Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor in Fairfax County

The following information is from the "Informed Consumer" Summer 2011 Newsletter, Consumer Affairs Branch of the Fairfax County Department of Consumer Services.  This newsletter comes out quarterly, you can sign up for at the Consumer Services website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer/

 

 

The Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Branch offers a variety of educational seminars to consumers of Fairfax County.  One of the more popular seminars is the Home Improvement Seminar.  The Home Improvement Seminar discusses the steps to take before hiring a home improvement contractor, work that requires a Fairfax County building permit, information that should be included within

the contract, tips on how to manage the project, and items to review before making the final payment. 

The presentation reviews the Home Solicitation Sales Act and the ―Buyer’s Right to Cancel clause that must be included in all contracts that are signed in your home.  It also discusses your rights under the Contractor Fraud law. 

Our office is available to conduct a presentation for your community, please feel free to contact us at 703-222-8435.  Once you’ve become educated about the contractor laws and selection process, try to coordinate a meeting with your common interest community association’s board or architectural committee to review your proposed project.  Are you required to submit a request for approval of the project?  Are there certain restrictions on material choice or color that you must communicate to your contractor?  

One final step in the process, is to contact the Fairfax County Permit Application Center to confirm whether or not your contractor is required to obtain any permits.  It’s important to have that confirmed prior to beginning work on your home.

The Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Branch does offer mediation services regarding consumer-contractor disputes that may arise.  If you find yourself in such a situation, please feel free to contact our office at 703-222-8435 or file an online complaint.  You can also contact our office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to speak with an Investigator of the Day regarding any general inquiries related to home improvement contractors.

Virginia is For Lovers :: Follow Your Heart Sweepstakes

Virginia is For Lovers :: Follow Your Heart Sweepstakes

Hurry!!  Sweepstakes ends August 25, 2011.  Click on the above link to enter.

Follow Your Heart to Virginia and Win One of Ten Free Vacations
Grand Prize Winner Will Build a Dream Trip to Virginia

Enter the Follow Your Heart to Virginia Sweepstakes – a statewide vacation giveaway featuring nine first-prize trips and one grand prize that allows the winner to build his or her dream vacation. Each trip puts love front and center with amusement parks, wineries, museums and special experiences to ensure loved ones feel completely connected on a Virginia vacation.

One grand prize winner will create a dream vacation by choosing components of any of the first-place prizes for a vacation. The grand prize trip is good for two to four people and for two to five nights, based on winner’s choice.

See the official rules and prize descriptions.

What You Must Know About Home Appraisals

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  What You Must Know About Home Appraisals

  Understanding how appraisals work will help you achieve a quick and profitable refinance or sale. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

What You Must Know About Home Appraisals

Article From BuyAndSell.HouseLogic.com

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: March 12, 2010

Understanding how appraisals work will help you achieve a quick and profitable refinance or sale.

1. An appraisal isn’t an exact science

When appraisers evaluate a home’s value, they’re giving their best opinion based on how the home’s features stack up against those of similar homes recently sold nearby. One appraiser may factor in a recent sale, but another may consider that sale too long ago, or the home too different, or too far away to be a fair comparison. The result can be differences in the values two separate appraisers set for your home.

2. Appraisals have different purposes

If the appraisal is being used by a lender giving a loan on the home, the appraised value will be the lower of market value (what it would sell for on the open market today) and the price you paid for the house if you recently bought it.

An appraisal being used to figure out how much to insure your home for or to determine your property taxes may rely on other factors and arrive at different values. For example, though an appraisal for a home loan evaluates today’s market value, an appraisal for insurance purposes calculates what it would cost to rebuild your home at today’s building material and labor rates, which can result in two different numbers.

Appraisals are also different from CMAs, or competitive market analyses. In a CMA, a real estate agent relies on market expertise to estimate how much your home will sell for in a specific time period. The price your home will sell for in 30 days may be different than the price your home will sell for in 120 days. Because real estate agents don’t follow the rules appraisers do, there can be variations between CMAs and appraisals on the same home.

3. An appraisal is a snapshot

Home prices shift, and appraised values will shift with those market changes. Your home may be appraised at $150,000 today, but in two months when you refinance or list it for sale, the appraised value could be lower or higher depending on how your market has performed.

4. Appraisals don’t factor in your personal issues

You may have a reason you must sell immediately, such as a job loss or transfer, which can affect the amount of money you’ll accept to complete the transaction in your time frame. An appraisal doesn’t consider those personal factors.

5. You can ask for a second opinion

If your home appraisal comes back at a value you believe is too low, you can request that a second appraisal be performed by a different appraiser. You, or potential buyers, if they’ve requested the appraisal, will have to pay for the second appraisal. But it may be worth it to keep the sale from collapsing from a faulty appraisal. On the other hand, the appraisal may be accurate, and it may be a sign that you need to adjust your pricing or the size of the loan you’re refinancing.

More from HouseLogic

How to use an appraisal to eliminate private mortgage insurance 

Understanding the assessed value of your home for tax purposes 

Understanding the amount at which to insure your home

Other web resources

More information on appraisals 

How to improve the appraised value of your home 

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who’s had more than 10 appraisals performed on her properties in the past 20 years. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.

Tips for Backyard Playground Safety

Let's Play! -- 7 Tips for Backyard Playground Safety

1. Plan Ahead

One of the best ways to stay safe is to start with some careful planning. Think about the space where you'll place the play equipment, your child's age, even where the sun will be shining. An article on the naturalhandyman.com suggests, "Make sure toddler swing sets are at least 2 feet above ground (so kids can't use it on their own), at least 6 feet away from any building or fences, and in a shaded area, so that surfaces won't get too hot to the touch."

2. Avoid Pressure Treated Wood

Never construct or buy playground equipment made with pressure-treated wood containing chromated copper arsenate, also known as CCA. You'll know pressure treated wood by its greenish tint. There are other chemicals that can be used to treat wood, but they are still rare and more expensive, so CCA has been the principal chemical used to pressure treat wood. Good alternatives include untreated woods like cedar or redwood, and non-wood alternatives such as plastics, metal, and composite materials (like Trex).

3. Inspect Your Equipment

Always check the play equipment for any sharp points or edges (screws that stick out, splinters, rough wood, etc.). Check the equipment often as its condition can change. Make sure equipment is firmly anchored in the ground.

4. Bigger Is Not Always Better

While we may be dreaming of a large play-scape to really wow our kids, remember the higher the equipment the harder the fall. Research shows equipment taller than 6 feet doubles the possibility of injury. 

5. Avoid Dangerous Sand

Not all play sand is safe. In fact, the soft, fine sand that is marketed as "play sand," is one some say we should avoid. According to safemama.com play sand is sometimes made of crushed rock instead of beach or river sand. This crushed rock or crystalline silica is a known carcinogen according to the EPA and OSHA. Some brands of sand even contain asbestos tremloite which can put you and kids at risk of lung cancer. Avoid play sand that creates airborne dust that can be easily breathed by kids. Read up on Sandtasktic or SafeSand as possible alternatives, as those brands are silica and quartz-free.

6. Create a Cushion

Falls account for nearly 80 percent of playground injuries. Be sure to use proper ground cover for under play equipment to prevent this. Ground cover includes sand, pea gravel, rubber, or wood chips. Donna Thompson, Ph.D., and Director of the National Program for Playground Safety, recommends that the cushion be a minimum of 12 inches deep in order to be effective. ÒMany people use the right materials, but not enough to truly cushion a fall,Ó she says.

7. Practice Basic Safety

Children under 3 should be in toddler swings with support on all sides and safety straps and children under 6 should never play unattended. Those older than 6 should be checked on frequently.

Playground Rules To Teach Your Children

- Never stand or kneel in the swing, and hold tightly with both hands.
- Always stop swinging before getting off the swing.
- Only one person should be in one swing at a time.
- Do not push anyone else in the swing or let others push you (that's a job for grown-ups).
- Don't swing empty swings, and never twist swing chains.

Courtesy of: www.usinspect.com

7 Hot Home Improvement Trends That Make Your Home Work For You

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  7 Hot Home Improvement Trends that Make Your Home Work for You

  Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Getting The Most Out of Your Home Inspection

A home inspection is a buyer’s chance to get fully acquainted with their prospective home. It’s a priceless opportunity to get answers and information to make informed decisions. So how exactly can buyers get the MOST out of that experience? Here are some tips about how:

Be There
The absolute number one way to get the most out of your inspection, is to be there and be an active participant. In addition to inspecting the home, the inspector will educate you about the house, encourage your questions, and show you the locations of major systems and components (i.e. water meter location and important shut off valves, etc.) This is an important opportunity for you to receive a wealth of information and a detailed orientation to the home.

Dress for Success
Remember to dress for the occasion. Attend your inspection in comfortable clothes and accompany your home inspector throughout the inspection. Closed-toed shoes and long pants are recommended. Dress appropriately for rain or cold as well. Expect a few cobwebs and dusty shoes and don't shy away from the opportunity to see basements or attics first-hand with your inspector. Whenever you safely can, tag along.

Make the Time
Expect your inspection to take some time, between 2 and 3 hours. Don’t schedule the inspection when you have to rush to another appointment or when you are otherwise distracted.

Assure Accessibility
If the property is vacant or a foreclosure, etc. be sure to meet with your real estate agent and do whatever it takes to make sure all areas of the home will be accessible to your inspector and all utilities will be on.

Take Notes & Ask Questions
It’s a great idea to take notes during your inspection. Prepare a loose leaf binder ahead of time with a blank sheet of paper for each system or area of the home. Write your questions down in the appropriate sections ahead of time so that they can be answered at the appropriate time during the inspection. This way, all your notes, questions and answers will stay organized.

Limit Extra Guests
There are many occasions when you may wish to bring others along on your inspection—for an extra set of eyes, or someone whom you trust to help you ask questions or understand the inspection information. But limit any guests that might distract you from the inspection or tempt you to discuss aesthetic topics that are better left for later.

Schedule A Babysitter
Speaking of “guests,” if at all possible, leave your children with a sitter or arrange for another adult to come along to watch them so that you can give the inspection your full attention. 

Leave the Pictures to the Inspector
It’s not a great idea to bring  camera/ video camera along to the inspection. Though this may sound counter-intuitive, when you are stuck behind a lens, your attention is not fully on the inspection. You can also become easily tempted to begin taking pictures of items for other purposes, like decorating or space planning. Leave the pictures to the inspector who will snap shots of various areas during the inspection.

Consider Optional Inspections or Testing
Getting the most out of your inspection may mean getting some additional inspections or tests performed that same day. Consider radon testing or pest inspections and get them done all at the same time.

Know the Questions 
Your Inspection Should Answer

• Is the house structurally sound, safe, and a healthy place to live?
• What is the age and current general condition of the roof?
• Do I know pertinent info about the attic and crawlspace? (Insulation coverage and thickness, or water penetration issues).
• Are the heating and cooling systems operating as designed?
• Are all plumbing fixtures working and free of leaks?
• Do I know the location of the main water shutoff?
• What is the location and condition of the electrical service and associated panels, including breaker status?
• Does the seller have maintenance records they are willing to release?
• Are the kitchen appliances performing as expected, including operating lights?
• Should I be concerned about environmental issues, i.e. asbestos, mold, radon, or termites?

Courtesy Of: www.usinspect.com

Fence Etiquette: Tips to Avoid Neighbor Disputes

Fence Etiquette: Tips to Avoid Neighbor Disputes

Article From HouseLogic.com By: Ann Cochran
Published: March 23, 2011

If you practice fence etiquette and bone up on local zoning regs, you can avoid neighbor disputes.

Avoid fence disputes by practicing fence etiquette--a good neighbor policy. If you follow zoning regulations and share basics with neighbors before construction, you can install a new fence (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/fencing-guide-options/) AND stay on good terms with the folks next door.

Must-dos

Observe boundaries: Don't risk having to tear down that fence by going even one inch over your property line. Study your house line drawing or plat (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/property-lines-101-speak-same-language-during-dispute/) or order a new survey ($500 to $1,000) from a land surveyor to be sure of boundaries. Fence companies usually install a foot inside the line, to be on the safe side.

Respect limits: Fencing companies obtain permits and must know local zoning regulations for height, setbacks, and other restrictions. Height limits typically are 6 feet for side and back yards; 4 feet for front yards. More restrictive rules often apply to corner lots, where blind curves can limit driving visibility. To avoid disputes, review restrictions with your fence company before choosing a fence.

Follow HOA rules: Fencing companies are not responsible for knowing home owners association dos and don'ts; that's your job. Unless you want to suffer committee wrath, and engage in a dispute, follow HOA guidelines (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/hoas-what-you-need-to-know-about-rules/). HOAs can dictate style, height, and maintenance. If your HOA wants all structures to match, you won't have much wiggle room.

Nice-to-dos

Share your plans: No one likes surprises. Before installing, save yourself a fence dispute and have a conversation with neighbors. If property line issues (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/property-line-disputes-peaceful-ways-settle-boundary-issues/) exist, resolve them before installation. No need to show neighbors the design--that's just inviting trouble. They have to live with your choice unless it lowers property values or is dangerous.

Put the best face outward: It's common practice to put the more finished side of your fence facing the street and your neighbor's yard.

Maintain and improve: It's your responsibility to clean and maintain both sides. If an aging section starts to lean, shore it or replace it.

Good-to-knows

          •The term "fence" includes trees or hedges that create barriers (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/add-living-privacy-screen-your-small-home/).

          •If you have a valid reason for wanting an extra high structure, to block a nasty view or noisy street, apply to your zoning board for a variance. Neighbors can comment on your request during the variance hearing.

          •If your neighbors are damaging your fence, take photos and try to work it out with them first. If they don't agree to repair it, take your fence dispute to small claims court. Award limits vary by state: $1,500 in Kentucky to $15,000 in Tennessee.

Ann Cochran has written about home improvement and design trends for Washingtonian, Home Improvement and Bethesda Magazine.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.