Posts Tagged ‘home’
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Do you know how to find the right kitchen remodeler for you kitchen design project? If you do not, we are here to help you by giving you a few tips on how. Read below.
Kitchen remodeling is one of the most expensive home remodeling projects. You want the best work done for it because it is one of the most used rooms in your home.
If you do not choose a decent kitchen remodeler, your project will become tremendously costly in time and money through incidents, errors and code violations. Your kitchen should be functional and attractive – no excuse.
Interview Remodelers
Make sure you are selective when it comes to picking a kitchen remodeler. Ask challenging questions and demand more than good answers to them.
Examine Your Remodeler’s Company Qualifications
Make sure the company providing service is registered as a legit business. Make sure the remodeler is licensed as a contractor. Ask for financial statements from the remodeler’s bank. It is a bad idea to have service from a remodeler company that is not doing successful in the market. If they go under, your project may never be completed successfully. Make sure the contractor provides you proof of insurance from the main remodeler and subcontractors.
Look at the Remodeler’s Earlier Performance on Previous Projects
Look at photos and previous projects. Look up their reputation on the Internet. Ask to talk to actual house owners who have used the remodeler’s service. Homeowners can offer you insight on how the remodeler’s work stands in the long-term.
For more tips on how to pick the right Kitchen remodeler, read this article from EzineArticles.com.
If have any questions at all, contact T.W. Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
T.W. Ellis, LLC provides the design and construction of outdoor living spaces such as custom decks, screened rooms and unique additions. The building contracting company, which always works with a qualified architect, services Maryland’s residential and commercial areas throughout Baltimore county, Harford county, Cecil county, Annapolis, Carroll county and Howard county.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Posted in Home Design, Kitchen Remodeler, Kitchen Remodeling, Residential Construction, T.W. Ellis | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Do you know why it is a good idea to invest in green technology for your home? If you are not sure, we are here to help! It has never been a better time to invest in energy saving upgrades for your home. In fact, green features in the home are more likely to increase your home’s value to a higher market value than other properties. Read below to learn how!
The Top Sought Out Green Features by Appraisers
When it comes to looking for green features in homes, appraisers are now looking closely to energy saving features, appliances and solar panel additions to homes. They call these highly valued homes sustainable homes.
Green features are reported and analyzed to help mortgage lenders, homebuilders, real estate agents and insurance agencies assess the true value of a home beyond energy attributes.
Ways to Invest in Green Technology for Your Home
You can invest in green technology for your home in many ways. Here are just a few:
- Use sustainable building materials of local, recycled, nontoxic products to keep costs and environmental impact of your home down. Recycled materials are valued because they are low-maintenance and add character to homes.
- Do green home renovations such as adding a green roof, adding a solar panel or use fiberglass windows and doors.
- Use sustainable insulation materials for your home such as pre-piped material for solar thermal or airtight material; the materials can tremendously reduce your monthly utility costs.
For more information on how investing in Green Technology for your Home can increase your home value, read this article from EzineArticles.com.
If have any questions at all, contact T.W. Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
T.W. Ellis, LLC provides the design and construction of outdoor living spaces such as custom decks, screened rooms and unique additions. The building contracting company, which always works with a qualified architect, services Maryland’s residential and commercial areas throughout Baltimore county, Harford county, Cecil county, Annapolis, Carroll county and Howard county.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Tags: adding a green roof, additions, agencies, airtight, analyzed, Annapolis, appliances, assess, Baltimore County, building contracting company, Carroll county, ceil county, character, commerial, construction, costs, decks, Design, Doors, energy attributes, energy saving, energy saving features, environemental, ezinearticles.com, facebook, fiber glass windows, green features, green movement, green technology, Harford County, home, Home Value, homebuilders, Howard County, impact, Insurance, invest, invest in green technology, local, Low Maintenance, Market Value, materials, monthly utility costs, monthly utility costs reduction, Mortgage Lenders, nontoxic, oudoor living spaces, pre-piped, products, properties, provides, qualified architect, read, real estate agents, recycled, recycled materials, reduce, renovations, reported, residential, screened rooms, services, solar panel, sustainable building materials, sustainable homes, sustainable insulation materials, T.W.Ellis, the top sought out green features by appraisers, thermal, true value, twitter, upgrades, valued homes, ways to invest in green technoloy for your home, your home
Posted in green homes, green technology | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
You have an idea. That is all you need to start. But without proper planning and organization, that idea may slip away as quickly as it came to you. So before you remodel your home or office, follow these simple steps:
- Put your idea on paper: Before you even visit with a contractor or architect, sketch your ideas. But also consider the effects that each addition will have on the functionality of your space.
- Research: One of the best ways to avoid mistakes is to see what other people have already done. Ask them what pitfalls they came across and how they rectified the situation.
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years? If the answer is in another home, then why spend tons of money on a big renovation? Some home improvement projects can increase your home’s re-sale value, but other can actually decrease it. So do a little research and see what makes sense for you and your family.
- Can you afford it? Even the best plans sometimes fall apart. Can you afford to go over budget? For must-have items that could wipe out your savings account, explore home improvement loans and other financing options.
- The professional touch: Unless you are the do-it-yourself type, you will need to hire some help. Choose wisely. Make sure the team your hire is qualified, licensed, and properly insured.
- Sign on the dotted line: Misunderstandings lead to disaster. Do not undertake any remodeling project without a written contract. Make sure everyone agrees on the work that will be completed and how long it will take. Also be clear on the types of materials that will and will not be used.
- Permits: The building permit assures that the remodeling project meets local building codes and safety regulations. General contractors will usually take care of the paperwork, but you should follow up with them to ensure that everything is taken care of.
If have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click heretoday!
T.W. Ellis, LLC provides the design and construction of outdoor living spaces such as custom decks, screened rooms and unique additions. The building contracting company, which always works with a qualified architect, services both residential and commercial areas throughout Baltimore county, Harford county, Cecil county, Annapolis, Carroll county and Howard county.
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
Before You Remodel Your Home About.com
Tags: additions, Annapolis, Architect, avoid mistakes, Baltimore, Baltimore County, Before You Remodel Your Home, Budget, building contracting company, building permits, Carroll county, Cecil County, commercial, construction, contractor, custom decks, Design, Do it yourself, General contractors, Harford County, home, home improvement, home improvement loans, Home improvement projects, Howard County, improvement loans, increase your home’s re-sale value, Insured, Licensed, local building codes, office, organization, outdoor living spaces, over budget, Permits, pitfalls, proper planning, Put your idea on paper, qualifed architect, qualified, Re-sale Value, remodel, Remodel Your Home, remodeling, remodeling project, renovation, Research, residential, safety regulations, screened rooms, sketch your ideas, T.W.Ellis, TW Ellis, written contractor
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Monday, August 29th, 2011
Home improvement projects are becoming more about savings and less about extravagance. And the most interesting fundamental shift in home improvement ideology is this: bigger no longer means better. Instead, homeowners are watching wattage as they attempt to improve energy efficiency as well as aesthetic appeal with each remodeling project.
This article from HouseLogic.com explains. It outlines 7 of the hottest home improvement trends around.
- Maintenance-free Siding: One of the fastest growing segments in the siding world, fiber-cement siding, is a combination of cement, sand, and cellulosic fibers that looks like wood, but won’t rot, combust, or be affected by termites. While this newfound siding option costs more than traditional paint-grade wood, aluminum, or vinyl, it returns an incredible 80% of investment. And maintenance is as easy as annual cleaning and caulking.
- Convertible Spaces: The key is flexibility as this trend is all about potential. Homeowners want rooms with multi-functionality. Maybe a Murphy bed that pulls down from an armoire-looking wall unit to turn an ordinary room into a guest room. Or a foldaway wall that turns a private study into an easy-flow party space.
- A Laundry Room of Your Own: Homeowners want more. So why not turn that mudroom or unused bedroom into a dedicated laundry room.
- Souped Up Kitchens: While the rest of the house is getting smaller, kitchens are getting bigger and bigger. The kitchen is, after all, the heart and soul of the home.
- Energy Diets: Energy monitors and meters can gauge electricity usage of individual electronics ($20 to $30) or monitor whole house energy ($100 to $250). The TED 5000 Energy Monitor ($240) supplies real-time feedback that you can view remotely and graph by the second, minute, hour, day, and month. So how energy efficient is your home?
- Love That Storage: Built in storage is the way to go. And discretion is the key. It is no longer a matter of providing extra storage, but also doing so in a creative way. Built-in storage under stairs or over doors is becoming more and more common. Under-appreciated nooks that once displayed antique desks are growing into built-ins for books and collections. Slap on some doors, and you can hide office supplies and buckets of Legos.
- Home Offices Come Out of the Closet: Home offices are popping up all over. Flexible work schedules, entrepreneurial zeal and mobile communication are all allowing us to relocate from downtown to down the hall. Spare bedrooms, un-cluttered basements and attics are all being reborn as work centers.
To find out which of these options makes the most sense for you, your home, and your budget, it is best to talk to a professional remodeling company. If have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Tags: 7 Home Improvement Trends that Make Your House Work for You, aesthetic appeal, annual cleaning, basements, bedroom, Built in storage, Convertible Spaces, electricity usage, Energy Diets, energy efficiency, Energy meters, Energy monitors, extra storage, fiber-cement siding, flexibility, gauge electricity usage, guest room, home, home improvement, home improvement ideology, Home improvement projects, Home Improvement Trends, Home Offices, homeowners, hottest home improvement trends, Kitchen, Kitchens, Laundry Room, Maintenance-free Siding, mudroom, multi-functionality, Murphy bed, private study, professional remodeling, professional remodeling company, remodeling, remodeling company, remodeling project, siding, siding option, TW Ellis, work centers
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Monday, August 1st, 2011
There is no better way to add value to your home then with a renovation project. But which remodeling jobs yield the highest return on investment? Well, this article from directory M provides the top three projects that will increase the market value of your home.
1) Kitchen Remodel: The kitchen is not only the heart of the home, but also the remodeling project that continues to show the greatest return on investment for homeowners. The kitchen is often the first room that potential buyers look at when they walk into a property listed for sale.
Spaciousness, functionality and maximum storage capacity are the three main aspect potential homebuyers are looking for. Of course you can try to tackle these projects on your own, but hiring a design professional is ideal (if you can afford it).
Kitchen remodels offer a 44% higher return on investment than the average return on other popular renovations
2) Bathroom Remodel
Bathroom renovations are second only to kitchen remodels in importance. After kitchens, bathrooms are the first room potential buyers tend to focus on. The more elaborate the bathroom the better. A recent study found that most potential buyers are looking for a spa-like bathroom with a comfortable environment.
Usually a bathroom renovation involves the complete replacement of existing finish and fixtures – tubs/showers, toilets, faucets, sinks, tiles, flooring, lightings, cabinetry, and tile-work. A typical bathroom renovation will yield a 56% better return on investment than the average popular renovation.
3) Floor and Wall Refinishing
The walls and flooring of a home are the first things potential homebuyers see.
Walls should be smooth and painted in a color that isn’t too much of a personal preference. A light and warm neutral color usually works best to both enlarge the look of a space, but also create a warm and desirable ambiance.
Repainting your walls can give you a 29% better return than other popular renovations.
Meanwhile, flooring can generate a 22% better return on investment than the average renovations. Choosing the right floor finish is important as it ties all the individual element of your home together.
Potential homebuyers are often searching for properties that are in “move-in ready” condition so that they don’t have to incur any extra costs when they move into their new home. Remodeling your home is a great way to provide yourself with some additional comforts for as long as you live there, while increasing your home’s potential resale value at the same time.
If have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Monday, July 25th, 2011
When remodeling, it is often very enticing to hire your friends or neighbors or to even try and tackle the job yourself. While this makes sense for smaller home improvement jobs, big remodels require a more professional touch.
This article from directory M explains why it is important to hire a licensed contractor for any remodeling project.
- Safety: First of all, any project involving electrical work or gas installation should be handled by a professional. They know what they are doing.
- Laws and regulations: Doing regulated electrical and gas work without a permit is illegal, and may jeopardize your insurance or the re-sale value of your home. Licensed contractors know the laws and regulations of your area and are aware which jobs need permits, inspections, etc.
- Qualifications: Licensed contractors are well trained and have the experience needed to complete the job according to code. While a license doesn’t guarantee quality, it provides you with some assurance that the contractor has adequate knowledge and experience in his or her field.
No matter how you find your contractor, make sure he is licensed. That should be the first question you ask when interviewing candidates. If a contractor is not licensed, there is no need to ask him any further questions.
Work done improperly can affect your family’s safety, so don’t take any risks.
Do your research and make sure you are hiring the right contractor for the job. If have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Tags: According to code, Code, contractor, Contractors, Electrical, Electrical work, Experience, family’s safety, Gas, Gas Installation, Gas work, Handled by a professional, Hire, hire a licensed contractor, hiring the right contractor, hiring the right contractor for the job, home, home improvement, Home improvement projects, Illegal, Inspections, Insurance, interviewing candidates, Knowledge, Laws, Licensed, Licensed Contractor, Licensed contractors, Permit, Professional, Professional touch, Projects, Qualifications, Quality, Re-sale Value, Re-sale value of your home, Regulated electrical, Regulations, remodeling, remodeling project, Remodels, Safety, Trained, TW Ellis, Value, value of your home, Why Hire A Licenced Contractor?, Work
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
Hiring a contractor is a big deal. And despite what you may have heard before, not all contractors are created equal. So it is important to thoroughly interview each candidate before picking your contractor of choice.
But what kinds of questions should you ask? This article from directory M can help. It provides the 10 most important questions to ask any prospective contractor.
1. How long have you been a contractor? You should look for a contractor that has experience. You should also check with your local Better Business Bureau and see I they have had complaints lodged against them. You have to be aware that just because the contractor does not have complaints on their record does not mean they have not had problems in the past, as many problems do not go reported.
2. Are you state and county licensed? Make sure that you see their contractor’s license and make sure it is for your state and that the license is current. You can find out the licensing requirements in your area by checking with your local building department.
3. Have you completed projects like mine? This will let you know if the contractor is familiar with the type of project that you are looking to have done.
4. Will I need a permit for my project? Many states and localities will require you to have a permit for building projects. Good contractors will get the necessary permits before they start work on the project and if they ask you to get the permits it should be a red flag and you should not use them.
5. Can I see some references? The contractor that you are looking to hire should have a few references of happy customers. Make sure the references have phone numbers so you can get in touch with the people.
6. Who will be the supervisor of my project? The contractor will already have a crew in mind if it is a project that takes more than one person. If the contractor is not going to be there for the project, or even if they are away a lot, make sure you know the supervisor so you can communicate with them.
7. Who will be working on the project? You need to be able to trust workers, as many times they will be inside your home. You may also have children around and you need to make sure they will be safe.
8. When can you start the job? Get a set date on when they can start the project.
9. When can you finish the job? You should be able to get a date that they should be finished by. There are complications that do come up in projects but the contractor should have an idea on when the project will be finished.
10. What kind of insurance do you have? Contractors are required to have worker’s compensation, liability, and property damage coverage. You should ask the contractor for a copy of their insurance certificate and make sure their insurance is current, and will be on the date that they give you for the completion of the project. It is vital that you do not do any business with a contractor that is unlicensed. If you do you can be liable for damages and/or injuries that happen at your project site.
So do your research and make sure you are hiring the right contractor for the job. If have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Monday, July 11th, 2011
Home buying is not an exact science. Sometimes you get caught up in situations that seem to have no positive outcome. For example, if you are trying to buy a house that needs some repair work, the bank will often not lend you the money to buy the house until the repairs are complete, but you cannot make the repairs until you buy the house.
So what happens in these situations? This article from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) explains.
HUD’s 203K program allows you to purchase or refinance a property plus include in the loan the cost of making the repairs and improvements. This insured loan is provided through approved mortgage lenders nationwide and the down paymeny required is approximately 3.5% of the acquisition and repair costs of the property.
The 203(k) loan includes the following steps:
• A potential homebuyer locates a fixer-upper and executes a sales contract after doing a feasibility analysis of the property with their real estate professional. The contract should state that the buyer is seeking a 203(k) loan and that the contract is contingent on loan approval based on additional required repairs by the FHA or the lender.
• The homebuyer then selects an FHA-approved 203(k) lender and arranges for a detailed proposal showing the scope of work to be done, including a detailed cost estimate on each repair or improvement of the project.
• The appraisal is performed to determine the value of the property after renovation.
• If the borrower passes the lender’s credit-worthiness test, the loan closes for an amount that will cover the purchase or refinance cost of the property, the remodeling costs and the allowable closing costs. The amount of the loan will also include a contingency reserve of 10% to 20% of the total remodeling costs and is used to cover any extra work not included in the original proposal.
• At closing, the seller of the property is paid off and the remaining funds are put in an escrow account to pay for the repairs and improvements during the rehabilitation period.
• The mortgage payments and remodeling begin after the loan closes. The borrower can decide to have up to six mortgage payments (PITI) put into the cost of rehabilitation if the property is not going to be occupied during construction, but it cannot exceed the length of time it is estimated to complete the rehab.
• Escrowed funds are released to the homeowner during construction through a series of draw requests for work that is completed. To ensure completion of the job, 10% of each draw is held back; this money is paid after the homeowner informs the lender that the work has been completed and after the lender determines there are no additional liens on the property.
If have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
For a list of lenders who are offering the 203(k) Rehabilitation Program, please see the 203(k) Lenders List.
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Monday, June 13th, 2011
We are all concerned about the housing market. What is our house worth? The only way to know for sure is to have your home appraised. But if you aren’t happy with the price you are quoted (and most of us won’t be in this housing market), there are ways to increase the value of your home. One way to do this is to enhance your house’s curb appeal, meaning if you want to improve your home’s worth, you will need improve the look of your house.
This article from ThisOldHouse.com explains how you can transform your home and increase its value.
While the cost of houses may have dropped, the return on remodeling investments remains strong. This means that a few quality upgrades can really increase the value of your home. Of these home improvement projects, exterior improvements provide the biggest bang for your buck. Window and siding projects pay you back over 75% of their cost upon resale. But small improvements make a big difference too.
Enhance the Architecture: Adding a window (energy efficient) here and a new door there can greatly improve the worth of your home. Additionally, adding accents around key structural aspects of your home – some lattice work under your porch, some new shutters around your windows, lighting, potted plants, etc. – will add to its overall aesthetic value and curb appeal.
Fence: Adding a fence to your yard is another sure fire way to add value to your property value.
Landscaping: Flowers, trees and shrubbery are a cheap way to really improve your home’s curb appeal.
Porch: A porch is a great addition to any house.
Be Decorative: Add an artistic flair anywhere you see fit. Instead of installing boring lights, find some nice vintage lights. Instead of a regular sidewalk, why not use brick? Whatever you can do to add to the beauty of you home will greatly improve its value.
If you need any help or have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
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Friday, June 10th, 2011
It’s not quite a room in the house, but its not quite nature. So what is it? Well, it’s a screened porch. And as this article from ThisOldHouse.com explains, it is the ambiguity of screened porches that make them so appealing.
A Screened porch is the perfect buffer between you and nature. You can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors from the comfort of your own home. What could be better? And there are several types of screens to choose from
Screen Selections
Fiberglass screen: This option is by far the cheapest and as long as it is handled with car, it will look great for quite some time. Unfortunately, what fiberglass lacks is strength. A bump here or there could compromise the entire screen. So buyers beware. You get what you pay for.
Aluminum: If you are looking for a good quality screen at a reasonable price, then aluminum might be the way to go. At about 25 cents per square foot, it is not only affordable, but also considerably stronger than fiberglass. Aluminum screen tends to show glare in bright sun, however, so charcoal and the new black aluminum (30 cents per square foot) have gained in popularity, the latter because it’s almost invisible when you look from the inside out.
Bronze and copper screens: If you live by any body of salt water, you better go with a bronze or copper screen. While these choices cost a bit more – 90 cents per square foot – they are not affected by salt spray as much as aluminum.
Stainless steel: The most expensive option at $1 per square foot is also the most durable. However, its shiny design means it will cause glare in the sunlight.
So now that you know your options, assess your needs and pick a screen that fits not only your desired use, but also your budget. If you need any help or have any questions at all, contact TW Ellis by calling 800-852-8335 or click here today!
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