Splurge vs. save: Which home improvement projects are worth the expense?


(ARA) – There’s no place like home. It’s this sense of pride that drives so many of us to embark on home improvement projects each year, some of which can be extensive and expensive.

Before investing in any project, there are several things you should ask yourself to help you evaluate how you’ll live in the space. Think about how long you intend to live in the home, what the space will be used for now and in the future, how the size and dynamic of your family might change and what rooms you use the most. It’s also important to get a handle on your budget from the get-go.

After considering some of these things, educate yourself on the actual remodeling process. As you’ll quickly discover, there are countless online resources with ideas and tools to help plan out each step of the remodel. Merillat, known for its innovative and functional cabinetry and storage, offers some helpful resources to help you visualize and plan a new kitchen or bath space at www.merillat.com.

For most of us, budget constraints give us pause as we consider where to splurge and where to save. Here are a few things to think about as you determine which projects to begin and which you might consider delaying or scaling back on.

* What can you do yourself? There are some projects you can handle on your own, assuming you do the proper research and preparation. For example, painting is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project that can dramatically change a space. While many homeowners dread the tedious process and prep that goes into it, the decision to do it yourself could save you thousands of dollars.

* What can wait? Think of your home as ever-changing and always improving. For the average person who doesn’t have an unlimited budget, it means having to bench some projects for a while. Sarah Reep, director of designer relations and education for Merillat, encourages homeowners to come up with a project priority list, starting with “must-haves” and ending with “nice-to-haves.” For example, projects like landscaping, basement renovations and luxuries like an electric fireplace typically fall into the “nice-to-have” category and could be delayed or completed in phases.

* Where should you invest? Consider how you’ll live in the space. Kitchens and bathrooms are investment worthy because they always serve the same purpose and are two of the most lived-in spaces of the home. Cabinetry, countertops and appliances designed to support the ways you’ll use these spaces are a solid investment both for resell value and everyday enjoyment. For example, choose a countertop material such as DeNova’s Natural Quartz surfacing that stands up to heat, resists chips and cracks better than other materials and is mold-, mildew- and stain-resistant — all characteristics important in these areas of the home. In addition, invest in cabinetry “extras” like Merillat’s storage and organizational solutions to make life in the kitchen easier and adaptable as your needs change.

No matter what the project, professional designers are a great resource. Consider engaging one early on in the process.

“One of the biggest advantages to working with a designer on a home project is that they really understand functionality, while accomplishing your desired style,” says Reep. “Designers can also help you determine your priorities and offer advice on which projects should be a focus and where you might be able to cut costs.”

For more home remodeling ideas and tips, visit www.merillat.com.

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(NAPSI)—With a new year in full swing, self-evaluation is likely a common theme in manyU.S.households. In this frame of mind, many families are likely to assess spending and saving habits, crafting a plan for better budgeting.

When was the last time you took a serious look at your budget? If you’re due for a checkup, a number of tools and tips exist to help guide you through the budgeting process. You can find resources online, like budget worksheets that allow you to plug in your income and expenses and determine where there is room for adjustment. These are available for free to those who take the AllyWalletWise.com budget course.

The following five tips can help you create a budget that works for you:

• Envision the finish line: It’s hard to start a race without knowing where and when you will end. Decide on a financial goal—a big purchase you want to make, a debt you’d like to pay off or a savings fund goal—and use this as a motivational tool to commit to a budget.

• Put pen to paper: To best understand your current financial landscape, begin with a big-picture view. List household income, expenses and savings goals in an organized document (whether written or online). Don’t try to budget in your head.

• Balance your budget: Are you keeping expenses proportionate? Typically, housing costs should not account for more than one-third of your monthly take-home pay, while transportation costs should account for less than 20 percent, and savings between 5 percent and 10 percent.

• Dig up deals: You can easily “find” more money in your budget by cutting down on current expenses. First, identify which parts of your budget are considered wants—versus needs—and whether you’re willing to cut them out. Then look online for discounts and to review various service providers, like cell phone and cable, to see if any better deals are available.

• Aim for weekly check-ins: Decide who should be involved in the budgeting process and meet on a weekly basis to review finances, which will help you stay on track and remain accountable. Don’t wait until the end of the month, when making fixes will be harder. And remember, a sound budget requires regular review, since financial situations can change and unexpected events can occur.

Learn More: For information on basic budgeting guidelines or to take a free online budgeting course, visit Ally Bank’s financial education website, Wallet Wise, at www.AllyWalletWise.com.

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Hot trends for spring home improvement projects

(ARA) – Warmer temperatures, green grass and increased daylight help shake off the winter blues and inspire home and yard improvements to spruce up your surroundings.

Whether you’re remodeling to stay put, or putting your home on the market, consider home improvement and design trends as you plan your renovation projects.

Add bold, bright colors
Need a color boost? Fresh color recommendations from the Pantone Color Institute include Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, Bellflower and Cabaret.

Try adding a splash of these vivid hues to help alter your mood and boost vitality and enthusiasm. Repaint a wall, bookcase or front door for a bold color burst. Or sprinkle splashes of color with new covers for patio furniture, area rugs, pillows or window treatments.

Go green, save green
Among the top green home trends from buildipedia.com is renovating to reduce your home’s heating and cooling load. Add more insulation in the walls, roof and floors or seal up leaks or install new windows and doors.

Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified products that help lower your home’s energy consumption, and in turn, your utility bills.

Low-maintenance Pella 350 Series vinyl windows and patio doors feature a premium look in an energy-saving design that is the most energy-efficient product line the company offers.

Energize your entry
No time for major renovations? Weekend projects, like installing a new front door to welcome guests to dinners, graduations and get-togethers, can transform your entryway with minimal hassle and cost.

Consider installing a 36-inch-wide entry door to add more room to maneuver. Whether you’re carrying a baby or a bag of groceries, or need extra space for a wheelchair or walker, wider entry doors are ideal for nearly any home – especially multigenerational ones.

Today’s hottest entry door trends revolve around styles, materials and performance.

“The Craftsman style remains a popular choice for entry doors,” says Steve Brenizer, product marketing manager for Pella Windows and Doors. “Rustic door styles with hinge straps and clavos that create a distinctive look are also standouts. And customizing with decorative glass to let in natural light without sacrificing privacy, or adding decorative grilles are also sought-after style options.”

Fiberglass is in
When it comes to exterior doors, fiberglass is surging in popularity, Brenizer says. “Fiberglass entry doors look like an authentic wood door, without the ongoing maintenance needs of wood,” he adds. “Plus, fiberglass offers exceptional energy efficiency, weather resistance and outstanding durability to resist dents and dings.”

New fiberglass Pella entry doors push industry performance standards to new levels. Their dual-seal technology provides two layers of protection to help block out the damaging effects of extreme wind and rain. Fiberglass doors are very customizable, Brenizer adds. Homeowners can choose their own exterior clad color, interior wood stain or paint color, or create a custom color to truly reflect their home’s style. For more information visit Pella.com or call 888-847-3552.

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NAPSI)—Even as federal tax credits for traditional heating and cooling systems have decreased, incentives for geothermal systems remain considerably higher—at 30 percent of the installed cost of the system with no limit. In fact, homeowners can take advantage of the federal residential renewable energy tax credit through December 31, 2016. What’s more, the credit is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009 and can be used in combination with utility rebates and state tax incentives to make geothermal systems more affordable than ever.

The savings associated with operating a geothermal system are just as attractive. By taking advantage of the abundant source of free solar energy stored in the earth to heat and cool a home, a geothermal heating and cooling system can save homeowners as much as 70 percent on their cooling bills in summer. The system can also provide supplemental hot water, saving homeowners even more. Instead of being extracted from the ground to preheat hot water, the heat comes from the house.

A geothermal system offers a number of other benefits, including even distribution of heating and cooling for improved comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, improved indoor air quality, quiet operation, little to no maintenance and a life span that exceeds 24 years.

To qualify for the tax credit, residential systems must meet ENERGY STAR requirements. Homeowners can file for the credit by completing the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit, Form 5695. A copy of the form, as well as an informative brochure that explains the federal tax incentive and a listing of those products that qualify for the tax credit, is available on the WaterFurnace website at www.waterfurnace.com.

To learn more about federal tax credits and the many other benefits that a geothermal system offers, visit the site or talk to a WaterFurnace expert at (800) GEO-SAVE.

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Energy Tips

(NAPSI)—There’s a new resource to help keep older adults safe and warm during the cold weather months.

A new brochure, “Winter Warmth and Safety: Home Energy Tips for Older Adults,” provides tips about preparing a home for winter weather and saving money on energy expenses, including:

• Make sure your home is energy efficient by installing a programmable thermostat and sealing and insulating ducts. More advice is available from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program at www.energystar.gov.

• Take advantage of special heating assistance funds and utility no-cutoff programs.

Learn More

For a free copy of the brochure, call (800) 677-1116 or download it at www.eldercare.gov.

The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

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How to keep your car running for years longer than most

(ARA) – If you’ve been in an auto dealer’s showroom recently, you won’t be surprised to learn that the average price of a new car is approaching $30,000. While there’s no getting around the price you have to pay for a new automobile, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you won’t have to make the same investment again anytime soon.

By doing the little things to maintain your car on a day-to-day basis, you can do everything in your power to make your car last long past the day you make your final payment on that car loan.

“Time and miles are the two forces fighting to destroy every car,” says Tom Taylor, engineer and vice president of RockAuto.com. “Giving the car an occasional wash and wax is nice but really not as important as regular maintenance. Driving and maintaining your car as if it needs to last for at least 200,000 miles or 20 years is a smart way to preserve the value of an expensive asset.”

Storage
If you have a garage, make it your car’s permanent home. Reserving a garage space for your car instead of household items that could be stored elsewhere will help you avoid the accelerated wear and tear caused by prolonged exposure to the elements.

If you store your car in a partially protected carport or use a car cover, regularly inspect underneath your hood for signs of vermin. “I recently needed to replace a fuel injector connector that a rat gnawed off our 20-year-old family van after it was left unattended in a carport for just a few days,” says Taylor. “Rats and mice like a nice warm engine bay and they chew constantly to wear down their ever-growing teeth.”

Scheduled maintenance
Your car’s maintenance, engine oil, radiator antifreeze and other components might differ significantly from your last car. Following the maintenance schedule laid out in your owner’s manual is important to protect your vehicle. The photos in the RockAuto.com online auto parts catalog can help you become familiar with the maintenance parts for your specific car. Making sure items like filters, struts and brake pads are replaced when needed will help protect other components, saving you money and unnecessary wear.

Drive smart
Occasionally kicking up your heels is fine, but consistently accelerating too fast can put unnecessary strain on your engine and other moving parts. Stopping or cornering too quickly can prematurely wear out your brakes and suspension. If you’re starting your car in the cold, take it easy at first – letting your car idle won’t help protect your car, but driving a little more methodically than usual while your car warms up will.

Drive less
You don’t need to cut out the annual family road trip – highway miles are among the easiest miles you can put on your car. But eliminating unnecessary trips in everyday life can have noticeable results since the starting and stopping associated with short trips can be tough on your car. Take care of all your errands in one trip, walk with your kids to school if it’s close to home or ride the bus to and from work. If you can cut down on driving by 5 miles per day for 10 years, you’ll save 18,000 miles of driving. Taylor estimates that those miles are worth $4,000 in parts, depreciation and gas. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also put less stress on your vehicle, which should extend its lifespan.

When shopping for a new car, you might be able to save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping and finding the best price. But good maintenance and driving practices can save you thousands if it means you won’t have to buy another car for 20 years.

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Save money with an ‘enlightened’ roof – and decorate too

(ARA) – Enlightenment isn’t just a state of mind – it can also be an important energy-saving state of being for your home’s roof. By “enlightening” your roof, you can use less energy, save money, and dress up the interior of your home at the same time.

All roofs protect us, and the interiors of our homes, but they can do so much more. They can be the collection and distribution point for an inexhaustible supply of free natural light and energy.  

A roof that uses Energy Star qualified venting skylights, for instance, admits healthful natural light while providing passive ventilation through the natural “chimney effect” of rising air. This is not an insignificant consideration especially in kitchens and baths that have higher moisture and humidity levels than other areas of the home.  

Another kitchen- and bath-specific issue that skylights help address is the need for privacy. Many modern homes are built on small lots, in very close proximity to neighboring houses. “Light from windows is rarely enough, especially in places where lot sizes are small,” says Jennifer Powers of design firm Scott-Ulmann.

Areas of the home where traditional skylights with blinds might not work – such as hallways, closets and small, interior baths – can still admit natural light through less expensive Sun Tunnel tubular skylights. And optional light kits turn these units into 24-hour sources of light.  Low-profile flat glass models that blend unobtrusively with the roof, and domed models, all offer a fast, easy, less expensive way to transform a home with natural light.

In addition to light and ventilation from above, if you add an Energy Star-qualified solar water heating system your roof will work even harder for you. And, in addition to monthly power bill savings, these solar thermal systems qualify for tax credits and other savings that significantly reduce the payback time it takes to recover the initial cost.

Solar power attic fans are also a cost-effective roof addition that helps to reduce mechanical cooling costs while removing damaging moisture from the home.

In addition to the functional qualities these and other roof improvements offer, there are also aesthetic considerations.

Skylights offer room-changing drama and decorating flair while adding natural light from above.  And skylight blinds are now available in colors and pattern choices to mix and match with room decor giving homeowners another interior design tool. Blinds not only dress up a room but also provide light control while increasing the energy efficiency and usefulness of skylights.  

According to skylight manufacturer, Velux America, the addition of blinds can increase the overall energy efficiency of the units by 37 percent. They recommend closing the blinds on high heat/sun days in the summer to reduce potential solar heat gain and, on cold winter nights, closing them to provide an extra layer of thermal insulation to keep warm air indoors. Skylight blinds, as well as the units themselves, can be controlled manually or with a remote.

Modern, low profile skylights are unobtrusive and as dependable as vertical windows.  Information about units with a 10-year no-leak installation warranty, plus an installer locator, is available at veluxusa.com. There’s also a free mobile phone app there to help homeowners see how skylights and blinds would look in rooms in their own homes.

The Velux Skylight Planner App is available for iPhones, iPods, iPads and Android phones.

For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org. For remodeling information visit nahb.org/remodel or greenhomeguide.org.

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Savings on Prescriptions

(ARA) – Patients looking to save money on their prescription medications are sometimes unaware of the resources available to them that can help ensure they get the medications their doctor prescribes at the appropriate co-pay.

Those patients with health insurance that includes a prescription drug plan have access to certain brand and generic medications, based on their formulary. However, when it comes to cost-saving options for prescriptions, there are several ways patients can lower their bill from the pharmacy.¹

Know Your Formulary
There is a reason your formulary is also called a preferred drug list, as it includes those preferred brand and generic medications, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which are covered by your health plan at different co-pay levels. Therefore, medications not on your formulary may cost you more.²

Commonly, formularies have a 3-tiered system, where Tier 1 represents the lowest co-pay for brand-name drugs and generics, with higher co-payments for Tiers 2 and 3.²

Create a list of medications you are currently taking and compare it to your formulary. Knowing which medications are on your formulary and at what tier will help you better work with your doctor to prescribe preferred medications that are appropriate for you, which in-turn will add up to savings.³

In the case of branded medications, some are considered to have excellent formulary coverage. For example, NEXIUM® (esomeprazole magnesium), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), has excellent formulary coverage for 2011 with 72 percent of patients with private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare Part D having access to it at the Tier 1 or Tier 2 level.⁴

Look for Prescription Savings Cards
Some brand-name drugs offer their own savings cards, extending additional discounts to patients prescribed these drugs, potentially lowering their co-pay. After making a list of your medications, visit the websites for these drugs or call the manufacturer to see if they offer a savings card and if you are eligible to use one the next time you fill a prescription.

One example of a brand-name prescription savings card is for the medication NEXIUM. The NEXIUM Savings Card offers eligible patients instant discounts on their prescriptions for NEXIUM, potentially saving the patient up to $600 annually, with most patients paying $18 each on up to 12 prescriptions of NEXIUM.^5,6 The card does not require activation or program enrollment. Patients can simply download one from purplepill.com or receive a card in the mail by calling 1-800-503-9880, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm ET.^5,6

Enroll in Patient Assistance Programs
Another valuable resource to help lower the cost of prescription medications is enrolling in Patient Assistance Programs (PAP). These programs are offered by states and pharmaceutical manufacturers to assist patients in accessing medicines they need to stay healthy, sometimes at little to no cost to patients. As every program is different, it’s important to check the eligibility requirements to see if you are able to enroll and begin saving on your prescriptions.⁷

Register for Mail Order
Finally, mail order is an additional savings method that you can enroll in, depending on the options in your health insurance, which offers discounts on the prescription medications you take on an ongoing basis.⁸

You should speak with your health insurance company to see if there is a mail order program that is a part of your plan and if you are eligible to participate. In some cases, enrolled patients can order up to a 90-day supply of medications at a discounted price, and with the convenience of not having to visit the pharmacy to refill a prescription.⁹

All of these options for saving on prescription medications are readily available either on your health insurance company’s website or the websites of the medications you are taking.  Work with your doctor to discuss options that meet both your medical and financial requirements so you are getting the treatment that is best for you.

Important Safety Information about NEXIUM

• Symptom relief does not rule out the presence of other serious stomach conditions
• Talk to your doctor about your risk for:

• bone fractures if you take multiple daily doses of NEXIUM for a long period of time
• low magnesium levels if you take NEXIUM for a long period of time

Approved Uses for NEXIUM

NEXIUM is prescribed to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease, which typically include persistent heartburn on 2 or more days per week, despite treatment and change of diet.

For many people, NEXIUM is also prescribed to heal damage to the esophagus called erosive esophagitis. This damage may be caused over time from stomach acid wearing away the lining of the esophagus. Only a doctor can diagnose this condition. With NEXIUM, most erosions heal in 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with NEXIUM may vary.

Please read the full Prescribing Information on purplepill.com and discuss it with your doctor or health care professional.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

¹ Blue of California. “Drug Formulary.” Available at https://www.blueshieldca.com/bsc/pharmacy/faqs/pharmacy_faqs_drug_formulary.jhtml. Accessed on March 15, 2011.
² Aetna. “Build in ways to save on prescription drugs.”  Available at http://www.aetna.com/employer-plans/sas/healthysavings/pharmacy.html. Accessed on July 19, 2011
³ BCBS of Tennessee. “Top 10 Ways to Save Money.” Available at http://www.bcbst.com/learn/pharmacy/top-10.shtml. Accessed on July 19, 2011
⁴ Data on file, # [1247300, 1045404]: Fingertip Formulary database as of May 24, 2011.
⁵ Atlas # 1245901: Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Dynamic Claims, six months ending March 2011. Accessed on May 23, 2011.
⁶ Atlas # 1315801 7/11.
⁷ RxAssist. “Frequently Asked Questions About Patient Assistance Programs.” Available at http://www.rxassist.org/faqs/default.cfm#1. Accessed on July 25, 2011.
⁸ WebMd. “Beyond the Pharmacy: Online and Mail Order Prescription Drugs.” Available at http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/beyond-the-pharmacy-online-and-mail-order-prescription-drugs. Accessed on July 20, 2011.  
⁹ BCBS of Michigan. “Mail Order Prescription Drug Program.” Available at http://www.bcbsm.com/member/prescription_drugs/mail_order.shtml. Accessed on July 20, 2011.

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Slowing the gas price roller coaster

(ARA) – Gas prices are on a roller coaster ride again. A bargain these days is anything under $4 a gallon, which is especially difficult since it’s summer and everyone’s hitting the road for vacations. Inching closer is fall’s “back-to-school” drive cycle. In short, there is a lot of driving ahead and higher gas prices are now the norm, so it’s time to look at ways to alleviate the pain at the pumps.

A good place to start is eye-level with your feet – your car’s tires. You may look at tires as black, round utilitarian objects, but truth be told, these technical wonders – when properly maintained – are gas saviors that can slice hundreds of dollars off your annual gasoline bill, according to Dan King, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.

“The first thing is to always make sure your tires are properly inflated,” says King. “Tires that are underinflated by eight pounds per square inch (psi), for example, can reduce vehicle fuel economy by as much as 2 percent and tire tread life can also be reduced by as much as 25 percent.”

King says for the best driving savings and safety results, make checking the tire pressure a monthly routine. “It only takes five minutes,” he says. “If you’re not doing it once a month, chances are you’re driving on under-inflated tires.”

Use the tire inflation numbers usually labeled inside the driver’s door, fuel door, glove box or in the owner’s manual. (The number on the tire’s sidewall is the maximum inflation pressure.) Over-inflation reduces the tire’s contact patch with the road, while under-inflation puts extra weight on its sidewalls and causes an unsafe increase in tire temperature.

Certain types of tires – ones with low rolling resistance (LRR) – can help save fuel, too. “LRR tires are designed to minimize the energy wasted as heat while the tire rolls down the road,” King says. “That results in improved fuel efficiency. Studies show driving on LRR tires alone can save about $100 annually.”

Yokohama’s AVID ENVigor tire is a good example of the expanding LRR tire technology. “It’s an excellent low rolling resistant tire that saves fuel and combines performance, comfort and long treadlife,” King says.

King also offers other fuel-saving tips:

* Keep your tires properly inflated. Once a month, when the tires are cold (at least three to four hours after the vehicle has been driven), check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. Be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep dirt out and seal against leakage.

* Replace your air filter. A clogged air filter blocks the air needed to burn fuel efficiently and wastes gas.

* Keep your car tuned-up according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule to keep all systems in good working order, which can optimize your mileage.

* To prevent skidding and hydroplaning, tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. An easy test: place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re driving with the proper amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, you should buy a new tire.

* Built-in treadwear indicators, or “wear bars,” which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. When you see these wear bars, the tire is worn out and should be replaced.

* Visually check your tires for signs of uneven wear. You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.

* Tires should be rotated at least every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to scrub, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.

* Slow down. For every five mph you go above 60 mph, you’re using more gas, and, ultimately, paying even more for each gallon of gas.

For additional tire care and safety tips, visit www.yokohamatire.com or www.rma.org.

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Renovating your home? Renovate your insurance

(ARA) – Whether you are upgrading a kitchen, adding on a master suite, or gutting a newly purchased structure, you need to reassess your insurance needs both before and after your renovation.

It’s common to plan every major step of the renovation. But one thing that’s tough to plan for is the unexpected. What if an oily rag left unattended starts a fire and your home goes up in smoke? The remodeling work done to date may have an impact on your homeowners insurance – unless you let your insurance agent in on the plans ahead of time.

For example, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company policyholders are required to let their agent know about any renovation projected to increase the replacement cost of your home by more than $25,000 in order for the crucial full-cost replacement coverage to remain in force.

“Your insurance company and your agent can help you find gaps in your coverage related to remodeling and establish appropriate replacement costs,” says Don Soss, vice president of personal insurance at Fireman’s Fund. “We can also make sure your contractor and subs have adequate liability insurance in case of damage to your property from poor workmanship or carelessness.”

In addition, risk managers at the insurance company can provide advice to minimize the possibility of fires, theft, and mishaps. Good risk management practices also minimize potential project delays. This may be a good time to add security and safety features such as water flow monitoring devices or upgraded burglary and fire alarm systems.

One of the most common issues is maintaining a secure environment during the work phase. For example, contractors often disable a home’s existing fire alarm system because dust and particulates generated by construction tend to trigger false alarms. It is important for temporary measures such as fencing and alternate alarms to be in place to keep the property secure.

Demolition debris should also be secured so it can’t become airborne in high winds. Toxic or explosive materials need to be stored and handled appropriately, and rebars should be capped to prevent injury to workmen and residents.  

Often, the family moves to temporary housing during a remodel. It may be a good idea to put art collections and other valuables that could be damaged in an offsite secure storage facility for optimal protection.

Even before your work is complete, your agent can go over your current homeowners insurance and make sure you have the replacement value of your home updated. This will reflect increases in construction materials and labor, changes in building codes, installation of new safety devices, changes in square footage, and custom features and appliances.

Top tips for homeowners considering a renovation:

1. Contact your agent before construction starts for coverage of your remodeling work and the value of your completed home.

2. Make sure your contractor and subcontractors have adequate liability insurance. Many contractors carry the generally recommended limits of at least twice the replacement value of the home.

3. Ask the contractor to maintain adequate safety and security devices such as fire and burglar alarms.

4. Save all records related to your project (receipts and appraisals). Store copies of these records in a secure off-site location. Videotaping your house and possessions is also recommended.

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