Experienced Norfolk, VA Contractor’s Advice for Home Owners
Coastal Contracting LLC has reviewed and analyzed hundreds of residential houses in the quest to buy and sell distressed properties. Our team has reviewed so many different situations, and we still see things that make us scratch our head. We want to share some of the good, bad and the ugly…some way past ugly..they are dangerous. Should you repair your house or sell it as-is and move on? Choice #1-Keep the property and invest and renovate, then sell or option #2-Sell you house as-is for a quick sale, we will examine these options below. Our team helps homeowners by relieving the stress and burden of dealing with these types of issues. Call us today at 757.300.1032 to answer your questions. We are your team to call to get a straight answer on your problem house, fix me house, need a little TLC house, honey dos never came through house, friend or relative lived there and didn’t take care of it house.
Choice: #1. Invest thousands of dollars back into your property, hire contractors, purchase materials, work with the city on permits, schedule and weather delays, unforeseen issues behind walls once opened up, and get it fixed up. List if for sale, wait for an offer, deal with mortgage company delays, property inspection, insect/moisture inspections and other hurdles.
Where to start when fixing up a house. First, examine the structure inside and outside. Then consider the money and budget, the length of time it takes to work with contractors, order materials, weather delays, unforeseen problems, get repairs completed and then listed for sale. Whew, it sounds like a lot of work and it is. Best to know what to expect, develop a timeline and plan for each repair then hope it all works out and the money is there for any repairs needed. We will typically add a little extra into our budget for repairs that are not expected, when walls are opened up and termites are found or there is rotten/wet wood under windows, framing issues, foundation/structural issues and other types of budget busters.
One of the biggest hurdles a homeowner can face is the amount of money that is needed to properly repair and renovate a house for resale with todays demanding buyers. Plan for all the needed repairs and have an extra 20% available just in case. Another consideration is the time it takes to hire contractors, evaluate repairs that are needed, select the materials and colors for the work to be completed. A big cost is the kitchen and bath, what type of cabinets and counters will be installed? What is the lead time for kitchen cabinets, countertops, tile, flooring and other types of materials? Where will you store the cabinets if they get delivered too early? Don’t forget about appliances, todays buyers expect new appliances when paying top dollar. Major systems like the HVAC, Boiler, Electrical and water heater are other things to check out. Consider the amount of money you have to invest in your home to complete all the needed repairs, do you have enough? If this sounds too much, we can help and alleviate the time and stress, call us at 757.300.1032.
Exterior-Let’s begin with the type of exterior construction the house is made of. Our preferred method of construction for the exterior of a home is brick/stone, when properly installed. If brick, look for broken/missing bricks and mortar, or worse zig zag broken mortar joint. Hardiplank is an excellent material for external applications of a house and are a preferred method of construction. Hardiplank is easy to maintain, keep it clean, painted and caulked. Look for missing or broken sections of Hardiplank. If the exterior is vinyl siding, look for chipped/damaged siding, loose or missing sections of vinyl, look for gaps in the vinyl where water can get behind, look at the vinyl joints for being properly caulked, make sure water will drain away from windows and not into the window. If the exterior is stucco, look for soft/spongy areas, shaded areas or wet areas, holes or discoloration in the wall should be examined.
Has the exterior been neglected from years of missed maintenance? Look around the windows for broken window joints or glazing, missing and cracked caulk around window/door openings. Review the paint on the exterior walls, window trim, door trim, fascia(under the gutters), and around the eaves and roof line. Do the exterior doors need to be painted, stained and sealed or other type of repair? Are there missing screens in windows and doors? Does the house have shutters that are missing or discolored? What is the condition of the gutters and downspouts?
The number one issue a house can face is water. Our favorite times of the year to fix up and repair a house are the Spring and Fall. The cooler temperatures will make the job go a little quicker when the sun is not as strong. One thing that is easy to forget, clean the gutters. Remove all the debris, pine straw, leaves from the gutters, run water through them and clean them out. Some houses may need to do this annually, some more often if you have a lot of trees. For a more maintenance free lifestyle, look at gutter guards that will help prevent debris from getting into the gutters. There are many choices on the market and you will need to evaluate the best choice for your house, budget and needs.
There are so many ways that water can penetrate your house and we want to share these with you. Some examples of what to look out for: roof, flashing, cracked shingles, broken bricks around the chimney, the chimney cap missing or cracked, mortar joints cracked in chimney, valley flashing deteriorates, ridge shingles crack, gutters are clogged and water backs up onto roof, rotten roof sheathing, insect/rodent/animal damage, cracked/missing caulk are just some of the examples of how water can and will enter your house. If you notice these issues, fix them as soon as possible, call your friend the handy man, repairman, roofer or contractor.
Interior-Lets move to the kitchen. What is the current condition and look of the kitchen? Can new cabinet doors be made or painted to save money versus buying new cabinets? New hardware can be added or does the entire kitchen have to be removed and designed? When designing a new kitchen, consider the various choices in finishes and materials to maximize the return on your investment. Choosing the right blend of cabinets, countertops, flooring, colors/backsplash and appliances is the goal. The right mix will make buyers oooh and aah but the wrong mix will send them running to the door. Kitchen cabinets can vary widely in the types of material and construction. Will you invest in semi custom 3/4″ wood constructed cabinets or go with a budget pleasing laminate cabinet with panels you put together? We like a solid surface countertop that resist staining from wines, juices, and other drinks. In certain types of higher end houses, we have seen a mix of solid surface and butcher block countertops used. An island is a good location to use butcher block since it is typically used as a prep area with the sink nearby. Will you add a backsplash to the kitchen? Tile and stone are widely used as backsplash materials. Other backsplash options are glass/opaque tile, metallic or stainless steel tile, pebble, natural stone are some choices.
Or Choice #2. Sell your house as-is for a quick sale. Call us today 757.300.1032.
Your electrical system is the backbone of your home or business, and a faulty electrical system will quickly bring down all of your appliances, computers, phones/tablets, communication and devices. We work to repair or replace faulty electrical issues right away so it doesn’t affect your residence in the future. Do you have junction boxes hidden behind walls? If those wires need to be serviced or they spark, will they catch fire? If proper junction boxes are installed, they will have a cover on them, are installed to be accessed and worked on in a location that is easy to access. Junction boxes are a common cause of a fire when they are buried under flooring, in walls, insulation etc. A qualified person is best to evaluate how and what needs to be performed to fix issues when electrical problems are present.
From your Wi-Fi to your phones, TV, security cameras and every other part of your telecommunications and technology systems, nothing functions without power. The experts at Coastal Contracting have the knowledge and experience to address almost any problem with your electrical system as well as your phones and computers, so you can trust their experts to get to the root of the problem.
If you find that your network devices, phones, computers and other hardware devices that your business relies on are often going out, there may be an electrical problem. This can often occur after a new installation on an old system, when more power is being used than the system can handle. Whether you want to install a new electrical panel to ensure your system will work properly or you want to make necessary repairs or upgrades the handle your new technologies, Coastal Contracting can help.
Coastal Contracting LLC serves a wide area throughout Virginia and North Carolina. If you have a house that needs repair and you want to sell, call Coastal Contracting LLC today at 757.300.1032 for consultation and offer in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Nags Head, Moyock and locations throughout the region. Our team helps homeowners by relieving the stress and burden of dealing with these types of issues. Call us today at 757.300.1032 to answer your questions. We are your team to call to get a straight answer on your problem house.