In talking with my siding subcontractor Ed Lacey, I was trying to describe what my client wanted in the way of siding upgrades to his investment property. "It's simple", Ed said, "Just like everyone else, they want as much as they can get, for as little as possible."...
The budget is a fickle thing; rarely in my experience is there a client for whom cost is no object. In this article I liken the remodeling process to a river raft trip. There is a point at which clients lead themselves to second guess themselves. During a project it...
Every year at this time Remodeling Magazine issues the Cost Vs Value report so that we may see the value of the remodeling projects we are creating in relation to the value you get for your investment. Here at Levco we are excited to see it and read the conclusions...
I was shocked to see the banner at a bank the other day encouraging folks to borrow again. It says that they are looking to loan money. The several year dark shadow of an austerity program and close federal scrutiny has lifted a bit. Seeing the banner, combined with...
I saw a commercial last night on TV. "You could have your bathroom remodeled by a national franchise for as little as $125/month." Sounds too good to be true don't you think? This is their big pitch year in and year out. I love to solve my client's problems. How the...
I have read and been coached for years that a professional remodeler does not give a cost breakdown. The problem remains that I firmly believe that it is intuitive for a client to want one. Perhaps there is a client type that doesn't care about price, I have not met...
North End Historic Basement & Master Suite AdditionThe Challenge The Owners had a new son and no Master Suite. They already had a basement but the home was just too small.The Idea The home built in 1943 it was in the North End Historic District and contributing....
Basement wet bar from a storage areaThe Challenge Our client had a walkout basement room that was used for relaxing and entertainment. There was a TV and a couch plus a pool table. They used a vintage cabinet to hold liquor, but the idea of a wet bar in the room was...
Basement Finished in StyleThe Challenge The basement of this home had a chronic water problem. A previous contractor had done a wimpy repair and another contractor was planning to dig a trench around the room to add a pump system to allow water that came in to be...
Basement Bathroom AdditionThe Challenge This was a basement storage area under the stairs and a perfect place to add a bathroom. determine what was under the floor. Finding a way to get the sewage out. It was a tight space and an enclosure would make it feel...