Renovation Project

How to Choose the Right Contractor 

for Your Renovation Project

Hiring a contractor is not unlike hiring an employee. You’ll be trusting this person with your financial investment and a great deal of your time, and (unlike most employees), you’ll be trusting this person with your home as well. General contractors should be experienced, insured, and able to provide references. They should also be respectful of your space and time—they will, after all, be in your home for an extended period of time.

Here’s what you should do to find the right contractor for your home renovation project.

1. Ask around

The best place to start your search for a contractor is by asking people you trust whether they have worked with a contractor they liked. You might even be able to get a sneak peak at the work they’ve done.

Because not all renovation jobs are the same, it’s important to find someone with a project similar to yours. A contractor who wired your new addition for electricity is not the same contractor who would necessarily be the best at refinishing hardwood floors.

2. Read reviews

Once you’ve gotten a few references, go read reviews on third-party sites. This will help you get a sense of their track record over a longer period of time and will also help you understand whether they stay on schedule, on budget, and keep the homeowner involved and informed during the process.

3. Compare quotes

Ask for quotes from at least three contractors. Make sure you understand the cost of materials, labor, and any extra fees they charge. You should also know who handles building and permit fees (because they may be expecting you to do so). Keep in mind that the cheapest contractor isn’t necessarily the best deal—when it comes to renovation, you often get what you pay for, and a cheap quote could mean cheap work.

Because the winter months are often the slow season for many contractors and builders, some offer discounts to help drum up business. Ask your contractor whether they offer discounts in the off season.

4. Ask to see their insurance and license

A general contractor must be licensed to work in your state, so ask to see their license. You should also inquire with your state’s contractor licensing board to find out whether the contractor has had any complaints lodged against them or whether they have ever received disciplinary action.

5. Make sure they’re bonded and insured

Some states will require that general contractors be bonded and insured, but yours should be both, regardless of state law. Having a bonded contractor means that you’re financially and legally protected if they fail to complete the job. Having an insured contractor means that you won’t be liable if an accident occurs during the project.

Simply ask to see the certificate of insurance, then call the issuer to verify that the policy is active.

6. Ask for references

Contractors should be able to provide client references for the same type of project you’re undertaking. For example, if you’re working on a home that is in an historic district, they should be experienced in restrictions and codes for your specific protected area. You might even ask these people whether you can come take a look at the work. Ask how the job has held up over time, whether the contractor was on time and on budget, how they left your home at the end of a workday, how the contractor and workers behaved while they were in the house, etc. Get a sense of just how the project went from start to finish.

As a current resident in Northern Colorado I am fully aware of the current market trends and what it takes to get a great deal on a listing or get top dollar for your current home. When it comes to getting the job done right, you can count on me.

I have a lot of connections within the Northern Colorado area. Please don’t hesitate to call and ask me any questions you might have. This process is all about you and your needs. Real Estate is a big investment and I understand that. One thing you will get with me is a personal relationship, In the end, that goes a long way.
 

Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.

LOOKING TO BUY??

If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 

CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN COLORAD

SAVE UP TO 10% ON YOUR PURCHASE AND FINANCE

CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS AT 970-217-3245 OR CLICK HERE

https://ross-homes-noco.com/

SOURCE: REALTY TIMES / WRITTEN BY MATILDA DAVIES

Summer Dream Home

Selling Your Home? Make it a Summer Dream Home for Buyers

Selling your home in the summertime can be a great opportunity to attract buyers. Having your home "summer-ready" can increase the chances of it selling faster.

Searching for homes often increases just as schools let out and families have some extra time to begin the hunt prior to the next school year beginning.

As a seller, there are a few things you can do to create a summer-ready home that influences your buyers to step inside and stay a bit. The longer they stay when previewing your home, the greater likelihood that they're considering making an offer.

Make sure your winter decorations are put away and stored. I know this sounds basic and maybe even amusing but there have been instances when lingering holiday decor still adorns some areas of the home. This may be charming to the homeowners but rest assured it's not to prospective buyers. It'll simply look like clutter.

Pull the heavy-duty winter rugs up. If you have beautiful flooring like hardwood, go bare for the summer months. Revealing well-kept floors can be a big plus. Rugs that lined the floors in the winter months can be packed up when you're listing your home for sale in the summer months.

Make the home look like the season and match the neighborhood. If it's bright and cheerful outside, invite that into your home by opening up the windows and letting natural light flow through. If there is one, let a cool breeze blow in or keep the air conditioner on so that it's a comfortable temperature to tour your home. Nothing is worse than entering a home to preview and finding that you can hardly stay inside because it's stuffy and blazing hot.

Tidy up the backyard. Sometimes a lot of attention is given to the interior of the home and the outside area gets overlooked. Remember, in the summertime especially, homeowners will be sure to check out your yard. Make sure that it hasn't become a dumping ground or storage for all the stuff you're trying to get rid of before you move. Instead, create a pleasant vision for your prospective buyers by setting up the backyard with cute outdoor furniture. If you have gardens, make sure that you keep tending them. Don't let them get overgrown. The charm of a lovely outdoor space, large or even petite, will be appealing to most buyers, especially if they're starting with one that's already designed and maintained.

Clean your fans and vents and change the heating/air conditioning filters. If you're not using or living in the home, the fans and filters can collect a lot of dust. Be sure not to overlook cleaning these things as a dirty ceiling fan can whirl off a lot of dust and debris when it's turned on. It's not a good way to start a showing by flipping a switch and having handfuls of dust flutter about the room. Cleaning and changing air conditioning filters takes only a few minutes, but the return is huge.

A few simple things can help you "summer-ize" your home so that the prospective buyers can't wait to move into the home and enjoy the rest of the summer.

As a current resident in Northern Colorado I am fully aware of the current market trends and what it takes to get a great deal on a listing or get top dollar for your current home. When it comes to getting the job done right, you can count on me.

I have a lot of connections within the Northern Colorado area. Please don’t hesitate to call and ask me any questions you might have. This process is all about you and your needs. Real Estate is a big investment and I understand that. One thing you will get with me is a personal relationship, In the end, that goes a long way.
 

Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.

LOOKING TO BUY??

If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 

CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN COLORAD

SAVE UP TO 10% ON YOUR PURCHASE AND FINANCE

CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS AT 970-217-3245 OR CLICK HERE

https://ross-homes-noco.com/

SOURCE: REALTY TIMES / WRITTEN BY REALTY TIMES STAFF

Urban Backyard

Turn Your Ugly Urban Backyard 

into Something Beautiful

You’ve found the home of your dreams. The backyard, not so much. But take heart. There are creative ways to turn that ugly duckling into a beautiful swan by taking the cons and turning them into pros.

If your yard includes the wall of the building next door, a dilapidated garage or parking pad, a lack of privacy, or if you hear vehicle noise, it may seem discouraging. But with proper planning, the negatives can be minimized or even become positives as part of a beautiful landscape design.

You just have to view them as opportunities, says Jennifer Hayman, landscape designer/owner of Jennifer Hayman Design Group in Toronto. “Look at the existing landscape and think of ways to make the most of it.”

Limited space is a common problem for many urban properties, so use every inch by creating multi-purpose areas. For example, redo a parking pad and use it as extra lounge, dining or sports court space when you are entertaining.

The old garage was renovated into a three-season covered loggia and secure, organized storage inside. The columnar
beech trees were planted along the fence line for privacy. Photo: Jennifer Hayman Design Group

There’s a trend to demolish neglected, full-to-the-brim-with-junk garages and rebuild them to provide not only organized storage areas, but sitting, dining or hang out spaces. Whether creating a tween or teen retreat, a she shed or a man cave, it’s all about maximizing space that’s already there, the landscape designer says. “Real estate is valuable.”

If the garage is in reusable shape, remove two walls to convert it into a loggia or replace a wall with sliding doors to open it to the outdoors.

If you have another building at the back or side of the yard, put the wall to good use by planting some trees in front of it. Add up lighting.

At night, the light and shadows from the trees against the wall will create a warm ambiance.

Another idea, Hayden says, is to build a free-standing children’s art wall or chalk board in front of it, or if you have permission from the building’s owner, adding a mural may perk up your backyard space.

Use trees to provide privacy from tall buildings. In one of her projects, Hayman planted a row of cedar trees down each side to provide privacy and add a touch of green. Cedar trees also help muffle street noise.

The sound of trickling water is another way to dull the din. She says smaller budgets can employ a “plug and play fountain” while larger projects could include everything from water falls to reflecting pools. It doesn’t have to be a pond. One backyard she designed has a reflecting pool with floating light-up spheres to create nighttime drama.

Grade changes don’t have to be leveled. “It’s not a good use of money,” she says. Use the different levels to create different zones. However, care needs to be taken to ensure water doesn’t flow from your backyard into the neighbours’.

If the existing landscape requires lots of maintenance, a new plan with low-maintenance plants and materials can help reduce the attention it needs. Drought-resistant plants that need less watering are one way to reduce the work. “You can choose materials that are low maintenance, but remember you can’t achieve no maintenance,” she says.

Hayman is a certified Fusion Landscaping Professional. “Fusion Landscaping combines the art and science of horticulture with the science of hydrology to design, build/install and maintain esthetical pleasing, water-efficient landscapes,” says the Landscape Ontario website. “These landscapes use established design principles including form, function and the environment to optimize lot level storm water management and enhance the environment.”

Boardwalk steps over reflective pond and down to garden at lower level. Photo: Jennifer Hayman Design Group

Landscape Ontario, the Region of Peel and Municipality of York combined forces to create the Fusion Landscaping Professional program.

Rain gardens, for example, include plants that can take both lots of water at once but also survive drought conditions, says Hayman. The rain garden is designed so water percolates into the ground instead of on to streets and into sewers.

Incorporating green space is always a good idea. Toronto is a heat island because there is so much concrete.

The city has percentages allowed for hard and softscaping so it’s important to check your local bylaws. Zoning and building department bylaws are something a designer can help with, she says.

Have a professional plan done and approved before construction starts to help optimize your budget. Otherwise, costs can be quickly eaten up on expensive changes made once construction begins.

Having a plan also reduces stress for everyone involved. Ditto for permits. Many contractors won’t work without a permit and a plan with design materials and quantities that have been approved by the homeowner, she says.

If yours is a big job, you may also want to consider 3-D plans, which make it easier to see what the project will look like when it’s finished.

You can “walk” from point A to point B and live inside the space without it being built, she says. “It’s a great tool for contractors to have too so they can understand the landscape designer’s vision. If you’re doing all the bells and whistles, spending $1,500 to $2,000 on 3-D is a fraction of the cost of making construction changes.”

Expect to answer a lot of questions as the landscape designer gathers information to determine the scope of work, the challenges, your needs and wants, and what can be achieved you’re your budget.

After a site analysis, a design is created and presented to the homeowners for feedback. Upon approval, quotes are requested from contractors.

Hayman provides her clients with a vetted list of contractors, chosen based on their skill set. “I match the project to the contractor to the homeowner,” she says. Start three, six or even 12 months ahead of construction, she says, because “contractors who are skilled, competent and strong book up early.”

Remember, there are lots of ways to turn your backyard lemons into lemonade.

As a current resident in Northern Colorado I am fully aware of the current market trends and what it takes to get a great deal on a listing or get top dollar for your current home. When it comes to getting the job done right, you can count on me.

I have a lot of connections within the Northern Colorado area. Please don’t hesitate to call and ask me any questions you might have. This process is all about you and your needs. Real Estate is a big investment and I understand that. One thing you will get with me is a personal relationship, In the end, that goes a long way.
 

Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.

LOOKING TO BUY??

If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 

CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN COLORAD

SAVE UP TO 10% ON YOUR PURCHASE AND FINANCE

CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS AT 970-217-3245 OR CLICK HERE

https://ross-homes-noco.com/

SOURCE: REALTY TIMES / WRITTEN BY CONNIE ADAIR

Remodeling to Sell

Think Curb Appeal When 

Remodeling to Sell

With home prices up in some areas, the return on remodeling investments at resale can be good. Making little changes can have big impacts when it comes to remodeling your home to sell.

Some updates will return as much as they cost in hotter markets, but unless your home is in a rapidly inflating city, you may not get enough bang for your buck.

But the lesson isn't to avoid remodeling your home. It's to rethink your expectations. Do you want to enjoy your updates for a few years? Or do you want to make your home more immediately appealing to homebuyers?

If you're remodeling for your own household, updating a home has a legitimate purpose that is unquantifiable. When you add square footage, update systems and fixtures, or rearrange traffic flow, you improve the functionality of your home. Refreshing wall colors, window coverings, and flooring adds to the beauty and enjoyment of your home. Many would consider that money better spent, and if you decide to sell in a few years, you'll be ahead of the game in terms of updates that will appeal to homebuyers.

But if you're remodeling strictly for the next buyer, there's some risk. Will you choose the right elements to appeal to the next buyer? What if they don't share your taste or appreciate the areas where you allocated your remodeling budget?

Start with what absolutely has to be done, whether you plan to stay in your home or not. You may be tempted to put off replacing the roof for an average of nearly $20,000, because Remodeling Magazinesays it will only return approximately 72 percent of costs. But a new roof could make the difference in whether or not an FHA or VA buyer can buy your home and pass government inspection.

Otherwise, stick to smaller updates that can yield big impacts in terms of curb appeal, safety and building integrity. The top five cost-to-value projects that netted the most return in 2015 were:

1. Replacing the front door with a 20-guage steel door - 102 percent.
2. Manufactured stone veneer -- 92. 2 percent
3. Fiber-cement siding -- 84.3 percent.
4. Garage door replacement -- 82.5 percent
5. Wood window replacement -- 78 percent.

As you can see, the most lucrative projects for resale were all about curb appeal. Seal the deal with a new welcome mat, new sconces to complement the new steel door, and potted plants for color. Wow your buyers on the outside and they'll be more likely to choose your home over the competition.

 

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Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.

If you are looking to purchase, I can show you how to save a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your next home.

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the SHORTEST possible time, with the least amount of Brain Damage!

Paul Ross  970-217-3245

RESIDENT REALTY

  

LOOKING TO BUY??

 If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

 Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 

SEARCH FOR PROPERTIES

Extraordinary Agents. Exceptional Service

We are a group of very experienced agents seeking the best for our clients. Without charging our agents exorbitant fees our agents can pass the savings along to our clients.

Resident Realty was founded in 2000 with the mission of providing real estate agents with technology, support, and systems to operate their private practice without gouging them through fees, splits, and add on expenses

Since 2001 Resident Realty has held many annual events to benefit multiple charities which include:

 *  Wounded Warrior Project

 *  Guardian For Heroes

 *  Lupus Foundation

 *  Folds of Honor

 SOURCE: REALTY TIMES / WRITTEN BY BLANCHE EVANS

Ceiling Fan

How to Buy the Right Ceiling Fan

Let’s put a fan in the living room. Sounds easy enough, right? Now all you have to do is figure out the size and the style and the color and the function and whether or not you need a downrod, and how long that should be. Phew. That’s A LOT.

Having just been through this process, we have tips to share that will help you understand what to look for. Our pain is your gain!

Size matters

A 36-inch fan isn’t likely going to do a great job of cooling your giant great room, and a 72-inch fan might look out of place in a tiny bedroom (not to mention the fact that it might feel like a wind tunnel in there). Getting the look—and function—right has a lot to do with buying the right size fan for your space.

Consider the lighting

Does your space have decent lighting elsewhere or are you depending on the ceiling fan to provide good lighting for the room? Before you spend many aggravating hours searching online for the “brightest LED ceiling fan,” followed by an equally aggravating trip to a big box store that shall go unnamed, let us give you a little insight: Most fans without multiple exposed lights now have integrated LEDs, which means the light is built in to the fan and is not changeable.

While this may be cost-effective and convenient—especially if you’d have to climb a ladder to change the light bulb—it’s not great if you’re looking for a brighter light than what is included in the box. If you want one of those snazzy modern-looking fans and you need a super bright light, you’ll probably need to MacGyver it or buy a fan without a light and then get a separate light kit without an integrated bulb. Good times ahead!

Match your style

Ceiling fans with integrated lights come in a variety of styles to match a variety of tastes. If you know you want modern, traditional, or transitional, by all means, Google it. If, in our case, you can’t find the function you want in your preferred style, you have to get a little more creative. Wayfair is a good place to look for brands and styles you may not find at Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Do the blades go in reverse?

One of the coolest (pardon the pun) features of many of today’s fans is the fact that you can run them in reverse, which forces rising hot air down and helps keep the room comfortable in winter. If this feature is important to you, make sure the fan you’re looking at has it, because not all do.

Do you need a downrod?

Downrods are necessary if you have tall ceilings. Ceilingfan.com has a great graphic that shows you how long or short your downrod should be depending on your room, but don’t forget to take your personal preferences into account. If you’re in a room that tends to run hot or faces west, maybe you want the fan installed a little lower so you can feel the air flow.

Read the reviews

While this was not so helpful in determining whether or not a light was bright enough (People have opinions, and, wow can they contradict each other!), it was helpful in weeding out some options that were wobbly when installed, didn’t come with a decent remote or any remote at all, or didn’t look like their picture in real life. You’re never going to find any product with a 100 percent approval rating nor will you agree with everything you read, but a “majority rules” type of deal is usually a pretty safe bet.

As a current resident in Northern Colorado I am fully aware of the current market trends and what it takes to get a great deal on a listing or get top dollar for your current home. When it comes to getting the job done right, you can count on me.

I have a lot of connections within the Northern Colorado area. Please don’t hesitate to call and ask me any questions you might have. This process is all about you and your needs. Real Estate is a big investment and I understand that. One thing you will get with me is a personal relationship, In the end, that goes a long way.
 

Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.

LOOKING TO BUY??

If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 

CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN COLORAD

SAVE UP TO 10% ON YOUR PURCHASE AND FINANCE

CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS AT 970-217-3245 OR CLICK HERE

https://ross-homes-noco.com/

SOURCE:REALTY TIMES / WRITTEN BY JAYMI NACIRI