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Remodel or Relocate?

8 Critical Questions to Consider

2016 Building & Remodeling Expo MetraPark Montana Pavilion Saturday, January 9 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, January 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Courtesy of the Home Builders Association of Billings

Home buying and home remodeling television programs aren’t just a fad; their enduring popularity indicates that they’re here to stay. If you’re among the growing masses of dedicated viewers, you might begin (if you haven’t already) to look around and notice some of your own home’s shortcomings.

Inadequate storage, limited cooking space or simply an outdated design might conjure thoughts of one day remodeling your kitchen, bathrooms or living spaces. Or instead, perhaps you’ll begin to consider moving into a bigger or newer home.

Whether you decide to remodel or relocate, your decision will involve a great deal of logistics, emotions and, of course, finances. Thoroughly weighing the pros and cons of each option now will help you feel more prepared to act when the time is right. Start by asking yourself these questions:

Home Builders Association of Billings 1645 Ave. D, Suite F Billings, MT 59102 (406) 252-7533

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What’s in the budget? The first step is the most obvious: you’ll need to crunch some numbers to determine what is financially feasible.

Remodeling can be a great investment and save you the hassle of moving. But it requires a great deal of patience and flexibility. On the other hand, buying a home can be instantly gratifying, but the true costs of buying (and selling) – such as commissions, closing costs and moving fees – need to be part of the equation, as that is money you won’t get back.

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Is it a simple fix that you can do yourself? Or a bigger project that will require a professional? Some home owners are especially handy and want to tackle the job themselves. But most others like having the assurance of knowing a professional – who has the necessary equipment, expertise and resources – will get the job done right the first time.

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(such as load-bearing walls that can’t be removed, or space constraints that will not allow for an addition), you may need to consider moving.

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Are there any zoning restrictions that would affect the remodeling project(s) What is the current value of your home you envision? These laws vary widely by compared to similar homes in your neigharea, so go to your local zoning office and ask borhood? If your home is already the most for a copy of your local ordinance. expensive one in the neighborhood, you might not see a significant return on your investment if you How do you feel about your current neighremodel. But if comparable home values are greater borhood? Even if you changed everything than your home’s value, you’re much more likely to about your home, there are many things outsee a strong return by making improvements. side of your home over which you have no control.

Give some thought to the school district, proximHow might your decision impact your ity to work, parks and shopping centers, and the taxes? Remodeling your current home or overall look and feel of the community. moving to a new home will have an effect on your property taxes. The change may or may not The answers to these questions are different for be significant, so it’s good to keep it in mind. everyone, which is why it is important for you to carefully consider each one while keeping in mind How might your needs change in the next your unique situation. This will help you effectively 3, 5 or 10 years? A growing family, kids going determine which step is right for you so that next off to college, an aging family member moving year, you can be confident in your home’s ability to in – all are examples of factors that can significantly not only survive the holidays, but to also keep up impact your future requirements for a home. with the demands of your everyday life.

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You could spend THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND HOURS remodeling your old home,

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Whether you decide to remodel or relocate, your decision will involve a great deal of logistics, emotions and, of course, finances.

å you could jus just

move in to a new one.

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Is the layout of your current home conduFor additional resources on remodeling your cive to a remodel? All other considerations home or buying a new home, contact The Home aside, if you have limited options to alter Builders Association of Billings 406-252-7533, your home in a way that will address your needs HBABillings.net or visit nahb.org/forconsumers.

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Food & Beverage Services

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Secondary Entrance From Rear Parrking & Expo Building

EXHIBITOR AND BOOTH LIST Business ................................................................ Booth # A-1 Drilling.........................................................................................58 Advanced Counter Technology ............................................78 A&H Turf ............................................................................................13 Bailey Garage ............................................................................76,77 Beyond the Box..............................................................................93 B-Fit ...............................................................................................29,30 Big Sky Exterior Designs .........................................................20 Billings Gazette Communications.......................................24 Billings Insulation Service ..........................................................4 Bloedorn Lumber.............................................................................2 Bobcat of Big Sky, Inc........................................................25,26 Brey Industries ..............................................................................56 Carpet One.......................................................................................8,9 CK Tech Security...........................................................................45 Comfort Heating & Air, LLC...................................................95 Comtech Audio Theater Security................................ 61,62 Fabricators Unlimited .................................................................31 Ferguson Enterprises ..........................................................43,44 First Interstate Bank ..................................................................19 Fred’s Appliance ............................................................................68

Garage Storage Solutions .......................................................82 Great Northern Builders/RR Retreat...............................52 Kenco Security & Technology ...............................................85 KLJ Engineering ............................................................................92 Knife River..........................................................................................21 Komposition .............................................................................. 27,28 Leisure in Montana, Inc .........................72,73,74,85,86,87 Lynnrich Seamless Siding & Windows.....................50,51 MacArthur Co .................................................................................15 Magic City Granite..................................................................10,11 Magic City Realty ......................................................................... 75 Majestic Homes ................................................................................ 7 McCall Development ..................................................................... 3 Montana Real Estate Brokers .............................................. 57 Montana Window & Door ...................................................100 Moser Construction .............................................................63,64 Mountain Vertical .........................................................................14 Newman Built Quality Homes...............................................99 Northwest Floors ...................................................................90,91 Oldenburg Construction ...........................................................86 Patriot Construction...................................................................49

PayneWest Insurance ...............................................................96 Pierce Flooring ........................................................36-40,41,60 ProBuild .......................................................................................69,70 R & T Services ......................................................................... 32,33 Republic Services..........................................................................80 River Ranch Retreat/GN Builders ......................................84 Smart Home Systems, Inc.......................................................71 Soft Touch Designs......................................................................83 Stockman Bank .......................................................................97,98 Territorial Landworks .................................................................81 The Picard Co..................................................................................34 Thomae Lumber ................................................................... 17&18 Tivetne Turf.......................................................................................12 Trailhead Builders.............................................................................1 Vertex Controls.............................................................................5,6 Ventling Building ...........................................................................52 Vinton Construction....................................................................79 White Heating & Air Conditioning ......................................16 Win Dor Industries ...................................................................... 35

2016 Building & Remodeling Expo MetraPark Montana Pavilion Saturday, January 9 Sunday, January 10 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BillingsBuildingExpo.com

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How to Choose a Home Builder Courtesy of the Home Builders Association of Billings

If you’re in the market for a new home, you should shop for your builder as carefully as you shop for your home.

Whether you are buying a condo, a townhouse, a house in a subdivision or a custom-built house, you want to know that you are buying a good quality home from a reputable builder. Here are some tips to help you choose a builder.

Make a List of Possible Builders

Once you have thought about the type of house you want, you can create a list of potential builders.

Contact your local home builders association to obtain a list of builders who construct homes in your area. In Billings the local HBA can be reached at 406-2527533 or online at HBABillings.net. Your local home builders association can provide you with information on licensed professional builders and contractors. Reputable

builders tend to maintain memberships with their local HBA. Look in the real estate section of your local newspaper for builders and projects. Looking through the ads and reading the articles can help you to learn which builders are active in your area, the types of homes they are building and the prices you can expect to pay. Make a list of builders who build the type of home you’re looking for in your price range.

Local real estate agents may also be able to help you in your search.

Ask friends and relatives for recommendations. Ask about builders they have dealt with directly, or ask them for names of acquaintances who have recently had a good experience with a builder.

Do Your Homework

When you have a list of potential builders, it’s time to start asking lots of questions — of both the potential builders and the owners of their homes.

Interview potential home builders

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to get the answers to all the questions you have.

Then, visit a builder’s recently built homes and subdivisions. Drive by on a Saturday morning when home owners may be outside doing chores or errands. Introduce yourself and say you are considering buying a home from the builder who built their home. Talk to several owners, and try to get a random sample of opinions. The more people you talk with, the more accurate the impression of a builder you are likely to get.

Some questions to ask home owners include: Are you happy with your home?

If you had any problems, were they fixed promptly and properly? Would you buy another home from this builder?

Usually, people tell you if they are pleased with their homes. And if they are not, they’ll probably want to tell you why.

At the very least, drive by and see if the homes are visually appealing.

When you talk to builders and home owners, take along a notebook to record

the information you find and your personal impressions about specific builders and homes. Doing so will help you to make comparisons later.

Shop for Quality and Value

Look at new homes whenever you can.

Home shows and open houses sponsored by builders are good opportunities to look at homes. Model homes and houses displayed in home shows are often furnished to give you ideas for using the space. You may also ask a builder to see unfurnished homes.

When examining a home, look at the quality of the construction features. Inspect the quality of the cabinetry, carpeting, trim-work and paint. Ask the builder or the builder’s representative a lot of questions. Get as many specifics as possible. If you receive the answers verbally rather than in writing, take notes. Never hesitate to ask a question. What seems like an insignificant question might yield an important answer.

Why Hire a Professional Home Remodeler Courtesy of the Home Builders Association of Billings

If you are considering a home remodeling project, the most important decision you can make is selecting a professional home remodeler to do the job. Your home is too important to entrust to anyone but a professional home remodeler can: Save you money by doing your job right the first time.

Ensure that your dreams are accurately translated into reality by offering design services in-house or through an arrangement with a professional architect or designer.

Understand that your comfort during the project and its successful completion depend on effective communication and follow-through.

Maintain a safe and neat job site to prevent damage to your home or injury to household members and pets.

Provide the best possible materials within your budget and assist you in making selections through the vendors they work with.

Ensure that your job meets or exceeds applicable building codes and regulations such as the EPA Lead Paint rule for work on homes built before 1978.

Guarantee the quality of their work with a warranty.

Respond promptly to service calls and inquiries.

The Home Builders Association of Billings can provide you with a list of licensed professional builders and remodelers.

A professional home remodeler can guarantee the quality of their work with a warranty.

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