From the category archives:

home remodeling

Remodelers coping with slowdown

by admin on November 11, 2009

in home remodeling

Gazette says economy has hurt the remodeling business

by Chris Huntemann | Frederick Gazette

The recession and real estate slump have taken their toll on not only the homebuilding industry, but remodelers, too.

The number of residential remodeling jobs in Frederick County has fallen slightly this year from 2008, from 808 jobs to 765, according to a report by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development. The average remodeling industry salary in the county is $44,758.

Remodeling jobs overall, including commercial work, have fallen slightly in the county, from 10,951 jobs in 2008 to 10,936 this year, according to county data. Remodeling industry jobs statewide are down less than 1 percent from 2008, from 211,975 jobs in 2008 to 209,089 this year.

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Real Estate Live

Elizabeth Razzi

Washington Post Real Estate blogger and columnist
Friday, October 30, 2009; 1:00 PM

Post Real Estate columnist Elizabeth Razzi discussed the local housing market — from condos and investment properties to contracts and mortgages on Friday, October 30, at 1 p.m. ET.

Transcript Excerpts:

____________________

Elizabeth Razzi: Hi, everyone. Happy Halloween eve…which I guess would be the eve of all-hallows-eve, if you want to get particular about it. Let’s dig in.

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: Can you share some thoughts about “over improvement”? We plan to be in our recently-purchased 1980 townhouse for 5 to 7 years, and we’d like to remodel a bit (bathrooms, significant lighting upgrades) for our own comfort. But, our purchase price already was near the top of the range for our community because the seller had made major improvements, relative to the other houses. Unless there’s a rash of remodeling in the neighborhood, we expect our house to stay near the top of the range — although, looking at the market, the range itself may fall. What should we keep in mind as we start to budget for improvements?

Elizabeth Razzi: You’re wise to be concerned about over-improving. But 5-7 years is a long time to be squinting, if you find the lighting to be inadequate. I’d think you’d want to set your budget and prioritize your fixes. Maybe just replace the sinks and faucets in bathrooms, for example. Install new lighting only where it really counts–and search for cheaper alternatives at places like Ikea. I wouldn’t spend big dollars installing recessed lighting, for example. And don’t do anything trendy!

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: I received a solicitation from one of the local schools for a fundraiser. Problem is, the contact was one of the plaintiffs who sued against the Views at Clarendon project. I told the solicitor there was no way I was going to support the fundraiser, as the money spent on the lawsuit on both sides far dwarfed the money the fundraiser would raise. And THAT’S how you deal with NIMBYISM

Not In My Back Yard-ISM nimbyism [ˈnɪmbɪˌɪzəm] n or “the practice of objecting to something that will affect one or take place in one’s locality”

Elizabeth Razzi: Well, I’m sure that felt satisfying. But what about the kids at that school? I might look for another way to support the school–very deliberately bypassing that solicitor. If you want to rub it in, you might even ask him/her for someone ELSE you could contact.

_______________________

Maryland vs. Virginia: We live in D.C. and want to move to either Arlington County or Montgomery County next year, but don’t know much about either place. Both seem similar in terms of quality of schools. Housing costs seem similar. What other factors should we consider? Are there any huge pros or cons we may not know about for either one?

Elizabeth Razzi: I’ve always been intrigued by the Maryland vs. Virginia choice. Good for you for considering both. For some people, it’s a matter of politics. Maryland tends to be more liberal; Virginia tends to be more conservative. (Though Arlington and Alexandria can hardly be considered conservative-dominated.)The taxes are different. And the commute is different. Va. tends to be handier to federal office buildings; Maryland is handier for uptown offices. Why not just spend a few weekends in both and see which feels more comfortable? I’d love to hear from other chatters about how they made the Md/Va/DC decision.

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BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com

301 253-1068

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.
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Door Hardware To Increase Curb Appeal

by admin on November 5, 2009

in home remodeling

The very first step to generating an impression & making your dream home the perfect place to seek solace starts with the front door.

Door Hardware To Increase Curb Appeal
They all wish to have our dream home, but what they may not realize is that a dream home can be made with small changes in the details of our houses.

The front of your home speaks volumes about your style, taste, preferences for living, & depicts the person you are. The entry in to your house through which visitors are welcomed is also perceived as a gateway to your heart.

Choosing the right door hardware adds to your interior decor, enhances the curb appeal, creates a lovely first impression on welcoming guests, exudes sophistication in lifestyle & living & provides better security. Wow! All of that from a few pieces of well designed metal!

Knobs & push locks are available in the market which may make the decision making process a small overwhelming. On selecting knockers affixed along with knobs, you can add flare & grace to the regular door.

Appropriately selected door hardware grabs instant attention & adds more value to your home. There’s a myriad of products available in gold, silver, or bronze finishes.

Reasons to Get New Door Hardware

When it comes to door hardware, even choosing the right hinges does matter as they permit you to open & close with ease & without that dreadful screeching sound.

2. The other most important reason being the need for design that can generate wonders by adding grace to overall curb appeal of your home. You need the front of your house & your entryway to be maintained & stunning & strong.

1. The first two being security. Safety & security is a primary need of every human. Hence locks & tough equipment is needed for your front door. Strong hardware can be stunning .

Before choosing appropriate door hardware, there’s some important factors that need to be considered like:

1. The type of door you have (does it swing open or slide), the height, measurement of the knob & width, all play a vital role in the decision making process for purchasing new door hardware.

3. The door should not be difficult to open or handle. Attention should be paid to special needs for a round knob, a lever handle, or a traditional entry set with thumb press.

2. Look around for the latest trends & fittings in door hardware to accessorize your door.

4. Besides the handle & lock, there is so much you can do to dress up your front door: knocker with viewer, peephole with 160 & 180 degree, aluminum closer, chain guard with key, push plate, kick plate with screws, pull plate, ring bolts, beauty plates, spring & solid door stops, adapter plates, swing bar guards, spring loaded hinges, door fillers & knob guards. Whew! two or two of these can make your entry shine.

Door hardware is available in a variety of materials, styles & finishes. Understand the importance of door hardware & generate an everlasting impression on friends & relatives while you secure your home.

Dan and Tom Martin of BT Martin Contractors

301 253-1068

Maryland Home Remodeling  Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.

We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.

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How unlicensed contractors can cost you

by admin on November 5, 2009

in home remodeling

How unlicensed contractors can cost you
Published on September 1, 2009

by Daniel Simmons

It’s down to two. You’ve vetted a long list of contractors. Wheat has emerged from chaff. Now the final decision gets tough. Each appeals to you for different reasons. They’re almost identically qualified, with one difference: one’s licensed, the other isn’t.

FROM THE EDITOR
Homeowners care, but
don’t understand licensing

ANGIE’S STANCE
Angie’s List takes a harder line

ALL OVER THE MAP
Licensing laws across
the United States

MORE ON LICENSING
Unlicensed contractors
feel the sting of the law

Licensing issues
in major U.S. cities

Terms you should know

Tips for verifying
contractor licensing
Questions float through your head: What does it really mean to be licensed? Why are some contractors licensed and others not? And the ultimate question: Does it matter?

You’re not alone in your confusion. Contractors feel it, too. Licensing rules vary state to state. Most states require a license for at least a few home-improvement trades, some don’t. Some cities and counties require additional licenses, some don’t. Some states and municipalities strictly enforce their licensing laws, most don’t.

Once contractors think they’ve got the rules figured out for where they work, another unhappy epiphany dawns: not everyone — homeowners or contractors — knows the rules. And not everyone plays by the rules. Contractors pay a tidy sum to play by the rules, which makes it hard for them to compete against those who don’t. Homeowners can pay the price when they fail to distinguish between the two.

What follows are several stories about homeowners and contractors across the country negotiating the complicated world of trade licensing. In each you’ll see the complexities and frustrations encountered in a system that can be called many things, but definitely cannot be called simple.

Portland painter falls hard for licensing
Fifteen years ago, one of Eric Hernanz’ employees fell off a ladder. The fall resulted in a broken elbow and a sky-high medical bill — about $18,000. Hernanz, a Portland painter, was young and “borderline destitute,” but he had his Oregon contractor’s license, which requires workers’ compensation insurance. And his insurance paid the bill.

Photo by James Holk | State-licensed painter Eric Hernanz learned the value of having a license and proper insurance when one of his employees fell off a ladder.But what if he wasn’t licensed and didn’t have insurance? “My employee very well could have sued the homeowner for medical bills and lost wages since it happened on his property,” Hernanz says. “Unlicensed contractors put their own clients at risk if someone’s injured on the job.”

The incident illustrates why Hernanz still cares — really cares — about contractors being licensed. “Choosing to go with an unlicensed contractor is like a drug user choosing to perpetuate the drug dealing system,” he says. “I feel very strongly that there are moral and ethical implications, as well as tangible reasons, for being licensed.”

According to research compiled by Angie’s List Magazine, contractors must demonstrate proof of insurance as part of obtaining a trade license or registering in 39 states. Claire Wilkinson, vice president of global issues for the Insurance Information Institute, says the first thing a homeowner should do before hiring is ask for proof of a license and insurance.

Liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury caused by that contractor’s work. Homeowners should also make certain the contractor’s insurance policy includes workers’ compensation, which covers injuries the contractor’s employees may suffer while on the job, says Dean Herriges, vice president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. If a contractor doesn’t have these types of insurance, consumers could end up paying out of their own pocket if their homeowner’s policy is insufficient to cover the bills, Herriges says.

Bonding is also important, which is why many licensing and some registration boards require it as well. Bonds protect homeowners if the company performs shoddy work, doesn’t finish the project, or fails to pay subcontractors and suppliers.

The economy makes these assurances all the more important. There’s been a surge in unlicensed painters in the Portland area, Hernanz says, as contractors take financial shortcuts by not paying licensing and insurance fees. And he says the penalty if caught working without a license deters no one. “The fines are a slap on the wrist,” he says.

Oregon Construction Contractors Board Enforcement Manager Rich Blank responds that unlicensed contractors face increased fines for repeat offenses, and that the board will ultimately seek criminal charges if the first few sanctions don’t work.

In June alone, Hernanz bid four jobs against competitors he believes to be unlicensed. “A telltale sign is a too-good-to-be-true price,” he says. In those cases, Hernanz e-mails the customers, explaining the increased costs of being licensed. He encourages them to check with the state board to make sure the companies are properly licensed, bonded and insured. “I think it’s important they know the risks,” he says.

And he believes homeowners should be held criminally liable for knowingly hiring unlicensed contractors. “They’re contributing to fraud and cutting into the business of legitimate companies,” he says.

He knows it’s unlikely that punishing homeowners will fly politically. But it doesn’t dampen his resolve. “This isn’t how I want it to be,” he says.
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Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors
7130 Rock Creek Dr Frederick, MD 21702-3646

MHIC #83244 call (301) 253-1068

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13 Things Your Remodeler Wont Tell You

by admin on September 26, 2009

in home remodeling

With business down it may be the perfect time to indulge in some home improvement projects.

Read on for more secrets of home remodelers.

From Reader’s Digest

1. Business is down 16 percent. The good news for you: I’m returning calls and trimming prices.

2. High-end people will do smaller jobs we might have spurned a few years ago. Focus on projects that will keep your house market-ready, like upgrading a bathroom.

Custom Interior Painting in Chevy Chase MD

3. Triple-check financing before you start. You don’t want to run out of money to pay me because your lender decides to lower or eliminate your home equity line of credit. (And it can, at any time.)

4. Those of us who do new houses or commercial projects may not have great remodeling skills. Long track records count.

5. Look at work I’ve done in the past 12 months, on a budget similar to yours. (Older projects likely had bigger budgets and more expensive materials.)

6. Check me out: Any liens? Pending lawsuits? Do I have a valid state license? Do my subcontractors?

7. Test-drive me on a smaller project before you commit.

8. Do I have insurance? (Check directly with my insurance company. Those papers I waved in front of you may have expired years ago.)

9. Don’t over- improve—especially since home values are falling. Check out local trends in the “Cost vs. Value” report at remodeling.hw.net.

10. Spell everything out. Otherwise, I may not prime the walls before I paint or I may not build that closet shelf and put up that rod. Expect nothing that’s not in writing.

11. Ask if you’re getting a dedicated crew. If not, your project may drag on while I juggle multiple jobs. Tie the contract to deadlines for each phase.

12. Ditto for the brand and precise quality of the materials, appliances, and fixtures you are ordering. Don’t let us sub in materials of “equal or better quality” that aren’t.

13. Put “while you’re at it” projects on a separate list and ask me to give you separate estimates. Home improvement spending is projected to slide another 12 percent this year. I’ll likely have time—and be glad—to come back.

Sources: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies; Roger Peugeot, president of Roger the Plumber, Inc., Overland Park, KS; Collin Johnson, director of inspection services for the City of Glendale, WI; Bruce Case, president of Case Design/Remodeling, Inc., based in Bethesda, MD. Interviews by Joanne Cleaver.

From Reader’s Digest

 

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.

We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.
We understand… that the importance of maintaining a clean work environment. We make it a top priority
7130 Rock Creek Dr, Frederick, MD (301) 253-1068 ‎
Maryland Home Remodeling
by BT Martin Contractors
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Home Remodeling in a Recession – Would it Be Possible?

by admin on September 26, 2009

in home remodeling

These are truly tough financial times, and the boom days are now over for the US real estate industry. Today, many homeowners are having second thoughts on undertaking a home improvement activity, and are questioning whether if it’s worth the time and money that’s required. A home remodeling activity could still be done, however, as knowing which type of remodeling activity to invest in should help to make a major difference.

The positive side of remodeling your home during a recession is that, when it comes to major home remodeling aspects, renovating the bathroom, kitchen, and basement continues to serve as the main backbone of the remodeling industry and has only incurred minimal losses in recoup values, and has surprisingly maintained steady values in some cases. Home improvement analysts agree that simple improvements such as repairing the sliding door or replacing the windows lead the pack when it comes to rising recoup values.

Remodeling during a recession also has its share of negatives. As the housing market is on a slump, the pocketbooks of consumers have also gotten much thinner. With the recession serving as a gloomy backdrop, home remodeling projects have seen the largest drop in recoup values over the years. Two-story home additions for instance, have incurred a major drop in recoup values, by around 20% between 2002 and 2007. Among the other home remodeling projects that have lost value over the last five years include family room remodels, office remodels, and attic bedroom constructions.

Maryland Custom Painting for fine homes

While most studies have indicated that the overall value of home improvements have considerably dropped over the last five years, a number of projects have successfully held the recession at bay, and are steadily holding on their own. Housing analysts stress that the trick is in knowing which projects to steer clear from and spotting which ones are worth your trouble. While choosing the appropriate home remodeling job may be a wise move, it would even be smarter if homeowners see these tough times as an opportunity for negotiating affordable or even fairly-priced home remodeling deals. Who knows, these tough economic times may even provide you with much-lower home reconstruction deals?

Custom Interior Painting in Chevy Chase MD

Lizette Provence has been writing for almost four years now. She writes articles on home improvement, fitness and technology. Recently, she has launched a new website which features different Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners suitable for your home needs. You can visit her site at Vacuum Cleaner Bags for more useful information.

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. Maryland Home Remodeling for discriminating exclusive clientèle. Commercial and Residential Work

7130 Rock Creek Dr, Frederick, MD (301) 253-1068 ‎

Maryland Home Remodeling
by BT Martin Contractors
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