Here are some great tips for those of you struggling with the aftermath of the recent storms in Atlanta. We’ve ramped up our support team in response to the overwhelming number of calls from folks who need professional assistance. SCS is here to help!

Water and Flood Damage Information For Your Property

Water damages requires immediate attention to minimize further losses. In case a water damage occurs in your home or property try to locate the problem. By doing so you can help prevent further damages. Examples are turning off the water line for faucet, washing machine or dishwasher. Call a plumber to report a leak for service and report the damage to your Insurance Company. Your insurance adjusters will guide you through the process and will give you advices on what to do. Then move items in advance such as furnitures, boxes, clothes, beds, etc. to a room which is unaffected. The basic idea here is to Move and Protect your personal belongings and documents. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold.

“Allow molds to grow on home and or a building, materials that are soaked wet for more than 24 hours, and in “48 hours of wetness, the deadly toxic mold Stachybotrys can begin growing in the damaged areas.” This is a fact and documented by mold experts.

Water Damage Tips

*Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping the area or using a wet/dry vacuum.

*Wipe as much excess water from wood furniture as you can and remove tabletop lamps and other items from the furniture.

*Turn the air conditioning on for maximum drying in the summer and open the windows in the winter to release trapped for an improved indoor air quality.

*Remove any artwork and paintings from the walls if affected.
*Remove any area rugs from the floor and hang to dry outside or inside.

*Remove wet upholstery cushions from the frame and prop them up to dry immediately.

*Place plastic or aluminum foil under any furniture legs that are not plastic to prevent discoloration or bleeding.
*Punch tiny holes in a sagging ceiling to relieve trapped water make sure to place something underneath the holes beforehand to collect any trapped water.

*Make sure that electrical appliances are turned off while standing on wet carpets, floors or especially on wet concrete floors to prevent possible electrocution.

*Report your damage to your insurance company.

*Get help from a Professional for water damage restoration service.

Hazards caused by a Water Damage in your Home

Growth of Mold

Mildew or Strong Mildew Smell

Unpleasant or Bad Indoor Air Quality

Growth of other kinds of Micro-Organisms

Flood Damage

Most Flood Damages are from natural disasters. To minimize your losses it is good to check always the area of your property in case you need to purchase additional coverage. Ask your Insurance Company about flood insurance and if you qualify for it. It is always best to have additional coverage if your home or facility is in in a Flood Prone Area.
Remember that water which comes from outside of your home mostly are not covered by your regular home insurance policy. It is always best to read and understand your policy.

In cases of severe storms or hurricanes always be prepared.
Here are some immediate things that you might need:

* Handheld Radios and Batteries to listen for Warning Updates

* A Good Supply of Bottled Water

* Flashlights with Batteries

* Cellphones Fully Charged

* Jackets or Raincoats

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jude_Deguzman

For your viewing pleasure…

Here’ s a link to a slideshow that details some valuable information about our areas of expertise:

SCS Slideshow Presentation

Our philosophy is simple: produce the highest quality work for the lowest price possible.   This article features a full range of money-saving topics, including ways to save on energy, how to lay the groundwork for future upgrades, and purchasing your own materials.

10 Ways to Save Money on Home Improvement

Secrets to help you save when you’re planning that big remodeling project.

Remodel Right

When it comes to remodeling, part of good planning is making decisions that will give you the best bang for your buck. Some people think they can save money by performing some of the remodeling tasks themselves or by using home-center “bargain basement” products such as plumbing fixtures, lighting, and paint. Be careful not to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

1. Plan your project and get bids well in advance
Have you ever tried to find a contractor in March to start your new three-season porch that you want completed by Mother’s Day? It’ll cost more than if you’d found a contractor in January. Most contractors plan out months ahead and don’t want to disrupt their schedules. They’ll shoot you a high bid, because they really don’t want to fit you in . . . unless you pay a high rate.

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Comstock.com

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Most building trades have busy seasons and slow seasons. Plan ahead, and you’ll get more competitive bids during the slow seasons. Best times to schedule:

• roofing — cold or rainy months
• indoor renovations — winter or during rainy months
• heating — late summer, before fall
• air conditioning — late winter or early spring
• chimney cleaning — anytime except fall!
• project design (architects) — fall and winter

2. Pay extra for energy-saving features
With energy prices rising, many contractors are offering energy-efficiency upgrades (at an additional price). These might include higher-efficiency windows; guaranteed air sealing; extra-thick insulation; and higher-efficiency heating, cooling or other appliances. If they don’t offer this, you can ask what additional measures they (or you) can take to improve your home’s energy performance. Then compare the estimated energy savings with the cost of each upgrade. A payback period of seven to 10 years is good. (Simple payback is the time it takes for the savings to equal the original cost.) Keep in mind that upgrades done during the remodeling process always cost less than upgrades added later.

3. Hire an architect or designer for at least an initial sketch
The most expensive mistake you can make is to build an addition or remodel a room that you don’t like when it’s finished. Professional design help during the planning stage helps you tailor the space to fit. Sometimes it takes only one or two key details to make that room special.

Most architects and designers will walk you through the initial planning for a modest fee. Gather lots of visual material to illustrate your ideas. And be sure you’re on the same page as your spouse! Be prepared to do some legwork.

4. Pitch in and do parts of the project yourself
Doing the entire project yourself is by far the best way to save. But if you don’t have the time or skills, your part-time sweat equity can reduce costs. Consider taking on such labor-intensive jobs as demolition, moving materials, digging, cleaning up the job site after work, sanding trim or painting. Coordinate the jobs with the contractor in advance and agree on their value. Beware! Once you commit yourself, make sure to complete the work in a timely way. Tardiness can throw off the construction schedule and cost you more in the long run!

5. Plan for future upgrades if you can’t afford them now
You don’t have to wait until you can build your dream addition all at once. You can get started now and gradually add as your finances allow. But work from a master plan so you don’t have to go back and tear out or upgrade what you’ve already done.

For example, consider:

• an electrical service with capacity for the future addition, workshop or hot tub
• in-the-wall wiring for electronics in every room or a future home theater
• rough plumbing for a future half bath or hot tub
• wiring for future lighting fixtures
• rough framing for future doors or windows
• French doors that open to a future deck.

6. Compare the price of remodeling with the cost of buying new
Your house is your most important investment as well as the place you call home. Although you may love your house and neighborhood, check how much your addition would add to the value of your home. Creating a luxury home in a modest neighborhood may not make financial sense. A real estate agent or home appraiser can make a close estimate. If you can’t recoup at least 75 percent of the cost when you sell, at least consider the advantages of buying another house with the space or features you need. It may well be a better investment to move rather than to add on.

7. Shop for materials yourself
You won’t save much by trying to stockpile lumber, drywall, electrical wiring or other basic building materials. But when it comes to the finish materials — carpeting, appliances, faucets, countertops, light fixtures — your own footwork will pay off. Not only do you get exactly what you want, but you also can find bargains, especially if you start collecting these items well in advance. You can even plan to reuse a stylish old stove, distressed hardwood flooring or other items that add a creative touch to a room. But clear your decisions with your contractor; installation costs might be higher for unusual requests.

8. Don’t overdo windows and skylights
Big windows and skylights can have a spectacular effect in a new addition, making it feel bright and cheery and offering great views. But more is not always better. Not only are windows and skylights expensive, but even energy-efficient ones will sharply increase your heating and cooling bills. Large skylights can make a room feel like a furnace in the summer! You may have to replace your air conditioner, heat pump or furnace with a larger one. Or perhaps add units to keep the room comfortable.

9. Avoid moving the plumbing or changing the foundation
You can’t always avoid it, but any alteration to these two systems typically adds thousands to a remodeling project. Neither is simple. New plumbing often requires breaking into walls and floors; resizing lines to meet newer plumbing codes; and replacing old, out-of-date pipes. New foundations usually require excavation, concrete and other heavy, expensive work. The price jumps whenever you add these two items, so ask yourself if you really need to move the kitchen sink during a kitchen remodel, or if you really need the extra space in a bathroom bump-out.

10. Order over the Internet
Can’t find a nice-looking low-voltage light fixture at a nearby home center? The Internet puts a wide selection of products at your fingertips. Even better, it gives you access to hard-to-find specialty items at competitive prices. Often you can save 40 to 50 percent over the list price.

From The Family Handyman – August 2006

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If you’re in the market to sell, don’t underestimate the importance of curbside appeal.  First impressions are crucial- they often determine whether a potential buyer will stop to take a closer look, or just drive on by.

It all starts with having great
curb appeal

It all starts at the curb: make sure your first impression is memorable and favorable

You know the basic curb appeal storyline: If potential buyers don’t like what they see from the street, they might never get inside the front door. You might have done the same at some point yourself when shopping for a home.

A remodeled kitchen and bath can help sell a home, but curb appeal is what gets buyers through the door,” says Betty Jane Garrett, a licensed agent with Paradigm Realty in Oklahoma. “If they don’t like what they see from the street chances are they won’t waste time going inside.”

Fortunately, unless you’re living in an Addams Family-like spookhouse, there are plenty of quick and easy ways to spiff up your home and give potential buyers a reason to come inside.

Yards should look appealing and inviting, a place where you’d like to relax on a pleasant spring afternoon. An easy way to do that is to keep the grass freshly groomed – don’t forget the edging – and plant beds freshly mulched, says John Merrill, editor of Landscape-America. According to Merrill, you should trim overgrown trees and shrubs that may have looked ok when they were planted, but now may have become too large.

Make sure the lawn is neatly mown and edged. Flower beds should be mulched (avoid Cypress mulch for ecological reasons).

During the growing season, make sure to add some potted flowers on either side of the entrance. This is particularly attractive even if planted in over-sized clay pots. Keep these plants well watered. Click here for additional landscape tips.

Creating curb appeal

You must grab a buyer’s interest from the curb if you want to sell the home for top dollar. Home buyers will sometimes refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors or peeling paint. In fact, home shoppers will often develop an attitude toward your house within the first 15 seconds of seeing your property. That attitude is then reinforced (rightly or not) by everything else they see, if they decide to look further, from those first 15 seconds. So, even if you can’t afford to paint the entire exterior, get that front yard and entry into tip-top shape before putting your house on the market.

Creating curb appeal is one of the best ways of improving your chances of making a quicker sale. Most people make a judgment on the property as soon as they see it based on what they see. If they see overgrown shrubs, dirty windows, stained gutters and peeling paint, they immediately have made a negative snap judgment about the property without ever seeing the inside.

Personality Plus

Engaging the senses generates a feeling in the mind of a potential buyer. If there is no engagement, then prospective home buyer will have no feelings about your property. No feelings is almost the same as negative feelings.

Obviously, you don’t want to engage negative feelings or no feelings about your house. You want to help buyers remember your house as the one that felt like it was coming home for them. That is the personality you want your house to exude.

Engaging those senses, particular those of sight, should begin when the prospect first arrives at your property. They should be able to see the entry clearly. That entry should be inviting and everything else in the front yard to help lead the eye to the entry. Those are positive images you can embed in the prospect’s mind by the way you stage your lawn and landscape.

With a tightening real estate market, the home seller needs every advantage in their favor without over spending. Giving your house some favorable memory power is key. That means lots of personality without the person.

In other words, you want a house that is memorable from the prospects view, not your view. You want to remove your own personality from your property. Let home-buying prospects, without too much imagination, see themselves sitting in your living room. If they can sit down at the kitchen table and can see themselves sitting there on a Sunday morning sipping a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper, you’ve done your job. If, in the house showing process, all a prospect can see is you, then you’ve failed BIG TIME! Don’t put your house in that position.

How you maintain and design your home’s exterior is as important as its interior. The front is the first thing people see upon arrival. You want to make that a good impression from the street.

Here are some affordable ways to improve the value of your home without breaking the bank:

Fetching top dollar for your home in today’s tough market doesn’t require an $80,000 kitchen remodel or an expensive landscape redesign.

Real-estate experts say your best bet is to invest a little sweat equity into a series of small weekend jobs — $300 or less — that boost your home’s appeal and eliminate buyers’ biggest objections.

Here are 10 quick ways to add value to your home without breaking the bank

1. The de-clutter weekend
De-cluttering should be the first job sellers cross off their list before starting any other project, agents and real-estate investors say.

Most people, says Atlanta house flipper Brian Trow, get used to their clutter and don’t realize what a distraction it is for buyers. “You want to give a buyer the chance to see their stuff in your house,” says Trow, whose firm Foundations Investment Group is featured on A&E’s “Flip This House.” Moreover, he says, it gives the illusion of space.

Get a friend, colleague or casual acquaintance (who won’t mind offending you) to walk through your house and give it to you straight. What is distracting? What needs to go?

Figure out a way to get your clothes, books, appliances, papers, toys, art and photos under control. Shoving everything into cabinets, closets and the garage is not the answer, says Toronto-based home staging expert Debra Gould, owner of The Staging Diva. People will look there and think, “If they can’t fit everything in there, neither can I.”

Pack things away in boxes and put them in the attic or put them in storage. Gould recommends coming up with a system of folders for bills, mail and important papers. Clean out a junk drawer or drawer in your entertainment center to hold these folders, so they can be cleared off counters easily. Likewise, clear the decks of a lot of your kids’ toys, putting only 15 or 20 in rotation at a time. Donate some and store the rest in boxes in the attic or garage.

“You have to think, ‘What can I live without?’ for the next few months,” Gould says.

2. Make over your cabinets
The kitchen is the most important room in the house to get right, says Timothy Dahl, editor and founder of home-renovation blog Charles & Hudson. And cabinets are often one of the biggest problems, he says.

You don’t need to get your cabinets refaced or replaced to make them look presentable. If they’re scratched or look dated, just spring for a couple of cans of paint and put a new finish on them.

White and other light neutral colors work best for most kitchens and bathrooms. If you have a larger kitchen that gets a lot of natural light, you could even try a dark chocolate brown or black, Trow adds.

Once you’re done painting, don’t neglect the finishing touch: the hardware. “It’s an accent that people notice,” Dahl says.

Choose something simple and relatively modern for the pulls, preferably in a brushed nickel. Steer clear of brass, brightly colored glass or anything decorated with pictures of birds or flowers.

3. Patch and paint
A fresh coat of paint in the living room, kitchen and master bathroom — the most important rooms in the house — will pay big dividends, says Elizabeth Blakeslee, an agent with Coldwell Banker in Washington, D.C. “Paint is one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do to freshen up your home and add zip to it.”

Just don’t try to jazz things up with bright colors, experts say. The most universally appealing shades are neutrals: yellow-based tones such as off-white, mushroom, medium brown or taupe, Trow says. And stay away from anything too dark. It will make the room look small.

A few more paint don’ts from the pros:

Don’t try to experiment with accent colors or walls. (Most people don’t get this right.)

Don’t choose four or five different colors in the house. A satin wash of one color or a couple of related colors should flow smoothly from room to room.

Don’t leave those wallpaper borders up when you paint. Their time has come and gone.

Once you’re done painting, don’t ruin the fresh look by re-hanging too many of your family photos or pieces of art, Trow says.

4. Spiff up your home’s curb appeal
One quick way to entice more buyers into your house is to spruce up what they see from the street. Spend a weekend cleaning or replacing your mailbox, putting up new street numbers that match the style of your house, cleaning your storm door and windows and touching up chipped paint on your front door, Blakeslee says. “You want their first reaction to be, ‘Isn’t that cute; doesn’t that look nice,’” she adds.

Take a good hard look at your landscaping and trim back any shrubs around the front that are unruly. Get rid of lawn ornaments, toys, leaves and other debris from the yard, as well as those tools or construction materials propped against a fence.

If you see bald spots, plant a few flowering shrubs. A pot of flowers by the front door, or flowering plants along the walk is a nice touch, too, agents say. Power-wash your driveway and walk (and the house, if you have vinyl siding). A tidy front yard makes buyers more willing to come inside for a look.

5. Fix your lighting
You don’t have to go crazy here, agents say. Just replace anything damaged, dated or distracting.

Get rid of that Hollywood dressing-room-style lighting that frames your bathroom mirror, or at the very least, replace all of the bulbs.

Ditch that tacky, low-hanging chandelier over the dining table and replace it with a simple pendant lamp hung a little higher — at least four feet from the top of the table, Gould says.

Ditto for that energy-efficient, but oh-so-ugly fluorescent tube in your kitchen. “Nothing looks good under them,” Dahl says.

You don’t have to spend a lot on new fixtures — $100 or less — unless your house is priced in the upper tier of the market, experts say.

And consider replacing the light bulbs you have in your darker rooms with a higher wattage, just for the time you’ll be showing your house, Gould adds. “You want lots of light in that house.”

6. Get fabulously clean floors
Flooring is one area where none of our experts seemed to agree. So your safest bet is to spend very little and leave that choice to the buyer. “You don’t want to invest in something that someone is not going to like,” Dahl says.

Settle for a floor that looks spic and span. If you have very dirty carpet, rent a steam machine and get out the stains. If you have hardwoods, buff and polish them, agents say.

And if you have a vinyl floor that is horrendously loud or damaged, consider putting down some vinyl stick-on squares in a light color to keep it from becoming a distraction, Dahl says.

If you are very handy and can find a bargain at your local big-box store, you might be able to afford a Pergo or cork replacement for a small kitchen.

7. ‘Dress’ your house
Once your house has been cleaned, patched and painted, it’s time to think about the best way to show it off. Home stagers and flippers say it pays to spend a little time on new “clothes” for your house.

In the bathroom, that means replacing your old shower curtain with a new model that is lined and made of fabric. Buy a new bath mat that is simple and not too bright — one like the type found in hotels is great, Gould says.

In fact, the look of an upscale hotel bathroom is what you are going for, because it looks peaceful and doesn’t make you think too much about the people who have used it. Adding fresh rolls of toilet paper before you show the house helps with that effect, Blakeslee says.

Buy a set of towels that actually match and hang them from a nice-looking towel bar. Gould says you’d be amazed at how many high-end houses she stages where the owners leave out threadbare towels that detract from a $100,000 renovation.

Clear the counters and make sure accessories such as the toothbrush holder or soap dish are coordinated and look elegant.

In the bedroom, consider your comforter. Is it stained, ripped or dated? If so, consider buying a new duvet cover or spread to keep the focus on the room, not your questionable taste.

And take a good hard look at your window treatments. Keep it light, bright and simple. Tie back dark or flouncy curtains, or replace them with pre-made panels. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, whip up some simple solid-color panels on your own.

8. Create an impression of extra rooms
Most people are willing to pay a premium for a little more breathing room. But no one is going to add on just to sell his or her home. One way you can give buyers more livable area is to spruce up your garage or basement, Dahl says.

Organize the tools, sporting goods and other items in your garage and get them off the floor, as much as possible. Make sure there’s adequate lighting and clean or polish the floors. You want it to be a space where people can imagine spending hours tinkering on some craft or woodworking project.

Likewise, if you have a basement, Dahl says, spend some time clearing and cleaning the floor, installing adequate lighting and shelving, and sprucing up the stairs and entrance. You could even try out a sealant for concrete floors, he says. “People see these as extra rooms they want to finish,” Dahl says.

If you don’t have a basement, Trow suggests creating a sitting area in the backyard, with some pavers, outdoor seating and a few large potted plants, a flower bed or water feature.

9. Tackle the small stuff all at once
Instead of spreading out those annoying minor repairs over several months or a year, why not take care of them all at one time?

When you show your house, little problems such as a leaky faucet or a cabinet that sticks can be distracting, Gould says. “You don’t want to put up doubts in people’s minds about whether they are buying a good solid house,” Gould says.

You want the attention to be on your home’s potential, not its problems.

So make a list and invest a not-so-fun 48 hours in fixing those broken drawer slides, replacing moldy caulking around the bathtub and fixing that cracked tile or broken step leading down to the basement.

10. The finishing touches
Lastly, before you open your house to buyers, make sure you’ve got the details down, Trow says. Replace old, yellowing or brass switch-plate covers with new ones made of brushed metal.

Likewise, swap out old brass doorknobs and hinges and replace them with something more up-to-date.

The green revolution is gaining more momentum every day- if you’re attempting to sell in this tough market, it’s wise to invest in making your home as environmentally friendly as possible. Check out this article from the dailygreen.com:

It’s a tough time to sell a house. Some analysts are calling today’s real estate market the most troubling they’ve seen since the Great Depression.

Experts have predicted that early 2008 sales will be down more than 40% from their peak of a few years ago. Moody’s Economy.com says many metro areas will see home prices plummet by 20 percent or more during this painful downturn, while the national median price for single-family homes will lose 13% in the period until early 2009.

But what if you really need to sell your home … right now? Whether because of the need to relocate for a new job, or to fit a growing family, what if you can’t afford to wait until the market improves?

The good news is you can gain a leg up on the other houses for sale in your price range by making smart and quick eco-renovations. These green remodeling ideas can help you slash your monthly energy bills, reduce your water usage, clean up your indoor air quality, and leave the planet a better place. And make your home stand out from all of the rest.

What do real-life real estate agents say about making smart green remodeling tweaks to make your home more competitive in a buyer’s market? According to broker Laura Zambratto with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty on Long Island, “Home buyers are looking for added value in every purchase they are making. They either want an awesome price or extras — such as those extras found in a more energy-efficient house.”

Anderson Homes, a builder in North Carolina’s Triangle, has found that sales have been brisker than average for its models designed to be 30% more energy efficient than standard homes.

There’s even a dedicated worldwide multiple listing service for green properties, hosted at listedgreen.com. Each listing is vetted by the service for authentic green cred.

Here are ways to make your house stand out from the rest by going green:

Wow Buyers with Energy Efficiency

Home utility bills have seen double-digit growth in the past few years, spurred by record-high oil and gas prices and water shortages. “That means if you can show lowered utility bills to potential buyers, it makes a big difference in today’s market,” explains Kerry Mitchell, the president and founder of Green Real Estate Education, and a real estate broker with more than 14 years of experience in Maryland and Florida.

Mitchell trains real estate professionals about the benefits of going green, as well as how to apply for various regional and national green certifications (such as the EPA’s Energy Star for homes and the U.S. Green Building Council’s emerging LEED for Homes program).

The key is to make improvements to your home’s energy efficiency, and document how the monthly bills change over time. Highlight the savings to your broker and any potential buyers, and provide comparisons to typical bills for similar-sized houses in your region (call your utility for details or visit the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration at eia.doe.gov).

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-remodeling-sell-your-house–460205#ixzz0IuonbtQJ&C