Category Archives: remodeling

Tips and Tricks from Professional Flippers

Posted on October 10, 2016 | Leave a comment

1. Quotes and contracts – Make sure you get at least three different quotes for every trade that is required. It might sound like overkill, but you will be surprised by how different they will be. It doesn’t always pay to go with the cheapest; in fact you often get what you pay for with this kind of work. Take the time to check your tradespeople’s references, have a look at their previous work and be sure that you are very clear about what is included in their proposed contract and what is not. Also, find out how much work they have on at the moment – you don’t want to be locked into a contract with someone who has taken on too much work and keeps leaving your job to finish others. So have an agreed timeframe for the completion of the work.

4. Lists and spreadsheets – Taking on a renovation can be overwhelming, so divide the project into rooms and then each room into tasks. Having a list that can be ticked off as you go along will help create a sense of achievement and allow you to focus on what still needs to be done. Creating a spreadsheet for the project to list costs is crucial for keeping on top of your budget. Try to update it daily with every penny spent.

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How to choose the right paint color for any room

Posted on October 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

paint

You’ve pored over the colour charts and painted swatches on the walls but how do you decide on the perfect colour?

“Committing to a new paint colour is daunting,” says Sydney-based colour expert and artist Julie Rekha from online art gallery, Art Expedia. “For the living room, go with colours centred between cool and warm tones. A cool light neutral grey colour can work well for the kitchen. A nice deep brown will suit the dining room as this colour is great for a room that is a setting for celebrations. A nice tan or pale blue colour will work for the bedroom and a cool peach colour will suit the kids’ room.”

“Don’t be limited in thinking there are certain colours for rooms. You can use any colour,” says paint expert, Annie Sloan, who has written more than 20 books on paint, colour and technique and created her own worldwide brand of paint called Chalk Paint. “A bathroom doesn’t have to be blue or green just because there is water in it. Really what you need to think about is how much light is in the room.”

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5 Things to make your contractor’s life easier

Posted on October 5, 2016 | Leave a comment

Aussie to USA translation: Tradie = Contractor

1.When you are getting a quote, make sure your respect the contractor’s time.

It’s good to get quotes – essential, in fact, something your regular tradie encourages and understands. But don’t invite three to five workmen over to, say, look at your kitchen and provide quotes all at the same time. Putting them in a competitive environment sends the message that you are only worried about the price, not the quality of the job. It might be enough to convince them to walk away without ever getting back to you.

Also, keep in mind that many tradies won’t charge for an in-person quote, but the process can take up to half a day – so respect their time and make the effort to see them and talk about the project individually.

You should “always get a quote”, Jack* the plumber says, but when it comes to the price – “ask for their hourly rate, ask about the cost of materials” – you should ask what you’re paying for to make sure you’re across what costs are involved. If you are using a better quality paint, for example, you should be seeing it in the budget.

2. Be sure you want the job done.

“We hear many stories from tradies where they spend hours of time visiting customers, only to be told by that they’re ‘not sure I will do the job’ or ‘just wanted an idea’,” a spokesman for Tradebusters says.

If you’re not sure, discuss the project and the price with your prospective tradie over the phone. Don’t formally book them to physically come in until you’re definite that you’ll give someone the go ahead to actually do the job, and once you’ve got a ballpark price range.

And once you have settled on going ahead, it’s good to know exactly what the job is – and communicate that to your tradie. “It’s all about decisions,” says Jack – not knowing what you want wastes both your time, and his.

“If you’re renovating a bathroom, know what colours you want.” He “never wants to do a job twice” – it’s frustrating for both the tradesman and the customer.

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Category Archives: remodeling

Tips and Tricks from Professional Flippers

How to choose the right paint color for any room

5 Things to make your contractor’s life easier

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