Spring Tips for a Healthy Lawn

Not really sure if it Spring is truly here as in the past week we actually had snow in various parts of the midwest but according to the calendar its Spring! That being said, I continue to get visits weekly now from many companies vying for my business to help make my average lawn beautiful.  I'm sure this happens by you as well and for those not willing to spend the big bucks for one of these companies then hopefully the following tips will be of help.

The best lawn care tip you can get is to start with a solid plan.

1. Do you need to plant grass? Do some research on the best seed for your area, where to buy it cheap, and when it"s available. Depending on where you live, you"ll plant either cool season or warm season grass.

Cool season grass, planted in northern areas, is usually best planted in early fall, but if you missed planting then, plant it in the spring when soil temperatures reach 50 F.

Warm season grass needs soil temps of 70F to thrive and is the choice for southern plantings. Don"t make the mistake of thinking you can plant warm season grass in the upper Midwest. Warm season grasses are bred to thrive in southern climates and are not winter hardy in the north.

2. Of course, you"ll keep new grass plantings moist, but once grass reaches a height of three inches, water it deeply once a week.

A healthy lawn needs about an inch of water a week. When watering, remember to consider recent rainfalls. Shallow watering techniques keep grass from sinking the deep roots that your lawn needs to compete with deep-rooted weeds.

3. Do you already have a lawn? Aerate it in the spring while it"s still moist and before the spring rains are done.

Aerating your lawn in the springtime gives microbes and other small life forms a breath of fresh air after winter. Aeration also makes new paths for drainage and keeps your lawn from becoming saturated.

4. A lot is written about lawn fertilizer and the big question is why? Grass is the most efficient user of nitrogen on earth!

Feed your soil with nutrient rich compost and let your lawn get its nutrients the natural way. The more chemicals you use, the more you disturb the natural biological processes that convert organic matter into nutrients and the microbes and other small organisms that take natural care of your lawn.

5. Mow your grass high. A 2 ½ to 3-inch high cut makes your lawn look fuller, feel softer, and helps keep it healthy. Taller grass shades pesky weed seeds and keeps them from getting established. In addition, a taller lawn is better able to absorb sunshine and better able to retain moisture, the two main contributors to a healthy lawn.

6. Enjoy your lawn. After all, isn"t that your main reason for having a yard?

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY FOR THOSE THAT READ THIS TODAY!

10 Tips for Hiring a Home Remodeling Contractor

Looking to have some work done on the home?

With the U.S. economy facing the lowest home sale statistics in fifteen years and home values continuing to slide in many regions, it's not surprising to hear that housing trends point towards a large percentage of American homeowners looking to improve and maximize their existing property investment versus buying a new home. When deciding to undertake a remodeling project however, there are several invaluable tips to keep in mind as you discuss your home make-over with potential contractors.

Through advice and stories shared by both contractors and consumers, StageofLife.com, a blogging resource for homeowners, discovered 10 important tips on how to find a trustworthy home remodeling contractor to help ensure the right person or company is hired for your next home improvement project.

Tip #1: Does Your Contractor Have Proof of Insurance?
Ask the contractor to have his insurance company mail or fax a copy of his current contractor insurance card to you. If the contractor can't do this - stay away. Why? If there is an accident at your home, you are then liable. This also applies to any sub-contractor or employee that the contractor may use - those individuals should have active insurance cards faxed or mailed to you as well.

Tip #2: Did You Check References and See Photos?
Ask for at least three references - with two of them being for the same type of project you are planning - and then call the references. Additionally, ask the contractor to provide photos of previous work, especially for the same type of project. If he produces lawn and garden photos and you're planning a bathroom remodel, you may want to check out another contractor.

Tip #3: Does Your Contractor Take Debit or Credit Cards?
Besides your ability to earn a few points, bonus miles, or cash back on your project, a good sign that a contractor is financially savvy and has a bank behind his business is his ability to take debit and credit cards. This doesn't just apply to big contracting companies. Many small, one-man shops will take cards if they have a good relationship with their business bank or credit union.

Tip #4: Manners and Appearance?
If the contractor drove his vehicle to your home to give you an estimate, take a look at the way he keeps the equipment and vehicle. Are things clean? Neatly arranged? If not - that's a big warning. The way a contractor treats his tools is a direct connection to how he'll treat your home. During the initial meeting, does the contractor present himself in a professional way? Do you feel comfortable around him or his employees? They will be working in your home after all.

Tip #5: Clean Up Policy?
Ask about the clean-up policy. For example, if your home improvement is a multi-day project, will the contractor be cleaning up at the end of every day or will he leave the dust, wood chips, and other mess laying there for day #2? The more mess in your home - the more it gets tracked around. Many homeowners find themselves with mouths gaping wide after the contractor has left for the day and their floors and home are dirty and messy around the project area.

Tip #6: Will the Contractor Put It In Writing?
Is your contractor willing to put both his bid and the scope of work in writing? If not - walk away immediately. You'll be surprised how many homeowners have been duped by contractors who verbally tell you what's included in their scope of work, but will then, in the middle of everything, require extra money to finish the remodel, thus holding you hostage with an uncompleted home project.

Tip #7: Availability?
Can the contractor get the job done in your timeline rather than his timeline? There's nothing more frustrating than if a contractor tells you that a job will be done by a certain date and then it isn't . On the flip side, if you can't find a good contractor that's willing to commit to your timeline, your expectations may be too high and you may need to adjust your timeline.

Tip #8: Does Your Contractor Use "Subs?"
Does your contractor plan on doing everything himself? Or will he "sub out" work to the "trades?" For example, if you are remodeling a bathroom, you may need a plumber, electrician, and carpenter. It's okay if the contractor subs work out to these specific trades - it shows he wants the work done right.

Also, it's fair to say that you can expect your contractor to make money off the trades, or other sub-contractors, by marking up those quotes for the project. That is a standard practice to help the general contractor recover costs in the time it takes to manage the schedule. If you don't want to spend the extra money on your contractor marking up the trade quotes, then you should prepare to project manage the remodel yourself, but know this may limit your options on contractors willing to work with you.

Tip #9: Quoting & Billing Procedure?
Ask the contractor about his quoting procedure. Will it contain general information, or will it be specific? For example - most contractors will charge you for a fuel surcharge, material up-charges, waste removal, labor, etc. Some will show you these exact costs in a line item invoice, but others roll it up into one big bill. How much detail do you want? You should clarify that with your contractor upfront.

Also - what is the payment or billing policy? Is money required upfront? If so, go back to #1 and #2 above to make sure you have the contractor's references checked and have a copy of his contractor's insurance.

Tip #10: Did Your Contractor Get the Permits?
Ask your contractor to take care of the permits. Although permits cost you money, the inspection process is meant to protect you from poor workmanship and to make sure that everything is being built to code.

By following these 10 tips for hiring a home contractor, you'll feel more confident that you've found the right contractor for your remodeling job.

Have a fantastic Labor Day Weekend!!

Home Improvements with the Best Return on Investment!

Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed learning about some the least effective improvements when looking to get the best bang for your buck when updating or remodeling your home! Today, I'm going to share with you the best options and best returns on your money when it comes to home improvements.

As I stated last week, many improvements are regionally based and for the most part, the improvements that I'll share today will be reflective of the area that we all live here in the mid-west. When it comes to putting your hard earned money back into your home, wouldn't it be useful to have a check-list of those places that will help increase the value of your home? Don't make the mistake of blindly assuming that every improvement made brings an automatic 100% return on your money, it doesn't happen. Educated yourself and you'll save lots of heart-ache in the future.

Best Improvements based on Average Return

1) Clean / de-clutter - Simple right? Well this while seemingly basic is the least expensive and has the best return on your time and money if applicable. If you are selling your home, de-clutter and clean it. If you must, rent a storage unit to put your excess until the home is sold. Return on investment is over 100%.

2) Lighten and Brighten - Replace any burnt out bulbs, use higher wattage bulbs if possible. Return over 100%.

3) Landscaping - The yard is so vital when making a first impression. If you have a single family home or town-house, make sure the entry-way is appealing and the lawn is landscaped, the grass is green, bushes trimmed and weads pulled. If necessary, hire a professional. This is one area that a minimal investment of time and money will also give you well over a 100% return.

4) Paint the Interior - Repair any damaged walls, patch holes and cracks and touch up any areas that show wear and tear. If you don't have neutral earth tone colors, scale back on your wild side tastes and try to appeal to the masses.

Okay now all of the above I just shared are very basic and in many cases hardly doing any damage if any to your pocket book. Now lets get on to some more hefty duty improvements. Ready to take your wallet out, we're going to spend some money but don't worry, these options will be adding good value to the home :)

5) Wood Deck Addition - A deck gives an owner the opportunity to enjoy more of their home and enjoy the outdoors. It makes for a great place to entertain and without a deck or nice patio, a buyer certainly will add that to their to do list of expenses if they want to buy your home. An average deck will give you an approximate return on your investment of 85%.

6) Vinyl Siding Replacement - Curb appeal plays a huge role in this one and if your siding is in need of updating or replacement, this project is a great and not a terribly expensive project to make a big difference in the home's appeal. Its low maintenance and can last 25 years, gives the home a new look and the average job is less than 11K and returns over 86% of the investment.

7) Steel Entry Door Replacement - Ever walked up to a home with a very basic door and to an extent, thought in advance that the home you enter may also similarily be quite basic? How about the opposite? Have you walked up to a home with a gorgeous entry-way door, didn't you expect the home to follow the trend? First impressions mean everything and for less than most projects this will give you over a 100% return on your money and can make the home more energy efficient.

8) Attic Bedroom - Homeowners that turn a dusty old attic into a fuctional bedroom can recoup nearly 80% of their investment and put a wow factor in their home and can utilize the space that can possibly come in handy to a growing family. The attic also is usually the least expensive of space additions to the home as its often easier to budget than adding on to a home.

9) Mid-Range Bathroom Remodel - You may remember in the past blog that a bathroom addition isn't a great option for a return due to its expense. That is true but when it comes to a current bathroom, giving it a make-over is a great choice! Replace vanity, flooring or fixtures and see a dramatic difference in your bathroom and recoup nearly 80% or more of the investment.

10) Minor Kitchen Update - Kitchens can be very expensive and its important to note, I am not referring to a complete remodel here or your expense and return will not be what your looking for. What can be done however is adding backspash to a wall, resurfacing or painting cabinets if they are getting dull or old. Changing out fixtures, redoing caulk or cleaning grout and adding hardware to cabinetry. A fresh coat of paint to brighten things goes a long way here as well.

11)Windows- If you have old windows and even more specifically wooden windows then its time to consider this invesment. Not only are windows very important when it comes to all important energy efficiency but they add value to the home. Now a days you can even qualify for many goverment tax credits by upgrading to a more energy efficient window!

12) Flooring - Repair and refinish hardwood flooring or damaged floors or cover with neutral, wall to wall carpet. Consider upgrading vinyl flooring if applicable in areas like the foyer, kitchen and baths when the budget allows.

These are a few of the most popular and best options to invest your money back into your home. While a home is for most of us the largest single investment we will make in out lives, its worth taking great care and pride in making sure your investment stays updated and current.

Hope you found today's blog and this two part series on home improvements useful! I will be enjoying a vacation and look forward to blogging to you in a week. Until then, have a great time updating your homes!!!

Home Improvements - Best and Worst Projects for your Money!

Ever had one of the dilemnas below?

I'm thinking of putting my home on the market and want to know what areas I should improve to get the best return on my money?..or..I'm not moving, but have a little extra money available that I would like to invest back into my home, where should I invest it for the best return on its value?

The above are common scenarios that many of us may encounter each year and yet don't quite know the best answer to the questions. Today I'm going to discuss with you what some of the WORST improvements based on return that you can make to your home. In my upcoming blog, you will hear what the BEST improvements are that you can make to your home based on expected return, so stay tuned!



Some of the Worst Home Improvement Projects for Your Money (note that these are best examples here in the Mid-West. Regionally this varies significantly)

1) Home Office Remodel - Owners remodeling a home office can recoup on average less than half of the investment made into this. Reason being is that while the office may be very important and vital to you, to another buyer that may not work from home or do it as often, that space is not as important to them. Some may see it as an added expense to revert it to a much needed bedroom, or space with some other need in mind.

2) Swimming Pools - Let me first start by saying that during an extremely warm and humid summer like we are having this year, I'd love a pool! That being said, pools can be very costly and are not easy to maintain. While the pool that you install may get great use from the children or by you and your family, the next owner of your home may not see it as a positive. Pools can cost from close to 30-40 grand when you factor in the fence, pool, landscaping etc. to as much as 100K or more. Knowing that this investment is best returned in the joy it brought to you and your family and not in its resale will save you much distress later on.

3) New Roof - Yes we all know that a roof is paramount to your home and its vital that
its maintained and in good condition. A poor roof is instantlly seen by a buyer and the cost to replace the roof or put a new layer of shingles on it is directly proportionate to their offer. However, that being said, when a new roof is put on, don't expect the value of your home to be reflected in the price you paid for your fancy new architectural shingles. Its one of those investments that protect the well being of the rest of your home and is expected to be in quality condition when a buyer purchases your home.

4) Sunroom Addition - Who doesn't love a sunroom? I know I do but the cost to have one built on a home generally only reflects in a 51% return on your investment. Want another option that has been gaining popularity? Adding on to a family room or building a guest/mother in law suite.

5) Garage Addition - Homeowners who build an addition to a garage can expect a return on your investment of less than 62%. The versatility of a garage doesn't always reflect its high cost. In order to do it properly your employing contractors to lay a slab, construct walls, build a roof, install electric and more. This all adds up and at the end of the day, the money could have been better invested else where in the home.

6) Bathroom Addition - But I thought bathrooms were extremely key when selling homes you say?? Yes they are, but updating a bathroom and building out a new one are two different things. While adding a bathroom if there are few can certainly help sell the home, the costs can be very high. Realize that unlike a close space, when you build out a bathroom, you are now reconfiguring plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, heat, fixtures and more. Often this build-out can be ten's of thousands and the return is generally much less.

Hope you found the above blog today useful. If not today, possibly in the future you'll need to invest into your home and knowing what not to do, can often lead to a more successful sale by using your money for better alternatives. These better options we'll discuss in my upcoming blog!