Posts from February 2014

Spring will be here soon and so will that list of looming home projects. Some of these may be do it yourself tasks but others may require the assistance of a professional. So, with that said, it may be time to select a contractor. This may seem like a pretty simple task but in reality, picking a contractor can be a big decision.

How do you pick a good contractor? Probably the best way to pick one is to pick one when you don't need them. That's right. When you don't. This way you have time to research, gather references and ask all of the right questions before being in an emergency situation where you really need one or you waited too late to start contacting.

DON'T pick someone out of the phonebook. DO take recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. It may be a good idea to talk to others who have done similar projects to their homes and ask who they used and what their overall opinion was of the contractor and the work performed.

DO interview the c...

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If you are on the Internet, chances are you are already on Pinterest or you at least have seen Pinterest.  It is one of the fastest growing sites and serves as an electronic bulletin board where users or "pinners" can organize ideas and information by subject. Everything from recipes, fashion, beauty and even information about books and movies is housed on this site. 

According to MSNBC, Home is the number one category of pins on Pinterest.  Many homeowners feel that this is a great source of information for home projects and research.  Much like looking through books and magazines, Pinterest serves as a valuable resource for planning home improvement and organization projects.

By pinning various ideas and making an electronic wish list of sorts, homeowners can communicate this to contractors and architects and even include the smallest details.  There is such a variety of information on Pinterest and it can even be broken down by home style and is searchable. A...

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After this wicked winter weather we have experienced it is important to inspect your home for any damages that could occur due to extreme cold or precipitation. There are two key areas to look at, including the roof and basement to make sure no further damage occurs.

First thing to look for are long icicles, which could be a sign of ice damming on the roof. Ice dams are ridges that form and prevent any melting snow from draining off and can cause major roof damage. The first thing to do is remove all snow from the roof. A roof rake is one of the best tools to use for this and carefully pull the snow down to the roof line as not to damage the shingles. Chip away at any ice damming so melting snow can flow. If you aren't comfortable, call a professional roofing contractor to remove it for you – but make sure you get an estimate first. Also make sure to check the attic for proper insulation and ventilation as if it is too warm this can contribute to causing the damming.  Don...

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As we begin 2014, what are some trends that we may see in the housing industry? There are several and here a few that could help shape the landscape.

Millennials are being observed in terms of where they are going and what they are doing. Their financial decisions play a key role in economic markets, including housing. One major trend of millennial is that they are not buying as many homes as previous generations at their age.

Another trend is that recovery of the real estate market is heavily dependent on job growth and recovering from high unemployment numbers. Some experts say that the job market may not fully recover for another 2 years so it is not likely to change quickly.

During the economic downturn, apartments were in high demand. In many cases it was due to former homeowners now becoming renters and multi family situations on the rise as well. However, there should be a slowdown in the building of multifamily buildings and apartments as the demand h...

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