When it comes to Atlanta area building contractors, there are some tricks of the trade you need to be aware of, especially if you’re looking to hire one for a job you’re considering.
When it comes to building contractors, it pays to know the tricks of the trade BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. We have more tips and advice for you on Atlanta Home Improvements. Just click on the link under “Atlanta Home Improvements” in the Categories listing to the right.
Atlanta home remodeling appears poised to surge in 2013 according to analysts in the building industry.
The National Association of Home Builders announced recently that its “Remodeling Market Index” had climbed five points in the third quarter of 2012, from 45 to 50, a sign that remodelers are reporting they are seeing more business.
Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies is projecting that home improvement spending could see double-digit growth in the first half of 2013. Harvard calculates the Lending Indicator or Remodeling Activity (LIRA) by looking at a number of predictive forward-looking indicators, including housing starts, pending home sales, residential remodeling employment figures, and Census and Institute of Supply Management numbers about how many household products and materials are ordered by suppliers and shipped by manufacturers.
The LIRA is projecting an acceleration in market activity beginning this quarter, and strengthening as we move into the new year.
One hurdle to a possible rebound in Atlanta home remodeling is the 22.3% of homeowners with a mortgage who are underwater, or owe more on their mortgages than the value of their homes. Many owners looking to spruce up a fixer-upper use home equity loans—impossible to get when you have negative equity in your home—to finance construction.
We’re curious to know…
Do you have any plans to take on a Atlanta home remodeling project next year? Tell us about it. What do you have planned, and how do you plan to finance your project?
Older Atlanta home renovations can be a lot of fun, but also can be full of surprises. There are some things you should do in every case.
You should begin by having a licensed electrician give the place a thorough inspection. Most likely you have an undersized service panel with fuses instead of circuit breakers. Modern appliances, such as a microwave or a hair dryer, put more of a load on the wiring than it was designed for. You probably will have to part with several thousand dollars for a new 200-amp service, so factor this in to the cost of doing your Atlanta home renovations.
That’s probably the most expensive thing you’ll have to do, unless you determine your older home needs a new roof. Otherwise, things get easier after the electrical overhaul.
One of the easiest, and least expensive things to do in tackling Atlanta home renovations is the cosmetics. Painting with your colors makes the house fresh, clean and yours. Do one room at a time. If you’re not good with a paint brush, hire a professional. Otherwise, pick out your colors, put down your drop cloths, and start painting.
The rule is to work from top to bottom: ceiling first, walls next, finishing with door frames, window frames and baseboards.
The good thing about painting as part of your Atlanta home renovations, this part can be done while you’re actually living in the home. Unlike major electrical wiring overhauls where the electrician will have the power off much of the time, you can paint one room at a time until you tackle the entire house, room by room.
For more tips on Atlanta home renovations, scan our other articles on this site under Home Improvements. We have lots of tips and money saving tips for you there.
We specialize in Metro Atlanta real estate for sale. Brant Meadows has been helping families buy homes for more than 16 years. Home Hunters Realty of Atlanta, Georgia, is an exclusive buyer's agency serving home buyers only.
