Top 7 Things To Give The Value Of Your Home A Kick

In no particular order, we’re presenting the top things you should consider to give the value of your home a jump. Looking to sell in the near future? Or just looking ahead and planning for what may come down the road when it’s time to sell? Either way, doing some home improvement or remodeling is never a bad thing.

Our ideas range from simple, low cost upgrades to full remodeling and renovation projects. Feel free to pick and choose a project or two that suits your timeline and budget and go from there.

Take a look at Chase’s Home Value Estimator which will give you some guidance as to the current value of your house. Of course, there are many other factors to consider when using this tool including recent upgrades and home improvements you’ve made. The estimator primarily uses local trends and recent home sale data from homes around you and on your street. The reality of selling your home and the final amount will depend on this data but also the unique features and upgrades done to your home since you purchased it.

#1 - Upgrade Your Flooring

Most people would love for the majority of their home to have hardwoods in it. Unfortunately, that’s not always realistic and hardwood flooring can be cost prohibitive to many. Nonetheless, the floors in your home should be up-to-date, clean and stylish. There are many options on the market for flooring — from tile to carpeting, hardwood and pre-fabricated and laminate. Not sure where to begin? Check out a local flooring dealer, find a reliable local contractor, or ask an expert online (see Mohawk, Shaw or Armstrong).

#2 - Don’t Forget The Garage

Sure, most people don’t spend a ton of time hanging out in the garage but you should’t ignore this very valuable area of your home. Take the time to clean it out, clean it up and spruce it up. Install new shelving units, organize your tools and other essentials. And don’t forget the floor. You may want to consider applying an epoxy coat to the floor which will bring it new life (and a hefty dose of shine to boot!).

#3 - Boost The Bathroom

Next to the kitchen, the bathroom is the most common room new home buyers focus on. Aside from doing a complete re-model or bathroom renovation, start small and make some minor improvements. Upgrade the hardware on cabinets and towel holders (and don’t forget the toilet paper holder)!. Purchase a new vanity or mirror (many companies sell pre-matched vanity/sink/countertop units). Fix broken tiles or consider re-tiling the floor, walls or bathtub area. Even a relatively simple upgrade like a new toilet can make a world of difference.

#4 - Invest In A Cleaning Plan

We all love a perfectly clean, spotless and great-smelling home. And so do home buyers! If you’re putting your home on the market, invest in a professional house cleaning service. They’ll take care of areas you may have forgotten about and are pros and finding hidden (and not-so-hidden) dust and dirt. Most major metropolitan areas have commercial services that can come clean your house. If you’re going to go with a private cleaner or someone you know, be sure to read reviews, ask for testimonials and verify they have any necessary insurance.

#5 - Curb Appeal Is Everything

From simple flowers to a professional, well thought out plan for overhauling your home’s landscaping, everyone agrees that curb appeal is critical. Remember, the outside of your home makes a huge first impression. What better way to get a potential buyer in a good mood than to have them be uber impressed with your outdoor areas?

#6 - Make Over Your Kitchen Cabinets

The work needed to make over your kitchen cabinets will depend on what you currently have. How old are they? How do they look? Do they match the decor in your kitchen or has everything else changed but the cabinets? A simple paint or sand and re-staining job may do the trick. If you don’t want to do the work yourself, find a professional who can resurface your cabinets for you. You may want to consult with an interior designer to help pick out paint or stain colors that will really pop and give your kitchen a fresh look. Also, don’t forget the hardware. Sometimes new hardware alone can make a big difference.

#7 - A Fresh Coat Of Paint

One of the simplest, most cost-effective improvements of all is paint! Most of us can handle this project on our own. The hardest part? Choosing the right colors! You don’t want to choose a color that is too bold. Imagine a red wall in your home and the potential buyer hates red! Pick something modern, perhaps a bit trendy and of course—neutral. Most paint runs $20-$35/gallon. Consult with your local home improvement or paint store regarding which type of paint is best. Many of them have primer built right into the paint which can save you time.

There you have it. 7 areas to think about when considering selling your home. We could go on all day with hundreds more but this is a great start!

Image courtesy of nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Frequent Roofing Problem - Old Shingles

Along with the walls and siding on your house, the roof protecting your home is the skin between the cozy indoors and the rough, caustic elements created by Mother Nature. Many homeowners don't think about their roof until a problem arises. It could be a leak or missing shingles that raise a red flag causing the homeowner to call a professional.

Here in Rochester, we are forced to deal with a bipolar weather pattern. It can literally snow one day, be sunny the next and rain the following day. This crazy weather reeks havoc on the skin of your house—your roof.

We'd like to take a few minutes to explain some of the common roofing problems homeowner's around Rochester tend to see.

The biggest issue is a leak in your roof. If you have a leak, contact a professional to come evaluate the situation. It may be time to find a roofing company who can do a tear-off / roof replacement for you.

Deteriorated Shingles

Based on our location, the warranty period for your roof should remain in tact. Many warranties are up to 30 years these days. If your home wasn't new when you moved it, it would help to know when the roof was most recently replaced. If your shingles start to go bad, you will start to see a build up of rock chip material in the gutters. Be sure to clean out your gutters each year to locate any of this matter. If you catch it early enough, you can avoid a costly repair down the line. Nonetheless, you should strongly consider replacing your roof once you begin to see the rock chip particles in your gutters.

We will be covering other common roof problems in future posts so stay tuned!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Hiring A Bathroom Renovation Contractor

Hiring a contractor to renovate or remodel your home is a big decision (or any part of your home for that matter). The company you choose to work with will be a part of your life for weeks or months to come. Their employees will be in and out of your home with access to private areas. You want to be sure you select the bathroom renovation contractor carefully, after doing research and reading some reviews.

We proudly present the top 5 things to do before hiring a bathroom contractor:

1. Ask Around — Check in with friends, family and co-workers to see if they've used a reputable contractor in the past. Many contractors, like Trinity, work on a number of home projects (not just bathrooms). Although, that is not always the case. If someone refers you to someone who did their roof or did a minor home improvement project, don't just assume they're a good fit for remodeling your residential bathroom. They might be—but not necessarily.


2. Read Reviews — Doing some simple Google searches can reveal a lot of helpful information about a contractor. In addition to the reviews on the company's website, be sure to read the testimonials on other third party sites like Angie's List, The Better Business Bureau, Houzz, Google and Yelp. The contractor has little to no control over the reviews posted on those sites so they're generally very reliable.


3. Narrow Down The List — There are likely many home contractors vying for your business in your area. After doing your homework, choose two or three that you'd like to pursue.


4. Ask For References — After narrowing the list down to two or three contractors, ask each of them for references and make a couple calls.


5. Obtain Estimates & Information — Meet with each company individually. Ask for specifics on everything from insurance to licensing requirements they might posses. Obtain a clear estimate including pricing details. Unclear on something? ASK! Now is the time to make sure you fully understand how the project will work. Any reputable home renovation company will take the time to sit down with your or chat over the phone to iron out any questions you may have.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Deciding When It's Time For A New Roof

When is it time to get a new roof?

When purchasing a new home or re-roofing the one on your current house, the materials used are 'rated' for a specified period of time. Depending on the material that is used (generally asphalt shingles), it will last anywhere from 20-25 years.

Just like everything else, trends have changed and there are many more choices for selecting a nice looking roof. There are a ton of colors, styles and materials available to pick from.

When you're driving around the Rochester area, pay attention to other homes and see what they've done. Look at the color and style of the roof as compared to the color of the home. Sometimes having some contrast between the siding color and the roof color makes a big difference.

It's time to start thinking about a new roof when the lifespan is reaching its peak and/or if you're spending a lot of money on costly repairs. Just like a car, when the time comes that you're spending too much time on repairs, it is time to find a roofing contractor and invest the money in a new roof.

If you’ve done frequent roof repair, or have discovered that a different roof may save money on your power bill, you should consider getting a new roof.

Where is the best place to find a roof?

A roofing contractor will be your best source in finding the roof you want. They will have the experience, product knowledge and contacts needed to get prices and make an informed decision. Do you really want to spend another ten years doing roof repair? Or do you want to have a spectacular-looking roof?

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

From Lavender To Luxury — New Bathroom Remodel

These homeowners in Irondequoit used to have a dated bathroom with lavender counters and outdated fixtures.

Trinity was chosen as the bathroom remodeling contractor and we essentially gutted the entire space and installed:

• A new bathtub


• Shower fixtures


• Vanity


• Granite counter


• Electrical & plumbing


• Bath fan


• Window & paint


• Custom ceramic tile

The photo you see here is just one picture, of the sink/vanity area. You can see all the photos in their entirety in our Photo Gallery section.

What do you think of this new bathroom? Leave us a comment!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Redo Your Roof The Right Way

Money Magazine and CNN posted an article awhile back entitled: "Redo Your Roof The Right Way" By Josh Garskof @Money May 11, 2012: 6:28 AM ET

Think about this. Aside from perhaps a lavish kitchen remodel, what other home project is as critical for protecting your home's value than a new roof?

To read the full article about roofing and how to redo it the right way, click here.

Here's some highlights of what Josh says:

• Getting a new roof put on your home can dramatically increase your home's value.


• The process doesn't have to be a nightmare!


• Know when it's time to get a new roof (versus repair).


•  Get bids from three roofers, to compare not just prices but also their attitude and approach.


• Hire someone who is willing to: (1) get a building permit, (2) remove only as much roofing each day as he can reinstall by the end of that day, (3) lay protective plywood over decks and patios, and tarps over walls, the lawn, shrubs, and unfinished areas, and (4) clean the job site every night.


• Be sure they also install vents at the roof’s peak and under the eaves — and agree to specify all that in the contract.


• Don’t cut corners.


• Get the right shingles.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

How to Hire Roofing Contractor - BBB Advice

As you know, Trinity is proudly rated with the Better Business Bureau with a grade of:

A 

(view profile and ranking scale)

Thanks to our partnership with them, we are able to bring you this great video they did that talks about how to go about hiring a roofing contractor. As a certified roofing company, placing new roofs on local homes is a big part of our business. We highly recommend you take the 2 minutes to watch this informative video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDdqIH2sRxU

Some Tips:

• Get a business card in the physical location of the roofing business


• Deal only with well established businesses


• Beware of scams (verify the company with the BBB)


• Don't succumb to high pressure sales techniques


• Do your homework - research, read testimonials, look for high customer satisfaction ratings


• Check for required licensing


• Understand the contract you're signing - a good contractor will take the time to explain it to you in detail


• Fully understand and accept the payment schedule

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com