DIY - With a Little Help From Your Friends

You’re tired of walking into the same old bath, turning on the same dripping faucet, and looking at the same dirty tile. You’ve hit bottom.

“I work hard every day. I’ve saved my money, and I deserve a nice bathroom,” you say to yourself. But after looking into some pricing, watching HGTV and the DIY channel, you realize you haven’t got quite enough dough - unless you roll up your sleeves and do at least some of it yourself. So you search the internet, you ask your sister’s boyfriend’s cousin, and you ask a couple guys at the local big box store tell you how to do it. But, nobody (other than YOU) actually knows what YOU want, what YOUR bathroom consists of, and how YOU live your life.

Guess what? We are here to help those who want to help themselves. We offer DIY packages that will get you started, get you through, and get you finished. From consultation-only to hands-on training…We want you to Love the Place you Live! And we’ll help you get there.

Every Little Bit

This sunshine is phenominal. But don't be fooled ... cooler air will be moving back in before too long, and you should be prepared.

Weatherizing your home now, before the arctic air takes hold, will keep you cozy and comfortable all winter. And, if you take advantage of Avista's Energy Efficient Incentives, you'll save money, too! To qualify, you have to be an Avista customer, and specific products must be used -- but they're products typically found at your favorite home improvement store. You'll also need proof of purchase, including your receipt and invoice.

We always make sure to shop for Energy Star-rated and other qualifying energy-efficient products. It's good for your home, good for the Earth, and if you take advantage of these incentives, good for the bottom line!

Click here to see Avista's Energy Savings Tips & Ideas page.

Click here to visit Avista's Energy Efficient Rebate page for Washington & Idaho.

Click here to access Avista's Home Improvement Incentive form.

And, as always, let us know if we can help answer any question!

A few simple changes can make a difference

We love these brisk September mornings! But they remind us that long-term chilly weather is just around the corner.

Here's a link to the Energy Savers (from the U.S. Department of Erergy) home page. The site lists many quick and easy ideas that will cut down your family's energy consumption and save you some money at the same time!

Room-by-Room Organization Tips

Room-by-Room Organization Tips

Today's rainy weather reminds us that before too long we'll be spending a lot more time indoors. And being cooped up with a summer's worth of clutter and disarray can make for one very long winter. Do yourself a favor and take a look at this slideshow (just click the handy link at the top of this post to see it!) from BHG.com ... It's full of quick, easy and inexpensive ideas that will help clear clutter and keep things organized, so you can enjoy those cozy winter days to come.

Sit back and enjoy the ride

Do you remember the feeling you get when you purchase a new car? You enjoy driving again! Sitting in traffic is not near the chore it used to be because you’re sitting in a new ride that came complete with all the bells and whistles. The kids aren’t whining because they’re watching a movie, or playing a game, and NOT spilling juice in the backseat because somebody put drink holders back there where the kids sit.

Someone put a lot of time and energy toward thinking about the best ways to use the space in that car, and we spend an awful lot of time thinking about the best ways to use the space in your home.

How awesome would it be to walk into your home and experience that same-new car feeling – without a new-house price tag? Well, there’s a way. And we can help you get there. Think of your daily routine as the road map – where are the rough spots? Are you tired of traffic jams in the bathroom while everyone gets ready for work and school in the morning? Do you need a detour so people will stop walking through the kitchen to get to the garage? Is there a place in the house, just for you, where you can go to refuel (or recharge) at the end of the day?

A user-friendly, efficient house is a happy house. And when your house is happy, your family is a lot more happy. An additional bathroom, remodeling the hub of your home, converting the basement into a quiet respite … changes like these can turn your home into a well-oiled machine.

There's nothing better than getting things right the first time ...

And when it comes to remodelling projects, there's no better way to get it right the first time than to do your homework before any work begins.

We're always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to help our clients make good decisions. I mean, we're full of ideas ... but who wants to listen to us all the time?

So here's a little something that is not only fun to play with, it might just save you a few dollars (and a few headaches) on your next home improvement project.

This cool interactive house from Consumer Reports is filled with tips to help you make cost-effective choices on materials, appliances and finishes.

When you're ready to get it right, give us a call. We'll keep your project on track, on budget and on time. 

So .... You're thinking about a remodeling project?

The very first thing you must do – and yes, it’s a must not a should – is come up with a budget. Before you choose colors or cabinets or decide which walls will stay or go, take a good long look at your finances. All the rest will fall into place once you have a number to work with.

Decide where the money is coming from – savings, inheritance, low-interest credit card, home equity loan, settlement, bank heist or selling vital organs on the black market. Determine when you’ll have access to the money, and when you’ll be ready to let that money transform your kitchen (or bathroom or basement or attic) into a space you completely and totally love.

Once these (important, very important!) things have been decided upon, look at the rest of your life … at least the parts requiring financial support. Be sure you’ll still be able to pay the mortgage, put food on the table, gas in the tank and clothes on your backs.

If things seem tight once you do this once-over, look around. Can you do without that 24-ounce triple mocha every morning? Do you really need to pay $75 each month for a gym membership you haven’t used since the Clinton administration? Can you cut back on beer money or throw less in the pot on poker night?
The point is this: Remodeling can be expensive. I mean serious remodeling. The kind that requires professionals (or very patient, talented friends) and power tools. Don’t get in to anything you’ll regret or resent later. The old bathroom will still be there (festering and grody as ever) a year from now when you’ve gathered the required cash to complete the job in a way that doesn’t leave you with a home-improvement hangover.