Tongue and Groove

Happy Summer

2009-07-12T10:12:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I posted anything. I think I beat the HRTC topic to death, lol...

So far things are going great for us this summer. We've had the opportunity to work for some fantastic folks!

I'll try to update the site soon with some new pics, (not that you were holding your breath for such a thing). We've built a couple of great rooftop decks and some sweet looking Ipe porches. Actually we're just finishing one over top of an existing concrete floor - quite the transformation.

When I get a chance, (ie: rainy day), I try to post some thoughts on how the harmonization of the GST and PST will drive the renovation business further into the underground economy - exactly the opposite of what the HRTC was, (partially) implemented to do.

Will the HRTC help the unemployed constuction worker as much as hoped?

2009-03-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

I'm not so sure.

See, the HRTC is meant to stimulate spending on renovations and remodels. And most of the construction workers who have lost their jobs, (over 40,000 of them in February), are new home builders. New homes are built from the ground up with blue prints and repetitive steps. Everything is as correct as you make it to be.

Remodeling, or renovating, despite best laid plans, is anything but a regimented and repetitive process. We are modifying structures that have settled, been built 100 years ago, have undergone previous "surgeries", etc...

Being an assembly line worker at GM doesn't qualify you to be a mechanic.

And even if someone does have the variety of skills to do the work, they probably have never run a business before. Or built a website, sold a job, written an estimate, had to carry liability insurance... So starting a shop and making it profitable could be difficult to do before the HRTC runs out less than a year from now.

Not trying to be negative, it's just a thought I'm sharing.

Eligible Home Renovation Tax Credits?

2009-02-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

There are certainly some grey areas with regards to what's allowable for an HRTC.

Truth is, the term "home renovation" encompasses such a massive scope of possibilities that it would take an army of evaluators to certify each and every job. It's not nearly as simple, and defined as getting an energy credit; whereby your home efficiency is evaluated pre and post energy improvement with a standard set of electronic measuring procedures.

One the largest areas of confusion comes from trying to separate what is "Maintenance", and what is "Renovation".

Fixing a leaky faucet is maintenance, so no credit there. Installing a new faucet, instead of fixing the old one, is a renovation, so in this case the credit applies, (and while I don't think you are going to fork over $10,000 for a new faucet, the items do add up).

How much of my roof needs to be repaired before it's a viable home improvement?

If I replace the rotten boards on your front porch is that maintenance, or...?

Here's my take. I think at the core, this program is designed to stimulate spending - To help out homeowners who were planning on doing some renos, and to put some money in the pockets of tradespeople who are being hit hard by declines in the housing industry.

I would be willing to bet the government will err on the side of allowing more credits than they decline.

I'll try to make some calls to my local officials and see if I can find out more for you.

How to be a blogging contractor.

2009-02-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

Someone at this contractor forum posted a question about blogging.

These were my whopping two cents:

Blogs are good.

Tips? Don't talk about yourself to much. Really. Don't try to sell yourself or your services. You've got to give info away for free sometimes in order to gain trust.

Blogs are not ads.
Websites are ads.
People form an opinion of you when they read your blog.
People hire people they like.
Nobody likes people who only talk about themselves.

One of the most sought after opinion-meisters of the blogosphere is Seth Godin. Here are his 57 tips...read them all and use the ones that apply to you.

[URL="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/06/how_to_get_traf.html"]http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/06/how_to_get_traf.html[/URL]

So there, I just made a blog post about blogging.

Will contractors inflate prices because of the HRTC

2009-02-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

I've read a few post from homeowners on the internet worried about contractors artificially inflating prices to take advantage of the Home Renovation Tax Credit.

I just don't think that's going to happen. Not with this economy. Or in any economy for that matter. Most reputable contractors have set calculations for markup and profit. The good ones don't just pull a number out of thin air and tack another 15% to it.

And another thing, it's still a level playing field. We would all have to collude in order cheat the rules to make it work.

Listen, I would call bs on a contractor that gives you a $500 off coupon, (and builds it into his price) long before I would call someone out on jacking up prices because of the HRTC. But if you think you are dealing with the type of person who would indeed do that, then obviously you are seeing some red flags, which means your first priority should be finding another contractor because bigger problems lie ahead.