On the recent episode of 'Christina on the Coast' that aired on Thursday, August 13, Christina Anstead was seen helping out her good friend, Cara, and her husband, Chris, remodel their bathroom and their main bedroom. Aesthetically, the couple's vision for their house didn't match with what she had in mind for the remodeling process and there were unexpected costs that kept cropping up. The onus was now on Christina to take all of it in her stride and renovate the space in a way that she could bring joy to her friend and her family's lives.

Cara's career as a nutritionist depended a lot on the health and wellness videos that she recorded from the confines of her bedroom. She was in dire need of a renovation that would help bring additional natural lighting to her filming space. She could also use a better backdrop for her videos and these were one of the few points that she brought up to Christina as requisites from her end. Chris didn't demand too much from the remodeling initially and was happy if the house exuded the look and style of a modern farmhouse and if Christina could incorporate more natural wood around the house during the remodeling. Later on, the couple and Christina move to the bathroom to see the changes that were required there. Their bathroom was untouched since they moved into the house. No renovations were ever made to that space and it was one of the most ignored areas of the house. The shower lever handle was held together by a screwdriver and that was proof enough that the area could use a pick-me-up and Chris expressed that he was looking forward to an improved shower situation in the bathroom. Cara, on the other hand, listed a bench in the shower as her requirement and joked that she needs it to make her life easier as shaving in the shower was getting difficult in her 30s.

Christina took all of their requirements into consideration and began work on their house with star contractor Israel "Izzy" Battres. Shortly after he began work in the bathroom, Battres discovered that the couple's house was susceptible to mold as their bathroom wall was wet from the inside as the waterproofing had gone bust. This directly affected the couple's budget that was initially set at $55K and they had to amp it up by another $10K. However, that was one of the only major challenges that were a part of this renovation and the rest of the remodeling progressed smoothly. Izzy and Christina managed to completely jazz up Chris and Cara's house and the new and improved space was worth every penny and every day that the couple had to spend away from their home during the process.

You can catch the re-run of this episode at 12 am ET on Friday, August 14. 'Christina on the Coast' airs Thursday nights at 9 pm ET only on HGTV.

Go here to see the original:
'Christina on the Coast': Christina helps friend Cara and her husband remodel their main bedroom and bath - MEAWW

LINCKLAEN, N.Y. In 2002, Ronald and Ruth Luchsinger were looking at farms in Madison County.

Not having much luck, they drove a little further south, crossing into Chenango County. Finally, while reaching the top of a hill near Lincklaen, Ronald found exactly what he wanted.

This is the place! he remembered shouting.

Nestled quietly in 123 acres of Central New York farmland was an 1885 farmhouse that had seen better days.

It was such a nice setting, vacant and unaltered, Luchsinger said.

But the farmhouse was not so good.

Cosmetically, it was trashed, he says, laughing. It was bad.

He tells a story that he celebrated his 50th birthday on the day he and his wife closed on the property. They hosted a few friends there and one told him straight out, You bought this!

But Luchsinger was undaunted. In fact, with a personal passion for carpentry and remodeling, he looked forward to the challenge.

I enjoy taking something old that does not look too good and make it look like it should, he explains.

Like it should meant creating a nostalgic feeling of yesteryear.

Our goal was to make it look like grandma and grandpas house, he said.

Over four winters, they gutted everything, reconfigured rooms and replaced the homes roof, windows, and siding.

Now, he says those skeptical friends of his, cant believe it!

Inside they kept the traditional feel of a 19th century Central New York, with original trim and wainscoting. Modern amenities like internet and new kitchen appliances were also added.

It has been a labor of love, Luchsinger admits.

The property has great potential as an agribusiness.

Ronald and Ruth use the three-bedroom upstairs bedroom as a bed and breakfast and house more guests in the top floor of an 1864-era barn he found in Tully, which he moved to Lincklaen, piece by piece.

They are booked solid for most of the summer.

The Lodge, as it is called, can accommodate six people. It is heated, has air-conditioning, and has guests until the cold weather arrives.

He believes an enterprising owner can transform the property, which has 7,000 feet of road frontage, into a brewery, apple orchard, campground, Airbnb, vineyard, farm-to-table restaurant, or wedding venue. For nature lovers the property borders Lincklaen State Forest and Mariposa State Forest.

(The man-made spring-fed swimming pond on the grounds has hosted three baptisms.)

After 18 years, the couple have decided to take on a new project, rebuilding another property near Tully.

I have run out of projects here! Luchsinger says laughing.

An open house is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m.

THE DETAILS

Address: 312 Springer Road, DeRuyter, N.Y. 13052

Price: $569,000

Size: 2,064 square feet

Acreage: 123 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $1,985 (based on this week's national average rate of 3.27 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $3,323

Built: 1885

School District: DeRuyter

Kitchen: Listing says that the new Country Style kitchen will bring back memories of Grandmas house. The motif of the space mirrors the rest of the farmhouse. Traditional trim was maintained, as were the old-style Hoosier cabinets. Exposed ceiling is seen. Owner calls the kitchen very handy to work in. Kitchen features new modern appliances.

Living areas: Home underwent a four-year remodel between 2003 and 2006. New windows were added, and owner says that 90 percent of the property can be seen from somewhere inside the house. Visitors arrive in an inviting front foyer or in a back mudroom, which is very convenient if you were out working or playing outside. Home features an open-floor plan on the first floor. The kitchen, dining area and living room make for one large space. There is a den or library with access via double doors.

Bedrooms: The master bedroom is on the first floor. The room is quite spacious and features a double door closet. The three bedrooms upstairs are currently being used a bed and breakfast.

Bathrooms: There are two-and-a-half bathrooms in the house. The first-floor half-bath is just off the mudroom. The master bathroom has a shower unit and is home to the houses laundry room, which the owner considers very convenient for farm life. There is another full bathroom upstairs.

The Lodge: The Lodge is guest accommodations built inside an 1864 Tully barn. It can sleep six people. It maintains its old-fashioned feel with exposed beams and kitchenette. The space is insulated, heated, and has air-conditioning. It is open during the warm months.

Outdoors: The 123-acre farm was chosen because of its spectacular views. The back patio is a favorite. There is always a cool breeze there. Besides the farmhouse and Lodge, the property features a workshop, two-car garage, wetland pond, five-stall horse barn with tack room, seven paddocks with high tensile wire fencing, and a private campground. Owner dug out his own spring-fed swimming pond with a dock six years ago. It is ten-and-a-half feet deep and has seen a lot of action during this warm summer. It has also hosted three baptisms. The farm is bordered by Lincklaen and Mariposa State Forests and there are 33 miles of seasonal roads for outdoor recreation. Property has enormous potential as an agribusiness.

Agent: Theresa Billy / The Karim Team

CENTURY 21 Arquette Properties

Address: 104 Salt Springs Road, Fayetteville, N.Y. 13066

Phone: (315) 663-8390

Email: thekarimteam@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thekarimteam.com

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

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House of the Week: Remodeled 1885 farmhouse in Lincklaen evokes feeling of visiting Grandmas house - syracuse.com

ROCHESTER, N.Y. More people, of all ages, are working from home in the age of COVID-19. Local architects and designers are getting calls on how to accommodate that. Theres a demand in the market for home offices, repurposed lower levels, bonus rooms and even home gyms.

People working from home have either been working at kitchen table, or makeshift office, and now theyre getting into actually remodeling a room, said Melanie Portland, Director of Marketing for Inde Designs. She said more college kids are returning home, as well as adult children, which calls for bathroom and bedrooms in the basement, or lower levels.

More and more companies are not having employees come back to the office, and this is going to be a more permanent solution, working from home, said Chris Keil, Vice President of Greater Living Architecture. Keil said there was originally a trend of clients wanting to downsize their home, pre-virus. Now, they want to re-purpose it, or add bonus rooms above their garage.

Architects and designers are saying the demand for supplies has gone way up, increasing construction costs. The services also came to a halt when COVID-19 hit, and architects had to work remotely with clients for conferencing.

Manufacturers, lumber yards, steel manufacturers, were all shut down for a number of months (when COVID-19 hit), said Joseph ODonnell, President of Greater Living Architecture.

Kitchens, sinks, flooring, lighting, everything really came to a screeching halt, now theres a very, very tough supply for those items, said ODonnell.

He said its hard to know what the future holds in terms of a second wave, and how that would affect their business if schools had to close again. But all they can do, is prepare for anything.

Were kind of a wait and see right now, said ODonnell. The idea of re-purposing a space for home-schooling is something on his radar, and something hes already received calls on. He said the at-home learning experience consists of educational, social and physical components.

Kids arent socializing with peers at home, theyre with their parents and siblings and not getting a social experience. What weve seen people consider is creating small group learning in a neighborhood [pods], where kids can go to house one day a week to safely be with friends and have that social interaction, said ODonnell.

In addition to accommodating children, Keil said its common that two spouses are working from home, requiring not just one home office, but two. Home offices have been part of plan for some time now, but now two home offices are in demand. People need their own spaces, its hard to share space on conference calls and stuff, he said.

Keil said if you are looking to add a space to your house, a permit is required. He said youd have to work with designers to come up with a plan, and youd also have to meet with a contractor. Drawings would have to be submitted to your town for approval.

Continued here:
Re-purposing the home in the age of COVID-19: offices, gyms, bonus rooms - RochesterFirst

To many, RV living doesnt exactly scream "glam." But Cortni Armstrong is changing that perception one ugly RV at a time, with the help of her mom and business partner Patti Armstrong. Theyre the mother-daughter duo behind The Flipping Nomada RV renovation business thats essentially the Chip and Joanna Gianes of RV remodelingand one look at the interiors of their RV renos will make you want to ditch your stationary residence and move in immediately.

The Flipping Nomad was born out of a dark period in Cortnis life: About six years ago, she had to take over her fathers two businesses after he had a stroke. They werent doing well, and there was hardly enough money to pay herself. At the same time, Cortini's lease renewal was coming up on a house she shared with three roommates. She discovered her roommates had made other housing plans that didnt involve her. Left hanging, she turned to a family friend who managed a campground. He said there was a fifth wheel for sale. The owner would finance it, and all she would have to do is pay for the RV. The electricity, internet, and other expenses would be covered if she took a job at the front desk. She agreed and moved in three days later.

I felt borderline homeless, and I was really embarrassed about it, Cortni tells House Beautiful. I was in my mid-20s at the time and a recent college grad, so all of my college friends are in their careers and buying houses and cars, and here I am in this trailer park.

A year into RV living, her perspective shifted. She loved the genuine people she met and how freeing it was to only live in 350 square feet sans clutter. I started falling in love with the lifestyle but wanted a rig that was laid out a little bit different, she says. She obsessively searched for something that was appropriate for a mid-20s bachelorette pad but realized what she wanted didnt exist. So she found a rig with the floor plan she wanted and decided to renovate it herself.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

I kept coming back to my buying experience and thought maybe other people don't like these interiors too, and there's business to be had here, Cortni says.

At first, Cortni was buying RVs, cleaning them super well, and then selling them. When she combined that with renovating, she did custom renovationseven taking on RVs people had already owned. Her mom joined the business about two and a half years ago when she also decided to move into an RV herself. Together, they buy RVs, renovate them, and sell them out of a shop they own on 66 acres of land in Emmett, Idaho. The shop is big enough to fit three RVs with plenty of room to park other rigs outside. They typically keep their own RVs on the land, too.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

The duo now focuses exclusively on designing RVs. We figured out that to do customization work it takes us about 50 percent longer than it does to buy it, renovate it, and sell it as is, Cortni says. I know it sounds counterintuitive but in an effort to service more clients, we stopped servicing clients.

Before Cortni and Patti ever buy an RV, they do a field inspection on it that involves getting up on the roof, checking for signs of water damage, the age of the tires, and warning signs for tank cracks. Once it passes that, they take it back to the shop and do a PDI (pre-delivery inspection) where they check the electricAC, outlets, fridgeand fill the tank with water to ensure everything is working properly. When they confirm the structure of the rig is good, they renovate it.

For the interiors, they try to go with popular design schemes. Farmhouse is so hot right now, and everybody wants something that looks like Joanna Gaines did it, Cortni says. I also want every rig to have its own personality, so I switch it up a bit with each one.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

The rigs they sell are typically furnished with items including couches, love seats, and chairs. In Cortnis experience, most people prefer to bring their own mattress. The detailsthrow pillows, rugs, blankets, table settingsare included on a case-by-case basis. Some clients really enjoy shopping for their own rig and putting their own personal taste on it and other clients are intimidated by it, she says.

Her favorite furniture brand to use is Home Reserve. The Indiana-based company offers modular pieces with storage in the seats. Cortni says multifunctional pieces are essential in such a tiny space. Plus, all of the companys made-in-America pieces have removable and washable fabric, so you can easily clean it or swap out colors.

Being able to flex her creative muscles and reimagine a small space is Cortnis favorite part of the job. Oh, and the demolition phase of course. You go in, rip stuff apart, chuck stuff out the door, and we have music playing, she says.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

So far, The Flipping Nomad has done about 15 full renos and worked on around 45 RVsincluding partial renos and cleaningsince its inception. The price varies based on the model and staging among other factors, but the minimum budget required is $50,000 for a fifth wheel or $30,000 for a travel trailer.

Theres currently a huge waitlist to snag one of The Flipping Nomads renovated RVs. Their typical clientele is first-time home buyers in their 20s and 30s with a mix of couples and couples with kids. That came as a surprise to Cortni who thought her clients were going to be retirees who have disposable income and have been saving up for the RV lifestyle for years.

The completion time varies for each RV renovation. If you want less of a wait or dont want to go all in on a renovated RV, The Flipping Nomad sells non renovated RVs that you can enjoy as is or renovate yourself. They also offer RV lifestyle and renovation coaching.

Cortni now lives in an RV called the Ultimate Montana, which she teamed up with Keystone RV Company to build. Its similar to a concept car in that it is very impractical, very much a show piece, but we wanted to push the limits on everything and see whats possible, she says. The rig has a freestanding bathtub, three fireplaces, pizza oven, TV projector, and bar.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

As if The Flipping Nomad's renos weren't stunning enough, Cortni's current RV is sure to make any apartment renter or homeowner envious in some way. Glam RVs are the right-under-our-nose tiny homes we didn't know we needed.

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This Mother-Daughter Duo Turns RVs Into Stunning Tiny Homes - HouseBeautiful.com

With the extra time many Americans have spent at home over the past few months, there have been plenty of opportunities to think about how that living space could be improved.

While this may not be the ideal time to tackle a full gut and renovate project, it may still be possible to do some smaller scale remodeling projects that update and improve your home. For example, simple cosmetic repairs like painting and replacing vanities can make a noticeable difference with minimal work or investment. Or if youre hesitant about bringing contractors into the house, outdoor projects like replacing fencing, adding paver stones or constructing outdoor living spaces may be a benefit for your family.

Before you take on a project, consider these tips from Robi Kirsic, MCKBR, UDCP, chairman of the board of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and co-CEO of TimeLine Renovation & Design.

Define the Purpose

The first consideration whether youre making changes for yourself or for future resale is the purpose of your project. This determines everything from the budget to the materials you select. Remember projects in the kitchen and bathroom typically bring the greatest return on investment.

Its also a good idea to plan how youll use the renovated area. When possible, incorporate elements of universal design that dont change how the space looks but will change how it works. For example, in the bathroom, install a curbless shower, taller toilet and block in walls to allow future installation of grab bars.

Stick to a Budget

Another early decision is your budget. Its fruitless to spend time looking at materials and making design decisions based on products that exceed your budget or, conversely, fall below the quality level you prefer. Having a professional involved can help keep you from overspending and identify areas you may want to splurge or pull back.

Select a Remodeler

Friends and family can be great resources when it comes to choosing a remodeling contractor since theyre likely to give detailed and candid opinions about their experiences. When you begin interviewing companies yourself, verify theyre licensed and insured, and ask what they offer above those minimum requirements. Are they certified or accredited? Do they specialize in the type of work youre considering? Also be sure to request and check references and search online for reviews.

Conduct Virtual Meetings

While some projects may require an in-person assessment, many planning sessions can be conducted virtually. You can even shop products to be used in your project virtually since online catalogs typically show a variety of colors and finishes along with prices. For items you need to see or feel to choose, like flooring, request samples to test in your home. To make your virtual meetings most productive, prepare by providing a detailed scope of work and be ready to provide measurements and show the space cleared of clutter.

Keep it Safe

For some families, sticking to outdoor projects may be more comfortable in the short term. For those who are ready to bring contractors inside, there are numerous steps you can take to create a safer working environment. Examples include asking everyone involved to wear face masks and gloves and using plastic at doorways to keep the work area separate from the living area. Regular disinfecting and a thorough cleaning at the end of the project are also important preventive steps.

Find more remodeling resources, including certified contractors in your community, at RemodelingDoneRight.com.

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5 Home Remodeling Tips from the Pros Pasadena Weekendr - Pasadena Now

Like everyone else, you've been spending lots of time at home during the past several weeks. And you've probably become more acquainted with all the flaws in your home: the outdated kitchen cabinets, the frayed carpeting in the family room that needs to be replaced by hardwood, the spare bedroom that needs to be converted into a dedicated office.

Maybe the thought of a renovation has crossed your mind. But this couldn't possibly be the right time for one, could it? Well, it depends.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, home construction - including remodeling - had been deemed an essential business under the original stay-at-home orders in some states. But whether a specific project is considered appropriate is a matter largely determined by homeowners and contractors.

"Putting a roof back on is essential," said David Merrick, president of Merrick Design and Build in Kensington, Maryland.

Merrick, who also serves as chairman of the government affairs committee for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), said contractors are more likely to take on outside rather than inside projects. In the case of a customer seeking to renovate the basement of her Washington, D.C., rowhouse, the decision was made to wait until the late spring or early summer when everyone would feel more comfortable.

Not surprisingly, home construction activity nationwide has fallen significantly since the covid-19 outbreak, according to the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, and is not expected to recover until well into 2021.

The slump in activity may work to your advantage, experts say. Because work has dried up, some contractors may be more willing to give you a better deal on the pricing than they would have several months ago when demand for their services was high.

If you opt to wait until the pandemic eases, experts say, you can still use this downtime to plan your project and get on your contractor's radar.

"If you have a four to five month timeline, you can talk to friends on who they used and look at Angie's List reviews on their performance," said Kermit Baker, project director at the Harvard remodeling program. "You can do your due diligence as you prepare to get the project ready."

Once you decide on what work needs to be done and when to do it, be sure to put your order in right away. "If you wait until September to place your order, 1/8contractors will3/8 have five months of orders in front of you," Merrick said. Then, it will "be hard time to get the contractor to return your phone call."

Here are some other factors you can consider ahead of time during this lull:

Budgeting and financing

Probably the best thing you can do is not get too caught up in the aesthetics but to invest considerable time concentrating on the logistics.

"Every home improvement project will cost more than you think it will and will take more time than you planned," Bob Harkson, chief financial planner at Phase2 Wealth Advisors in Gig Harbor, Wash., told The Post in May 2019. Harkson said the biggest problem he sees with his financial-planning clients is that they haven't budgeted enough.

The tricky thing about home improvement is maximizing your return on investment. You want to spend money that will yield a return when you sell your home, but not overspend way beyond what a buyer would be willing to pay you. So how do you find the sweet spot?

Experts say that kitchen and bathroom renovations are among the projects that provide homeowners the best yields. According to Remodeling magazine, kitchens recouped 62.1% and bathrooms 67.2%. Others include: 70.8% for windows; 75.6% for siding; 68.2% for roof; and 75.6% for deck.

Dan DiClerico, a smart-home expert for HomeAdvisor, a New York-based home improvement platform, offered this rule of thumb: "You should spend about 5 to 15 percent of your home value on kitchen renovation," DiClerico told The Post in May 2019. "So, if your home is worth $300,000, you should spend $15,000 to $45,000 on the kitchen. A bathroom renovation should cost about 3 to 7 percent of your home value."

If you're into analytics, HomeAdvisor's State of Home Spending offers data and charts to help you determine whether your budget is in line with what other homeowners pursuing similar projects paid. Another useful source is the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, which offers searchable databases to compare renovation costs by Zip code.

"The more thorough you are in the planning stages, the more likely you are to come in on budget for your project," DiClerico said.

A major component of planning involves accounting for surprises. Sonu Mittal, head of retail mortgage lending for Citizens Bank in Plano, Texas, said you should budget an extra 10% for unforeseen expenses.

So how do you pay for a home improvement project? There is no shortage of methods. Here are a few:

Savings: This is the easiest because it doesn't require getting approval or paying fees and interest.

A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 203(k) or Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation loan: "An FHA 203(k) loan offers flexibility because you can finance up to 97.75% of the improved home value," Catherine Holtman, operations support manager for Embrace Home Loans in Middletown, R.I., told The Post in May 2019. "There's a streamlined version for improvements up to $35,000 that are nonstructural and a standard version for major renovations including structural changes."

Home equity line of credit (HELOC): This provides homeowners flexibility in that they only pay interest on the line of credit they use, and the closing costs are minimal.

Cash-out refinance: Borrowers should keep in mind that closing costs for cash-out refinancing is higher than a HELOC, but interest rates are lower.

Personal loan: A personal loan is best for borrowing smaller amounts because it has to be paid back sooner and have higher interest rates than a HELOC.

401(k) loan: The loans have a low interest rate. Financial advisers discourage these type of loans because they must be paid back immediately if the borrower leaves their company.

Credit card: This is a simple way to pay for a project. However, they come with high interest rates.

Undertaking a major project

Before embarking on a major renovation, you should take some time to determine the best approach given your budget, timeline, patience and willingness and ability to do some of the work yourself. Here are seven methods:

Design-build firm: These firms, which include designers and architects, can manage the project from beginning to end and oversee all the subcontractors. The downside is that they can be costly.

Kitchen designer: These firms specialize in kitchens and can often provide a more custom look for your project.

General contractor: A general contractor is best for people who know what they want but need someone to manage the project. Because of their relationships with vendors, general contractors often can get discounts on supplies.

Specialty kitchen store: These retailers offer discounts on kitchen components and fixtures and custom services.

High-end design firm: This is for homeowners who want the best of the best, and don't mind paying for it.

Big-box store: Stores such as Home Depot and Ikea can often get special discounts on labor and can generally offer their services at prices lower than general contractors.

DIY: For people who would like to save a ton of money, and are also handy.

If you're pursuing a bathroom renovation, for example, keep in mind that 50% to 75% of the project's cost will be labor. So it's important to educate yourself on how to negotiate labor costs or hire a contractor who can do so.

Working with limited dollars

If you're looking to start off small to get your feet wet, Zillow offers some suggestions on lower-cost projects that can give you a bigger bang for your buck. For instance, Zillow says spending $3,000 on outdoor "curb appeal" projects such as paint and landscaping can yield $3,500 when selling.

Zillow also recommends that when renovating to sell that you try to incorporate the latest design trends into your home.

When trying to prioritize limited dollars, Zillow recommends that you simply ignore the basement. Basement projects, according to Zillow, yield only 50 cents on the dollar even when a bathroom is added.

Justin Pierce, a real estate investor and real estate agent, suggests that homeowners opting to manage their own projects should use a construction journal to stay on top of the project and to give them a record with contractors when something goes awry.

"Keeping a journal has really helped me," Pierce wrote in a Washington Post column in July. "If things go badly, it can be useful in court or arbitration. Contractors, especially shady contractors, are good at complicating the issue or adding doubt in your mind. They blame delays and increased costs on the weather, additional work, inspectors and the client. You may be shocked to receive $10,000 in change orders at the final accounting. This is impossible to unravel six weeks down the road. It's best to note things as they happen and share milestones and your understanding of them with the contractor."

Pierce said the journal should include the start date, major milestones, inspection dates, subcontractor work schedule and change orders.

Excerpt from:
Ready to remodel but stymied by pandemic? Here's what you can prepare now - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Like other essential businesses, installers of Cel-Fi in-building cellular coverage solutions have had to adjust to the unprecedented changes in the business world amid the pandemic.

After shelter-in-place orders were given, some commercial buildings were emptied and locked, while others remained open. Many commercial in-building system installations long planned were put on hold.

But as things became clearer on how to keep essential workers safe and reduce population contagion, private and public entities also recognized that with buildings empty, it was a good time to resolve any problems existing in facilities prior to the shutdown. This way, construction or much needed upgrades and repairs would be complete when employees, students, and customers returned.

During this time, Cel-Fi system integrators have been busy in office buildings, multi-tenant residences, medical facilities, grocery and retail stores, and at warehouses and schools installing cellular coverage solutions to help keep everyone connected once communities emerge from lockdown.

How Solution Providers Adapted

Steve Klingensmith, owner of VAST Signal Booster Solutions based in North Carolina, explains, As there are fewer people working in buildings, now is the time to run the cable infrastructure and get things installed because its less of a business disruption to tenants. Many buildings are moving forward with their installations if they had money budgeted for it prior to the shutdown.

VAST recently completed installing a Cel-Fi QUATRA Active DAS Hybrid solution for a tenant who is remodeling their office space in a multi-tenant building in Maryland while their employees are working from home. The client is remodeling two-thirds of one floor of the five-story building, while the other third of the floor is occupied by another tenant with employees physically occupying the premises.

We had to do a daily COVID-19 jobsite certification checklist, attesting all our crew members were free from any symptoms. We had to do social distancing, we all had to wear masks and the tenants did too, Klingensmith says. It was a little slower process. We were limited to four people in an elevator, three people in the LAN room, two people in a bathroom, and we kept spread out. Overall, it took about 20 percent more time than normal to do the job, but as it is so fast to install Cel-Fi QUATRA, we were able to get in and out within two days.

Cel-Fi Solutions: Not Only Better Quality, But More Cost Effective

VAST also recently completed installing Cel-Fi QUATRA in a 650,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Arizona. There are approximately 100 employees still working in the facility, spread throughout the warehouse and office space, who were having trouble placing or receiving cellular calls. With the inability to call one another, a manager would have to walk out to the employees location in the warehouse, consuming as much as 20 minutes to deliver a communication or get an answer, instead of taking just 20 to 30 seconds on a phone call.

The distribution center wanted to rapidly install a cellular coverage system at the lowest possible cost. After VAST conducted an extensive walk test showing the areas of strong and weak coverage, they proposed Cel-Fi QUATRA as the solution that would provide the best coverage for the lowest cost per square foot.

If we had installed a wide band passive DAS solution with all the antennas, amplifiers, and cabling that would be needed for a facility this size the cost on labor alone would have been more than the entire Cel-Fi QUATRA solution, Klingensmith says. QUATRA gives a very strong, consistent signal, the best on the market, which is also a major factor in the lower cost per square foot on the installation.

Healthcare: An Increased Priority for Cellular Coverage Solutions

Hospitals have also moved forward with cellular coverage solution installations during the pandemic. Mercy Hospital has a 228K sq. ft. facility currently under construction in Oklahoma City. The Mercy Hospital general contractor asked AT&T to recommend a system integrator who could provide the cellular coverage solution needed at the new facility and was referred to RF Design Services.

Jerry Bickle, President of RF Design Services based in Oklahoma, has resolved cellular coverage issues in several hospitals. He explains, Doctors at hospitals are having trouble getting texts from nurses about patients that need their attention. All the doctors and nurses are using their cell phones now to help with patient care. Mercy Hospital knew there would be a problem at their new facility in Oklahoma City so wanted to install a solution before the facility opens.

Bickle says he proposed Cel-Fi QUATRA for the new facility for multiple reasons. QUATRA is already carrier approved for installation by professional installers as it wont cause network interference, which has been a problem with every other in-building solution. And any time you have to get carrier approval, it adds complexity and a lot of time to the project as much as eight to nine months.

Cel-Fi Solutions: Not Only Better Performance, But the Fastest to Install

Cel-Fi QUATRA uses Cat 5e cable so it is faster and cheaper to install, with the same signal propagation throughout the building as it is less lossy than coax cable. Category cable also takes a lot less time to install. With all the factors combined, the cost of an installed QUATRA solution is about a third of an active DAS. QUATRA even costs less to operate than an active DAS as it doesnt generate the heat, electrical, or air conditioning loads of that bigger equipment, Bickle explains.

During the installation, RF Design Services had to put special safety procedures in place for COVID-19 mitigation in addition to wearing face masks, staff temperatures were checked every day and they were given a wrist band or sticker for their safety helmets to show they were cleared. And sometimes the elevators were out of service for construction or social distancing reasons. But these restrictions werent much greater than the scrubs and masks that the team had to use when they installed Cel-Fi in a surgical room this past December before the pandemic.

While the pandemic continues to define the new normal, in-building cellular connectivity remains as essential as ever. Cel-Fi system integrators are effectively working with carriers, building owners, and IT staff to deploy solutions within mitigation guidelines to provide better cellular coverage for safer facilities and more efficient operations.

For more information on Nextivitys comprehensive product line that fits virtually every in-building cellular coverage use case, download The Ultimate Buyers Guide to Solving Cellular Coverage Issues.

About the Author

Dean Richmond is the Senior Director of Marketing at Nextivity. Over the span of his career, he has developed strategies and launched products across the information technology and wireless product spectrum. Dean has built strategic partnerships between channel partners, operators, broadband providers, and brands such as Microsoft, Google, Intel, Sony, and Toshiba to grow business units successfully. For more information, contacthello@cel-fi.comor visitwww.cel-fi-com

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How IBW cellular coverage solution providers adapted and grew during COVID-19 with Cel-Fi products - RCR Wireless News

NEW YORK, June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Petri Plumbing & Heating, a family-owned home service company that has served Brooklyn and Manhattan for over a century, offers owners of vintage homes in the city guidelines for proper HVAC maintenance and tips for recognizing when it's time to replace your system.

"Brownstones and other historic homes have a lot of charm, but the older construction can make it difficult to efficiently regulate the temperature and air quality," said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing & Heating. "Since June is National Homeowners Month, we want to help New Yorkers know when it's time to consider an HVAC upgrade."

Most air conditioning failures happen in early summer, when the HVAC system is strained by climbing temperatures. The risk of failure increases if the system hasn't had a professional spring tune-up. Today's modern Energy Star-certified HVAC models, however, are more efficient than older systems and offer better performance with less energy and lower costs. In addition, ductless systems, programmable thermostats and zoned HVAC technology can be used to create custom solutions for most homeowners.

Petri Plumbing & Heating advises homeowners to keep these facts in mind when considering whether to repair or replace their HVAC:

Petri stresses the importance of professional consultation and installation.

"A professional will know when to recommend supplemental heating and cooling like ductless mini-splits or zoned HVAC technology to ensure whole-home comfort," he said.

As an essential business, Petri Plumbing & Heating is committed to keeping customers and employees safe while providing exceptional service. The company is practicing social distancing and ensuring technicians sanitize their equipment and work spaces as well as wearing personal protective equipment. Petri Plumbing & Heating also offers Zero Contact Service to reduce the risk of disease.

For more information about Petri Plumbing & Heating, or to schedule a service call, visit https://www.petriplumbing.com/ or call (718) 748-1254.

About Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc. is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable Service Experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit http://www.petriplumbing.com or call 718-748-1254.

MEDIA CONTACT: Heather RipleyRipley PR(865) 977-1973hripley@ripleypr.com

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Petri Plumbing & Heating offers HVAC advice to owners of older homes as temperatures rise - Salamanca Press

The hosts of HGTV's famed lifestyle series 'Good Bones', Mina Starsiak Hawk, and Karen E Laine are back. Mina, a real estate agent and Karen, a former defense attorney, began remodeling house in their free time in the Fountain Square and Bates-Hendricks neighborhood of their hometown, Indianapolis. In 2008, they decided to open a home rehab business, 'Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc.' Their mission is to redefine Indianapolis one house at a time, by buying old dilapidated homes and rehabbing them into stunning, modern, urban remodels. The mother-daughter duo best known for fixing and renovating houses work on their most expensive investment, to date, in the season five premiere of the show.

Mina and Karen have had their eye on a charming little bungalow on Woodlawn, in Indianapolis' trendy Fountain Square neighborhood. They brought it from homeowners George and Paula, the former having grown up there. The two had started dating when they were teenagers and lived in the house for most of their lives. The house initially belonged to George's parents, who owned the house for 50 years or so. Although the couple could have easily sold the house to a developer, they knew it would most likely be torn down and new infrastructure would take its place. However, they didn't want that and instead sold the property to Mina and Karen because they were certain that the duo would respect it and its history.

Fountain Square is the most stable area for purchasing a house, said Mina and she was very happy that she had invested in George's home, but it did cost her a pretty penny. She bought the house for a whopping $130,000, which is their most expensive investment since they began 'Two Chicks and a Hammer Inc.' Once it is remodeled and refurnished into a modern, urban home that will attract prospective buyers, Mina hopes to list and sell it for $300,000. The inside of the house, however old and charming, is pretty much falling apart and both Mina and Karen know they have a lot of work ahead of them and will have to stretch their budget to a new extreme for renovations. The current infrastructure is 1,375 square feet and houses three bedrooms, two living rooms, a dining room, a kitchen and only one bath. After a quick and extensive scope of the house, Mina and Karen conclude that they will be working with at least a $100,000 budget.

It seems that floors of the house incorporate hardwood in a gorgeous mahogany shade and has been well-preserved thanks to the carpet that has lain over it for presumably the whole time George's family lived there. They decide to keep the existing hardwood floors, and simply scrub and refinish them, rather than hide them underneath a carpet. For the interiors, they turn one of the larger living rooms into a master bedroom, while another smaller bedroom that adjoins a slightly larger bedroom becomes a walking closet and en-suite bathroom. The basement needs some work too, they realize, as a toppling chimney has been responsible for major cracks on the living room walls. In addition, the house has too many narrow doors and a small rounded space for a kitchen, which seems too tight. They decided to do away with the doors and create an open floor plan, beginning all the way from the hallway at the front door, through the family living room, dining room and the kitchen.

For the exterior, the house needs a new siding, while the brickwork requires repairing. With the estimated renovation costs, the investment totaled up to $230,000 and their possible listing will leave them with a $70,000 profit. That set, the demo of the interiors began and the team faced a couple of roadblocks and budget problems throughout the renovation process but persevered anyway. The duo's main aim was to give the house their signature eclectic Cali feel, combining its original features with some modern reinforcements. Karen saved some old pieces from the house, that she still thinks has potential if refurbished and put back in place like the chandeliers and cabinet handles, while Mina added all the modern touches that the house needs to look chic, inviting and urban. Karen scraped out the wallpaper, to find a gorgeous teal wallpaper beneath, that has distressed over time. She decides she wants to adds a rustic look to the house, but further distressing it, artistically and then adding polyurethane to it.

They add subtle and bold details to the house, include a fake wainscotting for the living room, black countertops for the kitchen, myriad shades of green as wall paint, patterned Herringbone tiled walls with gold accents to add sophistication and soft green paint to go on the exterior of the house. As planned they scrub the hardwood floor themselves and put the original refurbished elements, which adds a sense of coziness and comfort to the overall style of the house. Once the house was finished, with interiors completed and the furniture moved in, Mina and Karen invited the former homeowners George and Paula to take a look at their newly remodeled home. The couple was taken aback and awestruck by the renovations but were nevertheless swept away by the sentimentality of having preserved the character and original framework of the home. In the end, the renovation costs had exceeded the duo's initial budget by $50,000 bringing the total to $150,000. Their total investment on the house amounted to $280,000, prompting Mina to list it for $315,000. The house was sold to a young couple for $310,000, leaving the team with a profit of $30,000.

Continued here:
'Good Bones' Season 5 Episode 1: Mina and Karen turn their most expensive investment yet into a gorgeous home - MEAWW

I have used many of my previous columns to help accountants and other tax professionals alert their clients to perfectly legal, easy-to-understand strategies that save taxes. Im going to devote this column and two subsequent ones to the selection and implementation of strategies that help homeowners.

Long-standing rules authorize valuable tax breaks for owners who itemize their deductions on Form 1040s Schedule A. Theyre able to claim annual write-offs, within limits, for payments of mortgage interest and property taxes.

Owners cant claim current deductions for money spent improvements that add to the value of their homes, prolong their useful lives, or adapt them to new uses. The law requires them to add the money to their homes cost basisthe figure used to determine gains or losses when they sell their homes. Consequently, improvements decrease any taxable gains on eventual sales.

Big breaks for sellers with big profits:The law permits sellers to exclude, meaning they escape, federal and state income taxes on sizable portions of their profits from sales of their principal residences.

The profit exclusions are as much as $500,000 for married couples filing joint returns. They drop to $250,000 for single persons or married couples filing separate returns.

How do things work out when sellers reap gains greater than $500,000 or $250,000? Theyre liable for taxes on the excess.

IRS audits (or examinations, as the agency prefers to call them):In the event the IRS questions how seller Sarah determined her gain, the audit will be less traumatic and less expensive if she has kept meticulous records that track the dwellings basis.

Those records should include what she originally paid for her home, plus certain settlement or closing costs, such as title insurance and legal fees. They should also include what she subsequently shells out for improvements, as opposed to repairs.

Improvements, both big and small, boost basis:Qualifying improvements can be big projects, as when Sarah puts a recreation room in her unfinished basement, adds another bedroom or bathroom, puts up a fence, or paves her driveway. Or they can be small projects, as when she upgrades closets, or installs built-in bookcases, new faucets, towel racks, or medicine cabinets.

Repairs dont boost basis:An adamant IRS insists that Sarah cant count routine repairs or maintenance that add nothing to the places value. They just maintain it. Some examples: Sarah repaints her home inside or outside, fixes her gutters or floors, repairs leaks or plastering, and replaces broken window panes.

Bundle ordinary repairs into bigger jobs:It might pay for Sarah to postpone repair projects until she can do them in connection with an extensive remodeling or restoration project. Adding the smaller job into bigger jobs may allow Sarah to include some items that would otherwise be considered repairs, such as the cost of painting rooms.

In two subsequent columns, Ill discuss more strategies to impart to your home-owning clients.

Additionalarticles.A reminder for accountants who would welcome advice on how to alert clients to tactics that trim taxes for this year and even give a head start for next year: Delve into thearchive of my articles(more than 350 and counting).

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Why It Pays to Keep Track of Home Improvements - Accountingweb.com