Unlike the kinds of surprises you usually get on your birthday, you wouldn’t want that out of your contractor. This is the reason why when you hire someone to remodel your home, everything should be in writing.

Remembering the cost of losing that bond should something go wrong while in the building process is essential when contemplating about a friend, neighbor, or relative’s offer to remodel your house even though it may appear to be a good deal.

A referral from a friend or neighbor is the best way of choosing a contractor. Licensing, insurance, and availability should be some of your considerations, once you’ve narrowed down your options. At least two references for whom they’ve done the same type of work should be provided by your prospective contractors. Ask if the workmanship was good, their budget was met, and the project was completed in the expected timeframe, once you have their references on the line.

When you get to the final three, make an appointment for them to meet you at home. If they are too impatient with your questioning, move on to the next one. This is because if there are problems in the middle of the project, you would want a contractor who is easy to talk to. It is also important to know if he is personally supervising the construction or if someone else will be there on his behalf.

A formal bid based on the plans and material specifications should be required. Some contractors would low-ball others just to get jobs, so be wary if one bid is much lower than the rest, you might not get the best quality work.

The written contract is the most important aspect once you’ve made your choice.

A very detailed scope of work to be performed should be included in the contract. Read and reread to guarantee that you know who is responsible for any demolition, cleanup, and trash hauling related to the project, as well as any fees associated with permits and inspection.

A detailed list of all materials to be used in the project should also be included as well as a written provision stating that the contractor must have your written consent before implementing any changes in the type of material or making any additional necessary purchases.

Wording that refers to materials of “equivalent” value might mean a cheaper alternative to what you are paying for, so be careful. If you’re installing new kitchen cabinets, making a prior visit to the home improvement store would be good for you, finding out the difference between birch and maple wood for example has its own value. Pick out and price any plumbing fixtures or floor coverings that will be part of the job so you and the contractor are always on the same page.

Payment schedules, start and completion dates should be stated clearly in the contract. Before starting the project, a contractor might require a down payment, ten percent is appropriate. Payments made should be in stages as the work progresses, this ensures that the contractor s motivated to keep things moving. Agreeing to pay by the hour or day would be a mistake unless otherwise if you want your new deck to be completed in three months. There should be a provision in the contract for the contractor to provide you with copies of all invoices for the materials.

Lastly, the contract should unequivocally state that final payment can’t be made unless the work has passed final inspection. This would ensure that you receive good quality work within the expected time frame.

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Before you sell your home, you have to make sure that maintenance has been done where it has to be done. In order to improve your chances of making a sale, and making a profit, you may want to consider a few quick fixes that will add value to your home.

Before you launch into all sorts of home improvement projects, remember that you do not want to spend more money on improvements than you can recoup in a better selling price as a result of the work. For example, remodeling your bathroom may cost you $6000, but only add $2000 onto the value of the house.

A fresh coat of paint is a quick way to make your house appear fresh and new. Choose a neutral color – it is easier for prospective buyers to imagine their own furniture in a room with walls painted a color that will go with anything, than try to picture their green sofa in your mauve living room.

One significant way to improve things without spending much is by replacing door handles. These look great on kitchen cabinets that need some remodeling. Another way you could add more value to your home is by replacing the old flooring or installing a new set of tiles – you can also replace rugs or carpets that are worn out.

Add an irrigation system with a timer to make your big garden do wonders to your home’s value. Irrigation systems can allay the concerns of new owners who are worried about having to take care of such a large garden and keep it in tip-top shape just like you may have done so as the owner.

Real estate agents, in general, do not care as much for the improvements you make as they do about their commission and any extra cash incentives, so take their improvement-related advice with a grain of salt. Some areas of the house are not worth redoing, as they are the areas most often changed by new owners. If you have a real estate agent genuinely concerned with how you can benefit from the deal, consult with them before renovating your kitchen and bathroom.

Usually there are some things or places around your home that need to be added or set up at the last minute before going on sale. Two simple parts of a home that can be added before sale are a covered patio or a lock-up garage, as they can bring much needed protection and security while adding some value and improving your home. If your home’s value pales in comparison to other homes for sale in your location or neighborhood, you can certainly consider making some improvements to level the playing field.

If you want to improve the selling price and value of your home without doing much work or spending a fortune, consider the above tips.

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Most homes that have a garage or basement do have concrete floors. The beauty of concrete is that you can easily paint it as compared to other more expensive treatments. Painting your concrete flooring will not only make it prettier but also more durable and easier to clean. If painting is carried out correctly, your concrete floor can last for many years.

Where to begin:

This is not a very expensive home remodeling project but it is one that is more than an overnight project. First, you have to make sure that your floor is absolutely dry prior to starting your painting project. If you notice wet spots, especially from the basement, it is better to consult a professional first to fix that seepage problem.

Once you are completely certain that your floor is already dry, next step is to scrub it in order to free it from chemical residues and greases. This is important especially if the floor is in your garage or shop area. This is significant because the paint would not be able to adhere completely in the presence of any foreign material.

Some kitty litter would be very handy in absorbing most of that grease on the floor if any. Next, scrub the floor using Goof Off and then rinse thoroughly. Now scrub with a mixture of TSP. Now it will take several rinses until you can mop and have the mop remain clean. Allow about three days for the floor to dry completely before the floor would be considered ready for painting.

Additional prepping necessary prior to painting:

Use a sander or some 80-grit paper to smoothen the floor, remove any bumpy protion or materials that are stuck on the floor’s surface. A tack clothe would also be helpful in removing some residue from the sanding that the vacuum could miss.

Look for and fix any cracks that might be present. To fix these little holes or cracks you can use a Cement Fixall and be sure to let it dry thoroughly.

Finally it is time to paint!

First, apply two coatings of stain blocker and a primer such as Kilz. Remember that the surface must be completely dry in between the two applications. Now you may apply a top quality latex paint of your choosing. A paint compressor or a roller will work fine for the painting.

Applying the finishing touches on your newly-painted floor:

As a matter of personal preference you may want to make some geometric shapes or use faux stone or whatever you would like. You may run wild with your creativity at this point, just make sure to let the floor dry completely before finishing.

Best finish for your painted concrete flooring:

To finish your newly-painted floor, apply two coatings of Breakthrough sealer with the use of a quarter-inch nap roller. Take precautions by wearing a respirator mask as fumes are expected when doing this. Then, of course, let it dry thoroughly.

Now your floor is complete. You may decorate it with some throw rugs or an area rug for some flourish as it is still concrete afterall. The difference is that it is now a beautiful concrete!

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As a rule windows are manufactured to last a considerable period of time but not forever, so one day you are sure to be in need of replacing them. When you see water condensing on the inside of your window, or feel a draft even with it closed, then you know the moment has come to put in a new one.

However, you can buy replacement windows if the frames and sills are still in good shape. Changing the frames and sills of your windows will involve some work on your walls, which will make the project more expensive.

You may want to change the type of window in your home. Although the options for windows have extended to include aluminum and vinyl beside the classical wood, your choice should depend on the style of your home. A modern home will suit aluminum or vinyl more than it will suit wooden windows. In case you have wooden shutters and prefer to keep them, then the obvious choice will be wooden windows, although you can always replace the shutters as well. However, you should keep in mind that you will need to perform a lot of maintenance on this type of window, since wood is less weather-resistant and an easy meal for termites. If you opt for vinyl, check with the suppliers that it is virgin vinyl, as the regrind or recycled vinyl windows do not hold their color well. Aluminum window frames must have thermal breaks in them to improve their poor insulation properties.

Where style is concerned, there are several window types that you can select from. Make sure though that you first have a clear picture of the window styles in your house and the changes you would like to make, before you go on to decide whether you’ll switch to single-hung, double-hung, sliders or casements. Look at the angle of opening and where the air flows to, how easy it is to reach certain windows to open them, and address these problems when choosing replacements.

Most of the heat in your home is lost through the windows. Energy Star compliant windows are an ideal choice if you want a better insulation rate and less energy consumption in your home. These windows have improved insulation due to the fact that they are made of two or three window panels set at a distance of and inches. These windows are excellent for noise reduction too, and are ideal on the side of your house that faces a busy road.

You will also have to consider the glass for your windows. Tinted glass is ideal for rooms that get a lot of sun during the day, since it can reduce the heat as well as prevent the furniture from losing color prematurely. Decorative glass is often used in bathrooms to obscure the view – particularly if you look out the shower into the neighbour’s house.

Replacement windows can be expensive, but the energy savings can be considerable in terms of improved insulation and elimination of drafts. Besides, along with the brand new appearance, replacement windows will get you a better price for your house if you want to sell it later on.

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Those wooden window shutters were once the coolest accessory that a house can have. But they were very high-maintenance and required close attention in order to keep them looking good and operating properly. Replacing them with those new and updated shutters will not only provide you with hassle-free shutters but will also give your house that much needed modern twist. These modern shutters are proven to be resilient against the elements and would be able to maintain its aesthetic even for years to come.

Vinyl shutters are the last word in window treatments:

The reason is that they are convenient for cleaning and lasts very long. These vinyl shutters are basically hassle-free as you do not need to repaint, repair or upgrade them as much as those old wooden types. There is almost no weight to the shutters yet they look like the traditional heavy wood shutters. You can be creative and have the colors customized for your house as they can be painted quite easily.

What choices are there?

The composite shutter has the lowest cost among all the options. They are called composite because they are made from different materials that are joined together in order to come up with one that could withstand against the elements. They are composed of particleboards that are pushed down into molds in order to come up with different designs: the batten, louvered, raised panel and board style. They can be hinged so that they can be closed and opened just like the old time wood window shutters.

A little more expensive choice but a very popular one is the fiberglass window shutter. Their designs are similar to those of the vinyl shutters as they come from pretty much the same mold. They do last around twenty years so they make a good investment. Fiberglass is a much stronger product than the particleboard version. If you are in a typhoon or hurricane-prone area, the fiberglass shutters would be the best choice as they are proven to be very resilient even against the harshest of weather. These are available in many textures and colors or you can also purchase them ready to paint to customize for your home.

The aluminum shutters however, may be the most adaptable among all the choices. They come in a wide array of textures, colors and styles, which includes the faux colonial louvered design. Despite being popular however, they only come with a relatively short three-year warranty. The reason for this is that they are just not expected to put up much of a fight when faced with adverse weather conditions. Although they are made to look like wood, upon closer inspection they just pale in comparison.

If you must prefer, the traditional wooden shutters are still presently available for dressing your windows. They do need a lot of maintenance and they will not hold up to the elements like aluminum or fiberglass. If you want to weather proof your wood shutters it can get really expensive. Now that all the options have already been presented, the final choice now rests with you.

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