When it comes time to do the final walk-through of your newly remodeled house there are probably a number of different emotions that you are feeling. You are probably feeling relief that the project has reached an end. You are probably excited and anticipating how you will use your new space. You may be apprehensive about the loans that you have taken out and the money that may be coming due. Whatever you are feeling, you need to focus when it comes time to do the final walkthrough with your contractor. This is your opportunity to make sure that you got your money's worth.

Continue reading "What to look for during your final walk through" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

More and more people are becoming concerned and proactive about preserving the environment and improving all of the processes used in life to have less of an impact on the environment. Many people are choosing to make their homes more `green' and are taking on remodeling projects to improve energy efficiency and to reduce the cost of maintaining a home. But one step that many people forget about or neglect is to recycle, reuse or dispose of the old items that are being taken out of the home that aren't fit for continued use.

Continue reading "Tips for recycling the stuff you take out of your home during a remodel" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Many remodeling jobs seem simple and straightforward enough for many people, but there are often complexities and difficulties underlying the whole project that many would take for granted. Safety should always be on the top of the list of any construction job, even if it is a seemingly simple project at home. Here are some tips to help you stay safe in a construction site.

Continue reading "Safe construction site tips" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When it comes to building a home, there are many things you need to keep in mind. But the first thing you will need to do is find a lot for building your home. In fact, this should even be done before you have finalized your building plans--site conditions such as drainage and soil can affect your overall cost as well as the design.

If you are choosing a lot in a development that is already planned, it will be all ready for building--the developers will have already taken care of that. This is convenient because you don't have to worry about getting the lot tested for drainage and soil types. But even if you are choosing a lot in a development, there are still things to keep in mind, such as:

Continue reading "Choosing a lot for home building" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When it comes to construction, 3 is going to be your magic number. You need three of everything, so let's talk about each of these:

3 references for each sub
3 bids for each job
3 subs as potentials
3 prices for each material
3 of pretty much everything!

Continue reading "3-The Magic Number!" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When you build a home, the location of your lot should be one of the highest priorities. If you don't find a lot you love, you won't love living in the house, even if it is the house of your dreams. Also, it is important to realize that the last thing you want is to never be able to sell your home because the location is bad. So, when looking for a lot, there are three main things to remember: One, love your location; Two, location is the most important factor; Three, the location needs to be good. While this might be a little bit of an over exaggeration, the fact remains that if you don't like the setting of your home, you aren't going to be comfortable and enjoy living there. Go figure!

Continue reading "Lot Location" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Building a home is a big step to take and you want to make sure that everything is almost perfect. There are a lot of things to think about when you decide to build a home. The builder is obviously one thing you will have to put great consideration into. And the second most important thing about that build is what kind of warranties you should expect from a home builder. Here are some tips to making sure you know exactly what to expect from your home builder.

Tip #1: Builder guarantee's
Make sure that your builder will guarantee their work. This is something that you need to ask every builder that you are considering because if they don't guarantee their work for at least a year there's a good chance the houses they build are just thrown together and will end up having tons of problems. Cheap houses are definitely cheap, but they don't last long and won't hold up in the long run. When building a home cheaper isn't always better.

Continue reading "What kind of warranties you should expect from a home builder" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you are dreaming of building a new home, you probably are wondering if you should hire a big home builder or an independent builder. If you have detailed construction plans, you probably want a builder who can be at your service whenever you need them. A good place to start is with a building cost estimator. Estimate costs with a free online building cost estimator that can help you when you are seeking a builder. Here are some tips to help you determine if you should hire a big home builder or an independent builder:

Contact local building companies
Meet with builders who construct homes that are similar in size, quality, and features to the home you want. A good builder can tell you how much per square foot they typically charge for home construction and they can give you a ballpark figure for personalized home equipment such as: vaulted ceilings, master bath personalizations, kitchen cabinets and countertops, and other personalized features you want. A good builder will also provide you with a listing of materials they will use.

Continue reading "Big home builders versus the little guys, what's the difference really?" »

Posted by DK | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)