We did a newsletter on this topic last year, but I felt like putting out such great information again.
Green remodeling is simple, but many Richmond homeowners are not sure what it really involves. So I set out to determine what defines green, environmental, eco-friendly, energy-efficient…okay, you get the point. What I found is that there is no such thing as a right or wrong way to go “green”.
At my house, we started by simply recycling our trash. It means less in the landfills, more things reused and a $25 savings each month for us on trash pickup. Scrap wood from our recent bathroom upgrade was pulled out of the trash pile, and went into our fireplace during cold weather. Simple steps lead to big savings for our wallet, but even better is that we are doing our part for the environment as well.
Building and remodeling green is a thinking process, not a contest to see how many green things you can incorporate into your home. Doing what you can within your budget and personal motivation is plenty. Reducing is as powerful as eliminating. There are lots of things that are free. Some are more expensive in the short run and only see long term returns on the investment. Lots are energy efficient. Most look no different than traditional building or decorating.
When it comes to green remodeling, you don’t have to do everything green, but anything you do will help. How about using recycled or salvaged wood from Eco Supply Center on Roseneath Road here in Richmond? How about insulating with fabulous new cheap alternative-recycled denim? It actually holds more heat and absorbs more sound than traditional insulation. It’s available at Nature Neutral in Charlottesville. Time to repaint? Check out Sally Fretwell’s low VOC paint on Ridgefield Parkway? Don’t forget, using products that are locally or regionally produced helps support the local economy, and requires less energy and fewer resources during production and transportation. To find more great ways to reuse, reduce and recycle, check out your local online freecycle chapter where other Richmond residents pass along their unused items to others who may need them.
At River City Referrals, we are committed to providing our customers with alternative green contractors, builders and designers. Won’t you join us?
Archive for the ‘Find A Contractor’ Category
Feeling Green in Richmond Today
Friday, August 7th, 2009TIPS FOR HIRING RELIABLE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROFESSIONALS
Friday, July 31st, 2009Here is an excerpt from an article I’d like to pass along to my fellow residents of Richmond. It was written by my good friend, Debra Cohen who is founder and President of Home Remedies of NY, Inc.—a Homeowner Referral Network (HRN) business. This article highlighted the best tips for finding the right contractor to handle your home improvement project based on Debra’s 9 years of experience in the homeowner referral network business.
“Where to find them?
When looking for a contractor, many homeowners ask their friends and family for recommendations but in my experience, getting a contractor referral from another tradesperson is far more reliable. While your friend may have been satisfied with a contractor he/she used once or twice, their project may be very different from yours. Trades people (i.e. contractors, painters, plumbers) deal with other contractors repeatedly, over a long period of time and in a variety of projects. In my opinion they are therefore in a better position to offer a contractor referral. And, if a recommended contractor tells you that he’s too busy to take your job, ask him to refer you to one of his colleagues who may be suitable.
How to screen them?
Once you’ve found a potential contractor for your job, ask the contractor for the names and phone numbers of three to five customers for whom he has completed a similar project in the past two years. This will make it more difficult for a contractor to “hand pick” only his best references. Call each reference and ask the homeowner what they liked and didn’t like about the contractor. Ask him if the final cost of the job exceeded his estimate and if he completed the work in a neat and timely fashion. Most importantly, ask them if they would hire the contractor again for another home improvement project.
How to check their credentials?
Before checking to see if the contractor you’d like to hire is adequately insured and licensed, you’ll need to contact your county offices to research what credentials are required for home improvement contractors in your state and in your county. I also recommend that the contractor you hire have a minimum of $1 million in general liability insurance. Be sure to get a copy of his license and insurance for your records.
How do your personalities mix?
Are you the type of person who likes to be involved in every decision or do you prefer to “leave your job to the experts”? Believe it or not, your contractor’s personality can make or break the success of your project. I have contractors in my network who prefer not to be micromanaged and others who want the homeowner’s input on every aspect of the job. The best way to find out if you and your contractor’s personalities are a good fit is to be upfront about how involved you’d like to be on your renovation. And, ask your contractors to tell you how comfortable they are with customer involvement. If your approaches aren’t compatible, it’s a good sign that he might not be the right person for the job.
Did you get it in writing?
If your contractor is hesitant to put the details of your job in writing, I
would be concerned. Also, in addition to getting a written cost estimate for the job, ask the contractor to document details about the type of materials he plans to use, his anticipated start date, project schedule and completion date.”
We hope this helps you navigate the hiring process if you choose to hire a contractor for your next home improvement project. The process above can be time-consuming, and River City Referrals handles all aspects of this for the homeowners. And best of all, it’s free of charge to the homeowners.