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My husband and I just completed our first remodel. It was a period renovation of a Victorian Gingerbread Craftsman. (I’m so thrilled I can talk about it in the past tense). We haunted architectural salvage houses for just the right windows, bid on eBay for period-correct light fixtures, spent an entire afternoon driving all over L.A. for a screw that they stopped making in the thirties and generally worked to the point of insanity. Tiptoed up to the line but never crossed it.

So here, ripped from the headlines so to speak, are my
Top Ten Tips for Remodeling. Read ‘em and weep.

1. There is a solution to every situation. But it’s
not necessarily yours. You go where the solution is - it
doesn’t come to you.

2. There is no medicine for whatever ails you quite like hard, exhausting, purposeful work.

3. Chew your own food. Don’t make your
problems other peoples. They’ve got their own.

4. I’m not psychic. Maybe you are.
Guesstimates of time and money are just that.
Reality has a way of intruding. When in doubt - go
with Reality. (I don’t know when I’m going to die
either).

5. Pain fades with time. Remodeling is like giving
birth. When you’re in the middle of delivery you
swear you’ll never do it again. But then the kid turns out to
be a looker, a few years go by…..Yadda yadda yadda - you’re in escrow.

6. There are no problems - only opportunities
for creativity, action and collaboration.

7. You’re born alone, you die alone - you don’t
have to win alone. Everyone can win. Some win more
than others but there’s enough in the pot to spread
around. If you squeeze a vendor to bid a job so
low that they can’t make money, harbor
resentment and cut corners - you both lose.

8. Nobody owes you anything. If they help you
it’s because they’re generous people. Acknowledge
them.

9. Everything comes to an end. And then it starts
up again.

10. Remodeling really is like Improv. You show up
without a script. You have no idea what’s going to
happen next ( except you can be sure that whatever
you think it’ll be - you’re wrong). You’re dependent
on others for their performances. So help them shine.
You make it work by paying attention to everything
and dealing with whatever Reality presents to you. Do
the best you can with the resources you have and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

11. Okay, I lied. There are more than Ten Tips to Remodeling. There are actually thousands. This last one, though, is the most important. Don’t forget to put yourself on your own Punch List. No pressure of work or money is reason enough not to eat right,sleep enough, monitor your health and appreciate your
family.

Mary Rosendale is a Certified Life Coach, Author, Speaker and serial remodeler. Visit her on the web at http://www.TheConstructedLife.com and sign up for her one-of-a-kind newsletter.

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There are advantages to using the new roofing products. The cost, durability, and life cycle are longer. The new products are created from recycled and natural materials. When your roof, made of shingles, needs repair, the old shingles are removed and taken to a landfill.

If you are considering one of the newer roofs, you must take the weight of the material into consideration. Some of the newer materials, such as slate and tile, can weight five to ten times more than asphalt shingles; therefore, the supports must be strong enough to hold the added weight.

While this will increase the expense of installation, the expense will only occur once. To determine the actual cost, you must take both the cost of the product and the added expense of strengthening the rafters or trusses. Then determine the length of time of your product warranty.

If you are concerned about the environment, you can use recycled plastic products. Since they weigh approximately the same as shingle, you will not have to strengthen the support system. This will save you added expense while still allowing you to gain the benefits of the new materials. Plastic can carry a warranty as long as fifty years.

Other quality materials to consider using are:

1. Slate
2. Tile
3. Shakes
4. Fiber-cent
5. Cedar Shakes
6. Pine shakes

There are companies out there today specializing in a variety of roofing materials. Check online for more information. Improving and maintaining your Real Estate will help when you decide to sell your home.

Nan is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional with an information and research site online
RealEstateLady and a Business
Writer with a blog BusinessTips.

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The Real Estate market has been moving forward at a fast pace. This market has begun slowing down a bit. Homeowners now appear to be staying home and adding onto their current home.

The long term growth in this area has been 5%. Currently the rise in the first quarter of this year is 4.5%. Impressive to say the least. This represents spending of $155 billion more than the amount spent in the previous 12 months.

The frenzy in home buying is definitely slowing down. Normally the spending associated with purchasing a new home usually lags behind. David A Seiders, chairman of the home builders group, says “The run-up in home sales during the past five years will fuel remodeling growth in the next several years, and the long-term growth looks very solid as well.”

This trend will provide more jobs in the home remodeling industry, including those entrepreneurs in the market place. The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Chicago seemed to indicate the growth seems to be in the upper end of the market. Big ticket manufacturers report 20 to 25 percent increase in the sales for the first quarter of 2006.

Many new products debut at the Kitchen and Bath Shows and May’s National Hardware Shows. Consumers are sure to find what fits their needs.

Another trend in the market place is using Glass Block to decorate the indoor and outdoor areas of homes and businesses. Glass block has been used in showers and windows for bathrooms in higher priced housing. Home owners are only limited by their imagination when considering this durable material.

Homeowners are not limited in finding new ways to remodel their homes. Changing cabinets, adding lighting, updating bathrooms can definitely improve the value and comfort of a home.

Nan Wood is an Accountant and RealEstate with an interest in home projects

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