Big projects have big risks. Think you can project manage your project by yourself? Think again. While you might think you can take on this task, it's true you can, but just how well do you think you can project manage and do you think you'll actually save money?
The answer is...no. In fact, I'm so sure you will lose money...
HOW TO COMPARE QUOTES!
If you're like every homeowner, you probably think that you need to get 3 quotes and decide from there.
I'm here to tell you that you're going to have a really hard time deciding accurately between all the quotes. They're NEVER apples to apples. In fact, it's...
HOW MUCH ARE MY STRUCTURAL CHANGES GOING TO COST ME?
You've discovered that wall you want removed is load-bearing. At least we're going to assume that through consulting various sources you think that it is.
There's only one professional that is now allowed(at least in my area) to provide a solution for doing this despite...
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET RENO COST INFORMATION?
You're about to start your renovation but you have no idea about the cost. So what do most people do? It's the worst way people get reno cost information.
*Hint*: They might google it(and that's not always terrible but inconsistent) but aside from that?
As a contractor,...
STARTING A RENOVATION - THE FIRST STEP
This is a giant money saver if I ever heard one. So you might have ideas and a budget for your renovation - now what? There's so much bad information out there it's no wonder there's a problem with the industry.
If it's a big job involving lots of trades, then option...
THE BASICS - CRITERIA YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A CONTRACTOR
Literally whoever you hire, should have these basic requirements. I mean, it's no wonder sometimes people get burned because this sort of criteria or lack thereof is a flag and, no offense, but if you did your homework, your chances of having a blown up project starts...
SILICONE vs ACRYLIC CAULKINGS
Note there are constantly new caulking products that mix recipes or overlap usages. Their drying times, health hazard/risk, traits and usage significantly change by caulking type.
Silicone, Acrylic, Butyl, Polyurethane & 2-Part Epoxy are all kinds I'm familiar with.
This...
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUOTES vs ESTIMATES?
QUOTES ARE NOT ESTIMATES! YOU LOSE MONEY ON ESTIMATES!
It really drives me crazy sometimes when I hear "professionals" treat quotes like estimates or vice-versa; so much so, I decided to write about it.
What is a QUOTE?
A quote is a "fixed" price contract. ...
7 TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE BEST PRICE ON ANY RENOVATION!
TRY USING THESE TIPS ON YOUR NEXT RENOVATION TO GET A BETTER PRICE FROM YOUR CONTRACTOR!
These are all very important, and whether you like it or not, you're paying for these things in some way.
TIP #7 - Give your contractor ample notice and freedom of schedule.
You...
TIP - TROUBLESHOOTING CONDENSATION ON WINDOWS!
OK. This is important. So the moisture is the problem but what's causing the moisture?
***Flowchart - Coming Soon***
Before I really get into the troubleshooting, you're going to need to know a few things.
We are trying to find a dew point. It's the point...
SO HOW MUCH ARE DRAWINGS FOR AN AVG 1000 SQ. FT. RENOVATION GOING TO COST ME?
The Cost of Drawings Will Be...
Well It Depends of course! (But I can still give you an idea)
One question that always comes up is how much are drawings going to cost? And it doesn't end there! Let me explain why such questions are hard to answer.
It will depend...
ABOUT TO START A BATHROOM, KITCHEN, OR LARGE RENO? YOU NEED TO READ THIS.
It's not enough that you can trust them(ie: your contractor) which is why I think this article will save you thousands of dollars. It's applicable to all combinations of renovations involving bathrooms, kitchens or multiple trades. Any time you're selecting...
THE "SMART QUOTE" TRAP
I've coined it the "Smart Quote".
In its simplest terms: "a quote that is designed to fool you".
I've learned that some people call it "bid low, invoice high" which in their mind, they are "out-smarting" their competition at the cost of deceiving their customers intentionally...
FINDING A CONTRACTOR YOU CAN TRUST
It's a huge industry. No wonder these problems exist!
Renovations & new construction is a huge part of everyone's lives. I feel like 1 person out of every 5 people I know is doing some sort of work on their home while a staggering 9 out of 10 people is either...
