Thursday
How To Install Things - Looking for a Stud?
This post has been permanently moved to http://contractorequotes.com/improvements/looking-for-a-stud/
Tuesday
Sharp's Microwave... Drawer?
I saw this little item in a remodeling magazine the other day. It's a microwave, that can be placed under a countertop, and it opens automatically. It says it comes in 24" and 30" models. You can also put it under a cooktop or wall oven. It says it can hold a 9" by 13" plate. It has an Auto-Touch control panel that is angled so it's convenient and easy to use. Click Here for Sharp's Microwave page.I'm not sold on it. I think it might be too low (I'd have to get on my hands and knees to look through the viewing window) and difficult to use. But... it could be a great space saver in a small, tight kitchen. It would really free up counter space.
What do you think?
As far as I can tell, the Sharp unit costs about $900. That doesn't include installation. It comes in white, black, and stainless steel.
I've also found a similar microwave from KitchenAid. It's not necessarily a drawer, but it does have a pulldown or drop down drawer (similar to a standard oven.) As a built-in microwave, it could be considered more comfortable than the Sharp unit.If you need to find a kitchen appliance installer for your microwave purchase, consider ConstructionDeal.com. Simply submit a request and get 4 quotes from appliance pros. There's no cost and no obligation.
Monday
Weather the Storm: Flood Insurance
With the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina upon us, and with a new season of storms moving in, it's important to remember something that most homeowners forget: flood insurance. Most insurance policies do not specifically cover flood damage (usually only rain damage from water that enters from the roof and windows.) Also, check with your insurance supplier soon - most policies only cover a homeowner who has taken it out at least 30 days before disaster strikes.
Check out FEMA's FloodSmart page, which is the official site for the National Flood Insurance Program.
If disaster does strike, don't forget to use ConstructionDeal.com to find a local Water Damage Restoration Company.It's a fast and easy way to find local professionals. Simply submit a request and get 4 quotes the same day - at no cost.
There's no obligation to hire any of the qualified restoration contractors in our network.
How Does ConstructionDeal.com Help Me?
"So... what can your site, ConstructionDeal.com, do for me?" you ask.Here's the short version -- we'll help you find a contractor (and save you time and money doing it.)
Here's the slightly longer version -- Let's say you have a remodeling or repair project and you need a professional to help you do it. From help building a new house all the way down to stopping that faucet leak in the kitchen. You have a few options to find an expert - you can ask a friend or family member for a referral.
You can pick up your yellow pages and thumb through to find a few companies that have a pretty ad. Or, you can use a service like ours.
"How does ConstructionDeal.com save me time and money?" you follow up. You're tricky that way. Always asking the good questions.
If you rely on the referral from your friend or sister-in-law, you end up calling only one company. That company might not do the type of work you need. And, you'll only be talking to ONE company. That means you'll get only ONE bid on the job. You might pay too much.
If you have to pick a few random companies from the phone book, you have to spend time calling them all up, qualifying them over the phone to make sure they can do the job, and then you have to wait for follow-up calls. You might even need to pull a few more names out of the book and call those up. Takes a lot of time.
What our site does is this -- you submit your remodeling project under the correct category. You provide an accurate description of what the project involves (thus, qualifying the contractors), and then you sit back and wait for them to call you. Nice, huh? You'll get 4 quotes from service pros the same day - sometimes within minutes.
Anyway. That's what we're all about. Matching you up to contractors. If you need some work done, post your project -- at no cost -- and decide on the best bid from all the contractors, to have the job completed. Simple.
If you don't need anyone right now... be sure and bookmark our page.
"Thank you," you say.
You're welcome.
Friday
Read Any Good House Blogs Lately?
What is a house blog?I wanted to let you all know what some crazy people are doing. They're writing about their home renovations.
In other words: House Blogging.
House blogs are online journals the homeowners keep while they renovate or restore their houses (as if doing a lot of the work themselves weren't tiring enough.) They're taking pictures, telling war stories, and showing us their progress.
House in Progress is the popular online diary of a family renovating their 1900’s bungalow in Chicago.
At 1902 Victorian, they’re working to take their “old house out of the disco era and back into the Victorian.”
Domicile – this blog covers the “domestic musings” from homeowners in Canada which can cover anything from home renovation to gardening and even cooking and recipes.
House Made chronicles two Bay Area women's purchase and revitalization of what they describe as "a neglected 1922 Pueblo/Spanish bungalow in Oakland."
Finally, there is a central hub for some of the DIY house bloggers out there, called HouseBlogs.net, that is a directory for over 300 House Blogs.
My favorite house blog title? This Old Crack House about the adventures of turning a... well, a crack house into a home.
Looking to renovate your old home? We can help save you time -- submit your home renovation project to ConstructionDeal.com and we'll find you a local contractor. And you can choose how many contractors you would like to contact you! It's fast, free and saves you time.
Wednesday
Has the Housing Bubble Popped?
AP Economics Writer Jeannine Aversa thinks so. The headline reads, "Existing Home Sales Drop to 2-Year Low" in this Yahoo Finance article.It states, "House hunters shied away from buying in July, driving down sales of previously owned homes to a 2 1/2-year low. The inventory of unsold homes climbed to a new record high."
"The new figures, released Wednesday, provided fresh evidence of how much the once-sizzling housing market has cooled."Existing-home sales dropped 4.1 percent in July from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.33 million units, the National Association of Realtors reported. That was the lowest level since January 2004."
The article has this little gem, too: "Meanwhile, the inventory of unsold homes in July rose to a record high of 3.86 million. At the current sales pace, it would take 7.3 months to exhaust that overhang. That is the longest period to exhaust the supply of homes since the spring of 1993."
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