Recently I attended the meeting for qualified contractors to learn about the city of Phoenix's new program called Energize Phoenix.

As part of the federal governments program focused on green initiatives the city has won a twenty five million dollar grant to upgrade the energy efficacy of homes and businesses along the light rail corridor.

The program has six million dollars to invest in private homes that are interested in energy upgrades to their homes. The remainder of the funds will be focused on commercial building energy upgrades.

What this means for the average homeowner in the target neighborhoods is that the city will be matching APS rebates on energy improvement rebates. This will mean that homeowners that would have spent one thousand dollars on insulation would receive a five hundred dollar rebate rather than the APS two hundred and fifty dollar refund.

The second part of the program would offer a program for lower income families to pay as much as sixty percent of the cost of home energy improvements. The city is also working on arranging low interest financing for credit worthy homeowners to covet the forty percent homeowner contribution.

The city has just launched their new Energize Phoenix website with full details on the program and a search function to see if your home qualifies for the new program.

Homework Remodels will be participating in the new city program as part of our ongoing efforts to help our clients improve the energy performance of their homes. Call at 602-478-5102 or email me at steve@homeworkremodels.com for further information.

You can ensure a successful project and avoid the traps homeowners make when starting a remodel. Here are five common mistakes to look out for.

Most homeowners are good about asking contractors for references but rarely follow up on them. Take the time for this important step. Ask to contact the last three clients so you have a better view of the current level of work and staffing. Here are some suggestions of questions to ask a contractor’s referrals.
A properly drafted contract protects you, the homeowner, and helps ensure there are no misunderstandings or unmet expectations. Insist on a thorough contract or proposal that includes all the details regarding your project.
Additionally, most homeowners don't assume they've underestimated their project’s cost and time frame and usually do so by at least 25 percent. The best advice is to plan ahead, ask the right questions, and choose an experienced contractor that can help you avoid those unforeseen situations.

Once a project gets underway, it’s easy to get swept up in the process. To avoid any disappointments, be sure to ask enough questions to determine what you want and what the final result will be. Learn which products will be used and involve your friends and family in your decision making.
Lastly, the most costly mistake you can make during a remodel is changing your mind after the construction process has begun. Seek the right counsel and do all your homework during the planning process so the project you start on is the end result you want.

More tips to watch out for when remodeling >>

I just received an invitation to take part in providing homeowners with services through the new Energize Phoenix Program. The program is being administered by the same organization that we work with on the APS Energy Auditing Program.

The program will be making special energy improvments and upgrades available to homeowners in the light rail corador.

The meeting I will be attending will be on October 14th. I will post more information as it becomes available.

The video below has more information on the program.

This bathroom remodel was inspired by this colorfull bathroom sink. It was discovered on a family holiday in Rocky Point Mexico durring a family holiday.

It is one of the assorted remodeling projects that I have featured on our new projects section of this website. The remodels section is a work in progerss. Check back as I post interesting new projects. See this project and others by visiting our projects section.