Wow, the Memorial Day weekend really threw my schedule off! Here it is Wednesday and I am just getting this post together. This brings me to my topic for this week – timing your remodel.

Common sense would dictate that, if you are planning an exterior renovation project (roof, siding, windows, doors), you would schedule them for the good weather seasons, right? Yeah, makes perfect sense to me. But, as I mentioned last week, because I am a part of the Evergreen family, sometimes my renovations get scheduled at the mercy of the installation crews. This has led to some really interesting installations around here!

For instance, the day our exterior doors were installed, it was snowing! Now, it wasn’t exactly blizzard conditions, but it certainly wasn’t a time when you would expect to install doors, or anything else that could open your home up to the elements. I have to give the guys at Evergreen Door & Window credit, though. Despite the snow and cold, they did an excellent job of keeping my home clean by hanging tarps to keep the snow from blowing in and placing protection on the floors to keep them from getting wet and nasty. Can’t say that the furnace was able to keep up, but you can’t have everything. In fact, I ended up turning it off until they were done just to keep from running my gas bill through the roof! Sorry, Nicor, I’d rather wear an extra layer or two than pay you extra…

Anyway, my whole point here is that, while it is best, whenever possible, to schedule your renovations with good weather, don’t feel that it is necessary to cancel work because bad weather is forecasted. In general, unless there is severe wind or extreme cold conditions, or maybe hail, most exterior contractors will be happy to go ahead and do your installation despite inclement weather. And, they will be careful to protect your personal property in every way they can. So don’t feel obliged to cancel due to weather. But, if they call you to cancel due to conditions, go with it – they may know something you don’t!

Call your contractor today to get started on your next project!

Rae the Renovator

Time to backtrack for a minute. One of my friends at Evergreen Door & Window pointed out to me that I missed an important piece of the puzzle – how to save money AFTER you’ve picked your contractor, but BEFORE you sign on the bottom line.

In this economy, many manufacturers offer some sort of promotion or incentive to their dealers, and reputable dealers will share those incentives with their customers. Some dealers advertise monthly promotions of some sort, which may be linked ot a manufacturer’s promotion. Even if your contractor isn’t advertising a special, it never hurts to ask. In order to get your business, they will make every effort to get you the best deal they can. That might include no charge high performance glass, or rebates on specific purchases, for instance.

One caveat – make sure you are really getting a deal. Some unscrupulous contractors (I will NOT name any names here) will tell you they are giving you a discount or a “special” price, but they stick it to you somewhere else in your contract.

So, I direct you back to a previous post – check them out with the Better Business Bureau – look for complaints of unfair pricing, false promises, things like that. If in doubt, don’t sign anything!

But also remember this – you won’t know if you don’t ask – that goes for the good things as well as the bad!

Talk to my friends at Evergreen Door & Window for their current promotions when you are ready for your next exterior renovation project. Tell them Rae the Renovator sent you!

Now that you’ve decided what renovations need to be done, it’s time to find the right contractor for your project. But, where do you begin? How do you choose a contractor?

There are a number of approaches you can take, some good, some not so much. First, you can get out the yellow pages and select based on their ads. The problem with this is that most yellow pages ads don’t tell you much about a company. How long have they been in business? Are they reliable? Are they licensed and insured? Can they be trusted in your home?

So, how about searching on the internet? Again, you run into the same issues as with the yellow pages. Search engine results and even websites don’t tell you everything about a company. Websites are somewhat more reliable, because they probably give you more information than the phone book, perhaps even pictures of projects, but they still don’t tell you everything you need to know.

So, what do you do? There are a couple of pretty safe options. You can talk to friends and neighbors who have recently completed a similar renovation. They will usually be more than happy to give you their opinion of their contractor. Better still, check out a source such as Angie’s List (http://www.angieslist.com/). Members post reviews of contractors (as well as other professionals) on this site, and since Angie’s List does not sell advertising  does not accept anonymous reporting, you can trust these reviews. Look for a contractor with multiple positive reviews, or, better still, look for multiple contractors with good results. Then, contact them regarding estimates.

There a several important questions you should ask a contractor, such as do they offer free estimates, does their quote include all labor and materials, what happens if something unforeseen comes up in the course of a project, do they guarantee their work (and for how long), are they licensed and insured, are their employees bonded (insures you against theft or other losses), how long will the renovation take, when will they start work, and, if a permit is required for the work, will they be responsible for obtaining it, or is this your responsibility? I’m sure you can come up with other questions, but this is a good start.

Finally, before hiring any contractor, check them out with the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews/).  The Better Business Bureau will provide a rating from A+ to F, based on a variety of criteria, including complaints filed and their resolution, government actions, etc. They will also provide an overview of the business, including principals, business category, and products and services. Obviously, the higher the rating, the better.  For example, my friends at Evergreen Door and Window have an A+ rating – check it out (http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/windows-installation-and-service/evergreen-door-and-window-in-evergreen-park-il-8000110/complaints).

I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions on finding a reliable contractor for your renovation project. Share your experiences!

Rae the Renovator

So, you took my advice and checked out your property like a potential buyer, and you made the list of all the home improvements that need to be done. You even split that list up between the “I can do it myself” and “That’s gonna cost me!” lists. So, you’re ready to get started, right?

Are you sure about that? Before you go jumping into a DIY project, it’s time to do a little more homework. Are you positive that you know exactly what that project involves, how long it’s going to take, and that you truly have the skills to complete it without driving yourself crazy? I have to ask, because I consider myself to be a pretty good renovator, and I think I can complete a lot of my projects by myself (or with the help of a friend). However, I have learned the hard way to make sure I know what I’m getting into before I dive in!

For instance, your local tile or home improvement store will be happy to offer you a DIY class in installing tile. They tell you that you can remodel your kitchen or bath or install a new floor, no problem, once you complete that afternoon class. Uh-huh… You’re comfortable with removing old tile (a nasty, dusty, dangerous project involving flying pieces of tile with sharp edges), hauling all that debris to the dumpster (Dumpster?!? Really?!?), installing green board in wet areas like showers and laundry rooms, including sealing the seams and screw holes so the water doesn’t seep in, leveling the floor surface to avoid cracked tiles down the road, reinstalling electrical and plumbing fixtures, grouting, sealing, perfecting? Ok, if you’re sure…

I’m not saying you can’t do the projects on your DIY list. Many people have the skills and patience to complete these projects. I’m just trying to make sure you recognize all of the often overlooked steps and skills involved in some projects. Personally, I have very limited experience when it comes to serious plumbing and electrical work. I can manage changing light fixtures and bathroom hardware, and replacing old outlets and switches, but that’s the extent of my bravery when it comes to plumbing and electrical. And, I’m pretty skittish, due to my personal vision issues that limit my depth perception, about using large power tools – I like all my fingers attached to my hands, thank you! My point is that you need to be extremely confident in your skill level before you take on a DIY project. My personal rule of thumb is that, if it requires a permit, let a professional do it!

If you have the least bit of doubt about your own skills when it comes to a specific project, please consult a professional (not a sales person). The true professionals will have no problem letting you know if it’s okay to take on a project yourself. They don’t necessarily have time to take on small projects, nor can they make money and still offer you a reasonable price, so they will be happy to give you some quick tips and let you do it yourself.

With that information, I’m going to leave you to reevaluate your DIY list, keeping in mind the following simple questions:

1. Does it require a permit to do this renovation in your city?
2. Do you have all the necessary skills and tools to complete the project safely?
3. Do you have the patience to do it yourself?

Good luck on your DIY projects! Next time, we’ll talk about the big projects – how to determine what they are worth to the value of your home, and how much they will cost.  Happy hammering!

Rae the Renovator

Unless you are facing an emergency repair – storm damaged roof, broken window or door, your furnace, a/c, or water heater dropped dead – before you take on a home improvement project, you need to honestly assess your home. That’s not an easy thing to do. We are all attached to our homes and have probably grown accustomed to the little quirks and oddities of our property. So, where do you start?

The next time you are coming home, take time to study your neighborhood, and particularly your own home, as someone considering buying it. Even if you have no plans to sell your home, look at it as a potential home buyer. How does it look from the street? Is the landscaping neat and well maintained, or does it look neglected? What about the roof, siding, lighting, windows, and doors? Would you buy this place?

Continue your evaluation as you enter your home. Take a full walkthrough tour. Check out the paint, flooring, cabinetry, counters, plumbing, electrical – all those things a buyer would look at. Be honest! This could be a somewhat painful experience, and I am not suggesting it to make you feel bad. Think of it as you would a doctor’s examination – before the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, he has to check you out. Would you want to get a prescription based on your brief telephone description of what you think is wrong? Not me, thanks!

After you have finished your assessment ( I hope you were taking notes along the way), sit down and make a list. Actually, make a couple of lists. First, list the big things (roofing, furnace, etc.) that will definitely require a professional contractor, in order of priority. What needs to be done now, what can wait? Second, make a list of smaller projects (painting, updating cabinet hardware, etc.) that you can tackle on your own, or with the help of friends. Again, put them in order of priority (which may mean what you can handle with a quick trip to the hardware store and what is going to have to wait for a long weekend?). Now, put your list aside until we talk again. You have worked hard – take a break! Next time we will talk about planning your budget for these projects and what value they will add to your home.
As always, I look forward to your questions and comments on this subject.

Rae the Renovator