We’ve just launched a new blog site for homeowners and homebuyers wanting to know more about the remodeling process. You will find it by follow the Dallas Remodeling Blog link.
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Scott Stevens, head of marketing for Quality Craftsman Inc and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, says while some new home inventories may be shrinking, there is a new trend and viable option in either purchasing a renovated house or even updating a person’s current home Stevens specializes in assisting clients through the process of acquiring these older homes and updating them with the stylings and features typically found only in new home communities. He has partnered with award-winning Dallas custom home builder Quality Craftsman Inc, which is owned and operated by his brother Tim Stevens, to provide their clients with one source for acquiring and renovating their “new” dream home. With 25-plus years experience in custom remodeling and new home construction, Quality Craftsman, Inc has the expertise to advise on all aspects of the construction process, including financing, site selection and acquisition, design, budgeting and construction specifications and critical path timeline management. To give customers and potential clients a sense of how the project will progress, Quality Craftsman Inc has uploaded “Before” and “After” videos of its latest project, which recently won NARI’s (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) Regional Contractor of the Year award for Best Complete Home Renovation Under $250,000, on YouTube. Some of the amenities incorporated into this property include raised ceilings, marble and hardwood floors, granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, skip-trowel texture, stainless steel appliances, custom trim and cabinetry, a new garage and family room/media room. Insulated doors, energy-efficient windows and an on-demand tankless water heater are sure to keep utility costs down all year long. For more information or to view additional photos of their work visit www.qualitycraftsmaninc.net. About Quality Craftsman Inc Quality Craftsman Inc is a Dallas custom home builder specializing in custom remodeling and residential renovations. With 25-plus years experience, Quality Craftsman Inc assists its clients in realizing the “dream home” potential of existing homes in established neighborhoods by incorporating up-to-date stylings and features typically found only in new home communities. This article was originally posted on PR Log.
4 Bedroom/3.5 Bath/3 Living Area $725,000 MLS#11202617 Located on a .42 acre lot in the very desirable North Dallas neighborhood of Northwood Hills and completely updated with all the amenities you’ve come to expect in a Quality Craftsman Inc custom remodeling project, this 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home could be your refuge in the city! Everything about this home is warm and inviting…from the hardwood floors and the knotty alderwood custom cabinetry to the tree-shaded slab limestone patio overlooking the pool area, which has been re-plastered and accented with matching slab limestone trim. Updates include: raised ceilings, marble and hardwood floors, granite tops in the kitchen and bathrooms, skip-trowel texture, stainless steel appliances, custom trim and cabinetry. Insulated doors, energy-efficient windows and an on-demand tankless water heater will help keep utility costs down all year long. Read more…
Established in the late 1950’s, Northwood Hills has become one of the most popular neighborhoods in Far North Dallas for its winding streets, larger lot sizes, mature trees and sense of community. This unique enclave of 1125 homes has always attracted mid to top level executive families because of its convenient location to all parts of Dallas and its proximity to award-winning school systems, both public and private. To find out more about what makes Northwood Hills a special place to live, visit these other local web locations: A Personal History of Northwood Hills as told by two of its original neighbors, Stewart and Marion Mitchell. Northwood Hills Homeowners Association is a voluntary association focused on neighborhood security, beautification, social event planning and several other neighborhood initiatives. Northwood Hills Properties for Sale Follow this link and click on “Subdivision” and enter “Northwood Hills”, then enter your search criteria to see all of the properties currently for sale. Quality Craftsman Inc is a general contractor specializing in custom remodeling and complete residential renovations in the North Dallas area. With more than 25 years experience in custom remodeling and new home construction, Quality Craftsman Inc can assist you in discovering the “dream home” potential in your home by incorporating up-to-date stylings and features normally found only in new home communities. To view some of their work, go to: www.qualitycraftsmaninc.net “Tim Stevens did an awesome job on our house. He added a bonus room above the garage and it is perfect. We still use him today for any extras we need done to the house. I would highly recommend Tim and his crew—they are good guys.” Courtney Burns To view what other people are saying about their experience with Quality Craftsman Inc, go to: Testimonials Having been in the remodeling and renovation business for a number of years now, we have been asked, on more than one occasion, to step in and finish a job that was left undone by a previous contractor. This scenario obviously adds additional stress and expense to your remodeling project. Here are a few thoughts on finding and evaluating contractors to make sure this does not happen to you. Referrals
First and foremost, use your social network of friends, neighbors and colleagues to find out who they used and if they were pleased with the results. A happy customer is a contractor’s greatest asset!
Is the contractor licensed by the state and the local municipality where the work is to be done? Most problems with contractors can be avoided simply by checking out the contractor’s credentials to make sure that you’re hiring a reputable and professional contractor. Check with your local building and zoning department to find out their licensing requirements for your area. Most municipalities require their contractors to be licensed in order to take out permits on building and remodeling projects. If the contractor is not licensed, then it is a pretty safe bet that they are probably not going to permit the project, meaning they will probably cut corners by not adhering to local building codes. Building codes are there for your protection. This should be a major red flag. How long has the contractor been in business and can references be provided upon request?
Check with the Better Business Bureau or licensing agency to see if any complaints have been filed against the contractor and secure the contact information on at least three references of past clients whose projects were similar in scale to yours. A few questions to ask might be: Were you satisfied with the remodeling project? Was it completed on time? Would you use this contractor again? Is the contractor providing drawings, specifications and engineering all in a fixed price contract?
Most contractors prefer to use the “Cost-Plus” method of bidding a job…either “cost + a percentage” or “cost + a management fee”. Why? Two reasons: 1) They have not bothered to ask enough questions to completely understand what the client is wanting to accomplish in order to offer cost-effective solutions, and/or 2) They do not have a good handle on their costs, which means you get to pay for their inefficiencies. They get paid whether the job comes in on budget or not. What incentive do they have to keep costs in line? From the consumer’s perspective, the fixed-price contract, complete with time-lines, drawings and specifications, is the only way to go. |
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