Joe's Blog
Joe has been blogging about the remodeling process and experience since 2011.How Much Will My Remodeling Project Cost?
We look at our skills and expertise to determine if we are a good fit for our prospects. Sure, we do all sorts of different projects, but I was recently asked what we are best at. I like to put a modern twist on the old saying "Cheap-Fast-Great, pick 2." Quality,...
Are You a Renaissance Man?
I am a self-proclaimed renaissance man. I love tools, motorcycles, old cars and trucks, and having a place to store my tools that is off limits to others. A place to be creative, dream, make stuff, and hang out with likeminded folks. A place to be myself, watch...
Unhinging the Mystery of Change Orders for Remodeling
Change Orders are often the most misunderstood part of a project. They essentially create a fork in the road on a long-distance trip. As an example, imagine your airplane needs to navigate around weather. There is no way you are going to get to your destination on...
Client Concern Leads to Permanent Improvement in Process
I believe strongly that we are always just an idea away form an improvement. This played out recently when a client asked for something that we had never done. What happened was less important than the outcome. The bar has been raised, and we are proud to show off our...
What Do You Need a Building Permit For In Boise?
This is the $64,000 question. It is asked in so many ways and so unlikely to get an accurate answer that I had to find out for myself. Everyone thinks I know this stuff anyway, so I might as well. If the answer were easy, we would all know it. The problem is that the...
International Day of Gratitude 9-21-2018
This Friday September 21st is the worldwide day of gratitude a day that was brought to light by Paul Tillotson, a man who celebrated it with gusto while he was alive. In part to keep his memory alive, I want to share this amazing day with those who may not know about...
Sharpening My Remodeling Tools
To keep up is a challenge no matter what part of the industry you represents. This was the common theme of the most recent visit with vendors supporting the Remodeling Week of Excellence in New Orleans I recently attended. I discovered a tool to do paint matching on...
Help Me, I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up!
As I celebrate my last shift as a paramedic, now 4 years ago. I recall responding to a significant number of emergency cases where people have fallen. Some lived, some did not; others lived with disabilities. Most, in retrospect, would have been preventable with a...
Drafting a Project Is an Essential Step
There is no way to succeed in remodeling without the ability to draw what the proposed project will look like. That is the bare minimum in residential remodeling. I once was told that I could get a building permit on a napkin, and by golly it worked back in the day....
New Basement Development Strategies
Levco has promoted our basement expertise to the point that we are now receiving an abundance of interest in basement additions. When adding to your home, there are only three ways to go up, down, or sideways. If you have ruled out up and sideways, we need to talk...
