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WDO Repairs in Jacksonville and Surrounding Counties

August 25, 2021 Comments Off on WDO Repairs in Jacksonville and Surrounding Counties By Larry

Call today to get an estimate and time to make WDO repairs. WDO repairs are a priority to schedule as they are often time sensitive as part of a real estate transaction. I am a licensed contractor and home inspector and can make structural repairs, replace rotten wood, siding, and trim. I have worked with various lenders and the VA, and can send the documentation and photos that they require.

How to add more value to your home

Whether you are placing your home on the market or just planning on making a more comfortable home for yourself, updating your home adds comfort and value. On average, 33 percent of house shoppers are more than likely to buy a home that has been recently renovated. If you can work within the footprint of a house, you’re going to get a higher return on your investment. Here are some great ways to add value to your home:

Room additions –Add more space and square footage with a new family room. Open floor plans give a house a much larger feel. You may also want to add bedrooms, bathrooms, closet and storage spaces. Changing a one car garage into a two car garage is a good idea as well as adding a detached garage/workshop to add more storage. When building an addition to the rest of the house, you want to make sure that it blends and does not stick out like a sore thumb. Many additions look like a box that has been attached to the back of a house. Combining design elements of the original house and the addition can pull together to create a flawless makeover.

Kitchen remodeling – An old kitchen that hasn’t been updated is likely to stop a house from selling. If you have the yardage, extend your kitchen into the backyard. Size really matters when it comes to kitchens — the bigger the better! Update it with lots of recessed lighting and hardwood cabinets if you can. It’s a great investment for the long-term. It could be the difference between being able to sell your house or not in a tighter market.  If you get creative and think about some small changes you can make in your kitchen, you won’t have to spend a ton of money. Consider removing wallpaper and adding fresh paint. New faucets and cabinet hardware looks great to a new buyer. More and more buyers are expecting some standard items in a kitchen — things like stainless-steel appliances and hardware. Throw in new light fixtures and you’ve got a great-looking, updated space. Also, some people are looking for gourmet kitchens. Whether they can cook or not, a kitchen is a huge prospect for a buyer. Bottom line: kitchens sell houses, so investing in an improvement in this room is the way to go.

Bathroom remodeling – You may want to consider adding a new bathroom or updating an existing bathroom. Minor changes can be advantageous because they cost less and often net a greater return than the investment. If you have old tile or a dated tub, sink and toilet, consider replacing those items. If you keep the same layout there’s not a lot of expense that has to go into it. Updating light fixtures, linens and accessories are easy ways to breathe new life into the space.

Flooring – Adding wood, laminate, or tile flooring is something to consider too. These floors are durable and easy to clean and can look better with your cabinetry and interior trim.

Interior trim – Re-finishing or replacing old interior doors is a cost effective way to improve the overall look of the inside of your home. Window casings, baseboard and crown moulding and other custom carpentry work goes a long way towards changing a rooms overall appearance.

Painting – Painting  is one of the easiest and most inexpensive things to do to dramatically change the look of your home. Here are some tips: If you are not sure about your color sense, bring in a professional color specialist to help. Also, think classic and neutral. A future buyer needs to be able to picture his or her things in the room, and too much personalization can prevent that. If your painting skills are below par, hire someone. In the end, it evens out because a new paintjob that looks great makes the whole room look new.

Doors & Windows – Installing new doors and windows can be beneficial for more than one reason. On an average house, 30 percent of energy is lost through doors windows. They are not only important in terms of energy issues, but they are also a signal to a future buyer that the current homeowners have really taken good care of the house.

Siding – Replacing or repairing siding is one of the best improvements that add value to your home. Replace damaged siding and have the house pressure washed to make it look like new again. Another thing you can do is change the siding. If you have sheet panel siding, you can add new siding right over the existing siding. Adding cedar shingles, lap siding, or vinyl siding can really change the look of your home.

Roofing –  Replacing the old three-tab flat shingles with architectural shingles provide a lot more texture and depth. It can really change the character and the feel of the house, and the cost can be easy on the pocket. Architectural shingles last about twice as long as regular shingles and look great.

Landscaping – Landscaping instantly adds curb appeal and is a cost effective way to really transform your yard. Adding trees, shrubbery, plants, and flowers can add color and shape to your yard. Driveway cleaning and crack repair can make an old driveway look like new again. Adding wood or vinyl fencing adds privacy and value.

Decks –On average, when a homeowner adds a deck to their home, they are likely to recoup approximately 76 percent return on their investment. However, you don’t want your deck to be too big or too small — it shouldn’t be more than a third of your house. An appraiser’s No. 1 rule is finding homes that are very similar within a mile away of your home, so matching your improvements to the homes in your neighborhood is very important.

Sunrooms – Build a sunroom in the back of the house where you have less tree cover and more privacy.  A sunroom addition  transforms the entire house. During the day, the room attracts sunlight, and in the evenings, it attracts guests.

Home office – More and more often people are working out of their houses.  Anytime you can add square footage and living space to your home, it’s a great idea. You can add a room addition, or change an existing room into a home office.

Making your home more energy efficient

Taking steps toward making your home more energy-efficient can save money on your monthly energy bill. Here are some ways to help save money:

Lighting Fixtures, Appliances, and Electronics
Look for the ENERGY STAR® on all types of light fixtures, including table and floor lamps, ceiling fixtures, pendant fixtures, recessed cans, appliances, electronics, and more.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs)
Between five percent and 10 percent of your home’s monthly energy bill goes toward lighting. You can reduce that spending by switching from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

Air filters – Change air filters every month. Dirty filters can increase operating costs by making your air conditioning system work harder to pull air through a dirty filter.

Insulate against heat and cooling loss.

  • Weather-strip around doors and windows.
  • Seal cracks or crevices where two different building materials meet.
  • It’s also a good idea to weather-strip between heated and unheated areas such as garages, basements and attic openings.
  • Caulking and weather-stripping windows and doors is a relatively easy and low-cost step to previnting heating and A/C loss.
  • Check all locations where plumbing and electrical come into your home and seal any gaps you find.

 Save energy by setting your thermostat at 68 degrees – set it even lower at night or when you’re not at home. You will save up to 22% on your heating costs compared to a setting of 72 degrees.

Blanket your water heater.
Put an insulation blanket around your water heater if it is located outside in a garage or on a porch. It will help prevent heat loss and make it easier to maintain water temperature without excess energy use. To determine if it needs a blanket, simply put your hand on the side of the tank. If you can feel the hot water inside, your heater needs a blanket.

Consider new windows. Replace single pane windows with double paned insulated windows. The air space between the panes creates insulation against outside temperatures and prevents heating and A/C loss.

Add attic insulation if necessary. Older homes may not have sufficient insulation in the attic to prevent heating and cooling loss. Attic insulation acts as a blanket against heat and cooling loss through the attic. We can add blow- in insulation in the attic to achieve the proper R-Value.

Inspect air conditioning ductwork in the attic to make sure you are not losing heating and cooling from duct leaks.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ’s

Does Earley Construction have lots to build on?

We do not have lots to build on, but we can assist you with finding land. We recommend using www.realtor.com

How long will it take to build my home from the time the contract is signed?

Approximately 6 months from the time we have a building permit until we receive a certificate of occupancy. We focus on efficient project management with a minimum of delays.

Does your company handle remodeling or additions?

Yes, we do. We are a full service contracting company and can help with all of your home needs from simple home repairs, to remodeling, additions, and custom homes.

What do you mean by building above code?

We don’t just meet the minium code. We don’t cut any corners. We build our homes to last and to not have problems in the future. We use better products and materials for a stronger house.

What choices will I have as far as selection of products to go in my home?

We will use any products and materials from anywhere you choose. We want to build your home exactly how you want it with the materials and fixtures that you want.

Does your company have energy efficient options?

Yes. All options are availiable to you. We can use energy efficient appliances, doors, windows, better insulation, and air conditioning systems.

Am I allowed to use my own subcontractor?

We want to work with you in any way that we can. Our subcontractors are chosen based on the quality performance they provide. We will use other subcontractors as long as they have the proper insurance and licensing.

What if I wish to make changes during the construction of my house?

We can make any changes that you wish. However, it they are structural changes, we will need new engineering and approval from the city inspection department. Minor changes that are not structural are no problem at all.

Will I be notified of the progress of my house?

We will stay in contact with you by phone and keep you notified of your homes progress every step of the way. We will also meet with you on your home’s site to discuss upcoming plans and schedules with you.

Am I able to do any of the work myself?

Yes. As long as it in not structural,not an inspection item and doesn’t cause a delay in the construction, then we will work with you to save you money. If you would like to do some of the landscaping, painting, tile work, etc. that is okay with us.

Do you provide accessible home improvement designs and services.

Yes we do, accessible home improvements are our specialty. Our link to accessible home improvements is www.jaxhandicappedremodeling.com

Houseplans

For custom house plans, please visit www.houseplansbybonnie.com. House plans by Bonnie is great place to get custom home plans. You can pick from the stock floor plans, or they will customise them for you. They can design any house. Houseplans by Bonnie has great rates on floorplans, and they don’t take long to get them completed. I don’t know of anyone better.