Tuesday 8 May 2012

Sash Windows: You Have Choices!

Whether you want new sash windows installed or want older sash windows repaired or refurbished, sash windows offer great choices in terms of functionality and great looks. You might be thinking about changing windows on your older home. Before you replace older windows, here’s some food for thought:

Don’t Replace Sash Windows on Older Homes Until You Carefully Consider Your Options!

Older homes that have sash windows have a deep degree of character and this is desirable by many people. If you’re selling your home, they can add to the appeal of the property. And even if it’s just that you are someone who is house proud, you can do a lot to keep your sash windows looking and performing great.

Instead of changing to newer windows, you can have sash window replacements put in that perform well and that look gorgeous, too. Newer options in sash windows can have enhanced capabilities such as being easier to clean and maintain but they can still look true to the original design of your home. You could have better sound-proofing and security as well.

Talk to a sash windows specialist who can help you determine whether or not your sash windows should be restored, repaired, or replaced. When looking at replacements as the best option, you don’t have to change them out for different window styles. You can find great options that look like the originals but that perform much better. Today’s options can have thermal properties as well, making them highly efficient, which can mean a great return on your investment.

Tips for Choosing and Comparing Sash Windows Specialists:

· If you want to buy sash windows, look to deal with someone that is experienced in this area, particularly if you live in a much older home.

· Look for windows that meet rigid air-permeability standards and that have strong wind resistance abilities. Compare specs when looking at pricing differences between brands.

· If considering bespoke sash windows, look for windows manufactured in an ISO 9001 registered factory for increased peace of mind.

· Carefully review options and look for a guarantee. Higher end companies offer an insurance-backed guarantee on their windows.

If your home is in a conservation area, this is another reason to be discerning about choosing a sash windows specialist. When your council is being rigid about the allowable changes to the exterior of your home you’ll want to be absolutely sure that repairs or restorations meet those requirements.

A house’s windows do make a big difference to the look of a home. The way those windows perform will have a big impact on the energy efficiency of the home, too. Why not look at your options? Whether looking at refurbishments, repairs, or new window options, you have a lot more choices than you might expect when it comes to sash windows.

Friday 4 May 2012

5 Tips for Orchestrating a Smooth Home Restoration Project

When you decide to have work done at your home, the right preparations can help things go smoothly. Whether it’s a window restoration project, sash window repairs being done, or you are having more extensive restorations or refurbishments done, the following advice can help your project happen the way you hope --- safely, swiftly, and with a great outcome.

Tip #1: Do Due Diligence

Research your options. Various things need to be researched including the best options for your home’s renovations or restorations and researching options for the right company to do the actual work. Having a bit of knowledge about what needs to happen will increase your chances of making smart choices. Even if you’re not a subject matter expert, a little bit of research can help you get a general idea of what needs to happen. This knowledge can make the project go more smoothly.

Tip#2: Take Time to Choose the Right Company for the Restoration

It’s wise to obtain more than one quote on a home renovation or restoration project. When you reach out to companies, pay attention to their professionalism and the information they provide to you about the pricing and the process.

Don’t just look at the price on the quote alone in an effort to make a determination. What information is provided to help you prepare for the project? Do you know what’s going to take place from the time you pay the deposit until the time the work is complete? Full knowledge of the policies and procedures can help you make a choice about who to deal with as well as make necessary preparations so that you can help ensure things can happen according to plan.

Important Advice: Take the time to look at the companies you’re deciding among a bit closer. Look at reputation, look at their portfolio, and consider who they have worked with in the past. When you see an impressive list of current and past clients, this can put your mind at ease. A long list of happy and repeat customers can help you choose.

Pay attention to the process of quoting and look for key cues that you are dealing with a professional organisation. Whether you know what you want or want professional expertise about the sort of work that should be done a solid company will make a recommendation based on your needs and based your budget.

If a company has clearly laid out and established policies and guidelines, this is a sign you’re dealing with a professional company and is another area can help you be at ease as you will know what to expect, in sequence.

Tip #3: Get it in Writing

Get everything in writing and make sure you understand all facets of the project before you sign a contract.

Tip#4: Know What to Expect

Make sure you have a good understanding of the process and timelines around your project. When you know what to expect, things seem like they’re much more organised and streamlined. Having a schedule and sequence of events helps you, the home owner, be prepared and helps you stay out of the way so that work can commence.

Tip#5: Stay Out of the Way

It’s important that homeowners do try to stay out of the way, incidentally. This can maximise productivity and quality assurance. For the progress, the safety, and the quality of the work at hand, the team of renovation or refurbishment specialists needs to be able to focus. Don’t let your curiosity about the process result in slowing things down.

With all that said, you should be well aware of whom to speak with in the event of a question or a problem. A professional company won’t require babysitting but if anything seems amiss, don’t hesitate to speak to your contractor or the site supervisor. A company working on your home should be accountable to you for delivering what was promised.

In summary, discussing your project requirements with more than one contractor is a good idea. Assessing their professionalism, their reputation, and being prepared with full disclosure of the process, schedule, costs, and anticipated outcome can put your mind at ease about having someone do work on your home.

Note: There is always a chance that things won’t go 100% according to plan. But dealing with the right contractors will help minimise frustrations and maximise the chances of a successful restoration project with a great outcome.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Is Renovating Your Older House a Better Idea than Selling?

Keywords: renovating, restorations, repairs, refurbishments

Meta Desc: Are you wondering if you should be renovating instead of selling? Here’s some food for thought:

A lot of people opt to move to a new house when they feel like they’ve outgrown the old one. Maybe they’ve outgrown it in size. Or perhaps they feel that it’s time to move up to a nicer house. But more than ever, people often choose to renovate rather than sell. There are a lot of good reasons for this.

Older Houses Have Character

Many people who buy a newer home complain. It looks like every other house in that neighbourhood. It feels ‘cheap’ (but wasn’t cheap to buy!). If you appreciate the unique characteristics of older homes, you might want to consider doing some renovations, refurbishments, and repairs instead of selling up and moving somewhere else.

Larger and Better Properties

In many cases, older homes are going to have many more features than a newer home. They often have mature treed lots and the size of the property is often quite a bit bigger, too. Many new homes are on postage stamp sized lots without much room to enjoy your grounds. And inside, older homes tend to have larger rooms, more storage, higher ceilings, and much nicer and larger windows.

The Housing Market is Volatile

The housing market is unpredictable. It’s not always easy to sell a house. You might not get the right value for it today. It might be better for your finances to fix it up and hang onto it for a while longer. It’s often cheaper to do renovating and repairs now and then benefit from them later when the value of your home will increase. Not only will it increase when the real estate market improves but those improvements you’ve made that make your home more liveable will also make it more appealing and valuable if and when you do decide to sell.

You Love Your Neighbourhood

It’s not always easy to uproot your life. Renovating your home to make it more liveable could make good sense for you in terms of travel to work and school and in terms of your neighbours and other local amenities. Starting fresh might sound good, in theory, to some but it’s not always what all people want. Some think it’s easier than renovating but the right renovation company can do the upgrades, fixes, and repairs on a tight schedule and in a way that makes it as easy as possible for you to get through the renovation period.

Why Not Investigate Renovating?

Why not consider looking into finding out what can be done to make you happier in the home you already live in? It couldn’t hurt to consider your options. Have an assessment done on your home to see how much it’s worth right now. Compare that against what you owe and what you can afford in terms of moving. Factor in that if you did sell, you’d likely get less than asking on your home offer. Consider making a list of the things you’d like to have repaired or changed in your home and speak to a company or two who can quote you. With all the information at your fingertips, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that’s right for you, your family, and your finances.