When Double J is contacted for a potential residential remodeling project, we will ask the homeowner questions about their future expectations of their home. Do they plan to stay in the home for several years or sell it in a short time period? Will the neighborhood support the remodel as far as resale value is concerned? Will they be able to recoup the value of the remodel when they sale their home?
Once a year, Hanley Wood Remodeling Magazine comes out with a cost vs value article to give homeowners a general sense of which projects have the highest return on value when a home is resold based on the location of the home and the scale of the project. If you or someone you know is considering investing money into a remodeling project, this article may help when considering where you spend your dollars.
If your home was built prior to 1978, 2010 will bring a new set of regulations and costs to renovation work performed on your home. The Environmental Protection Agency will require any contractor working on a pre-1978 home to become lead certified. Contractors are required to take a course and mail an application to the EPA prior to April 2010. For more information on the EPA standards for painting or renovating a home with lead-based paint, visit their website at www.epa.gov/lead.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
The gorgeous lights, decorated trees and fresh smells of winter remind us to reflect on the importance of giving to others and evaluating our priorities as a new year dawns. We pray each of you will have an opportunity to spend these next couple of weeks celebrating with friends and family and giving back to those you love and those in need. Here's a toast to a bright and blessed 2010!
We greatly appreciate your referrals!
Snow Trimming Tips
In response to our last newsletter, a landscape partner of ours, Steve Housel, gave this advice for preparing your trees for the snow.
"We have found that by layering the branching structure (i.e. opening up a small section between the horizontal limbs) allows the branch to bend down a bit and sluff off snow loads without breaking it or overloading the branch below. "
For additional information or landscape consulting, feel free to contact Changing Landscapes at 503-638-4449. Steve has over 30 years experience in the landscape business and would love to help you on your next project!
Need to get organized?
If you're like us, the start of a new year encourages us to de-clutter and get more organized. One of the best decisions Double J made for it's business was attending workshops and hiring Restoring Order ® to help us organize and prioritize our office space. If you need a boost for the new year to clean out and start fresh in your home or office, give Vicki a call or sign-up for one of her workshops. You will fill invigorated as you reclaim your space!
