You have finally reached the decision to do something major to your dwelling, and have come up with a working plan and goals. Congrats! You have decided to take on a project. For whatever reason, your house needs a professional work over. Now, where do you go about finding the right person for the job?

When it comes down to it, builders build and remodelers remodel. Believe it or not, building a house from scratch is often a lot easier than remodeling.  With remodeling, there are always suprises.  Remodelers need to deal with the challenges that come up when renovating a home.  We never know what we are going to find in a wall or with the electrical or plumbing.

Pros and Cons of Builders

If you are doing a serious addition or a basement finishing, a builder can handle it.  They often use many specialty sub contractors and can collaborate with designers and architects to come up with plans they can work from.  They typically have good relationships with suppliers and are stable enough not to leave you hanging due to financial problems.  Sometimes they are able to get great discounts on materials and pass the savings on to you.  They wouldn’t be in business long if they didn’t know how to keep a project flowing and stay on schedule.  They are easy to find by looking in a phone book, asking Realtors, or cruising around a new neighborhood and seeing their signs.

However, many builders don’t know the ins and outs of older homes.  They often stay too busy building new homes to take on your remodeling projects.  Sometimes they have higher overhead, which can cost you more money.  Communication may be difficult because it is mostly their sub contractors that you see day to day.   They also may take longer to do your work because their sub-contractors will have to become available for each phase of the work.  This isn’t true of every builder.  I know some great design/build firms that do renovation and new construction.  Like all things, it is a good idea to check a builder’s references before hiring.  If they don’t have any references for similar projects, they could be moving into an unfamiliar remodeling jobs to pick up more work during a soft housing market.

Pros and Cons of Remodelers

For older homes in need of an update, or a kitchen or bath renovation, remodelers tend to have the upper hand.  Remodelers, like builders, can have good relationships with suppliers and sub contractors also.  More often than not, their sub contractors tend to be more professional because a remodeler often works in occupied homes and tends to work with subs that are trustworthy and reputable (not four rufians in a beat up pickup truck).  Small remodeling firms can help your bottom line with lower overhead and you will often find them on the project, if not actually working the project.  The good ones are busy but are more likely to take on your project in a time schedule that you can live with.  They don’t turn their nose up on small projects.  They know what to anticipate in older homes and have often learned quite a few tricks on how to remedy surprises that usually sneak up on builders.  They can be found by word of mouth, online, in the phone book, or by talking to your local lumberyards and home stores.

They also have their downsides.  Not all remodelers are reputible, so always check references.  Sometimes they are not altogether financially stable.  This can be a problem when they run out of cash midway through your project.  Not all of them are able to provide design services or handle really big jobs.  Some of them do not have the skill or support to write up a good estimate, and your project could end up costing you more in the long run because of their inabiltiy to accurately bid.   Anyone can get a magnet on their truck and a few tools and start their own remodeling business, so it is a good idea to make sure they are equiped to handle the scope of your project.  Also, professional remodelers don’t make you get your own permits or buy your own materials.  That is a sure sign that you have a sub par remodeler.

In the end…

Whether you end up looking for a builder or a remodeler, what really matters is that you find someone who will give you the service and results that you want.  With anyone you hire to work on your home, do your research.  Find a firm that will listen to what you want and need and offer you advice and suggestions.  This is a process.  You need to gather information to make an educated decision.  No matter how you categorize an individual or a firm, they need to be able to do the task you hire them to do.  Don’t hesitiate to ask a potential company what they consider themselves to be if it isn’t clear.  It is your home and you have to live with the results.

Remodeling is the best and cheapest way to have the home you want without moving. No secret there.  But often people aren’t ready to have their kitchen torn up or bathroom out of commission while contractors are doing the remodel. This is a necessary evil, but if you prepare for it domestically as well as mentally, it will make the experience less painful.

Controlling the Mess
If you are the type of person who is always running behind everyone with a dustbuster and a wet rag, then having a constant mess in your house will bother you more than most. A good idea to keep your sanity is to get some carpet pieces and lay them on your floors wherever the contractors will be walking. This will keep dust and dirt off your floors while they are walking back and forth to their trucks, and then you can put them away when they leave.  They also make a great stick down plastic for carpet.  We often use this on our jobs for the areas we need to use.

If it’s possible, determine a spot where your contractors can make a mess. If they need to saw a board or sand something, anything that will kick up dust, if you can contain the dust, there will be less to clean. If they can use your garage, this is often the best place for this kind of work.  Sometimes something needs to be sawn or sanded in place.  This is when a shop vac comes in handy.  (Note:  Don’t hire a contractor who doesn’t own a shop vac!)

They should sweep up every day and neaten the work area daily, but it won’t be spotless.

Contractor Clean-Up
Many people like to have the mess cleaned up after each day, which makes sense because no one wants to live in a messy home. However, if there are several people who spend 30-45 minutes at the end of every day cleaning up their mess and storing their tools, this will add significant time to the project. Think about having them clean up at the end of every week or some such arrangement. Depending on the length of the project, cleaning every day could add as much as two weeks onto the project and to how long your house is a mess.

Consider the Contractors
Although this is your house, your remodel and your mess, the contractors are just trying to do a service for you. They are not there to track mud on your carpet or dirty your home, although sometimes these are the side effects of a remodeling project. Think about what is reasonable to ask of your contractors, not to mention what will help them to work more efficiently and quickly. Allow them room to do their jobs, and they will finish just as soon as they can.

A contractor should be considerate of you also, and the good ones keep the home as clean as possible.  We tidy up our tools and sweep up at the end of the day in the common areas.  Sometimes we leave rooms closed up if we just plan on coming back the next day to make more of a mess.  However, we do our best to cover things in plastic and put down floor protection.  It is okay to ask your contractor, during the planing phases, what they plan on doing to cut down on the mess.  This is the time to find out.

On a personal note, I think I am somewhat immune to it as I am around it all the time.  Our house always has something under construction, and the contractor’s home always gets done last, so I am used to it.  A dirty job site in other peoples home bothers me more than it does in my own at times.  However, it is somewhat inevitable.  If you are going through this right now, hang in there!  It will soon be over and you can give your house a good scrubbing.

Maybe more than you think.  What sunny days do for your mood, windows can do for your house.  Natural light is wonderful.  Not only will it cut down on your electricity bill, it can lift your spirits as well.  Especially if you live in an area that can be sunlight challenged and you’re looking for ways to feel better in your house during those long winter months (and who isn’t?).  New windows may be just what you need.

Are you after some more UV rays, but nervous about the privacy factor?  Not only can draperies be a fun and creative option, you can cut down on potential peeping toms entirely by going the skylight route, an especially appealing option for bathrooms.  Bathrooms are the places you need the most privacy so it makes sense that these tend to be spaces that end up windowless more often than others.  The skylight is a great example of a way you can get the best of both worlds for your bathroom design.

Wake Things up With Windows

I also tend to think that windows belong everywhere.  This trend seems to be popping up more and more in eco-friendly buildings, and it’s a great way to brighten up your home and take advantage of the natural resources right in your own backyard:

If you’re worried about how adding windows would fit into a more urban
lifestyle, this is where looking into different options for window
treatments will come in handy.  Drapes and shades offer an incredibly
flexible way to chose how much light you allow in, and how much, or
little, the neighbors will be able to check out your digs.

I just can’t say this enough, a good remodel takes time.  Also, good Remodelers are usually pretty busy.  You may have been thinking about overhauling that kitchen for months or even years.  When you decide to take the plunge, it won’t happen overnight.  I am bringing this up because lately it seems like everyone wants their projects done yesterday.  And no one wants to hear that it will be a few months before we can fit it into our schedule.

This is where patience and planning come in.  These are two necessities when venturing into a remodeling project.  As you get to a point where the renovation dream starts to look like reality, or even necessity, it is time to get in contact with a contractor.  Or even a few contractors.  Meet with them to discuss your project, and get an idea of the time frame it can be completed in.  It is important to work with your contractor in advance of when you want to have your project done.   A successful remodel is one that is planned well before the first hammer is ever swung.

When you need a drywall contractor what you want to look for is someone who will meet the specific conditions of your job. For minor repairs, you may not need a drywall contractor at all; a handyman can complete these repairs. For major repair or new construction, finding a drywall contractor is not difficult. It’s finding one who has the combination of craftsmanship and reasonably priced.  If your project involves other work besides drywall, a full service residential remodeler can generally handle your drywall needs, or if it is a big job, may sub contract the work out to a professional drywall crew.

Take a Proactive Approach

Drywall is too often taken for granted as the desired installation option for wall coverings. It is, by far, the most popular and the least expensive. There are many types of drywall and drywall finishes.  Even if you elect to go with standard drywall, you should look for a drywall contractor or remodeler who knows what’s out there and is willing to take the time to explain it to you. This can help you identify the contractors who will be easier to work with and who will make you feel comfortable.

Why You Should Hire a Drywall Contractor
Drywall isn’t impossible for DIY by any means, but it isn’t for the casual homeowner, either. Drywall is messy and will temporary inhibit your ability to live in any area of your home where that installation is occurring. Hiring a drywall contractor will ensure the work gets completed in a timely fashion, but be wary of a contractor who wants to hurry through the project in one day. Multiple coats usually require a minimum of two days for the best result. Like many home improvement projects, a drywall contractor will be able to put a professional touch to the end result.

As with any home improvement contractor, check references, get estimates, and talk to more than one contractor. Go with your gut. Make sure your contracts are clearly spelled out and don’t pay for the entire project upfront. Remember, too, to plan ahead for part of your home to be off limits. Don’t panic if things get messy, Drywall installation and repair can often mean making things worse before they get better.

By definition, an egress window is any window that provides a safe escape route from your home in case of fire, as well as an access point for emergency personnel. That being said, they’re an important (and required) feature throughout your home. And if you’re adding an egress window in your basement, you’ll reap the added benefits of bringing natural light and ventilation into your basement area, and increasing your home’s overall square footage and value. Lets take a look at egress windows to determine the benefits, drawbacks, and costs of these important safety additions.

Egress Windows: The Pros
There isn’t much not to like when it comes to adding an egress window. They increase the value of your home, and create a safer environment for everyone that lives under your roof. And since size requirements mean larger windows overall, they bring in more natural lighting, and provide more ventilation throughout. Here’s a list of reasons that egress windows should top your to-do list this summer.

• Safety — According to the U.S. Fire Administration, “4,000 Americans die each year in fires, and over 20,000 are injured,” many of which could be avoided with proper escape plans and routes. An egress window in each bedroom, as well as in other “habituated” areas (basements included), drastically increases your chances of safe escape in the event of a major house fire, and provides entry points into your home for emergency personnel.
• Added Value — Adding egress windows in your basement is especially important when it comes to increasing the value of your home, since it’s the key to bringing basement bedrooms and living areas up to code and including them in calculations of overall square footage. According to Popular Mechanics magazine, “with an extra legal bedroom [in the basement], you could recover 10 to 20 times your window installation cost when you eventually sell your home.”
• Added Comfort — Sam Satterwhite of The Family Handyman writes that “an egress window in a basement dramatically brightens an otherwise dark, dingy room,” which isn’t surprising considering the fact that most building codes require egress windows to provide “a clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet.” A window of that size is big enough to provide a wealth of natural ventilation to the stuffiest basement, as well.
• Design — You don’t have to line basement egress window wells with ugly corrugated tin. If budget isn’t an issue, you can build with materials like wood, stone, or brick. Or you can purchase composite window well liners that mimic natural materials, making for basement egress windows that are practical, cost-effective, attractive, and easy to install. You can even “landscape” with small planting beds to add a little color and life to this traditionally drab space.

Egress Windows: The Cons
Minus budgetary concerns, there really isn’t a reason not to install egress windows. Even then, the payoff from an investment/return standpoint is so substantial that most budget-based arguments fall apart pretty quickly. About the only “downside” we see is the need to install egress windows with local building codes in mind, and to make sure the installation is done right (especially in basement egress windows, where moisture can be an issue).

The Cons:

• Know Local Building Codes — Most building codes require a 5.7 square foot opening, and a window that is no more than 44″ off the floor. But keep in mind that codes vary from place to place, so be sure that you and your contractor know what the specific requirements are for your municipality. If the building inspector finds that your egress window comes up short in any way, it’s back to the drawing board.
• Moisture and Basement Egress Windows — Moisture problems can be problem in basement window applications, especially if your basement has a history of moisture-related issues. To avoid them, make sure your window well is dug to the proper depth below the window, and take other preventative measures, such as installing basement drainage systems and making sure your gutter system drains run off away from your home.
• Inconvenience — In his article for The Family Handyman, Satterwhite is quick to point out that installing a basement egress window is a major project anyway you cut it. Be prepared to put up with the inconveniences that are unavoidable with a project of this scale.

Egress Windows: Costs
Costs of these installations can vary depending on a number of factors, including your choice of windows, the number of windows you install, and your window well design. Above-grade egress windows shouldn’t cost more than any other window installation, in the $500 to $1,000 range for energy-efficient, multiple-paned windows according to Bill Barr of All Star Windows and Siding in Loveland, Colorado. For basement egress windows, however, you should expect to pay more. The installation of a single, no-frills basement egress window usually runs in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, according to Popular Mechanics, while more elaborate window well designs and top-of-the-line windows can raise the price to as much as double those figures. It’s not cheap, but considering the peace of mind an egress window provides, it’s safe to say that installing one of these windows is money well-spent for any homeowner.

With summer just around the corner, a lot of us are thinking about those super high air conditioning bills. Most people don’t realize that they can cool their homes without turning on the A/C. The solution is a whole house fan. The whole house fan works by pulling warmer air out of the home through the attic. Fresh moving air is carried throughout the house. The result is a cooler more comfortable house without running the air conditioning. They can also be installed to turn on with a timer or a thermostat.

A whole house fan is not difficult to install. Most homes can be outfitted with one for less money than a new A/C unit. They do, however, have a few drawbacks.

One thing people consider is the noise. A whole house fan is just that, a big fan. There are many models out there that claim to be quieter. The secret is in how many blades a unit has. The more blades, the less noise the fan makes. Also, having a larger unit running at a slower speed will cut down on the noise versus a smaller fan running on high. Some of the better fans also come with gaskets that separate the fan from direct connection to the home’s framing. That cuts down sound transmission from the vibration of the fan’s motor.

Another problem with whole house fans is that they require the windows to be open to work properly. This is a drawback for two reasons. First, it lets in pollen and allergens plus whatever else happens to be in the air outside. Second, open windows are not as secure as closed, locked windows. This second problem can be remedied with special window security devices that only allow the windows to be open a small amount so that no one can fully open them and enter the home.

These problems aside, a whole house fan can significantly reduce your summer cooling costs without the supermarket freezer isle cold of traditional air conditioning. If you are tired of paying through the nose for a cooler home, it might be a good investment. There are a bunch of websites out there that talk about whole house fans. Just try a Google search and you can learn a lot more. If considering installing one, you may want to talk to a contractor who is experienced in this area to make sure that your home’s attic ventilation is suitable for the type and size of fan you want to install.

It could be that you’ve noticed your exterior paint is showing some cracks or flaking, or maybe you’re just feeling the need to spice up your living room with some exciting new colors. Regardless of what your painting project is, many homeowners end up questioning whether to do it themselves or hire the job out to a painting contractor. There isn’t an easy answer here, just a number of things to consider before making your decision about whether spending money on professional painting services is the right choice for you.

Saving Money by Doing It Yourself—Or Will You?
I can’t lie, just about any determined homeowner can paint their own home, inside or out, and do a fine job at it. Furthermore, you will undoubtedly get it done cheaper going that route than if you hire a painting contractor to do the work for you. Be sure to add up all the expenses you’ll incur by doing it on your own, however. Remember, you’ll need to buy the paint, brushes and rollers, drop cloths, ladders, wire brushes, paint scrapers and even simple supplies like tape and paint thinner. If you don’t already have those on hand, the costs can add up quickly. Add to that renting paint sprayers and pressure washers, and for many jobs the savings end up being negligible in the end.

Preparation Makes for Good Painting
Besides what could be minimal savings, remember that there’s a lot more to painting than just slapping on a few coats. There’s a ton of preparation that must be done right if you want to get the longest life possible out of your new paint job. This includes cleaning all surfaces, scraping loose or damaged paint from the home, applying primer where necessary, taping off trim and windows, and moving appliances and furniture if you’re painting indoors. These tasks can take painting services with a full crew several days to do. For a weekend warrior, it can stretch out much longer.

You Get What you Pay For
Another reason to hire a pro has to do with final results. As I said, you can do it yourself, and in most cases it will look fine when you’re finished. But keep in mind that someone who offers professional painting services is an expert in the field. Painting contractors are seasoned professionals who know the tricks of the trade, and they’ve put in their time in the field to hone their skills. A job done by a pro is simply going to look more polished and blemish free than otherwise. Some homeowners don’t care. Done is done. But if you’re not satisfied with anything less than perfection, hiring a painting contractor is probably worth every penny.

What is Your Time Worth?
Finally, be sure to consider how much time a painting project is going to take you to get done. Painting a bedroom rarely takes more than a weekend, but doing a whole house is another story altogether. Painting projects, especially exterior paint jobs, can stretch out forever if you’ve only a day or two a week to tackle them. For many homeowners, the trade off simply isn’t worth the cost savings. They’d rather be spending time with family, attending to hobbies, and sneaking away for a few days, than to tie up a couple months worth of weekends dangling from a ladder.

Here is a great product that I bet many people do not know is out there. Water Alarm is a small device that you can put near any water bearing fixture or damp area of the house to alert you when an area gets wet. This would be especially good if you have a finished basement you are trying to keep dry or an area that you don’t always see with a water heater or a boiler that could leak.

It has four small metal probes on the bottom that sense moisture and sound an alarm. It is small and easy to use. All you have to do is install a 9 volt battery in it and set it on the floor. As soon as the metal sensor probes touch the water the alarm goes off. The alarm puts out 110 db of noise for 72 hours.

The website states the product costs approximately $30 which is really not any more expensive than a smoke detector. The nice thing with this product is you can set it in your basement or garage and be notified if any water enters the area. You could also place it near a sump pit to notify you that your sump pump has quit working.

The probes must come in contact with the water or it won’t go off. So you need to select the location of the device carefully to ensure it’s in the most likely area to get wet first.

This would have come in handy for me last fall when my water heater started leaking and I didn’t find out until a routine visit to the crawl space. I don’t often go into the closet where the water heater is and didn’t find out water was leaking for about a month. Had I had one of these gadgets I could have found out a lot sooner and maybe not had to replace some of the subfloor under the water heater. Since water can be a damaging force in a home, causing mold and rot, this little device can really save you some headaches.

Taken from “This Old House” website, here are a few contractor lines that should put up red flags for you…

1. “This offer expires today.”
Most bids are good for 30 days so clients can mull over decisions and get loans.

2. “You get a rebate if we use your house as a model for our work.”
A sales gimmick, this price is usually higher than the quote you’d get elsewhere.

3. “I’ll give you a price just from looking.”
Bids come in writing, and only after careful inspection. If you don’t know what the bid is based on, how can you negotiate a better deal?

4. “I don’t give out contact information for past customers.”
A good contractor is happy to provide references. Just be sure to follow up and confirm that those clients are satisfied with the work.

5. “A simple handshake will do.”
Get it in writing. A contract protects both you and your contractor should something go wrong.

6. “I’ll cut you a deal if you pay with cash.”
A contractor can reduce his rate by not reporting your payment as income and, therefore, by not paying taxes. This is fraud.

7. “You’ll have to get the work permits.”
A contractor who can’t get permits for a job probably isn’t licensed in your area, or his license was revoked.

8. “For an extra fee, I’ll give you a warranty.”
Guarantees are built into most contracts at no charge and cover the work for a specified period, usually one year.