Home Contractor vs. Homeowner

If you're trying to decide on a renovation project, here's one way to make your decision: http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2009121701?OpenDocument&WT.cg_n=RMO&WT.cg_s=RSSDaily

Statistics keep supporting the fact that green construction is up, even though the construction industry has been hit hard by the economy. If you aren't learning about green construction, you should be. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2009/12/green-home-sector-booms-despite-housing-slump/1

Send me your residential renovation or new construction contracts (residential or commercial). After signing an engagement letter, I will review your contracts for free! If I don't find five things that might hurt your business, I will donate $50.00 to charity. If I do, you agree to donate $50.00 to charity. That's it. No strings attached. You do have to let me explain my recommendations to you; preferably in person.

In a previous post, I discussed why now is a good time to renovate. I pointed out that builders are not as busy and can devote more time to their projects, the economy has weeded out a number of "fly by night" contractors who were not truly dedicated to the profession and there have been sales on supplies and materials. One advantage that I did not mention, however, was the opportunity to ask builders to cut their prices. That's because I do not believe it's reasonable for owners to try to negotiate lower prices, and it's not good for the profession for builders to do so. Professional builders are usually quite realistic when preparing proposals for projects. I have met many contractors who proudly tell me that their jobs do not go over budget (barring unforeseen circumstances). They are usually quite clear about their markups and profit margins and accurate when determining allowances. They exemplify the adage that "you get what you pay for." Consider f...

I must admit, this question has been plaguing me as it pertains to Massachusetts. This issue applies to residential renovation only, but I know of many high-end contractors who use this method for their projects . Massachusetts law provides: Chapter 142A: Section 2. Residential contracting agreements; requirements Section 2. (a) Every agreement to perform residential contracting services in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars shall be in writing and shall include the following documents and information: (1) the complete agreement between the owner and the contractor and a clear description of any other documents which are or shall be incorporated into said agreement;... (4) a detailed description of the work to be done and the materials to be used in the performance of said contract; (5) the total amount agreed to be paid for the work to be performed under said contract; Given that a Time and Materials Contract does not have a price, I would argue that it violates the Home Im...

Here's a great guest post from Paul G. Cox, the Business Development Manager at Vigilant Woodworks on wine c ellars: If you have a growing collection of wine, it may be time to think about building a wine cellar or tasting/entertainment area in your home. Some time ago the custom wine room was unusual; today more and more wine lovers are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job properly. Wine cellars are more than a dark, cool place to stock a collection of wine bottles. Today’s custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to correctly age without damage to corks, labels or the wine itself. There are two styles of wine cellars . One is an area that has been particularly made to store wine in the correct environment and the other is a stand-alone system that duplicates those conditions. A stand-alone wine cellar is ...

Check out these solar roof panels that look like traditional roofing tiles: http://www.solarfeeds.com/energy-boom/8756-stylish-roof-solar-panels-are-coming.html

All of these tips are quite doable and environmentally friendly. http://www.managemyhome.com/mmh/authored/articles/5+Tips+for+the+Dog+Days+of+Summer?sid=twitter

An important post on preventing fire in your home: http://www.managemyhome.com/mmh/authored/articles/Preventing+Fire+in+Your+Home?sid=twitter This article provides a great public service.

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13108041 This is a great article for contractors and homeowners alike.

Why can't Massachusetts do this? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125064722656442071.html I know a contractor who has started a business doing energy audits and I am going to ask him to guest blog. Now we just need local loan programs to defray the costs of doing energy-saving retrofits. At the end of the day, the homeowner is saving money by improving the environment, the contractors are getting much-needed work, and everybody benefits.

I really like this post about the latest options in green products, because it points out that one should educate oneself before "jumping on the bandwagon" when choosing green materials. http://earth2tech.com/2009/08/13/top-5-misconceptions-about-home-energy-performance/#more-38989

Part of dealing with the difficult economy is considering whether it is time to focus on new areas of practice or developments in construction. This article by Leah Thayer suggests that retrofitting houses with energy efficient improvements can benefit both contractors and homeowners alike. In fact, I recently met a contractor who had started a new business doing energy audits and making recommendations. I have said frequently that one way to deal with the recession is to take the time to learn a new skill or work on a new area for your business. Energy saving measures seem full of opportunity. There are many rebates available for homeowners to implement them, so this can be a win-win for homeowner and contractor alike. http://www.remodeling.hw.net/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=lthayer_blog&PostId=88266

http://users.homepros.com/content/blog/656-3 An informative and useful post from HomePros.

Even as we worry about today, researchers, community planners, and pollsters are probing consumer demand to predict what they will want tomorrow and the definitive answer from those presenting their findings at the Pacific Coast Builders Show is something different. The current economic situation has triggered a shift in people’s values from an era of indulgence to one of responsibility, trend tracker J. Walker Smith of Yankelovich said Thursday morning. That translates to the home-buying consumer as a desire for homes that fit but don’t exceed space needs, are greener, and that are part of a community. It doesn’t mean that buyers are dour, though, he said. Instead, it means the opposite, because the more anxious we get about the economy, the more we look for the bright side of things, according to Smith. It’s up to home builders to tap into those traits to find a market. “They (builders) have got to be the the voice of optimism for consumers,” Smith said. Buyers are also looking for h...

From Tony Marnella's Blog at http://tonymarnella.wordpress.com/ . I wrote back in January about the behind the scenes inspections and testing that the green high performance homes get that many don’t know about or if they do, don’t appreciate the intensity of them. Since we continue to hear about Buyers wanting the “Best Deal” or the “Best Value”, it occurred to me that the Value of these homes is also not being realized. For instance, 100% of the homes we build here at Marnella Homes are built to the Earth Advantage/Energy Star “Gold” level. Our homes are extremely well sealed and with blow-in insulation achieve a very low leakage rating. Also, with our 95%+ HVAC systems, fully sealed ducting and all inside the home in conditioned space. Our home owners save on average $40 – $50 a month in our 1400 – 1600 sqft homes over a similiar sized code built home. Home owners have been sold over the years all the features that builders put in and are told how great they are and sometimes ev...

Here's a fun, new site for renovation ideas and information: http://renovationjunky.com/

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/green-products/readers-top-requested-products-shine-spotlight-on-green.aspx

I have gotten numerous calls over the last few weeks from homeowners whose contractors have run out of money. Either the contractors tell the homeowners that they are unable to continue, or warning signs occur. The contractor starts asking for payments ahead of the work, he presses you to sign new contracts or change orders for additional work, subcontractors start to complain that they aren't being paid, or he just disappears. The homeowners are frantic and they ask me what to do. The contractor hasn't quit, but they are stuck. First of all, I would recommend confronting your contractor and asking flat out if he or she is having cash flow issues. Contractors frequently apply funds to previous job, subs or suppliers, and in this economy, they are getting caught short. If the contractor is honest and tells you the truth, it may be worth your while to advance some money to the contractor or pay extra and ask for some extras. It may save you money and aggravation to pay your...

This was in yesterday's Boston Globe: SUN FOR RENT Boston Globe It's an old energy problem with a new solution: After decades of facing prohibitively high costs to install solar panels, Massachusetts residents will be able to lease the panels for a tiny fraction of their upfront cost. Beth Daley May 24, 2009 --> Sun for rent State hopes affordable leases will make panels an electricity option for more homeowners By Beth Daley, Globe Staff May 24, 2009 It's an old energy problem with a new solution: After decades of facing prohibitively high costs to install solar panels, Massachusetts residents will be able to lease the panels for a tiny fraction of their upfront cost. Instead of paying $25,000 or more to buy solar panels, homeowners will have to shell out only about $1,000 to install the energy collecting devices on roofs. The companies involved in the leases say most homeowners will be able to recoup the initial cost within seven years through electricity savings - an...