Category Archives: Homeowner Tips
Make Your Move Easier With a Garage Sale
Written on May 17, 2012 at 9:40 am, by sthbra
As the school year comes to an end, many families move to new homes during the summer months in order to get settled in before the new school year. One way to make moving less stressful is to get rid of unwanted household items before you start packing. It doesn’t make sense to transport unused items or clothes you never wear to your new house; not only will it save you the time you would’ve spent packing it up, it will save you money because movers often charge by the size of the load they are transporting. One of the best ways to quickly get rid of unwanted stuff is by holding a garage sale. In one day, you can ease your packing burden and make some money. As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another’s treasure,” so the old end table that has been gathering dust in your basement may be just what someone else wants to put the finishing touch on their new decorating scheme. To get started, you first want to [...]
New Website Helps Protect Homeownership
Written on May 17, 2012 at 9:37 am, by sthbra
America’s home owners and home builders celebrate National Homeownership Month in June, bringing attention to the more than 75 million Americans who own their homes, and the millions more who aspire to achieve the American dream of homeownership. But it is also important for American families to know that homeownership is under attack. Legislative and regulatory proposals now under consideration by government policymakers would greatly harm home owners, home buyers, the housing market and the nation’s economy. To educate Americans about the threats to homeownership and to provide opportunities for current and future home owners to take action to protect it, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has launched a website, www.ProtectHomeownership.com. The site features expert economic analysis and reports, data from homeownership surveys and polls, and the answers to many frequently asked questions about housing and homeownership. ProtectHomesownership.com highlights the threats to homeownership by describing how tax, legislative and regulatory policies currently under consideration would scale back or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction and make mortgages and small business loans unaffordable and difficult to [...]
What You Should Know About Hiring A Remodeler
Written on April 23, 2012 at 11:44 am, by sthbra
April 20, 2012 Contact: Donna Ciancio STHBRA 2807 North Street Endwell, NY 13760 Tel: 607.785.9285 donna@sthbra.com What You Should Know About Hiring a Remodeler By Marc Mazzei, President Southern Tier Home Builders & Remodelers Association With the ongoing challenging economy, many families are choosing to remodel their homes to fit their changing needs, rather than selling their home and buying another one. Your home is likely your largest investment, and even simple remodels can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, so you want to make sure you find a contractor you can trust. As the home building and remodeling industry celebrates National Remodeling Month in May, here are some important considerations to ensure you make the right decisions when you find, evaluate and hire a remodeler. A great place to start is the listing of remodelers at http://www.sthbra.com. Another resource is http://www.nahb.org/remodelerdirectory. A professional remodeler will uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in the industry. These sources can also help you find a remodeler who specializes in a specific type of remodeling if [...]
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hiring A Professional Remodeler
Written on February 16, 2012 at 1:50 pm, by sthbra
The decision to hire a home remodeler can be intimidating. This section will give you the tools and inside information on finding, evaluating, hiring and working with a remodeler. Your home is your biggest investment, and the best way to protect it is by hiring an ethical, professional remodeler. Let’s get started! Find a Professional When you hire a remodeler, you are buying a service rather than a product. The quality of the service the remodeler provides will determine the quality of the finished product and your satisfaction. Get a List: The first step to hiring a professional is to build a list of candidates, and flipping through the Yellow Pages is not the ideal method. Learn the best way to begin your search. The Inside Scoop: Once you have your list of remodelers, how do you properly evaluate their credentials? Get the inside information on what to ask and look for in home contractors. Evaluate References: You don’t want to just question the remodeler, but also learn first hand from the remodeler’s current and [...]
Flood Victims: Beware of Unscrupulous Contractors
Written on October 7, 2011 at 10:21 am, by mike
We can be proud that neighbors in our area have pulled together to help each other after our recent floods. Now, it’s time to pull together again as we try to rebuild lives and homes. On behalf of Southern Tier Home Builders & Remodelers Association, we’d like to warn you about another potential disaster: unscrupulous contractors. Beware Of These Warning Signs: You’re told that on this job, a contract “won’t be necessary.” You’re asked to pay for the entire job “up front”—or pay cash to a salesperson instead of a check or money order to a company. You are confronted with scare tactics. You’re told you’ve been “chosen” as a demonstration project at a special, low price. You’re told a low price is good only if you sign a contract today. The contractor won’t give you references—or the references can’t be located. You can’t verify the contractor’s business address. Need Help Finding A Contractor? If a contractor you feel is not being upfront has contacted you, please contact Southern Tier Home Builders & Remodelers Association [...]
Home Storage Tips and Tricks
Written on October 6, 2011 at 11:08 am, by mike
When you first move into your new home, you wonder how you are going to fill up the large, empty space. Pretty soon life takes over — and before you know it, you are wondering where all of that space went. If you find yourself struggling to find room to store everything you’ve accumulated over the years, see if these storage options might work for you. Do An Audit Before you invest a lot of time deciding where things should go, look through your closet, files and drawers to determine what can be thrown or given away. For clothes, it is a good rule of thumb to get rid of items that you have not worn in more than 12 months. A lot of your household financial documents and papers may be available online through the provider company’s Web site. If that is the case, discard old financial statements or bills that you can more easily access electronically. Invest in a paper shredder for these documents to protect your identity and accounts. It is very [...]
Update Your Home Safely
Written on October 6, 2011 at 10:41 am, by mike
Update Your Home Safely with a Certified Remodeler You’ve made the decision to finally remodel the outdated kitchen and living room of your home. But if you live in a house built before 1978, a new federal law regulating the removal of lead paint may affect your home remodeling project. In 1978, the use of lead paint was officially banned from residential construction. Before that, however, lead paint was used in more than 38 million homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead- based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. The Dangers of Lead Paint During a renovation or remodel, dust from lead paint removal can fill the air and be breathed in or small children could ingest lead paint chips that fall from the wall. For young children, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, hearing loss and behavior problems. In adults, [...]