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Sneak preview of our next feature coming soon...

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Important Questions When Considering a Home Renovation

Will Renovating Solve Your Issues with the Home? It's only natural to become attached to your house, especially when it's the first home you've ever owned. For this reason, it can be hard for many homeowners to admit that while renovations may solve some of the issues they have with their house, what they really need is to start looking for a new home. When you are considering renovating, take a look at the types of issues that you have with your current place. If they are cosmetic details or structural issues that can be taken care of, then a renovation might be your best choice. If the issues are a little more fundamental, however—such as realizing that you wish you had more space to accommodate your growing family—then you may need to start searching for a different place to live rather than putting a lot of money into a renovation.

Do You Have the Money? As long as your house can support any renovations you are considering, the next questions you need to ask yourself are entirely financial. Do you have the money needed to invest in a renovation project? Even if you decide that you are financially ready to take on the burden, what budget constraints are you going to set for yourself and the team that you work with on the renovation? You will need to start doing your research to find out how much materials and labor are going to cost you as well as starting to decide on a number that you absolutely can't exceed for the cost of the remodel.

What Exactly Do You Want? Hand in hand with the financial questions will be the decision as to what exactly you want to accomplish with your renovation project. Often, homeowners will find themselves making broad complaints about the state of the current house, but they will be baffled when you ask exactly what they wish they could change. If you are thinking about starting a renovation, you need to turn your abstract dreams into concrete plans. You have to stop saying "I wish we had a nicer kitchen," for instance, and hone in on what changes will need to be made to give you your dream kitchen. Maybe it will involve getting new countertops, creating an open concept, or upgrading your appliances, but your first step is creating an actionable plan.

Do You Have a Contractor in Mind? If you are a very handy person, you may be able to complete your own home renovations, but 99% of homeowners will need to work with a professional (or a group of professionals) to get their project done. Before you get too far into the planning stages for your renovation, you will want to find a contractor to be your partner in this exciting undertaking. If you don't already have a contractor in mind, you should try to seek out referrals from your family and friends. Set up meetings to discuss plans, budget, a timeline, and various other aspects of the project. Nothing will make your renovation start to feel more like a reality than bouncing ideas off the person whose team will actually make it happen.

How Will the Renovation Disrupt Your Home Life? Renovating a home is never an easy job. You will have to take into consideration how the project is going to disrupt your home life while construction is going on. If you are going to be without a kitchen or a bathroom while these areas are being renovated, how do you plan to function without these key rooms in your house? Do you have family members or friends who will be willing to host you if the construction zone becomes too hard to live in for a while? Most importantly, you will need to decide on the optimal time for you to complete your renovation, based on your schedule.

  How Do You Get Started? Once you have made all the key decisions, the next step will be giving your contractor the okay to get started. You will have to make sure that all the plans are finalized and any required permits have been obtained before construction can start. Do your best to insist that the project adheres to your budget and timeline, but understand that both of these areas may be subject to a little wiggle-room. When everything is in place, brace yourself for the beginning of the actual renovation process. It won't always be the most pleasant experience while it's happening, but hopefully the results will make everything worth it.

  ~ written by Taylor Roberts

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How to avoid Storm Chasers and Scam Artists

With the recent Alberta floods, something to be aware of is to be on the lookout for storm chasers and out-of-town contractors that may be soliciting door-to-door.  The reason we post this article as this has become a issue in the United States after such storms as Hurricane Sandy and Oklahoma Tornado.   I would like to think that could not happen here in Alberta, but to protect our ourselves, please be aware to ensure it does not happen to you or any of your loved ones. 

Here are a few good tips to avoid becoming a victim to storm chasers and con men.

Warning signs: 

Avoid door-to-door solicitations 

A scam will usually involve the work to be done immediately since the con man doesn't want to give you extra time to discover what they are.

High-pressure sales tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.

Tips to avoid being scammed:

Ask your insurance company about what’s covered under your policy and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts for food, lodging, and other expenses that may be covered. 

Never hire a laborer or contractor on the spot. It is always a good idea to get multiple estimates.

Ask your insurer to survey the damage and see if they have a list of approved contractors.  If not you can use website like BBB Accredited businesses, knackthat, homestars, handycanadian to help find what you are looking for.

Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Contractors can then enter unacceptable terms later on.

Require written contracts that specify work to be done, materials to be used, start and end dates, responsibility for hauling away debris, and costs broken down by labor and materials. 

Ask your contractor to provide proof of current insurance & licence.

Avoid large down payments, never pay in full in advance and don't pay cash. Have the contractor specify a schedule for releasing payments within the contract.

Be sure to ask for references, and actually follow up with them to ensure they are legit.

Pay by credit card, if possible as you may have additional protection if there’s a problem.

Here are just some of articles on about the scams in the US 

Hurricane Sandy Scams: Officials Warn Of Crooked Contractors, Charities - Huffingtonpost

BBB warns of post-storm contractor scams - Southwesttimes

Scam artists exploit Oklahoma tornado victims - CNN

State Warns Of Rental Scams Following Tornadoes - News9

More articles on how to protect yourself so Albertan's do not become victims too.

12 tips to avoid storm chasers - AngiesList

How to Avoid Home Improvement Scams - Readers Digest

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We are putting together a list of Skilled Trades for yycflood

Please register your business name with us if you are in the skilled trades industry and are available to fix Calgarian homes.   

If you are willing to VOLUNTEER any of your skilled services for victims of the flood please indicate that in the sentence "Why hire me in one great sentence" by putting “Volunteer yycflood”.  We will be working with yychelps.ca.  They will be coordinating with the City of Calgary for volunteer efforts.   Go to: Add your Services Use PROMO CODE: yycflood Once you are signed up. Make sure to indicate if you are INSURED and LICENSED.   As well make sure to setup your friend endorsed feature on your profile - get more info on this at: Friend Endorsed Setup.

The people that started KnackThat are Calgarian's too - we want to help. We are doing that by creating a comprehensive list of skilled trades for Calgarians...this promo code will give you 5 months trial and don't worry you will NOT be charged after....you can cancel and no questions asked. 

We have also put together a list of articles on how to deal with water damage after the flood.

If you are a homeowner needing help, please use the instant connect with tradespeople and specify if the job is PAID or VOLUNTEER.  Those skilled workers that are interested will reply, then you get to choose who you respond to.

Thanks everyone and lets making rebuilding after the 2013 YYC Flood easy for everyone involved. Stay safe.

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7 ARTICLES FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH WATER DAMAGE AFTER THE FLOOD

Our heart goes out to all Alberta Residents who have experienced damage to their home or property.   Remember that it can all be repaired and life will go back to normal.  Try to stay dry and stay safe.

For all of you affected, we have put a collection of articles together of how to deal with Water Damage:

After the Flood - A Homeowner's Checklist - CMHC

Water Damage, Mold and House Insurance - CMHC

How to Combat Mold in a Flooded House - houzz

Water Damage: 8 Ways to Dry Out and Move On - houselogic

Mould: Get Rid of It! - Health Canada

Repairing Your Flooding Home - Red Cross

4 Ways to Deal with Residential Water Damage - wikiHow

Addition....article #8 worthy to read

Cleaning your home after a flood - Alberta Health Services 

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Picture courtesy of pic.twitter.com/tre6ZFf9SJ

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How to Easily Make Any House Look Better

Upgrade your moldings. The devil is in the details with any home. Unfortunately many homeowners only look at the big picture with their house, completely missing out on the fine details that can make their home really shine. Too often homeowners install thin, cheap and plain-looking moldings around doors, windows and at the base of the walls. Taking out cheap moldings and installing more expensive, wider and more decorative ones in their place makes any room look incredible. Upgraded moldings do not have to be super expensive, although it might be worth your time and stress level to hire a professional to do the installation work. And while you’re at it install crown molding throughout the home as well to give every room a higher-end look.

Apply fresh paint to walls. Paint naturally becomes dingy over time, making rooms feel dirty and smaller. One of the fastest ways to transform the look of a room is by applying a coat of fresh paint to the walls. Bright colors are good because they make a room feel larger, but darker colors create definition. Consider the overall look you want for a room before choosing paint colors, since the paint should very much be a part of the design instead of working against it.

Attach shutters to the exterior of the house. Even though most homes these days do not use functional shutters, people in general still like the look of shutters sitting on both sides of the windows. Vinyl shutters are great since they are not very expensive and can be purchased in a variety of colors to compliment the rest of the house’s exterior. Not only that, but vinyl shutters require little to no maintenance and can easily be installed using screws.  

Clean the house’s exterior thoroughly. Not only should you pull weeds and care for the lawn, but you should also wash down the actual exterior of your house periodically. Remember that people will judge what the inside of your house looks like based on the outside. Things like dirty siding or brick can scare buyers away. Rent a pressure washer and blast the dirt and grime buildup from off the sides of your house to make it look instantaneously better. And while you’re at it, consider washing and drying the windows thoroughly.

Use a decorative house number. Every house should have a number on it to help people find where you live. But instead of having just some plain numbers attached to the outside, go for a number that adds more personality. On older homes a script house number in cursive writing can add a certain appeal. Go with higher-end materials like polished metal or some other material that stands out. The most important thing to remember is that your house number should complement the exterior of your house while still standing out.

Update the hardware and make it match. The hardware throughout your house is a small detail that many people overlook. Remember that many buyers notice such details, which can make a huge difference in leaving a great impression. The hardware throughout your house should match and have an updated look to it. If you want to do things on a budget, remove the old hardware and spray it with a new finish and then reinstall it.

Swap out your front door. Your front door is the most important door in the house, so you should make it shine. If your door is looking old and decrepit it might be time to replace it. Go with a door that is a color that compliments both the inside and exterior of your home. Doors that are a high-quality wood or aluminum core are good choices since they will age well.

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9 Must Ask Questions When Hiring a Contractor

Your home may be your most valuable financial asset. That’s why it’s important to be cautious when you hire someone to work on it.  Remember to be picky and ask lots of questions.  Ideally seek at least three bids from prospective contractors based on the same specifications. Ask for explanations for price variations and do not automatically choose the lowest bidder. When interviewing each contractor you’re considering, here are 9 must ask questions:

Do you have insurance in case something in my home gets broken in the renovation and/or construction process?

Can I have a list of references for past work you have completed where the projects is similar to mine?

Do you give written estimates/quotes?

Do I need a permit for my project? Will you get that for me?

Do you plan to sub-contract the job?

What are estimated time-frames?  Start Date? Completion Date?

What are the terms for deposits and final payment?

Is there any warranty or guarantee?