Why do we forget about our home?

For the vast majority of people, our greatest investment is our home. We put more into that single purchase than anything else in out entire lifetime. It is one of the few things that we buy that increases in value over time. Our home is more than just an object; it is a reflection of who we are, where we have been…and where we will go. Over the years, a family makes lasting memories, cherished moments we take with us throughout our lives. I think most of us have an emotional connection to our homes…it is, well, our house. Our home.


Why then do we not put as much effort into our home as, say…our cars? Think about it…Everyone knows, and accepts, that our autos need to be cared for and maintained. Few people question $90.00 per hour (or more) to have their oil changed, tires rotated, brake pads and rotors checked and replaced. We all know that failure to conduct routine preventative maintenance will increase the chances that our car will stop working. Leave us stranded, put us in a difficult position, or worse…endanger our lives and that of our family.

When it comes to our homes, most of us turn on the hot water and assume the water that comes out will be hot. We do not think about the systems in our home that have to work day and night. Hot water heaters do last a considerable amount of time…but eventually every single one ever built will fail. It goes for our roofs, the air conditioner, heating systems, plumbing, and insulating efficiency. None does, nor can last forever. Unlike our cars though, we tend to wait until a catastrophic failure before we do anything about it. We wait until the hot water heater starts bellowing water, damaging other parts of our home before we act. We wait until it is 100 degrees outside and our a/c is blowing furnace-hot air before we have it serviced.

Why?

I think the answer to this question lies somewhere in a grey area. These critical components to our homes are designed to last many years. Because of this condition, we tend to forget they are there. We take that hot water in the tap for granted. We assume that our roof has many years left before the leaks begin. Money is tight and these items last a long time, so we push it to the back of our mind. I mean, who wants to shorten their Florida vacation by a day to apply that money into our home when everything seems to be working fine? Who really even wants to think about all this stuff?

That is when the light bulb went off in my head! (Albeit a very dim one)

I have spent many years honing my skills as a maintenance and remodeling expert. Why not apply these skills proactively instead of reactively?

SR Home-Care was born. It is really still in its infancy….but the general idea is this:

We have developed a comprehensive maintenance plan that has been crafted from research into mechanical/electrical systems, appliances, utilities, consumer agencies safety guidelines, and more. Each SR Home-Care package is tailored specifically for your home to sustainably control your home's condition, efficiency and cost. It combines the efforts of specialty contractors, inspectors, and handymen into a single powerful service, conveniently executed in quarterly appointments.

For more information, please visit: http://www.savannahrenovations.net/maintenance.php

We are still ironing out the specific details. Among them is how to reduce the cost of our packages. I have been considering offering a bi-annual package starting at $600 per year. This would include 2 inspections…an a/c check in the spring and a heating check in the fall. I also think that a commercial package could be helpful too for retail establishments.

Any suggestions or criticisms? I always welcome ways to improve Savannah Renovations and our services!

Painting and Preparation

Without a doubt, no interior home or office improvement project has a greater impact for the least investment than paint. A splash of color can instantly change the whole feel of a room. Fresh paint makes any space look cleaner and can give a wide variety of senses and emotions depending on the color and finish choices.


I once heard a professional painter tell me, “Anyone can paint…few can paint well”. Over the years, through trial and error, and some guidance from some excellent and experienced professionals, I have learned a few things about providing a great outcome when painting.

The foremost consideration in any paint work is preparation. If the proper time and effort is not spent on preparation of the walls and trim, the result will be disappointing. It is not uncommon for me to allocate more than 50% of the total time I estimate to be set aside for the groundwork. Some of the things that need to be done for great painted surfaces are:
• Shut off the power to the room.
• Remove all the outlet and switch covers. Apply tape to all the outlets and switches to keep from getting paint on them. If there are any light fixtures, loosen or remove them and tape accordingly.
• Remove all loose paint. Use scrapers and coarse sandpaper and be sure to remove all loose paint. If you do not, it will peel up either during the priming/painting or in the days/weeks following painting.
• Fill all holes with a good quality spackling compound. Be sure to fill the holes completely and on larger holes, I use a grid type joint tape or hole repair material. This helps keep the spackling from cracking.
• More sanding! This time use a fine grit sand paper or sanding block. Use your hand to feel the wall; your eyes can fool you here. On larger holes, be prepared to reapply the spackling compound and sand again. Keep following this process until you see and feel a completely smooth surface.
• Check all the molding in the room for damage. Base moldings are damaged frequently from furniture. Repair these holes using good epoxy wood filler. Use the same process (minus the grid tape) as used for the walls. Did I mention the sanding? Sometimes more than one application is required to get the desired result.
• If there are any cracks in the walls use a quality caulking to fill the cracks. In most cases, these wall cracks are caused from the shifting and settling of the home and are normal. However, spackling and/or joint compounds are brittle when dry and any future movement in the wall will cause the finish to chip off and the crack to reappear looking worse than before. High quality caulking has enough elasticity to stretch (to a point) as the home continues to shift.
• Clean the walls with a diluted light detergent, then rinse with clean water and a sponge. Be careful on this step as joint and spackling compounds are water based. This means that if you apply a heavy hand with the water you can actually dissolve all your hard work! If done properly this step will further improve the finish on the walls.

Following these steps is far more than half the battle of a wonderful paint finish. Of course, you could always call Savannah Renovations, LLC at 912-675-5569 and I would be more than happy to provide an estimate. “Wink, wink…nudge”…that is a hint. Happy painting!

Where do we start?

What is Savannah Renovations? We are a residential and commercial maintenance, repair, and remodeling company. We cover a wide range of services and serve clients in the Savannah, Hinesville, Statesboro, and Rincon areas. We have been in business since 2003. More information can be found on our website at: www.savannahrenovations.net .

I know; sounds like countless companies out there. In every city and town, there is a cornucopia of apparently similar service companies. I have given this a lot of thought and initially I considered that through hard work, skilled craftsmanship, and excellent customer service, Savannah Renovations would quickly become notable. I have generated a small following of loyal customers, but through the years, I realized that we have to do more. There is more to a successful business than “word-of-mouth” advertising. Sure, a customer may mention to a friend or relative the service and quality received from Savannah Renovations, but from that mention to a new customer is a long road that is not always followed.

That is when I realized that Savannah Renovations has to take action to separate itself from the vegetable soup of actual and perceived competitors. A homeowner or business owner needs to feel comfortable choosing Savannah Renovations. The actions I have chosen to accomplish this separation to this point are:
• Creating and updating a real website with our own domain name (http://www.savannahrenovations.net/)
• Applying for and being accepted as a member of the Better Business Bureau. I felt that it would be a great boost to have an independent organization verify our credentials and adhere to the BBB business practices. This info can be found at, http://www.bbb.org/ .
• Acquiring a more than adequate insurance policy. Savannah Renovations currently has a one-million dollar liability policy for property and two-million in bodily injury insurance.
• Making ourselves available to the public through facebook and this website. People have the ability to contact us directly and evaluate our work and business ethic before making any decisions concerning Savannah Renovations.

There are more ideas and actions on the horizon, but I think we are off to a great start. Most importantly, I always want to remain loyal to our tenets: Skilled artisanship, hard work, honest pricing, and excellent customer service.

Comments, criticisms, and suggestions are always welcome!