Being thankful

I realize it is not Thanksgiving but, as I was thinking about what remodeling related tid-bit I should share I found my thoughts drifting to the many things that are going well in Blackdog. We are in a point in time where we have a bunch of great clients who are fun to work with and who seem to get what we aspire to be about(it is an ongoing evolution). We also have been able to create a great team here. All our people from our Talented designers to our skilled field/production team to our ever vigilant administrative team are pros in there area of expertise. They work hard to deliver a great experience and do it in a way we can all take pride.

The reason I wanted to share this is because at Blackdog, not unlike most companies, we tend to get bogged down in the things that don't go well. The window that was mis-ordered or the counter that cracked during installation takes up a lot more space in our heads than the 50 windows that came in right and 15 counters that looked fantastic and went in on time. Such is the price of caring and wanting to always be better at what we do. It is a price we pay willingly but, it is also important to be able to take a step back and be thankful for those clients who entrust us with their homes and those team members who deliver on our promises.

THANK YOU

A cool new resource for remodeling clients

One of the many challenges in remodeling is for your designer to understand your aesthetic. To say, "I like traditional" or "I really don't like country" begins to narrow down what might work but, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. 

For years and years we have told clients to find "shelter magazines" - you know all the magazine about different aspects of homes - and tear out images that appeal to them. Maybe one image is the knob you simply have to have on your cabinets or another image is the perfect window for your new family room. Regardless of the specifics, creating a resource like this is a huge help when it comes to helping your designer understand what you like. Our old process involved a fair amount of paper and time going through stacks of magazines to try to get a good representation of what you really like. As you might guess, today's solution is a great web based tool we have been recommending to our clients call Houzz. This is a great site that allows a user to create a free account and then scan thousands of image all organized by style and project type. You can then tag images to be stored in your folder along with your notes about what appeals to you in that photo. This tool can really help in the initial communication process with your designer. Try it out and let us know if you like it.

Color is Free!

White, white, white. Why is it that people always default to white walls? My mother, an unabashed lover of all things colorful, and as an accomplished interior decorator, used to call this choice "chicken white". Buk, buk, Bawuuuuk!
Now, I admit, there are times when white is a specific design choice... perhaps a minimalist look is required. But more often than not, clients aren't ready to make a choice and say to themselves, "Just paint it white, we'll go back and paint it a different color later." Yet the later never comes and they live with white (or, if they're really feeling crazy, Navajo White!!) for the next twenty years.
But color, in paint at least, costs no more than white, so you owe it to yourself to take a risk and throw a bit of your personality on the walls! Be daring and spice up your space with a color that speaks to you.

Mom or Dad coming to live with you !

The fasted growing segment of our population is people who are over age 65. One of the growing trends we have noticed in our market is an interest in In-Law apartments. Many reasons exist that make In-Law additions a viable and desirable option for families looking to ensure that an aging parent has a safe and comfortable place to to live in their older years. Additionally, having a multi-generational family under one roof  can bring a quality of life that can't be achieved in other ways.

When considering an In-Law space there are a number of factors that come into the decision making process. One of the first is financing. Often the parent is selling their primary residence and using part of the proceeds to create a new space. In some cases it can be a joint venture between the parents and children where the children may also take advantage of the construction to make some improvements to the existing home.

After financing is determined it is time to think design. There are a number of issues associated with designing an In-Law apartment and most of them deal with size. The first place to start is the zoning by-laws of the town you live in. Most towns have specific zoning to address In-law apartments (although not all towns call it the same thing). Most towns put size limits in terms of sqft. of the addition or space within the home. Additionally, many towns have language that ensures that an addition does not detract from the character and style of the house. Many towns also have a license or permit process that allows an In-Law addition to be used in that capacity, by a family member only, for a certain period of time and it must be renewed. The real key here is that towns do not want people building money making apartments on the side of the house which means that when the space is no longer being used by a family member then the kitchen must be removed and the space can be re-purposed. Because of issues like this it is important to have a future plan for the space within your home when it is no longer needed by a parent. In those towns where size limits are enforced design is even more crucial because you may have to design a space within 650sqft and in that space you need fit a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room and a couple of closets. While this is achievable, in many cases it is a substantial reduction is size from what a parent might be used to and at the same time a reasonably sized addition that must be sensitive to the existing house style so that the addition adds value in the long run.

Utilities are another important consideration both at the time of design/construction but also on an ongoing basis. In many cases parents are concerned about paying their fair share for heat and electricity. In order for that to happen it often means separate meters. This will drive up costs and is not permitted in some towns. We suggest that parents and kids work out a reasonable contribution to be made on a monthly basis that will cover additional utility expense as well as any tax increase the addition has created.

Among some of the other key considerations for an In-Law addition are planning for infirmity. While Mom or Dad may not need it now, there may be a time that grab bars and accessible features like a ramp will be welcome. This is not a big deal, especially if it is something that is discussed in the planning stage. Access between the addition and home is also important. Most parents moving into an In-Law apartment want to be with the family but also want independence which means considering where the connection(required by many towns)should be such that it creates access but affords privacy for everyone.

When done right an In-Law addition can be a great way for families to address the needs associated with aging parents. Open communication and good planning can make it fun, exciting and rewarding. We at Blackdog have a long history of expanding homes to meet changing needs and would love to work with your family.

Save yourself from a contractor from Hell!

Here at Blackdog we have always been about improving our industry. Did you know that in the remodeling industry, on average, only 52% of the people who hire someone to remodel their home are happy with the experience? We think this is crazy but, it is a reality. The real key to improving this situation is education so Blackdog has responded by creating free consumer seminars to help people learn the best practices that will lead not only to a great finished product but also a great experience. We are offering two seminars in January on the 18th and 19th. To find our more information or register to attend visit www.blackdogbuilders.com.

House Talk in 980AM WCAP

While we don't make the money that Matty in Morning makes we do have a fun little radio show called HOUSE TALK that we would love to have you listen to. Dave Bryan CRG,CAPS, often with Brenda Bryan CKD or another industry related guests opens the phone lines every Friday from 11am-12pm to answer questions or present information all about your home. If it is a maintenance question or a design dilemma or thoughts on future topics we can't wait to hear from you. All home related topics are fair game and we rarely get stumped! You can call in during the show @ 978 454-4980 or email us @ dbryan@blackdogbuilders.com. If you can't listen on Fridays we get rebroadcast on Sundays from 11am - 12pm so you can tune in then. We keep it fun and informative so if you have a home with an issue give us a try.

Is solar electric for you?

The quick answer to this question is based on the answer to two simple questions.

Question 1: Do you live in Massachusetts ?

Question 2: Do you have a large portion of your roof that faces South or at least mostly South? 

If you answered yes to both of these questions then the odds are very good that Solar is for you. There are incredible rebate opportunities that exist in MA and if you want to invest in something that has a 16% return on the investment and can actually pay you every month then looking into Solar may be for you. 

Many people have the mistaken belief that Solar electricity only works in parts of the US that are much farther West or South of New England. This is simply not true. Very viable solar installations can be installed right here right now. 

Contact Dave Bryan @ dbryan@blackdogbuilders.com for more info.