Accessible Remodeling: What is it and how could it affect me?

In our lifetime, many of us will experience some sort of disability or live with someone with a disability. Unfortunately, accidents happen and we may find ourselves using crutches, a walker or a wheelchair either temporarily or worse, permanently. Have you thought what you would do when this happens? Would you be able to live comfortably in your home as it is now? Likely, the answer is no.

In addition, we all are maturing and growing older. Most of us envision staying in our homes for as long as possible. Questions such as, “How can I get up those steps or through that narrow door?” become very common.

It’s important to start to plan ahead and be prepared should the need arise. Seek out a remodeler that will understand your limitations and can anticipate your changing needs. They should specialize in accessiblity remodeling and modifications as well as be a Certified Aging in Place Specilist (CAPS designation through NAHB). They will have solutions to your home accessibility needs and modifications to enhance and improve the safety and accessibility in your home.

Some of the modifications you may want to consider include:

· Whole house accessible Remodeling and Additions

· Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling

· Lighting needs

· Access Ramps, Walkways and Railings

· Door Widening

· Wheelchair Approach Designs

· Grab Bars

· Shower step cutouts

· Vanity and countertop modifications

· Voice activated, automated door openers

· Swimming pool lifts

Emerald Contractors can help make all aspects of your home or business comfortably accessible. We specialize in creating accessible, barrier-free environments. Safety, comfort and quality are the standards we bring to every home remodel. We have proudly been a leader and popular speaker in Universal Design & Construction for over 25 years and have been a Certified Aging in Place Specialist since 2003. So, if you have any questions that I can answer or can be a help in any way, please feel free to email me john@emeraldcontractors.com.

How to Hire a Reputable Contractor

How to Hire a Reputable Contractor

A recent survey from Remodeling Magazine states that there is a 13% increase in the number of homeowners who say they will remodel in 2010. With the economy now moving in positive direction, there is simply no better time to remodel your home. But, how do you choose a reputable contractor? That can be a daunting question, but armed with some basic knowledge selecting a good contractor to handle your project can be a positive and rewarding experience. Here are some tips to follow;

The easiest thing to do first is to ask for referrals from the people you trust. Talk to your close relatives, friends, neighbors or business associates who have experienced successful remodeling projects. These people will usually be more than happy to tell you about their good experiences and their bad. Another great source for referrals is your local professional building organizations. Check with your local chapters of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) or the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). These professional organizations follow a strict code of ethics and espouse a high standard of conducting business so you can usually rely on their recommendations.

Once you have a list of potential contractors, then you should begin the interview process. It’s important to personally meet with each contractor to determine if the company is a good match in both skill set and personality. Your function at the interview is to determine if the contractor has the requisite skills to define realistic budget parameters, provide design services applicable to your project, provide an accurate estimating process and ultimately provide the construction services to complete the design/build process.

The fact that the contractor can meet your technical needs is crucial, but you need to also consider quite highly the intangible aspects as well. At your meeting, each contractor should present himself professionally (this is the best it will ever be) and be attentive in listening to your remodeling desires. They need to be a good listener from the very beginning to ensure a successful project. Also, is there a rapport between you? Ask yourself, can you live with this contractor for 3, 6, 8 months while your project is being designed, estimated and built? Do you communicate well with each other? Breakdowns in communication are one of the leading causes of disenchantment between and client and remodeler. Do you believe there is mutual trust and respect? Once again, remember, it will never get any better than in this first meeting, so follow your instincts.

A contractor’s reputation and track record should also be key criteria in your selection process. Has the contractor won any local, state, regional or national design or building awards? Recognitions of excellence in the industry are indicators of standards of excellence that you want in your contractor. Involvement in professional trade associations is also usually an indicator of qualified contractors. Ask for the list of the company’s past and current involvement in local and state organizations.

You should also verify the contractors’ local and state licenses, workmans’ compensation and liability insurance certificates, as well as proof of established business success. Beyond this, don’t hesitate to check with the Better Business Bureau and the Department of Professional Regulation (DBPR) for any unresolved complaints. And, finally, don’t be afraid to ask for references from the contractors. Each should be happy to provide details with photos of past local jobs for you to review.

This should give you a basic platform from which to begin choosing the contractor that is best for your home remodeling job. But, there’s one last piece of advice. Don’t be disappointed if you have to wait for an initial appointment to interview a contractor. Most qualified professional contractors are busy. That is what you are looking for! It will be worth the wait and certainly worth all your selection efforts to ensure you choose the contractor that is ideally suited to you and your remodeling project.

The Last 24 Months

What does that conjure up for you: fear, reprioritizing, restraint, and opportunity?
It has been the most interesting period we have seen in our lives. Certainly, it has been for me. In the blink of an eye we have seen our financial world both globally, nationally and locally collapse. Without doubt, every person has been affected. I personally know of only a few who have benefited financially from these changes. For most, it has been a struggle to maintain and just stay in business. However, I’ve seen many whose personal resolve, faith in themselves, family and friends have strengthened. I’ve seen personal and spiritual growth that only trial and struggle can forge.

The way we do business has changed and will be changed forever. The old paradigms do not and will not work. What have not changed are quality, service, value and putting the client first. I’ve seen a move to more collaboration and alliance building between symbiotic businesses. Although it is more cutthroat than ever, I’ve seen competitors band together to get some piece of a transaction as opposed to none at all (if they were to “go alone”). I’m doing all of these tactics and more. We’re still reinventing ourselves. Hopefully, greed (which got us into this) will be substituted with pride in one’s work and empowering each individual to take control of his/her personal outcome.

What I do see, however, is a misguided shift in the way many customers are approaching potential work and the resultant change in contractors pricing strategies. When I ask many potential clients why they are doing their project at this particular time, a frequent response is “well, the economy is down and I think I can get a good deal.” There seems to be this feeling, “If I can beat my vendor/contractor to give me the lowest price possible, I’ll go with him.”

To those clients who want to “wishful think” they can get a deal, let me pose these questions. Has gas really gone down? Have your taxes (personal, property, user fees (cell phone cable etc.) gone down? Has your grocery bill gone down? Has your health insurance gone down? Has ANYTHING that you deal with on an everyday basis gone down? The answer is No! So, do you really think that my or any other business’ cost of doing business is going down? Again the answer is No!

I’ll grant you the economy is down. There is a certain validity that some money can be saved because of recessed costs. I will share with you, however, that any “real substantial” cost savings are an illusion. Granted, some material costs have gone down a little (very few) but skilled labor has not gone down appreciably. Since most remodeling projects are more labor intensive than material driven, the material savings might approach 2% -3% of the overall job cost. An $18 an hour skilled carpenter ($36 to $40 with burdens for taxes, workmen’s comp, liability and health insurance, vacation pay, etc.) might take a pay cut by $2 to $3. That is only a 1.6% reduction in cost. So, the only way I can really lower my price to my clients is if I lower my margin and work for little or no profit. How little of a profit I want to work for depends on the job and the client.

If you are thinking about making an improvement to your home or office and do not have plans I suggest that you interview us and as many contractors as you like. Identify one contractor (hopefully it will be us) that you know, like and trust. Pay your trusted contractor a small fee to prepare a proper budget based on a schematic plan and scope of work with reasonable finish assumptions. You will be the beneficiary of a far more accurate budget and can have confidence in a project which gets done on time, on budget, with few surprises and to your expectations.