By ATEK GARAGE DOORS March 14, 2011
Have a great 2011!! ...read more
By ATEK GARAGE DOORS March 14, 2011
Have a great 2011!! ...read more
Loan modification has been put in place by government and lenders to help keep homeowners in their homes. It is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as a permanent change in one or more of the terms of the mortgagor's loan, which allows the loan to be reinstated with a payment the homeowner can afford. Unfortunately the hoops created to jump through and the lack of information given makes the process less than desirable to the homeowner. A call of help to your lender leads to filling out your budget, tracking every dollar you earn and spend, with no insight into what they are looking for. Should you have a few dollars left at the end of the month or should you be running a deficit? So in steps a company called Homeowner Toolbox Inc out of Irvine, CA. They have created a website that provides a free, self-assessment tool for homeowners to give them some insight into the modification process and show them if they are able to qualify for modification. The tool is tailored to each mortgage lender, which you can pick from their drop-down box. You will then be led through the free assessment set to the standards of your particular mortgage company. The tool is located here:http://www.counselordirect.com/Erik LaineLP Design20610 Rush Meadow LaneRogers, MN 55374http://www.lpdesignonline.com(888) 340-1769 ...read more
By LP Design April 02, 2010
1. Plan your project and get bids well in advance - Contractors plan out for months in advance and trying to find someone in March to get that new three-season porch completed by March will be tough. You will pay premium prices to get fit into their busy schedules. Building trades have busy seasons, here are some good times to schedule different projects: Roofing - cold or rainy monthsHeating - late summerAir Conditioning - late winter or early springChimney Cleaning - any time other than fall!Project Design - fall and winter2. Pay extra now for energy-saving features - Some ideas for this would be higher efficiency windows, heating and cooling products and appliances. Compare the energy savings between the products, try to find something with a pay-back period of 7-10 years. Don't forget to keep in mind any tax credits available to help offset the higher cost! Upgrading while remodeling will save you money over upgrading in the future. 3. Hire an architect of designer, at least the initial sketch - The most expensive mistake you can make is building an addition or remodeling a room and not being happy with the finished project. Most architects will walk you through the design phase and be able to help tailor the space to your needs while pointing out key details you may have not of thought of to help make that room special. 4. Don't be afraid to pitch in and take on some parts of the project yourself - Some great ways to save money are demolition, moving materials, digging and cleaning up the job site, sanding trim and painting. Make sure you coordinate the work with your contractor to keep everything on schedule and the project flowing smoothly. Delays can be expensive!5. Plan for future upgrades if you can't afford them now - This goes back to working with a contractor to help plan for future upgrades. Things to consider would be higher capacity electrical service, in-wall wiring for electronics in every room, rough plumbing for a future bathroom, rough framing for future doors / windows, or French doors that open to a future deck. 6. Compare the cost of remodeling over buying new - In our current housing market, this is most likely an easy decision. With house prices as low as they are, it usually makes more sense to buy existing and create the living space of you dreams. 7. Shop for materials yourself - You won't save much looking for building materials (ie: sheetrock and lumber), but finish materials, as in carpet, appliances, faucets and lighting fixtures can pay off by getting exactly what you want and finding bargains. 8. Don't overdo windows and skylights - These are great additions to any room by adding beautiful views and a feeling of openess, but more is not always better. Aside from the higher cost of materials, even energy-efficient windows will increase your heating and cooling noticeably. Large skylights can turn a room feel like a furnace in the summer. These additions could lead to having to replace your air conditioner, heat pump or furnace, or possibly adding different units in the room to keep a comfortable living space. 9. Try to avoid moving any plumbing or changing the foundation - These can't always be avoided, but when needed could add thousands to a remodeling project. The older the home, the more costly this becomes. Plumbing especially as codes are always changing. 10. Don't forget the internet - You have access to a wide selection of products and discounts of up to 40- 50%. Anything from appliances to lighting fixtures, even flooring at great prices. Erik Laine LP Designhttp://www.lpdesignonline.com(888) 340-1769 ...read more
By LP Design February 01, 2010
There has been a lot of talk about the details of the extended first time home buyers tax credit and the newly added existing home owners credit. It takes some digging to find the official details of these great programs. Here we will give you a quick overview and show you some places to go to find out more information. FIRST TIME HOME BUYER:For the first time home buyers out there, they have extended the $8000.00 tax credit into 2010. You need to have an executed purchase agreement by April 30, 2010 and have until June 30, 2010 to successfully close on the home. To qualify as a first time home buyer, you or you spouse can not have owned a home in the past 3 years. EXISTING HOME OWNER:To qualify for this tax credit of $6500.00, you must purchase your home between the dates of November 7, 2009&April; 30, 2010, with a final closing date of June 30th, 2010. You must have occupied the home for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8. Single family homes, condos, townhomes & co-ops are all eligible for this credit. To receive the full amount of the credit, the home must not be valued at more than $800,000. Single buyers incomes must be less than $125,000, married couples up to $225,000 to receive the full credit. The credit begins to decrease for single buyers from $125,000 to $145,000 and for married couples from $225,000 to $245,000. If you earn over these amounts you will not qualify for any credit. This is a tax credit, meaning it does not have to be re-paid if you live in the house for 3 years. If the house is sold prior to 3 years, the full credit will be re-couped at the time of sale. For answers to these and other questions, you can contact the IRS directly at (800) 829-1040.Here are some sites with information on the tax credits and buying a home:http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.htmlhttp://www.hud.gov/buying/comq.cfmhttp://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_creditErik Lainehttp://www.lpdesignonline.com(888) 340-1769LP Design ...read more
By LP Design January 26, 2010
The key roles of individuals who serve in construction management project positions include project management planning, cost management, contract administration, CM professional practice, and time management. If you are seeking a career in this field, keep in mind that there are several ways to train... ...read more
Construction managers are responsible for dealing with the various design, planning and execution of construction projects. In most situations hands-on experience is the best precursor for this position, however, a degree in construction management can greatly enhance your work performance. ...read more
