HOME SAFETY: HEAR THE BEEP WHERE YOU SLEEP

IT’S NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY WEEK

 

hear the beep

Keep your family safe with a working smoke alarm in every bedroom.

Did you know that roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep? Last year, 114 people died in Florida house fires.

Smoke alarms save lives.

Almost half of those who died in the Florida house fires didn’t have working smoke alarms. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. In fact, having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half!

When it comes to smoke alarms, it’s about “location, location, location”.

The key message of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, October 4-10, is to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home.

Is Your House Protected?

The Florida Building Code will requires that homeowners install a 10-year, sealed battery smoke alarm in homes when replacing outdated or nonworking alarms.

The batteries are virtually tamper proof. You can’t take the battery out and it doesn’t need to be replaced for a decade.

If you are updating a home, you can also use the alarms instead of using hard-wired models, which may save you money.

My Thoughts…

A sticker or something needs to be places on the “new” type of smoke alarms so that you know when the alarm was installed. I have enough trouble remembering what I ate for dinner yesterday, let alone remembering what year I need to replace my smoke detectors.

If you purchase a home, replace all the smoke detectors when you move in. This way, you will know when the ten year countdown begins.

My fear is, in ten years, people will forget to replace their smoke detectors and then they will not be protected.

Although it is more expensive, I prefer the hard-wired alarms that are interconnected in your home. That way, if one alarm sounds, the others will sound too!

NEED HELP?

If you need help installing your replacement smoke detectors call us at 561-795-2551.  We will be happy to assist you.


Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

 

HOME IMPROVEMENT: MOLD CLEAN-UP

I FOUND STEAL OF A DEAL FOR PURCHASING A HOME…  

BUT IT HAS SOME MOLD…

This is NOT a DIY job! Mold is not just on the surface!

Just Clean it With Bleach?

This past month I received a phone call from a Realtor who had a house his client was interested in buying, but it needed water damage repairs done to it. He wanted a price to “just use some Clorox on the moldy areas” as a quick and inexpensive fix.

Repairs Are Not So Simple

I explained to him the repairs would not be so simple or inexpensive. First, Clorox is mostly water and that’s what caused the damage to begin with so other products are used. Second, killing the mold on the surface does nothing for the mold that might be on the back side of the drywall or on the wall studs.

Third and most importantly, I explained the correct way to handle water damage: a mold assessor must identify all affected areas and identify what type of mold exists; a mold remediator must seal off the affected area(s), demolish, remove, and properly dispose of the mold affected building components, scrub the air of mold spores, and clean all affected surfaces based on the type of mold; and the mold assessor must return to test the air and surfaces to assure that no mold remains. Only then can the mold assessor issue a clearance report which the building department will require before issuing a permit to rebuild the affected areas of the house. All of these steps cost money, often thousands of dollars.

Liability for Cleaning Mold

I further explained that this protocol must be followed to protect the Realtor and Leading Edge Homes from exposure to unnecessary liability. He thanked me for my honesty and the education I provided him. He decided he was going to tell his client that the house would cost too much to properly repair and continue their search.

Repairs Should Be Done Correctly the First Time

I have always maintained that all repairs should be performed correctly, the first time, so they never need to be performed again and so you never have to worry about repercussions. I may not win every job but I sleep well at night!

If you ever suffer water damage in your house, please call me at 561-795-2551 before doing anything or calling in even a water extraction company. I can recommend an excellent public adjuster who will ensure you are fairly compensated by your insurance company, a highly reputable mold assessor and mold remediator, and of course Leading Edge Homes performs restoration work to put your house back together again.

 

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

HOME REMODELING: YOUR CONTRACTOR IS MORE THAN A BUILDER

Ten Hats (or titles)Your Remodeling Contractor Wears  

Home remodeling contractors are more than a builder...

Home remodeling contractors are more than a builder…

It may be hard to believe… but your home remodeling specialist does more than construction.  He also is a…

Therapist.

Remodeling is stressful –  there are delays, dust, etc.  Sometimes clients just want to vent about something that happened at work.  If we think we can somehow segue into getting them to finally deciding what calming color they would like us to paint their new bedroom, we’ll probably hang in there.

Mediator.

There are many parties involved in a project – homeowner, sub-contractors, inspectors, materialmen.  When disagreements or issues occur, someone has to keep the peace or straighten things out.  Since the contractor has the most at stake, he usually must take on this role.

Marriage Counselor.

Often husbands and wives can not agree on design, window placement, colors, and the many other decisions that must be made on the typical project.  Often times they don’t communicate clearly with each other.  A good contractor never takes sides, but coaxes a decision without ruffling any feathers.

Financial Advisor.

Contractors are used to dealing with banks, insurance agents, and the mortgage process.  Use their expertise, especially when they recommend having 10 – 20% of the contract price available in a contingency fund to take care of any unforeseen problems that may arise or upgrades you may add along the way.

Secretary.

There are many notes that contractors take before and during a project, not to mention texts and emails that must be acted upon.  A contractor must keep an accurate record of all communications to successfully complete a project with happy homeowners.

Realist.

Clients sometimes get carried away with their wishes before and once a project has started.  It’s the contractors job to explain the financial and time implications for each requested change.

Real Estate Advisor.

Contractors sometimes see as many houses in a neighborhood as Realtors do.  They can often tell you if you are overimproving your house, not to mention how much the project you are considering will cost.  Honest ones will tell you if it would be more cost effective to move than improve.

Your Home’s Best Friend.

Contractors are very observant people.  If we see a clogged up HVAC filter, we will tell you.  If we hear grinding bearings in a pool or irrigation pump, we will tell you.  If we smell a burning electrical component, we will tell you.  We are “house whisperers”!

Translator.

Engineers, carpenters, block masons, plumbers, electricians, cabinet makers – they all use terms that are foreign to most homeowners.  Contractors speak many “languages” and know exactly when to explain when that look on a homeowners face says “Huh?”

Builder.

When not wearing one or more of the hats explained above, contractors get to put on a toolbelt and actually construct something.  Although a cell phone might seem to be our most used tool, we really do know how to use a hammer and circular saw.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

HOME IMPROVEMENT IDEAS: Updating Your Interior

Home Improvement Ideas: IT’S TIME FOR A NEW LOOK

 

Crown Molding Adds Elegance and Charm

fireplace-2

Crown molding and decorative moldings transforms the fireplace for a cool Florida evening.

Your house needs updating and you are tired of the same old look…  but you don’t want to spend a fortune.

One of the things to consider is adding millwork… that is crown, chair rail, casing, base and or decorative moldings.  They add charm and character to your room.

picfamilyroom

ceiling

DIY – Crown Molding?

The problem with installing crown molding, is that it is not a job for one person and you need to have the tools to cut the crown molding at different angles so the corners fit properly.  This is true, even if you are adding decorative moldings to your walls like the picture above.

If you don’t want to hire a professional… there are tools designed to help you get the right angles like this one:

kreg

Although Leading Edge Homes, Inc. does not endorse or use this tool, the reviews say that if you follow the Kreg’s directions, your crown molding cutting will come out perfectly. Our advice – measure twice and cut once!

Most importantly, you need at least one extra pair of hands.  The moldings come in 8 ft and 16 ft lengths… and you need someone to hold up the other end.

Don’t Want to Spend Money on the Larger Molding?

Add a piece of decorative molding to the bottom of the crown molding so that it looks like thicker crown or add the decorative molding a couple inches under the crown and paint the new piece and the in between space the same color as the crown to give the effect of larger molding.  This trick can also be used to make your baseboards look taller.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

HOME SAFETY: Fire Safety Tips

Home Fire Safety Tips

Jack-o-lanterns, turkey fryers, Christmas lights and trees – oh My!

Today, it officially feels like Fall in South Florida and it is a signal that the upcoming months pose many fire hazards.

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?

According to the Red Cross, 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

Before the merriment and frenzy of the holiday season begins…

Now’s a great time to dust off your home fire safety plan: test (or install!) smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers and review your family’s fire evacuation plan.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors:

Replace the batteries and test by pressing the test button or holding a smoke source (like a blown-out candle) near the unit.

Fire extinguishers:

Make sure it’s rated for all fire types (look for an A-B-C rating). Review the indicator on the pressure gauge to make sure the extinguisher is charged. Ensure that the lock pin is firmly in place and that the discharge nozzle is not clogged. Fire extinguishers should be replaced every six years.

Also, make sure nothing is blocking the fire extinguisher and you can access it easily.

Fire evacuation plan:

Determine an exit path for every bedroom, and make provisions (rope ladders, etc.) for bedrooms that are not on the main floor of the home. Establish a location away from the house where everyone should meet. Having a family’s fire evacuation plan could save your life!

Now that you are safe… let the fun begin.

We hope that you never need us to help restore your home after a disaster, but Leading Edge Homes, Inc. has done it many times. If you need help after a disaster or if you have questions about how to improve the safety of your home, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

 

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

HOME IMPROVEMENT: DO YOU NEED A RENOVATION COACH?

HOME IMPROVEMENT: THE NEW ERA OF RENOVATIONS – HANDS OFF REMODELING?

Leading Edge Homes - Home Remodeling - Advice

Like you, I read other people’s articles about home improvement, remodeling, home renovations, and kitchen design. However, sometimes, when I read an article I am surprised about what I read and the advice that is offered.

 

COACHES ARE ADVOCATES DURING THE HOME REMODELING PROCESS

The article: What the Heck Is a Renovation Coach (and Do You Need One)? on realtor.com caught my eye. According to the article, “[renovation coaches] aren’t contractors or architects, but they advocate for you in hiring those folks and managing their work. Coaches help with budgeting, design, meeting with vendors, and/or choosing materials. They may guide you every step of the way, or just help you get your feet wet…There’s no professional association for renovation coaches, so you’ll have to search for one…”  Of course, to me that is a red flag.

DANGERS OF HIRING A COACH

If the “coach” is not familiar with local regulations, permitting, order of operations, etc,. your remodeling experience can become a disaster. An expert home renovations / remodeling contractor can guide you through the process, understand your design needs, and tastes, and make your remodeling process stress free and on budget.

Interview your local contractor, speak with him on the phone, find out what types of services he provides and how he can make the remodeling process go smoothly. A true remodeling professional will coordinate all of the work so all you have to do is choose the materials (of course the remodeling professional can make recommendations of where to look and what to purchase) and enjoy your updated home.

 

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

 

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Common Mistakes 3 – Not Verifying Information

Common Mistakes 3 – NOT VERIFYING INFORMATION

Leading Edge Homes - A Home Improvement Contractor You Can Trust

Home Improvement Contractors Provide References

When hiring a remodeling / home improvement contractor, it is common practice to ask for references.  In my experience, almost everyone asks me to provide references before they hire Leading Edge Homes, Inc.  

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. gladly provides references. But…

Most People Don’t Call References before they Hire A Home Improvement Contractor

Call at least three of the references you’re given.

You can never learn too much about the company you are considering using.  Take a few minutes to talk to these people.  It will be worth it!

Ask if the job was done to their satisfaction and at the agreed upon price.  Ask if the contractor was easy to communicate with and deal with.

Call the references and see example work.  You can learn a lot by seeing the finished product.  If the contractor is good, many previous clients are extremely proud of their “new” home and will be glad to let you look.

Also… VERIFY A Contractor’s Insurance

Anyone can say they are insured.  Insist the contractor prove it by having their insurance company FAX or mail to you a certificate of insurance with you as the certificate holder.

 

The most important advice I can give you is:

TRUST that you have chosen the right home remodeling professional to complete your home improvement project but VERIFY that what he has told you is true.

In case you missed it:

Common Mistake 1 – Listening to the Wrong People

Common Mistake 2 – Using Only the Better Business Bureau to Assess a Contractor’s Reputation Only


Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

 

Home Improvement: Common Mistake 2 – An “A” Rating by the Better Business Bureau Means a Company is Reputable

Common Mistake 2 – An “A” Rating from the Better Business Bureau Means A Company is Reputable

 

BBB - Reputable

Yesterday, while reading articles on the internet, I came across this one:

Slammed by the government, A-rated by the Better Business Bureau

on the CNN Money website.

It is a warning to all people who believe that an “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau means a company is reputable.

What is Leading Edge Home’s Rating?

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is often asked, what is your Better Business Bureau rating? We used to have an “A+” rating until the Better Business Bureau only rated “accredited” businesses.

Not having a rating doesn’t mean we are not a reputable company. It means…

Leading Edge Homes Refuse to Pay to Play

A business only gets accredited if they pay an annual fee. In our experience (we were once a member), once a business is accredited, it gets an “A” rating, and then has the “privilege” of using the Better Business Bureau logo on all of its advertising.  The BBB does not do an initial, thorough investigation of a company and does not re-investigate a company before renewing their membership.  It seems as though they are only interested in collecting money.

According to the CNNMoney article, [The Better Business Bureau] says that its ratings are not endorsements and that they don’t mean that a business’ products or services have been evaluated. Instead, the organization told CNNMoney in a written statement that the ratings represent the “BBB’s opinion about a business’s trustworthiness and how it is likely to interact with its customers.”

Yet, millions of American consumers are counting on them to be reliable and reputations of businesses all over the country are depending on them. Last year alone, company ratings were viewed on the BBB website more than 165 million times — a 25% jump from 2013.

Excerpt from the article, Slammed by the government, A-rated by the Better Business Bureau, relating to Home Remodeling and Home Improvement:

Online ratings, real-life consequences

Michigan resident Christopher DiPiero says he chose Jack’s Wholesale Windows & Design to replace the windows in his Michigan home five years ago based on its A rating from the BBB. But he claims the $5,000 job turned into a nightmare when the new windows he ordered were too small and improperly installed.

The BBB 'could care less about consumers'
The BBB ‘could care less about consumers’
 

DiPiero says Jack’s refused to replace them so he turned to the BBB. After months of asking for help through the BBB’s online complaint process with no success, he sued the company and ended up winning a more than $20,000 judgment (including attorney’s fees), in part because the judge found that Jack’s had broken a federal warranty law. He notified the BBB about the ruling but says the organization still did nothing to help or warn other consumers by including the ruling against Jack’s on its website or factoring it into its grade.

So DiPiero turned around and sued the BBB itself, alleging that the nonprofit violated consumer protection laws by allowing paying members to retain membership and high grades even when they broke the organization’s own rules. But judges threw out his case because no consumer transaction took place between DiPiero and the BBB, and the state supreme court declined to hear the case.

“The Better Business Bureau is 100% a fraud,” said DiPiero. “They’re not doing what they’re saying they’re doing in terms of making sure these businesses are credible.”

The owner of Jack’s, Jack Tilka, blamed a personnel issue and said he regrets that Jack’s didn’t do more to resolve DiPiero’s grievances sooner. But he says he tried to offer DiPiero a full refund during court proceedings.

better business jacks window

Jack’s Wholesale Windows, in Schoolcraft, Michigan.

The BBB has come under fire for allegations of unfair ratings and unethical practices in the past. In 2010, the Connecticut Attorney General likened its membership program to a “pay to play” scheme after a local bureau gave an annual award for business ethics to a company that was under investigation by his office. When the organization vowed to address the issues, which included eliminating a policy that barred non-members from earning A+ ratings, he backed down.

Read the full article Slammed by the government, A-rated by the Better Business Bureau to see the full CNN investigation.

In case you missed it:

Common Mistake 1


 

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

 

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Common Mistake 1 – Listening to the Wrong People

BIG MISTAKES HOMEOWNERS MAKE WHEN DOING A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT – PART 1

 

Just because someone is your relative, friend, or thinks they are well versed in construction, doesn’t mean they know the answers to your remodeling questions or problems.

Just because someone is your relative, friend, or thinks they are well versed in construction, doesn’t mean they know the answers to your remodeling questions or problems.

Listening to the wrong people.  

It never ceases to amaze me how many people take advice on their construction and remodeling project from people who are totally unqualified to give this critical advice.

Quite often, when I see construction messes (as many as three in one month) and I ask where they got the idea to do this or that, I inevitably hear things like:

My brother-in-law told me to do that.  He used to do work like this on the side over summers when he was in college 35 years ago.

I asked the guy in the office next to mine.  He did the same thing to his home when he lived in Wisconsin..

I read an article by so-and-so that said we should….

Everyone Has An Opinion

Everyone’s got an opinion on what you should do with your remodeling dollars.  “Do it yourself” or “Hire the subcontractors and run the project yourself”, etc.  Just because someone is your relative, friend, or thinks they are well versed in construction, doesn’t mean they know the answers to your remodeling questions or problems.

Call Someone Qualified

If you’ve got an idea or a thought about improving your home, call someone qualified to answer your questions.

 

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

HOME IMPROVEMENT: THE LOWEST PRICE IS THE BEST OPTION – OR NOT

A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT HIRING A REMODELING CONTRACTOR

Price should not be the only factor when hiring a professional home remodeling contractor.

Price should not be the only factor when hiring a professional home remodeling contractor.

Choosing the lowest price saves you money. 

This is not always true!  Although a low price seems tempting, you must ask yourself what is the contractor omitting or what shortcut is the contractor taking?

A True Story:

One roofer’s price on a job was $300 lower than the other price estimates.  The homeowner wanted to save money and accepted his proposal.  After the roofer installed the new roof covering, all the old shingles, tarpaper and nails were lying all the way around the house in the shrubs, trees, and grass.  When the homeowner saw the debris strewn throughout his yard, he was enraged!  The contractor told him that cleanup was not a part of his proposal and that was how he could do the job for less money than the other contractors could.

Signs of Trouble

One of the most common signs of trouble ahead is someone offering to do work for less money than others do.  Like anything else, you cannot get something for nothing.  Be careful of choosing your home remodeling / general contractor based upon the lowest price.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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