Everyone has a home project haunting them from their past. The objective was to upgrade their existing home, but it just didn?t turn out the way they originally envisioned. When this happens, what do you do now? I always smile and say ?Punt!? In the real world we can?t punt, but we do have choices. One solution is to make it a work of modern art or the more common decision is to fix the problem and finish as planned.

Let?s assume you have all the correct tools and are skilled on how to use them. If you are having problems using your tools, you might want to find a contractor to fix your project. So what was the original problem that caused your project to fail? I can answer that in a few short words for a large majority of failed projects, lack of correct pre-planning. The really comical thought is that to discover the problem on your failed project is the same process as doing a proper pre-plan.

The purpose of this article is to explain a concept so we will use an extremely simple problem, however the process will work on all types and sizes of projects. You just installed a new sink in your master bathroom. The color and texture and size are all correct but for some reason it just doesn?t line up with the existing countertop and wobbles from end to end. Along the way you must have forgotten a step or took a shortcut to have caused this. The way to fix this problem is obviously to pull the sink out and figure out how to install it correctly. Before you do this, do a work breakdown structure (WBS). This is a common pre-plan task all good managers working on high dollar projects use. This is a practice that also applies to home projects and is a useful way to find your fix. A WBS is exactly as it states, your work broken down and itemized creating a structure and path to follow.

Start at the top of your paper pad and state your objective. In our example we will use ?Install a new sink.? Then we divide that objective into deliverables. In the sink example I write; purchase the sink, remove the old sink, prepare countertop, and prepare plumbing. Next we have to further divide these again into assignments. Assignments are action items or tasks. The following is how I would write this using our example of the new sink.

Install The New Sink

• Lay the sink in the cutout
• Anchor the sink
• Hook up plumbing

Purchase the sink

• Gather existing sink dimensions
• Window shop stores for new sinks
• Decide on new sink that fits dimensions
• Shop for best price
• Purchase sink

Remove Old Sink

• Turn off the water source
• Unhook all plumbing
• Release sink anchors attached to countertop
• Remove sink

Prepare Countertop

• Make sure the countertop will support the new sink
• If necessary install additional support
• Make sure cutout will accept new sink
• Adjust cutout if necessary
• Make a clean surface on which to rest the new sink on

Prepare Plumbing

• Measure the sink drain and faucet connections
• Record existing plumbing dimensions
• Prepare plumbing to accept new sink connections
• Proper length of pipe
• Have Teflon tape available for plumbing re-install

Now we have our tasks. Reading through our example, I see that I did not measure the proper length of the plumbing drain pipe causing the sink to wobble and not fit securely. This is a very simple example but it illustrates the concept that a proper pre-plan and diagnosis will allow you to accomplish a correct fix instead of a fix that just hides the actual problem. Applying this concept to your more difficult projects around the house will help identify the possible problems and solutions before you even start.

If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://www.homedesignfloorplans.com where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic provided by Robert Kempe.

Robert Kempe has 15 years in industrial construction and industrial engineered manufacturing as a project manager and a part time home inspector. Through his experience he has been able to simplify and make sense of home building and designing in what looks to be a complete chaotic project and decision making process. His articles will guide you through the most difficult decisions and make it a positive uplifting experience.

Building your own home can be exciting yet nerve racking experience. Paying attention to detail throughout the construction process will help streamline the process and increase your ultimate satisfaction with the home. Here are eight little things not to forget when building your new home.

Ample High Performance Lighting - Be sure to install ample high output energy efficient lighting in high use areas. This rule absolutely applies to kitchens and bathrooms. If installing recessed lighting, be sure to several lights through out the kitchen or bathroom to avoid shadows. Chandeliers, track lighting, florescent lights or under cabinet light will all work fine. Just be sure to install plenty of them in high use areas.

Insulate Your Garage - Most builders only install insulation within interior walls of the home that face the outside of the house. Generally, builders do not insulate the exterior walls of your garage. Forget this tip and your garage will be hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. Have your builder insulate the exterior facing walls of your garage before the drywall is installed. Better yet, do it yourself to save some money.

Electrical Outlets Under Eaves - If you like to install lights during the holiday season on your roof line, be sure to install electrical outlets under the eaves to simplify installing the lights. Also be sure to install a switch to turn the lights on or off from inside your home near the front entrance. When you are up on that ladder on a blustery winter day, you will be thankful you can just plug the lights in with minimal extension cords and flip the lights on or off with a switch from inside your home. Speaking of holiday lights, install an outlet near the mantel of your fireplace too.

Double Coaxial Connections in Wall Jacks - Given the popularity of high definition televisions and digital video recorders, be sure to run two coaxial cables into each wall jack where you may want a TIVO or DVR unit. This will allow you to record one show and watch another simultaneously. Forget and you will need to drop that second coaxial line later which can be very tricky after drywall is installed.

Gas Line In Utility Room - Even if you plan to use an electric clothes dryer, it may be prudent to install a gas line into your utility room to allow for a gas clothes dryer in the future. Although gas prices are on the rise, if you have a large family and do many loads of laundry each week it may be cheaper in the long run to use gas. If you do not add a gas line in the utility room, an electric clothes dryer will be your only option.

Seal Your Garage Floor - Consider sealing your garage floor before moving into the home. Concrete sealer is available in do-it-yourself kits that will protects your garage floor from deterioration caused by road salts and prevent stains due to oil and other fluids. It also adds to the aesthetics of the garage and may make your home more marketable when you sell in the future. You might also consider a drain in the floor of your garage.

Ample Height for Shower Heads - This may seem like a no brainer. However, if you forget to raise your shower head to a comfortable height during construction, you will have to squat or bend over while you should be relaxing under a nice warm shower.

Automatic Pool Water Filler - When installing a pool or spa, remember to hook the pool fill line into your sprinkling system so you can automate adding water to your pool. This is especially convenient in the south where water evaporation rates are high in the summer. This will allow you to set one zone of your sprinkling system to add water to your pool. You then simply tell it to run 10 or 15 minutes once a week.

The character of your home will often shine through in the details. Paying attention to the details, such as those noted above, will help increase your satisfaction with your new home and should help simplify your lifestyle.

For more home improvement and remodeling related tips visit: www.inhomeimprovements.com

Webmasters and publishers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.

The bathroom in your home is the one room that has undergone a complete transformation in the past several years. A transformation that is as far as how it is defined. Kitchens are to cook and eat in, living rooms are still for living and entertaining in and the garage still holds vehicles and junk (not to mention lot?s of tools). But the bathroom has evolved so far beyond its traditional functions that to truly reflect its current status in many homes, spa room or the retreat might be more appropriate names for it.

Too often, the bathroom comes in second to the kitchen when it comes to deciding on which home remodeling project should be done first. The kitchen has retained and even built upon its position as the focal point of the home and a center of both socialization and function. But the master bathroom is still stuck in its hygienic role and remains a private area that doesn’t get as many opportunities to impress visiting guests. Couple that with the fact that a bathroom renovation can be nearly as involved and expensive as a kitchen makeover and you have the makings for procrastination.

Today’s bathrooms, particularly those incorporated into master suites, are being designed and built to be a source of luxury and relaxation. After all, for many parents the master suite’s bath may be the only room in the home where they can truly enjoy some private time for relaxation away from the kids.

The world can be a very stressful place and having a nice, relaxing bathroom where you can de-stress can be very important.

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

http://www.a1-bathroom-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

ORGANIZE! To make the job easier and ensure your percentage of good ideas is as high as possible, you need a strategy to organize your information. Use a three-ring binder or expandable file folder. You must keep copies of all contracts, change orders, invoices, receipts, and permits. These will be invaluable if you have disputes with your contractors and when tax time comes around. Other sections to consider are ideas from magazines, quotes, contractor contact info, and so forth.

You can purchase an organizer at www.remodelingorganizer.com

Don’t be afraid to play designer. Many amateur home designers come up with great ideas, and since you are living in your home day after day, you can have better ideas than the pros. So get out a pencil, make 100 copies of your current floor plan, and sketch out all the alternatives. It doesn’t matter how great or bad they are, experiment with alternatives. At this point it’s free, so enjoy!

But don’t get too wild and crazy. You are almost always better to stick with a traditional size and shape in a home, both for resale value and cost for your remodel. Having a kitchen on the second floor may strike you as a clever and unique solution, but if it means moving the gas, electrical wiring, and plumbing up to the second floor, this change will add significantly to the project costs. And don’t install bright orange tile on all the floors: If you have to move unexpectedly, most prospective buyers will deduct the cost to replace it from their offer.

Figure out what you can do yourself. Have contractors itemize their quotes to determine which phases of your project you might be able to do yourself and which ones you want to hire someone to do. Tasks you might consider doing include project management, demolition, rough electrical wiring, installation of cabinets, fixtures, and appliances, and finish work. Tasks you should probably leave to the pros include foundation work, framing, installing sheetrock and breaker boxes, and connecting your home to the electrical service.

Consider practice remodeling. If you aren’t quite ready to commit to doing part of the work yourself, get some hands-on experience. Find a small project around the house and tackle it yourself, such as putting a floor in the attic or building shelving in the garage. Or offer to help out a neighbor or volunteer for a Habitat for Humanity project. These experiences will give you a firsthand look at the work. Alternately, you might take an education course at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or another building material store.

Tips for finding a contractor:

Always make sure your contractor is fully licensed with state and local governments. Make sure the license is valid and up to date?do not rely on the contractor’s word. You should contact your state, county, and city governments for information on the contractor’s license. The website www.contractors-license.org lists licensing requirements for all fifty states. Also make sure the contractor is fully insured and carries worker’s compensation, liability, and property damage insurance.

Follow this contract check list: Every contract should include:

Contractor information including name, address, telephone numbers, license number.

A list of what the contractor will and will not do?for example, the tasks you have chosen to do, such as painting or demolition.

All materials, sizes, colors, specifications.

A dated copy of all drawings and diagrams. If changes need to be made during the project, they should be made to these documents and initialed and dated by both you and the contractor.

Start and finish dates.

The times work will start and finish and the days of the week that workers will be at your home.

How change orders will be handled.

A warranty for one year.

A binding arbitration clause.

A statement of how the contract can be canceled.

A statement that the contractor will provide affidavits of final release, final payment, or final lien waivers from all subcontractors and suppliers.

Use the Remodel-or-Move Calculator to estimate your costs. Available at www.remodelormove.com, this calculator will give you an estimate by including information about the rooms that will be remodeled, the level of finish that you want, how you will manage the project, and where your home is located. Because it is fully automated, it allows you to try a number of different combinations of materials and room changes quickly, and it’s free.

Dan Fritschen is the creator of http://www.remodelormove.com, a homeowner support organization that helps homeowners become better informed so that they can make the right decision on whether to remodel or move. He is also the author of the book Remodel or Move? Making the Right Decision, available from ABCD Publishing, LLC. He can be reached at dan@abcdpublishing.com

Home improvement if called life improvement would not be a misnomer. Home remodeling is the baby of unchanged phenomena of change. It is initiated to improve the quality of life in synthesis with the changing dictates of time and directed towards more comfort. However, it needs a careful planning and sagacious attention to economy, utility, aesthetics and immediate purpose. You can either restrict it to a part of the home like kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, patio, any pocket of the house or to the house in entirety. You can also limit it to designing or flooring, or electric wiring or making arrangements for the new gadgets.

Slowly as technology is making inroads in our daily life including kitchen, it makes it essential that Kitchen springs to the changes. For instance, Kitchen remodeling can include provisions for new electronic chimneys, microwaves, pot rack, measures against fire hazards, new flooring etc. You can also have a special built-in wall unit where the oven sits within, allowing lot of storage space. It makes a judicious use of available room and makes even a small place look bigger. It is possible that you want to opt for an oven different from the existing one, convection, gas or electric etc defined by the degree of comfort with the equipment and requirement.

Pot racks not only lend a sophisticated look to the kitchen but are of immense utility too, holding the burden of cooking. All types of cooking pots and pans can easily nestle themselves there freeing the cabinet space from having a cluttered appearance. Like this there can be space-specific intricacies that need to be studied before taking up the decision of home remodeling. The name ?home? remodeling should not however make you think that it is confined to merely residential areas. They are relevant in both commercial and residential ambiences? or anywhere where humans habitate.

The home remodeling can be either a DIY or by hiring contractors. If latter it is important to pay attention to the measures that offer protection from any cheating later. When the contractor as required by law posts a surety bond with the CCB (Construction Contractors Board) it is ?bonded?. And when the contractor as required by law accepts the general liability insurance to the CCB it is insured. Both bonded and liability insurance are tools that offer valuable protection to consumers. The latter covers the damage of the property or bodily injury caused by the poor work of the contractor while a surety bond the cost of removing, repairing or replacing the contractor?s bad work. In spirit both are evolved to provide financial security and make home improvement a pleasant experience to the property owners.

Deepika Rohilla

You have probably seen the value of real estate in your neck of the woods skyrocket over the past few years. Even though the property values have fallen slightly over the past year, homes are still selling easily and many are undertaking home remodeling projects prior to selling their home.

It is relatively common knowledge that a home remodel or a home makeover can affect the value of the home.

However, you need to be aware of the cost vs. value of your home remodeling project, in other words you need to take into account as to whether or not the costs of the improvements can or will be recovered when selling your home.

It appears that kitchen and bath remodeling projects tops the list of desired improvements. Master bedrooms and family rooms are also high on the list.

For kitchen remodels, people are looking for a larger more spacious kitchen with some elbow room. Large counter tops, newer appliances and quality flooring top the list of improvements.

Remodeling of a bathroom, particularly the bathroom connected to the master suite seems to be quite desired as well. And one thing that seems to really draw interest is the whirlpool bathtubs.

Just remember a kitchen or a bathroom remodel can get expensive really fast, so if you are planning on selling your home in the near future, it may not be a wise investment.

Some improvements that do not recover costs well are additions to master bedrooms or the finishing of a basement (surprisingly enough).

Please note that the list of desired home improvements seem to differ from region to region (sometimes from city to city) so before embarking on a home remodeling project, be sure to investigate what types of improvements turn people on in your neck of the woods.

It is recommended that you visit Realtor Magazine Online and review the cost vs. value reports before starting any home remodeling project as it seems that in the current market the costs of remodeling a home will exceed the value, so proceed with caution.

If you are simply looking to add value to your home because you are planning on selling your home, it may not be a wise investment to spend thousands of dollars to remodel your home.

The best thing to do if you are looking to increase value is to start from the outside and then work yourself to the interior. Start with things people can see as they first walk up to your home, in other words, start with curb appeal!

Do some yard work and clean up around the exterior of the house. Start with things that people can and will see first. If your house is in need of a coat of paint it may be a wise investment to either clean or paint the exterior. Investing a bit in landscaping will go a long way as well.

A word for the wise: Don’t over-improve your home because you will not recover the investment.

Steven Resell is a successful webmaster and publisher of ImAllThumbs.com. He provides more home improvement information and specific tips on home remodeling that you can research in your pajamas on his website at http://www.imallthumbs.com

Most basements are dark, gloomy, and simply serve as a storage area for old toys, clothes, seasonal items, and anything else that is not used on a regular basis. Most of us rarely go down into the basement unless it is to unload more clutter that we don’t want or need.

But, why not turn this gloomy storage room into something functional and useful? Remodeling your basement is a cost-effective way to significantly increase your home’s living space. Suddenly you could have a nice, cozy guest room, a playroom for your children, a home office, a game room; the possibilities are endless!

Below are five simple steps to a brand new basement.

1. Repair any Basement Water Problems First

Even if your basement hardly ever has issues with flooding or dampness, it’s best to take care of the problem completely before beginning any remodeling efforts.

Permanent solutions can take time to put into operation. A smart place to begin is to get in touch with a home inspector who specializes in waterproofing problems.

2. Decide What You Want to Use Your Basement For

This is where you can turn lemons into lemonade. Your Basement has poor lighting? Consider setting up a dark room or a home theater. Is your basement lonely and isolated? The isolation helps provide a nice sound cushion for noisy activities such as a teenager hangout, a game room, or a place for your kids to practice their musical instruments to their hearts content. Use your imagination and come up with something that will benefit your family?s lifestyle.

3. Consider Professional Advice with Your Basement Design

Even though your basement might not be much to look at now, you’ll want to end up with quality living space when the project is finished. An interior designer or architect can help you get the most out of the space. A little forethought and careful planning now can help you design a space that is attractive, comfortable and practical.

4. Consider the Air Circulation

Something important to consider is the air circulation of your basement. When your home was originally built, chances are that there were very few if any registers or vents installed in the basement. When you remodel your basement, you need to think about the need for good air circulation, adding openings where necessary.

To be on the safe side, install a carbon monoxide detector in your basement so that you’ll have an early warning of any problems with the venting of the furnace or any other major appliances.

5. Make the Most of Your Basement’s Natural Light

Depending on what you are using your basement for, you may wish to add more natural lighting. This can be done by enlarging your basement?s windows. Another benefit of larger windows is that they provide additional escape routes in case of fire. Some may be concerned that by having basement windows that is providing easier access into the home by thieves. One way to lessen that risk is to install glass bricks instead of conventional windows at any location that is high-risk.

Take full advantage of the effect of regular windows by mounting some windows in the interior walls between rooms that open pathways for natural light to reach interior rooms.

Christine Griego is the owner of Home-Options.info, a website that provides home improvement information, tips, and ideas.

When a family decides to finish a basement space, there are so many factors to consider it can seem overwhelming. What does your family want to achieve within the new basement? Are you looking for a play area, a family room, a work-out room, home theatre, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, wet bar, etc? Do you have the square footage required to accomplish what you want? How do you get started and how long will it take? How much will it cost and is it worth the money? What if there is a huge beam in the center of you basement? Do you have to have a building permit? Do you have to remove the items you currently have stored in your basement?

If these questions make your head swim, try this approach: look for the right team of design/build consultants to navigate you through these waters.

People often know they want their basement finished, but don’t know how to put it all together, whether they have the necessary space, or even how to get started. Specialty design/build consultants are able to assess your needs and, after accurate measurements are taken, will design various blueprints to fit your requests. From these drawings you can choose the ideas that best suit your requirements and come up with a final blueprint. With this final blueprint in hand, your designer/builders will be able to determine what the cost of the basement finish will be, and provide a start-to-finish timeline on when the project will draw to a close.

When determining whether finishing your basement is going to be a worthwhile investment you should consider several variables. Are there comparable homes in your area with finished basements? How long do you intend to live there? Will the homes there increase in value, and if so, how fast? With a little bit of research you will be able to answer these questions, and decide if finishing your basement is right for you.

Sometimes a basement has restrictions that need to be considered during the design process. Such limitations can include steel columns or I-beams, HVAC trunks, underground plumbing, water meters, sump pumps, window wells, furnaces, water heaters, the height of your ceiling, and the existing floor conditions. Your design/build consultants should be focused on making these restrictions disappear into the architectural design of your basement while accomplishing your goal for the space.

Safety is an important factor to consider when construction of any kind takes place. Ensure all necessary building permits, applications for variances, and building code inspections are complete. All building and fire safety codes should be strictly followed, without exception.

In order for construction to begin all items in the basement must be moved to another location such as the garage or a temporary storage facility. This allows construction to be completed without damage to your valuables or disturbance to the construction team.

After thoughtful consideration of these questions, you’ll be closer to determining your family’s basement needs and how to fulfill them. Gathering all the information upfront will help you achieve those goals.

About The Author

Patrick Condon is the President and founder of Finished Basement Company Inc. Headquartered in Denver, CO, Finished Basement Company is a design/build firm specializing in basement finish. While designing/building over 2000 basements, Mr. Condon has handled every conceivable aspect of basement finish. He can be reached at his web site: http://www.finishedbasement.com

It?s finally time to tackle that big home improvement project you?ve always wanted to do. Or, you may have waited so long, now you NEED to do the project. Which leads to your first question ? ?Where do I start??

Well, the truth is? some jobs are simply too big, too complicated, or require too much time to handle on your own. Whether it?s remodeling a kitchen, installing gutters, or electrical rewiring for your business ? you?ll likely need an expert.

A contractor, or subcontractor, can be your ?knight in shining armor? when it comes to completing your project. But, wait? you?ve heard so many horror stories connected with ?shady contractors? that you?re starting to re-think this re-model. But statistics show that the huge majority of contractors out there are honest and hard-working professionals. Most people are happy with any improvement project they undertake.

?Fine,? you say. ?How can I protect myself and make sure I find a great contractor?? I?m glad you asked. Here are some standard tips you can follow to make sure your repair, remodel, or installation goes well:

oGot License? Most states require that a contractor have a license to operate in that state. Once you find a contractor (referrals from friends, the Yellow Pages, or you can click here at http://www.constructiondeal.com to find an expert), you should check to see if he or she has a local contracting license to do the job.

oCheck References ? get at least three references from satisfied clients. And if you want to get really fanatical, go to the contractor?s current job site. See if the site is messy. Are the workers taking care of the property?

oGet Bids ? if you have the luxury, get multiple bids from several contractors. Don?t always assume that the lowest bid is the best, because that contractor may be desperate for work or might cut corners on the job. But if you get contractor?s from several sources, you could get a really great deal.

oGet it in Writing ? the days of the ?handshake deal? are far behind us. Get a detailed contract together and throw everything in (even if the project doesn?t involve the kitchen sink!) The more you clarify, the fewer headaches you?ll have if things go wrong.

oDo You Take a Check? Don?t ever pay in cash. Can you say, ?Proof of payment?? I thought you could? Keep logs of all payments (for example - 10% down, 20% by one date, another 20% by another date, final payment when work is complete, etc.) and pay with a check or credit card only.

?Wait a minute!? you protest, ?That sounds like a lot of work!?

Sure it does. Because it is a lot of work. If you think a renovation or remodeling job is expensive, imagine having to pay for it twice! Do your homework and you?ll avoid being one of the horror stories.

?Are there any warning signs of a bad contractor?? you ask. Boy, you sure do ask a lot of questions. And that?s good. Always ask a lot of questions. The more you know, the better prepared you?ll be to handle the unexpected.

Okay, these are signs a contractor might be one step away from going to jail:

oIf required by the state, your contractor doesn?t want to show you his or her license. Or won?t give you references. Or you two don?t get along. Keep in mind: this person may be in your home, working side-by-side with you, for several months ? you?d better get along!

oYour contractor wants you to pay for the entire project? up front. Run for the hills.

oYour contractor has a ?friend? in the financing business that can get you a ?good deal? on a loan for your project. What will really happen is that you?ll end up with a huge ?2nd mortgage? at a ridiculously ?high rate? and your ?contractor? just got a juicy ?commission? on the deal.

oYour contractor doesn?t have a business address, a business card, and it looks like the contractor sleeps in his or her pickup truck. Run really fast for those hills…

Okay. Now that you know about the warning signs, you need to take a look at some signs you may have found a really good contractor:

oThe contractor has at least 4 to 5 years experience. It shows they can manage their business and complete their projects.

oThe contractor has insurance. Liability and worker?s compensation are the most important types of coverage to make sure everyone is covered.

oThe contractor has more than references ? he or she may even carry a book of photos showing past work projects that have been completed.

oThe contractor provides cost breakdowns for the job. These breakdowns show specific details of what the project will cost to complete.

oThe contractor is flexible. Communicate all your requirements and specifications for the project. Whether you two decide that you want to supervise the work or you want to let the contractor make all the decisions, your contractor will be flexible enough to work with you.

?Okay, am I ready?? Yes, now you?re ready to hire a professional to help get your home or business improvement project off the ground. One of the best ways to protect yourself is the act of due diligence. Webster?s defines due diligence as: ?The care that a prudent person might be expected to exercise in the examination and evaluation of risks affecting a business transaction.? In simplified terms ? Do your homework. And you?ll do just fine.

Have fun and make the most out of your experience.

Timothy K. Clark is the Director of Marketing for ConstructionDeal.com, a valuable website that matches Contractors with Property Owners for residential and commercial improvement, remodeling and repair projects. For more information, visit http://www.constructiondeal.com or call 866-663-47111

There is just something about spring that makes homeowners want to clean, paint and change their homes. Maybe it’s the warm weather or maybe we are tired of looking at the same walls all winter. Whatever the case, spring is the time for remodeling.

You may have a lot of questions. Should you use a contractor? Where would you find one? Where are your dollars best spent?

The key to successful remodeling projects is the same key to a successful home purchase, vehicle purchase or loan application — knowledge. If you understand how contractors work and what a project entails, you can make wise decisions for your home.

First, you should decide whether or not you need a contractor. You are the only one who can make this decision. One of the most important factors is how much time you can dedicate to the project. Many homeowners have half-finished projects around their homes which suck the value out of the property. Make sure that you are able to finish what you start.

The second part of your contractor vs. do-it-yourself decision is what your strengths are. If you have an eye for detail, are handy with tools and always measure twice and cut once, then you might have some of the strengths needed to successfully do a remodel. Look at the difficulty level of the job. For example, with a little knowledge, most people can tile a bathroom, install a new light fixture or spackle and paint. But if you are looking at a major structural issue or rewiring your entire house, I suggest you either be a professional or hire a professional.

Keep in mind, most professionals will charge more to clean up your mess than they will to start from scratch.

If you decide to choose a contractor, make sure that you check him out. That bears repeating — check him (or the company) out!!! The contractor is the most important part of a remodel. Check licenses and insurance, references and any subcontractors they work with. Call the Better Business Bureau and your state’s attorney general’s office for any complaints or investigations on file for both the contractor and his subcontractors.

When you meet with a potential contractor, pay attention to a few things. Does he or she listen to you and make suggestions? Are your questions thoroughly answered? Do you feel comfortable? Are your wants and concerns the contractor’s top priority? Remember, this is someone who wants to work for you — and they should act like it.

Remember the saying: you get what you pay for? It seems nice to just take the lowest bid, but you aren’t buying an item, you are buying service. Often, the less you pay, the less service you get. Believe me, service is everything. Just consider how much you like talking to voice mail or answering machines when there is a whole in your wall for a month with no sign of your contractor.

Everyone has a contractor horror story, but through a little knowledge and research, you won’t have one. Find yourself a good contractor, and he or she will help you make wise decisions for your home.

Martin Lukac, represents http://www.RateEmpire.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies! Visit http://www.RateEmpire.com today