Recently I met with a great couple who bought an older home. It has lots of potential — and lots of room for improvement. The couple has a significant amount of money budgeted. But after walking through the home to discuss all the things they want to accomplish — plus the things that need taking […]
Judy Granlee-Gates
A native Washingtonian, Judy Granlee-Gates has lived in Poulsbo for nearly 30 years. She and her husband own Joe Gates Construction, Inc. in Poulsbo, specializing in custom building and remodeling. The company is also an authorized StarMark cabinet dealer. Judy has been in the construction industry for 28 years and enjoys seeing a home go from ho-hum to fantastic. She has been recognized nationally by Custom Home magazine for outstanding customer service, and on the state and local level for the company's new home construction and remodeling excellence. She is a past president of the Kitsap Building Association's Remodelers Council and past board member of the Kitsap Building Association.
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Bathroom in a Day: Can it really be true?
You have seen ads for companies that specialize in a brand new bathroom — in “just one day!” It sounds like a dream come true. Have you ever wondered if it can really be done? Well yes, it can. However, there are a lot of limitations. The companies that specialize in this can do a […]
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What to Consider before Deciding to DIY
DIY can be a slippery slope. First, if you can go to work and make more money than you can save doing a project yourself, it can be worth hiring a professional instead. This, of course, does not apply to the person who truly enjoys taking on a home improvement project. Secondly, determine the level […]
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Do You Need a Building Permit? You Might be Surprised!
Recently, a very nice woman came into my office to discuss a basement remodel. She told me that she was just doing a very simple remodel, but soon it involved creating a room, running a heat duct to it, including a new light a switch and so on. As the scope of work evolved, along […]
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What You Need to Know About Using the Internet for ‘Due Diligence’
You often hear people refer to completing their “due diligence” when hiring a contractor for any type of construction project. Officially, due diligence (also known as due care) is the effort made by an ordinarily prudent or reasonable party to avoid harm to another party or own self. Failure to make this effort is considered […]
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DIY or DI Don’t?
DIY is so popular, there is a television network dedicated to it — and many, many other shows, books and stores that encourage and support it. It’s a trend that will only continue to grow, but there are a few things to know before deciding if DIY is right for you. 1. Can you make […]
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Three Key Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Contractor
Whether your project is big or small project and whether you’re building or remodeling, hiring a skilled and professional contractor is a big deal. When interviewing, there are many basic questions to ask. There are some questions I rarely hear yet they should be of importance to help determine if that contractor is the right […]
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Do You Know What Your Insurance Will Cover in Case of a Repair Emergency?
On a recent Friday, I was just getting ready to leave my office when the phone rang. I picked it up and heard the upset voice of a client who had been in a home just 10 months. The client had experienced a flood in the home and had no idea what to do with […]
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Beware When Buying a ‘Completely Remodeled’ Home
I stumbled across a marathon recently of a TV show called “First Time Flippers” on the DIY Network. I was mesmerized, and not in a good way. Fred and Mary (names have been changed to protect the “innocent”) have day jobs and buy a house to flip, lured in by potential profits in excess of […]