Home improvements time?
 

Is this a good time to get an extra room or two put onto our house? Has all the crap going on put any downward pressure on contractors' prices?

Sort of - give it another month or so and they'll be beggin you for the biz.

Does it cost more to build in the snow and ice?

I've read that since people are having a hard time buying new houses, they are staying in their old ones and fixing them up. So, No. Of course, ymmv. Markets vary in different regions, etc. etc.

Can't remember the last time we had any winter weather here before Jan.

Not since global warming hit, anyway. :stickpoke:

Seriously, are you guys warmer over there? It's always likely to blizzard in December, November, even October, though it certainly doesn't happen like the days of yore.

It seems to have shifted more than anything else.

Yeh, relatively cool summer here. Was yours hot? How are the palm trees doing?

I would imagine the materials that have to be trucked in have raised in price. Maybe you should go local for materials and really local for the help.

The contractors I know are really looking for work this time of year and you may be in luck as far as timing is concerned. This is when they begin to struggle with job shortages. Look at a lot of bids.

I read stuff to this effect in the "how to increase sales" section of the company handouts in the break room...so, I doubt prices have dropped

Our delivery fees went up like $20 last month, so I would guess that's also accurate. :D

Hot summer, yes...but I'm sure no worse than any of the past 43 summers I've spent in Ohio.

Palm trees...puh.

I just figured you guys over there didn't have that different a climate than I. I was being serious if inclement weather has ill effects on building projects: delays, higher costs etc. Or is it like the postal service "rain nor sleet nor dark of night..."

I think they are comparable - this has been a very mild year - not so hot in the summer and a pretty warm winter.

We've had a beautiful fall. If I remember correctly spring was good too...for too long it seemed like one day it was 90 below and the next it was 100 in the shade!

Why renovate?
There must be scores of unoccupied McMansions in your area. Is there any chance your renovation budget could be used to buy one on the cheap?

Interesting thought. Though it would require getting our house all ready to sell, and then moving.

Just occurred to me: ... AND finding someone who wants to buy YOUR house. Hmm. Might be a wee bit difficult.