Golden, Colorado (PRWEB) August 31, 2013

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing-home sales increased strongly in July 2013, renewing a desire for custom home remodels, reports Chris Bidwell.

Chris Bidwell, a general contractor with more than 25 years of experience, specializes in home remodels and custom cabinets for the individual homeowner. Service area is Golden, Colorado and surrounding cities. Website is http://www.GoldenCarpenter.com.

While existing-home sales rose, the percentage of distressed homes sold, including foreclosures and short sales, remained steady at 15 percent.

With an increase overall in existing-home sales, including an average discounted rate of 16 percent below market value for foreclosures, people are turning to General Contractors to remodel both before and after home sales.

One of the most common remodel requests is custom kitchen cabinetry, especially for homes sold as short sales and foreclosures.

In order to avoid some of the most common scams in the general contractor industry, here are 5 Tips to Hiring a General Contractor to Build Your Custom Cabinets:

1. Ask questions upfront: You have the right to understand exactly what to expect before, during, and after construction so write up a list of questions to ask beforehand including what kind of experience does the contractor have, who is responsible for getting the building permits, where are the cabinets going to be assembled, and what types of payment are accepted?

2. Ask for proof of licensing and insurance. A professional general contractor will often volunteer to show you documentation before you ask. Its a big red flag if the potential contractor in unable or unwilling to produce these documents.

3. Get a written bid and contract: Always ask for a bid in writing and obtain a written contract that includes, along with the terms specified in the original bid, itemized pricing, payment terms, permit fees, the scope of work to be performed, start and end dates, and final review and sign-off procedures. Make sure you look it over carefully and ask for clarification where needed before signing.

Excerpt from:
Existing Home Sales Rise Sharply and Encourage Custom Remodels, Tip Sheet By Chris Bidwell

Michael McGrath and Eileen Romer have reshaped their 100-year-old West University home to meet their needs with a series of three remodelings over two decades, without losing its historical

feel.

They attribute thinking ahead and using the same architect to getting what they needed from each project, but without limiting future improvements.

Romer and McGrath have owned the red brick house, on an old-fashioned block-square park just off North Fourth Avenue, for 26 years and raised their two daughters there.

It was only 1,500 square feet when we moved in, McGrath said. Not a lot of space for what would soon be four people and a series of playful chocolate Labs.

Over the course of the three remodels the house grew, but only to about 2,200 feet. Moving the kitchen to a former sleeping porch and extending one rear corner to create a new master bedroom accounted for the added square footage.

I have done three projects for them over the years, said architect Leo Katz said. A kitchen/family room remodel in 1995, an entry remodel in 2010 and a master bedroom suite/covered patio remodel/addition in 2011. Its kind of a good story of a repeat client and the evolution of home remodeling over the years to meet your changing needs and resources.

The first stage was all-important. It included moving the galley kitchen from the rear (west) wall of the house to what had been an enclosed sleeping porch on the north side . While the kitchen is still fairly small and narrow, by modern standards, its functional and attractive. Moving it off the rear wall connected the core of the home a pair of large, open high-ceilinged rooms that led from the front of the house to the rear porch deck that would be expanded in a later remodel.

The choice of simple, slab-front kitchen cabinets in figured light maple and granite countertops keeps the room from looking dated nearly 20 years after that first remodel.

A six-burner gas stovetop set in the granite countertop and a built-in refrigerator also contribute to the kitchens contemporary look.

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West University Home continues to evolve

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Golden, CO (PRWEB) August 23, 2013

Summer home improvement numbers strongly demonstrate more homeowners are completing projects that add value to their home this year compared to last year. Data* from HomeAdvisor, a leading online source for connecting homeowners to pre-screened home service professionals, reveals requests for kitchen remodels have increased 20 percent, bathroom remodels have increased six percent and window installations have increased three percent year over year. This data is supported by a nationwide online survey, conducted among 1,300 U.S. homeowners by Harris Interactive on behalf of HomeAdvisor in March 2013**. The survey indicated that a majority of homeowners (69 percent) are at least somewhat likely to put money into their property to increase its value by doing home improvement projects now compared to 12 months ago.

Homeowners have been cautious the past couple years and have tended to focus their home improvement dollars on maintenance and repair projects, Chris Terrill, HomeAdvisors CEO said. This data is encouraging, as it shows an increase in the higher consideration and higher return projects, such as bath and kitchen remodels.

Here are some of the latest aggregated data revealing value-added project details and cost information:

Cost Guide helps homeowners budget for their projects by providing average local and national costs for over 850 home repair, maintenance and improvement projects. Costs are determined using over 785,000 cost profiles provided by homeowners who have completed a home project.

For more information on HomeAdvisor and its services, visit http://www.HomeAdvisor.com. Home improvement tips are available by following @HomeAdvisor on Twitter and by subscribing to the YouTube channel.

About HomeAdvisor:

HomeAdvisor is a leading website and mobile app provider offering resources for home repair and improvement projects. HomeAdvisors patented ProFinder technology matches homeowner projects to the nations largest network of over 85,000 pre-screened, customer-reviewed home improvement professionals. Homeowners can make informed home project decisions using resources including: Pro Reviews, featuring reviews from homeowners who have actually been connected with the service professionals they review; Cost Guide, providing average costs for projects coast-to-coast; Home911, offering dedicated 24/7 emergency home repair support; DesignMine, providing inspiration and collaboration for remodeling projects; as well as robust home trips and project planning tools. Access to all of the sites features is free for homeowners, with no membership or fees required. HomeAdvisor is based in Golden, CO, and is a subsidiary of IAC.

Contact: Brooke Gabbert Senior Director, Corporate Communications bgabbert(at)homeadvisor(dot)com Direct: 303.963.8173

*Based on the number of service requests submitted on the HomeAdvisor website from May 1- Aug. 1, 2012 and May 1 Aug. 1, 2013.

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HomeAdvisor Reports Homeowner Investment Is on the Rise this Summer

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Lehigh Valley, PA (PRWEB) August 18, 2013

Lehigh Plumbing is familiar with product claims that are designed to make life more convenient. That convenience can have a high price and the products are often the source of damage to a plumbing and sewer or septic system. Dan Welch, owner of Lehigh Plumbing shares his experience with products that cause common plumbing problems.

Garbage disposals

Garbage disposals are sold with the notion of being environmentally beneficial. Food waste is shifted from a landfill to a local waste water treatment facility. Dan points out, Food is bio-degradable. Placing food, specifically fat, oil and greasy residue down the drain will clog plumbing lines. Overtime grease build up can clog a homeowners sewer system which can be expensive to repair.

Flushable disposable wipes

Disposable wipes are becoming increasingly popular. They are hyped as an alternative to toilet paper and made for the entire family. Many are advertised that they can be flushed. Some even claim they are septic safe. When we come to fix a backed up drain line, its not uncommon that we are snaking out these wipes, says Dan. Despite claims, flushable wipes do not dissolve in the sewer an often cause clogged and overflowing toilets.

Liquid drain cleaner

Liquid drain cleaners offer homeowners the convenience of eliminating a clogged drain themselves. Many drain cleaners on the market are an acid base chemical. They are created to eat away at paper, hair or other material causing clogs. "Depending on the type of drain cleaner you are using and the kind of pipes you have in your home, it is possible for that cleaner to eat away at your pipes, reports Dan. Homeowners are not only left with a clogged drain but damage pipes as well.

On a side note, Lehigh Plumbing has a helpful tip for homeowners facing an emergency situation, shut off the water. When a pipe bursts or water is leaking and flowing everywhere it is best for homeowners to remain calm and locate the main shut off valve to turn the water off, says Dan.

Shutting off water can prevent further damage to your property. Homeowners should know where their shut off valve is located. It can usually be found in the basement or somewhere inside the home adjacent to the water meter. We have dealt with homeowners who panic and shut off the valve and break it. When this happens, the city water department has to be called to shut the water off at the street, says Dan.

Excerpt from:
Easton Plumber Dispel Common Myths That Result in Plumbing Issues

A home in Del Mar going through an extensive remodel last fall.

Buying a fixer-upper can be an exciting opportunity to custom design your dream home. This could be something youve talked about doing for years and now youre serious about purchasing a home that is in need of work. What should you look for before you sign the papers?

Make sure you know exactly how much fixing you need to do. Some homes can be fixed and others need to be bulldozed. If you dont want to start from scratch, then make sure you check two things: the foundation and the structure. A bad foundation and an insecure structure almost always require a fresh start.

Related: Is real estate flipping finished?

Crunch the numbers and make sure a qualified home inspector helps you estimate repair costs. Cost of the property and the improvements should add up to less than your budget or youll be living in a repair project for years to come.

Here are some things to make sure you check and budget for:

Exterior work such as roofing, siding, etc.

Electrical work, making sure it's properly wired and there's sufficient power.

Doors and windows. They're more expensive to replace than youd expect.

Plumbing such as leaks and pressure.

Read more here:
What to know about fixer-uppers

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