The homeowner should get copies of their utility bills before and after he upgrades his home. The comparison between the two can prove very attractive to buyers.
Posted by - August 8, 2011 - Moving
A lot of people already find moving to be a stressful ordeal even when relocating to a nearby area or city and even more so when moving several states away; however, moving does not have to be as demanding, especially if you are able to find a moving company that would be able to provide you with the assistance you need in transporting your belongings to your new location.
As you set out to find Philadelphia moving companies or movers in the state where you would be moving to, it is imperative to first decide what kind of services you want the mover to provide you with. Most moving companies nowadays are already able to provide a wide range of moving services so it should not be hard to find one which would be able to offer the assistance you need.
Once you know what kind of services you are looking for, you can then go on the internet and look for interstate moving companies and Philadelphia movers. Aside from visiting their websites, make sure that you would also be verifying their reputation through checking if they already have their USDOT number or US Department of Transportation number a swell as if they are registered with the FMCSA or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. If the company does not have a USDOT number or if they are not registered with the FMCSA, it would be best to look for another company. You should also check with the BBB or the Better Business Bureau to find out if there have been any cases or claims filed against the company you are considering.
If you are having a hard time finding interstate moving companies, you might want to ask for recommendations from friends or relatives who have recently moved or from your real estate agent in Philadelphia. Chances are, they would be able to provide you with some companies that were able to properly assist them during their relocation.
Before hiring a mover, make sure to clarify everything about the services that they would be providing from the inclusions in the rate that they have given you to their responsibility for any damages that your belongings might sustain during as they are loaded or transported.
Posted by - June 13, 2011 - Moving
Dallas movers are very helpful for residential moving. Whether it is a local move or an interstate move, the Dallas movers will ensure that your belongings arrive at the specified destination safely. Moving from one home to another is not an easy task, Dallas movers assist their clients by keeping an inventory of all the furniture and even small decorative items that are being transported to the new home.
They also possess special vans and vehicles that can occupy your large furniture such as the bed as well as big electrical appliances like the washing machine and stove. Additionally, Dallas movers offer free packaging such as cardboard and bubble wrap to ensure that your items are in perfect condition. The company also offers free dismantling of larger furniture as well as reattachment.
Dallas movers are also the preferred moving and packing service company when it comes to shifting your workspace. Moving an office is not as easy as moving from one home to another. This is because office equipment is relatively more expensive. A medium sized business would have items such as computers, copy machines, projectors and many more. Transferring such large and expensive items would require the expertise of the Dallas movers who have the necessary machinery and equipment. Dallas movers are also very careful in safe guarding company property as they may contain private company information. Therefore, Dallas movers offer insurance on all items that they carry in the event of an accident or damage.
Dallas movers are very useful when a client wants to deliver a one piece item. This item is usually big and bulky in which the client is unable to transport by himself in his personal car. Dallas movers have often delivered pianos and beds across the continent in which the clients have neither the time nor the capacity to move. Dallas movers also provide storage facilities for long distance moves which about a week. Dallas movers own warehouses across the States to ensure that your belongings are well kept. On top of that, Dallas movers also offer a special service called midnight moving in case of emergencies.
With all these services provided, the Dallas movers are the one stop solution provider for all your moving needs. When Dallas movers are on the job, you can rest assured that it will be an efficient, pleasant and well organized move.
Posted by - June 7, 2011 - Home Improvement
This article will discuss about the pros and cons of both vinyl siding and fiber cement. Vinyl siding comes in wide range of colors and sizes. It has twelve foot sections, which are snapped together by nailing strip and a rigid lip to allow increased weather protection. Fiber cement is made from powdered cement with cellulose fiber. Both of these sidings are suitable for different homeowners in different circumstances.
First of all, plastic siding is lighter and cheaper than fiber cement. The cheaper price is results of the inexpensive materials and less labor involved during the installment of vinyl siding. However, manufacturers of fiber cement claims that the higher cost at the beginning is worthwhile because of the low maintaining cost.
Vinyl siding also requires less maintenance than fiber cement. For vinyl siding, you just have to wash it occasionally and have a more thorough wash once a year. For fiber cement, you need to renew the caulking around the windows or doors in addition to the washing. This is because the covering is not that durable compared to fiber cement.
Other than that, vinyl siding is also easier to install compared to fiber cement. So, the former is suitable for DIY home owners. In contrast, fiber cement requires accurate cutting to ensure that it is installed firmly to the boxing, which is best done by skilled professionals.
However, fiber cement can be more resistant to crack compared to vinyl siding. This is because vinyl siding may be vulnerable to extreme temperatures. When vinyl siding melts, there may be hot toxic vapors releases from it. Having said that, the new technology has reduces this problem.
Besides, fiber cement can be painted with any color whereas vinyl cement comes in baked-in color. House owners can chose from a wide range of colors for vinyl siding while you can choose your paint color for fiber cement. One of the cons of baked-in color is the hassle of finding a color match if you want to replace some of the panel. Fiber cement gives you the option of repainting.
Posted by - May 25, 2011 - Home Improvement
Do you have any idea why installing bay windows is so tough? What you need to know is that installing a bay window is not just a one person job simply because of the size and difficulty of the install – it’s for this reason alone that you should always hire a professional window installer rather than trying to do it yourself. What most people think is that the bay window can just be nailed to the frame but what they don’t understand is that bay window is so heavy that normally it takes a couple people just holding it into place for another individual to stand there and secure it to the house.
One of the toughest parts about installing a bay window is the fact that you don’t always have the help you need. For instance when my wife and I wanted to install a bay window in our den we decided that I would hold the window and she would secure it to the house, this did not work. The reason this didn’t work was not because we didn’t know what we were doing, it was because the window was to heavy, parts of the securing process needed more than 1 person, and almost ever bay window is going to need some customization in order to make it fit perfectly right. As you can see, we just needed some more people to help us out even if they were just there running and getting things or even if they were holding the window.
When it comes to installing a bay window it is probably best to let the professionals handle that aspect of it so that you don’t get hurt and your window gets installed properly. What most people don’t realize is the installation process can sometimes be as expensive as the window but that is all the more reason to buy the window from a window company so that they will come out and install the window unit themselves for a fraction of the cost. Remember this because far too many people think that they can save money by doing the installation process themselves just to find out that they are going to have to hire a window installer at some point so they might as well have done that first.
Posted by - May 21, 2011 - Mortgages
There are two main methods with which you can release equity from your property. The first one is the commonly used method of remortgaging property to release extra capital. A property can be remortgaged either a buy to let mortgage or a normal residential mortgage. The other type of equity release scheme available to home owners is specially designed for people who were aged 55 or over. Basically there are specific equity release plans that target the older generation to help them release equity from their property.
The key requirements and qualify for equity release is the availability of sufficient equity in a property. That essentially means that the property value of your house is significantly higher than any mortgage that might be outstanding on the property. So in essence we are talking about properties that have little or no mortgage compared to the value of the property. There are other basic requirements of course that need to be taken into consideration to determine whether you are legible for obtaining an equity release mortgage. For example, the key requirements as already mentioned for some specific equity release schemes is that the mortgage borrower is aged above 55.
Equity release can be a good way to release fast capital from your home so that it can be used for any number of reasons. So whether you’re looking to buy a new car or you have other personal financial requirements of equity release schemes and equity release remortgages can help in raising fast cash.
