If you are planning a major remodeling or home renovation project you will hear this advice over and over again; it is essential that you check a contractor’s references before you sign anything.

Great advice, but for many homeowners when they are standing, phone in hand, ready to do just that by calling a few of the references the contractor has provided them with they have no idea what to say.

Here then are some of the questions you should be asking to get the information you need to make an informed decision.

Did the workers stick to the agreed time schedule?

Having contractors show up late every day is annoying and inconvenient. Perhaps even more so though is having a half dozen workers show up on your doorstep at 6.30 a.m. because the boss said they could “get an early start”.

Was the work completed on time?

Some projects turn out wonderfully well they just take more time to complete than might have been anticipated. If the reference answers no to this question politely ask them to elaborate, it may not have been the contractor’s fault.

Were there many unexpected expenses?

Almost every large remodeling project ends up accruing one or two additional costs that were not a part of the original contract. It becomes a problem though if the extra bills kept piling up, a sign of an unorganized (or even dishonest) contractor.

Why did you agree to recommend this contractor?

Agreeing to have your name on a list of references is one thing but it is more helpful to the prospective client if they understand why. Getting a discount or other incentive is not a good enough reason.

Would you hire this contractor again?

This is a big one. The reference may have liked the work done enough to agree to have their name given out as a reference, but the mark of true satisfaction is if they would be willing to do it all over again.

Home shows have long been a great way for homeowners considering a remodeling project to get inspiration and ideas for use in their own home.

Product demonstrations can be very useful for giving you an insight into the difference between certain offerings that go beyond an online review or magazine article.

And then there are, of course, the freebies. Exhibitors at most big home shows offer all kinds of samples to take home with you and many of them can be quite helpful and worth picking up.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your next visit to a home show.

Go Prepared

If you have a specific remodeling project already in mind, bring a few basic specifications with you to the show such as room measurements, photographs or drawings.  Doing so will help you help you communicate better with the experts on hand about your ideas.

Give Out Your Information Selectively

Unless you want to be bombarded with calls and emails for months about projects that were really just optimistic pipe dreams, only share your contact information when you are truly interested in a project, product  or service.

Only Take The Freebies You Will Use

All those little pots of sample paint look so cute, so  it’s tempting to take one in every color. Unless you are planning on painting a rainbow though, that is not really necessary and all the unused freebies will just end up cluttering up a drawer or cupboard in your home for no reason.

Ask About Seminars

Many home shows offer seminars and classes throughout the show and some of them can be very useful, educational and interesting. To ensure that you do not miss one that you would really have enjoyed check the show schedule before you leave and plan your time accordingly.

Only Take The Kids If They are Interested

Some kids may be very interested in a visit to a home show, especially if the room being remodeled is their own. However, the majority will get bored, distracted and cranky rather quickly, making it hard for Mom and Dad to see what they have come to see or talk to the vendors. Consider hiring a babysitter for the day instead.

Exercise Caution

Vendors at a home show are usually paying the organizers to be there. They have not been vetted, their references have not been checked and their quality as a professional has not been questioned. All the organizers have done is cashed their check and allocated the contractors floor space.

However well you hit it off with a certain contractor, or however good the sales pitch they give you, never commit to anything on the spot. By all means exchange contact information so that after the show is over your project can be discussed further, after you have had time to do a little checking yourself.

One last hint – take sales pitches at any home show with a grain of salt. Like anything else in life, things that sound too good to be true usually are.

There are few things more distressing and disruptive to the average homeowner than the havoc that water damage can cause. Whether it is from flooding, natural or unnatural, or what seemed like just a small leak just a few days before, the chaos and destruction excess moisture can cause can be devastating.

Unfortunately, in many cases, there is more to dealing with water damage than locating the source of the water and getting out the wet/dry vac. The full extent of the damage from a leak is often not immediately visible; problems often lurk behind drywall and insulation or under the floors, so calling in a professional general contractor to access the damage as soon as possible is crucial.

The reasons for calling in a pro are twofold. Firstly, removing areas of drywall and other structural elements can potentially cause even more damage than the original flood, so it is not a job for an amateur, even one who is very DIY savvy. The second reason is your insurance claim.

The procedure for making a successful claim requires a great deal of documentation that must be accurately completed, which a general contractor can help you do. Many flood insurance policies even mandate that repair work must be carried out by a licensed professional for the claim to be considered.

There can sometimes be a silver lining to the whole nightmare that is a flood. You can take this as an opportunity to restore or completely revive the look of the affected area, or to upgrade electrics or plumbing work that have been temporarily exposed by the removal of drywall.

Deciding whether or not to hire a contractor to work on a home remodeling or home repair project can be a tough call for some people.

If someone  has some DIY experience they are often tempted to tackle a project that is slightly out of their depth to both save money and “gain experience”. However, before you get the power tools out and head to your local home store, there are several things to be considered before going it alone.

Planning Permits

If your project goes beyond a simple home repair to something a little more challenging, like adding or changing electrical circuitry or plumbing in a new kitchen sink, you will need to check with your local building office whether or not you need a permit to do the work.

Many projects that are considered “new” work do indeed require them and in some areas building codes actually require that certain work is undertaken by licensed professionals only in the interests of general public safety.

Insurance Coverage

If a professional makes a mistake while working on a remodeling job the insurance he carries will cover his cost to put it right. If you have a D.I.Y. disaster your own homeowner’s insurance policy may not be so happy to help. Many policies stipulate that certain work must be carried out by a licensed professional and not doing so may void your coverage altogether.

What Are The Risks

Replacing a worn gutter yourself may look relatively straight forward in that instruction book but how will you actually feel when you are balanced on top of a ladder trying to stay on it and get the job done at the same time?

Many a DIYer has discovered that painting the upper story of their home is far from the piece of cake they thought it would be. Some jobs are simply best left to the professionals to ensure your own safety, as well as that of your home.

Should you remodel to make your current home more suited to your needs or should you give up and move on and out?

It can be a tough decision to make but there are certain questions you should ask yourself and your family to make sure the choices you are making are the right ones for you.

• How much do you like the current location of your home?
• If you do like it, can you find comparable conditions elsewhere, even if it is just across town?
• How much will a move now disrupt the rest of your family?
• What would the consequences be of a move on your commute to work or the schools your children attend?
• How much will it cost to move? The costs associated with moving often turn out to be a lot higher than people expect. Real estate transactions aside, moving an entire household’s worth of stuff, even a short distance, is a big undertaking.
• What are you seeking to achieve if you decide to remodel?
• Would the end result even be something you could find elsewhere if you opted to move instead?
• How much would your planned remodel or renovation add to the actual value of your home?

Once you have answered some of these questions in your own mind you can begin to explore your options a little further. Spend a weekend looking at properties in the area you would consider moving to. This way you can see for yourself what is really available rather than forming an opinion from real estate ads on a website.

Then, if you are still undecided, or find yourself leaning towards remodeling instead of moving, obtain three (or more) bids on your proposed remodeling or renovation project. Contractors do not charge for estimates (except in a few very rare cases) so you really have nothing to lose by finding out how feasible your remodeling ideas are and how much it will cost to achieve them.

Another big consideration right now is the condition of the housing market in your area. With a huge stock of homes still sitting on the market it could be months (or worse) before your property sells and you can even think about moving on.

Some problems with a home cannot be fixed by remodeling. It is very hard to turn a one bedroom house into a home for four or five but, if an extra bedroom is all you need or the need for a second bathroom is your main problem, then those issues can be fairly easily addressed, either by repurposing an existing space (creating a bedroom suite by way of a basement renovation for instance) or by commissioning a full room addition.

In the end if the thought of leaving your current home and moving on versus remodeling is a difficult choice to make then there are obviously plenty of things you like about it. So, before you put up the For Sale sign, call in a contractor to see what you might be able to achieve with a remodel, so that you don’t end up making a choice you regret for years to come.

Many homeowners would be surprised by how much difference to their everyday life a few simple electrical upgrades to their home can make. In fact, even the newest of homes can often benefit from a little electrical attention. Here are some upgrades and additions well worth considering.

Appliances

With so many electrical kitchen gadgets on the market today most kitchens would benefit from the addition of an electrical outlet or two. If yours is an older kitchen a good electrician will also be able to check and make sure that your home’s current wiring system can handle the extra activity and easily make any necessary adjustments.

Central Lighting Stations

These days an electrician can install a handy central lighting station that lets homeowners control a number of different lights at the same time. Many of them can also be programmed so that with the touch of a button or two you can get a candle-like atmosphere in the dining room; soft, tranquil lighting in the living room; and brighter activity lighting in the kitchen, perfect for entertaining.

Outdoor Upgrades

Ever thought how convenient it would be to have an extra outlet or two outside? Or how nice it would be to have an automatic sprinkler system to save you hours with the hose – not to mention money on your water bill?

Home Audio Systems

Make better use of that fancy new home theater system you waited to get for so long by having an electrician install built in speakers throughout the house and even perhaps outdoors as well.

These are just a few of the electrical upgrades that can improve the day to day existence of everyone in your home. There are many more. Talk to a licensed electrician in your area about how your home’s electrics can be best upgraded.

Even when the economic climate is not so hot there are certain remodeling projects that are worth undertaking that are almost always recession proof.

Here are some of the top home remodeling projects you should be considering now, instead of waiting a few years for the economy to improve.

Replacement Siding

Your home’s painted exterior cracks and peels every year and calling in a painter to redo the exterior of your home has become an annual event. Or, your siding is old and really looks rather shabby but you have been trying to ignore that fact for a while. In both scenarios having new siding installed would be a perfect solution.

In addition, siding protects the materials beneath. Any remodeling expert can tell you that the better the siding is on your home, the longer these materials will last. Making the investment in new siding now will not only make your home look nicer but could save you a great deal of cash on expensive exterior repairs in the future.

Bathroom Upgrades

The bathroom is the busiest place in anyone’s house. Upgrading and remodeling even the smallest bathroom can make a huge change that any family big or small will appreciate. By getting rid of annoyances like an ugly, inefficient toilet, a chipped and cracked wash basin or a leaky showerhead, everyone’s day will start off just a little brighter.

Bathrooms also pack quite a punch when the time comes to put your home on the market and remodeling your bathroom, which recovers 78.3% of construction costs on average, could mean the difference between selling your home quickly or having it linger on unsold for months.

Flooring Upgrades

There have probably never been more great flooring options available than there are right now and the economic downturn has driven a lot of prices down significantly as well. If you have always hankered after a beautiful solid hardwood floor but always thought getting one would simply be an indulgence you could not afford, now is the ideal time to make that dream come true.

There are plenty of great deals around right now on all kinds of flooring options, even newer choices like cork and bamboo, and many installers are currently offering extra incentives to customers as well so that great new floor really will be a wise investment after all.

General Points to Remember

In a recession many home owners are tempted to live by that old adage “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

However, there are better mantras to live by, even in hard times.

“If it’s starting to break, fix it now.”

“If it’s working well, but it’s costing you a fortune to operate, get a better model.”

These are arguably newer, more relevant adages to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining the overall look, function and value of your home.

Any remodeling project can be a hassle occasionally, but the trouble is usually worth it in the end.

In a time when pre owned homes just aren’t selling like they used to it makes sense to take care of the one you have so that the family can all enjoy it now and its value can be preserved for possible resale down the line.