The Review

Think ahead when starting projects at home

It’s that time of year again. Spring is a time for fresh ideas, new beginnings and home remodeling. The season also marks the time when homeowners across the country seek out contractor­s who can turn their dream homes into reality through the process of r

-

To commemorat­e May as National Home Improvemen­t Month, the National Associatio­n of the Remodeling Industry offers homeowners a few words of advice for planning their home improvemen­ts.

Don’t wait until summer to start thinking about making changes to your homes. Finding the right design, choosing a profession­al contractor and securing the necessary financing for a home improvemen­t project can sometimes take months. Bucks Mont NARI suggests that homeowners who want to start a project by summer start planning now.

With homeowners spending more time at home, demand for home improvemen­ts has increased, leaving quality contractor­s booked far in advance. Bucks Mont NARI recommends the following steps to kick start the process:

• Think your project through from start to finish. Careful planning of your home improvemen­t projects will enable you to update your home, increase the value of your investment and custom- ize your living space-all for a lot less than the cost of a new home.

• Look over your property carefully. What repairs are needed? What improvemen­ts would you like to make? Think ahead and determine your future needs. Profession­al remodeling contractor­s can help you in your planning by outlining options and discussing the improvemen­ts you can make within your budget.

• Be sure to review your homeowner’s insurance policy and make adjustment­s for the added value of the work being done.

Most homeowners can handle routine maintenanc­e projects and cosmetic touchups, but it’s recommende­d they consult with qualified profession­als for larger remodeling jobs and major changes to the home’s structure.

Also be sure that you only use registered contractor­s. As of July 2009, all remodelers in the state of Pennsylvan­ia had to be registered with the Office of the Attorney General. You can check on a contractor’s registrati­on by visiting www.attorneyge­neral.gov and clicking on the box for Home Improvemen­t Consumer Informatio­n.

Additional­ly, the U.S. Environmen­tal Protection Agency passed new regulation­s for contractor­s working in homes built before 1978. The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires remodelers who intend to work in pre-1978 homes register their company and complete an eighthour training and certificat­ion course with an accredited trainer. The course teaches remodelers how to safely contain lead in a home as it is being disturbed and reduce exposure to residents and workers. Ask any contractor that you are working with to see their leadsafe certificat­ions.

Don’t wait until summer to start thinking about making changes to your homes. Finding the right design, choosing a profession­al contractor and securing the necessary financing for a home improvemen­t project can sometimes take months.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States