Dear fellow Long Islanders,

Hopefully, you and your loved ones have safely weathered this past weekend’s storm. Unfortunately, Long Island did get hit pretty hard and many homes on Long Island suffered damages, ranging from minor to very severe. Over the next several weeks, Long Island will undoubtedly see a number of “storm chasing” companies from around the country, make their way to Long Island, where they will set up shop, and look to generate some quick business. Some, while not all, will take advantage of homeowner’s desperation and will prey on those most vulnerable.

BIGGEST DANGERS

1. Downed wires. – STAY AWAY – Notify authorities as necessary. Even touching a tree that is exposed to downed wires is dangerous. The same goes for standing in water that is near a downed wire. Use extreme caution

2. Use common sense when handling broken glass, sharp metal, splintered wood and even for removal of wet materials from basements. Use gloves and other protective clothing whenever possible. .

More “counter space” and “storage”. As a kitchen and bath designer, I hear these two requests from clients more than any other.

While function and look are close runners up, people never seem to verbalize that they also want comfort.  I know you want it, people! I have been in beautiful, spacious kitchens that just aren’t user friendly.  That’s sad.

Here are some of the questions I ask my customers when taking their needs into consideration. If your designer doesn’t ask you any of these, make sure you bring it up!

One of my favorite parts of working at Alure Home Improvements is to call customers after a basement renovation has been completed to let them know how much an energy tax credit they’re entitled to.

“So what are you using the space for?” I ask them. It’s remarkable the diversity of answers I get to that question.

In my business, it’s our goal to help customers get what they want. Thus, in order to help our consultants plan successful remodeling projects, we train them weekly on the basics and advanced methods of a professional presentation.  An integral part of the presentation is a detailed description of the products and services we offer. We look to educate our customers and deliver value to help them make the best decision for their home.

Gina Bonura is a Kitchen and Bath Designer at Alure Home Improvements

When is the best time to remodel your home?  Many people feel that summertime is the best time to embark on a major renovation.

Here are some pros and cons to help you decide what will work for you.

Now, there are many ways to distribute your budget when you are doing a kitchen remodel.   It seems we need to stretch our dollar more and more these days, but there are definitely some things that are not worth the money.  Here is a list of 10 things you should decide to forego in that new kitchen!

1. The Pot Filler -  Yes, it’s really cool, and yes, your friends will ooh and aah, but seriously, if your cook top is only 2 feet away from the sink, who are you kidding!   Don’t get me wrong, there are many kitchens that warrant the look and convenience of a pot filler, but for around $800 for the filler itself, and the additional plumbing labor –

My passion for social media exposes me to world of visual information on a daily basis.  Thus, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across a Home Improvement Trends for 2011 infographic from www.elocalplumbers.com, loaded with insight from 50 contributors on trends they see within the home improvement industry for this year and beyond. Let’s take a look at what these folks have to say.

Mike Kuplicki is the Director of Sales for Alure Basements and Sunrooms and has been in the Remodeling field since 1975. Read more of Mike’s remodeling stories here.

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Way back when I had my own remodeling company, we were adding on a small addition to a home in Oceanside, New York . The extension was off the kitchen and the homeowners had packed up everything they could in the living room - including a “rather loud” Cockatoo. The clients were both teachers and had left us alone in their home while they were at work.

Time spent in any business seems to generate anecdotes about experiences and situations that are just too funny to be true.  After 36 years in the remodeling business the stories have begun to pile up.  Some of them are serious, some funny, all of them true with something to be learned.
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It never ceases to amaze me the lengths some people will go to deceive someone. I often wonder how productive these people would be if the same amount of creativity and energy were put forth in a positive manner. This is a story that takes “seeing is believing” to a new level.