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	<title>constructionincalifornia &#187; Cost</title>
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		<title>How Much Does Solar Power Cost? Read On For The Good News!</title>
		<link>http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-news/how-much-does-solar-power-cost-read-on-for-the-good-news/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-news/how-much-does-solar-power-cost-read-on-for-the-good-news/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:18:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Construction News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cost]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Much]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Power]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-news/how-much-does-solar-power-cost-read-on-for-the-good-news/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[* Easy Fully Illustrated Step By Steps
* How to build different solar panels
* Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!
* Available for a limited time special offer of £49.97!
Click here!
Due to the escalating prices of fossil fuels, many people are resorting to buying retail/professionally installed solar power systems for their home or are building their own. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>* Easy Fully Illustrated Step By Steps</p>
<p>* How to build different solar panels</p>
<p>* Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!</p>
<p>* Available for a limited time special offer of £49.97!</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.solarpoweryourhouse.net/howmuchdoessolarpowercost.html">Click here!</a></p>
<p>Due to the escalating prices of fossil fuels, many people are resorting to buying retail/professionally installed solar power systems for their home or are building their own. Statistics show that thousands of households in the U.S. are currently living off-grid and the number is growing each year. Installing a home solar power system is one of the easiest ways to start living off grid and anyone can do it these days. So how much does solar power cost, you&#8217;re wondering.. Stay with me here and i&#8217;ll tell you!</p>
<p>Remember that professionally installed solar system i was talking about? Well, the thing is you&#8217;re obviously going to need lots of panels in order to generate enough power to run your whole household, so a professionally installed system will cost you round about $4000-$10000.</p>
<p>Having Your Very Own DIY Solar Power System</p>
<p>There&#8217;s another option that you have to start saving money on electricity costs by installing homemade solar power systems which are growing in popularity these days due to their low cost of production. Should you choose to purchase a DIY solar power kit and construct one yourself, you&#8217;ll save a tremendous amount of money. So how much does solar power cost for a homemade kit? You&#8217;ll probably be suprised to hear that it only costs around $200.</p>
<p>During the winters there might not be enough sun light to supply your house with enough electricity, then you will need a few storage batteries to store the unused energy for the cloudy days. Another thing you can do is to switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent and automatically reduce the amount of energy your house needs.</p>
<p>You shouldnt consider switching to renewable energy to be a daunting task. It isn&#8217;t! Its so easy to do, that more and more average household are doing it. Constructing your own solar or/and wind power system will cost you around $200! There are even some websites that offer these DIY kits for less than $50 on special offers! How much does solar power cost? Well, if you know where to look, it costs very little indeed!</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re concerned about <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://howmuchdoessolarpowercost24.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-much-does-solar-power-cost-amazing.html">how much does solar power cost</a>, then click here for the truely fantastic answer!</p>
<p>Other sites worth checking out:</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.quizilla.com/stories/9985036/diy-alternate-energy-kits-that-can-supply-free-power-for-a-lifetime">DIY Alternate Energy Kits That Can Supply Free Power For A Lifetime</a></p>
<p></p>
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<p>Mark Vasquez is a seasoned researcher who writes about various topics of interest.  Mainly in the areas on saving money and self-improvement.</p>
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<p style="white-space:nowrap"><img style="border:0px" src="http://tarpipe.com/img/tarpipe.png" />&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://tarpipe.com/share/?t=How+Much+Does+Solar+Power+Cost%3F+Read+On+For+The+Good+News%21&u=http%3A%2F%2Fconstructionincalifornia.com%2Fconstruction-news%2Fhow-much-does-solar-power-cost-read-on-for-the-good-news%2F&b=Reading %22How+Much+Does+Solar+Power+Cost%3F+Read+On+For+The+Good+News%21%22">Share now!</a></p><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fconstructionincalifornia.com%2Fconstruction-news%2Fhow-much-does-solar-power-cost-read-on-for-the-good-news%2F&amp;linkname=How%20Much%20Does%20Solar%20Power%20Cost%3F%20Read%20On%20For%20The%20Good%20News%21"><img src="http://constructionincalifornia.com/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_256_24.png" width="256" height="24" alt="Share/Bookmark"/></a>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Cost To Install Solar Panels &#8211; Have You Heard The News ?</title>
		<link>http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-news/cost-to-install-solar-panels-have-you-heard-the-news/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-news/cost-to-install-solar-panels-have-you-heard-the-news/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:06:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Construction News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Heard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Install]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Panels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[
If you think it might be smart to start researching on the lowest cost to install solar panels, you&#8217;re in luck! the information contained in this brief review is going to radically change your current thinking about the useable power of the sun. If you learned that it&#8217;s possible to do away with power bills [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.easyfreeenergy.com/solar?cd=Sl337" target="_self"><strong></strong></a></p>
<p>If you think it might be smart to start researching on <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.easyfreeenergy.com/solar?cd=Sl337"><strong>the lowest cost to install solar panels</strong></a>, you&#8217;re in luck! the information contained in this brief review is going to radically change your current thinking about the useable power of the sun. If you learned that it&#8217;s possible to do away with power bills with a system that easily enables you to convert solar energy to home electricity at an unbeatably low budget &#8211; surely you&#8217;d want the facts? Keep reading the following article.</p>
<p>For many years, installing solar panels to create at least part of your electricity was often thought of as a noble gesture but was just too pricey for most, for many others it remained as a dream. Nowadays, people frequently perform Internet searches for the lowest cost to install solar panels, which confirms that curiosity about green technology has grown, and with it the quantity of people who look for innovative solutions in this electrifying new area.</p>
<p>News flash: with all the recent interest in green energy, this technology finally became accessible and best of all, it&#8217;s easy on the bank account. so you too can have an absolutely free and unlimited home power supply. The ability to power your home with this clean energy source has long existed, but the problem was that most of us simply couldn&#8217;t afford it; the only real option was to continue our unhappy association with the power company, wasting hard-earned money on a basic need.</p>
<p>As you proceed to researching on <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.easyfreeenergy.com/solar?cd=Sl337"><strong>the lowest cost to install solar panels</strong></a>, I want to share the news that, fortunately for us, a leading specialist in renewable energy wants to spread the word about a way for you to construct solar panels and a solar energy system of your very own, without the need for any expensive or hard to find materials. I also learned that there were many satisfied users of solar energy, both in the united states and around the world, who are able to create abundant solar power for their personal use, and additionally, the electric company buys power from users who generate more than they need. As it has now become the common-sense solution, the revolutionary solution is surely going to revitalize the way we produce our electricity.</p>
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<p>Enjoy <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.easyfreeenergy.com/solar?cd=Sl337"><b>FREE and UNLIMITED solar-based electricity</b></a>?forever!</p>
<p>Watch this <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.easyfreeenergy.com/solar?cd=Sl337"><b>SHOCKING Video!</b></a></p>
<p>Visit: <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.easyfreeenergy.com/solar?cd=Sl337"><b>EasyFreeEnergy.com</b></a></p>
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		<title>The Nightmares Of A Home Remodeling Cost</title>
		<link>http://constructionincalifornia.com/home-remodeling/the-nightmares-of-a-home-remodeling-cost/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionincalifornia.com/home-remodeling/the-nightmares-of-a-home-remodeling-cost/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:25:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Remodeling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cost]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Nightmares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Remodeling]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Remodel your home is as they say, one of the most trying efforts you can place on any marriage. The mess, the inconvenience of not having the space you always had before, even though it was not what you wanted, and you just wanted it gone or changed, so now you got everything planned and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Remodel your home is as they say, one of the most trying efforts you can place on any marriage. The mess, the inconvenience of not having the space you always had before, even though it was not what you wanted, and you just wanted it gone or changed, so now you got everything planned and you have to pay for the home remodeling cost you wanted. One hopes the home remodeling cost has not cost you the arm and leg just for something small to be done, unless it is a large amount and you have access to your bond for the money.</p>
<p>As with interior, exterior home remodeling costs can be exorbitant. This all again does vary with what you have in mind of course. You might have no inclination of what any costs are let alone the simplest home remodeling cost such as plumbing or minor electrical work or maintenance for that matter. And when you put your idea with the quote you are in shock at the prices given.</p>
<p>There is only one cure for this, do it yourself! Besides the cost of contractors taking out goods that are still in good condition such as windows or doors or sheeting of all sorts, and replacing them with ones that you have chosen, you lose even more money as they simply flog those items off somewhere else, making more money for themselves. It&#8217;s called recycling. They mark up those second hand products too for when they have a customer that would settle for the product, in their home remodeling cost quotation.</p>
<p><b>Laying The Driveway For You, And Someone Else!</b></p>
<p>Building or construction in any form has a lot of wastage, especially the raw materials such as bricks and mortar side of it, there is wastage from countertops, gutters and everything else, as you home does not get originally built according to measurements of goods in the stores. All these extras floating around after the job is done, is definitely useful on someone else&#8217;s property, and you land up paying for their home remodeling cost.</p>
<p>So once the pavers have come in and laid the driveway for you, and you see them taking the excess away without your approval, you can insist on it that they return on it or that they pay for it accordingly. You seriously didn&#8217;t expect to pay for someone else&#8217;s goods when you first requested your quotation on your minor home remodeling cost. They over ordered so that they could score from you even more, think about it, and think how much less the price could have been.</p>
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<p>If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article&#8217;s author on <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://stainedglasslamp.org/">stained glass lamp</a> and <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://smalltablelamp.net/">small table lamp</a>.</p>
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		<title>Owner Builders Beware: The Dangers of Construction Cost Estimators</title>
		<link>http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-loans/owner-builders-beware-the-dangers-of-construction-cost-estimators/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionincalifornia.com/construction-loans/owner-builders-beware-the-dangers-of-construction-cost-estimators/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:30:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Construction Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Builders]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Cost]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Owner builders need to put a budget together prior to starting construction on their new home, not only to qualify for an owner builder construction loan, but also to properly plan for the construction phase.
&#13;
All too often, though, owner builders use the latest and greatest cost estimator that claims to have eliminated the need for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Owner builders need to put a budget together prior to starting construction on their new home, not only to qualify for an owner builder construction loan, but also to properly plan for the construction phase.</p>
<p>&#13;<br />
All too often, though, owner builders use the latest and greatest cost estimator that claims to have eliminated the need for getting real bids from individual sub-contractors and material providers. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Just plug in some quick specs about your home, and you have an instantaneous construction budget to build your dream home.  </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Right? Wrong.</p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Here&#8217;s the problem &#8211; not one of those cost estimators is accurate for your specific project, especially for your owner builder project. All estimators, no matter how fancy or expensive, are based on average costs. Your house, no matter what, is not exactly average. Your house may be more detailed or less detailed than average. It is guaranteed not to be exactly average. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Cost estimators are almost entirely based on square footage and costs per square foot. Let&#8217;s say you, the owner builder, are building a 2000 square foot house. A cost estimator will spit out some number for you based on costs per square foot x 2000 feet. You can make some adjustments, typically, for higher or lower grade finishings, but that is it. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Is your 2000 square foot house a simple shoebox, or is it a Victorian style house? Your estimator software is likely not to care. A 2000 square foot Victorian could cost an owner builder over twice as much as a very simple design of the same size. Things like roof pitches, number and design of windows, porches, and many other variables are often not considered. So, using an estimator without getting proper bids, could force an owner builder to make gross budgeting errors. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
And, it gets worse. Even if you think you are using a super detailed estimator designed just for owner builders, you will fall short if you fail to account for your local costs, which vary from town to town and even within different parts of the same town. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Also, owner builders constantly run into inaccuracies for any aspect of a home that is not completely standard. For example, if window sizes come in a standard size, and you need something an inch or two different, you will pay a huge premium that your estimating software will not account for. Do you want any curves to those windows? Any transoms or sidelights? These discrepancies are just for windows. Spread this across an entire house, and you should get the point. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Now add one more factor to the equation. The actual number of owner builders who use estimating software correctly is miniscule. Most people, especially owner builders, do not do this sort of thing professionally. And no matter how smart you think you are, you will most likely make mistakes. So, not only are most owner builders starting out with a faulty premise when using a cost estimator, they are using the application incorrectly on top of that. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Often owner builders want to use cost estimators that are provided by material package suppliers or home design companies for their particular set of blueprints. The owner builder&#8217;s argument is always logical &#8211; the blueprint company or the home kit supplier based the overall construction cost estimates on the specific set of blueprints. So, they should know the actual costs to build that particular house. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Well, sadly, they might only have a rough feel for the typical costs, based on some of the reasons listed above. And even if they do have a good idea, they may underestimate the costs just to get you to buy their package. Why would they do something like that? Put yourself in their shoes. They make more money by selling larger home designs or large material packages. So, by low-balling the estimated cost to complete the home, they can convince owner builders that the larger houses are affordable. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
Therefore, owner builders opt to buy the larger houses, and more money goes into the company&#8217;s pockets. It happens all the time. When you confront a house plan provider or a home kit company, you will always get the same answer: the budget provided is just an estimate. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
The only costs that the company can assure are accurate are the costs for the specific materials that the company is selling. The cost estimate to complete the house is meant solely as a helpful, rough guide for the customer. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
The best advice for any owner builder is to disregard the cost estimate completely. If you want to know what it will cost for the labor and materials to build that particular house in that particular town, then go find out. Don&#8217;t rely on others to tell you what you want to hear. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
In conclusion, do not rely solely on estimating software. They lead to trouble for owner builders every single day. And remember this last point: your cost estimator, and the person who designed it, has no liability when you run out of money during construction. But, you do. </p>
<p>&#13;<br />
So, when should an owner builder use cost estimating software? There actually is a good time to do so, and that is at the very early stages of thinking about your new home. If you just want to get a very rough idea of the costs of a house plan you like, by all means use a cost estimator to start your thought process. But, add 10-15% to be extra safe. Then, once you have decided to go forward with a home plan and a specific owner builder project, toss those estimates in the garbage and go about the process the right way.</p>
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<p>Chris Esposito and <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.ownerbuilder101.com">Owner Builder 101</a> provide owner builder construction loans to people who want to build instant equity into their new homes by avoiding general contractor fees. Discover the secrets of owner builder financing and planning at <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.ownerbuilder101.com"></a><a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.OwnerBuilder101.com" target="_blank">www.OwnerBuilder101.com</a>. Or, call (877) 876-3688.</p>
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		<title>Home Remodeling Plans Should Consider Energy Cost Savings</title>
		<link>http://constructionincalifornia.com/home-remodeling/home-remodeling-plans-should-consider-energy-cost-savings/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:04:56 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Home remodeling plans should start with a consideration for saving energy costs.  The climate of the United Kingdom and many other places in the Northern Hemisphere is very difficult in the winter months – affording many energy savings opportunities for those with home remodeling plans. It is truly remarkable to see just how much the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Home remodeling plans should start with a consideration for saving energy costs.  The climate of the United Kingdom and many other places in the Northern Hemisphere is very difficult in the winter months – affording many energy savings opportunities for those with home remodeling plans. It is truly remarkable to see just how much the cost of fuel and electricity goes up in the winter months in some areas of the world.</p>
<p>For the purpose of this article, we will consider home remodeling opportunities in the United Kingdom.  There is a ton of information available through the UK government – they even offer grants to help homeowners with their central heating, loft insulation or wall insulation projects (see the Government Grants UK website for more information). Owners of buildings and tenants in buildings will find that they can receive a 40% to 70% government subsidy for some insulation projects, to ensure that such measures are incorporated into their building or home remodeling plans.</p>
<p>On the Government&#8217;s Energy Saving Trust website they offer a search tool to help homeowners find grants being promoted in their residential area.  By searching, one will see a list of vendors, discounts and subsidies that can avail themselves of and incorporate into their home remodeling plans.</p>
<p>Often, people do not realize just how much money something like proper wall insulation can save them. If they knew, they would get busy with their home remodeling plans right away!  Research shows that 35% of the heat in a home escapes through walls and 25% through the roof.</p>
<p>Early home remodeling plans often included boiler replacements as newer ones were produced staking great energy saving claims, but in reality they are not as effective as insulation!  Their newer controls on the newer models certainly help a bit, but usually only about 17%.</p>
<p>There are several tips we could mention here for helping to also control gas and electricity costs, but for some situations, the results of such information can be misleading.  Obviously, poorly insulated home located in very severe climates will show more drastic savings opportunities that better insulated homes in less severe climates.  The common factor here is insulation.  Additionally, the energy savings available will also depend on the size of the house and just how much savings is desired.  Grants and discounts for loft and wall insulation typically start at around £ 199.</p>
<p>As long as one is making any home remodeling plans, they should be sure to also replace light bulbs with energy saving ones.   The average cost of an energy saver light bulb is £ 2 but such a bulb can save £ 45 before needing to be replaced!  This is because these special bulbs use 80% less energy, giving them a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs.</p>
<p>When making home remodeling plans, it is also helpful to shop around for the best pricing with local utility providers.  Some offer lower rates if bound by a term contract whereas others may provide discounted rates if allowed to bill via automated credit or debit card crediting. Of course, regardless of the program chosen, we should all remember to turn lights and power consuming appliances off when not in use.  Even left in “stand-by” mode, items can continue to waste energy.  By being just a little more thoughtful, we can all save a great deal of money with these simple home remodeling plans that would otherwise be wasted on excess energy each year.</p>
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		<title>Home Remodeling &#8211; Using a Different Approach to Control Cost and Quality</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:05:22 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[When buying a television or appliance it is best to shop around. But when looking for a service provider like a hairdresser or dentist do you really want the one that charges the cheapest price? The same is true with a home remodeling contractor. The general advice people receive when they are considering a construction [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When buying a television or appliance it is best to shop around. But when looking for a service provider like a hairdresser or dentist do you really want the one that charges the cheapest price? The same is true with a home remodeling contractor. The general advice people receive when they are considering a construction project is to solicit bids from at least three contractors. But do you really want the cheapest contractor? Are you going to make your choice based only on price?</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>I&#8217;d like to introduce you to an alternative to competitive bidding which you may not be aware of, a negotiated bid. This is not a situation where you haggle the price with the contractor. Rather, you and the contractor become allies in making your project a reality.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>The procedure for negotiating a bid goes usually goes something like this: First, you pick a contractor you like and trust before the design process has begun or is in its early stages (there are many ways to find a good contractor; referrals from friends, NARI.org or NKBA.com).  You and the contractor work together as a team to develop a project which fits your needs as well as your budget. This is a simple explanation of the negotiated bid process. You&#8217;ll probably require a bit more information before being sold on the concept but before we move on let me draw your attention to a few key words which need to be understood in context: trust and team.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>This is a different relationship than most people have with a contractor.  The contractor is a valued member of the team. He gives his input during the design process and based on his knowledge of construction and what really happens on construction sites he contributes valuable information to tweak the design in order to maintain the budget. It is a powerful collaborative effort.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>During this process you will become more educated about the impact of each decision you make and how they affect the overall cost of the project. You will be pushed to think through details and make decisions early in the process. This is one of the best ways to control the dreaded &#8220;budget creep&#8221;!</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>Additionally the contractor will be able to let you know what alternatives are available and how they can affect both cost and design. For example, suppose you want to add French doors and add a deck outside your kitchen. The initial design idea shows a door which will have to be custom made, with transom windows above. The contractor&#8217;s preliminary estimate on the deck and door work is more than your budget. However, by collaborating with the contractor it is determined that a simpler stock French door unit will significantly lower costs. As you can see, the contractor is working with you to create a project that call be built within your budget but still satisfy your desires.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>Another significant point to consider is that you and the contractor will have developed a good working relationship. All too often in a competitive bid environment the potential exists for a design professional to be aligned with the owner against the contractor in an adversarial relationship. If all parties involved are working together this is less likely to happen.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>It must be made clear that the contractor is most likely not going to give you his time and advice for free. Remember that he is bringing you a wealth of knowledge that may save you a substantial amount of money and aggravation. You should understand that during this pre-construction planning you will be charged for the time that your contractor spends. Some contractors request that they be paid an hourly rate for the planning work they do; others might request payment only if, for some reason, they don&#8217;t end up doing the job. In any case, this usually runs between 4 percent to 8 percent of the overall cost of the job, depending on the size of the project. This is well worth the investment as the contractor&#8217;s input before construction might save you thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>Should you put your project out to bid? Or should you find a contractor whom you can work with to negotiate the project? If you are concerned with overall value, the quality of the construction process, as well as the quality of the work itself, and you want few I surprises, I strongly suggest you negotiate the bid.</p>
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<p>Gary Belk has been designing and renovating residential property in California, Hawaii, Texas, Maryland, Central America and the Caribbean for over 20 years. He is also owner of Winans Construction in Oakland, California a design/build firm founded in 1978. <a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.winconinc.com/"></a><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.winconinc.com">http://www.winconinc.com</a></p>
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		<title>How to Cut Your Home Remodeling Cost in Half</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:09:39 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Cutting down on your home remodeling cost really isn&#8217;t difficult. All that&#8217;s needed is some innovation. Let&#8217;s talk about cutting down the costs while refurbishing your home.
&#13;
First of all, what sort of style are you looking into? You might be more into classical design. On the other hand, you might be more into modern design. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Cutting down on your home remodeling cost really isn&#8217;t difficult. All that&#8217;s needed is some innovation. Let&#8217;s talk about cutting down the costs while refurbishing your home.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>First of all, what sort of style are you looking into? You might be more into classical design. On the other hand, you might be more into modern design. Think about the mood or ambience you want to set up.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>An inexpensive way to liven up your interiors is by changing your walls. You may either paint the walls or add wallpaper. To complete the look, all you have to do is replace your old lighting fixtures. Even if you remodel just the living area, this would create a huge impact to your whole house. This is where you sit your guests and spend most of your time in, so it&#8217;s worth making a change without the large home remodeling cost.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>The kitchen is also a busy place. In the modern day, we don&#8217;t just use the kitchen for cooking. It is also an area for entertainment. Consider extending your kitchen to the living area. Install additional kitchen storage to get rid of the clutter.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>When refurbishing your kitchen, think about your health, food and lifestyle. Think about the space you&#8217;ll require for food preparations and cooking. Think of ways to make cleaning your kitchen less tedious. And lastly, choose a style that best suits your taste. There are so many designs you can set up at a reduced home remodeling cost.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>Now let&#8217;s focus on the details. You can begin refurbishing with accessories and appliances. Consider replacing old cabinetry with built-in shelving. This is relatively much cheaper than purchasing a brand new set of furniture. Plus, you get to have a unique statement while cutting your home remodeling cost in half.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>For your kitchen, you can start with appliances, then work around them. Appliances are so easy to replace. Just be creative in choosing their design and color. You can then replace your faucet set or those old cabinet door handles to match the whole surrounding.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t neglect your private space. You can easily set up new sinks and toilets, which can already change the whole look for your bathroom. If your floors are discolored, take them off and place new ones. There are lots of inexpensive tiles because there are now more materials available.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>If you have carpeting in your bedroom, think about revamping it. You can simply hire a cleaning service to take away those unattractive stains, and this doesn&#8217;t cost too much. If your carpet is very worn out, you may simply cover some areas with new area rugs.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>Refurbishing your entire house will mean dealing with a large home remodeling cost. To avoid the high costs, add a new border around your entrance door or windows for a fresh design. Don&#8217;t forget your lawn and work on the grass, add garden structures or try landscaping.</p>
<p>&#13;</p>
<p>You should begin by studying your total home remodeling cost. Factor in building permit fees, home improvement loans and material labor, furniture and appliance expenses. For free estimates and ideas in evaluating your home remodeling cost, there&#8217;s lots of useful sources in the World Wide Web.</p>
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<p>Find out regarding <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.homeremodelingnow.com/">home remodeling cost</a>. Begin your <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.homeremodelingnow.com/kitchen-remodeling.html">home remodeling now</a>! </p>
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