Can Home Improvement Save You Money?

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Win a New Kitchen Remodel from Bounty

* Update - this contest from Bounty is over. However, we currently have a new contest offering a $200 Home Depot gift card - see details on how you can win!


Win a Kitchen Renovation
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. But I did find a contest that would allow you to win a kitchen makeover. For free. The catch? You've got to write a 100 word story. So, I guess it's not really for free -- you've got to write something, but I think it's a pretty good tradeoff.

According to the Bounty website, all you have to do is put the Best Ever! Bounty One Sheet to the test. Use the paper towel sheet on your toughest mess and then talk about your cleanup story on their website. And that's it. You're entered for a chance to win a $30,000 kitchen renovation. That's the grand prize. There's also a chance at a first prize for a kitchen appliance makeover, valued at $8,000. You might even win a years supply of Bounty in the 2nd place prize.

I entered today. It was pretty easy to do. And I could really use a new kitchen. Or even just new appliances. The paper towels? I have plenty... If you win, you have to send me a toaster or a can opener or something!

Remodeling the kitchen can be so expensive these days, it's nice to have a little help. Between the cost of new cabinets, countertops, and flooring it can easily run from $30,000 to $60,0000 and that's not even for a high-end renovation project. But, as everyone is so fond of pointing out, you can usually get most if not all of your budget back on a kitchen remodel. If you're selling your home in the near future. And it's done right. And depending on the area of the country you live in. So, it's not guaranteed.

While we're on the subject of kitchen remodeling, you can review some previous renovation posts that are up on the ConstructionDeal.com blogs:

How to Save Money When Remodeling Your Kitchen
Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Kitchen Remodeling: The Banquette
The Latest Kitchen Remodeling Trend

Also, if you need to find a local kitchen renovation company or a kitchen designer, you can use the ConstructionDeal.com website and we'll match you with either -- for free. It's a smart and fast way to find a contractor!

Good luck with the Bounty contest!

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All About Architects: Do You Need an Architect?

Are you thinking about or planning a new home construction project? Or even a home addition? You know that you need professional created plans and documents to make it all happen. And you need to make sure you get all the right permits and will pass all the inspections. So, the question is -- do you need an architect to help with your project?

Architects can do so much for any building or remodeling project. They can handle the management of the entire process, from design to completion. Or they can provide just the design plans for your new project.

I found a list of questions and answers on whether you need an architect, what an architect can do for you, and more. From the AIA website:

"1. Do I need an architect for my project?
If you haven't worked with an architect before, you may wonder whether your project really requires it. Particularly if your project is your personal residence, it may not seem necessary.

2. What services do architects provide?
Architects see the big picture when it comes to your project. They help you explore what appeals to you aesthetically and what you require functionally. They coordinate teams of design, engineering and construction professionals; they sort through the maze of building codes and zoning requirements; they ensure your project is built the way it was intended.

3. At what point in my project should I involve an architect?
As soon as you decide you want to build something new, you should start looking for an architect. Architects provide important pre-design services including site evaluation, and can help you explore options you may not have considered. Involving an architect early in the process can help avoid costly missteps, and increase the likelihood of your satisfaction with the project.

4. How do I find the right architect for my project?
It is critical to find an architect who makes you feel comfortable, and with whom you have open communication. It's also important to find an architect with experience in your project type."

To find a local architect or architectural firm, you can post your request on the ConstructionDeal.com website. Describe your project and submit! You can choose how many architects will contact you. You'll save time because they will call you instead of you having to call several at random from the phone book. Find an architect the easy way!

"5. Don't architects add substantial cost to a project?
While it's true that architects' fees are an additional project cost, hiring an architect can actually save you money in many ways. Architects can monitor your budget and negotiate to get the best materials and workmanship at a good price. An architect's design can reduce energy and maintenance costs. They can turn a difficult lot into a successful building site. And they spend time planning and fully developing your ideas to avoid changes once construction is underway.

6. How are architects compensated?
An architect's compensation can be based on time, a stipulated sum, a percentage of the cost of the work, the project's square footage, unit cost (based on number of rooms/apartments, etc.), or royalty in which compensation is a share of the profit derived from the project. Time-based compensation and stipulated sums are most common.

7. What's my role in the design process?
Your architect will depend on you to communicate about your design preferences, functional requirements, and budget. Your timely response to questions and design submissions will help keep the project on track. It is also important for you to raise any concerns you have as the project proceeds, so they can be addressed in the earliest stages. Working in partnership with your architect, you will help ensure the best possible outcome for your project."

RELATED POSTS:
20 Questions to Ask Your Architect
Interior Design Trends for 2007
Home Remodeling Cost Estimator

Do you need an architect, designer, or design/builder? You can find one the easy way. Post your request with ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with local architect firms in your area. And it's free. You'll save time because the architects will be calling you instead of you calling several at random from the phone book. The smart and easy way to find an architect!

Reasons to Get a New Land Survey

What is a land surveyor? A surveyor has the tools and experience to provide mapping and boundary services to property owners. They provide plans, maps, property boundaries for construction, remodeling, title insurance, and other real estate projects.

The surveyor researches titles and documents to obtain an accurate description of your land. They may also research neighboring property documents for any problems or conflicts. Next, they obtain physical measurements from the property. These measurements are compared to the records on file to check for any problems and verify any disputes.

A land surveyor will use various methods to determine boundaries, including electronic equipment, photo mapping, GPS positioning, measuring tape, and may even employ an old-fashioned compass to give accurate measurements.

Costs for a land survey can vary. It depends on how much work is involved to research records, the size and scale of the project and the land itself, the time of year, weather, and how many visits are required for complete and accurate comparisons. The more effort required, the more it can cost.

Reasons to Get a New Land Survey:
From the website Colorado Professional Land Surveyors: "In recent years, few and fewer property buyers are getting a professional land survey done. This is due, in large part, from advice from real estate professionals, mortgage companies, and title insurance companies.

Simply because a mortgage company or title insurance company does not require a survey for their underwriting requirements, that doesn't mean they are looking out for the best interest of the buyer of the property or the seller for that matter. Buyers and sellers should be aware of matters that could adversely effect the title, marketability, or value of their property.

Many new home buyers are relying upon old outdated surveys to evaluate survey matters. This is unwise. An old survey is certified to the seller, not to the buyer. Therefore, the new buyer should not rely on the old survey for obvious reasons of assurance and liability. A new survey should be conducted and certified to the buyer. A new survey will address encroachments onto and off of the property, access to and from a public right-of-way. A current survey will identify and locate new structures, fences, walls and additions. A new land survey will also identify recent, missing, destroyed and erroneous property corners. Flood hazard areas will also be delineated, as they relate to the subject property and the improvements.

A recent development has property owners signing a survey affidavit as a substitute for a survey for the new buyer. This practice puts the homeowner (or seller) in an awkward position of certifying an old survey, and stating that there have not been any changes since the date of the old land survey. These homeowners have been persuaded into signing the so-called affidavit do not have any way to determine if the old survey is correct, much less a way to identify any changes or if there was an error. Nor do the sellers know what matters and to what standards a survey should be conducted for a survey to be correct. This practice might also put the seller in a position of covering up and not disclosing issues in order to save some money.

The request for the survey affidavit usually comes from a title insurance company for their motivation of shedding liability. The seller, by signing the affidavit, assumes the survey related responsibility. The buyer, in turn has no assurance or recourse if there are survey related matters that adversely affects the marketability and value of the property. The buyer cannot seek recourse from the title company, because they usually take exception to survey related matters and any matters that a 'correct' survey would disclose. The only course of action would be to seek damages from the past seller of the property.

All parties should also be aware is that a survey is an original creation and is protected under the federal copyright laws. Any unauthorized reproduction of an old survey can result in a lawsuit. The original survey is certified to the original homeowner and is not transferable. A third party cannot rely upon an old survey. A new survey should be conducted and specifically certified to the new buyer. Also the Tennessee Real Estate Commission recently noted, 'if the surveys given to prospects are not accurate, a court could hold (real estate) licensees liable for providing a party with misinformation.'

In conclusion, buyers of real property should have a new survey conducted. Those buyers who do not have a new land survey will be purchasing property without reliable information as to encroachments, overlaps, boundary line disputes and other matters that might be disclosed by an accurate survey of the property by a registered professional land surveyor."

If you need to have a land survey done on your property, you can post your request with ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with a local land surveyor for any type of property survey that you need done.

And it's a free service to find a local property surveyor in your area.

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