The leaves are falling and the wind is blowing. Can you feel the cold creeping in? Well you should because it’s right outside your door waiting for your first step. Heaters are always great but who can resist that cozy fire in the living room or even your bedroom? Just the thought of snuggling up in front of that warm fire with a cup of hot cocoa or tea makes me want to go home right now. You may already have the fireplace but its not appealing anymore, its more of an eye sore at this point. Let’s remodel that living room to give you enough snuggle room and a nice sized fireplace to warm the whole house. What about that kitchen, is there a wall in your way of easy access from your living room or dining room? Let’s open that up to give you more breathing room and enough space to move about the home. Whatever your remodeling needs, we are one phone call away. We will build your dreams. Give us a call for your remodeling project 425-224-2004.
There is no greater honor than having our past clients/friends recommend us to their friends, family and co-workers. To show our appreciation, we would like to invite you to participate in our exclusive client referral
program.
When you refer a friend, family member or co-worker to our company and they sign a
construction contract with us, you will receive 1% of the total project cost on a future project with our company or cash. A $100,000 project=$1,000 credit.
The people who you refer to our company will also receive 1% off of their project costs to be used with their current project.
There is no limit on how many times you can use this program, so the more you use it, the more money you can earn.
We look forward to working with you, your friends and your family.
Trivia Question:
Q: Out of which vegetable were Jack O’ Lanterns originally made?
Call in correct answer for $10 Starbucks Gift Card 425-224-2004
(I have had one repeat winner for months, who wants to be the next winner?!)
4 Ways to Finance a Home Improvement Project Without Draining
Your Bank Account
[realtor.com: Terri Williams]
Fortunately, you don’t have to be flush with cash to finance a big home improvement project. There are resources you can tap to help you pay for a renovation without having to drain your bank account.
Below, the financial services that might be worth exploring if you’re ready to make some changes to your home.
“We like to call this “lazy equity”-money that is not being used that is tied to the home,” sayd Jordan Terrell, associate broker at Atlas Real Estate, a Denver-based realty group specializing in real estate investments, brokerage, and property management.
One way to use the equity is to get a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. This credit option allows homeowners to use their equity as collateral to borrow funds to use to improve the property.
“You can create an interest-only loan, which works a lot like a credit card or checking account, and you pay interest until it’s paid off,” Terrell says.
Ruth Shin, CEO and founder of Property Nest, a real estate startup in New York, says HELOCs are better suited for longer-term projects, or a series of projects that are projected to take at least a year to complete. Why? Because you can borrow funds as needed (as opposed to taking out a lump sum), interest rates are variable (so you can tap the funds when it makes the most financial sense), and repayment options are flexible.
This is a variable option if you’re in a hurry and don’t need to borrow a lot of money, according to Abe Kahan, head of mortgage at Laurel Road, a digital lending company.
For some personal loan lenders, the minimum amount can be as little as a few thousand dollars. And Kahan says personal loans come with few to no fees. But there are also some disadvantages to getting a personal loan.
“Interest rates tend to be higher, because lenders aren’t relying on assets such as a home to back the loan, Kahan explains. In addition, the repayment periods are shorter – usually between three and seven years.
Jody Costello, home renovation planning expert and founder of the website Contractors From Hell, says she’s seeing this more and more.
“People are choosing cards where they can earn points and use them for things like future travel,” she says.
One obvious disadvantage to this option is high interest rates.
But some credit card companies do offer 0% APR for certain periods of time, allowing consumers to pay off during this time frame, you’ll probably end up with a double-digit interest rate.
“Many of the homeowners I’ve seen do this can generate around $600 to $1,200 per month, depending on the location,” says Terrell.
It’s a relatively quick way to come into a chunk of cash that you can use for a renovation. However, you’ll be responsible for making the property livable and managing guests, which can be a tall order.
Most short-term rental sites have hosting standards that you must meet, which include making sure you’re provided essential items (e.toilet paper, soap, and linens) and are prepared for an emergency. Also, you may have to apply for permits (read: pay fees) or obtain insurance in order to legally rent out your home – even if it’s just for a few days.
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
(12-16 Bars)
Prep time
(25 Minutes)
Cook time
(45 Minutes)
Shortbread Crust:
Apple Filling:
Streusel:
Salted Caramel Sauce Instructions:
Pie Bars Instructions:
Salted Caramel:
Notes:
Notes: