It would be pretty unfair of me to throw all these bad ideas onto the table, without leaving you with a few good ones.

1.) Wood Window Replacement: A homeowner will recoup nearly 80% of an aluminum-clad wood window replacement project when they sell their home. That’s pretty darn significant. Wonder why they’re so valuable? Not only are interior wood windows extremely attractive, their aluminum-clad exteriors offer the appeal of increased energy efficiency. They add value and they reduce energy bills – outstanding combination!

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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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Seriously. How rational does that sound?

I had to have a heart to heart with a client the other day. We were wrapping her kitchen remodel project up and she told me she was ready to go ahead and replace the windows throughout the home. We talked product and pricing, but when we started to talk scheduling, she told me she figured she’d just suffer through the winter as is, and schedule installation in the spring.

“Why in the world would you want to go and do that?” I said.

A very common misconception lies within most homeowners. They believe the winter months are inconvenient times to purchase and install replacement windows due to harsh elements and bitter temperatures. They make the logical – albeit false – assumption that a window replacement project would open the house up to the winter elements, thereby turning the cozy Kansas City home into an Alaskan igloo.

Not the case.

The average time a home is open to the elements during a professional window install is 10 minutes. (I say professional because I can only speak from the standpoint to which I work from. Those other guys, however – well, I’m not sure why you’d let them into your home in the first place. But that’s an entirely different blog topic in and of itself).

Windows are the #1 source of energy loss in any home. Choosing to wait any additional amount of time before replacement is costly and unnecessary.

Questions? Request for estimate? Interested in promos and discounts? You know where to find us.

(Quite clearly, we did not conceptualize or draw the hilarious image displayed above – hence the multiple forms of credit stamped throughout).

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Appraisers. You’re not going to fool them, so don’t waste your time trying to do so. But there are a few things to consider pre-appraisal in order to reap maximum value out of your home evaluation.

And remember what I always tell you: Your home is your largest investment, right?  Well, this is your time to shine.  Show off your investment in its “Sunday best.”

Make Necessary Minor Repairs

• Windows – Replace all broken windows
• Appliances – All should be in working order
• Steps/Railings – Repair if hazardous

Clean Up Your Crap

• Passing a white glove test is not the goal, here. But you should keep in mind that first impressions do matter. Clutter, trash, dirty dishes, strewn laundry – These things contribute to a flawed first impression that definitely won’t do you any favors.

Brag About Your Big Accomplishments

• This is the part where all of those painstaking remodeling & renovation projects will actually start to pay off. Now, don’t expect to recoup the full value of your investment – But you absolutely need to point these projects out to the appraiser.  Bathroom? Floors? Windows? Sod? Allow the appraiser to take note.

Put A Leash On Your Pets & Kids

• Okay, I’m joking about the kids part. Don’t turn me in for that one. But do control the both of them. A distracted appraiser, is not a happy appraiser. (And you don’t want an unhappy appraiser on your hands).

Invite Your Agent – Have A Party!

• Sellers – Your agent works for you, so put her to work during the appraisal. She is better trained to think on her feet and deal with the routine concerns and questions of the appraiser. If this is an option, use her.

(I am providing the link to the blog that I stole this photo from)

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I read a recent blog that claimed one out of every three marriages end up on serious rocks before the end of a major home remodeling project. I’m not so sure that I’m willing to accept this statement as fact, but it’s a very accurate claim in the sense that home remodeling projects have the ability to take a serious toll on a relationship.

Want to remodel your home? Want to remain happily married (or, married, at the very least)? Take my advice:

Wife:

• Share. Remember, the home belongs to the both of you. It should reflect your styles collaboratively, not individually. His lack of style, might just be a style in and of itself. Accept that. Work with that. Practice give and take.

Husband:

• Bend. How important is the house to your wife? I mean really. Look at her Google search history and get back with me on that.

Both of You:

• Budget. Statistically, the top three things couples fight over are (1) Kids (2) Sex (3) Money. I can advise you on the money part – the other two are up to you. Before you even begin to consider the project, sit down and formulate a project budget. Agree on a “splurge fund” that will be set aside as a part of the budget, and will be used for any unforeseen upgrades, miscellaneous purchases, etc. Remember, statistically, your project will most likely run 10-20% over budget once all is said and done. Expect it and accept it.
• Research. Do this together. Gathering ideas on your own, and then coming together is fine. But check things out as a unit, as well. Brainstorm in various spaces like hotels, model homes, restaurants, etc. Take pictures and take notes. Remember – this is allowed to be a fun process.
• Split Up. No, not in the partnership sense. If your design styles are so bipolar that no middle ground can be met, split the spaces between the two of you. Wife, don’t think you’re allowed to just toss Husband the garage and call it good. At least let him in on the den or the deck, or something.

I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again – Your home is (most likely) your largest investment. It is also the largest outward expression of you as a couple. If you both get to be involved in the process, you’ll both be excited and your end result will be far more enjoyable.

In summation: Play nicely with one another and use your best manners.

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Serial Remodeling projects are all the rave.

Gone are the days of one shot, once-in-a-lifetime home remodeling projects.  More and more, today’s residential undertakings are conceived, plotted, budgeted, and carried out in a “series-like” manner that allows the homeowner to attain the ultimate end goal, through a system of achieving a series of smaller goals.

Phased remodeling projects typically start out by obtaining an overall estimate for the full price of the full project.  The contractor then sits down with the homeowner and explains what phasing options are available and conceivable to the home itself.

People don’t always look at their major renovation as a multiple-project undertaking. But in all reality, many larger renovations can be broken up into smaller ones. This approach will offer several key benefits to a homeowner:

• Budget – So money is an issue? When is money not an issue, right? Phased remodeling is an excellent option for homeowners who are attempting to majorly upgrade their house but do not massive piles of money lying around to do so. This option would allow homeowners the ability to pay for portions of their overall project in smaller chunks, as they can afford them.
• Schedule – A ‘construction tolerance’ exists within every homeowner. Most will begin a project with much enthusiasm and excitement, but a few weeks into the project, will grow tired of people showing up at their house every morning.  Serial remodeling projects allow for short-lived jobs that bring a contractor to the home in brief intervals.
• Tax Credits & Discounts – Stimulus money, tax credits, special discounts… If a homeowner is able to plan her renovations around the opportunities, she will most likely reap great benefits.  For example: This year, many homeowners are choosing to take  advantage of the Window Replacement tax credit, thereby receiving a serious discount on their replacement product.

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The amount of money that is being made available right now to home improvement-minded homeowners is just crazy. I sometimes wonder, however, are we doing a good enough job of informing you folks of the available opportunities?  I have my doubts.  Let me take a quick minute to outline the possibilities for our region:

Missouri Scenario #1 $4,200 Free Tax Credit Money:

• You live in MO and you qualify for a KCP&L tax credit – $600
• You are also a MO Gas Energy customer – $600
• You purchase new energy efficient Windows – $1,500
• You purchase your EE Windows through Total Home of KS (Coupon #CHA-CHING) – $1,500

Kansas Scenario #2  $3,000 Free Tax Credit Money:

• You purchase new energy efficient Windows – $1,500
• You purchase your EE Windows through Total Home of KS (Coupon #CHA-CHING) – $1,500

As you can see, these available funds add up very nicely – whether you live in KS or MO.

Here are the additional resources you will need in order to cash in on your available monies:

MO Gas & Energy and KCP&L Rebate Info

Total Home of KS Rebate Match

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Your first home is likely to be one of the most erratic learning experiences of your life.  You will probably learn about things that you previously had no interest in learning whatsoever, and you will spend far more money than you ever intended to spend from the get-go.  But the flip-side of this is that you will feel an immense sense of pride for every task that you complete, every wall that you paint, every toilet that you un-clog, and every mortgage payment that you make (well, that last one doesn’t always induce pride so much as stress, fear and panic – but you get the point).

Let me list a few tips for the Homeowner Newbie.  I know you’ve got a lot to take in, but take a glance:

1. Wires: Before you go fiddling around with anything electric, check-in with a qualified electrician (not just your buddy, Hank, who happens to be an expert at hooking up stereo systems).  Have them make certain that you have enough wattage to complete your project and that your wiring is up to building code standards.
2. Appliances: Don’t make the same mistake I made in my first home. Plan your new appliances and high voltage outlets accordingly.  Do not purchase a refrigerator that is too big for the far- end of the room, but is only capable of plugging into that far-end of the room.  And if you do decide to do that, be prepared to hire that electrician guy again for yet another job.
3. Home Safety: Make a checklist of all home safety devices, and assure that your home is up to par on all of them.  You should already know these things, but I will remind you, nonetheless.  You need smoke alarms (with batteries), carbon monoxide detectors, burglary alarms and/or a large/scary animal.
4. Windows: Check the caulk job on your windows.  Proper caulking around your windows will help to prevent water damage.  This will also help to keep unnecessary energy from exiting the home.
5. Fireplace: Older homes have nice, old fireplaces. Nice, old fireplaces have a tendency to be extremely non-energy efficient.  Consider upgrading its efficiency by installing an air circulation device or a pellet stove.  You might even consider getting a stone for your fireplace that will radiate heat, making it more efficient.

Name that movie:

Tom Hanks is first-time home buyer in 1986 ____________.

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Summer sniffles and Autumn allergies.  No fun.  The great outdoors can mean rough stuff to anybody who battles allergies.  But did you know that there are plenty of potential culprits, right within the comfort of your own home?

Find out how you can remove and/or prevent allergy-related particles from affecting you and yours, INSIDE the home.

1. Carpet : Dust mites and pet dander…yum!  Not so much. Carpets and rugs should be cleaned weekly.  Your vacuum should be equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to trap all tiny particles.  A non-HEPA version will only re-circulate the crud.
2. Windows : A sweet fall breeze may smell wonderful, but if it’s bringing more than just scent into your home (i.e. ragweed pollen spores), I’d recommend utilizing this little tip: Keep windows shut between the high pollen-count hours of 10AM to 3PM.
3. Bathroom : Moist bathrooms and basements are breeding grounds for mold.  Fight these allergens by wiping walls with a chlorine bleach solution made with 1oz bleach to 1Q water.
4. Bedding: I was listening to a radio show several months back, and the DJ was taking a poll as to how often everybody in the office changed their sheets.  I have to say, I was a little grossed out by some people’s responses.  Not changing your sheets for months at a time!?!  Yuck!  In addition to the dirty-factor, we should keep in mind that mites and mold can live in our beds.  Wash sheets AT LEAST every two weeks, in130 degree water.
5. Basement : Get a dehumidifier!  Set your unit between 35 and 45 percent humidity.  These come in multiple sizes and they range in cost. Mold in the basement is not pretty.
6. Houseplants : Keep an eye on these guys.  Potted plants can harbor allergens on their leaves, in their dirt and in their trays.  Remove moldy leaves immediately and don’t let water pool in the trays.
7. Pets : You can cover air vents with cheesecloth to help prevent pet dander from spreading from room to room.  I know you fellow animal lovers may not like this, but experts recommend that we keep our furry friends out of our bedrooms.  I know I do – well, a good 75% of the time I do, I suppose.

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People ask us all the time, “What’s this ‘Aluminum-Clad’ thing all about?  I thought the Marvin windows were wood windows.”

Marvin windows are wood windows.  But they’re nothing like those old, wood windows that came with the house, and are now rotting from the outside in.

Reason why – the Extruded Aluminum-Clad finish.

This is what the Marvin guys tell us:

“Marvin’s clad-wood windows feature a low-maintenance extruded aluminum cladding with a commercial grade finish…”

The finish comes is a number of different colors so you can match to your existing paint or trim – 19 different colors to be exact.

The finish is substantially stronger than roll-form aluminum (the commonly used product found on most wood window competitors), and it features a protective Kynar finish that offers resistance to fading and chalking.

I love this page.  Marvin lays it out, plain and simple, the differences between window finishings.  Look for yourself.

Just another little Marvin tid-bit, for you.

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