Reaching new heights: 4 tips for finding a skilled roofing contractor in Keller

Reaching new heights: 4 tips for finding a skilled roofing contractor in Keller

 

Purchasing a new roof is one of the most important – and biggest – investments you can make in your Keller home. That’s why it’s crucial to have a knowledgeable professional on hand to guide you through each step of the process. In fact, choosing the right contractor in Keller is just as important as choosing the right roofing components. Remember the four “R’s” to help ensure you have the best person for the job.

1. Research DFW contractor options.
A great DFW contractor for your roof replacement project will be dedicated to outstanding craftsmanship and possess a high level of professionalism. Ask for referrals from friends and family or check out reviews on consumer rating sites. As a general rule, any contractor you consider should be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and hold at least $1 million in general liability insurance. Make sure to verify that he or she carries all required state and local licensing. As with any other professional service, it’s also a good idea to “shop around” and obtain multiple quotes before making a commitment.

2. Rely on a trusted brand.
The top roofing manufacturers proactively seek out alliances with some of the best contractors in the business. Contractor networks are supported by the manufacturer and offer homeowners added assurance that participating professionals are skilled and reputable. These designated contractors are typically up-to-date on the latest industry standards and technologies, as well as being trained inside and out on the manufacturers’ products.

3. Review any proposals thoroughly.
After a prospective contractor does a thorough inspection of your current roof, he or she should provide a written proposal and cost estimate for your roof replacement project. Review the proposal closely and inquire about such details as projected start and completion dates, expectations for payment and adherence to local building codes. The proposal also should clearly outline the scope of work for the job – including all products to be specified. In addition, this is an ideal time to ensure that the contractor will commit to supervising the job during each phase of the work, inspect it thoroughly when finished and leave your yard in the same shape it was found.

4. Request a comprehensive warranty.
Consider selecting a contractor who provides additional warranty coverage for excellent protection. Some of these system warranties also include contractor workmanship coverage. Make sure your contractor takes the time to explain all available warranties so that you thoroughly understand the limitations and requirements before your roof is installed, and you know who to contact if there’s a problem in the future.

It’s important to make the extra effort to find a roofing contractor who will provide the support, know-how and breadth of services necessary to install a beautiful new high-performance roof for your home.

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in home ownership.

 

 

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Tarrant County Press Release: Jury Duty Scam

Jury Duty Scam

What’s happening:

Citizens are being contacted by phone by a man that identifies himself as Lieutenant Allen with the Sheriff’s office, Police Dept, and Constable’s office.  The caller informs the citizen that they failed to report for jury duty and a fine has been assessed.     The fine ranges from $2,000 to $4,000. The caller advises the citizen that there is a warrant for their arrest and they must report to court. The caller usually tells them   to report to Judge Thomas Wright at a specific court location like 100 W. Weatherford, Room 4C.  The name of the judge is generally the same but the location varies.  The citizen is instructed to go to a local Walmart or grocery store to obtain a Green Dot Money Card which is a pre-paid reloadable debit card. The scam artists are using disposable cell phones so they have no problem giving the citizen a phone number to call them back.  Also, they tell the citizen they can contact ADA Clemmons with Tarrant County District Attorney’s office to verify the information.  Once the citizen gets the Green Dot Money Card, they are instructed to give the Green Dot Money
Card information over the phone which will satisfy the fine and the warrant will be dismissed.  This allows the scam artist to get the money so there is no actual face-to-face contact.  The scam artists sound very convincing over the phone.     They threaten the citizen with jail and fines in order to get them to comply.  

What you should do:

Write down the phone number the person is calling from.  Do not give the 
caller any personal information about yourself.  Contact your local police department and request to file a complaint. 

What you should know:

Tarrant County Jury Services would never contact you by phone to pay a fine 
for failing to appear for jury service.  Typically, we would send a failed to 
appear notice before taking any action.  If a warrant is issued for your arrest,      there is no warning phone call.   The courts do not allow citizens to pay a fine 
in lieu of jury service.  A fine can be assessed, and in some cases jail time but 
it would still result in the jury service being rescheduled to a later date. 

Moving on? Tips to help get your Keller home ready to sell

Listing your Keller home for sale? Or want to? First impressions can make the difference in attracting prospective buyers in DFW. Many buyers make decisions based on emotion. To appeal to emotions, and make a positive first impression with prospective buyers, present your Keller home at its best.

Get out the toolbox: identify and make repairs

No need to completely remodel the bathroom, but make certain you fix the leaky faucet. Consider an inspection to identify potential problems to correct before they turn away prospects. Making small repairs to sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulk or chipped paint can create a better appearance, without breaking your budget. Install new hardware on kitchen cupboards or worn door handles to update the look.

Create the "wow-factor" with curb appeal

First impressions begin once people set their eyes on your home's exterior view. Start by pulling out your gardening gloves and clean up the landscaping. Keep the lawn tidy, trim hedges, pull weeds, clear out leaves and debris, and plant colorful flowers.

Invest in exterior paint to touch up or freshen up your home's exterior.

The entryway sets the stage for the home, so make yours inviting. Place a new welcome mat outside your front door to greet visitors. Add a bold new entry door or storm door. The eye-appealing style and energy-saving benefits.

Spruce up your space: clean and de-clutter

Clean homes attract buyers. Clean, clutter-free rooms feel more spacious, so pack up extra shoes and holiday decor, then grab cleaning supplies to add the shine. Pay attention to details like bookshelves, bathrooms, closets and pantries, to make sure your home projects have a sparkling clean, neat look. Depending on the time of year, open the windows to breathe fresh air into the home.

Highlight energy-efficient upgrades, appliances

In a 2013 survey, home buyers said they most wanted energy-saving features, like those of Eco-friendly windows and appliances, including energy-saving windows, doors and appliances in your home's listing.

Set the stage

To prepare for an open house or showing, add final touches to make your home memorable. Appeal to the sense of scent by using scented candles or light air fresheners, or simmer cinnamon sticks and orange slices in a pan of water on the stove before prospective buyers arrive. Focus on the details, like putting flowers near the entry, or leaving freshly-baked cookies on the table to make your home in Keller feel more welcoming to the out of town buyer.

Master suite upgrades: the secret to a speedier home sale in Keller, TX

All signs point to a hearty real estate market in Keller, Southlake, and North Richland Hills this summer. Experts say more inventory will be available and buyers will have an easier time getting mortgages, all of which means more competition among sellers.

If you plan to put your home on the market this season, you might be looking for the most cost-effective renovations to set your house apart from the competition. Assuming you have already taken care of the two top rooms to renovate - kitchen and bathroom - what's your next move?

Three words: master suite upgrades.

Americans spend a lot of time in the bedroom. The master suite is, arguably, the area of the house where you most want to feel like the king or queen of your domain. After you've wowed potential buyers with a great kitchen and bathroom, a beautiful master suite could be the feature that seals the deal.

The luxury of light and fresh air

Natural light and fresh air can make a room feel larger, more open and more welcoming. Opening a wall to add a window is rarely practical, but skylights can bring natural light and improve air quality in a master with less fuss. If yours is on the first floor, tubular skylights can deliver natural light into spots where a traditional skylight won't work.

For your second-floor master, fresh-air skylight provides daylighting, privacy and more security than an open window, as well as cost-effective passive ventilation. 

Little things mean a lot

Often, sellers focus on big-picture issues and overlook the small details that win buyers' hearts. For example, while it's important to paint the walls a neutral, appealing color, don't forget to repaint baseboards, window trim, ceilings and inside closets, too - all significantly affect the overall look of a room. Even when you account for the extra time and paint needed for trim, painting remains one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to freshen a room's appearance.

Be sure to repaint the master bathroom in a color that complements the master bedroom. Add decadent but cost-effective touches like plush towels, a towel-warming rack and an upgraded shower head and faucets. Consider the shower door. Is it old and shabby-looking with glass that has become hazy? Replacing it is a simple, quick fix that will put a bright face on the shower stall. Swap out a straight shower curtain rod for a curved one that greatly increases the spaciousness of the shower area.

Add light, airy curtains to make the room look bigger and brighter, luxurious bedding to impart a restful atmosphere, and you'll have created a master suite that's sure to be an asset when it's time to sell in the competitive Keller, Southlake, and North Richland Hills markets.

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Selling this Summer? Six Upgrades to Secure a Speedy Sale!

When the weather warms up, so does the real estate market. Spring and summer are traditionally the seasons when both home buyers and sellers are most active across the country. If you will be putting your home on the market this year, simple, cost-effective upgrades can help ensure a speedy sale at a good price.

Here are six easy-to-do upgrades that are both cost-effective and high-impact:

1. Replace carpet

It’s easy to see the impact of worn or dated carpeting. New carpet is one upgrade that has a high ratio of value to cost. It substantially increases perceived value for home buyers without requiring home sellers to spend a bundle.

2. Clean flooring

If your carpet is still in great shape, then simply having it professionally cleaned can make it look even better. A deep professional cleaning helps lift tough soils and provides a cleaner, fresher look to rooms.

Not only is carpet a good value, it’s healthy, too. People with allergies or other sensitivities are installing carpet to improve indoor air quality. Recent studies support previous findings that carpet, when effectively cleaned, traps allergens and other particles, resulting in less dust, dander and airborne contaminants escaping into the air.

Don’t forget to clean all other flooring, including hardwood, laminates and tile. Buyers will appreciate a sparkling clean appearance throughout the house.

3. Repaint in neutral shades

 Fresh paint is another smart and cost-effective upgrade for sellers. Buyers expect it, yet many sellers hesitate to repaint. Perhaps they like the existing colors or balk at the cost of professional painting services. Yet repainting in neutral colors makes a room look fresher and brighter, and gives buyers a cleaner visual against which to imagine their own decor.  Do the work yourself and you can reduce the cost of repainting even further.

4. Update or upgrade lighting

You may find that disco-ball style globe light charming in your kitchen, but the average buyer doesn’t want dated or unusual lighting. Replacing dated or worn fixtures, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, is a cost-effective way to give a room a more up-to-date, contemporary look. If you already have newer fixtures, consider replacing incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency options such as CFLs or LEDs. Although they’re a bit more expensive to purchase, these bulbs last years longer – a selling point for buyers who will reap the value of not having to replace bulbs any time in the near future.

5. Install new faucets

A high-end faucet can completely change the look and usability of a kitchen or bathroom. In terms of cost versus value, an upgraded faucet, such as pull-out or even touch-free styles, can dramatically increase perceived value for a relatively modest investment. An upgraded faucet is a thoughtful touch that will set your home apart in buyers minds.

6. Replace hardware throughout the home

You may have already thought of upgrading kitchen cabinet knobs and drawer pulls, but have you also upgraded hardware in your bathroom or on the front door? These seemingly small items have a major impact on the overall visual effect of a home. In desirable rooms such as kitchens and baths, designer hardware can elevate the entire look of the room. And upgraded door hardware will ensure buyers have a positive first impression from the moment they enter your home.

 

 

Increasing your resale value is easy when you save smartly

Investing in home improvements is a smart idea when you're thinking of putting your home on the market. So where is the best place to spend your money?

While it may be tempting to make cosmetic home improvements including decorating touches or fresh coats of paint, upgrading vital home systems such as heating and cooling can really pay off. In fact, making smart improvements can help you save money on your utility bills now, while increasing your home's value to potential buyers later on down the road.

Heating and cooling is one of a home's biggest costs, accounting for more than half the average home's utility costs, which means it makes good sense to make efficiency improvements that positively impact your budget every month. And for the long term, potential buyers want assurance that basic home systems, including heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical, are in working order before they buy.

* Heating and cooling: On average, you should consider replacing your heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system every 10 years in order to take advantage of the latest energy-saving technologies and cost efficiencies. Replacing your old system with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of up to 20.00 can save you up to 60 percent on your annual cooling costs.

* Home automation: You can also stay ahead of the real estate curve and provide additional value for your home through the use of advanced home automation technology. This technology enables you to remotely manage multiple features and functions of your home including heating and cooling, as well as door looks, indoor and outdoor live video surveillance and storage, lights and shades, via any Web-enabled computer, smartphone or tablet.

* A programmable control: Another way to reduce energy consumption is to install a programmable HVAC control, which can save up to 15 percent compared to traditional non-programmable thermostats. These thermostats make it easier than ever to monitor the indoor and outdoor temperatures of your home. You can also monitor heating and cooling use over time, so you can manage energy and comfort even further.

* Home inspection, repair and advice: As you look ahead to warmer weather for making home improvements, remember that now is an ideal time to purchase a new home comfort system. A qualified HVAC dealer can perform an inspection, advise you on preventative maintenance and make recommendations on heating and cooling systems that best fit your home's needs. 

LED Landscape Lighting in Keller, Texas

 Adding outdoor lighting to a home can enhance a home's appearance and character at night as well as improve security and safety.  Most homeowners update the interior of their homes before turning to the exterior, but a tired exterior can create a negative first impression with visitors and detract from your enjoyment of your home.

Previous surveys have shown that homeowners add landscape lighting mainly because they want to upgrade their style and provide enjoyment for family and friends.  Others want to add space to entertain larger groups more comfortably.  Finally, homeowners know that an investment in landscape lighting will probably improve their property value.

Outdoor lighting can be an inexpensive way to increase appeal and safety.   When considering additions or changes to outdoor illumination, the advantages of LEDs for outdoor lighting are becoming more and more well-known to Keller, Southlake, and Grapevine homeowners:

• LEDs last 25 times longer so there are fewer inconvenient and time-consuming bulb changes.  Some experts predict a bulb change might take 17 years;
• LEDs are built to withstand harsh conditions and will stand up to our brutally hot summer temperatures;
• LEDs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs; energy savings are impressive, especially with security lights that are lit from dusk to dawn;
• LEDs have improved in lumen output and can produce brighter light than before;
• LEDs are available in any color of light, so the blue effect that was associated with LEDs in the past can be corrected to produce the white or yellow light of incandescent or fluorescent lights;
• LEDs can create any beam spread from 360 degrees to 100 or 30 degrees;
• LEDs are a great choice for security lights because they are very bright, and many don't have a glass globe cover that is easy to dismantle by intruders.

The only obvious drawback to LED lighting is that the initial expense is much higher than for other bulbs.  However, the price of LED bulbs has been dropping by about 20% a year.  Consumers will find that a LED floodlight that cost about $85 three years ago can be purchased for about $19 currently. Various industry experts think that LEDs may cost only 10% of current prices by the end of 2015.

If you are considering adding to or creating new landscape lighting, be sure to check the wealth of options available using LEDs.

For information concerning improvements to you home that can affect your property values, check with an experienced member of the Grove Team.