You need vision when you purchase someone else's home. You may need to look beyond the avocado-colored appliances, harvest-gold wallpaper and string art on the walls to see the home's potential. Vision allows you to anticipate golden hardwood floors under matted shag carpet. A fresh coat of paint and a little imagination can do wonders.
To find your vision, you may find it helpful to look at magazines, books, newspapers and homes of family and friends. Often, these sources contain an infinite supply of unique ideas.
WHERE TO LOOK
Magazines-
You'll have no difficulty finding magazines that carer specifically to remodeling, lifestyles and ideas for improving your home. Some of these magazines are: Home, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Cooking Light, Food and Wine, Country Living, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and Fine Gardening.
Resources-
Special sections in the back of may magazines offer further help in locating information. These buying guides contain information about products and services in each issues. They usually include the names, addresses, toll-free phone numbers and websites of manufacturers, architects, designers, remodelers and trade contractors.
Information to Order-
You can request a wide range of free or inexpensive literature by completing the mail-in coupons inserted in magazines.
Sketches and Floor Plans-
No two remodeling projects are the same, but you can gain some insight into how another homeowner solved a space problem by carefully studying sketches and floor plans. If you are easily confused by plans and drawings (initially many people are), imagine yourself in the middle of the room or space on the plan. This kind of visualization helps reduce distractions and encourages concentration.
Manufacturers-
the most obvious place to find information about new products and how you can use them is in the manufacturer's websites and advertisements in magazines.
Books-
Browse in bookstore with a well-stocked home improvement section, but beware of books that tell you to be your own remodeling contractor. Unless you're highly skilled and licensed in all the trades, you could be getting in over your head. Most remodeling projects call for a level of skill and work hours beyond those stated in these books in these books. The job of the professional remodeler requires experience and competence in a wide range of disciplines.
Remember too, to consult manufactuers' websites and products manuals, which you may obtain from building materials suppliers and hardware stores or by e-mailing or calling the manufacturer of the particular product.
Newspapers-
Many newspapers publish regular sections devoted to real estate, home design and remodeling. In addition, twice a year-usually in the spring and fall- many newspapers publish special home improvement supplements. All these contain timely articles and useful advertisements on remodeling, home improvement repair and maintenance.
Friends, Family, and Neighbors-
Do you know someone who has recently remodeled his or her home in a style you admire? He or she may still have product manuals, magazines and other helpful information you can borrow, as well as practical advice drawn from his or her own experience.
Remodeling Professionals-
Your remodeler or builder can offer you lots of planning assistance with his or her library or product manuals, magazines, brochures and blueprints. This help is one of the advantages of choosing a remodeler as soon as possible. If you're already working with a designer or architect, ask to borrow from the firm's collection of printed material.
Suppliers-
Lumberyards, hardware stores and other suppliers can be valuable sources of information. Many suppliers now offer home planning centers, where you can browse comfortably among the following:
- Plan books
- Product manuals
- Source books
- Mortgage information
- Building tips
- Magazines
- Brochures
- Listings of participating local remodelers and builders
Once you've decided to remodel your home keep a loaded camera and some extra film in your vehicle. You never know when trip to the grocery store might provide you a glimpse of just the right exterior or window trim, so go prepared!
No comments:
Post a Comment