From the Builder

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

I hope your Fourth of July was one to remember and you are able to spend these wonderful summer days with family and friends creating memories to last a lifetime. I hope you enjoyed the first newsletter and trust that this one will also be of value as you look through it. Your comments and feedback have been appreciated and we look forward to your continued input.

We’re often asked whether a remodel/addition is a good investment or should a new build be considered. The answer depends on your specific situation. While now is an excellent time to build (low land costs, low interest rates, low building & labor costs, etc.), you’ll want to evaluate several factors. For one consider the scope of the project and whether the value of your home (after the remodel) will be compatible with other homes in your neighborhood. It’s possible to put more into your home than you’ll be able to recoup, at least in the near term. On the flipside, you’ll also want to consider the value of the memories and enjoyment you have in your current home. Making a few improvements may be all it takes to make it “new” again. The best way to start this process is to get an accurate idea of the costs involved to accomplish your goals. Having a professional consider your ideas helps you uncover “new ideas” to keep costs down and the value up.

There are many ways to bring new life to your home. Room additions, kitchen remodels or updated bathrooms, and even new siding or replacement windows nearly always give the highest return on investment. Some even help lower your utility costs and will improve resale value should you choose to move someday. Best of all, any improvement you do today is priced at historically low prices, which will make your money stretch even further. Plus, you get the added benefit of enjoying your “new home” each and every day.

Enjoy your summer and let us know if we can help your home become “new” again.

Jeff Hibbard 

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Clean Up Your Concrete

If oil or grease is spilled or dripped on your garage floor, porch or patio cement, apply an absorbent powder such as fuller's earth, cornmeal, kitty litter or sawdust to absorb as much oil as possible immediately. Leave it on the stain for a few hours or even overnight and sweep up.

To remove the grease stain:
1. Using a stiff long handled brush, scrub stain with concentrated detergent suds. Rinse well with hose. Dry and repeat if necessary.

2. Sprinkle "dishwasher" detergent (dry) on wet concrete. Let it stand a few minutes; pour boiling water on area. Scrub and rinse. Use rubber gloves on hands.

3. Commercial Product: One brand is Garage and Driveway Cleaner by Red Devil Co. available in paint or/and hardware stores. It can also be used on blacktop surfaces. Other similar brands may be available in your area.

4. On wet oily surface of concrete, sprinkle with trisodium phosphate (commonly known as TSP). Allow to stand 15 to 30 minutes, then scrub with stiff brush and hot water. Rinse with clean water. Do not use on asphalt.
 

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Decorating with Photographs

Hanging photos can be a fun, personal way to fill wall space. But many of us don't know how to do it.  The great thing about hanging a picture is that it's not permanent.  If you don't like it, change it.

Here are some great tips for decorating with photos:

Pick a Theme
Everything doesn't have to match, but there should be a unifying aspect. Group pictures of your kids, black-and-white shots, or nature images, or place mismatched photos in identical frames.

Find a Shape
Paint a shape (circle, cross, triangle, or diamond) on the wall and hang all the pictures inside.

Form a Band
Paint a three-foot-high stripe on the wall, four feet off the floor. Hang photos inside.

Keep It Close
Leave one to three inches between each frame.

Color a Wall
Black-and-white shots look best on a colored wall. Color photos look best if the wall color doesn't match.
 

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Staying Cool and Saving Energy

Here are some great cooling tips for those dog days of summer.  Not only will you keep your house cooler, but you will also cut energy costs too!

• Close shades during the day to reduce solar heat gains. Outdoor shading devices such as awnings reduce heat gain through a window by as much as 90 percent while letting light in.

• If you’re thinking of planting trees, consider putting them by a window on the sunny side of the house for natural heat-reducing shade.

• Leave storm windows on windows that don’t need to be opened, or on windows in air-conditioned rooms. They help keep the heat outside.

• If it’s still cool enough at night, usually 77 degrees or less, open your windows to vent the house. Close them up in the morning to seal in the cool air. When we do this at my house the A/C usually doesn’t kick on until late afternoon. Using some sort of window fan to cross ventilate can help bring in the cool air.

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Speaking of making home new again, we were honored to be selected to renovate this early 1900 farmhouse.  Its owners gained much needed space and improved curb appeal while meticulously maintaining the character of the original home.