How the Remodeling industry works

How the Remodeling industry works

 

     As long as I can remember I have been around the remodeling business. From the time I was 8 years old my Dad would bring me to work with him. At the time I would have rather been playing outside or been with my friends but it was okay because I got to be with my Dad. He would always say “Pay attention…watch what I do”. I never really took it very serious, after all I was going to  be a rockstar !  As a young adult I realized that it was pretty cool to do remodeling work,  kind of like a form of art,  and I always loved the Arts. As I grew older I began to embrace the field and developed a passion for transforming something old into something new and beautiful. Unfortunately it hasn’t been a very profitable journey. Read on if you want the truth about the remodeling business…

 

    In a nutshell the remodeling business is run by a bunch of corrupt and greed driven individuals who care about nothing more than gross profit. When these people are in the board room they are not talking about how beautiful your kitchen turned out. They are talking about how much money they made from it. It is sort of like a pyamid scheme.

(1)   You have the (Owner or Partnership). These people, for one have never swung a hammer in their life. They drive around in Escalades in the winter and Corvettes in the summer. They have summer homes with Jet Skis and Expensive boats.

(2)   The Sales staff…Okay these people don’t know  if they are selling kitchens and baths or shoes ! I have had the experience of one salesman who asked me what Crown Moulding was ! Their job is to gain your trust and get you to sign on the dotted line. The more the price, the better the commission !

(3)   The Installer…This is Me ! The Artist that takes pride in the work that goes into your home…I don’t have a sales pitch…My van is my office. My Dad always told me since I was a little boy that “ If you accept the quality of the job in your own home than it is sufficient”…” If not than it is sub-par and unacceptable”. In my 26 plus years in this business I have heard from so many Contractors… “ It looks good from 390 !!!”. WHAT ?  Then I go to pick up my check when the job is done and management says “well were going to have to take 3 or 4 hundred of the bill because there just wasn’t enough in the job. Meanwhile I have to work Saturdays and Sundays just to barely pay the bills and the big guys are enjoying life with the family at the cottage or on vacation !!! Yeah…That’s living the dream !!!

 

Wake up people !!!

Stop paying the middlemen…You could save thousands by hiring the little guy !!!

 

 

                                      

Planning Your Basement Space

June 21^st, 2012

Have you been somewhat puzzled in trying to come up with a design concept that will bring life to that dark, dank concrete space under your home? Well, before you can even think about the colors of the paint, the placement of furniture or carpet in your Basement, you need to evaluate the space in question first. Don’t get discouraged though, your basement no longer has to be the dungeon and creepy, unused space it once was. With a little inspiration and creative planning you can soon realize a warm, inviting and truly awe-inspiring extension to your home.

 First, stand at the bottom of your Basement steps and take a look at the space available to you. Try to get a preliminary visual picture of how you want to use the space and what the functionality is in which you want to achieve. Imagine what it might look like and store that image away in your mind. Also utilize the many examples available to you on the Internet as well as in magazines. Remember to be budget conscious and prioritize your most important aspects of the design.

 During your inventory, you have to take into account a few necessary evils. For example, by identifying the items that will have to stay no matter what. These items include the heater/AC unit and associated ductwork, water heater, sump pump and crock, electrical panel and wiring, pipes, support columns, and beams. All of these things are necessary to the function of the home and their location cannot be changed without incurring monumental costs. If you have a very large budget then moving these items may better serve your new floor plan. In the majority of cases it is wise to use your budget for other things that might serve your needs in a more functional way. Although the original builder/owner of the home did not take into account the future use of the Basement as living space as they were placing the utilities, with a good design these items can be hidden in a way that can make them become part of the design and even add visual appeal.

Some Common Ideas

• Office: With the right lighting and organization you can create the office or work environment you’ve always wanted. Again, if you have a separate entrance you can even capitalize on operating your business from home while saving thousands a year on Gas.
• Game Room: Most basements have more than enough space to accommodate a pool table, darts and other family games. Add a bar and turn the game room into a classy, welcoming neighborhood retreat.
• Childs Playroom: A perfect haven for children or grandchildren … consider using softer furnishings such as carpet in children’s play areas as the entire floor need not be the same for all areas of the design.
• Gym: No excuses not to hit the gym when it’s right there in your own home! Mirrors, TV’s, a juice bar and of course exercise equipment, will give you the motivation to actually stick to your Fitness goals.
• Guest Quarters: Perfect for overnight or extended company. They will feel right at home with the extra privacy and Creating a cozy bedroom makes guests feel welcome and comfortable, even though they may be far from home
• Extra Living Space: Maybe you simply want to utilize the extra space for the whole family? One of the many benefits of a well-planned basement is that can cater to the whole family’s needs. Plenty of open space means everyone can do what they enjoy, all at the same time. To me that is a  win-win situation for any family. Also with the extra space you gain in a basement remodel you’ll have more than enough room to host all the family holidays.

Reclaiming that dungeon may seem like a daunting task, but the rewards you’ll reap will be pay you back ten-fold.

If you are interested in remodeling your basement call Artisan Construction and Remodeling today for a Design consultation and estimate.

Happy Remodeling!

Next Time… The Construction process

Reclaiming your Basement (“Fam Cave”)

 

June 20th, 2012. 

Looking for more living space in your house? Tired of tripping over the kid’s toys in the Family Room? Want to be able to entertain more guests with your new flat screen T.V. and billiard table? Open the door and take a stroll down into the dungeon that is your Basement. 

No longer does “the Basement” have to conjure up thoughts of punishment or banishment. It is possible to be excited when someone says, “let’s go down to the Basement.” Whether you live in a brand new home or a centuries old farmhouse, your Basement (“Fam Cave”) can be turned into the entertainment centerpiece of your family life. 

We will be looking at “the Basement (“Fam Cave”) as living space” over our first few entries, but even then, we will not be able to cover all the options and topics that need to be considered when finishing off the lower level of your home. 

First a definition;

fam cave: 1. Large area in house; often in basement; with range of audio and video equipment, exercise machines, kitchen appliances and table games. 2. Where Dad, Mom and their kids can escape, even (gasp!) together. 

To understand the emergence of the (“Fam Cave”), you have to dig a little deeper, back to an earlier era: the dawn of the man cave. That's when Dad carved out a bit of the basement for his own poker retreat and furnished it with a Barcalounger and a TV for football games. By the time large flat screens and Nintendo came along, the man cave was in its prime.

It looked so good that Mom wanted a piece of the cave action. And so, on top of the multiple stereo speakers and beer taps came the Pilates Reformer and yoga mat. Next, the espresso machine and the mini-fridge.

The kids were not to be left out. They whined until they got the Wii player and the built-in stage where they could let it rip with the new karaoke machine, all the while texting on cellphones and surfing on laptops.

And the (“Fam Cave”), that all-encompassing hide-out and shrine to home entertainment, evolved. Don't forget the popcorn maker.

One of the topics that we will not dwell on is the one dealing with permits and codes that address the use of the Basement spaces of your home. Suffice to say that you need to be in contact with your local municipality to make sure that you are in compliance with all of the requirements of their current building codes. One of the biggest ticket items that may come up in your conversations with your code official may be the whole egress issue. This is not a topic to be taken lightly. Just think, you do not want your guests to be trapped in the Basement should there be a fire on the first floor of your home. Don’t skimp or try to get around this. It is for your safety and the safety of your family and friends.

The newly finished space can run the gamut of simplicity to extravagance. Cleaning out some of your unwanted junk and throwing down a remnant carpet can make a great new play space for the kids. Or creating a Home Theater complete with a snack bar and Theater seating along with a Billiard Room and full Bathroom can facilitate a full blown adult entertainment area. Only you can determine your needs and wants as well as your budget! 

Let’s get started!

Happy Remodeling! 

Next Time…Planning Your Finished Basement (“Fam Cave”)