Remodeling Blog

3 Important Questions to Ask Your Contractor

Before you start any remodeling project, make sure you are choosing the right contractor by asking the right questions. You want to make sure your contractor is licensed, qualified, and experienced.  If the contractor was referred to you by someone you know and trust, you feel pretty safe, right?  But what if something goes wrong?  Are you protected?

Here are three important things you need to ask your contractor before you sign on the dotted line:

1)  About subcontracted work: How much of the work will be subcontracted?  Who are they? How long have you worked with these subcontractors?  Do they have their own liability and workers compensation insurance?

2) About insurance:  Can you provide a certificate of insurance?  Do you have adequate limits of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance for yourself and your subcontractors? Do you have workers compensation insurance covering all of your employees, and covering subcontractors if they do not have their own insurance?

2) About warranties:  Do you warranty your work?  What is covered, and what is not covered?  How long is the warranty in effect?

If you don't get satisfactory answers to these questions, you might want to reconsider which contractor you hire.  You might be tempted to overlook these important protections because of a low price.  But in the long run, hiring the wrong contractor can cost you far more than you save.

Three Reasons to Remodel Now

We all know the national economy is still struggling, and the Rhode Island economy and unemployment rate are among the worst in the country.  So why would you want to spend money on remodeling your home now?  Here are three good reasons:

1. Money is cheap - After years of irresponsible lending to high-risk borrowers, banks have tightened up their standards.  But if you have a good credit rating, 20% equity in your home, and proof of income, lenders are eager to extent fat lines of credit.
2. Materials prices have fallen - With the reduction in demand over the past year, construction materials are readily available and many have come down in price.
3. Many of the bad apples are gone - When the home improvement business was going gangbusters, anyone with a pickup truck and a clipboard could call himself a general contractor. No experience or skill?  No problem!  Now many of the marginal guys have gone under.  Of course, you still need to check references, but you are less like to have a bad experience.

So, if you have been thinking of remodeling, renovating or adding to your home and have been waiting for the right time, we say "go for it". Set a budget you can afford, interview three contractors who have good reputations and references, and select the one who  you feel most confortable with.  Then enjoy the results.  And when the market picks up - and it will - your home will have appreciated in value.

3 Remodeling Ideas That Add Value

In today's economy, you may already have figured out the remodeling rather than relocating makes sense.  But when you do decide to remodel, you'd be smart to spend dollars that increase the value of your home.

Here are three remodeling ideas that will add value to your home:

1. Add a kitchen island - According to the National Association of Home Builders, 77 percent of homeowners say that an island workspace is a "must-have".  Make sure you have at least 39 inches of space all around your island for easy traffic flow.
2. Add a bath - A powder room, second or even third bathroom will add much appreciated bath space for you and your guests. Make sure the room includes an exhaust fan -- something home buyers rank high on their list of desires -- and a window that will bring in plenty of natural light.
3. Add a fireplace - A fireplace adds warmth and creates a focal point for the room.  Dress up the firebox with a tasteful surround and a classic wood mantel. If you opt for a gas unit, upgrade to one with realistic looking logs.