Mistakes To Avoid When Considering Home Improvement Projects

By: Maren Thole

In the life of every homeowner comes the time when he asks himself this question: Does my house need some home improvement jobs? In most of the cases the answer is yes, especially when he plans on selling the property. Although such a home improvement project can prove to be more than a rewarding project, it can also cause a lot of problems that can be very difficult to resolve. For this particular reason, we will now offer you some tips regarding how a home improvement project should look like and what problems you must avoid:

• References – We strongly advise all homeowners to search for the right contractor because he is the heart of the entire project. We recommend that you immediately walk away when the contractor doesn’t want to provide references from former clients. Online searching is the perfect tool for such a task and we encourage all homeowners to use websites that offer such services.

• Project Management – You will need one person that will help you manage your home improvement project. Most of the problems occur when inexperienced homeowners are stubborn and want to manage their own project. A project manager is a single point of contact between the homeowner and the other contractors and is entirely responsible for workflow and scheduling.

• Changes – During the duration of the project, you may want to change your mind regarding some aspects of the project and want to make a few changes that will require more or less work from the hired contractors. We strongly advise homeowners to document every change order and note the exact savings or additional costs. The changes should be dated and signed by all the implicated parties.

• Plans – It is highly advisable to obtain a crystal clear description on what will be done, how it will be done and what materials will be used for the project. For small-sized projects, the contractors usually draw up plans while for the larger and more complicated projects, it is recommended to hire an architect or a qualified designer.

• Contracts – Do everything you can so that the contract is rock solid. We suggest that you put all the details in writing (never take somebody’s word for granted). Here are some of the most critical items that should be included in every contract: company’s full name and the person’s full name along with contact information; an addendum consisting of the complete set of plans; warranties; signatures; start/completion date; prices of services/goods; manner & terms of payment and others as well.

• Warranty – You must make sure that you will obtain a warranty with fully detailed terms and conditions. In order to avoid the confusion as to who is responsible for the warranty, we suggest that you get the following items in writing: Who is backing the warranty? How long is the warranty valid for? What is/isn’t covered by the warranty?

• Financing and payments – Before you make the deal think about how you will pay for the project. Make sure you have total control of your money (never let the contractor or project manager handle your money). Some tips regarding this issue: never pay a lot of money at the start; pay after the materials have arrived; pay when the work starts and as it progresses;

We hope that these tips will help you manage your home improvement project efficiently without any real issues in terms of costs, quality and time. A home improvement project is very important for any homeowner that is why we advise all homeowners to be very careful when choosing contractors, materials and when they set up the contract.


Article Source: http://www.freeforallarticles.com


Maren Thole is the marketing director of Mr-Skill.co.uk. To get the best quotes from local London builders and tradesmen visit www.Mr-Skill.co.uk .

Tips and Ideas in Trends for Selecting Home Office Furniture

Selecting home office furniture to match the latest trends can be a fun, stress free task with a little information and a lot of creativity. There are so many pieces of furniture in thousands of styles to choose from that sometimes it can seem a bit daunting, but here are a few things to consider when you are picking out your furniture.

One of the latest trends for home office furniture is the computer armoire. The biggest benefit to choosing one of these is the ability to have your computer there when you need it, and you can hide it away when you dont. You should consider all of the options available to you, especially if you have spatial limitations or you are looking to suit certain functions like printing or you need your disc library close at hand. Making quick decisions can have you stuck with a piece of furniture that does not fit right with your room or it does not have the space for your equipment that you need. Be sure with a computer armoire (or with any furniture) you take careful measurements before you shop. Be sure to make note of the width, depth, height, and length of your pieces.

Next up for consideration is the credenza. Basically, a credenza is like a sideboard, but without legs. They are usually found in a dining room, but also can be used as a writing table, desk, or a nice surface to hold your equipment on. Some of them have built in shelves or storage, which can be very useful. These pieces of furniture may not be as deep as a true desk, so be careful when you are searching for one. A lot of home office workers actually prefer a credenza to a desk because they are more compact than the traditional desks.

It is very important that the home office furniture you select should suit your style and your productive needs. Just as important is the comfort factor, too. Creating a comfortable and ergonomic home office can be done, and there are ergonomically designed products available to make sure you are as comfortable and as productive as possible. Consider the functions that you perform in your office, and take into consideration your height and weight when picking out furniture. A wire mesh office chair without wheels may look great to you, but if you are 65 and 210 lbs, you may need a little more cushion underneath you than wire mesh gives. If you frequently need to roll from your computer to the printer to some other desk, a chair with wheels may come in quite handy. When you are selecting home office furniture, be sure to really think about your tasks that you perform during the day, and visualize you working with each piece of furniture you are considering to make sure that you will remain comfortable and productive once you have bought them.
Author Resource:- For more information on Mash Studios, please visit our website.

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Window Decoration With Beads

Beaded curtains are back in style! You may be thinking that they went out with The Brady Bunch, but they are back in a new and exciting way. These groovy drapes make a great decoration in any room or area of your home and come in a wide range of different designs to enable you to create the perfect look for you.

Where Do I Use the Beaded Curtains?

With your windows, there are many different ways that you can use these beaded curtains. You can choose an entire curtain that is made of colorful strands of beads that hang the entire length of the window or you can use the curtains of bead strings to divide an area of the room from the rest of the room. You will enjoy using these beaded curtains to define an area, but without closing off the area from the rest of the home.

Mosaics are very popular in beaded curtains. These curtains are available in styles like a tapestry with great intricate detail or they are simpler with a more sedate design. Even the more natural look can be achieved with beaded curtains by finding ones with wooden beads.

If you have an open closet or have closet doors that open up into a small room, you may want to consider using beaded curtains to block off this area. They are easy to install and will help to define your closet without taking up too much space.

Going Crazy With Beads

Beaded curtains do not mean that you have to have a complete curtain made of beads. There are other ways that you can use the beauty of beads on your curtains. From sewing them randomly onto existing curtains to add just a little visual interest to creating patterns of sparkle on your curtains, you will find that beads can give old and plain curtains new life.

Edging your drapes, curtains, or sheers with beads can give them a more customized look. Beads can add just the right touch of style and beauty to curtains all over your home.

A beaded fringe added along the hem of a formal drape can help to make it even more elegant and formal looking. This looks works great for a formal living room. To add even more cohesion, you can add the same beaded fringe to pillows thrown around the room.


If you are not a sewer, then you will be happy to know that you can purchase curtains that are ready made and add beading without having to pull out the needle and thread. Hot glue can be used to add beading to curtains, but keep in mind that sewing will be much more durable than a craft glue or hot glue.

Adding beads is a great way to make an old and tired curtain look newer and more stylish. This also gives a room a more customized feel. By using either full beaded curtains or adding beads to existing curtains, you will find that they work great for windows, closets, and for room dividers.