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

2.) Attic Bedroom: Basement finishes are fairly popular. But what about the top portion of the house? How many attic finishes do you hear about? Not so many, huh? All the more reason to look into this idea a little further. We’ve discussed the concept of utilizing available square footage in the most efficient way possible. Well, attic remodels are an excellent example of this very idea. These projects average around $50,000. While that may seem hefty, the average cost to add a new addition to a home will range from $40,000 – $90,000.

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5.) Sunroom Addition: 51% recoup on an average investment of $73,000. How do you like that for some depressing math? Sunroom additions fall into that category of inefficient use of space, right along with bathroom additions. If you’ve got a hankering for room addition investment, throw your dollars into a more valuable project like guest room suite for the sibling that won’t go away or a baby nursery that can be easily modified into a child’s room.

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3.) Backup Generator: The potential return on these puppies is just over 50%. If you purchase this one, accept the fact that that you are doing so strictly for personal usage. Do not make the purchase with much expectancy of potential future profit.

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One of my all time favorite quotes: “Just because they make it in your size, doesn’t mean you should wear it.” I have to remind myself of this when I go shopping sometimes.

Similarly, just because a home remodeling project is available for completion, doesn’t mean you should invest in it.

Not all home remodeling projects are equal. The annual Cost vs. Value Report offers great insight to homeowners who are interested in increasing the value of their home through various projects and undertakings.

This 10-part mini-blog series will expose insider tips on a daily basis. These recommendations will help guide you down the project management path for your home.

1.) Bathroom addition: Surprised? Take note, there is a significant difference in a bathroom addition vs. a bathroom remodel. On average, bathroom additions only recoup about 60% of their invested cost. This number does not deviate according to square footage of the project. Reason being, no matter what the size of the new space, this remodel will require a number of necessary costs that will quickly drive the cost of the investment. Consider the various expenses that would be involved in such a project: plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fixtures, flooring, shower/tub, etc.

The only situation in which a homeowner would be advised to take on a bathroom addition, would be one that adds the bathroom in order to meet neighborhood standards. If your house was constructed with just one bathroom, but all other homes in the area were built with three, you may consider the addition in order to better serve the overall potential value of your home.

BATHROOM ADDITION: NO-GO

http://2dsh.sl.pt

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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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I don’t know about you, but I think that Office Max is one of the greatest places on earth. I love the way it smells; I love the the layout; I love the customer service; I love the fact that they sell gummy bears by the bucket. But most importantly, I love the overall mission of the store “to help [their] customers do the best work.”

Next time you’re gearing up for a home remodeling project, hit up your neighborhood Office Max. Plan to spend twice the money you’d like to spend (it’s just more fun that way), and buy yourself a basket-full of supplies to assist you in organizing the three phases of your upcoming project: 1) The bid process 2) The project itself 3) Project completion.

These items should be on your must-have list:

Pretty, three ring binder

Colorful, three-hole tabs

Clear, plastic, three-hole sleeves

Phase 1 of your binder will house all ideas and planning resources. Collect paint samples, brochures, magazine clippings, and store them in your binder. You should also include all pre-project estimate information. Ask your potential contractors lots of questions and make lots of notes. Remember, the lowest bid is not always the best option and it may not offer the best quality materials. Don’t shop on price point.

Phase 2 of your binder will contain all contracts, receipts and change orders. Keep all receipts in some sort of orderly fashion. This will help you when dealing with returns, but it will also come in handy when you decide to sell the property.

Phase 3 of your project binder will wrap the project up. It will display before and after photos. Note: When shooting before and after photos, stand in the same spot for both sets. This will make your side-by-side comparison just that much more fun to look at.

OFFICE MAX: Elf Yourself
Our Fearless Leader, Pat Strand

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You should plan to prepare 1 to 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. But if your family is anything like mine, you’ll plan on doubling that recommendation to allow for seconds, thirds and leftover turkey sandwiches.

Let’s assume, however, that your family falls in line with the “typical” American family. In this case, a 12 to 15 pound turkey will serve 10-12 people; a 15 to 18 pound turkey will serve 14-16 people; an 18 to 22 pound turkey will serve 20-22 people. (I am providing this data for those of you who hate math as much as I do).

Now, when heading to the store to buy your bird, I would like to offer two recommendations:

1. Buy Frozen.

A defrosted bird might be more convenient, but he’s also more expensive. Take the time to buy him ahead of time (this will actually support my second point, as well) and thaw him out at your house. The bird people suggest you allow one day of thawing time per 5 pounds of turkey. And since we all know that we cannot leave poultry laying around the house willy-nilly, we must keep in mind that this bad boy will be moving into our refrigerator for 2-4 days time. Toss the expired condiments, rearrange the bottom shelf and invite your latest family addition to hang out for a couple of days.

2. Avoid peak shopping hours like the plague.

Every year, I pre-plan my holiday meals with the best of intentions. I stock up on canned pumpkin, I hoard cans of Cool Whip and I load up on raw sugar-cookie dough, which I use to bake my famous homemade sugar cookies. But every year, without fail, I find myself hanging out at the local Lenexa Wal-Mart the day before Thanksgiving, fighting my fellow shoppers for the last can of condensed milk. It’s just ridiculous.

And I’ve thought to myself, “If the only people here were people like me – people who can’t seem to get it right the first time, no matter how hard they try – this store would be nowhere near the zoo it is.” So, I suggest you buy your holiday trimmings and your celebratory meats sometime between Independence Day and Halloween. This should keep you in the clear.

Then again, what do I know. I typically roam the aisles of Wal-Mart on Thanksgiving eve and Thanksgiving Day, and my homemade cookies are a total farce. (But for what it’s worth, I do make the icing…with condensed milk).

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I thought I might post a quick blog about our blog and our blogging efforts.

We started bombarding the blogosphere with our advice, opinions and recommendations earlier this year. And not only have we not been kicked off of the world wide web (surprisingly), we’ve actually been applauded. That’s right – Somebody other than us thinks we’re pretty cool.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) publishes a bimonthly magazine, The Remodelers Journal, that is distributed to thousands of industry big-wigs across the nation. A couple months back, we received a phone call from a NARI Remodelers Journal reporter who had caught wind of our bad-ass blogging and social media campaigning.

The lady interviewed us and told us that she was going to feature Total Home in the upcoming magazine. Well, that upcoming magazine has been written, printed and distributed.

Do you know what that means? That means that your little, local remodeling company is the greatest remodeling company in the world! Okay. It may not mean that, exactly. But it does mean that we are kind of a big deal. Look out Hollywood, here we come.

Check out our article. Be proud of us. Feel free to help us deflate our overly inflated ego – but in regards to that last one, give us just a day or so if you could, we kind of like feeling like we’re something extra special.

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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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