About Westmoreland County, PA

Falling home values and a strong buyers market has many homeowners looking at home renovations instead of trying to sell. As the owner of Westmoreland Contractor Referral Service, homeowners are looking for the right home improvement project that will offer them a new look and feel of their home and add value as part of a long-term goal when they will sell their home. With falling home values and tougher credit options, mean homeowners are searching for improvement projects that will not only beautify their home but will offer the best return on investment.

When selecting which home renovation project, ask yourself what is reason for this home improvement. The main categories of home renovations are:

1.Save energy

2. Damage repair

3. Increase living space

4. Add value

5. Improve living environment

One benefit of today’s economy is that the home remodeling market is slowing down as well. What this means to the homeowner getting ready to do a renovation, is more contractors are available and most are willing to negotiate on scheduling and are more responsive. Don’t expect big discounts on the price, however the cost of materials and labor are still a high cost to the contractor.

The list of top five home remodeling projects that can fit into multiple categories and are modest improvements is listed below.

1. Install energy efficient Windows.

Window replacement, whether is wood or vinyl is a good investment that offers many benefits. One benefit is the reduction in the cost of heating and cooling and they can improve the overall looks of a home. When choosing a window, consider the energy efficient replacement window and insulating features such as heat reflecting coated surface.

2. Replace Siding.

New siding can bring an old house back to life and change the entire look and feel. The term “curb appeal” is the single most important feature of which new homebuyers base their initial opinion. Today’s homeowner has very busy schedules and siding offers a maintenance free exterior that instantly adds a new look and feel.

3. Add a Deck.

A deck extends the living space of a home and brings the environment of outdoor living into a new demission. Deck styles, material types, and sizes can vary. Use your imagination and design a deck as an extension of your home. Materials for deck construction today offer the homeowner choices of color, texture, and composition. The maintenance free decking material can be designed with curves; special railing designs, and allows the homeowner really makes a statement with creativity. Decking products also offer the homeowner to design a beautiful deck that is environmentally friendly.

4. Kitchen makeover.

Minor kitchen makeovers such as adding a new color of paint, installing new countertops, or new cabinets and make a huge impact on a homes look and feel not to mention value. If your goal is to not only add value to your home but to sell your home then consider using neutral colors. Research shows that neutral colors are more appealing and lightens up the area for a more welcoming feeling.

5. Bathroom remodeling

A bathroom remodel can be a simple upgrade to a complete renovation. The bathroom renovation project provides that special ‘at home comfort’ feeling. When designing a bathroom renovation, think of updating the sink, tub, toilet, cabinets, and flooring. As you plan these updates think about “going green”. Think about the water saving toilet. This can not only beautify your home but save you money on water and sewer costs.

Now that you have selected the right home improvement(s), it’s time to select the right contractor and start seeing your dreams come to life.

Article submitted by Debra Nolan, owner of Westmoreland Contractor Referral Service, a business dedicated to helping homeowners find dependable contractors for home improvements. For more information visit www.westmorelandcrs.com.

<br>Click here to read more on <a href="http://www.westmorelandcrs.com"> home improvements</a>

Consumer confidence is close to the lowest it’s been since the late 80’s. Home prices are dropping, foreclosures are rising, and fuel costs are high. While the news can be depressing, the impact can benefit homeowners planning home improvements. The housing slump is affecting home remodeling contractors and the home improvement stores that supply the construction materials.

Many home improvement and lumber merchants are starting campaigns to mark down prices. This is providing the homeowner with more bargaining power and less expensive home improvement projects. According to Debra, owner of Westmoreland Contractor Referral Service, in Greensburg. Pa. The housing slump is introducing new competition into the remodeling arena. Smaller homebuilders are actually diversifying their businesses to survive the downturn. Construction companies are looking into every aspect of their business and making adjustments. The result for the homeowner is lower material costs and reduced overhead cost, which results in an overall reduction in the cost of home repairs and remodeling.

Contractors are feeling the impact of the economic slow down which provides a unique benefit to the homeowner. Contractors can now purchase materials at lower prices and are able to pass these savings along to the homeowner. The slow down gives the homeowner the added benefit of contractor availability. A few months ago, a phone call might not have been returned as quickly as it will now. Contractors are working hard to find new business and keep their employees working. They’re literally looking for more business that they normally would pass on. Homeowners now have more remodelers to choose from.. However, caution should be taken to ensure that the contractor is insured and is qualified to do the project.

Homeowners that feel good about their equity situation should consider a home improvement project now. The benefits of home improvements can include not only savings on the cost but also can add value to the home and depending on the type of project can help to make a home more energy efficient.

Prospective homebuyers are now holding off on purchasing a new home and are finding that home updating, additions, and renovations are a more economical decision. Instead of buying a new home, they are adding on and renovating. Even in severe downturns, people need to update and maintain their homes. Where some home improvements were not affordable a few months ago, now they are and homeowners can cash in on the deals. Bottom line, if you have been putting off the home remodeling project and have the cash, now is the time to start that project.

Article submitted by Debra Nolan, owner of Westmoreland Contractor Referral Service, a business dedicated to helping homeowners find dependable contractors for home improvements. For more information visit www.westmorelandcrs.com.

3007 Swiss Mtn $115,000

I-11 SunRidge $400,000

Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis. The free county site contains a real estate search feature but is not as detailed as the paid site.

Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. No monetary value is assigned to furnishings which are normally included in the majority of sales.

It's Kick Off weekend already and the snow makers have been working overtime! With the early cold snap you'll find the conditions awesome with 12 to 15 open slopes and trails! So says Wags who was on the slopes last Saturday! Keep in mind that Ski Magazine readers ranked Seven Springs NUMBER ONE for Mid-Atlantic Ski Resorts!

Here are a few pictures of what to expect when you get here will be posted this weekend! Eric Mauck, CEO of the resort shared what's new for winter enthusiasts this year.

Wagner RegradedThis created a beginners glade skiing area to skiers left. This was a massive project of moving dirt and clearing trees! It made this slope more skier friendly and opened up this normally congested area. Remember to watch the top 30 feet as most skiers make their first turn at the top of the slope and quickly carve through new snow making to the base. In other words it's slick so make sure your skis are tuned!

Snow Tubing lovers are rejoicing as a second magic carpet uphill lift is ready for this snow filled season! Twelve tubing chutes make this the largest facility around!

Customer convenience will soon leap into the 21^st century with "Buy on Line" and not stand in line ticket sales! Doesn't matter if you're looking for skiing, tubing, equipment, and or lessons all will soon be obtainable on line!

We're going to post info for the boarders out there separately! Look for it before Monday!

A few weeks ago at the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureaus 50^th anniversary celebration at Seven Springs we got to meet Bob Nutting (one of the owners). He was insistent that we get together with CEO Eric Mauck and check out all of the new and exciting projects in the works at the resort. Bob also expressed his families desire to be a good neighbor and their intent to encourage visitors to check out businesses and venues in the area.

Eric is a ball of fire! We dare anyone to keep up with him. He talked about some of the major projects he had been involved with at Oglebay Resort that have prepared him for his leadership role at Seven Springs. It seems he is driven by an impressive mantra that he brought with him, "How can we make our customers experience better?"

In the 75 years that the Dupre families owned the resort many projects were completed and many were not. We believe that you are going to see an unbelievable transformation in the resort for years to come. "CHANGE" will be an every day common word and occurrence. There is a generational shift in thinking, planning, and implementing. Seven Springs Resort is entering a new era at warp speed.

Here's an example, last year "A bit of the Burgh" was opened which was to be a sports bar with quick food in the ski lodge. This year it's gone. It's been replaced with a new vision, expansion of the Foggy Goggle. The center of the decision, make the consumer even happier. Make the inside experience as good or better than the outside experience. We see flexibility, we see commitment, and we see completed projects.

We're going to report on the projects we discussed in segments. That way you may comment on each separately. Here's what to look for, infrastructure, winter improvements, technology, hotel, pool, customer service, convention, sweet shop, Trillium, go green, food service and restaurants, and sporting clays, not necessarily in that order!