Ever heard of Homewyse? It’s a pretty great tool in my
opinion. What makes it great? Four things off the top of my head impress me.
First, you can calculate a cost for a home repair by choosing the type of repair
from an extensive list of home repairs. Although the cost estimate doesn’t
include general contractor fees, they specify what percentage to add to the
total cost above the estimate you get. Secondly, it’s specific. You enter your
zip code and click on update (twice! for some reason in my experience, but
that’s ok), which gives you an estimate that is applicable to your area.
Thirdly, they provide you a calculator to get a cost to install an item
factoring in average material costs, unit labor productivity rates and national
average hourly labor wages. Finally, they created the first of its kind 2010
Home Ownership Cost Report!
There’s more to love that I’ll get into, but forgive me for working
backwards here for a second. The 2010 Home Ownership Report is unique because it
provides as-real-as-it-gets facts on what an average home owner can expect to
see in terms of the total cost of home maintenance and repair expenses![1] For
example, for 2010, annual maintenance and repair costs for a typical 3 bedroom,
2 bath 1650 square foot detached home averaged $7,910. Many homeowners likely
do not adequately plan and underestimate these costs.
Okay so, let’s get back to first things first! When you
visit Homewyse, click on the Material Costs button.[2]
The page displays a list of materials in various categories. You can click on
each of these materials to get to the calculator. Once you type in your zip
code and get the updated price for your area, you’re in better shape than you
were, because now you know something you need to know! As an added bonus, at
the bottom of the page, Homewyse provides helpful pricing and installation cost
notes that make the calculator even more impressive.
When you return to the home page, you can make similar
calculations for Service Costs.
Okay, so remember how I said there’s more to love? Okay,
here it is. Go to the home page, and click on local directories. Click on your
state and then your city. Homewyse provides you a complete list of “must have”
information for remodeling along with a remodeling cost guide.
What else? Well, yep, you guessed it, go back to the home
page. Click on Service Quality Checks. Homewyse provides you answers to
commonly asked questions about getting quality service work on a large number
of home improvement projects! Way to go! So wyse!
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