Maryland Home Remodeling » Maryland home improvements

Remodelers coping with slowdown

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:56:50 +0000

Reading time: 4 – 7 minutes

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.

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:

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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.

MHIC Licenced Contractors

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

Make Sure You Hire MHIC Licensed Contractors

The State of Maryland regulates Home Improvement Contractors. The agency in charge of this is the Maryland Home Improvement Commission or MHIC.

It is a criminal offense to do home improvements without a license and there is no protection from the Guaranty Fund for the homeowner who uses an unlicensed contractor

From the Official Maryland MHIC website:

TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Request references from prospective contractor-check them!
If the contractor is providing lead paint abatement services, see if the contractor is accredited to do this work. Call 410-537-3825.
Get a copy of the contractor’s current liability insurance certificate.
Always get a written contract.
Pay no more than 1/3 of the contract price as down payment.
If a building permit is needed, ask to see it before work starts.

If the last contractor you hired did not do what they said they were going to do you may file a complaint with MHIC here.

To protect homeowners the MHIC has a Guarantee Fund to compensate for monetary losses which arise from poor workmanship or failure to perform the work specified in a contract, but this fund only applies to contracts with licensed contractors.
Certain home improvement work requires a building permit issued by your local Permit and Inspections Office. Failure to obtain necessary permits may result in your job being shut down by local building inspectors. Licensed contractors are familiar with these permits and obtain them regularly.

“The home improvement commission is getting fewer complaints about the use of unlicensed contractors than it used to,” said Sy Goldstein, MHIC Chairman. “In part, the association (MICA) has contributed to helping bring this about.”

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors is a MHIC Licensed Contractor

Fresh Ideas For Painting the Exterior of Your Home
By Chelsi Woolz

When you want to change the entire look of your home quickly and inexpensively, changing your exterior paint colours is arguably the most dramatic and least expensive way to achieve impressive, powerful and immediately measurable results.
A well conceived exterior paint scheme can immediately add freshness, value, neighbourhood interest, and marketability to your home. And a fresh coat of exterior paint immediately projects an image of a competent, proud homeowner who takes good care of his or her home.
And the colour palette you select can immediately change the mood of your home, as well, projecting any identity from casual beachside cottage to classic, elegant villa. Accentuate details or make them fade into the background.

• Highlight architectural details like windows, door, and unique trim with complementary and attractive colour combinations drawing on natural tones, like fresh pair and deep, cool topiary green.
• Add a touch of luxurious sophistication with a combination of the deep, warm chocolate of New Look Grounded and its paler counterpart, New Look Element.
• The pale, buttery cream of New Look Georgian combined with the subtle but persuasive blue green New Look Providence tone give the impression of sheer dignified class.
• Get in a Tuscan mood with the casual and relaxed elegance of warm, golden New Look Icon paired with the cool freshness of New Look Topiary.
• Cool, clear, contemporary lines are accented with the subtle yet striking combination of deep and moody New Look Provence, fresh New Look Metro, and the calming coolness of New Look Element.
• Give your home a personality makeover, with the garden inspired New Look Leaf, combined with the informal, beachy combination of sand tones like New Look Georgian and New Look Element, enhanced with the watery coolness of New Look Provence.
• Evoke the romantic mood of the traditional French provincial style when you use the warm yellow tones of New Look Icon complemented by the sky-blue clarity of New Look Provence.
• For a subtle but undeniably striking change, try highlighting trim in a shade closely linked to the rest of the home. A combination of warm neutrals, like New Look Georgian and New Look Element, are ideal for this look.
• To achieve a warm Mediterranean flair to your home’s exterior, try pairing a wall colour of neutral yet warm New Look Stillness with the oxidized copper accents of New Look Metro on trim and window surrounds.
• Make your home as inviting as a sylvan pond with a watery cool palette, that combines walls of silvery New Look Stillness with the calming forest shade of New Look Provence. Add New Look Metro’s hint of playful azure as the perfect colour to accent the front door.

Use a splash of paint for your house’s exterior as a great way of giving it a new lease of life. A great place to look for suitable exterior house paint is your local Paint Place store where you’ll find the paint supplies and specialist paint advice you need.

7130 Rock Creek Dr

Frederick, MD 21702-3646

(301) 253-1068

Maryland Custom Home Remodeling

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.

Home Remodeling in a Recession – Would it Be Possible?

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

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.

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?

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 ‎