“Keith’s Korner” Blog

Save money, even before you begin!    Heading IN to the summer of 2022 and heading OUT of the pandemic, little by little, I’m sure you’ve noticed that prices or nearly everything are going up.  What’s going up most?  You’ve already seen the slow increases in prices of gas, groceries, products and services, rent, even […]

An “Open Floor Plan” greatly smooths out communication paths from area to area   Need an addition to your home?  Think again.  Maybe the additional room you need is already inside your home!    Looking at the most active rooms in your home and how they interconnect with others could be your next growth path for […]

Ahhhh, yes.  A warm, comfortable home.  That’s what you’ve always wanted your home to be, right?  And, chances are, that’s what you have… but is it warm and is it comfy in EVERY room?  There may be some opportunities you may have overlooked. Consider the parts of your home that could use a little more […]

That well-known phrase, “Let The Sunshine In” is part of the title of the well-known R&B song from the internationally famous group The Fifth Dimension, called “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” from 1968.  By the way, we realize that promising “world peace and understanding” is a bit ambitious for us, especially as we wrap up yet […]

1 of these 5 might be the best way to roll! by Keith Santora, Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD)  When you think about your home from a different angle, new possibilities “pop up”, to improve the space you already have.  Sometimes, what your home NEEDS may be something you’ve never thought about before… but it […]

(Estimated reading time = 2 minutes):  Yes, it was a marriage between DESIGN & BUILD, and it still is, and YOU are the “wedding planner” at your home!  That’s right… the bond between the design ideas PLUS the building ideas are “married”, and like a great marriage, that bond lasts and lasts.  That happy couple […]

Plan projects before you begin Indoors or out, upstairs or down, if you’re considering upgrading or remodeling any part of your home this year, make sure it’s planned properly and professionally for best results.  Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford CT makes your plans become reality quickly… AND within budget. Take a tour of our […]

(Estimated reading time = 5 minutes):  WALK THROUGH THE HRD “GALLERIES OF INSPIRATION”: Ready? Let’s take an easy, fast and fun stroll through the photo galleries of Handyworks Remodeling and Design. LINKS THAT LAND at projects completed by Handyworks! As we walk around, get ready to find designs to learn more about, or even some […]

What makes one remodeling company different from another?   Can the company you’re talking with handle your remodeling project?  What makes them different?  Often, there are DRAMATIC differences between companies.  Chat with two or more companies and you’ll discover remodeling companies are NOT created equal… in how they talk with you.  Just take the “Three T […]

Which of these top home "spots" are yours?  Do they need a "fast fix"?   Throughout the year, people contact us, and they're “seeing spots”!  The "spots" are real!  They are areas of their home they’d like Handyworks to fix up in time for their next event, birthday party, retirement party, baby shower, whenever friends might [...]

Do your doors do their duty?  Find out fast.   Leaving for work.  Getting home after a long day.  Sending the kids to catch the school bus.   Saying hello to visitors.  Going out to mow the lawn.  Just a few of the uses for the doors in your home. Since your doors get used day after […]

[Part 2 in a series, “To Get the Right Remodeler, Ask the Right Questions - Here's What to Say”] In progress... Back in Part 1, we explained how to narrow your search for the right remodeler. Here in Part 2, you start making calls. BONUS:  Below is a handy list of questions PLUS a handy [...]

[Part 1 in a series:  "To get the right remodeler, ask the right questions!" THREE THINGS TO KNOW, to find a remodeler in your area!  Just type these three things, all on one line, in Google:   THING #1:   In Google, type remodeler or remodeling (this shows Google what you're looking for in general), then one space. THING #2:  Then, [...]

A Handyworks "Whole-Home Remodel" Completed! Part 3 of 3 in our series "Remodeling an Entire Home" Whole-home remodel in Bethany, CT [click to enlarge) Bethany is a quintessential New England town in south central Connecticut.  Let's take a stroll through this beautifully-remodeled, contemporary colonial, located deep inside of a woodsy cul-de-sac, completely remodeled by Handyworks [...]

Popular Projects... Customized by YOU! As you make plans for this year, make sure to focus on the remodeling projects you want most.  Select ideas to get rolling with, and here at Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, we can discuss each with you, to help turn your ideas into reality. Here are 3 of the top remodeling [...]

The 4 links below go directly to the State of CT Consumer Protection Department's website. Got a home improvement idea?Know this:  there are LOTS of regulations from Connecticut's Consumer Protection Department to protect you, the homeowner. The bottom line: ANYONE working on residential property is required to register with the CT Department of Consumer Protection.  This [...]

The RIGHT steps, in the RIGHT order:   Priority list [click to enlarge] In remodeling, before you execute your plan, you need a "pre-plan" to determine what's in it, and what's most important. Here at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT, we'd like to give you the basics of "pre-planning" any project.  Ready?  Here [...]

The People Who Make Other People Happy L to R: Handyworkers Jack, David, Ricardo, Nate, Keith, Joe, Donavan and Chris [click to enlarge] get together to celebrate their lives and the lives of those around them.  Celebrating successes, facing challenges, and planning for the future. At Handyworks Remodeling and Design, we’re just like you! We’re [...]

  Visitors view your front entrance from a distance, and admire it as they approach (click to enlarge). Including a music video from the Beatles…really! Hello!  Goodbye!  People say those words all the time, at the entrances to your home. It's important to "set the stage" for a warm and welcoming home, whether people are [...]

Adding undercabinet lighting to brighten things up. About ready to list your home?  Wait!  Hold it!  A better kitchen always contributes to increasing the sales price of a home, so be sure your kitchen helps your home sell for the best possible price. Before you list your property, improve your kitchen first with any of [...]

Part 2 of 3 in our series, "Remodeling an Entire Home" In phase 2 of our "Whole-Home Remodel" in beautiful Bethany, CT, done by HRD (Handyworks Remodeling and Design), things are moving rather quickly. As of Part 2 of this blog, our Handyworkers are midway through the project.  Let’s find out what they've been working on: Exterior, BEFORE: [...]

Fixtures & Faucets:  Plumbing & Power Finished! YES!  IN MASTER BATHROOM REMODELING, you CAN have it all, with HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design of Wallingford, CT.  Be sure your plans include any FIXTURES you want replaced , plus the physical LOCATION of where you want each fixture, if re-arranging is needed. For example, let’s say you want [...]

Part 1 of 3 in our series, "Remodeling an Entire Home" Handling a Whole-Home Remodel You're invited to join us for a journey:  to watch an actual project-in-progress. Here at Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) of Wallingford, CT, we handle bathroom makeovers, kitchen redesigns, roofing, siding, even creating a new patio or backyard deck from scratch, but [...]

Think Twice... BEFORE Your Remodeler Starts Remodeling! Wait a minute…before you rip out your entire bathroom to renovate into a new and better one, just pause for a moment and consider this fact: You can save money, time and tempers by using elements that can make a dramatic statement quickly. For example, if your remodeler [...]

When People SAY They’re Ready… but they’re not. Ok, it’s done. You’ve got it…it’s right there, in your head. Finished! (deck added) It’s your next home remodeling project in Wallingford, Hamden, North Haven, Cheshire, or anyplace throughout South Central Connecticut. You can SEE it; the finished project, in your mind, just as if it really existed!  You [...]

New siding PLUS new doors and windows, too. A Siding Secret PLUS a Siding Tip (...if you can't wait, see bottom two paragraphs) Springtime and Summertime is SIDING time, changing the look of homes across Connecticut.  Just select the materials and the look you like, and you’re off & running, with new siding from Handyworks [...]

Eight Great Reasons To Hire a Professional Before... Over the decades that the talented professionals in my company and I have spent in the remodeling & home improvement business, we’ve learned that a SMALL point often has a LARGE impact on your project!  So, from your friends at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design of Wallingford [...]

What do old windows & doors have in common?  They’re almost never replaced with the same model or material anymore.   Did you ever try to find parts for an old car? Very often, the parts you need are no longer available because the model is long off the market and nearly impossible to find exactly what [...]

What you NEED, before you PROCEED! Here in Connecticut, before hiring a contractor, you need to know they have the proper insurance.  Specifically, the contractor needs ALL THREE of these coverage types to be a safe bet: Type #1:  GENERAL LIABILITY is overall coverage, like car insurance.  Some call GL “contractor liability insurance”. Type #2:  COMPLETED OPERATIONS [...]

Finished! "All Decked Out":  Now, you've got someplace to go...YOUR house! One of the most attractive upgrades to your house is to renovate the deck. Some new decks last literally years longer than other new decks. Why? We’ll explain what your choices are in “Deck Check”, this week’s blog from HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT. [...]

[Part 3 of 3 in our series, "Choosing the Right Remodeler"] “Have that talk” with the remodeler of your choice. Did you read that headline? Read it again.  Getting the BEST price is NOT the end of the story. Price is just one factor.  To get the best value for your money, make sure all [...]

Part 2 of 3 in our series, "Choosing the Right Remodeler" Finding and hiring the right Connecticut remodeler for your next project includes two critical checks: (1) their reputation, and (2) their references.  Here’s how to accomplish both checks, in a few quick steps: Finished! (living room) REPUTATION checks: look for a local company with an frequently-recommended reputation. Ask around. You [...]

Part 1 of 3 in our series, "Choosing the Right Remodeler" Question:  When you talk about improving your kitchen, bathroom or deck, who hears you first?Answer:  The remodelers and contractors are very often the first people that hear you talk about your idea.  In fact, you may find yourself talking to a remodeler even before you have fully thought through [...]

Basement ready for furnishings. Spring:  A perfect time for changes at home With the dull, cold and harshness of a Connecticut winter behind us, and the color, warmth and anticipation of spring all around us, many people decide that this is an excellent time to fix-up the family room, renovate a bathroom, or upgrade the back patio. [...]

"Abe Lincoln said, “If I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend 6 hours sharpening my axe.” What does that mean in the fast-paced world of remodeling?  Planning! LOOK BELOW at this split-level, 3250 sq. ft. home in southeastern Wallingford CT, purchased with an 11 x 18 ft. kitchen. On the south [...]

Every September 28th, neighbors celebrate the importance of a good neighbor.  And what's wrong with that?  It's a great idea. In fact, we at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT, take this even further by defining “neighbor” as a fellow human being. We make it our business to treat our past, current and potential clients [...]

Every year, May is National Remodeling Month! Here at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT, we’re ecstatic to announce we’ve provided remodeling, improvements and repairs for our Connecticut clients and customers in these towns: Finished! (addition) Branford, Cheshire, East Hartford, Guilford, Hamden, Meriden, Middletown, New Haven, North Haven, Northford, Plantsville, Portland, Southington, and [...]

Remodel and Improvement of Hamden Property We were hired to remodel and improve a home in Hamden, CT, over the winter. After walking through a house for the first time, one of the first things we do is rent a dumpster and get rid of the trash. This time, we were greeted with a surprise—the [...]

The first 2 photos show the old, outdated kitchen & bathroom, BEFORE our renovation. Walk through this newly-renovated kitchen & bath in Cheshire, CT, part of a whole-home remodel handled by HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT.  Being not quite sure about the leap forward, we found a nice compromise. We installed slate appliances […]

A history of the wall-encased staircase of a 1950’s, ranch-style home—the first remodel, and then… OURS! See how Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) transformed an eyesore into a focal point! View the before and during remodeling pictures below: The project:  Remodel a 3-bedroom, 1950’s ranch-style house in Wallingford, CT, in addition to remodeling the bathroom [...]

Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) completed a "whole-house renovation" in Wallingford, CT.  In a previous blog, we displayed how we updated a kitchen and bathroom on a tight budget. In this post, we will show you how we finished the renovation by remodeling the basement and the detached garage and updating the exterior. The basement is a [...]

HandyWorks Remodeling and Design (HRD) recently finished remodeling the kitchen and bathroom of a ranch house in Wallingford, CT. We know many ways to make a small house and a small budget look fabulous without spending a ton of money and we accomplished exactly that, with this home remodeling project. Bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling are usually the [...]

"Fully-Insured" does NOT always mean "fully".  Learn more now:  Insurance is a very expensive part of doing honest business.  What people don't realize is that here In Connecticut, contractors/remodelers with no full-time employees (including themselves) do NOT have to carry Worker’s Compensation insurance!  Many contractors offer lower prices because they have not purchased Worker’s Comp. Beware of [...]

Here at HandyWorks Remodeling in Wallingford, CT, part of our continuous-improvement process includes our website. Finished! (sun room) We want to make sure our web pages provide you with fast facts on what we do in a user-friendly manner, always-changing, always updated. INSIDE AND OUT To see the types of projects inside the home we've [...]