When it comes to home remodeling, homeowners face the dilemma of balancing their desire for a professional job with the lowest possible price. In the end, you need to consider that what you pay for directly correlates with the type of quality, service and happiness that you’ll receive. Since May is National Remodeling Month, we wanted to spend some time talking about the benefits of hiring a professional remodeler.

Remodeling is a Service, Not Just a Product

You can have the most expensive products out there, and still get poor service from your remodeler. Service includes all the things we can’t see when you look at the final project. Do you want to look at your brand new kitchen and think about how happy you are with your investment, or do you want to be reminded of all the stress and frustration that went into it?

Find Professionals First, Bids Second

Shift your focus to finding a professional remodeler, then go about getting a quote on your job. If the quote is higher than what you budgeted, work with the remodeler to decide where you can cut back or what you can postpone to keep the project on budget. For example, you can always have the remodeler frame in a fireplace to be installed later, but he can’t upgrade the company’s customer service if there wasn’t any to begin with.

Experience Matters, So Does Reputation

We have been in business for almost 35 years. Longevity suggests financial stability, which is necessary to finish a job and still be available if problems come up in the future. To us, the sign of a successful project is the customer’s level of satisfaction. If they would hire us again, it means we did our job right. Better yet, if they would refer us to their family and friends, it means we earned their trust.

Paying Less Could Mean Paying More

Choosing a remodeler based on the cheapest price could result in paying more later. For example, surprise charges can rack up easily without a comprehensive budget and plan up front. Or poor quality can mean future repairs that require hiring a real professional to fix. But ultimately the extra cost of a professional remodeler will pay for itself in the satisfaction you’ll get from the many years of enjoying the completed project.

Find a local remodeler certified by the National Association of Home Builders. FYI – We’re the only NAHB Remodeler in Blacksburg, Virginia. Questions to ask your prospective remodeler and how to find a professional that fits your project. Get an idea of the remodeling process with our Advantage Remodeling System.

1. CHECK YOUR GUTTERS – Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.
2. CHECK YOUR YARD – Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.
3. CHECK YOUR MULCH – A lot of homeowners add mulch to their flower beds with the change in seasons. Be careful not to pile up mulch against the side of the home. Even if it’s vinyl siding, mulch retains moisture, which can seep behind the siding. This could lead to mold, rot or leaks into the basement or crawl space.

Need Help with Summer Repairs?
Call Us to Ask About Our Home Maintenance Program!

An outdoor living space can increase the resale value of your home, but think before you start making a trip to Lowe’s. If you’re doing more than just picking out a new patio set, you’ll want to consult a professional to design and build the space. You’ll need to consider the direction of the sun, building codes and homeowners association restrictions, traffic flow of walkways, drainage plains and more. Plus, a professional remodeler can help you choose high quality and durable products for low maintenance living.

Here are some popular trends to help you build your dream outdoor living space:

Fireplaces and Fire Pits Just like a fireplace in your living room, an outdoor fire pit creates a cozy hearth for family and friends to gather round. Plus, we all know how chilly nights can be in Southwest Virginia even during the summer. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits allow you to spend more time outside in all three seasons.

Screened Porches Even though bugs and mosquitoes aren’t quite as lethal in the summer here in the mountains like they are at the beach, sometimes pesky bugs can make outdoor entertaining a nuisance! A screened porch can help reduce the flying varmints, but also provide shelter during a brief afternoon shower. That way you can stay outdoors longer, even in the rain. Installing fans can also bring a breeze into the space to keep you comfortable during the heat of the day.

Durable and Low Maintenance Products The time and cost to maintain a wood deck can be a pain in the neck each summer. So more and more homeowners are looking for alternative products that are durable and low maintenance. Eco-friendly wood-alternative outdoor living products combine lasting beauty and performance, and vinyl or Hardie-plank siding products can also provide low maintenance solutions.

Check out some photos of our work from Facebook:

The National Association of Home Builders, in partnership with the AARP and NAHB Research Center, created the CAPS program, which includes training and education on the technical, business management and customer service skills essential to compete in the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry — home modifications for aging-in-place.

CAPS graduates include remodelers, builders, designers, architects, occupational therapists and others who help homeowners remain in their homes safely, independently and comfortably as they age. In three days of coursework, the CAPS curriculum incorporates market demographics, communication techniques, marketing, common barriers and solutions, building codes and standards, product ideas and resources and business management.

CAPS program graduates are required to maintain their designation by attending continuing education programs and/or participating in community service projects.

Susan Davidson

Chuck Hammack

Home accessibility modification grants can be used for: an exterior ramp, sidewalk or driveway; handicapped bathrooms, including sink, toilet, shower, grab bars and vanities; kitchen cabinets and sink; carpentry to widen doors; and replacement of floor coverings. 100% of the funds are forgiven after five years. Eligible households must have an income below 80% of the area median income adjusted for family size and locality.

For more information click here.

Bring Life to an Aging Exterior

With many older homes, the original company that provided the windows is no longer in business. So as springs, latches and parts break, there is nowhere to go for replacement parts. Plus the sills and frames can sag and rot, causing the exterior to have a drab, worn down appearance. New windows from a reputable company, like Pella, can renew the exterior of the home and also provide a long-term warranty on replacement parts as the years go by.

Increase Energy Efficiency

According to the national Remodeling 2013 Cost vs. Value Report, you can recoup about 75% of your investment by replacing your windows. On top of this is the monthly savings you’ll experience in your heating and cooling bill. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes in our region can save up to $213 a year by replacing single pane windows with ENERGY STAR models. As a Pella Certified Contractor, we use high quality windows that are 74% more energy efficient than a single pane wood window.

Also, most contractors fit windows inside an existing frame during replacement. This reduces the amount of glass and produces less light transmission. Instead, we use a new construction-style window to increase light transmission and efficiency.

Follow the sun

Windows are portals for light and fresh air. The design of the windows should take into consideration the path of the sun over the course of a day. A breakfast nook lit by a fresh blast of sunlight can jumpstart your day, and the sunsetting rays can provide a cozy relaxing atmosphere. Incorporate Low-E (low-emissivity) windows, especially on the south side of a home, to reflect the sun’s heating rays away from your house, while providing the lighting nature intended.

Maximize your view

Living in the New River Valley, we are lucky to have beautiful natural scenery right in our backyards. Consider designing windows with grilles only on the top half. This way, you can still get the divided-light look you want, without blocking your view.

Create a focal point

Special shape windows are an easy way to add architectural interest to your room and highlight other features of your home. For example, use one perfect circle window as a simple design accent or frame a fireplace mantel with windows.

Add livable space

Replace old “picture” windows with a bay and bow window to affordably add square footage. Add a window seat to create a cozy seating area or a place to display books and decorative objects. You can even put a hinge on the top of your window seat and use the space below for storage.

Hire a professional

We’ve seen do-it-yourself or uncertified contractors replace windows with disastrous results. Plus, if you buy windows from a company that won’t be around in five or ten years, it will be hard to get replacement parts or warranty repairs. We recently became a Pella Certified Contractor, which means we are certified by a reputable window manufacturer to properly install high quality products. Working with a Pella Certified Contractor means you can trust your investment.

Click on any of the images below to view.

G&H Appliance is one of our business partners, and we’re proud to work with David Zier and the whole team at G&H. Family owned and operated since 1969, G&H Appliance is a major home appliance dealer selling and servicing Whirlpool, Kitchen Aid, Jenn-Air, Wolf, Sub-Zero, Maytag, Viking, Miele, Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, and U-Line.

To check out their website click here. Or give them a “Like” on Facebook! Or give David Zier a call at (540) 382-7500!