If you're thinking of doing some Columbia SC home improvements, depending on the level of the improvements, you may need to consider hiring a contractor to do the job. There are several steps we recommend when looking for contractors.
Columbia SC Home Improvements – Finding the Right Contractor
It may seem a bit ridiculous to even mention this, but you need to know exactly what you want to have done. The more information you have available for the contractors, the better. Only by knowing specifically (down to the last detail) what you want to have done will you be able to compare bids from different contractors for the same work.
If you're getting a bid from one contractor, then have a second or third contractor bid something different, even slightly, then you're not going to know who really offers the best price on your Columbia SC home improvements.
Columbia SC Home Improvements – Forget the Yellow Pages
Try to get personal referrals, rather than relying on the phone book. If you have a friend or a relative who had some work done on their home they were pleased with, that's a great starting point. You can get some honest feedback about the contractor's skill level, price, scheduling, level of cooperation, and much more. There are a lot of contractors out there to choose from, and, like most businesses, they succeed or fail mostly by their reputation, so a good referral is very helpful.
If you see some work going on down the street, stop and talk to the homeowner. Most people are more than willing to share their experiences — good and bad — about the contractor they've hired, and here again you can get some great firsthand information.
If you're planning some Columbia SC home improvements, some other good sources of referrals include real estate agents, insurance agents, property managers, your utility company, and your local building department.
Detail Your Columbia SC Home Improvements In Writing
Have a written contract that describes all the details of your agreement with the contractor, including materials to be used, a description of what's to be done, beginning and completion dates, price, and a payment schedule. Never pay in full upfront, even if you're offered a discount. Make a reasonable down payment if it's requested, typically no more than 20 percent, then make payments as the job progresses. The payments should be tied to specific completions, such as completion of frame inspection, completion of final inspection, or something else that you can easily verify.
We have other tips and articles about Columbia SC home improvements under our Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right.
A ventless fireplace, or as the industry likes to call them, a “vent-free” fireplace, is a liability in Columbia SC homes. We prefer the term “ventless”, or “not vented at all” when describing these cozy little demons.
The ventless fireplace industry wants you to feel you’re being liberated of a burden by not having an exhaust vent. We think it’s important for people to know that they’re actually missing something important when they go with a ventless gas appliance.
Why a Ventless Fireplace is a Liability in Columbia SC Homes
Unvented gas fireplaces are a liability in Columbia SC homes. We advise those who have one either to remove it, replace it, or just not use it. Yes, we know that some people love them and have never had a problem with theirs. We have heard of lots of people with unvented gas fireplaces who complain of headaches and other problems.
More than a few people are feeling ill when they use unvented fireplaces, and they want to confirm their suspicions. These things are in a lot of Columbia SC homes now, and people are buying those homes without knowing of the problems.
It’s unlikely that ventless fireplace units will go away anytime soon, but the more people find out about these problems, the better. As homeowners doing their research find out the truth and turn away from these ventless fireplace systems, Columbia SC homes become safer.
One company, Fireplace Creations in Tennessee, writes on their website, “After doing research, we decided we would never put a vent-free (room vented) appliance into our home. Because of this decision, we didn’t believe it would be right to sell them to our customers. This decision was made even though vent-free products were/are a hot item.” You can read their recommendation on why not to use a ventless fireplace here.
Are Wood Burning Fireplaces Safer Than Ventless Fireplaces?
If your state has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), you cannot install an open wood-burning fireplace in a new home. What does this tell you?
According to the BCAP-OCEAN code status website, 30 states are on the 2009 IECC or better now. Adopting it was one of the requirements for any state that took ARRA (Stimulus Act) money.
A ventless fireplace may have fancy technology built in now (oxygen depletion sensors and catalytic converters), but the bottom line is that the risks can outweigh the benefits. It’s not that hard to build a chase and cut a hole to install a direct vent model, so why take that risk in your home?
With Spring just around the corner, Columbia SC landscaping ideas are starting to bloom in everyone’s minds again.
Now is the perfect time for a thorough spring cleaning, but not just the attic or garage or getting rid of old clothes. The outside of your home is in just as much need of some annual care as the inside, but no more so than the yard or garden.
Winter can wreck havoc on a yard or garden and your Columbia SC landscaping is now in need of some Spring revival. Here are some basic tips for turning your yard into a spring showcase.
Columbia SC Landscaping Project Tips
Clear Away the Debris
Set aside a day to just clean away the winter debris that has collected in your Columbia SC landscaping. Once you’ve cleaned away the leaves and broken limbs that are lying around you’ll be ready to get the weeds that sprouted during the winter. Once all this is done, spending 10-20 minutes each week pulling weeds and spraying weed killer should help you maintain a weed-free yard.
Fertilize
If you want to ensure that your Columbia SC landscaping thrives, you’re going to have to include fertilizer. Not just for the grass, but everything. Grass, flowers and shrubs. Nothing says this step has to be complicated. There are a number of different fertilizers available from home-supply stores geared for a number of different purposes and a number of lawn and garden types. Turf Builder is a popular option for those who want to give their lawns a fighting chance to thrive. Plus, there are organic weed killers on the market that can make the aforementioned weed hunting a breeze.
If you’re growing food, like herbs, fruits and vegetables, make sure you use only organic fertilizers containing no pesticides.
Mulch
A fresh layer of mulch around plants, bushes and trees can go a long way to enhancing the beauty and tidiness of your Columbia SC landscaping. Professional landscapers suggest applying four inches of mulch over the top soil, which will help retain moisture and prevent growth of those pesky weeds.
Irrigation
Whether you’re working with a complex in-ground sprinkler system or a simple garden hose, it’s best to test the equipment now. If you have a sprinkler system, make sure the system is working properly before you actually need it. Check all the sprinkler heads for cracking and breakage since last year. Clear away grass and weeds that may have covered part or all of the pop-up heads to make sure they can actually pop-up when called for.
If you use the old-fashioned water hose system, check your hose and fittings for leaks and cracks now. When you need to pull out the hose to use it the first time is not the time you want to have to stop and head to the hardware store for replacements.
By following these simple tips for your Columbia SC landscaping this spring, even those without a green thumb should be able to revive a yard on the brink of winter extinction.
Even though the calendar says we’re still entrenched in the winter season, it’s never too early in the year to take measures to prevent your home from becoming a buffet to termites.
Here are some tips you should consider to keep a termite infestation away from your Columbia SC home.
If you haven’t had a termite inspection done on your Columbia SC home in the last year or two, now would be a good time to contact a local pest control company which specializes in termite protection and have them come out and give your home a thorough termite inspection.
Most reputable companies also offer annual contracts that protect you from the financial devastation of finding out you have thousands of dollars in damage to your Columbia SC home because of a termite invasion.
January is fast slipping away and many New Year’s resolutions have already bitten the dust, but if you’re thinking of doing some Columbia SC home improvements this year, here are some that won’t break the bank and still give you a fresh look.
Keep in mind, any Columbia SC home improvements you decide to make won’t just be for your benefit, but they could ultimately help lure potential home buyers, if and when you decide to sell.
Inexpensive Columbia SC Home Improvements
Painting
Nothing brightens up a room quicker and more dramatically than a fresh coat of paint.
If you’re tired of the color you have in a room, you can go dramatic, or just go light to freshen up the place.
Find a color that makes you happy but remember, if you plan on selling in the near future, neutral colors are best.
Faucets
Replacing old dingy or outdated looking faucets with new, modern, sleek faucets in the kitchen or bathroom can add just that extra touch the room is crying out for.
Hardware
While you’re replacing those outdated faucets, another one of the great, but inexpensive Columbia SC home improvements you can do is changing the hardware on your cabinets. You can introduce a metal or different texture, opt for contrast to the cabinet color. Not a lot of money to make a room look more modern and fresher.
Floors
If your carpets are looking a little on the worn, soiled side, you have a choice to make. You can get them professionally cleaned, which sometimes does the trick if they’re not too old. Or, you can go for new carpet — or other flooring like tile or wood. Aside from paint, nothing brightens up a room like new carpet or flooring. But be careful, floors are one of the Columbia SC home improvements that run up your budget in a hurry when you may not have planned for it.
Molding / Backsplash
If you just want to bring an elegant, refined look to your home and do something that might attract future buyers, consider crown molding or a kitchen backsplash. Both are fairly easy and inexpensive but add a new dimension and depth to the room.
These are just a few of the Columbia SC home improvements you might want to consider. For other ideas, click over to our Columbia SC Real Estate Categories and choose the Columbia SC Home Improvements category for more tips and ideas.