How to Find the Best Contractor

Green Light

He has a good reputation in the industry. Ask friends and neighbors to recommend good contractors. Another reliable source of referrals is other people in the trades: a plumber or painter you love who raves about a general contractor. If they're willing to put their professional reputations on the line by vouching for him, they must like what they see.

His business card includes a local address. A builder who provides a physical address that's in your community is far less likely to disappear on you than someone whose true locale is hidden behind a post office box.

He can provide plenty of references. Even terrible contractors have had a few happy clients along the way. Ask them if the contractor finished on time and under budget and provided great customer service.

Yellow Light

There are some good-but-quirky tradesmen who exhibit the following traits. Think twice about hiring them unless every other indicator looks terrific.

He drives a rusted-out jalopy. A bucket of bolts that leaves an oil slick in your driveway doesn't bode well for the attention to detail or fiscal stability of the person driving it. "That's not to say everyone has to ride around in a gleaming new truck," says Dick Mitchell, president of the New Orleans branch of the Better Business Bureau. "But it should be clean and well maintained." Painted-on signs are better than magnetic ones, which are cheap and temporary.

He wants cash. Even if you don't care that he's shirking his taxes by taking cash (or a check made out to cash), consider what other costs he may be cutting - like licensing fees, insurance bills and skilled crew members.

He doesn't provide a cell number. Sure, you might find the rare contractor who has someone (probably his wife) manning his business line. But for the most part, the only way to quickly get hold of a tradesman is by cell phone. If he doesn't want to give out that number, it isn't because he's conserving his minutes - he doesn't want to be reachable.

Red Light

If you see any of these signs, don't hire the guy - even if you've had good luck working with him before.

He wants to skip the permit - or have you apply for it. Any major improvement project legally requires a building permit, which means that inspectors will check the work. If a contractor wants to go without a permit, it means he'd rather not have anyone looking over his shoulder (other than you, but let's face it, you don't know what to look for). If he wants you to apply for the permit yourself, it could be because he doesn't have the necessary state licensing - and it means you'd be the middleman between the inspector and contractor instead of letting them work things out directly.

He seems sleazy. Ultimately, you have to feel comfortable letting this person into your home. Clearly, you're not going to hand your house keys to someone who flips a cigarette butt into your flower beds or leers at your 16-year-old daughter. But if he doesn't look you straight in the eye or you just have a gut feeling that something might be amiss, go ahead and cross him off your list.


Nowadays, thankfully, there are plenty of contractors available to do the job. Build your dream house now with Superior Custom Homes & Remodeling at www.MySuperiorHome.com.

Is Buying a Home in Today's Economy a Good Idea?

As a long-term investment, homeownership is still one of the best investments for individual households. "Why" you may ask? After all, the headlines say the housing market is down and out, with defaults rising at an alarming rate, and mortgage markets so frozen that buyers can't get a home loan at any price. What buyers need to realize is that housing markets, like all markets, inevitably have their ups and downs. And homeownership has a track record that is virtually unmatched by any other purchase in terms of its real benefits.

Despite the turmoil in mortgage lending, if you have good credit, a job and steady income, you will find there is still plenty of mortgage credit to be had at good rates. For well-qualified buyers, rates are running at near historical lows.

Homeownership's Real Value

Here are a few examples of why, dollar for dollar, homeownership is a solid stepping stone to a future of financial security and the single largest creator of wealth for many Americans.

Over the long-term real estate has consistently appreciated, even through periodic adjustments in local markets in response to economic conditions. On a national level, home appreciation has historically increased 5-6 percent annually, report economists at the National Association of Home Builders.

Five percent may not seem much at first, but here's an example that will put it into perspective: Say you put 10 percent down on a $200,000 house, for an investment of $20,000. At a 5 percent annual appreciation rate, that $200,000 home would increase in value $10,000 during the first year. Earning $10,000 on an investment of $20,000 is an extraordinary 50 percent annual return.

In contrast, putting that $20,000 down payment into the stock market and getting a 5 percent gain would only yield a $1,000 profit.

Compared to Stocks

Looking at it another way, over a longer period of time, if someone put $10,000 into the stock market in 1997, the average annual S&P return would make that investment worth $21,500 today - an increase of $11,500. The median home price in 1997 was $140,000.

Today, that same home would have gained nearly $100,000 in value.

Don't miss out on the benefits of homeownership. For more information, contact www.MySuperiorHome.com

Recession Budget Remodeling... Invest in Your Biggest Asset

There are many ways that homeowners are able to successfully remodel their homes without spending large sums of money. If you are like the hundreds of thousands of other homeowners, though, you do not possess the time or the knowledge to take on such an overwhelming task. When it comes right down to it residential remodeling does not have to be that expensive at all.

I do, however, recommend a qualified contractor. Though many homeowners feel that they would save tremendous amounts of money by doing it independently, this is not entirely true. There is a proper sequence to any remodeling project. It is easy to do things out of order resulting in then having to tear things out and redo what was already complete. Contractors possess the proper knowledge of understanding this sequence so these mistakes do not occur.

However, I have had plenty of success asking the homeowners to wear the hat of an interior designer. Allow me to explain: if we are collaborating on a bathroom remodel, I always ask homeowners to grab four or five magazines and/or search through Google images to better understand their "taste." It just takes a little bit of creativity and devotion to finding the look that suits their vision. Once the design is on the table, we draw up a plan on how to lay it out to best fit the space. Now that the homeowners have worn the hat of interior designers they can now travel to all the proper locations to pick out and pick up the hardware. If you are looking for interesting projects to have done to your home, here are some specific areas for adding value as well as desire.

Expanding the Bathroom or Bedroom

One home remodeling project that many people undertake each year is the expansion of specific rooms in their homes. For example, you may desire to make your Master bedroom or Master bathroom a bit larger, and there are definitely cost-effective ways to get the job done. There are solutions to every problem and expanding a room does not have to be difficult. A quality and experienced contractor can assist you on this project to ensure its proper completion.

Adding Pizzazz to the Bathroom

The bathroom is a commonly remodeled area that people often find themselves envisioning. For example, there may not be enough space in the bathroom for everything currently stored there. Painting or glazing cabinets, switching out marble or laminate countertops with granite are just a few examples that a general contractor can assist you with.

Re-doing Floors and Carpets

Another area that is commonly remodeled is flooring and carpets. Replacing the kitchen flooring is one of the most common projects that we come across. This is the center point for many homes.

 If you would like to see examples of projects completed, a good site is www.MySuperiorHome.com.

Six Small Kitchen Tips

Sensible Style by Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS, a kitchen designer and writer in Tampa, FL, is about kitchens that work as hard as you do. It's about materials that are durable and easy to maintain; a work flow that fits your hectic schedule; and creating a kitchen that reflects your priorities, your budget and your lifestyle.

This posting tackles the two most vexing issues associated with small kitchens: how to maximize your storage capacity and how to make a small kitchen look great.

Tip #1: Use Your Backsplash

Backsplashes offer dozens of square feet of untapped storage potential. Usually considered only for decorative purposes, these 18- inch spans between your countertops and wall cabinets can be put to great use as zoned, organized storage. For example, you can clear some counter space by installing a backsplash-mounted utensil crock near your cooktop. You could also mount a spice organizer in your meal prep zone, freeing up some cabinet storage.

Tip #2: Use Empty Walls or Ceiling Space

Even small kitchens typically have an unused wall or ceiling space above a peninsula that can be tapped for additional storage. By adding a pot rack to your kitchen, you can free up base cabinet space that would otherwise hold your cookware. There are racks available in almost any style and size to accommodate your needs. Small kitchens typically lack islands, but a peninsula housing a cooktop can be a good spot to tap into added storage potential.

Tip #3: Use the Back of Doors

Another way to add organization and storage capacity to your kitchen is to install accessories on the backs of doors. For example, you can hang an organizer for your cleaning supplies behind the door of the cabinet holding your sink. Additionally, you can add pantry capacity by putting a canned goods or food wrap holder on the back of its door. There are numerous options that can add to your kitchen's efficiency, as well as its storage potential.

Tip #4: Minimize Contrasts

Compact kitchens tend to look smaller and choppier when there are too many colors and patterns running through them. Minimizing contrasts, on the other hand, makes them feel airier and spacious. You can achieve this effect by selecting solid-colored countertops, for example, and maple or painted cabinets, rather than oak, hickory or glazed finishes.

Tip #5: Add Glass

Replacing solid door fronts on your wall cabinets with glass fronts can also make your small kitchen look larger and brighter. To enhance the space-enhancing effect, you can paint the insides of your cabinets the same color as your walls.

Tip #6: Light It Up

Kitchens look better and bigger with great lighting. When I take on a kitchen design project for my clients, I always look for every opportunity to add lights to the space. This includes ceiling-mounted fixtures or recessed cans, undercabinet lighting, and (where applicable) island or peninsula lighting. Sometimes I also apply above-cabinet and in-cabinet accent lighting. This layered approach to lighting makes working in the space easier and safer. It also enhances the beauty of your countertops, cabinets and flooring.


For more info contact www.MySuperiorHome.com

Top 7 Fireplace Remodeling Ideas

If what you have in your home is an old fireplace, you might have considered doing some remodeling ventures. You can choose to do a fireplace remodel that requires changing the fireplace in it's entirety, or there are other economical and simple ways to complete a fireplace remodel project. There are lots of unique options for you to choose from; each of them will turn your home into a more attractive and amiable living space. A fireplace is a fantastic addition to every home and at the same time adds a lot of value to your home. Many people throughout the years have opted to add up fireplaces to their current homes, principally with the rising costs of heating. It is a common fact that having a fireplace can trim down the costs of heating at home by more than one half. The more you will use the fireplace the more you will conserve, so the rate of adding a fireplace or renovating your old one will pay for it in the long run.

Brick or Stone Fireplace

If you are thinking of having a brick fireplace renovation, you may add a tile over it to give your fireplace an elegant new look. The remodel will only take a short time and makes your fireplace seemed remodeled without actually spending much over it.

Resurfacing Your Fireplace

A stone or brick fireplace remodel project may involve something like resurfacing the entire fireplace. This is a little bit more expensive than the aforesaid options and it will take longer for the project to complete. If you have no knowledge about resurfacing your fireplace, it might be sensible to hire an expert to do that project for you.

Gas Burning Fireplace

If you wish to upgrade your entire fireplace, you can opt for a technically advanced gas burning fireplaces. If you wish for an environment friendly fireplace, you can go for this type.

Marble, Granite, Limestone Fireplace

Your brick fireplace can also be replaced with marble, granite or other kinds and colors of fireproof brick. Limestone or soapstone can also be used as a fireplace cobblestone for an exceptional fireplace. What limits in your fireplace design is only your imagination.

Painting Your Fireplace

If you are not fond of tiles, you can just paint the brick or stone surface of your fireplace. The choices of painting options are basically endless. Even if you are utilizing gas for your fireplace, there are some areas that can be painted if you wish to do so.

Stenciled Fireplace

If you just want to upgrade the appearance of your current fireplace, you may stencil the brick after painting it to add a neat and cute design to that brick work. You can make your own design if what you want to create is a unique look.

Make Your Fireplace as Safe as Possible

If you want to remodel for safety or efficiency reasons, there are numerous things you should search for throughout the course of your remodeling task. First you should see to it that your damper is properly ventilated. If it malfunctions, your home could be filled with smoke as well as gas. This is dangerous. Check all the parts of the damper if it is working properly. If the parts are full of rust or entirely broken, you must changed these parts right away. If you have a blower you need to check on it too. Blower should make minimum noise otherwise it may cause a fire hazard in your home if a problem with your blower goes undetected.

Fireplaces may operate as purely decorative or it can be functional to heat the whole house. Adding a fireplace to a master bedroom or your kitchen can be very elegant and desirable to prospective buyers. Scouring and renovating an unattractive fireplace can considerably change the outlook of a room. Whatever remodeling ideas you have for your fireplace make sure that such project is more attractive to both your family and potential buyers as well.

Why Now is the Best Time to Hire a Contractor to Have Remodeling Work Done

Because of the economy, contractor rates for labor with various projects are lower than they have been in years as well as the cost of the materials is now lower too making it a great time to get some construction projects done around your home. These projects can range from doing outside work like getting a new deck and hiring a fence builder and lawn care company to finally remodeling your kitchen to putting that addition on to your home that you have wanted since you moved in.

A new popular trend is to add on the outside space to your home as if it is an additional room which adds more living space during nice weather. This can be accomplished by having a beautiful new deck built or even a screened in porch if you live in an area with lots of bugs like Tennessee. Both of these projects are not that expensive and add a great deal of living space for entertaining to your home which can be enjoyed during the milder weather. So add some space to your outdoor area to enjoy for years to come.

This recession would also be a great time to remodel the interior of your home and redo your kitchen if it is small and outdated. Have a designer or architecture take a look at it and see if by taking down some walls that close in your kitchen you can expand your kitchen space. This is increasingly popular in older homes where the kitchens were small and tucked away and closed off from the rest of the home. Now people want big open kitchens that flow into their living space which is great for families and entertaining. Not only is the cost to do this type of project lower now, but kitchens are the best room to invest in and they often get a 100% return on their investment.

Instead of moving to a bigger home in a poor real estate market currently, many homeowners are choosing to increase the size of their home by putting on an addition to it instead. Adding an additional bathroom or even another bedroom are the most common types of additions made by builders. Both of these types of additions increase value to your house so when it is time for you to sell you should recoup all of the expenses you put into the addition. If you just want to add a home office to your home be sure to include a closet in it so it can be considered a bedroom for resale.

For more information contact www.MySuperiorHome.com