Category Archives: How To

3 Budgeting Tips For Any Home Remodeling Project

Helpful Hints, How To

The successful implementation (start, continuation and completion) of any home remodeling project depends on the size, accuracy, and viability of the project budget. Incidentally, you can assess the feasibility of any given home renovation project, such as partial remodeling projects like bathroom and kitchen remodels or full home makeovers, by comparing the actual cost of the project with the available project funds — a deficit causes the project to stall. In other words, the fate of any home remodeling project is usually determined by the project budget. Evidently, a home remodeling budget is crucial to project success and hence the process of creating the project budget must be one of the most important steps in the project. As such, you should take time to carefully plan and create the budget in order to guarantee a smooth project implementation process. By considering the following tips, you can create a realistic, accurate, and functional budget for any type of home remodeling project.

 

Setting The Budget

 

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The first step requires you to decide the amount you want or intend to spend on the remodeling project regardless of specific project features. In this instance, you have to highlight a ballpark figure of the actual amount that you have (or will) set aside for the entire project. You do not necessarily need professional assistance to make this decision — it all depends on the proposed project size, and your itemized household budget and current financial status. Remember that you have to stick to this budgetary allocation in all your project plans and activities. In other words, the budget will control the project and not the other way round. The estimate project budget will assist you in planning and prioritizing for your renovation project. By operating within the budget, you will be forced to merit function over beauty during the elaborate planning phase in the next step.

 

Cost Breakdown And Contingencies

 

Without exceeding the project budget indicated in step one, you are now required to split/divide/allocate the consolidated funds to specific project elements including plumbing materials, labor, installations, and fixtures. Certainly, you need to create a representative project layout and design to help you allocate itemized expenses based on specific project renovation features and preferences. To complete this step insightfully and realistically, you are advised to consult and seek the advice of a well established plumber in your area of residence. For instance, you can look for a professional and reputable DC plumber if you reside in the Washington locality. Before you breakdown the entire budget, you should set aside a reasonable fraction (usually 20%) of the budget to cater for miscellaneous/unforeseeable expenses. At the end of this step, you will have a detailed, itemized budget that is both accurate and pragmatic.

 

Financing The Project

 

Now that you have a detailed budget featuring all your project costs, you need to consider an appropriate source of these funds. Depending on your financial standing and your investment preferences, you can consider any of the following financing options: home equity loans, personal loans, cash, retirement/pension plan loans, and refinancing. Even if you have cash at hand, the most recommendable option is a home equity loan because it’s usually low interest and tax deductible. For all the mentioned loan options, consider their interest rates, the qualification merits, and the processing period, before choosing the most cost-effective and convenient financing option.

What Happens When My Pipes Freeze In The Winter?

How To, Plumbing Advice

Everyone dreads the cold weather for many reasons. One of those reasons is that they are not prepared for what to do if their pipes freeze. All of the professionals say to leave at least one faucet dripping in order to make sure that the pipes do not freeze. We are human, however, and we may forget. It is going to happen and the thing to do is to stay calm and listen to some of the advice from professional plumbers.

Winter Proofing Your Home

A DC plumbing company will gladly give you some advice on how to make your home winter proof and ready for the cold. There are some days that the temperature will drop below freezing and it is important that you leave the faucets in your home dripping. Your local plumber will walk you through all of the steps that it takes to winter proof your home. If you ever have any questions about the faucets, do not be afraid to ask them. They are here to help you out. They can also do a winter check-up on your home to make sure that you have everything in place that you need. They will make sure that your pipes are in good condition going into the colder months.

If you are unable to winter proof your home appropriately, there may be some consequences. When the pipes in your home freeze, there is no simple way to repair them. If your pipes are frozen, chances are high that they have begun to crack, too. The big problem is when they thaw out and there is a lot of extra water running throughout your walls and into your home.

Calling Your Plumber Now

Once you have noticed this problem, there is nothing you can do except give your local plumber a call. Hopefully, they will be able to take care of this problem before it has gotten too far gone. They will come out and check all of the pipes in your home. If they get to the problem soon enough, they can help to keep your home from flooding. They can do some testing in the walls and in the pipes that will make sure that you will not have a huge mess to clean up. Letting them take a look at the issue is one the best ideas. Even if you do not have a problem, it never hurts to have your plumber look at the pipes anyway.

Frozen pipes can be a huge problem, but with the proper plumber to take care of them, you can be sure that your home will be safe from extra water and leakage. Your pipes are important and expensive, so be sure to leave those faucets dripping if you hear of any drop in the temperature.