Congratulations to all our customer award winners!
You’ve been working hard and it shows. We appreciate you and your team and look forward to another great year working together.
Highest % Conversion–Mark Harris
Top # Customers– Indy Homes Team
Archive for Indianapolis Inspection Repair Contractor
Happy Holidays!
From our team to yours, we hope you have a wonderful Holiday and Happy New Year!
As 2017 approaches quickly, remember we are here to help get your real estate business off to a great start.
Don’t forget about all our other great services:
- Kitchen and Bath Remodels: Come by anytime to visit our office showroom.
- Mold Remediation: We manage the entire remediation process… all the way to material replacements
- Roof Replacements: We are a Preferred Owens Corning™ Roofing Contractor, offering a Warranty covering workmanship for a full 10 years
LET US HELP GET YOUR NAME OUT!
Connect With Us. We know many of you rely on social media to help get the word out and we want to help you. Let’s share the great work we do together. Follow us and we’ll share updates and success stories throughout the year.
Meet Our Team
Just as your real estate business relies on referrals, Indiana Residential also depends on the quality of the relationships we build and the unique service we provide. You count on us and we count on you. Our team of experienced employees make us who we are, so we’d like to introduce them to you properly.
TOM GIBSON
Meet Tom, he is a Project Manager and Estimator at Indiana Residential, responsible for preparing accurate and cost effective job estimates and managing projects to successful completion. From conception to completion, Tom is hands-on, on-the-job, and doing whatever it takes to ensure customer satisfaction.
JOEL SHORES
Meet Joel, he is a Project Manager and Estimator at Indiana Residential, providing timely, accurate and detailed estimates. He makes the process from initial contact to final completion as painless on the agent and homeowner as possible. Joel plans and purchases equipment and material, organizes and oversees contractors, and most importantly, makes sure that the customer is happy at the end of the day.
ELYSE GEIS
Meet Elyse, she manages the daily operations at Indiana Residential, and that’s no simple task. She handles everything behind the scenes from scheduling, logistics, HR and payroll to office management and all aspects of company financials. Basically, she’s the one that keeps everyone in line and keeps the train running.
ROBERT BARNES
Meet Robert, he leads the Indiana Residential Mold Division, managing the entire remediation process from visual inspection, sample collection and testing to on-site estimates, mold removal and material replacements. He finds the most cost effective ways of making projects affordable while still providing quality and on-time completion.
KELLY LATIMORE
Meet Kelly, he is the Co-Founder of Indiana Residential and leads the roofing division, Indiana Roofing. Latimore specializes in roofing repairs and replacements; ensuring a home’s resale value is at its highest. He is intimately involved in all aspects of customer relations from on-site Project Management, Fleet Management to preparing project estimates and safeguarding customer satisfaction.
MIKE GREVE
Meet Mike, he is the Co-Founder and a Project Manager at Indiana Residential. His main focus is to ensure the job gets done efficiently and effectively, while making sure everyone is happy, healthy and prosperous. From project management and estimates to keeping up with the latest remodeling trends, he is involved with every aspect of the business.
Our trusted team of field contractors are full time W2 employees that work for us year round.
Learn more about each of our services. We are here to help make your real estate business a success, let us know how we can help with all your inspection repair needs.
Ways To Transform Attic Space into Valuable Real Estate
What Can Do with an Attic to Add Value To Your Indiana Home?
An attic is often an unused space because it’s usually unfinished. Whether you are looking sell and need to add valuable square footage onto your house or you just need more storage for yourself, you might want to look up ↑ for the solution. Here are a few ideas to inspire you with this area to fit in various budgets.
Spare Bedroom
Photo by Becki Peckham
If you are in need of one more bedroom to add value and space to your home, you can transform your attic space into a valuable guest bedroom. If you have kids who are getting older and want their own space, they will probably love the idea of finishing the attic for their room or creating a playroom or hang out area. While a steeply-sloped roof can be a decorating challenge, it won’t bother those little people or overnight guests in your home. With a bit of creativity, you can work with the angles to get the most out of this space.
Office/Hobby Room
Photo by Erika Lam
As more people work from home at least part-time, they desire a dedicated office space. The attic is the perfect solution. Create built-ins along the sloped roof with open shelves or closed cabinets to hold office supplies, electronics and other items. Depending on the size of your space, you could even add seating for guests. Talk to a contractor about building outside stairs if you anticipate clients coming to your office to keep from interrupting your household.
Media Room
Photo by Riva Cantù – home theater attic space
Many homes come with only one living/lounging space. If you long for a family room or media room, your attic may be a dream come true. In a large space, you can bring in couches, chairs and an entertainment center. Simply place the television along the angled wall and seats opposite with the highest point of the room reserved for standing. If your attic is small or the entrance is narrow, you may have to build custom seating in the room. Big or small your attic space could be transformed into a get away from the rest of the house.
Mini-Apartment
If you have the budget and appropriate entrance, consider turning your unused attic space into a rental unit or apartment for your teenagers. You’ll have to expand the plumbing for a bathroom and kitchenette, but a large attic makes a nice studio apartment.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Attic
The angles and slope of the attic often intimidates people who aren’t sure how to use it or fear the discomfort that comes from walking around short walls. Utilize this feature by making it the focal point. Instead of trying to hide the sharp angles, play them up with lighting and bright colors. Use the shorter portions of the attic for built-in storage, such as cabinets, shelves or other built-in storage.
Add windows to bring in more natural light if codes allow. You can even put in a skylight for a spectacular view that doesn’t overlook the neighbors. Light paint colors will also brighten the room while dark tones add a sense of coziness. Finish exposed beams a contrasting color to make them stand out as an architectural centerpiece.
Work with a contractor to ensure your attic can handle whatever dreams you have for it. If it isn’t sturdy enough, a professional can add support beams to reinforce it. Have them do a thorough inspection before beginning any work to ensure the space is solid and dry and won’t compromise the integrity of your home. Indiana Residential is ready to help you make the most of this unique space. If you know you have some attic space and would like our team to take a look and see what options you may have for expanding this into valuable living/working space, Contact Us Today!
Considering New Flooring In Your Home? When It Makes Sense And Things To Consider
Flooring is an often forgotten aspect of a home when it looks good and works well. However, as it becomes outdated or worn, it takes center stage and not in a good way. Here is a look at the reasons to update the floors in your home and how to do it efficiently and affordably.
Photo by Western Coswick Hardwood Floors – Search traditional dining room pictures
Why You Should Update Your Floors
The most obvious reason to switch out your current flooring for new materials is because it looks bad and it’s a big thing that potential buyers look at when searching for a new home. If you cringe every time you see your old shag carpet or trip over a broken tile, you know the importance of a beautiful-looking floor. Your flooring choice can make or break how put-together you room looks. No volume of paint or furniture can make a room feel clean and inviting if the floors are yucky.
Another reason to invest in new floors is because it increases the value of your home. If you plan to sell in the next few years, your floors will have a big impact on how much you can sell your home for and how quickly it sells. It’s a big expense for a buyer to put into a home outside of their mortgage, so consider updating the areas of your home that need it most so you can get that return on your selling price. Buyers will appreciate a neutral, clean, updated flooring choice so they can be move in ready.
A third reason is that new floors save time. You don’t spend as much time cleaning them, hoping to get them to look a little better. Vacuuming a new carpet is much easier than going over one that’s frayed and worn.
Things To Consider When Updating Your Floors
Once you’re convinced of the need to update your floors, the next task will be to figure out how. First, you’ll need to decide if you want to replace the outdated flooring with a new version of the same product or if you want a different material.
For hardwood floors, you may only need to make repairs on any damaged boards and then sand the floor before putting on a new stain. You can completely change the look of your floor just by going from a dark stain to light or vice-versa. Another option is to paint your floors, which will create a modern space that stands out.
You can also update a tile floor that is in good shape but has gotten dull by having it re-grouted and buffed to a shine. This only works if the pattern and style aren’t outdated, but it can extend the life of your current floor and make it look like new.
Choose the material based on the room and how you use it as well as your personal taste. If you plan to sell your home soon, it’s always better to get a few opinions from real estate agents, designers and contractors on the best choices in order to get the most out of your home. Sometimes your personal taste may not be what appeals to the masses of home buyers. Perhaps you like the soft feeling of carpet in the bedroom but hardwood floors could be done affordably and increase your resale value significantly; it’s something to consider and weigh out.
Replacing Your Floors
If the only option is to replace your floors, you’ll have to decide what you want the new material to be. In most cases, you’ll need to tear out the old flooring and ensure a solid subflooring lies underneath. You can lay carpet over old tile or hardwood without removing the original floor, which reduces the cost.
You never want to install any type of floor over the concrete without a subfloor to help reduce moisture. An example is if you have a converted garage or basement. You’ll want to have a subfloor put in between the concrete foundation and the new flooring to prevent future problems.
Visit old houses and you may find layers upon layers of old flooring on top of each other, especially with tile, vinyl and carpet. You don’t want to do this in your house. Take the extra time needed or pay a professional to remove the old floor and start out fresh. It will improve the integrity of your new floor and ensure a smoother surface.
Updating your floors is a relatively inexpensive investment to make in your home. A new floor can make you fall in love with your house all over again and help it sell faster when it’s time to move on. Talk to the professionals at Indiana Residential about new flooring options for your space.
How To Create a Renovation Budget to Sell a Home
Selling an outdated or dysfunctional home can be difficult if not impossible. However, many homeowners hesitate to put more money into a home that no longer works for them. There is a distinct line between spending enough money to get the home sold and putting too much into it that you won’t get back. The key is to create a renovation budget that takes care of the problems in the least expensive way.
Photo by Jim Schmid Photography – Search traditional kitchen design ideas
Know What Needs Renovated
The first step is to know what issues need to be taken care of. One way to find out where to put your focus is by having a home inspection and an appraisal done before the home is listed. Look at both reports and notice the big-ticket items. When homeowners work with a real estate agent, they have the advantage of the person’s experience to know what buyers will look past and what will need to be fixed.
Outdated electrical and plumbing and foundation and structural issues are big warning signs to most buyers and the most expensive to repair. However, cosmetic issues can also deter many would-be buyers because of the cost involved in updating. For example, the average cost of a kitchen remodel varies from just a few thousand on a minor renovation to almost $100,000 for a high-end space. The majority of that cost is materials.
Because kitchens and bathrooms are big selling points for a home, these two areas often need the most work if they are outdated. However, you also don’t want to overlook the landscaping and outdoor space. The living areas and bedrooms are relatively inexpensive to update.
Photo by Texas Construction Company – Browse traditional landscape ideas
How to Designate the Budget
Some homeowners will decide to put all of their money into one area, such as the kitchen. While updating this space is high priority, when you stop with one area, you make the rest of the house look worse. Instead, it makes the most sense to divide the budget to hit all of the major points.
Put most of your budget towards the kitchen, bathrooms and landscaping. Save about 10 to 15 percent to make inexpensive updates to the rest of the house. Paint is relatively cheap and can do wonders to the living room and bedrooms. If you need flooring, you can find inexpensive options that won’t cut into the budget too much. For example, replace an old carpet with vinyl or laminate. Modern laminate can be made to look like hardwood at a fraction of the cost.
Learn How to Cut Costs
You don’t want to be cheap on your renovation just because you’re selling since buyers can spot low-quality materials and work. However, you can learn how to reduce your costs by shopping for clearance products or going to outlet centers. Last season’s light fixture is still going to look modern but at a fraction of the price of the latest designs.
If homeowners are willing to do some of the work, they can cut down on labor costs. Even demoing a room can help out a tight budget before calling in the professionals. Another way to conserve your money is by talking to a contractor before you start the work. Let them know your budget and your goals, and they can create a proposal that provides the basics within your price. They know how and where to get the less expensive materials and where to cut costs and in which areas you should spend more.
If you want to get a homeowner to renovate their home for sale within a budget, encourage them to contact a contractor or remodeling company in the early stages. Indiana Residential has experienced professionals who can work within any budget and provide advice on how to renovate a house to help it sell faster.
Pros and Cons of Partial Renovations vs. Complete Remodels
If you have an outdated home or even a single room in a house, you may be deciding whether to do a partial renovation or go for an entire new look with a complete remodel. The difference between minor and major remodels lies not only in the complexity of the project and the cost, but often on the return on your investment.
When You’re Selling
If you plan to sell your home in the next year or two, you may want to forego a major renovation. According to a survey from Zillow Digs, most experts recommend making minor updates to bring your home’s design current rather than investing in major changes. You’ll probably get more of your money back in the increased price than you would with what you spend on a complete renovation.
Anyone who really wants to make major changes in hopes of bringing a higher price will need to speak with an expert about the best way to get as much money back as possible. Depending on where you live, finished basements or attics may bring enough to pay for the remodel. In other areas, it may be the updated bathroom that commands a higher sales price.
When to Choose a Complete Remodel
The case for a total renovation to a room comes when it’s no longer functional. If you’re tearing out walls to open up an area or make it larger, a complete renovation makes sense. Another reason to go for the big project is when you need to update plumbing and electrical or if there’s foundation issues.
It also depends on how much of an impact a major remodel will have on visual appeal. For instance, in a kitchen, the big difference between what you see with a minor and major renovation is the cabinetry. If the cabinets are an eyesore, you’ll want to replace them. However, a minor remodel means replacing or altering the fronts of the cabinets. With a major remodel, you’ll completely remove the cabinets and install new ones.
With a complete renovation, you know everything is brand new. If major work needs to be done, this is the only option. While you can expect major expenses and a big budget, the results can be worth it.
When to Choose a Minor Remodel
If the bones of the room you’re renovating are good, you may be looking at a minor remodel. Just remember that the word “minor” may not mean the same thing to everyone. You may have a lot of work to do, and the room often looks like it has been completely demolished, but it still classifies as minor if no major structural changes have been made or electrical and plumbing hasn’t had any big alterations.
You don’t want to cover up issues with a pretty design, so make sure you understand when a major remodel is required or when a minor update will do. Indiana Residential can help you decide which type of renovation will achieve the results you want within budget.
For help deciding what is best for your budget, contact the pros at Indiana Residential. We can help walk you through all the details to make the best decision for your home.
5 Ways Indiana Roofing Makes A Realtor’s Life Easier
Are you a Realtor in Central Indiana? Our team at Indiana Roofing understands your workload and all the things you juggle on a daily basis; from open houses to closing schedules. We can help make your life a little easier with our Roofing Program designed especially for Realtors and your ever changing timelines and schedules. We service homes throughout Indiana including Carmel, Lawrence, Plainfield, Greenwood, Meridian –Kessler, Zionsville, Fishers and more.
We assume that all the homes you are selling have a roof, and being proactive with examining and repairing any issues ahead of time will save you tons of time and headaches. We partner with Realtors in Central Indiana for all their roofing needs because we are able to save you time and money by helping to prepare your homes for market and catch any issues that may come up in an inspection report. Why wait to get the report back when you and the home owner already know there may be a concern worth looking at. Our roofing specialists can inspect your roof and let you know all of your options so you can be prepared to accept and offer on your home and get through the inspection and closing process with ease.
How do we do all that?
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We work on your schedule/timeframe
With our One Call program, we respond to your calls within 48 hours and we fully understand how tight timelines can be when you are trying to sell a home. We react promptly so you can have all the information you need to move forward.
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We inspect your roof and find issues ahead of the game
Because we work with Realtors directly, we are able to take a look at the roof before the house ever goes on the market. This allows the homeowner and realtor to have productive conversations about any repairs that may come up in an inspection. Why wait for an inspection report to reveal roofing concerns? When you build a relationship with Indiana Roofing, we make your life as a realtor and help you to avoid many of the hassles.
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We can save you money
When we come out for preliminary inspections of your roof, we are able to suggest many ways you can invest in repairs and upkeep of your roof that will minimize all the red flags that an inspector may find during an inspection. Don’t wait to get a laundry list of issues revealed in an inspection; your potential buyer may even be scared off. We help alleviate the headaches and surprises that can come with an inspection report on older and even newer homes.
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We can mediate between the buyer and seller for you
Roofs are always a concern for buyers and the seller may have to spend some money to get it repaired properly. We can provide everyone with all the options available that make sense to both the buyer and seller. We understand what the “need to haves” and the “want to haves” really are on maintaining a roof and are able to coach both parties to help come to a resolution that is a win/win for everyone. Just one more way we take this burden off the Realtors during this process.
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You can sleep at night knowing that our work is guaranteed!
We are an Owens Corning™ Roofing Preferred Contractor, therefore you can assure yourself and your clients that we carry all the required state and local licensing and insurance, we are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau, and we have Knowledge of the latest industry standards and technology. We get the job done right so your clients can trust in your resources and provide quality referrals for you.
Our trusted relationships with Realtors in Central Indiana allow our business to grow and in return we strive to help make your job as painless as possible. We understand both sides of selling a home and would love the opportunity to show you how advantages we can be for one another. Contact us today so we can come alongside of you to one of your properties.
Add Value and Function With Built-Ins
Does your Indianapolis Area home need more storage? Are you missing personality and that custom look that home buyers are looking for?
If you need more storage space in a home with limited square footage, built-ins may be the answer. Not only do they provide valuable storage in creative ways, they can visually enhance dull areas and add character. You’ll be surprised to discover all of the hidden places which would benefit from a built-in. And even more surprised at how you can use this creative use of space.
Built-in Window Seats
Add seating and storage with built-in window seats. Frame out a window with a comfortable bench and include either a lift-up lid or shelves along the bottom for extra storage. Choose either a simple seat or surround your window along the sides with shelves and closed cabinets for a full effect.
Craftsman Staircase by Ellicott City Architects & Building Designers Brennan + Company Architects
Awkward Spaces by the Stairs
Use up the wasted space under the stairs with a built-in cabinet. Leave it open or create closed storage for books, toys, and many other items. Another fun idea is to create a built-in shelf next to the stairs rather than under them that increases in height to follow the stair rail.
Alcoves
If you have a recessed area in your home, turn it into usable space with a built-in. A popular option is to create a workspace with a desk. You can add cabinets up high with under-cabinet lighting and low storage under the desk area. A second option is to build shelves all the way across for books or trinkets.
Transitional Kitchen by Charleston Cabinets & Cabinetry Robert Paige Cabinetry LLC
Closed Storage
Turn an open area into closed storage with your own built-in. Add sliding doors or traditional cabinet-style doors to close off the area when you want it out of sight. This is a great way to hide a TV in the formal living room or bedroom or to add a mini-bar. Just close the door when you don’t want it to be seen. This type of storage enhances functionality while creating a sophisticated atmosphere to a room.
Special Storage in Tight Spaces
Look for unique ways to increase storage in odd spaces with built-ins. For example, maybe you have a window in a laundry room, bathroom or mudroom. These narrow rooms often don’t have the square footage for traditional cabinets. However, you can design a built-in to fit the limited space under the window while providing either closed or open storage with shelves and custom cabinets.
Room Divider
An open floor plan is ideal for many homes, but it can reduce storage you would enjoy with closets and cabinets along solid walls. Create a room divider while allowing for conversation with built-in cabinets and shelves. For instance, a half-wall between a living room and dining room or kitchen can provide storage for dishes or entertainment systems. It also creates a cozier atmosphere in a large area while offering essential storage.
Transitional Dining Room by Edina General Contractors REFINED LLC
Creating custom built-ins to work with the available space you have can enhance your home and add value and interest when it’s time to sell. Choose a reputable company like Indiana Residential to build these unique pieces with quality and character .Contact us today and we will take a look at your project needs.
Honored as THE COMPANY OF THE YEAR by F.C. Tucker Home Services
We are proud to be recognized as THE COMPANY OF THE YEAR by F.C. Tucker Home Services. Big thanks to our team, clients and partners for helping us achieve these awards!
