Death by Design

Hello again Everyone,

"To design or not to design that is the question."  I just spent time trying to give a cost estimate without any plans or specifications.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  So many customers that are in the market for construction or remodeling projects are just not willing to spend the money for good design work.  Without a well designed plan it makes it very difficult for a contractor to put together an accurate cost estimate.  So why don't people want to spend the time and money for good design???

I would like to stop there and give you readers a homework assignment.  Why don't you see value in hiring an architect or designer?  Let us know your thoughts at http://sunhomescolorado.com/contact/

I will continue with why design (or lack of design) causes the death of many a project.  I recently was given verbal requirements for a project, tile the kitchen and bath floors, vault the ceiling, install the tankless electric water heater, etc.  That set of verbal plans is most likely going to be a nightmare for the customer since the floor was built with floor joists that are too small to support a tile floor without movement and cracking.  (A crack free tile floor was not in the verbal plans.)  The tankless water heater will not pay for itself in the time the owner plans to be in the home. The real goal was to have the cheapest water heat possible.  Now this is a simple example but it illustrates some of the pitfalls of "hurry up and give me a bid" thinking.

So, here is a good rule.  If your project is going to take a month spend a minimum of 1/2 that time thinking and planning and getting your vision on paper. 

Most people are not aware of all the exciting products and finishes available nor are they familiar with the hidden costs or issues in a construction project.  That is where a good designer will, most of the time, save you money or headaches that will more than pay for his or her services.

Thanks for listening.

Kevin

Budgeting for home maintenance

Did you ever wonder how much money you spend on just maintaning your home each year?  Would it help to know how much to budget for home maintenance?  Most of us just spend the money that is necessary and don't even think about how much it averages out to over time.  We are often asked to give an assessment of the condition of homes and what maintenance may be required in the near future.  Of course there are variables but studies have shown that you can expect to spend 2% of you homes value each year.  Now you may not spend it each year but you may spend 10% one year after saving for 5 years on a kitchen remodel.  So, just keep in mind that there is an expense to owing a home above and beyond a mortgage and it helps us to plan for it rather than be suprised.

Thanks for listening,

Kevin

Home maintenance tips (Flashing)

So often when we inspect homes we see siding rotted and water damage behind the siding or stucco or masonry because caulk was used inplace of metal flashing or the flashing was not installed properly.  Sometimes the bottom edge of wood lap siding is not painted well and can allow water to travel upwards into the siding like a wick on a candle.  So, make sure your home or builder does not depend on caulk to alone provide a water barrier above windows and doors or siding trim or even wood decks.  Also, kick out flashing is often not installed where the roof line meets the wall of an upper story.  (This is a piece of metal flashing that kicks water out into the roof area rather that letting it get behind the siding as it comes down the roof.