Economy is jacked. Bonuses have been pulled. Household budget is struggling to keep its head above water.

You’re well aware of this. The kids know all about it. Hell, the dog has even accepted the circumstances for what they are. Everybody is doing their part in making sacrifices and concessions.

But what about the house? What sort of concessions have you asked your house to make during the past year or so? Is your house all too aware of your current financial situation?

Despite it’s kindness and unsurpassed level of understanding, has your house ceased to require maintenance? Does it no longer require replacements? Has it agreed to hold off on all pressing projects until “things get better?”

If this is the assumption you’re operating under, then might I suggest you reconsider your hypothesis.

Your house is your largest investment (tired of hearing me say that, yet?) and it should be treated as such. Rocky financial times may not afford you the ability to turn your queen-size bedroom into a king-size master suite. But the necessary maintenance and replaceable items of your home should not be left to they wayside.

Windows, siding, roofing and guttering need to be considered absolutes on your home’s maintenance and replacement checklist. With the case of each of these items, failure to replace them in a timely manner will most always result in higher paid costs later on down the road.

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You may be well aware that the Guttering situation at your house is far from ideal – But do you have the first clue how to go about remedying the situation?  I read a blog entry the other day whereabouts a lady stated, “I was hoping I could just call Lowe’s and ask them to send over one of their installation guys to install new gutters for me, but I just talked to Lowe’s and they don’t do gutter installation unless they are also installing a new roof.”  This poor gal tackled this predicament completely bass-ackwards.  Calling in the little, red aprons?!?  Come on, now!

Here is a list of common homeowner questions, associated with Gutter replacement:

How do I know if my gutters are bad?

If your gutters are falling off of the house, they’re probably in need of attention.  Other suspicious signs of guttering malfunction include: leaky gutters, rusty gutters, water in the basement or a funny dirt line around house (from poor drainage/runoff).

What size guttering will I need for my house?

This depends on the pitch of your roof and the type of shingles you have.  5″ used to be the most common of the two residential sizes.  But more and more, 6″ gutters are used on homes with steeper roofs, shake shingles, slate roofs or tile roofs.  Your estimator will be able to professionally advise you on this one.

Do I need to purchase some sort of leaf cover?

Well, if you’re sick of cleaning your gutters out, then yes.  The market offers a variety of leaf barriers that can be added to your new guttering system.  Your estimator can assist you with this selection, as well.  These, I highly recommend.  (And special note, when purchasing at the time of new gutter replacement- the price is really not bad – Go for it.  You’ll thank me in the long run).

Do I have to be home for my estimate?

Nope.

Do I have to be home for my installation?

Nope.

Does it cost more money for a color other than white?

Nope.

Do I need to request a particular brand of guttering?

This is something that you do not need to worry about, either.  Gutters are made from coil material.  The coil is purchased wholesale by your installer.  Think of it like this: You go to Denny’s to eat a Denver Omelette.  You appreciate the service, the omelette tastes great and you leave a happy customer.  Whether Denny’s used eggs from Price Chopper or eggs from Hyvee - It really doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you received a great product from a great company with great service.

How often should my gutters be cleaned?

Minimum 2 times per year.   But in all reality, if your
troughs aren’t flowin’ – Then you better clear ‘em out.  I don’t care
what time of year it is.

Where do I find a good guttering company?

Well, aside from the company that backs this blog (shameless plug, I know), one of the best ways to avoid being taken by a couple of guys in a truck is to ask around.  Find out who your neighbors used – Who your sister used – Who your boss used.  Ask around.  You can also rely upon the local BBB & NARI websites.

How much will this cost?

Your job will be priced based on footage.  The guttering alone should run somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.75-$3.00 /ft (installed).  Downspouts are added to this price.  They should ballpark $2.50-$4.00 also.

Did I miss something?  Let me know.  Happy to answer any stragglers.

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I think home remodeling is too often viewed as one of those necessary evils in life.  It’s all relative, though.  And it has a lot to do with approach.

I’ll list a few tips that might help to motivate you into the realm of ‘Remodeling Like A Pro!’

• Trendy – Think twice on this one.  A) It will cost you more up front. B) It will potentially look dated in no time flat.  Definitely something to consider if you’re remodeling with intent to resale (and who isn’t right?)
• Insulation – Expert tip: Don’t skimp on this one.  Yes, too much can lead to mold issues – But not enough will cost you for years to come.  You can drastically decrease heating and cooling bills by properly insulating your home.  (And remember, the term insulation applies to many more things than just the scratchy, fluffy pink stuff).
• Test Drive – You can get a good feel for the projects that take priority and what types of changes you really want if you live in the house before you begin to remodel.
• Make Up Your Mind – Changing your mind six different ways from Sunday during your remodeling project will accomplish 2 things: 1) You’ll cause the project to take longer and cost more 2) You’ll drive your contractor nuts.  Try to get all of your imagining out of the way prior to the job start date.
• Think Twice – If you’re not a licensed contractor (or married to one) then I would suggest you strongly rethink the idea of doing it all yourself.  There are plenty of things that can be done on your own – And the good folks at the local hardware store with the little orange aprons will be happy to offer any advice they can.  But in all honestly, some tasks are best suited for a pro.  Don’t stretch beyond your limits.
• Don’t Be Surprised – Plainly stated: The job will cost more than you expect, so set aside an additional 10% cushion.
• Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You – The job will be very messy.  Dust, debris, trash, screws…Things might get damaged.  This is just a part of the process.  (If a professional brings damage your way, he should obviously repair it, but don’t freak out – Just a part of the process).

That’s all I’ve got on that topic for now.  But as a quick side note, today is National Donut Day.  So from one ‘little things in life-lover‘ to another, Happy Donut Day!

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Here’s a special little tip when setting out to hire somebody to remodel your home in some way:

Make sure the fence/gate is in good working order.  Assure that the latches and locks function properly and with ease.  If your remodeler will require backyard access, this is extremely important for a variety of reasons.

1. Let’s try to imagine what it must be like to haul heavy, tedious materials from a work truck, back to somebody’s yard.  How ‘un-fun’ must it be to have to fight a dilapidated gate and/or a non-existent latch on top of the materials?  Yea.  Not so much.
2. These materials and possibly tools are often times left around back the house overnight for safekeeping.  If your gate is unsecured, would it be easy for a neighbor kid to find mischief in your temporarily disrupted backyard haven?  Can we say “lawsuit?!?”
3. What about dogs? Do you have one?  Does he like to run amuck in the backyard jungle?  Does he also like to play the “dart out gate as fast as you can and see how many people you can trip in the process” game?  That’s a fun one for your workers, too.  That one will definitely get the job done in a proficient and timely manner…

Receiving a successful home remodeling experience is so often contributed to the factors of heightened communication and consideration.  If all parties involved can do their part towards these initiatives–Success will be had…Beautiful homes will be re-built.

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Whatever you do, DO NOT freak out!  I understand, your contractor has just completely done (fill in this blank) wrong and it seems as though (fill in this blank) will end up looking like the biggest disaster ever!  And even though the (fill in this blank) showed up in the wrong color and the subcontractor acted completely clueless to the whole situation, I need you to know that it will be okay.

Because things don’t always go as planned–and because often times in remodeling, things have a tendency to go as “unplanned,” I would like to offer a few helpful suggestions that you might want to consider during this process.

Well planned construction projects have a very low failure rate.  But because construction is such a complicated process, it is not uncommon to see problems arise.  Follow this lead, and you’ll be just fine:

• If you think there might be a problem, don’t hesitate to voice your concern.  Contact your project manager and discuss your thoughts right away.
• Keep calm and remain respectful.  Try to assume that there is good will on all sides.  Insist upon clarification and timely resolution.  (And don’t panic if you can’t reach him on the first try–Remember, he
  most likely manages anywhere from 5-20 projects at any given time).
• Get all information and agreements in writing.  This includes all initial contracts and change orders.
• Don’t succumb to ‘construction speak.’  Ask questions and get clarification.  Industry pros earn bad lingo habits along with the best of us–You might have to break ‘em in!
• Remember, not all contractors are ‘bad guys.’  Actually, the majority of them are really talented, hard-working, ‘in it for the right reasons’ kind of guys.  In my experience–you work with them, they’ll work with you.  And all will live happily ever after.

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So, you’ve found your new home and it appears to be everything you’ve dreamed of…on the surface.  No worries.  This is where Home Inspection Reports come into play.  Often times, a home buyer is clueless to the home inspection reporting process.  But this process, if done properly, can save the buyer hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Did you know that there is a major difference between the building inspector that works for your local government (the one that produces the building-inspection report) and the actual home inspector that is hired privately (by you–the home buyer)?  The building inspector generates a report that is ‘for his eyes only,’ so to speak.  Many homeowners assume that if their home passes local government building inspection, then all must be well.  Not true.  This fella actually sets his bar to minimum standards.  So, making the grade with the building inspector is like earning a 70% on an exam.  Big deal!

Proper home inspection should be carried out by an accredited Kansas Home Inspector.  Here is a link to the NAHI site:

Kansas NAHI

These folks will visit the home and perform a thorough inspection of the house.  The house survey process will often times take up to 3 hours.  And the report itself should read approximately 30 pages in length.  The inspector will not recommend purchase or not, but he will allow you to make a well informed decision of your own.  No home is perfect, but a new home buyer should be given the full picture.

Wondering what kinds of things will be looked at during the home inspection?  Here you go:

• Structural Elements: Walls, ceilings, floors, roof & foundation
• Exterior Evaluation: Wall covering, landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, sidewalks, fascia, trim, doors, windows, lights & exterior receptacles
• Roof & Attic: Framing, ventilation, type of roof construction, flashing & gutters (no guarantee roof certification)
• Plumbing: Identification of pipe materials used for potable, drain, waste & vent pipes.  Condition of: Toilets, showers, sinks, faucets & traps (no sewer inspection)
• Systems & Components: Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duct work, chimney, fireplace & sprinklers
• Electrical: Main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, exhaust fans, receptacles, ceiling fans & light fixtures
• Appliances: Dishwasher, range & oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal & smoke detectors
• Garage: Slab, walls, ceiling, vents, entry, firewall, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, windows & roof

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For the majority of us, springtime weather conditions here in the land of Oz are filled with spurts of excitement and anticipation, but very little follow-thru.  While this is definitely a good thing, it surely doesn’t give any of us the authorization to slack off on our storm-related prep skills.

Do you and your family have an official Home Storm Plan?  If you were given 3 minutes notice, would you be capable of rallying your troops to safety?  What if you weren’t even given any notice–Would you know what to do?

I’ve gathered some good facts that you might consider keeping in your back pocket.  These facts could help you and yours if you’re ever caught in the middle of an official land of Oz storm.

First, there are signs you can look for in an approaching tornado storm system–You cannot always rely on the sirens.  Here are some key signs to look for, according to the folks over at TornadoProject.com:

• Sky is a sickly, greenish or greenish-black color
• A strange quiet within or shortly after a thunderstorm
• Fast-moving clouds
• Clouds moving in a rotating pattern (I know, I know) or converging toward one area of the sky
• A sound like a waterfall or rushing air–Turned into a roar (Tornados are said to make the sounds of oncoming trains and jets)
• Debris dropping from the sky (Like your neighbor’s lawn art or backyard grill, for example)
• Debris such as branches/leaves being pulled upwards

So, if you hear sirens or if you recognize any of the above signs…

• Go to a PRE-DESIGNATED shelter such as a basement, storm cellar or lowest building level.  If there is no basement you should go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level of the house (Think: Interior hallway or closet).  This spot should be discussed with the entire family prior to such an event.

• Get away from all windows, doors and outside walls.

• Get under a table to protect your head and neck.

• DO NOT open windows.

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Wallpaper Calculator

As if hanging wallpaper wasn’t hard enough–The wallpaper roll manufacturers expect us to be able to bust out with our handy-dandy Geometry/Trig skills as we’re standing in aisle 4 trying to decide between solids and stripes!

The above link is a super little tool.  It will help you out with your next wallpapering project.  I think it’s confusing to try to estimate how much wallpaper to purchase for a project, but you can use this link to enter your wall length and height in order to get a really good idea as to how much paper will be needed.  It even subtracts paper for doors and windows.  How cool is that?!?

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According to the folks over at the APPA (they do a national survey every year), 63% of U.S. households own a pet.  This is equal to 71.1 million homes.  Curious to learn the most popularly owned pets?  Dogs, Cats & Freshwater Fish–In that order.

It’s no wonder these guys occupy millions of homes throughout the nation.  The benefits we reap stretch far beyond love and companionship.  According to research, people who own pets make fewer trips to the doctor’s office.  They also experience lower blood pressure, reduced stress, lessened symptoms of depression and lowered risk of heart disease.

With all the benefits that we receive from our furry/feathery/scaly little friends, it’s no wonder so many of us find ourselves spoiling the heck out of them.

Here are a few fun remodeling ideas that are totally geared towards our pets.  If you love your buddy as much as I love mine, you might want to allow one of these ideas for consideration during your next renovation task.

• Doggy Overlooks-Is your pup as nosy as mine?  This concept would allow him to stick his head through a decorative opening on the second floor and keep tabs on his owners below.
• Heated Floors-What little guy doesn’t like to be warm and cozy?  Heated floors are a nice touch for us, but think about how awesome something like this would be for them!
• Wood/Linoleum Floors-If you’re a pet person, and you perform any kind of floor remodeling whatsoever, I highly recommend you take advantage of the inherent pet-friendly qualities that these surfaces offer.  A high-end linoleum floor can be a beautiful finish to any remodeled kitchen, bath, basement or rec room.  And a light to medium finish will minimize scratches.
• Indoor Pet Retreat-Use that extra room in your house to design your own, customized, state of the art pet playland!  These are sometimes located with a pet door for easy pet indoor/outdoor access.  You can design your retreat to include such amenities as automatic feeders and drinking fountains or maybe even a pet washing station!
• Matching Fabrics & Carpet-Can’t say that I would use this tip, but I think it’s a practical one, nonetheless.  For owner’s who don’t like the look of shedding hair on furniture, fabrics, rugs, carpets–Choose non-toxic fabrics that match the pet’s fur.  In my case, I might consider purchasing black and white carpets and couches.  (Actually, that might look kind of cool).

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Do you feel like your kitchen is a big, fat throwback to the 1970’s ?  Do you sit down at your dining room table to enjoy a nice supper, but find the environment itself to be so dreadful that you’d just assume head to the ball pin at McDonald’s to eat your meal?  Does your master bathroom (the place where you go to cleanse and rejuvenate yourself) contain any chipped tile, moldy grout, water spots, hideous wallpaper, unsightly vanities, peeled linoleum  or wiggly parts?

Yeah?  Might be time to do take on a little remodeling.  But don’t worry, this will not be painful.  (Well, not too painful, anyhow).

Step #1 in this process is Establish a Budget.  Let me break down the budgeting process for a kitchen remodeling project:

First consider the market value of your home.  Studies show that if you are able to remodel your project relative to the cost of your home’s worth, you will be able to recoup anywhere from 90-98% of your overall project cost.  (I may not be the best mathematician here, but to me, that’s almost free).

A good percentage to shoot for is 15%-20%.  You should try to keep your kitchen remodeling budget between the range of 15-20% of your overall home value.  For example:

• Your home is $100,000
• Cabinets & Countertops (50% total budget) $7,500
• Appliances, flooring, other (35% total budget) $2,250
• Labor, design, permits, etc. (35% total budget) $5,250
• TOTAL BUDGET (at 15%) $15,000

This is a good, healthy breakdown.

I did a little research to find out what spending averages looked like in the Kansas City area during 2008.  Sometimes, it’s helpful to be able to take a look at what kind of cash others are dropping on their projects.

I referred to the annual Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling Magazine.

The following data breaks down the average cost per job for a “Mid-Range” home in the Kansas City area in 2008-2009.  It displays the average percentage of cost recouped, as well:

• Roof Replacement $18,176 | 56.4%
• Minor Kitchen Remodel $21,185 | 73.3%
• Bathroom Remodel $15,753 | 64.8%
• Siding Replacement $10,027 | 74.3%
• Window Replacement $11,518 | 71.6%

Moral of the story, if you’re going to get 50%+ of it back, GO FOR IT!  Live in the home of your dreams and stop mickey mousing around!

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