After painting the trim in my home office, I noticed that there were streaks of paint that didn’t evenly coat the surface. Not that I’m the best painter in the world nor one who claims to love home improvement activities, it just seems that I’ve had a run of bad luck when it came to successful home repairs, small “do-it-yourself” jobs and “honey-do” lists. My friend (who does home renovations and small construction as a side job) came over to my house and said, “Let me see your brush.” So I showed him. He immediately said, “Right there is your problem – you have the wrong brush. You need a better tool.” Sure enough, he was right – a better brush gave me the finish that I wanted.

I fell for the classic “cheaper is better because I’ll save money” syndrome. Actually, the price between quality and mediocrity is only a few dollars at the most. In the long run, quality rules because it saves headaches, rework, and ultimately more money. Already, I don’t like to do my own work around the home, but I’ve found that with the right tools, I can do a pretty good job and actually look forward to the challenge (sometimes).

My wife and I were in a situation where we were looking to hire a contractor to execute a home improvement project that we had been wanting done for years and now had the means to accomplish it. The low-bid contractor’s price was obviously attractive, but when we interviewed the second contractor who has a keen eye for quality, we went with him even though his price was higher.Looking back, we absolutely made the right decision to go for the quality factor because we love our new addition (as do passers-by). There is very little maintenance to our addition, it provides the form and function we desired, and we noticed the crew’s attention to detail that went above our expectation. Quality tools, decisions, people, and customer service make the difference in the long run. If you have to choose between two bids for a large project or are doing it yourself, do yourself a favor and choose quality over a few bucks of savings. You’ll be happier in the long run.

The economy is still down. The nationwide unemployment rate is just below 10%. Surely this is a sign to hold off on that new kitchen or bathroom you’ve been wanting, right? Not necessarily. Obviously, you manage your own finances and ultimately know what is best for you, but don’t rule out remodeling just yet.

2010 is a year of opportunity.  Take a look at why remodeling just might make sense.

 Investment: Real estate will always be a good investment.  We have seen a decline in the appraised value of homes, but judging from the past, it will bounce back. If you are currently looking to sell your house, you have noticed that it isn’t worth what it was. Buyers are comparing remodeled homes to un-remodeled homes, and as they negotiate price, they pick the remodeled home to purchase. So, in order to sell your house now, you’ll have to take a loss. Unless, that is, you remodel, hold onto it for a couple more years and sell when the market has picked back up. You might as well enjoy your home while you are in it!

 Green building: Are you aware of the tax credits available for you to make your home more energy efficient? This includes upgrading your appliances, windows, and insulation. Plus, you’ll save more money on your power bill.  

 Phase Remodeling: You may still have some hesitation about taking on all that you want to do. Throughout the second half of 2009, more homeowners chose to break up their large renovations into phases. This allowed them to make adjustments if there were any changes in cash flow, as well as reduced the stress of having so much going on at one time.

As you evaluate your own situation, you may find more questions than answers. That’s ok. At least you have a start. Set goals and realistic budgets. Then, speak to your contractor candidly about both. Ask questions and listen for advice.  Your contractor should be able to recommend areas where you can cut some costs without cutting the quality and overall look that you want to achieve.  

The key to cutting crown in a standard miter saw is that the moulding must rest at an angle with the TOP of the crown on the saw's table (imagine the table is the ceiling) and the BOTTOM of the crown leaning against the fence (imagine the fence is the wall.) In essence, everything is upside down. You may want to create a jig that will ensure you keep the moulding at the correct angle each time.

Then, turn your miter box one way or the other (depending on whether you want an inside or outside corner) to 45° and make your cut. Waste a few inches of material to make some "templates" for yourself. Then, when you need to make a similar cut again, it will be easier if you have an example piece to look at.

If you wish to stop a piece short of a corner, try a self return to finish the edge. The miter is the same as it would be on an outside corner, just returned back into the wall.

Selecting a contractor for your 203k remodeling project can be a daunting task.  Where do you begin looking?  What qualifications do you look for in a contractor.  Can anyone who has construction or remodeling experience complete your remodel project through the FHA 203k loan program?  The answers to these questions are simply.  First of all the contractor must possess a active license from your area.  In the Columbus area they are called a HIC license.  Which stands for Home Improvement General Contractor.  Columbus also makes the listing business or individual obtain a bond for twenty five thousand dollars and have active insurance.  So, the contractor must provide copies of these documents to your loan officer along with a detailed estimate.  The estimate must be broken down by line item and further broken down to material and labor for each item listed.  The more information about the amount and total amount of material is essential.  This process is extremely important to prevent going over once the work is under way.  I highly recommend not using family members in this process.  Because if things happen you don't want any conflicts with your friends or family members.  All contractors are also required to offer at least a one year warranty on labor.  Also, be specific about the time lines for work to start and finish.  If you have any questions about the FHA 203k rehab program, hud.gov has a complete web site to outline the process.  There are also several banks that directly fund FHA 203k programs in the Columbus area.  Strategic Mortgage is a wonderful bank and Andy can help you find a loan for this type of loan.  If you want a experienced contractor to handle all of your repairs, including HVAC,electrical and plumbing we can help.  Call me directly at 614-446-6489