remodeling Archives | Preferred Properties of Texas Home & Ranch Properties Stephenville

Can I Live In A House With A Foundation Problem?

September 5, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Whether you’re searching for your dream home or you’ve already found it, there’s a chance something major could come up: Foundation issues.

This is a scary thought, especially when you consider the consequences. When you think of foundation issues, you might imagine the floor crumbling beneath you or your house falling down on top of you. And while your home may not crumble before your eyes, you could experience a huge burden – both financially and otherwise – with foundation problems.

Here’s how to see the signs of foundation issues before you buy a home, and what’s worth living with.

How To Tell If A Home Has Foundation Problems

If you’re buying a home or even looking to put yours up on the market, it’s important to see if a house suffers from foundation issues.

There are a few potential things to look out for when searching for foundation issues:

Slab Leaks

A slab leak is a leaky pipe in a home’s foundation. When the water pipelines leak, it causes water to back up underneath the slab. You can search for slab leaks by first looking at your water bill. If the bill has gone up but your usage hasn’t, chances are there’s a leak. Keep an ear open for the sound of running water, which could signify a leak even if it’s not in a sink or bathtub. Watch out for warm spots on the floor, which could mean a hot water pipe burst. Or, see if your walls and carpet are suffering from mildew or excessive moisture. You might start to see cracks on the floor or walls, which can damage the structural integrity of the home.

Irregular Flooring

This might be a low-key issue you don’t notice right away, but older homes might have uneven flooring since shifts in the foundation can cause the floor to have major cracks from the settling. But even renovated homes can have uneven floors. Take some time to walk around to feel for a difference in the flooring or take a pen and drop it on the ground. If it rolls all the way to the end of a room, there’s a chance there could be uneven flooring.

Unclosed Doors And Windows

One random door or window that won’t shut isn’t a big issue. But be on the lookout for many doors and windows that won’t shut, usually on one side of the house or room. Examine the window frame and walls around the doors and windows to see if there’s a bigger issue. There might be foundation problems.

Should You Buy A Home With Foundation Issues?

Whether you find foundation issues on your own or not, the best course of action is to see the results of a home inspection. If you notice something on your own, you can also hire a foundation contractor or a structural engineer to get an expert analysis of the problem and the potential cost to fix it.

An inspection will show you if something is a potential hazard and living in the home could put you at risk. It can also show you the estimated cost to repair it. You may decide to accept the potential cost and use that in your negotiation with the sellers, or use this as a chance to walk from the sale.

Since some structural problems are more concerning than others, you may not need to worry about buying a home with foundation issues. Not all foundation issues will impact the home value, but it comes down to the type of damage, how severe it is and how much it could cost to repair it. Along with that, more issues can surface once you start fixing the foundation issues. A good course of action is to find a couple of expert opinions before buying a home.

The Cost To Fix Foundation Issues

Unless foundation issues came from the result of a natural disaster, like a hurricane or tornado, your homeowners insurance isn’t likely to cover the damage. Since foundation issues can come up simply because time passes, it’s considered normal wear and tear. This means you’re on the hook to pay for the repairs yourself. If you’re buying a home, you could request the sellers fix the issues before you buy the property.

Not all foundation issues are the same, which means the cost to fix them isn’t the same, either. It depends on the damage as well as the repair to fix any surrounding areas that were affected. Where you live could also impact the price since some places and contractors charge accordingly based on the local market.

An average foundation repair is around $4,200. The high end of repairs could run you around $12,000, and the low end could be around $450.

Water damage and related repairs are more expensive than most foundation cracks. Expect costs anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000. Sealing, which is also used to fend off potential water damage, can run upwards of $6,000.

Stabilization is the most expensive repair. Stabilizing bowed walls can run you anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000. Depending on your damage, a contractor might put in carbon fiber or steel.

Since repair costs vary widely, it’s important to have an inspection or professional assess the damage.

Should You Live In A Home With Foundation Issues?

Before you sign a contract and move in, it’s important to have a home properly assessed for foundation problems. While you could live in a home with foundation problems, it doesn’t help the resale value. Fixing the issues could help you when the time comes to sell the home.

If you’re buying a home, make sure you get the proper professional to thoroughly inspect the home. If you discover foundation issues, consider if you really want to live in the home. If you do, negotiate the home price down and handle the renovations yourself. Otherwise, see if the seller will handle the updates before moving in.

While foundation issues can be a deal breaker, your health and safety are the most important factors to consider.

Demand for Home Design and Remodeling Soars Amid Pandemic

August 13, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Homeowner fascination with outdoor projects has skyrocketed, and experts saw a 58% increase in prospects that this June versus a year ago.
Layout and remodeling professionals around Houzz are seeing a rise in demand for their services. With homeowners spending more time at home, pros received 58% more job leads in June of the past year than they did in June 2019. The growth is due in part to homeowners reevaluating their spaces and in part to changes Houzz has made into the stage to help homeowners find and connect with the right professionals for their own projects.

Outdoor spaces are very popular nowadays, and searches for pool and spa professionals in June were three times greater than in precisely the same month a year earlier. Demand for kitchen and bathroom remodelers jumped 40% in June compared with the year before. Read on for more details concerning the professional kinds homeowners are searching for on Houzz, as well as the projects they are most interested in.

Demand for Outdoor Projects Was High in June 2020

Inquiries for swimming pool design and building experts more than quadrupled (up 334 percent ) on Houzz at June compared with the previous June, while inquiries for pros to aid with deck, patio and patio projects almost tripled (up 178 percent ). Homeowners also sought out more privacy and safety, with curiosity about fence setup and fixes up 166%. And landscape architects and contractors saw demand for their services double in June compared with June 2019.

“We are the busiest we have ever been,” says landscape professional Holly Stickley of The White Pear in Portland, Oregon. “Three-quarters of the design company came from Houzz last year, and we have seen a considerable increase in job requests this summer, particularly for large-scale properties. Our customers are forgoing vacations on account of the coronavirus outbreak and investing in making their houses more pleasurable to shelter in place”

“There is an incredible rise in consumer attention for home improvement jobs throughout the nation, and people are coming to Houzz to locate professionals for major projects like fresh swimming pools and decks, in addition to for more modest outdoor improvements such as tree planting and fencing,” says Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing at Houzz.

“Over the last year we have made many major additions and improvements to how our platform helps homeowners find and connect with the ideal professional for their job — allowing people to immediately program Video Meetings with experts through Houzz Pro is simply 1 example — and we are really seeing the effect of those investments in the quantity and caliber of connections we are making.”

While outside spaces were of big interest in June, homeowners showed a desire to better their indoor spaces. For instance, demand for house additions and extensions grew by 52% in June compared with the exact same period in 2019.

Homeowner interest in hiring a general contractor was up 61% in June compared with a year before, although interest in hiring a kitchen or bath remodeler was up 40%. Homeowner searches for interior designers were up 19% in June and up 24% for architects.

Requirement for Home Remodeling Pros Rose Around Many Parts of the U.S.

Many metro areas experienced considerable growth in demand for dwelling practitioners in June. Regions having high year-over-year growth in job leads for experts include Boston (80%), Atlanta (73 percent ), Chicago (72%), Houston (71%) and Miami (54 percent ).

QUESTION:

How is demand for your services during the pandemic? Please tell us how business is going in the comments.

5 Home Remodeling Projects With Top-Dollar Returns

July 28, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Your house is in the perfect location, arrived at the perfect price, with the ideal lot. (Yay southern exposure! ) )

However, the house itself? Perfect is not the adjective you would use. But you understood that going in, and now you’re ready to begin making it just perfect.

But where to start? How about with data? Data is that buddy who tells you like it really is.

Because while some home enhancement that brings you pleasure is priceless, not all of add as much house equity as you might anticipate.

The”Remodeling Effect Report” from the National Association of REALTORS® includes tons of data on how much improvements cost — and how much of those costs you can regain.

New Roof

If you end up sprinting to your buckets when it begins to sprinkle, obtaining a new roof needs to be your No. 1 to-do. Measuring rainfall from the indoors isn’t trendy.

The price: $7,500

The yield: 109 percent at $8,150

Considering it’s what’s between you and the elements, it’s a no-brainer.

Not positive if you need a roof? Signs you might comprise:

Shingles are missing, curling upward, or covered in moss.
Gritty pieces from the asphalt shingles have been coming from the downspout.
You notice stains on ceilings and walls.

Hardwood Floors

You flip on the TV to see that your fave house reno-ing duo can it be , turning a ranch that’s stuck in the’80s.

They make it into the living area, pull the darkened carpet to show hardwood floors in fantastic condition. They are psyched — and for good reason.

Hardwood floors are a timeless classic. Neither will you regret adding new hardwood flooring when you’ve got none.

The return: 100% at $2,500

The price to buy new: $5,500

The return: 91 percent at $5,000

New Garage Door

No real surprise that a garage door replacement project made it on this #winning listing — a brand new garage door provides a big boost for your house’s curb appeal at a relatively modest price.

The price: $2,300 (for a two-door)

The return: 87% at $2,000

There are options galore, too. A host of factory-finish colors, wood-look wrought iron steelglass window insets are just a few of the possibilities that’ll give your doors bankable personality.

Better Insulation

Insulation is tucked out of sight, so it’s often out of mind — that is, until you’re forced to wear your parka inside because it’s sooo darn cold.

The price: $2,100

The return: 76% at $1,600 (and the added savings on cooling and heating costs!)

New Siding

In almost any color! And not paint again.

Those are just two of the three advantages of vinyl siding. The third, of course, is your home’s worth.

However, if long-time homeowners look at you funny when you mention vinyl siding, just tell them that now’s vinyl is far much better than what they recall because of fade-resistant finishes and transferable lifetime warranties.

The cost: $13,350

The yield: 75 percent at $10,000

Want fiber-cement siding rather? Additionally, it shows a strong revival of 83%. Although it’s the pricier choice — you will spend about $18,000 with a revival of approximately $15,000 — it has something vinyl nevertheless lacks — that the perception of quality.

And quality matters. In a poll by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB),”quality” was one of the most essential traits that home buyers focused on when house hunting.

7 Painting Hacks to Get the Look of a Pro — Without the Pro Price

July 26, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

A DIY painting job doesn’t have to equal crooked lines, besmirched floors, and ceramic sinks speckled with robin’s egg blue.

Use these easy painting hacks, to make the process faster and less messy — and ensure a fresh, modern look for your home.

#1 Soak Brushes in Fabric Softener to Keep Brushes Soft

Every DIY painter has been privy to the horrors of a day-old brush with stiff bristles that makes round two nearly impossible. Try this painting hack instead:

To keep paint brushes soft:

Rinse thoroughly (no soap).
Mix half a cup of fabric softener with a gallon of warm water
Swish brushes in the mixture for 10 seconds or so.
Lay them flat or hang them on a peg for overnight storage.

“That way, the bristles won’t develop a bend and will retain their usefulness for your next painting adventure,” says Artem Filikov, vice president of marketing and product development for home improvement website HomeYou.

Also, there’s no need to rinse before using. The softener actually helps distribute paint more smoothly.Sweet!

#2 Use Plastic Wrap to Prevent Mishaps

When painting around a large, awkward item you want to keep clean, like a toilet or a standalone sink, use this painting trick from the pros: surround it with plastic wrap to keep drips from destroying its finish.

For an extra tight wrap, choose a wrap with an adhesive backing — your hardware store will even carry special painter’s plastic wrap, if you really want to go all out — which will help it stick to the surface and prevent the odd drop from inching its way in. Once you’ve finished the job, just unwrap for a paint-free finish.

#3 Use Vanilla and Lemon Extracts to Reduce Paint Odor

Paint’s intense odor can get really old really fast. Overpower it with a little bit of vanilla.

Although there are vanilla-scented products specifically designed to use with paint, you can get the same effect with what’s in your kitchen cabinet.

For darker paints, add a couple drops of vanilla extract (artificial is fine) per gallon to reduce the nasty smell and keep your room smelling sweet for weeks to come.

Because you don’t want the tint of vanilla to ruin the color of your paint, swap it with lemon extract for light-colored paints.

#4 Repurpose Old T-Shirts as Rags to Reduce Waste

Painting’s a messy job, but using roll after roll of paper towels is neither efficient nor environmentally-friendly.

And while you could pick up a mega-pack of plain cotton towels to keep paint from splattering, why not use something you can find stuffed at the back of a drawer?

Run petroleum jelly along the seals of your doors and windows to prevent them from sticking.

Geoff Sharp, the owner of Sharper Impressions Painting Co., recommends cutting up old T-shirts to use as rags, saving money and resources (not to mention a trip to Goodwill).

“If paint runs down your roller or brush, it gets really messy, really quick,” he says. “Always have a rag in your pocket so you and your brush or roller stay clean.”

#5 Keep Q-tips Handy for Mistakes

Oh no! A drop of Naples Sunset just splashed on your white window frame. You’ve only got a few minutes to clean up the mess before your mistake is sealed for eternity.

That’s where Q-tips come in handy. Just stash some in your pocket for these types of emergencies.

Here’s another use for that pile of cotton swabs tucked in your jeans pocket: Use them to touch up imperfections on newly-painted walls without dirtying an entire paintbrush.

#6 Put Petroleum Jelly on Small Spots You Don’t Want Painted

A little bit of Vaseline can go a long way toward keeping your paint job clean.

Using a Q-tip (another reason to keep them handy), go over all the bits and pieces you don’t want painted, like screws or hinges. With the petroleum jelly applied, even an accidental slip won’t leave you heartbroken.

Here’s another tip for a hassle-free paint job: “Run petroleum jelly along the seals of your doors and windows to prevent them from sticking,” Sharp says.

#7 Use a Hair Dryer on Painter’s Tape for Easy Removal

Painter’s tape is supposed to make your paint job easier and stress-free.

But when strips of perfect paint peel off along with the adhesive — or you just can’t get the darn tape to come off at all — you might feel like you wasted your effort.

To help stubborn painter’s tape get a move on, turn a hair dryer (low heat only) toward your handiwork.

Holding it about three inches from the wall will help soften the adhesive and ensure an even line, making removal a stress-free affair — and ensuring you keep that dreamy, crisp paint line.

How To Be a Part-time Landlord

June 22, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

You’d think that the phrase “part-time landlord” would be an impossibility. Any real estate investment has to be a full-time job, right? But it can be done. How? Let’s look at some of the work involved — it’s important to know what you’re signing up for:

Finding a property is of critical importance. Make sure any work on it aligns with your ability to fix it yourself or pay to have someone else do it.
Preparing the unit and every time a tenant departs, these items need to be visited and revisited: carpet, paint, window screens, deck stain and lawn maintenance.
Advertising for new tenants and then showing the home to prospective tenants.
Completing legal agreements.
Collecting deposits.
Taking care of utilities.
Hassles, which can include broken pipes, clogged drains, broken garage doors, pets and roommate issues.
Vetting renters to avoid deadbeats and vandals. To do this, use credit and background checks.
Setting and enforcing rules.
Managing equal housing rules.
Dealing with insurance and liability issues, including those of swimming pools, icy paths and keeping the place up to code. You’ll need landlord insurance — your regular homeowner’s policy won’t be sufficient.
Understanding and observing local landlord-tenant laws.
Keeping proper records for tax and legal purposes.

With the rise of Airbnb allowing you to rent out a room in your home, many are considering becoming a landlord in a bid to earn extra income. If you have the space or a second home, and local laws allow it, it seems like an advantageous situation.

There are benefits and risks to becoming a part-time landlord. Maintenance and upkeep have to be taken into account, but becoming a landlord can be a great choice for generating wealth. However, in order for this to happen, you’ll need some support. Here are a few ways to get support for your new venture:

Turn to property management companies to do a lot of legwork for you — from locating a property to refurbishing it — for a fee, of course. The management company can handle the day-to-day tasks.
Find a real estate attorney to help you navigate potential issues that you may encounter. You have to be up on such issues as discrimination, safety deposits, late rent, lease agreements and repairs.
Consider the legal issues. You can make the business into a limited liability company, so your name doesn’t appear on leases. Twenty-one states have adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act as the basis for their local laws. Restrictions on security deposits are mostly derived from state law.

Time invested in picking good tenants can be the difference between becoming a landlord who’s successful and one who’s constantly stressed. You may be tempted to take shortcuts in screening tenants, but there’s plenty that can go wrong.

To avoid such headaches, be clear about acceptable payment methods for rent: check, money order, cash, credit card or whatever. Consider including penalties for late payments in your leases — they’ll provide you with leverage if a renter gives you continuing problems.

The result of a bad tenant has a huge ripple effect on your time and money. You have to go through the removal process, fill the space again and make sure your property’s ready for the next tenant.

Even interest rates can affect your business. When they fall, it’s often cheaper to buy than rent, so demand for your unit(s) may drop. Lowering the rent to remain competitive can put a cramp in your ability to make a buck. Researching locations and tenants are essential.

Fixer Upper vs. Move-In Ready: Which One Is Right For You?

June 12, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

When it comes to buying real estate, you want to make sure the property you purchase is the right fit for your needs. For some buyers, purchasing a home that needs some work is the ideal situation. For others, getting a turnkey home that’s move-in ready is the only option they’ll consider. And for still others, both seem like reasonable options.

The question is: which is for you? There are pros and cons to both fixer uppers and move-in ready homes. The important thing is to recognize which is the best fit for you, your budget, and what you want out of a home.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of fixer uppers and move-in ready homes to help you determine which is the better fit for you:

Fixer uppers

Fixer uppers are, as the name implies, homes that need a bit of TLC – or fixing up – upon move in.

Pros

Discounted price

The major draw of fixer uppers is the price. Since they need work, you can typically get a fixer upper at a fraction of the cost of a move-in ready home of a similar size or in a similar location. So if you’re on the hunt for a bargain or you have a tight budget, a fixer upper is definitely going to be the least expensive home-buying option.

You can make the house your own

Since a fixer upper will need work and renovations, it does offer the opportunity to put your own stamp on the design and layout and really make the house your own. With a move-in ready home, the work has already been done and the home already designed. With a fixer upper, you get the opportunity to build your home from the ground up with everything from flooring and cabinetry to landscaping and windows.

It’s a project

For people who are interested in home renovation, there’s nothing better than a fixer upper. Taking on the challenge of completely transforming a home is a really exciting prospect for a lot of people, and if you’re in that camp, a fixer upper is a great opportunity to take on a worthwhile project.

Cons

It can get expensive

Even though the purchase price of a fixer upper is typically low, if there is a significant amount of problems with the property or changes that need to be made, it can definitely get expensive. Things like repairing electric, adding a new roof, tearing up and installing new flooring, and redoing a kitchen can get pricey, and if you’re not careful, you can find yourself way over budget, swimming in contractor bills with no end to your renovations in sight.

It takes time

Even if you’re a person who loves renovating homes, there’s no escaping the fact that it takes time. If you need to move into your home quickly, a fixer upper isn’t going to be the right fit.

Move-in ready

Move-in ready homes are recently built, updated, or remodeled homes that need next to nothing in terms of renovations or improvements. You can comfortably move in without making a single change.

Pros

It’s convenient

In terms of convenience, you can’t beat a move-in ready home. Moving can be a stressful process, and for many new homeowners, the last thing they want to do upon moving into their new home is start managing a bunch of renovations. With a move-in ready home, once you move in, you’re done. While you may want to make some cosmetic changes down the road (like painting the walls or changing the flooring), there’s nothing that needs to get done after you move.

Better energy efficiency

Newer, move-in ready homes tend to be more energy efficient, which is not only better for the environment, but also better for your utility costs. Energy efficient homes require less energy to heat the home during the winter and cool the home during the summer, which can end up saving you a significant amount of money in the long run.

Cons

Home prices are higher

When you buy a move-in ready home, you’re paying for the convenience. Move-in ready homes will always be significantly more expensive than fixer uppers in the same neighborhood and of the same size. If you have a tight budget, you might have to make some sacrifices to purchases a move-in ready home, like buying a smaller house or buying in a less popular neighborhood.

The “cookie cutter” effect

When you buy a move-in ready home, everything has already been done for you. Which is certainly convenient, but it can lack originality, charm, and the architectural and decor details you might want in a home. Newer homes sometimes feel more generic and “cookie cutter” than their older counterparts, so if charm and individuality are important for you, a move-in ready home might not feel like the best fit.

Fixer uppers and move-in ready homes both have unique benefits and challenges. Ultimately, you have to go with the choice that best aligns with your budget, your needs, and your long-term goals for your home.