February 1, 2010 @ 7:44 pm

S.Colwell Construction wants you the homeowner to be informed. More and more homeowners are getting taken advantage of from illegitimate contractors on their kitchen remodels, bath remodels, and home improvements in general. Knowledge is power, and anything that can be done to educate the public regarding legitimate contractors is a cause worth standing behind. If you own, or live in a home built during or prior to 1978, there are some new laws coming from the EPA regarding home improvements. According to statistics, 80% of US. homes built up until 1978 were painted with products that included lead. On March 31, 2008, to better protect children from lead-based paint hazards, EPA issued a new rule for home improvement contractors and maintenance professionals who renovate or repair pre-1978 housing, child care facilities or schools.

The covered facilities include residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis as well as all rental housing. The rule applies to renovation, repair or painting activities. It does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities affecting less than six square feet of lead-based paint in a room or less than 20 square feet of lead-based paint on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair.

For more information straight from the EPA on this matter you may follow this link EPA

February 1, 2010 @ 9:31 am

With the housing market in its present state, boosting your appraisal through ROI focused renovating can be a smart move. If other homes in your specific area are all 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath for example, making your home a 2 bath or adding a 3rd bedroom will make a significant difference in your appraisal.

Kitchen Remodel: When remodeling a kitchen, it is best to keep everything in moderation. There is certainly money to be made from updating an outdated kitchen. However, when you add in expensive upgrades like restaurant quality appliances and high end custom cabinets, you may not make your money back.

Bathroom Remodel: Bathroom remodels almost always earn a great return on investment, even with high quality upgrades. Bathrooms are one area of the home where buyers really appreciate upgrades and modern conveniences.

Basement Remodel: If yours is unfinished, finishing it can be an easy way to add some additional square footage without the cost of an addition. The space is already existing, which is much more cost effective than starting from scratch.

Keep in mind that adding a deck or patio to your house is one of the most valuable additions you can include in your home. A wood deck is the least expensive addition but increases the selling price of most homes. You’ll probably recoup about 75-90% of the costs for a deck if it is well-designed and well-maintained.

A quick and relatively inexpensive way to get a substantial home value increase with remodel on your home is to replace the flooring in the home with hardwood floors. Hardwood floors significantly add to your home’s beauty and value. Ugly carpet in a home can really turn off prospective buyers. Hardwood floors have a great ROI and are likely to influence prospective buyers to purchase your home.

Check Comparable Homes: See what else is in your area. While master suite and bathroom additions don’t generally make good investments, you may consider them if all the other homes in your area have them. It brings your home up to par and levels the playing field.

Home improvement projects often result in increasing the value of your home, but if you’re not careful, you could go too far with your investment. Make sure you are increasing the value of your home or property without going over the top by taking your deck, or other improvements beyond the limits of the neighborhood, geographic region, or your own home. Additions should be a natural extension of an existing home and should fit in well with the surroundings.

If you are on the fence for deciding to make changes in, or attempting to market your residence, it is essential to reach the best decision. S.Colwell Construction can assist you in determining the renovations to accommodate your lifestyle and be a big help as soon as you decide to sell. Although things may well be a bit constricted financially because of the present situation, interest rates are reasonably low, home remodeling contractors are not as busy as before, so you ought to be able to make the renovations at a reasonable cost all around. Let S.Colwell Construction be your choice. You’ll be very happy you did.