Danny Lipford

Put Uncle Sam to Work on Your Home

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:55:53 +0000

According to a survey conducted for Johns Manville, one-fourth of homeowners are considering using their federal economic stimulus check on home improvement projects. Landscaping was the most popular item, followed by upgrading a bathroom or kitchen, painting a room, and adding insulation. Planning to get Uncle Sam to help out around your home? Leave a comment below to let us know what projects you have in mind.

Finding the Best Gas Prices

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:44:26 +0000

With gas prices fluctuating daily, it’s hard to know if you’re getting a good deal or being ripped off when you stop to fill your tank. Websites like GasBuddy.com and GasPriceWatch.com take the mystery out of shopping for fuel by listing the prices stations in your area are charging. Since the information is submitted by consumers, check to see which site has the most current listings for your area. Better yet, sign up and start reporting prices yourself!

Rate of Return for Home Improvement Projects

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:06:29 +0000

Thinking about adding a deck or revamping the kitchen so you can up the price of your home before you sell? You might want to crunch the cost vs. value numbers, complied by Remodeling magazine, before you do. The data is searchable by region and provides average prices, resale value, and the percent recouped for most major home improvement projects. Bottom line: unless you do the work yourself, you’ll probably get less out than you put in, so plan on sticking around to enjoy it.

Contractor Scams: Avoid The Rip Off

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:17:51 +0000

Contractor scams are one of the oldest tricks in the book, and they can hurt more than just your wallet. Luckily, home improvement expert Danny Lipford provides a wealth of articles on how to select the right contractor and avoid getting ripped off.

Check out these articles:

Hiring a Handyman

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:40:31 +0000

Hiring a handyman is not easy and many people have had unpleasant experiences trying to do so. They don’t show up, they don’t return calls, they say they can do the work, but then do a poor job. In order to avoid this type of disappointment, here’s some advice.

Before hiring any handyman, ask him or her these questions:

How many years have they been in business?
How do they price their work? Hourly? Per job? Do they give free estimates?
Do they carry liability insurance? If not, remember that you are responsible for any medical expenses and possibly more, if they’re injured while working for you!
Finally, make sure you get a detailed description of the work AND cost in writing, and remember that even though most handymen have a variety of skills, some jobs are best left to specialists.

Buying Tools vs. Renting Tools

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:36:55 +0000

If you’re like me, walking into a hardware store or home center can be dangerous. If I see a tool I don’t have, then I want it. But, in reality, there are tools that I simply don’t need. This is where it really pays to examine the option of renting a tool.

A good example is using a tiller, like this one. For about $400-$500, you can purchase one to use anytime you need it and it really is a great tool to have.

But…Here’s where you need to ask yourself, when would you use the tool again? Will you need it again before six months? If the answer is no, then consider renting. For about $50, you can rent a tiller, get the job done quickly and not even have to worry about maintaining the tool. So, before making another major tool purchase, ask yourself how often the tool would be used and consider the option of renting.

Benefits of a Home Warranty

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:50:17 +0000

A home warranty is a service contract, that usually lasts for one year, which helps protect homeowners against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement on their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. This annual contract can be a significant savings, especially if you are not particularly handy with home repairs. When you have a covered problem, you simply call your warranty provider to arrange for a local, pre-screened service technician to contact you. Having a home warranty can help you avoid the expense, hassle and frustration of unexpected home repairs, and, since the technicians ARE pre-screened, you can rely on the credibility of the individuals performing the repairs. When you compare the replacement cost for these home repairs against the annual cost of a home warranty contract, having the latter may be the right choice for you.

Using Shade to Reduce Energy Bills

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 04:04:18 +0000

Homeowners are always looking for easy, economical ways to reduce their monthly heating and cooling costs. If your home heats up in the summertime the solution may be as simple as a little shade. Rooms with windows that get direct sunlight will heat up quickly in warm weather putting a strain on your cooling system but there are some things you can do to help ease that load. Installing a tinted film on your windows can block a significant amount of the sun’s heat while also protecting your furnishings from fading. The biggest payback comes on windows that aren’t already covered with draperies or shades because those will block heat too. Installing awnings over windows is another way to block the sun’s rays and this can reduce a room’s temperature by up to 15 degrees, saving up to 25% on the air conditioning needs for a particular room. If you’re not crazy about the look of an awning you might consider a strategically planted shade tree to get similar benefits.

Programmable Thermostat

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:41:42 +0000

With energy costs constantly on the rise there are tons of gimmicks out there that say they will save you money. People always want to know what’s for real and what’s not. The programmable thermostat is one that sounds too good to be true but it isn’t. These devices allow you to automatically turn your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for eight hours of the day when the house is empty. By doing this, you can save up to 15% a year on your heating bill. For an average household with a utility bill of $125 a month, that means an annual savings of up to $225. Obviously this works best if you have a consistent schedule that leaves the house empty for long periods of time and programming some of these units can be complicated, so make sure you are comfortable with the functions of the unit before install it. The one exception here is a home with a Heat Pump. A typical Programmable Thermostat may actually make a Heat Pump less efficient but there are newer hybrid thermostats that can be used with these systems.

Insurance Policy Limits

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:01:16 +0000

People who have recently received a homeowner’s insurance settlement often ask why the amount was lower than they expected. What most don’t realize is that their policy had coverage limits for some of the items lost. For example, a $1000 limit for combined losses of jewelry, furs or related items is not uncommon. Cash, securities, boats, trailers, silverware and firearms may also subject to policy coverage limits. Antiques, artwork and collectibles not only have coverage limits but in most cases a policy will only pay for the value of a similar item, not for their collectible value. In other words, an antique table worth thousands of dollars may be replaced with a new table of similar design that only costs a few hundred. So look closely at the coverage limits in your policy and talk to your insurance agent about any extra coverage you may need to adequately cover your home.