When Should You Hire A Professional for Home Improvement Projects?

What To Do in Case of An Auto Accident

still a couple of options. For example, you may want to “update” while keeping the same floor plan and you have a very modest budget. In this scenario, even though you would like to hire a remodeling contractor, you may be forced to consider hiring each contractor for the project and scheduling the work yourself. Depending on the exact nature of the work, hiring a handyman may be a better option for you.

If there are structural changes involved in the project such as removing walls, doing so can greatly impact a second-floor space, roof structure or overall building integrity. An experienced general remodeling contractor understands this type of work.

photo courtesy of Shutterstock

by: Lisa Parelli-Monaghan

Both DIY (Do It Yourself) and Professional Projects (remodeling, plumbing, electrical, etc.) have their costs. For a DIY job, the biggest investment is your time. When you hire a professional, it’s cash. In both cases, however, you want to get the most for your money. By keeping a few tips in mind when you consider starting a project, you can maximize your investment – in both time and money.

There are generally five situations in which you should consider hiring a professional: 1. If Your Life is too Busy. Consider what you have going on in your life…what other projects or activities would you forego to completely DIY the project? 2. If DIY is Not Your Cup of Tea. If you dislike the thought of spending time to do the project even though you have the skills to do it and you dread it, don’t take it on! 3. What is your Time Worth? If your time is equal in value to the amount it would cost to pay someone else, then it is not worth doing. As an example, if your time is worth $100 an hour and it would take you 10 hours to do it yourself, it definitely makes more sense to pay $1000 to someone who likely can get it done in less time.

4. The Project is too Dangerous!

Let’s be smart about this…electrical, climbing on ladders, etc. are not worth the risk of hurting yourself. Leave it to the professionals!

5. You have no Clue what you’re

doing. Sometimes those videos on

YouTube can’t help you through… leave it to the professionals.

By thinking through these considerations, you can make an informed decision about DIY versus Professional Project. If you decide to engage a Professional, there are City code compliance is also important. While it sometimes seems like a hassle, code compliance is necessary for your family’s safety. A home remodeling contractor should understand how your space change will be affected by code. They would take this into consideration in the permitting process and in the instructions and direction given to the different subcontractors on the project. Ultimately, permits and city inspections will help ensure that code compliance is met.

By definition, a remodeling contractor, otherwise known as a general contractor, is an individual or firm that estimates a project, orders materials, schedules multiple crews (both employee and subcontractors) and supervises those crews until a project is completed. When hiring a home remodeling contractor, you get the benefit of their years of experience, the relationships they have forged with vendors, suppliers and city inspectors, and their knowledge of running construction projects. There is a financial value assigned to hiring a GC. You must believe your time and level of experience is worth hiring someone else to help you, or a remodeling contractor is not a good fit for you.

Always remember: you get what you pay for and you only want to pay for a project once! Your time is money. And most importantly, know that general contractors do not have to be licensed in the State of Texas. Do your homework and decide wisely!

photos provided by Agnès Denvir

Meet our CCL Family of the Month Adrian, Agnès, Aenghus and Ambrose Denvir

This month we welcome to the pages of Canyon Creek Life one of our neighborhood’s most fascinating families: Agnès, Adrian, Aenghus and Ambrose Denvir. Agnès (pronounced on-YEZ) is originally from Nîmes in the south of France, while Adrian grew up in Downpatrick (the town where Saint Patrick is buried), Northern Ireland. Theirs is such an interesting love story, which began more than thirty years ago in Paris, France. According to the couple, they met at an AC/DC concert in the “City of Love.” Adrian recalls, “I was abandoned by my friends before the concert and ended up standing beside Agnès at the show. She was impressed that I knew all the lyrics to the songs and we hit it off right then and there.” He still has the T-shirt from the show and they’ve been married twentyseven years. Agnès laughs, “Time flies when you rock’n’roll!”

This family takes having fun to a new level! They like to swim, to travel, to watch movies and sports, to play card games, board games, any games together, and to eat. Adrian loves to grill and Agnès is an accomplished baker, having binge-watched literally every episode of Paul Hollywood’s The Great British Bake Off and recreating each recipe during the COVID-19 quarantine. She’s especially fond of Hollywood’s essential book “How to Bake” and says that “his recipes are absolutely perfect, including French classics such as croissants and pains au chocolat.”

The Denvirs have maintained their European tradition of sitting together around the table for meals and love the time together, catching up with everyone’s day. They always have a French-Irish style Christmas on Christmas Eve with a traditional “raclette” dinner: raclette cheese, deli meats and potatoes with all the trimmings. They use a cooking apparatus called a raclette machine to melt the cheese. Desserts are usually a combination of French (roulés au nutella, tarte aux abricots and more) and Irish (homemade trifle, mince pies and pavlova). The family enjoys time together at the table before going to midnight Mass.

Agnès is a middle school Spanish and LOTE (Languages Other Than English)

teacher at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas. A passionate lover of language and global cultures, she teaches a dozen languages and coaches Quiz Bowl, an academic competition that tests players on a wide variety of academic subjects. After graduating from a prestigious Paris school for translators and interpreters, Agnès worked in France and in the UK. She continued translating when the Denvirs moved to the United States until she began teaching in Houston, their first American home.

When she’s not teaching or baking, she’ll be playing Bingo or on a trip to Choctaw with friends. But life is not all fun and games for Agnès. She’s also heavily involved with supporting the Metroplex’s Ukrainian community, in particular the UCCD, the Ukrainian Cultural Club of Dallas. It’s a charitable organization that, according to Agnes, “relentlessly helps the Ukrainians under attack in Ukraine as well as the refugees who have been displaced.”

Adrian received his Ph.D. in Applied Electrochemistry from the University of Southampton and his Bachelor of Science in Pure and Applied Chemistry from Coventry University in London. As the Director of New Science and Technology for NCH Corporation in Irving, he runs a research lab looking at solutions to water shortage as well as water reuse and recycling. Prior to NCH, he co-founded Lynntech Technology Transfer Division (based in Richardson), a spin off from parent Company Lynntech Inc. Lynntech Inc, a technology development company based in College Station, brought the couple to the United States. While working for the Technology Transfer Division, Adrian worked closely with UTD, UTSW, and UNT Health Science Center to spin out inventions as new start-up companies.

And while Adrian is very accomplished in his field, he’s also very “scary!” He loves working at the Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, where he’s been a haunt actor since 2018. Not only does he still act, but he has now become the stunt coordinator and works with the company’s promo team. If you were at the Wildflower Music Festival or at the Canyon Creek Fourth of July Parade, you may have seen him as Treeman on his stilts with his son Ambrose. He also enjoys designing and making costumes for the stilt creatures he creates.

Adrian has brought his special interest in costume creation and acting to Canyon Creek. It is not unusual to see him walking on stilts around Custer Park near the tennis courts in his Treeman costume, or Krampus costume, or other costume depending on the theme and season. One of his favorite things to do is “Krampusnacht” in the park. He dresses up as Krampus and his son Ambrose is Saint Nicholas. According to Adrian, “We hand out candy to the good boys and girls while the naughty ones

photos provided by Agnès Denvir

are taken away by Krampus. The first year we did it, someone posted in the Canyon Creek Residents Facebook page that there was a Warlock performing rituals in the park, which made me laugh.”

Adrian and Agnès have two sons: Aenghus (pronounced angus), 19, a sophomore at Texas A&M and Ambrose, 14, Treeman’s sidekick and a freshman at PISD Academy High School. Before that, Aenghus attended Aldridge until third grade, then St. Mark Catholic School,

and Ambrose attended St. Mark and St. Rita. Aenghus loves his faith, Formula 1, soccer and playing the viola. Ambrose is an entomologist and a gamer, who loves animé and mangas. Both of them speak French, Ambrose a bit more reluctantly. Adrian coached Aenghus when he played soccer in the Richardson Soccer League and was involved with both Aenghus and Ambrose at the Plano Rugby Club along with a few other dads from the neighborhood.

The Denvirs have lived in Canyon Creek for seventeen years after moving here from College Station in 2005. Adrian’s work brought them here, and Canyon Creek was exactly what they were looking for in a neighborhood. The family enjoys all the businesses and restaurants at II Creeks as well as the parks throughout the area. Recalls Agnès, “We definitely have a soft spot for Custer Park, where our kids used to play together on the playground, as we met many of the Canyon Creek friends we still have today (even though my Australian friend Relle Austin still claims to this day that I used to ignore her with my French haughtiness).” They also love hearing live music from local talent in a safe, familyfriendly atmosphere.

If you find yourself near Custer Park this holiday season, look for a man on stilts and stop to say hello. And if you’re hanging out at one of II Creeks’ events or restaurants and hear two different accents coming from one family—one French and one Irish—you’ll definitely want to introduce yourself to the Denvirs. Before you know it, you’ll be fast friends!

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Contact CertaPro Painters® today to schedule a FREE estimate

1202 E. Arapaho Road | Suite135 | Richardson, TX 75081. Please text cprichardsontx to 22828 to receive our fun and useful monthly emails

Shea Dupuis

photos courtesy by G3 Photography

Tell us your name and which Richardson schools you have attended.

My name is Shea Dupuis and I am currently a senior at JJ. Pearce High School. Before that, I attended Mohawk Elementary and North Junior High.

We’d love to hear about your sports journey.

I played volleyball in junior high and then tried out for the Pearce volleyball team. I made varsity my freshman year. I was also recruited to play club volleyball with Madfrog as a freshman. I’ve been lucky enough to play with several of my Pearce teammates who also play for Madfrog. I had played club soccer for Sting and Solar since first grade and had thought I wanted to play soccer in college. I continued to play both club and school volleyball and soccer my freshman and sophomore years, but the combination was difficult and took up a lot of time. After my sophomore year, I knew that volleyball was my passion, so I quit soccer to focus 100% on volleyball with the goal of playing in college.

This summer our Madfrog team qualified for Nationals and we finished tied for 9th place. We were tournament champions at Pacific NW Qualifier in Spokane and 3rd place at Lonestar Qualifier in Dallas. Last year our team finished in 3rd place at AAU Nationals. We beat a team that no one thought we could beat. It was a great way to finish the season because we had a lot of injuries, which made winning very challenging.

After Nationals, I was very fortunate to receive offers to play in college and have committed to playing D1 volleyball at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and I am very excited! I knew after my visit that it was the right place for me. I love the coach, the staff and the school. I have had a lot of support and guidance from Coach Nance at Pearce and owe a lot to her! I have also had support from my coaches at Madfrog, my teammates, friends and family. It’s a stressful process and I am glad to be done. GO CARDS!

Tell us about your other activities inside or outside of school (what you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.) and why you enjoy them.

I love being with my friends! I enjoy snow skiing, going to the lake with friends, the beach and traveling with my team and my family. My aunt and uncle have a ranch in South Texas and I love going there! Two years ago I shot the turkey that we ate for Thanksgiving. Over the summer I was a lifeguard at Greenwood Hills Pool, which was fun.

Brag on yourself: Tell us your honors and awards in school.

I was Academic All District for volleyball all four years of high school and have serve as the 2022 Varsity Co-Captain. I made AllDistrict 7-6A-1st Team my sophomore and junior years and was recently recognized for achieving 500 Career Kills! In 2021 I was named All-District 7-6A Hitter of the Year and JJ Pearce Offensive Player of the Year.

What’s your favorite subject in school?

Math is my favorite and most interesting subject. I also really enjoy being a Peer Helper. We mentor kids at the elementary schools twice a week.

How long have you lived in Canyon Creek and what do you love most about living here?

My family has been in Canyon Creek two and a half years. We were in the Mohawk neighborhood for fourteen years before moving here. We have great neighbors and I love living close to so many of my friends and being close to the golf course. When we first moved in, my friends and I would try to drive the golf cart to Chick-fil-A, but our parents put a stop to that. We thought it was fun, but they didn’t!

Tell us a favorite story or two about a memorable moment during high school.

I think my favorite moment would be last year in volleyball when we beat Lake Highlands at home. The game went to five matches and we beat them in the fifth. Our student section was awesome, and it was so great to beat them at home in front of our fans; we have the best student section in our district!

Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you?

This year I am coaching Prairie Creek sixth grade SVAA girls and I love it! We just started the season, but I can already tell that they are getting better. Wish us luck!

Designer Lulu

What is your name and the name of your business?

My name is Leslie Loving and the name of my business is Designer Lulu. Designer Lulu (that’s me!) has an array of offerings and the name of my Canyon Creek pop-up shop will be called Holiday Loving by Designer Lulu.

Tell us about yourself and the story behind the creation of Designer Lulu.

In 2019 I retired from my role as Creative Director for an Addison-based company and started my business as a wreath and floral design maker. During my two decades in Addison, I led a team of designers that focused on interior design of model apartments and leasing centers.

Here’s what I know: if you are creative, people will ask you to do just about anything. I wear many “hats,” creating hats being one of them! I have designed and sold headbands and bows for little girls and babies along with hats for ladies. When a Kentucky Derby or Tea Party happens, I often receive a call to create “over the top” hats, headbands or fascinators for the more refined ladies.

Another “hat” I wear is that of a home stager. One time a realtor friend asked me if I would be interested in shooting her 360-degree tours for her listings. We visited a home so she could show me how to use the camera. However, I was more interested in straightening pillows and moving things around to make the homeowners' things look better for the pictures than I was in the actual photography. My friend said, ‘’I think you should be my new stager.” So that is what I did and still do.

The knowledge and experience I gained during my years as a Creative Director informed my home staging endeavors and bolstered my passion for interior design which, in turn, added one more “hat” to my diverse collection: helping clients who are looking to update their home or office. I assist them with paint colors, layouts for furniture, accessories and more.

Designer Lulu also plans parties thanks to another friend. One day she was talking about a big party she needed to plan for her milestone birthday. I shared what I had done

photo credit by Jason and Leslie Loving

for my own milestone birthday and she asked me to plan hers. Boom! I added one more “hat” to my growing business.

I plan to open a brick & mortar pop up shop for my wreath and floral business in early October, which will be open through Christmas. The location of Holiday Loving by Designer Lulu will be 508 W. Lookout #22 in Richardson (between Get Noticed Boutique and The Wine Authority.) Shoppers can still find products in my online store at designerlulu.com.

What inspired you to do what you do?

Everything! I have always taken an interest in all things creative and I search for beauty in everything. My first job after school was working at a florist. I really loved flowers and discovered that I had a natural talent for flower arranging. After that I was involved in multi-family property management. I moved from the management side to the vendor side of multi-family when I became their Creative Director. Designer Lulu has become my "retirement job."

Do you live in Canyon Creek? Tell us about your family.

My husband Jason and I have lived in Canyon Creek since 2005. We had known about the neighborhood for a long time and looked here in the late 1990's but ended up in Allen prior to moving here. Jason and I have been married for more than twenty-five years. He’s an electrical engineer and has a company in information technology called Contego Solutions. We have a dog named Garth, named after Garth Brooks. He was adopted from Take Me Home Pet Rescue when he was three months old and was part of the Country & Western litter. He will celebrate his tenth birthday in October. We love living and working in Richardson!

8/1/22 - 9/31/22

SOLD PROPERTIES SQFT LIST PRICE SOLD DATE

2108 Flat Creek Drive 1,867 $395,777 9/16

2925 Forest Hills Lane 2,258 $465,000 9/21

2211 Flat Creek Drive 1,976 $480,000 8/29

2827 Forest Grove Drive 2,414 $515,000 9/28

403 Northview Drive

402 W Lookout Drive

2205 Flat Creek Drive

400 Pleasant Valley Lane 2604 Collins Blvd

218 High Brook Drive 432 Fall Creek Drive

2210 Custer Pkwy 3 Ridgeview Circle 1,740

2,448

1,876

2,946

2,479

3,122

2,368

3,035

4,095 $519,500

$525,000

$530,000

$570,000

$590,000

$679,900

$750,000

$839,000

$1,100,000 8/29 8/5 8/8 8/11 8/15 9/12 8/12 9/14 8/22

ANGELA GREEN

Keller Williams Central angela.green@kw.com Phone: 214-893-4171

Serving Dallas, Collin and Denton Counties 25 years FULL TIME experience!

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Information above was obtained from NTREIS. Properties were listed and/or sold by many Brokers between 8/1/22 - 9/30/22. CANYON CREEK

8/1/2021 - 9/30/2021 Properties Sold: 31 Price Range: $169,900 - $2,389,000 Average Price: $570,490 Average Price PSF: $216.58

THEN & NOW

CANYON CREEK

8/1/2022 - 9/30/2022 Properties Sold: 13 Price Range: $395,777 - $1,100,000 Average Price: $612,244 Average Price PSF: $247.12

Each office is independently owned and operated. Yes, the interest rates have risen, but there are options! When the market changes, you need experienced agents who can help you navigate through them - call us today to find out more!

WORK WITH US. EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE.

Angela Green, Team Lead 25 Years Experience Choosing the RIGHT TEAM Matters! GK TEAM

www.GKSellsHomes.com

energy attic

Live your best life at home

The mission of Energy Attic is so simple it’s brilliant. Transform attics. Trans-form lives. ey operate by doing what’s right, loving people, and working hum-bly to make an eternal di erence. Based on Micah 6:8, that vision has been the driving force behind this Christian-owned and operated business for 13 years. Energy Attic Founder and Owner Ryan Amerson and COO Guy Charles be-gin and end each day asking themselves how they can make life better for their clients, their em-ployees, their community, and their world. And their e orts have resulted in 10-fold growth over the years. “We want people to live their best life at home,” Ryan said. “We do our part by making your home more comfortable, improving your indoor air quality, and saving you money on your utility bills. Put simply, we want to transform your attic space which will transform your living space, so you can live your best life.” It’s something they’ve done for over 10,000 happy families, creating environments where people can love others through a comfortable and safe home.

The mission of Energy Attic is so simple it’s brilliant. Transform attics. Transform lives. They operate by doing what’s right, loving people, and working humbly to make an eternal difference. “ ere’s a Mother eresa quote we love,” Guy said. “ ‘If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.’ We’re all about creating healthy, comfortable homes so our friends and neighbors can do just Based on Micah 6:8, that vision has been the driving force behind this that. What could you ac-complish if your home was comfortable and Christian-owned and operated business since 2005. Energy Attic Owner dust and allergies were not an issue?” Ryan Amerson begins and ends each day asking himself how he can make life better for his clients, his employees, and his community. “Our efforts have resulted in 10x growth over the years, and lots of positive impact on our industry!” Ryan said. “We do our part by making your home more comfortable, improving your indoor air quality, and saving you money on your utility bills. Put simply, we want to transform your attic space which will transform your living space, so your home can be all that it should be”. It’s something they’ve done for over 10,000 happy families, creating environments where people can love others through a comfortable and safe home. “There’s a Mother Theresa quote we love,” Ryan said. “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” He added, “we’re all about creating healthy, comfortable homes so our friends and neighbors can do just that. What could you accomplish if your home was comfortable and dust and allergies were not an issue?”

HERE’S HOW THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN:

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