Archive for May, 2008

Does your general contractor have Worker's Compensation Insurance?

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

You can usually tell the quality of work your general contractor will give you by how he treats his employees. If he doesn’t take even the minimum amount of time to protect them, how much effort will he put into your house? Austin Injury board has a great how-to process on how to buy good worker’s comp insurance.

A worker’s comp policy can generally be purchased in one of two-and-a-half ways. First, the employer that has hired the employee can purchase the worker’s comp policy. In our case, if L&O purchased the insurance then the worker couldn’t sue L&O. However, that policy would not protect others. Therefore, if the person that was driving the forklift was employed by the general contractor, another subcontractor or even the property owner, then the employee would still be able to sue any of those entities.

Find out more about General Contractors at Remodel Tree.

Posted in general contractor | No Comments »

Here come the economic stimulis checks: Should you invest them in your home?

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Some of you may be receiving anywhere between $600 and $1300 within the next few weeks, and this just may be the time to spruce up that bathroom or replace those windows.

In some sense, you can kill two birds with one stone, but actually replacing those windows with more energy efficient ones; you save money while at the same time spending it and stimulating the economy. According to Channel News 8, you can recoup most your money:

Investing these dollars in home improvements, such as replacing old leaky windows with newer, energy efficient ones, can offer homeowners a significant return on investment. Some experts believe that replacement windows are one of the best home improvement investments you can make in your home.

“Remodeling Magazine’s” 2007 Cost vs Value Report estimates that a homeowner may recoup 81 percent of the cost of installing low maintenance replacement windows at resale. That means on an $8,000 window replacement project, homeowners may recoup $6,480 at the time of sale.

In addition, new energy efficient windows can lower heating and cooling bills, improve a home’s comfort and aesthetics, and add long-lasting value.

Find out more about Window Replacements at Remodel Tree

Posted in windows | No Comments »

Britons also going for home improvement to revamp home sales

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

It looks like Americans aren’t the only ones in a lurch with the housing crisis. Britons are also feeling the heat and are trying to engage in some quick remodeling to turn the tides.

In fact, some recent studies show that as many as 62 percent of Britons took on home improvement projects to boost saleability — including off-road parking, installing new gardens, and building apartments over garages. The Telegraph has more

For example, creating off-road parking will cost you as little as £650, but could earn you in excess of £10,000 if you choose to sell. Putting in a landscaped, family-friendly garden will cost £900 and can earn a savvy seller £6,000. However, before you reach for the hammer and spade, it is important to realise that not all renovations will pay for themselves. For example, according to RICS, installing a basement could cost you £50,000 but might only make you a measly £4,000 when you sell. While reinstating original chimneys and fireplaces might seem like a great way to bring back period features, it does not add any additional value, according to RICS.

Find more about Home revitalization at Remodel Tree.

Posted in garden, parking lot | No Comments »