Maryland and D.C. Home Improvement and Home Inspection discussion and Repair Advice

When you begin thinking about selling your home (the "pre-sale" period), one of the best things you can do is to get an honest assessment of what repairs or updates should me taken. The right work, at the right time, can help home sellers earn money on the repairs, and save of costs. We believe there are 3 stages in the home selling processes and all home improvement work should be broken into these categories. 1. Pre-market: This is the period of time prior to your Realtor officially putting your home on the market or listing it for sale. It is the "prep time" and the work and updating you do in this period of time should focus on marketing. You want to update appliances, color schemes, declutter, landscape, etc. These are the things that will help attract more home sellers and bring in a higher price. More information on this can be found from our friends at EFynch, who spoke about choosing repairs the add value. ( pre-sale, home improvement tips ...

This is a phrase that sound good rolling off the tongue but, in reality, it is sign to potential contractors that you really don't know what you are talking about. No big deal, however, most pros know the reason you hire them is because you don't know how to make a repair or install "that item" so this is not New News. However, if dishonest, it might be a sign and a bad contractor uses this to take advantage of you (quick story at end of this on how). You see, in home improvement (residential, specifically here in Maryland), bonding has little to no benefit to a homeowner. In fact, only if their bond specifically names the homeowner, does it help. Further, all licensed contractors in Maryland are technically "bonded", so the "bond" as typically referenced, is kind of repetitive (even though the original bond, does not apply to homeowner).   <let me explain> The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) has the   Guarantee Fun...