Wednesday, September 27, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
Designing your own home can be exciting, but it's a lot more work than buying an existing house. With so many moving pieces involved, knowing what works and what doesn't is key. Protect your home's long-term value by sidestepping these five avoidable pitfalls of building a new home.
1. Forgetting About Storage Space
From seasonal items to extra bedding, everything requires a temporary home when not in use. For that, you'll need plenty of storage space. Some simple solutions might include a few extra closets, a sizeable garage space or built-in cabinets and shelving.
2. Skimping on Materials
Anything worth doing is worth doing right, and new home construction is no exception. Even if you're watching your pennies, try not to scrimp on quality, especially when it comes to important things like flooring. The materials you choose can have a huge impact on your home's overall value.
3. Overlooking Energy Efficiency
For an energy-efficient home design, make sure to use earth- ane ...
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dc, dc metro area, real estate, community, dmv, building a house, new home
Monday, September 25, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
Knowing there are plenty of important questions you need to ask potential contractors isn't a startling revelation to homeowners, but exactly which ones are crucial to the hiring process might be a bigger mystery. HomeAdvisor consulted contracting experts to create the ultimate list of questions that will help homeowners learn everything they need to know in order to confidently choose who will make their home improvement dreams come true.
#1 "How long have you been in this business?"
Contracting businesses that have been in operation for many years have certainly worked through a lot of the growing pains that many companies deal with in their fledgling years.
"Companies with experience have created systems and controls to ensure their work is on time, on budget and of the highest quality," said Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing in Naples, Florida.
While this is certainly true, some consumers may opt to go with someone who has years of experience in the industry but is a relap ...
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dc, dc metro area, real estate, community, dmv
Tuesday, August 29, 2017 / by John Murdock -- CityScapeMetroGroup
With Houston and other parts of Texas dealing with flooding and damages caused by the hurricane people everywhere are looking for ways to provide help to those affected. Here a few ways you can help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Cash is king. While you may want to send food and other items, the infrastructure may not support those donations. Many organizations have been clear that cash, or cash equivalent, is preferred (but keep reading). Keep receipts if you intend to claim those donations on your tax return.
Stay put. Yes, we all want to get in our cars and help but don't rush to help without checking first. There are already professionals and trained volunteers on the scene, and due to the potential for more flooding, relief officials have asked that folks stay off the roads where possible. If your services are needed and you do volunteer, remember that you can claim a tax deduction for your out-of-pocket expenses but not for your time.
Be smart. Be wm ...
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community, dc, dc metro area, dmv, flooding, harvey, houston, hurricane harvey, real estate