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It's best to get professional cleaners to work on carpets and floors, but this may not be possible. In any case, begin cleanup as soon as possible.
Information about selecting contractors based primarily on bids received from the contractors to do the work.
Provided is a sample punch list of items that homeowners may want to use as part of developing a project punch list. If you and your contractor disagree about an item on the punch list, a good reference guide to help with your negotiations is National Association of Home Builders’ “Residential Construction Performance Guidelines”.
In this section we talk about drafting a bid specification that potential contractors can use to make offers to perform the work you need done.
View this sample contract to get an idea of the language your contract may include. Source: LouisianaRebuilds, which has transferred to GNO, Inc. (www.gnoinfo.com/housing/contractor-guide/)
There are risks and requirements involved in self-contracting. Building your own home almost never ends up costing less than you anticipated. There almost always will be extra costs associated with something that happens as a result of mistakes made, or unforeseen situations that require additional work. The risk can cost you more than what it is worth.
Portal page for section of the web that deals with contracts for construction work and change orders used to change what the contract says.
Portal Page for information on knowing when and how to pay contractors for homebuilding and home restoration work.
This fact sheet summarizes National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulatory requirements concerning coastal construction and provides recommendations for exceeding those requirements. SOURCE: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series (FEMA 499 - 2010 edition): Fact Sheet G 1.2.
The best time to buy flood insurance is now. Coverage usually doesn't begin until 30 days after the purchase date.
Thie following steps should be taken to file an insurance claim for disaster damage to your home.
If you need furnishings and appliances but cannot afford the full purchase price up front, you can rent the item, rent with the intent to purchase, or purchase on a monthly installment plan. If your intent is to own the item, compare the cost of purchase when choosing one of these options.
After a disaster such as a hurricane, flood or fire, important papers may be destroyed, lost or damaged. Agencies, Web sites and procedures that can help you replace important papers are included in this fact sheet.
One of the hardest determinations you'll have to make when you decide to restore a damaged home is how much work needs to be done - and how much help you'll need.
If you have decided to restore your storm-damaged home, you’ve already determined that your neighbors are probably coming back, that public utilities will be restored (or you will provide your own), that you will have police, fire and medical services and that there will be jobs and schools. Other things to consider include new building regulations, cost estimates, debris removal, opportunities to upgrade systems and add space.
Almost 70% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, courting disaster if their income is suddenly reduced or stopped. Katrina and Rita took homes and jobs, leaving many with a need to save for rebuilding. Here are some strategies for saving for recovery.
There are many different types of mortgages a person can get when buying or building a home. Some people decide for themselves what type of mortgage best suits their needs. But, if you’d rather have a professional’s advice, you should consult a mortgage counselor. This article lists a few types of mortgages you may consider.
The residential building inspector examines residential projects under construction to ensure they are being built according to the building codes adopted by the state and/or local municipality. In so doing, the building inspector helps protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Residential inspectors are typically employees of the local jurisdiction, but may be third-party providers.
The role of a residential landscape architect is varied and can be complex. In very broad terms, a residential landscape architect generally develops and provides design plans for a homeowner’s property that utilizes both landscape and hardscape (built structures or constructed elements such as patios or arbors) elements to provide beauty and function for the homeowner, as well as to solve any related issues.
An energy rater assesses a house to determine the home’s level of energy efficiency. This audit , called a rating.
A home inspector inspects the visible exterior and interior systems and components of a residential structure for condition, safety issues, and evidence of potential problems. It is important to note that a home inspection is different from an appraisal that determines market value, from a code-compliance inspection, and from a warranty evaluation.
This article informs the consumer what a residential electrician does, what licenses are required, if any, in the state of Louisiana in order for the electrician to work on your home, how to verify any licenses, and how to become an electrician.
If the recent hurricanes have landed trees on your property, Dr. Hallie Dozier of the LSU AgCenter cautions you to hire only Louisiana-licensed professional arborists remove the trees.
This article describes what a plumber does and why you might need one; how a plumber gets licensed; and how the homeowner can verify the license.
Land surveyors determine legal property boundaries. They also establish subsurface mineral boundaries to determine the distribution of mineral rights.
An interior designer works on the interior and is specially trained in this area. Interior designers follow much of the same design steps and procedures as architects do, only the work of interior designers is specific to the interior.
An architect is a design professional who designs environments in which people live, work, and play.
This discussion of different methods of counseling and different factors to use in finding a counselor can help the consumer make good choices in selecting a mental health professional service.
Structural engineering is a sub-specialty of civil engineering, but can also be a stand-alone degree. Structural engineers design the systems that ensure that buildings and other structures are safely supported and able to resist forces against them, such as hurricane winds.
Real estate agents facilitate the buying and selling of property, such as land and buildings. These agents serve as representatives/negotiators for buyers and sellers. Real estate agents can serve as a “buyer’s agent” or as a “seller’s agent.”
Making every day decisions is not always easy. It came be even more difficult to make a decision after a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood windstorm. Some people may believe they don’t have any options. While there are always options, it’s not always easy for some people to decide what to do.
In simplest terms, a residential contractor constructs or renovates a building, or supervises the construction or renovation of a building. The contractor provides labor for the job, as well as schedules each phase of the job and the professionals involved.
A building designer designs residential and agricultural light frame buildings, such as single family homes. A designer also might design decorative facades for larger structures.
Civil engineers are concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of an altered physical or natural man-made environment. For instance, civil engineers may design bridges, roads, dams, and buildings.
As you attempt to restore your life and home after a storm, the availability of local companies and individuals to perform the necessary services will be limited. It often may be advisable to do temporary repairs and wait for local contractors who will be there to guarantee their work long after the storm is over.
Local communities have adopted codes and floodplain regulations that govern building construction and development in floodplains. These requirements, which can apply to both new construction and repair of existing buildings, differ in different flood zones. This document details the minimum regulations.
Louisiana law requires all real estate agents working in the state to have a license. Information on who has a license, how one can get a license, as well as information on filing a complaint can be found at the Louisiana Real Estate Commission's Web site.
This checklist provides a list of items to look for when you inspect a new or existing house before you purchase the home.
Lenders usually require a termite inspection and mechanical equipment inspection. A more complete inspection is a good idea. Getting a thorough inspection before you buy a home can save you thousands of dollars.
Knowing what questions to ask can save you lots of money and help you find the best contractor to build your house. The Capital Region Builder's Association has provided the attached information to help you ask the right questions.
Mobile homes have been steadily growing in popularity as a temporary and permanent primary residence for many Louisiana residents. Mobile homes can provide years of comfortable and convenient living, while giving you the most for the dollar you spend on electricity. Using the following energy conservation tips will help you to make the least of your electric bill.
This page defines some terms used in home construction, repair and maintenance. It is not a comprehensive list but will provide a quick reference for homeowners who are unfamiliar with building terminology. Based on the Housing and Urban Development's 1996 Glossary, but expanded to include terms related to flood and wind resistance, energy, new technologies and architectural terms.
Living in a mobile homes is one option you can consider when planning for your future housing needs. In the past, mobile homes typically were considered starter homes. But today, many people are choosing to make mobile homes their permanent dwelling.
"Factory-Built Home” is a generic term that refers to any home that has been predominately designed and constructed in a controlled factory or plant environment. Factory processes are extremely efficient with materials and, thus, are considered more environmentally friendly. In addition, the factory environment can provide a much greater degree of quality control, compared to on-site construction.
Manufactured Homes are the buildings we have, in the past, referred to as mobile homes or trailers. While other factory-built homes are built to the codes of the area where they will be installed, manufactured homes are built to a special HUD-code and installed in accordance with HUD guidelines. Thus they are sometimes referred to as HUD-Code homes.
For those who need fast, affordable and reliable solutions for their housing problems, modular homes might be the best solution. In contrast to what many people think, modular homes are quite different than manufactured or trailer homes. In fact, they are very similar to site-built homes.
Factory built homes are nearly undetectable from the street and, often, people cannot recognize, from appearance alone, the difference between a factory built home and a site built home. In New Orleans, manufacturers have been dedicated to creating stock designs that are specific to the New Orleans region. The architectural style of a typical New Orleans “shotgun” style house has been adopted and modified to create new home styles that fit seamlessly in their environments.
When calm returns after the storm, it’s time to assess the damage and begin repairs. A number of factors should be considered, and the following information may be helpful.
Hiring a qualified contractor for mold remediation is not required, but is generally safer and more effective than a “do-it-yourself” approach.
Although it is uncommon in most homes, toxic mold, also known as black mold, has become a major issue for some home builders and homeowners in the United States. The effects have run the gamut from disposal to litigation. An understanding of the mold issue from these points of view can aid private companies, public policy makers and extension professionals in developing and disseminating unbiased, useful information to these and other groups.
An arborist can help you keep your trees healthy and give you peace of mind. Their professional services can help you with an array of other tree care practices, including transplanting, pruning, fertilizing and managing pests. Most arborists are also skilled in tree removal and value appraisals. You will want to read the questionnaire provided in this article to help you decide if you need any of these special services.
“Should I repair or should I teardown?” “Should I rebuild here or should I rebuild somewhere else?”There are so many factors that play a part in answering these questions that it must seem overwhelming.
Homeowners in South Louisiana and elsewhere in the Gulf South who are building homes should add termite protection in the process. Combining termite protection with proper strapping for wind resistance and anchoring to prevent floatation present some challenges for maintaining the integrity of the barrier..
If you're thinking of rebuilding in a new location, and would consider moving to a new community, you can do some "long distance" research on the Internet, but visit the new community before making a decision.
In this section we describe the construction process from getting bids, to contracting, to closing out the project.
This section has information about people who provide special services related to homebuilding. These include home inspection, homeowner construction representatives, energy rating, pest control, landscape and flood and wind resistance.
Portal Page for information about the building industry professionals involved in buying and selling property, including real estate, banking and legal services.
Portal Page for Getting Started. To help people organize their thoughts and affair and begin to approach their restoration or rebuilding project.
Portal Page for information about preparing yourself and your family financially for a home purchase or home restoration project.
Portal Page for information that would be helpful to people getting started with a project to build a new home on the same site as their storm-damaged home.
This section of the web includes information that will help Road Home participants get started planning their start-fresh, home building project.
Portal page for information about the advantages and disadvantages of site-built vs factory built homes or home components.
Many homes and other structures that were severely damaged in the Katrina and Rita hurricanes had been built on concrete slabs. The question that is on many homeowners’ minds is “Can I reuse the slab?” This answer will require homeowners to ask other questions that are explained in this article.
A flood-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion.
A description of the procedures for disinfecting a water well after a flood.
