Relaxing in the backyard

We have a Great backyard. I wanted to share a few pics from this past weekend as we get all the flowers blooming  

Id love to see your backyard.

Kitchen renovation options

Kitchen renovation- Here are some great options for your countertops.

Acrylic solid surface
Concrete
Glass
Recycled glass
Laminate
Marble
Quartz
Semi precious stone
Stainless steel
Tile
Ceramic wood

I never realized there were so many options for counter tops did you ? Some years ago we wanted to update out kitchen countertops with something that stood out. We started to look at all the granite options and drooled over some slabs until we realized the cost. After a few more weeks of looking we decided to tile the countertops. It was an easy to do with about 400 cost of materials.
Check out the photos. Share with me your renovations. Id love to see how you did it for less.

Making your home safer

Can you make your home safer ?
GENERAL ADVICE
Set your water heater temp at 120
Install a smoke detector
Service your gas appliances regularly
Service your HVAC system
Mark edges of your outside steps with reflective tape
Keep emergency numbers easy to find and posted
Declutter hallways for easy egress
LIGHTING
Motion sensor light for out doors
Brighter light at stairwells
Use LED bulbs for highest lighting but with in wattage requirements
Night lights
Rocker style wall switches
STAIRCASES
Fix broken steps
handrails installed
clear the clutter
Secure loose carpeting
BATHROOMS
Good lighting in the tub area
Install grab bars
Non slip matts in the tub
Place a stool in the shower if you sit to bath
All outlets should have GFCI protection
Remove the lock from the bathroom door
KITCHENS
Clean up spills immediately
All outlets should be GFCI protected
Check appliance cords for fraying
Don’t leave kitchen while cooking
Dress proper for cooking with no loose sleeves
Dont leave candles burning
Remove items from heating vents
Check all your drawers have guide stops
FIRE SAFTY
Never smoke in bed
Never dump smoldering ashes in trash
Keep portable heaters away from cloth
Test smoke detectors monthly
Devise a fire safety plan for the family

You want a bargain home

So you want to buy a foreclosed home ?

Yes there are diamonds in the rough and some great opportunities to make some good investments by the way of rental homes and flips.
How do you protect your self when buying one ? Foreclosed homes are discounted for a reason many times it because of the physical condition of the home and its less desirable due to the repairs needed. I find many times the basic home requirements that every home must meet to be able to get a loan on the home is neglected. These items are Roof, Wood rot, Broken Windows, Floor covering and these are just the repairs you can see. The next level would be structural in nature like sills, joist, and foundation issues.
Here are some good tips to help you when making a decision
Look at what happened prior to the foreclosure
GET AN INSPECTION ! No matter how handy you think you are you don’t want to be rebuilding the home from the foundation up.
Get a moisture and termite inspection ALWAYS. My biggest advice for anyone buying a home with a crawl is get someone to view the underneath. Ensure its going to be an aggressive inspection and ask for them to look at every inch. I have had “missed” damage in the past. Its not a good feeling to find that out after the sale.
Review the reports with Qualified contractors. Examine all aspects of the report or ask to take the contractors back to the house for estimates. If you can have each trade come to the inspection and take care of that at one time.
So your going to do all the repairs your self. Good luck on that, I hear this all the time about how handy someone is and they can do it all. I hate to tell you this but 90% of the time its not going to be something you can do and get the results of a professional.

If your planning on rehabbing and flipping homes then partner with the right people first so your investment is top notch and you can get top dollar when finished.

Do you know what to ask when you hire a contractor to work on your home ?

11 tips on hiring a contractor

1. Get recommendations
2. Have 3 written estimates
3. Check if there has ever been a complaint about them or the company
4. Make sure they have the proper licensed and registration requirements
5. Get the names of all suppliers they will use and ask if the contractor makes timely payments
6. Contact your local building inspection department to check for permits and inspections requirements
7. Ask to see the contractors insurance certificate
8. Insist on a written contract
9. Understand your payment options
10. Don’t not complete the contract until you know all permits are clear and all vendors have been paid
11. Pay by credit card when you can, You may have some payment options if you have to stop payment to the contractor

Are you doing your monthly house check ?

January is a great month to start fresh. Take time today to
make a list of tasks you need to complete on your home this year.
Make sure that list is posting where you see it everyday. Hold
your self accountable to a time line to complete each task. STEP
ONE While packing a way the holiday items try labeling the boxes
this year. Rolling up the lights neatly this time will save time
next year, toss old ornaments and worn out wreaths. Start small ,
and take your time to pack neatly. Next year will be a breeze to
decorate.

Write the goal or it will be just a dream !

A Ship-Shape house, Month by Month…..

Reading an article Saturday in the Beacon gave me an inspiration to get my house in order. January is game plan month. If you don’t have  clear goals, then all the to-do is just lofty dreams. Document what you want to accomplish this next year. Use online tools like google docs, dropbox or evernote to store this “wish” list online. Print a copy and post it where your entire family can see it.

A few of my plans this year
1. Remove a wall and expand my family room
2. Build a garage
3. Remodel 2 bathrooms
4. Paint the entire house
5. Print and frame NYC vacation photos
and more and more and more……

Taking down all the holiday decorations can be a daunting task. This year take time to really pack it right. Fold the lights just right instead of a jumbled mess. Label boxes and wrap ornaments carefully. When your ready to do this all again you’ll find 2011 decorating will be a lot easier.

JR Concepts , Jimmy Creamer