▪ I don't know how things work in your municipality, but in mine, the building inspectors are only available to meet with you from 7:30am until 8:00am before they head out into the field. If you did not pass inspection for some reason, these early morning meetings are essential for clarification.

▪ Photos are a great way to get your point across. For example, when I was trying to figure out what to plant under a window next to my house, I took a picture of it with me to the local nursery. They were able to suggest a suitable shrub.

Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, I take photos of different aspects of houses that I have seen and I show them to my architect. "I like the way the roof on this porch looks. Can we do something similar on my project?"

▪ Instead of wasting time giving directions over the phone, I print out directions to my house and fax them to contractors or material suppliers.

▪ Wet basements are a common problem. Here's the multi-faceted solution: gutters, proper drainage slope away from the house, foundation drain (a drain on the inside of the walls that collects and leads water to the outside), and dehumidifiers.

▪ Think twice before you put "twist" deadbolts (that don't require a key to operate) next to a glass window. Potential intruders can break the class, reach in, and turn the knob to unlock the door. On the other hand, be careful not to violate fire codes by putting in keyed deadbolts on all of your egress doors.

▪ To maximize resale value, it is important to spend your money "where the water is". This means kitchens and bathrooms. Also, having a good trim carpenter install good moldings can really dress up your house.

▪ When building or renovating, it is important to specify what you expect up front with your drywall contractor. I have found that most crews around Atlanta will screw in the ceiling drywall, but nail in the walls. With the fluctuations in humidity, the nails invariably pop out within a few years at the latest. Screwing the drywall in takes a lot more time, and the contractor may charge extra, but I generally think it's worth it in order to have the job done right the first time.

▪Be sure to put your fireplace in before your HVAC rough-in is scheduled.

▪Be sure all cornice is primed before it is installed. Ask your material supplier which pieces will need to be primed. It's much easier to prime it before it's on your house, plus it gives you the opportunity to back-prime.

Miscellaneous Tips, Part 1

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University