Going up to the cottage this summer for some R & R? Make sure your home is not the victim of a B&E with these security tips from Homeservice Club for exterior renovation:
“    Check your home insurance policy before you leave on vacation. Some have a clause that requires that the premises be checked every 48 hours in your absence for the policy to be valid.
“    Arrange for someone to come in once or twice a day and take in the mail, open curtains in the morning and close them at night, and cut the grass.
“    Illuminate dark corners of the yard with motion-sensing floodlights, replace burned-out bulbs on exterior light fixtures, install inexpensive motion-sensing lights near entrances, garage doors, walkways and porches.
“    Place landscape lights, porch lights, a few interior lights, and a radio on different timers so it looks – and sounds- like somebody is home.
“    Stop newspaper deliveries before you leave. Most newspapers have vacation stop/start forms on their websites.
“    Invite your neighbors to park their cars in your driveway to give the illusion of people coming and going.
“    Garages and garden sheds can provide a thief with the necessary tools to break in your home. Keep them locked and ensure ladders are locked up and out of reach.
“    Leave an itinerary, a phone number and a house key with a trusted neighbour so they can contact you if something goes wrong with your house.
“    And finally, bolt patio doors and install deadbolts on all exterior doors and interior doors leading to the garage, basement or solarium. The deadbolt should be at least an inch long and the strike plate should be secured into the door framing stud.

If your home is broken into, you may have to do a major overhaul on your home. Household items can be broken, stolen, and sentimentally irreplaceable. Suffering this set back, you may have to renovate your current home as a result of breaking and entering. Furthermore, you may have to move to a completely new home to avoid any future incidents.
Follow these tips prior to leaving for your vacation, each exterior renovation tip will prove vital to keeping your home safe and beautiful for the remainder of your leave. You will rest easy knowing you took precaution from having all your valuables taken away from you.

Cleaning the eavestroughs in the fall, for example, can prevent ice damming in the winter, where moisture is forced up under the roof’s shingles during winter’s freeze-thaw cycles. “Our roofing contractors are always busy in the spring, fixing damage and leaks that have occurred because of ice damming,” Felton added.

Here are some home maintenance ideas jobs that should be on a homeowner’s winterizing checklist:

“    Clean eavestroughs after the last leaves have fallen. Run a garden hose and check that they are draining properly and that downspouts are operating and directed away from the home’s foundation walls. Check for leaking or damaged gutters, downspouts and hangers. Remove rust and patch the gutters with roofing cement. Caulk leaking seams and make sure pop rivets are secure.
“    Check the roof for trouble signs such as broken or missing shingles, cracked, buckling or curling shingles, or bare spots where the granular coating has worn off. Check flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys. Look for pieces that have peeled back and for cracked caulking that could allow moisture penetration.
“    Have the chimney cleaned and check the exterior structure for worn flashing, loose bricks or crumbling mortar.
“    Have your furnace cleaned, inspected and safety checked. Depending on the system, you will need to have the furnace vacuumed, the filter changed and the pilot checked.
“    Check for blockage of attic louvres by wasp’s nests and put sheet metal, wire screen or wood over any openings, including under the eaves, to prevent animals from nesting.
“    Remove and store your window air conditioner. Make sure to clean the coils and filters and cover loosely for the winter. If you are leaving the air conditioner in the window, put a weatherproof cover over it to protect it during the winter.
“    Clean your lawnmower and other garden tools before storing. Give all the metal parts of your tools a wipe with an oiled rag to prevent rusting. Drain the fuel from gas-powered machines and run the engine until the lines are clear. Drain the oil and replace it. Clean caked-on grass and debris.
“    Check doors and windows for proper caulking and weatherstripping. Do the draft test: hold a lit candle and run it along the seams of doors and windows. A flickering flame means your heating dollars are going out the window.  Check the bottoms of doors for a snug threshold seal or door sweep.
“    Make sure your fireplace is in safe working order. Check that the damper opens and closes smoothly and fits properly to prevent heat loss. Check inside the fireplace to make sure no bricks are loose or broken. If your fireplace is smoking excessively, check the chimney for fallen bricks. Installing a chimney cap can cure a smoking fireplace by improving the draft.
“    Drain exterior water lines, hose bibs, sprinklers, and pool equipment before the first major freeze. Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.

“    Clean your barbecue and store it in a protected place for the winter. Never store propane tanks indoors.
“    Clean patio furniture and store, loosely covered, in a dry place.
“    Wash windows to let in the maximum heat and light during cold winter days.
Doing your fall chores can make your life easier come spring, when you would rather be fishing than fixing winter damage. There are a lot more tips in our categories section.

“We take the hassle out of home renovations,” explains Club president Richard Felton. “There’s the convenience of calling one number no matter what job you need done. And the peace of mind knowing that the person you are letting into your home has been prescreened and bonded by Homeservice Club™.”
But, says Felton, the most important aspect of his business is the “Double Guarantee” he offers homeowners.  “You hear about home renovation ideas and basement renovations nightmares all the time – contractors taking the deposit and skipping town, or not finishing the job. That’s what sets us apart in the home renovation business – we guarantee the job will be completed to the customers’ satisfaction,” Felton said. “We add our guarantee to that of the individual contractor. If the job is not done to your satisfaction, we’ll send someone else in to fix it – that’s a double guarantee of satisfaction for the member.”
Homeservice Club™ has been in the business of protecting homeowners since Harry Felton opened its doors in 1961 to protect homeowners against “shoddy workmanship and fly-by-night contractors”.  Today, his son runs the family business, but the concept remains true to his father’s vision. For a small yearly membership fee, homeowners have access to a network of over 400 licensed, bonded and insured contractors in every trade imaginable. The contractors are all independent tradespeople who compete with each other for members’ business, keeping prices competitive.
Club members also have access to an extensive shopping network offering discounts on everything from cars to travel, security systems to real estate, and insurance to appliances.
The Homeservice Club model is a win-win deal for both the homeowner and the contractor, says Felton.  “We take the hassle out of hiring a contractor for our members and we take the hassle out of running a business for our contractors – everyone wins,” he added.

“Every year we remind homeowners about the importance of caulking and weatherstripping,” says Rick Felton, President of Homeservice Club. “If you had a three-inch square hole in an outside wall, you’d fix it promptly. Yet many homeowners ignore that quarter-inch crack under their front door, which will let in just as much cold air as that hole in the wall.”

With some simple weatherstripping and caulking, homeowners can dramatically reduce energy loss, Felton added. Hiring a professional with specialized testing equipment can result in even greater energy savings.

Here are some more tips from Homeservice Club of Canada that will help homeowners save energy dollars this winter:

“    While windows and doors are the obvious culprits for air leakage, significant air loss can also occur in the attic, around ducts, through fireplace dampers, through mail slots, through cracks in exterior walls, around the openings where utilities and plumbing enter the house, and through the basement walls and floors.
“    Make sure your furnace is cleaned and operating efficiently. Replace or clean filters every month during the heating season.
“    Install a programmable thermostat, which allows you to program your heating system to your family’s schedule and lifestyle.
“    Seal electrical outlets and switches with inexpensive insulating gaskets.

Making your home snug for the winter will also save you money.

Just as it’s important for you to keep detailed records of your home business, your bills, income tax information or medical history, so too is it imperative that you keep a detailed records of all maintenance you perform on your home.  After all, it is your biggest investment, and the one thing in your house that requires constant TLC to maintain its value and to ensure it continues to be able to protect your family from the elements and keep them secure.  However, when you think about everything you have to do to take care of a home, setting up a manageable way of keeping accurate and detailed records can be a overwhelming task.  But with some creative thinking and a commitment to accuracy and organization, it can make a daunting task quite simple.

Whether you are just purchasing your home or you’re just committed to setting up a manageable database of information regarding your home’s maintenance, a home maintenance diary might be just the thing you need to get organized and stay organized on this matter.  Begin with taking stock of your home’s current condition.  Be brutally honest when you’re assessing the situation.  You might want to categorize your diary by section of the home such as the exterior, kitchen, master bedroom or basement, or you may choose to divide it according to task, like painting, electrical, insulation, roof, landscaping, or climate control.  Treat your initial walk-through as a real estate agent or investor might do.  Study each corner, each tile and brick, and notate any damage, defect, or upkeep that needs to happen.

As you look through your completed home maintenance diary, don’t let it become overwhelming to you.  Devise a plan with the rest of your family that works for everyone involved to complete needed tasks.  Perhaps you’ll devote this weekend to painting the exterior and the following weekend you’ll focus on maintaining the landscaping.  If there are tasks in your diary that you feel ill-equipped to handle, call a professional.  The peace of mind knowing the job was handled by a professional is well worth it.

Be sure to have a separate section available for renovations, updates, or remodels that you’ve completed as well.  Be sure to date these events, and if there’s any notes regarding specific equipment used or products purchased, be sure to jot that down as well.

Renovation loans are available if your premises is in a state of disrepair, is unlivable, needs up gradation or if you want to just put in new kitchens, bathrooms etc.

Very simply, often times people will hold off on going through on their home renovation ideas they need simply because they don’t believe they can afford it. however, when you realize all the financing options available to you, you will know that it doesn’t have to be nearly as expensive as you think.

Even drastic improvements like completely removing all the built structure and rebuilding it using existing foundations can also be sometimes funded by Renovation financing. Although financing a home can be supported by your personal finances, sometimes it does make sense to finance the project especially if your home itself can finance the renovation.

How? Simply because if the price of your home has exceeded the mortgage on it you are sitting on top of what is called home equity.

Home equity can be an excellent source for financing the renovation of your house. Home improvements financed by credit cards may be a possibility but getting a loan based on your home equity will get you a way lower rate of interest.

Since loans offer structured repayments over a period of time, they are also easier to pay off than your increasing credit card debt. So avoid the temptation to fund your home renovation using your credit card unless you can pay off the balance quite soon.

A good practice before taking a home improvement loan is to compare rates from amongst various lenders. This can give you a fair bit of idea about the nature of the market and help you get a good deal.

While taking a home improvement loan, you should make a list of possible expenses beforehand and discuss them with a friend, your contractor or a knowledgeable person to arrive at a correct estimate. This will help you while you are going about renovation financing.

It’s also a good idea to read all financial documents regarding your home loans carefully. Do not ever sign any document that you do not comprehend fully.

The implications can be severe. Getting your home renovated does not have to be a huge back breaking financial task.
Just use a bit of ingenuity and your home can sometimes just pay for the improvements on its own. Renovation financing is something that everyone who is thinking of redoing their home should seriously consider. Don’t let a lack of finances stop you from getting the home of your dreams.

The most important part, as stated above, is to simply do your research and find out which renovation finance company will give you the best rates, and then simply go with them. Also, a great way to do this, once you’ve found the company that will give the best rates, is to read reviews about that particular company on the internet. This way, you don’t have to find out the hard way whether or not that company is reliable; you can simply draw on others past experience.

One major problem individuals have when beginning their renovation project is their lack of construction equipment in their stable. Renting this equipment is an excellent choice for anyone who needs the items on a limited basis and does not have the funding to purchase the often costly equipment for themselves.

Construction equipment can be rented at a variety of places. Look in your local yellow pages to find a specialized construction equipment rental business in your area. These businesses are usually prevalent and are capable of renting everything under the sun, from small tools to tractors or caterpillars. You may need to call or visit different rental companies to find out their rules, costs, and the equipment available before you make your choice.

In order to limit hassle and aggravation, choose a company that has all requested tools and equipment instead of renting from a variety of shops around town. Usually, shops will strive to work with you regarding renting equipment for a large job, often providing bulk pricing and long term renting contracts.

For smaller jobs, consider visiting your local home supply store. These ever popular equipment laden depots regularly rent a variety of tools and other construction equipment on a daily basis. Stores such as Lowes and Home Depot regularly rent a host of power tools and even vehicles for hauling materials, but may have a more limited selection than a firm that specializes in renting construction equipment. Furthermore, these stores generally have a shorter rental time, making them perfect for smaller projects, but inappropriate for larger endeavors.

Before you agree to rent everything, be sure you fully understand the rental contract. You do not want to be penalized at the end of the day and forced to pay expensive fees because you did not completely understand the rental conditions before you signed on the dotted light. Ask for a deal in either the price or longevity of the contract. Often if you are renting a great deal of equipment from a specific store, they will work with you on either of these items.

Also, speak with your subcontractors and be absolutely aware of their timeline. No one wants to rent construction equipment before it is actually needed and having the tools sit unused for a period of time. This can be a costly mistake and should be avoided at all costs.

Renting construction equipment is an excellent way to have the tools you need on hand for your home renovation project. Do not purchase expensive and bulky tools that you may never use again! Find a reliable rental agency and rent the right equipment to get the job done.

The first option s to look at your available assets. You can get a home equity loan if there is any equity in your house. Use your credit cards for short term home renovation ideas or borrow money from your parents these ideas are only usable in a short term renovation once the renovations completed you should be able to refinance your home and pay of the relatives, high interest credit cards and roll your home equity loan into your mortgage.

You may be able to get a “line of credit” a line of credit is usually easy to get up to $30,000.00 with out much effort and with a minimal amount of paperwork these lines of credit are good for short term home renovation ideas that are under the $100,000.00 dollar mark. The interest rates tend to be on the high side but you can draw out the money as you need it and only pay interest on the cash that has been withdrawn and again once the renovation is completed you can refinance and pay of the line of credit and combine all your loans in the mortgage.

Depending on the scope of your renovation you may be eligible for store loans and credit card offers. Many home stores now have their own credit cards they offer deal such as interest free credit for one year you may be able negotiate a longer term. The important thing here is to pay off the loan/credit card prior to the free period expiring otherwise the interest will revert back to the initial purchase. Some stores will also offer you a interest free construction loan for your project the terms of these construction loans vary from store to store read the fine print carefully like the credit card deals these usually have a time limit. Again one the renovation is completed you can refinance and pay off the loan avoiding high interest dept.

Construction loans are generally reserved for larger projects this kind of loan is a short term loan the money can be taken as needed and interest is paid on the money that has been taken out. Almost everyone now offers construction loans this completion has brought the costs of these loans down. The nice thing about construction loans is that you can withdraw the money as you need it once the renovation is done you can refinance and have one closing and one mortgage. One thing you should keep in mind when shopping for a construction loan is the fees and finance charges as always keep an eye on the fine print for hidden charges. With these tips, the home renovation ideas of your dreams will come true.

When thinking about home renovation ideas financing there are two likely candidates for you to consider. The home equity loan and the home owner’s line of credit. The amount available for a home equity loan is based on the amount of equity that you have built up in your home. This loan is sometimes referred to as a second mortgage. It is calculated by taking the value of your home and subtracting the amount left outstanding on the original mortgage. If you own your home outright, then the amount would be the home’s value. As an example, if you have a home that is worth $250,000 and you have already paid off $110,000 then your accumulated equity would be $140,000. The value of the property is what guarantees the loan so the interest rate is low as well as they payments. It is also normal to be able to secure fixed interest rates for such loans.

The other popular financing option is the home owner’s line of credit. This loan does not have a finite amount save for the limit which is once again decided by your equity. This is a popular option as it allows for a lot of room when considering costs. The loan operates much like a credit card, with a variable interest rate. This is certainly the most flexible of the options and does not have a definite end date. The line of credit remains open for as long as you need it and do not close it out.

The best way to discern which type of loan is proper for your needs is to confer with a financial expert or banker. Prioritize your needs and try to find a loan that is tailor made for you. Remember that your home is going to be on the line as collateral so be sure to plan your payment schedule carefully and within what you can afford to pay. Make sure that you research all your options here and find what works for you and for your budget and you’ll be on your way to achieving your home renovation ideas.

If you are looking to obtain the most for your money, it is a great bet to start with the kitchen. One problem you may encounter is that a complete kitchen renovation may take a little longer than expected and the cost could be a bit higher than you have to expend. A good place to start renovating your kitchen is with something inexpensive like the walls. Slap a fresh coat of paint on your kitchen walls and it can do wonders for the appear and feel of the kitchen.

The next thing you want to focus on is the bathrooms. The kitchens and the bathrooms in your house will be the major focal spots when you go to sell your residence. This is why you want to start with these two parts and repair them up as much as possible. A good place to start in your bathroom is the flooring. If you can, don’t make use of vinyl for your flooring and if you do have vinyl floors, upgrade these floors to tile.

The next point to modernize and enhance the value of your home is the front area of your house. Whether this is a small area of grass or you have a big front yard with a garden, you want to ensure that you have excellent curb charm when you are planning to sell your house.

The economy may be on a down swing, but you know how to still do the aforementioned things in order to increase the value of your house while you stay for the economy to recover. Do these things and you will be good on your way to a great house remodeling job.