As people get older there is more time to really enjoy the homes they have built for themselves. Kids have grown and moved away, and being physically comfortable has, perhaps, become more important than it has ever been before. Knowing that aging eyes need a better kind of light and more of it to be comfortable, remodeling the lighting in your home improves comfort threefold, according to the American Lighting Association.

From function to design, lighting affects everything. A room’s appearance and feel, highlights and accents, and utility and cost are all important in considering how our home’s lighting affects how we live. When contemplating a renovation, consider how lighting renewal can transform your eyesight, living space and energy consumption.

People are seeking decorative ways to direct light exactly where it is needed and still conserve energy. Read the rest of this entry  

A buyer’s first impression is love a quick walk through and that’s about it. Errors and shoddy workmanship (if noticed) ends the toor immediately — as it should!

As a buyer this is the approach you MUST take — poor quality remodeling (as done in some flips by unscrupulous contractors) should BE AVOIDED. With all the “flip a house” shows on TV now, everybody and their brother is getting into the flip game.

On the selling side be aware that the buyer may know this and run from any shoddy work you have done as a seller trying to unload a house.

Errors are especially obvious in rooms such as kitchens and baths. Even minor issues can have (like sloppy painting) can have a negative effect on a buyer. This may come hard to do-it-yourselfers who tend to have pride in their somewhat overrated work. The tinest of glitches in tile work can be a big deal and cause buyers “run” to the next property. If they find even one thing wrong is is natural for them to suspect MORE!

Smart agents use these mistakes as negotiation point to shave thousands off the listed price, so if you are aware and willing to fight it they might (MIGHT) work in your favor. Problem is … what problems did you not see?

There are other risks missing these mistakes too — a homeowner doing a flip may bypass local permit requirements. This means a new owner could have building inspectors “nix” a project months or even years after it is completed and asked that the work be redone up to code. Who pays? The current home owner of course.

Bottom line is this:
Homeowners remodeling to sell should do good work or have qualified contracots do it.
Home buyers should check closely and be suspicious of any subpar remodeling work.

Rebuilding Together, the United States’ largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization, is providing modifications and repairs at the home of Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Christopher Edwards through its Serving Those Who Serve(SM) program today. Countrywide(R) Financial Corporation, America’s #1 home loan lender*, has contributed more than $1.2 million as the founding sponsor of a nationwide program that provides free home modifications to severely-injured soldiers and veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Read the rest of this entry