hal herndon

Home Renovation—More Key Points and Key Questions

Here’s a good question to ponder: Are you intimidated by contractors? From all of the horror stories you have heard about home renovations and contractors it would be unusual if you were not at least a little intimidated. If you can acquire knowledge o... Read >

Home Renovation – The Bad Economy and “Rogue Contractors”

With the economy in the dumper and new commercial construction virtually non-existent a good many subcontractors and construction laborers are likely to consider becoming residential renovation contractors. Historically a large percentage of residential... Read >

Home Renovation—Key Points and Key Questions

Are you thinking of renovating your house and you realize you don’t have the time or expertise to go the “DIY" (“Do It Yourself") route? This puts you in the majority and it’s likely that your most viable option is to hire a contractor to do the work for ... Read >

Home Renovation – Should You Hire a Friend to Handle Your Project and What is Retainage

Historically hiring a friend to handle your home renovation is a disaster waiting only to have its extent determined. Bottom line (for the VAST majority of people) is never, ever hire a friend to handle a construction project for you unless you do not va... Read >

Home Renovation – How to With Changes During Construction

Undoubtedly there will be at least a few, if not many changes during the course of your renovation project. Often these are due to owners’ changes of mind as he sees the project materialize or due to legitimately unknown conditions which tend to crop up ... Read >

Home Renovations – Your Agreement, Your Budget and “Out Front Money” In a Nutshell

No doubt you have heard this before but it bears repeating: Get it in Writing! Here’s why: 1. The day of the “handshake and a smile" agreement between two parties and everything works out just fine is long, long gone. 2. In the same context if a c... Read >

Home Renovations –Communication Channels During Construction and The Unexpected

It is extremely important that you, as the owner, never, ever give any instructions during the construction (or the pricing) process to anyone other than the general contractor or his designated (in writing) representative. Here is why: If a subcontract... Read >

Your Home Renovation Has Started – How Can You Maintain Some Control Over What Happens?

I know…..You spent a great deal of time and trouble to measure and sketch up everything, make notes to describe what you wanted and you even drafted, discussed and signed an agreement with your contractor. Now the contractor is about to get started, and ... Read >

Home Renovation –How You Can Save Money and Hassle

Indeed it is true that most of the stories you hear about home renovations are replete with tales of cost overages, poor workmanship, delays and even lawsuits. This is fairly typical and there are actually a number of good reasons the problems occur. ... Read >

Is Remodeling Your Home a Good Investment in a Bad Economy?

Due to the ever drooping economic picture, foreclosures and short sales the value of your house has most likely diminished pretty substantially over the past year or two. If you had a ton of cash the current “buyer’s market" would be a long term investme... Read >