The relationship between a remodeling contractor, his or her crew and the homeowners whose property they are working on has to be a good one if the project is to really proceed as smoothly as planned.

That this relationship is at least courteous and respectful on both sides is even more important if your home remodeling project is slated to take six months instead of six days. Here are some tips for developing a good rapport with your remodeling contractors.

Give Your Remodelers Room

Many homeowners fall into the habit of questioning almost everything their remodeling contractor and his crew does, simply because they are paying them and the boss/employee scenario is easy to slip into.

Sure, these folks are indeed getting paid to be in your home, but that doesn’t mean a little respect won’t make a huge difference. You wouldn’t stand behind Leonardo da Vinci and tell him how to adjust his brushstrokes would you?

The same is true for the way you treat your remodelers. If you knew how to do this stuff you would be a remodeling contractor yourself but, as you are not, please give your remodeling crew the space to get on with their job.

Setting the House Rules

No one is saying that remodeling projects are all about the homeowner pleasing the contractor in order to ensure they do their best work. It is still your house and you have your rules and your contractor will understand that.Simply make sure that you lay down those rules clearly at the beginning of the project. Unless you tell them your remodelers have no way of knowing what is and is not acceptable in your home.

Home Access

Your remodeling crew are likely to be at your home all day, every day, and unless it is a large construction site and they have arranged for their own Port-a-Potty the fact is when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Any remodeling crew will appreciate it if you let them use your facilities rather than having to go to the gas station down the road. If you are worried about the mess lay out some towels that you don’t mind getting dirty for workers to dry their hands on and keep the bathroom stocked with soap and other essentials.

If you have the room perhaps you could also allow the workers to eat their lunches in a space in your house rather than sitting out in their cars in the rain. You can be assured that the crew will appreciate these small gestures and will also be able to work more efficiently when bathroom breaks don’t mean a 10 minute car ride away from the site or a soggy sandwich in the rain.

Little Extras

While certainly not a requirement, many homeowners have reaped plenty of benefits by going the extra mile for their remodeling crew. Simple gestures like a pot of coffee in the morning or a couple of pizzas at the end of the work week.

Who wouldn’t be appreciative of those kinds of small tokens of thanks? And while you’re enjoying a slice with the guys, it will give you a chance to get to know them a little better.

Likewise, now they know who they are working for, who they are letting down when mistakes are made or deadlines missed. They are far less likely to allow those kinds of things to happen in the first place if they know that the homeowners they are working for appreciate their hard work.

The nights are drawing in, the temperatures are dropping and you are bracing yourself for the jump in the amount you pay in energy bills.

Many homeowners are completely unaware that even the smallest of tweaks around the house can make a big difference to the amount of energy used in their household over the winter months. Implementing even just one or two of the money saving tips detailed below could save you far more than you think.

Order an Energy Audit

A professional energy audit involves inviting a qualified individual into your home to thoroughly examine it for signs of unintentional energy loss or waste. They will then advise you on the steps that need to be taken to make your home more energy efficient.

This year, many local community authorities are teaming up with energy auditing professionals to provide discounted services to homeowners. Call your local town hall to find out if such a scheme is on offer in your area.

Order a Checkup

If you have not done so yet call your HVAC company today to schedule an annual checkup of your heating system. Too many people leave this task until the snow starts falling – and then are surprised to find that by the time they do remember to call in mid December the company is simply too busy with winter heat emergencies to fit them in for weeks.

Make the Most of Winter Sunshine

In many areas of the country even when it is cold outside the sun shines as brightly as it does in the summer. On days like this open all your drapes and blinds because the winter sunshine will provide some warmth through the windows.

Change Your Family’s Habits

Wear a sweater or buy one of those Snuggies you see on TV instead of cranking up the thermostat an extra notch. Switch the ceiling fans in your home to reverse to circulate warm air throughout the house.

Turn the heat right down in rooms you rarely use and do not leave it blasting out while everyone is at work or school. If you are worried about coming home to a chilly house then have a programmable thermostat installed and set it to begin heating your home about 30 minutes before everyone is due home.

You know how a sunny day makes you feel a little brighter even on a bad day? It makes a lot of sense, therefore, to look for ways to introduce more natural light into your home when planning a home remodeling project.

Most home remodeling experts agree the more natural light that can be introduced into a home the better. But what is the best way to go about doing so?

• Have windows installed in less obvious places. If you have an outside bathroom wall that is solid right now, have an attractive window added as a part of your bathroom remodel to add extra natural light and open up even the smallest of spaces. For privacy order frosted or opaque glass though. Some home remodeling contractors have even installed windows in shower areas bringing light flooding into a traditionally darker area.
• Give today’s new generation of skylights a try. The skylights available right now are sleek, leak proof and can be installed by a professional in a very short time. Some of the higher end skylights can be placed as high up in your home as you desire, as they can be controlled by remote control from the floor below.  Some models also feature built in blinds that can be activated whenever the sun becomes too bright or, although it actually looks very cool, a full moon is keeping the household awake as moonbeams flood the house.
• Sun tubes are a green alternative to skylights that can be installed easily in even the smallest of spaces. A well placed sun tube can bring natural light flooding into a cramped bathroom or dark hallway and make a real difference to the whole feel of a room. Many people prefer sun tubes to skylights in the bathroom because they bring natural light into the room without compromising anyone’s privacy.
• Replace a solid front door with one that features windows of some kind. To maintain privacy, opt for etched or translucent glass that will let the sun in without affording prying eyes a sneak peek of your home. If sidelight windows are not quite your thing look for entrance doors that feature decorative transoms instead.
• Reclaim your dark basement or attic with the addition of new windows to light up the space. Once you can actually see what you are doing you may find yourself inspired to put those huge amounts of unused square footage to better use by commissioning a basement or attic remodel. Once again, skylights and sun tubes are another great alternative, especially in the attic where energy loss is likely to be more of a concern.

These are just a few of the ways you can add light to your home, a good remodeling contractor and/or architect will be happy to suggest many more based upon the unique features and design make up of your home.

If you are concerned that adding more windows to your home will increase your energy bill, fear not; today’s replacement windows are more energy efficient than ever and by bringing more natural light into the house the amount of artificial electric light you have to pay for should decrease significantly.

Sometimes when you begin speaking to general contractors about your home remodeling project they seem to start talking a completely different language. What the heck is a floating floor when you simply want new floors for your kitchen?

To help you communicate a little better with your remodeling contractor here is a simple glossary of some of the more commonly used remodeling terms that might be making little sense to you.

Flooring Terms

Floating Floor

A flooring material that can be easily laid on top of an existing floor and does not need to be nailed down. One of the most popular materials that can be installed in this way is laminate.

Prefinished Floors

Contractors usually apply this term to hardwood flooring. The hardwood planks are finished in factory rather than onsite, making installation far quicker.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is real hardwood just created in a very different way to traditional hardwood flooring planks. Engineered hardwood flooring is created by binding together wooden particles, fibers, strands or veneers with certain adhesives to form a composite material that looks exactly like “regular” hardwood but is often considered to be more resilient.

Subfloors

Plywood or other planks that are laid over joists before new flooring is laid. A floating floor (remember that one?) does not need a subfloor though, one of its main advantages.

Frieze

A type of carpet fiber that is tightly twisted to give the carpet a textured appearance and help it stand up to a large amount of foot traffic.

Window Terms

Jamb

The molding around a window frame. The “side jamb” is vertical while the “head jamb” is horizontal.

Lite

A pane of glass inside a window frame. Contractors will often use this term to describe how many panes a certain model of window has – i.e. a 12-lite colonial window.

Mullion

The vertical strip of wood that separates side-by-side windows. 

Sash

The parts of the window that actually hold the glass in place.

Miscellaneous Home Improvement Terms

Integral Sink

A sink that is crafted from the same material as the countertop to create one continuous flowing surface.

Paver Tile

A ceramic or porcelain tile that is larger than six square inches

Retrofit

Upgrading a pre-existing structure with new parts

Sconce

A form of lighting that is attached to walls

Substrate

Any surface to which a paint, stain or sealant is applied.

Shim

A rather thin piece of wood that is used during countertop installation to ensure that everything is going in level.

Tongue and Groove

A way of connecting construction materials – usually wood – in which the shaped tongue of one board or plank is easily placed into the groove on the board in front of it, making for a seamless installation.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Chemicals that evaporate from both manufactured and organic building and remodeling materials that are believed to be hazardous to human health.

Wood Shakes

Rough, uneven shingles that can be used as a siding material

These are just a few of the terms that your remodeling contractor will use that may confuse you. Good communication between homeowner and contractor is essential if any remodeling project is to be completed successfully. So if you are confused about anything that you are hearing while discussing your remodeling project, don’t be afraid to interrupt his or her train of thought for a moment and ask them to explain it in layman’s terms.

You have spent months driving round and around, chasing a dream and tailing a series of increasingly frustrated real estate brokers and still none of the dozens of houses they have shown you have really thrilled you at all.

Based on past experience, you have very definite ideas about exactly what you want your new home to be, all the features it needs to have. So far none of those many properties has matched even half the “must haves” on your list.

You are about to give up, mainly because your real estate brokers have stopped taking your calls and seems to have advised quite a few of their colleagues to do the same. Maybe, then, it is time you started thinking about a custom built home.

A custom built home gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your new home has been tailor-made to meet your needs, desires and lifestyle. In short, building a new home means that you get to create your dream home. And, although it may not be the most economical option, as long as you work with the right build and design team it will definitely be the most satisfying.

There are a lot of home builders out there, but not all of them are truly custom home builders. Some home builders are what are known as production home builders. How do you tell the difference?

Custom home builders generally:

• Build on land you, the soon to be homeowner, purchase. Some custom builders will also build on land they own.
• Build only one-of-a-kind houses. A custom home is a site-specific home built from a unique set of plans for a specific client. Some custom builders may offer design/build services.
• Build single-family homes.
• Are generally small-volume builders (those that build 25 or fewer homes a year).
• Tend to build higher end homes.

Production home builders on the other hand:

• Build on land they own and sell to the homeowner.
• Tend to use stock plans, but do offer a variety of plan choices and options. A semi customization if you will.
• Build all different types of housing — single-family, condos, town houses and rental properties.
• Are large-volume builders (those that build more than 25 homes a year).
• Generally build for a number of different price points — entry level, move up, luxury, etc.

If you had never thought about these two different types of “custom” home before now is the time. A truly custom built home is always going to cost more. So you may want to look at some of the plans that local production builders offer – they may be able to make just enough tweaks and changes to satisfy you, and the final price tag will almost definitely be lower.

However, if you want to truly be able to dictate the exact size of your guest bathroom to the inch and the layout of your brand new kitchen to the minutest of details then a custom built home is the only way you are going to get to achieve your dream.

Just like car insurance is mandatory if you drive a vehicle in the USA,  if you own a home that still has a mortgage attached to it homeowner’s insurance is as well. It may seem like an expensive extra you could live without but there are plenty of good reasons it exists. Before you buy any homeowner’s insurance though it is crucial that you know what you are getting and when you might need to adjust your coverage levels in the future.

Like any other insurance policy, not all homeowners’ insurance policies are created equal. There are those insurance companies that provide better coverage, and some homes (and their contents) are just worth more than others.

Your mortgage broker will very likely be able to advise you how much homeowner’s insurance you should carry based on the basic construction and value of your home but it will be up to you to make a decision about its contents.

For instance, the average homeowner’s insurance policy will provide up to about $2,500 worth of coverage for electronics and computers. Great if you are single but as many family homes boast more than one computer these days, not to mention some pretty expensive entertainment and gaming gadgets that amount would be woefully inadequate in the event that disaster struck. Ensure that the policy is crafted to your needs and your home, not to some national average that may have been calculated a decade ago.

When homeowners take on a home improvement project of any size, from a new electrical and wiring upgrade to a full blown home addition about the last thing they are thinking about is how this affects their homeowner’s insurance policy. Instead they are obsessed with builders, contractors and finding new shiny things to further enhance their remodeled home.

The fact is though if you are spending a nice chunk of change on a remodel or renovation that enhancement to your home needs to be insured. Any home improvement that alters the value of your home should be covered by your home owners insurance.

You should do this as soon as possible, as unfortunately disaster can strike at any time and to find that your brand new kitchen extension will not be covered under a claim because you forgot to call that nice Mr. Jones at the insurance company to tell him about it is something no one wants to hear.

One of the biggest complaints about the most commonly built style American home – the ranch – is that it is quite simply rather boring. In their most basic form the single story ranch can be a little dull. Four walls, a roof , rather plain, not many bells and whistles architecturally speaking. Even those with a second story are not always something worth writing home about.

That does not mean you are condemned to living in a nice but plain house. They are plenty of remodeling tweaks – some big, some small – that can add a little of that “wow” factor to your ranch home.

Landscaping

Nothing livens up the exterior of a ho-hum house as well as a departure from the featureless (if well manicured) lawn into a landscaping project that is a little more adventurous. Think winding paths, flower beads, exotic shrubberies, even water features. Enlist the aid and expertise of great landscaping professional and your ranch home could be the breakout star of the block in no time.

Siding

Most ranch homes have vinyl siding and, in many cases, rather boring, drab siding at that. There is nothing wrong with vinyl siding but why not upgrade to give the exterior of your home a lift?  Just changing this single design feature can make a huge difference when it comes to remodeling ranch style homes.

Aluminum or concrete siding gives you the opportunity to spice things up a bit with a daring paint job and cedar shingles or faux stone will make it look like a different house altogether. Even the simple addition of small stone or brick accents for chimneys or bump-outs can add a nice texture.

Decks, Porches and Patios

Because ranch homes are generally built to be economical and affordable these outdoor features are often omitted or, if they are there, are very basic. By hiring a skilled deck builder or patio designer to help you create something extraordinary you get more enjoyment out of your home as well as enhance its aesthetic appeal.

Windows

Many homeowners underestimate the impact new windows can have on both the home’s exterior appearance and their energy bills. In general larger windows are better in design terms as they let in more light.

One of the most important things you can do when remodeling a ranch style home  is to add texture to the uniform exterior. Bay windows are a great way to do that, but also don’t overlook picture windows which can be equally as attractive and effective.

Radical Remodels

If you have a little bit of money saved up that can be put to good use undertaking a more extensive remodeling job on your ranch home our advice is go for it, so long as you find a good, reliable general contractor to manage and execute the project.

If yours is single story ranch, adding a second level is a possibility well worth considering. Gabled dormers for the newly created upstairs bedrooms add a lot more of that “exterior texture” we were talking about earlier and a nice covered entry way can add a little extra something to your front door area as well.