Articles - Off Season Buying of Home Improvements

		HomePro Systems, Inc.

HomePro
Systems, Inc.
2841 Hartland Rd
Suite 201
Falls Church, VA 22043
(703) 560-4663
(800) HOMEPRO (800) 966-4555

Home Pro Inspection
Systems Inc.
969 Eldon Road
Oakwood, Ontario
K0M-2M0
800-832-0519

Off Season Buying of Home Improvements:

Winter time often creates a buyers market in selected home improvements. Here is how to get quality service and products at a somewhat reduced price.

A slower pace of new home construction creates stronger competitiveness among contractors and this coupled with a need for inside work can trigger lower prices. Some manufacturers list their products with more competitive prices during the winter and often run yearend closeout sales. Winter time is a very good time indeed to get your interior work done.

Here is a shopper's trade-by-trade review:
Air conditioning and heating: Normal winter time reductions from contractors who specialize in air conditioning. Intense competition among heating contractors when there is warmer weather. Much updating of equipment to the new high efficiency units. Conventional heating replacements run 15 to 20% off.

Appliances: New models bring yearend clearance sales to close out old lines. Discounts run from 10% on up.
Tree specialists and landscapers: Interior plants are a steal. It costs money to keep plants warm and they must be cared for. Twoforone sales are common. Landscapers must keep key people busy and will often give good prices on outside work. Grading and swales (earthen ditches) to control surface waters and prevent wet basements, flower bed cuts, mulching, and general yard cleanup are bargains. Light hauling by under utilized trucks and manpower is cheap. More time is available to do a better job on yard landscaping plans. Tree care and stump removal is cheaper too.

Asphalt pavers: Few driveways can be done between December and midMarch so under utilized grading and hauling equipment means good buys on topsoil and larger landscaping work.

Carpenters: Recroom finishing, fancy interior trim work, book shelves, and window replacement show soft prices. Kitchen cabinet and countertop replacements, closet organizers, bathroom and whole house exhaust fans are more readily accomplished during the off season. You can get quality work starting around 15 dollars per hour.

Electricians: Little flexibility or softness in prices from contractors. Side jobs by licensed journeymen and by the hour work by the unemployed are bargains.

Exterminators: Many pests enter a dormancy state between November and February and hence there is a considerable business lull. Termite protection is a bargain during these months.

Floor coverings: Getting rid of old stocks to make room for heavily promoted new lines means great bargains on materials left in inventory. Material prices are sometimes cut in half. Now is the time to install tile, redo the kitchen floor, upgrade the foyer or refinish your hardwood flooring.
Insulation contractors: Even though contractors shift from new construction work to remodeling, the competition is stiff and prices can be around 15% less.

Masonry: Quality bricklayers are plentiful. Inside work runs to 20% off. New fireplaces and lining old ones are good buys. Antifreeze and protective coverings allow some outside work. Patios and retaining walls are often discounted. Expect a severe scarcity of quality bricklayers should new construction rise in the Spring.

Painting, wallpapering and drywall: Interior work is much in demand by a plentiful work force. Higher quality work and lower prices are easily negotiated. This is a great time to patch plaster, drywall over a cracked plaster ceiling or paint your bathroom ceiling with durable epoxy paint. Wallpapering and most interior work is cheaper.

Plumbing: Not much flexibility in contractor prices here but individuals will often work cheaper by the hour.

Roofing: Unless the weather is significantly below freezing, most roofing is able to be done in the winter time. An asphalt shingle roof won't seal down until hot weather but the usual guarantee can cover the intervening time until it does. Prices can run around 15% off. Stiff competition will often see lower material prices as well. Gutter installation and cleaning, minor flashing repairs, and small patch repairs are much more readily accomplished during this off season. Prevent seasonal ice damming problems by having a roofer install soffit and ridge vents.

Prices tend to be softer in the winter and it is often a buyers market but you must shop around. Some contractors trim their work forces and operate at near peak capacity while others are competitively seeking work. You can be more selective since you are in a superior negotiating position. Your work is liable to be superior as well since many contractors have culled out their poorer performers.

Beware an extremely favorable price. Make certain all contractors are qualified and that they are bidding against the same job specifications.

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HomePro Systems, Inc.