Plumbing Jacksonville FL: When is the right time to spend money on home improvement?

By Billy Aldridge

As everyone knows, the economy has been in the toilet (pardon the pun) for the past 5 years.  As a result people have been reluctant to put the time, energy and most importantly money into improving their homes.  Carpets have been allowed to fray, faucets to drip and paint to peel. Now that home improvement spending may actually be on the rebound, you might be asking yourself if it is time to take care of a few of the honeydos that you have been putting off for so long.

Historically, renovation spending has made up about 25 percent of total construction expenditures and now accounts for about half of the market.  From a financing perspective, where it has been difficult to secure a mortgage to purchase a home, bankers are much more willing to extend credit for home improvement.

If you are planning a major improvement that will set you back tens of thousands of dollars, you might like to consider a home equity line of credit (HELOC).  When selecting the best financing options, remember that if you go the Heloc route and fail to repay the loan, you run the risk of losing your house, because these loans are secured by your house.  There are a few other factors that you might like to keep in mind as well. 

Although rates on home equity loans are relatively low, they’re typically also variable. That means if you obtain a 10-year home equity loan, the interest rate can go up if interest rates rise. Will you be able to continue making loan payments if the payment amount increases? – Rapid City Journal

Besides, Helocs are not the only way to finance a home improvement project.

Lowes and Home Depot Credit Cards

Lowe’s and GE Retail Bank offer a consumer credit card that features no annual fee, a 0% financing offer, and a 5% discount on purchases. This card is a store card that is not affiliated with a larger payment network. Therefore, it can only be used for purchases from Lowe’s.

Purchases made with this card are eligible to receive a 5% discount, although that offer is not valid on purchase of services, gift cards and some appliances. In addition, this offer cannot be used with any coupon, military or employment discounts, or low-price guarantee. Instead of receiving the 5% discount, cardholders can receive six months of interest free financing on purchases over $299. After the promotional rate expires, the standard interest rate is a hefty 24.99% – about 10% higher than the national average rate on standard credit cards.

The Home Depot also offers a store credit card through Citi. Like the Lowe’s card, it is not part of a payment network and it can only be used at their stores. And while it does not currently offer an in-store discount, it does presently provide 6 months of promotional financing. The standard APR on this card is variable with the lowest rate about 4% above the average rate for general credit cards – 17.99%. Other consumers may be approved and offered rates of 21.99%, 25.99%, or 26.99%.

However, in store offers for the Home Depot card can vary dramatically. A recent example was a 0% APR for 18 months promo. While appealing, this promotion was 180 degrees different than what is offered on a 0% APR credit card with a 0% for 18 months promotion. On the latter, no interest is levied during the 18 month 0% period. -SmartBalanceTransfers.com

Of course, the bottom line in deciding whether or not to bite the bullet and spend the bucks comes down to “What’s in it for me?”

Notes a recent CNBC article – “Some home renovations pay off at a much better rate than others, according to a report from ISoldMyHouse.com, a for-sale-by-owner website.Projects geared toward the homeowner's particular tastes, like the addition of a home music studio, have the least positive effect on asking price," says Owen Gilman, President of ISoldMyHouse.com. "Projects that most anyone can appreciate, such as a revamped bathroom, tend to boost sales price the most."

Most everyone agrees that home improvements add value that can be redeemed when it’s time to sell. But that shouldn’t be the only criteria that should motivate you into giving a home improvement project the green light.  Investing in your home also means that you will be able to add to your enjoyment while you live there.  And that’s priceless.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing, a family owned and operated business located in Jacksonville, Florida.  To read more helpful blogs and see money saving how-to videos, go to http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com

HomeImprovements that Add the Most Value - CNBC Article

What’s the Best Option forFinancing Home Improvements – Rapid City Journal

Ideas to Help Save Money With Credit Cards – Smart Balance Transfers

Jacksonville Plumbing - Everything But the Kitchen Sink

by Billy Aldridge

A kitchen is a priority in any home.  I mean when you think about how much time most people spend in the kitchen, it only goes to show that this is one part of the home that matters.  It is also one of the areas that gets the most daily use.  When showing someone your home, the kitchen is one of the places that you are sure to take them.  You go to the kitchen to offer guests hospitality.  To grab a sandwich and a beer.  You also take them there to show off the kitchen.  Face it, most people take pride in their kitchen.  For this reason, you should take care to insure that your kitchen plumbing is up to par.  Extravagant kitchens don't show well with substandard plumbing.

That goes double if you are looking to redo the kitchen.  Sure, you want to spend money on such amenities as terracotta tile and that granite counter top you've had your eye on, not to mention all the new appliances that go along with renovating the kitchen.  But as a homeowner you should also budget an amount to get the kitchen plumbing squared away as well.  The old adage still prevails: If you don't spend a little more in the beginning, you will spend a lot more in the end.  Money spent to update kitchen plumbing and hire a professional installer is money well spent. The last thing you want to do after the renovation is done is tear up a floor or wall to correct a leaky pipe.

Maintaining your kitchen plumbing also goes a long way toward saving money.  Little things like cleaning your faucet and fixtures regularly can add years of extra life.  Don't leave water at the base to dry on its own.  Use the disposal sparingly.  Let the water run during and after each use.  Also make sure you let the disposal run long enough to grind through all the food in the unit.  Food not completely flushed out of the disposal creates bacteria that can cause foul odors.  It can also corrode the unit from the inside out.  This could lead to the unexpected surprise of having water cascade onto your feet from inside the cabinet when you turn on the tap.  A little extra attention to detail can and will increase the life of your plumbing substantially.

Don't let one of the most used and cherished areas of your home become one of the most expensive to maintain.  Always insist on high quality plumbing products and professional installation to get the most out of your kitchen.  A little planning combined with good habits will insure that you are able to enjoy your kitchen for many years to come.

Billy Aldridge is part of the family-owned and operated Aldridge and Sons Plumbing.  If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, go to http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com


 

Kitchen Remodeling Jacksonville - 4 Tips That Can Save You Time and Money

by Billy Aldridge

When it comes to form and function, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. Having a kitchen where you feel comfortable, that is functional and that you can take pride in– these are all important aspects of home ownership. If you are considering kitchen remodeling in Jacksonville, you will appreciate the following helpful tips.

 1.       Have a plan

 Before you start, take the time to sketch your ideas on paper.   This vital first will help you envision how you want the kitchen to look, as well as identify any challenges and obstacles that may be in your way. It can also save you both time and money once construction has begun.  You might even come up with some new ideas in the process, and scrap some that may not have worked out so well.

 2.       Stay within the design and layout

 One of the costliest mistakes you can make in remodeling the kitchen is trying to do too much. Feel free to make changes – that’s the point, after all – but try to keep major fixtures in place as much as possible. Plumbing can be changed and re-routed and such, but it’s only really worth it if it provides some sort of significant upgrade in productivity or efficiency. Moving the dishwasher across the room just because it might look nicer isn’t really an efficient use of time and money.

 

 3.       Make functionality a priority

 Coinciding with tip #2, take the opportunity to make your kitchen as functional as possible. Does it make sense to have a small sink next to your island range? Can one be installed fairly easily? Then go ahead!  If it makes your kitchen more functional and efficient, then it’s worth the cost.

 4.       Stick to your budget

 Finally, and perhaps most importantly, stay within your budget.  Sketch out a budget during the planning phase (see tip #1), and bring those numbers up when consulting with your Jacksonville plumbing contractor. You may have to make some sacrifices in your dream design to make the numbers work, but it makes sense to keep everything affordable.

 A kitchen plumbing remodeling project is a great opportunity to make your kitchen truly yours and create a space that will provide you everything you need for years to come. By making a plan, considering each aspect of the remodel to maximize productivity while minimizing cost, and sticking to your budget, you can have the kitchen you have dreamed of without stressing over it.

If you are considering remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, call the remodeling experts at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing at (904) 287-3855.  Or go to http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com for all your plumbing and remodeling needs.