Home Safety Tips for Seniors

*You should consider having a professional install/perform these Long Term Considerations.

Bathroom

Free/Low-Cost Home Improvements
1. Set the hot-water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce energy costs and prevent scalding.
2. Mark cold and hot faucets clearly.
3. Leave a light on in your bathroom at night.
4. Use a rubber-suction bath mat or anti-slip floor strips or decals in the tub or shower.
5. Increase contrast: Avoid low contrasting items. Adding contrast is as simple as a blue tub mat in a white bathtub or painting the edge of the steps a contrasting color from the rest of the step surface.
6. Install a handheld adjustable showerhead for easier bathing.
7. Install user-friendly lever handle faucets in your sinks and in tubs or showers. Some faucets even
8. Skid-proof the tub and make sure the bath mat has a non-slip bottom.

Long Term Considerations*
1. Install a raised height toilet or sink/vanity.
2. Place a sturdy bathtub or shower seat in the tub and/or shower.
3. Mount grab bars next to the toilet and bathtub and in the shower for help getting up or down.

Kitchen

Free/Low-Cost Home Improvements
1. Keep floors clean and uncluttered.
2. Illuminate work areas.
3. Mark "on" and "off" positions on appliances clearly and with bright colors.
4. Store heavier objects at waist level.
5. Place or mount an A-B-C rated, all-purpose fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location near the stove and oven so that you’re prepared for any type of kitchen fire.
6. Store sharp knives in a rack.

Long Term Considerations*
1. Replace knobs on cabinets and drawers with easy-to-grip, D-shaped handles.
2. Install offset hinges on all doors to add two inches of width for wheelchair access, if needed.
3. Install a security peephole on exterior doors at the correct height for you.
4. Install outdoor floodlights that switch on by motion sensors to light your way and to deter burglars.

General

Free/Low-Cost Home Improvements
1. Open blinds and curtains and raise shades during daylight hours to increase natural light inside the home.
2. Place exposed electrical, telephone and computer cords along a wall where people won’t trip over them.
3. Remove all cords from under furniture or carpeting to lessen the risk of fire.
4. Remove clutter from stairways and passageways to help prevent trips and falls.
5. Check the carpeting on your stairs to be sure it is firmly attached.
6. Arrange furniture to allow for easy passage.
7. Create an emergency exit plan in case of a fire.
8. Remove debris from outdoor walkways.
9. Trim shrubbery to provide a clear view from doors and windows.
10. Increase light and decrease glare by using the highest-watt light bulbs or compact-fluorescent bulbs appropriate for your light fixtures or lamps. Use only non-glare incandescent bulbs (or the fluorescent equivalents).
11. Put nightlights in the bathroom and in hallways leading from the bedroom to the bathroom.
12. Keep a smoke detector on every floor and in each bedroom.
13. Make sure that all staircases have good lighting with switches at top and bottom.
14. Replace traditional light switches with easy-to-use, rocker-style light switches.
15. Install smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors on all levels of the house, especially where the bedrooms are.

Long Term Considerations*
1. Install railings on stairs, including basement stairs, and consider railings on both sides of the steps for an extra stability option.
2. Have a professional home evaluation to match your individual needs and habits.
3. Install a shelf at the main entrance door to hold items when locking and unlocking the door and install bigger, lever handles.

Apples to Apples? How to Compare Remodeling Proposals

Most Importantly… Do You Trust This Person?

When it comes down to it, the most important thing to check is your own instincts. How do you feel about this contractor working on what is probably your single largest investment – your home? Do you trust this person inside your home and around your children? Can you communicate well with this person about the project? Are they ‘in tune’ to your needs? Are they an expert and experienced in the type of project you are envisioning? Don't throw away money on poor workmanship that will lower the value of your home. And then cost more to be fixed.

Important Considerations:

• Remodeling is NOT a commodity – you don’t decide on the project you want done and, like a TV or Car, go bargain shopping on the internet or around town. This effects your family’s wellbeing for an extended period of time, the value of your home and your hard earned dollars.
• No two Remodelers are the same.
• Every project is custom.
• You must thoroughly review each proposal to get an understanding of what each contractor is presenting a bid for.
• Your prospective Remodeler’s should be consulting with you to create your project, not selling you on what they think should be done.

8 Questions to Ask:

1. Will they provide their Contractor Registration info (1)?
2. Do they offer Full Health Insurance to their employees?
3. Do they have Liability Insurance?
4. Are they Lead Paint Certified (2)?
5. How much will Change Orders cost / change the original quote?
6. Do they guarantee their proposal price? Or is it just an 'estimate'?
7. Are they experienced in home remodeling or new home building (there is a HUGE difference)?
8. Have there been any complaints to the BBB (3) about them?

Does the contractor, price and contract include?

• Designs/Plans/Permits
• Realistic Allowances for your fixtures, cabinets, flooring, etc?
• All required legal documents – 3 days to cancel clause, Arbitration clause, etc
• Do they require no more than 1/3 down payment (excluding special order items), as required by PA law?
• Is there a clear listing of all of the specific details involved, including design, permits, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, inspections?
• A workmanship warranty?

VALUE is KEY.

There are two ways a contractor can earn your business. He can try to be the lowest price or the best value. (4)

The lowest price typically comes with a large amount of risk. A low price typically means the following: no experience, low overhead (lack of capital, needs large down payment), no workers compensation insurance, no general liability insurance, no business license, and no contractor’s registration. The more items on the above list that applies, the greater the risk to the homeowner.

The best value is typically achieved when the customer knows exactly what they are going to receive (detailed specifications) from a company that has a solid reputation built on years of experience with the type of project you are having done. They will supply a large reference list of previous customers in your area, require no more than 1/3 down payment (PA State Law, excluding special order items), provide proof of insurance with a contact and phone number, proof of business license, and a state contractor’s registration and EPA lead paint certification. They will also offer a Warranty on their workmanship.

Resources:
(1) PA Attorney General Contractor Registration Search
(2) EPA RRP (Lead Paint) Certified Firm Search
(3) Better Business Bureau (BBB)
(4) Remodeling Magazine 2011-12 Harrisburg, PA Cost vs. Value Report

Home Contractor Horror Stories (and how you can avoid them)

Sometimes real life is scarier than the movies... like when you are looking for a Home Remodel Contractor in Lancaster, PA, but have no idea who to call. All we hear are stories, like the ones below, about contractors ripping people off and walking off with sometimes 6 figures of hard earned money. Some reports say upwards of $2 Billion a year is taking from people in Contractor Fraud. And that doesn't include the ones that perform shoddy work that needs to be redone by a professional remodeler within a few months... or the value of the home will significantly drop.



Our tips: Do your research! Ask for references and registration info and check for ratings online. Throw price aside, you get what you pay for - select the remodeler who you feel comfortable working with. They will be in your home day after day.



 
Videos:



NC Home Contractor Accused of Fraud:



Home Improvement Scams: Unlicensed Contractors:



This woman was ripped off so bad, she started her own bootcamp to help people avoid a similar nightmare: http://www.contractorsfromhell.com/home-premodeling-boot-camp-for-women-and-the-men-who-love-them/



Articles:



Excerpt from "A Contractor Horror Story? Join the Crowd" from NYTimes.com.



ALL she wanted was a nice fence around her backyard. Danielle O’Connell was planning a 2-year-old birthday party for her daughter at the family’s Elmsford home and wanted the 18 toddlers safely fenced in.



Mrs. O’Connell and her husband got several estimates but were discouraged by the cost and how long it would take to finish. All the contractors who bid told them the fence would cost at least $5,000 and take four to six weeks to put up.



Then the O’Connells got lucky — at least they thought they did. The couple found a contractor in the Yellow Pages who promised to build the fence for $2,000 and to do it in a week. “We were like, ‘Thank God we found this guy,’ ” Mrs. O’Connell said. “We’re thinking, ‘This is fantastic — those other people were going to rip us off.’ ”



There was a rip-off involved, of course, but it was by the low bidder, not the other contractors. After pressuring Mrs. O’Connell to give him a $1,000 deposit for construction material quickly, he disappeared. He never showed up to build the fence, nor did he answer the phone calls Mrs. O’Connell made as the weeks dragged on.



The O’Connells later found out that he is suspected of bilking at least 11 others out of their money, too.



Excerpt from "Learn from Other People's Contractor Horror Stories" from NewsChannel5.com.



Jason Brooks is another former customer of Carlton's.



Brooks paid him $50,000 to build an addition for his in-laws.



As he walks around the half-finished project, he points out different areas where there are problems. Much of Carlton did, Brooks tells NewsChannel 5 Investigates, failed inspection. And then, he says, Carlton vanished and wouldn't return calls.



"He's turned what was supposed to be a dream project into a complete nightmare," Brooks shares.



But perhaps what is most surprising is that Carlton knows what he's doing is wrong.



Our investigation found that he's been arrested repeatedly for working as a contractor without a professional license. We also found that he's ignored repeated orders by the state to stop working until he gets a license.



And, get this. He's even used someone else's license, claiming it was his.



Jason Brooks believes, "He doesn't care. That's the thing. He doesn't care about this. He doesn't respect the law."



Gene Spitzer adds, "We just thought cause he was a minister, he would be a decent human being."



Tips on choosing the RIGHT home remodeling contractor:



Tips from the BBB: Hiring a Contractor - Do you know the Red Flags?:



PA State Rep Joseph Preston, Jr: "Check for Home Contractor Registration":





When it's time for your Lancaster County, PA renovations - Trust MBC:

Lancaster County, PA Home Addition Calculator

Most of the Lancaster County, PA homeowners we talk to have no idea the cost of building some sort of home addition, like a sunroom, family room, master suite or garage. Now there are many different projects that fall under the addition category, and they aren’t just all the same cost of course. You should plan to invest anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000+ depending on the type of room addition project you and your family are planning.



Now I’m sure you are saying, “That is a ridiculously big range... What about my sunroom?”… or mudroom, or garage, et al.

Answer? We created this Addition Investment Calculator for Lancaster County, PA to help you get a realistic idea of what you should plan on investing in your specific room addition project.

Major Investment Calculator Factors: To get a clearer idea of where your project may fall in the range below, you must consider a lot of different things. The following are just some of the factors that typically affect the cost of adding on to your home.

Size: The first major investment consideration is the square footage you envision on your project. No matter which project you are planning, bigger will always require a higher investment.

Exterior Finishes: The type of siding you choose plays an important role on the cost of your addition. Also, your door styles, roofing material, and any exterior lights you want will add to the bottom line.

Interior Finishes: Inside, there are a lot of ways to increase your position on the addition calculator below. What are we going to need? The type of flooring; total number and sizes of windows; trim work? If you are adding a kitchen, bathroom or other family area, you may need to choose cabinets, fixtures, countertops, tub material, paint and/or extra outlets.

Types of Additions:
Sunroom: $20,000 – 70,000+

Mudroom: $15,000 – 35,000+


Family Room: $50,000 – 70,000+

Bathroom Addition: $35,000 – 70,000+


Kitchen Addition: $35,000 - 100,000+

Garage w/ or w/o In Law Quarters upstairs: $50,000 – 140,000+
Additional garage building considerations: 1 story or 2? # of windows and entry doors? Number and style of garage doors? Finished drywall inside? In-laws quarters: bathroom and kitchen finish/appliance considerations?

Master Suite: $100,000 – 200,000+

2nd story: $150,000 – 200,000+

About this calculator:
• These estimated numbers are based on our long experience in the Lancaster County, PA remodeling field and Remodeling Magazine’s 2011-2012 Harrisburg, PA Cost vs. Value Report.
• All additions are structural buildings, meaning they require building permits, foundations must be dug and poured, Township inspections, etc.

These price ranges are very large, so contact us to get an exact quote on your Lancaster County, PA home addition! We can also help you with financing, design and floor plans.

Do you want a 4-season Sunroom or a 3-season Porch?

Sometimes while discussing a 4-season sunroom with our Lancaster County, PA clients, we get on the discussion of an alternative option: a 3-season room. Most of the time people were not aware of the term 3-season room or what it was, even though they usually have seen one after we explain it.

Here is a quick rundown of 4-season and 3-season rooms, their pros and cons and even an idea if you’re considering your own addition!

What is a 4-season room? A four-season room is a heated room addition. These are structures added to your home. The most common types are sunrooms and mudrooms. With a sunroom, you have large windows to let in the sun! A mudroom is usually a place of entry into the home, used for umbrellas, shoes and storage, or even a nice breakfast nook!



These usually allow the perfect place to relax with your family during the beautiful sunny days, but no matter what the weather outside is doing you can enjoy these rooms 365 days a year.

Pros:
• Air-conditioned and heated for year round enjoyment.
• Enjoy the natural light. Sunrooms with a lot of windows give you an “outdoor” feeling with out leaving the AC!

Cons:
• This is a structure like your home, meaning it needs a foundation dug and footers laid. This adds to the cost of building the new room.

Ideas:
• Cover your whole sunroom roof with windows for a complete outdoor experience!

What is a 3-season room? A 3-season room is a windowed room that is not heated, therefore it is (usually) unusable in the cold winter months. They are however perfect for those cool nights of Spring and Fall, as well as being outside on a hot Summer day without the sun beating down on you and your family. You can either enclose an existing deck or porch, or build a completely new one.

Tip: When adding or enclosing a porch, use four-track windows for the best performance of the room.

Pros:
• Less expensive.
• Can take as little as a few days to complete an enclosure of an existing porch.

Cons:
• This room is usually not in use during the Winter months.

Ideas:
• Consider Sunspace four-track vinyl windows. They are custom, durable and affordable, so replacing the screens on your existing porch is a breeze.

I hope that covers it! If you have any questions or are ready for a sunroom or enclosed porch in Lancaster County, PA, please contact Mike Blank, CGR CAPS and MBC Building & Remodeling, LLC in Millersville!