Paul Davis Tri-state Blog

Even in this down economy, a kitchen remodel is the best way to get a return on your investment. However, to make a profit on your remodel, you need to stay current with the trends of what customers want and are willing to spend money to get. Luckily, the trends that you can expect for the entire country are relevant to the Tri-State area also. Here is a list of the top five trends for kitchen remodeling:

1. Minimalist Designs
Do not spend money on flashy or impressive designs this year. Buyers want more gadgets and less intricate detail. Crisp lines and easy-to-clean surfaces are the most economical choice for what buyers are looking for in the coming years.

2. Built-in Appliances
Built-in or invisible appliances are hot this year. This is especially true for the stainless-steel, built-in coffee maker that is set right into a cabinet. While it may seem risky and unnecessary, it is sure to impress any prospective buyers. Along with this trend you can get a significant return on your investments with invisible refrigerators and warming trays.

3. Rethink your Cabinetry
Creativity is valued more than convention these days with a wide variety of options. Floating cabinet units are popular as well as sliding, semi-translucent glass doors. Furthermore, you can’t go wrong with cabinets made out of “green” or recycled material such as aluminum.

4. Lighting as Ambiance
When you think about kitchen lighting, you may think ‘the more light, the better’ but you would be mistaken. Unless you have no natural light at all coming into your kitchen, go with complementary sconces, accent lighting, and decorative lighting instead. This creates a more cozy feeling to your kitchen instead of a garish whitewash feeling.

5. Mixed Countertops with Inlays
While granite and marble will always remain a favorite countertop material, others are becoming just as popular. The quickest growing trend is to mix countertop materials. You can do this by having one section stainless steel while the rest is marble or wood. Sealed concrete with glass accents and quartz are also very popular. Inlays are becoming a hot trend this year and will continue in the next couple of years. Try putting a pastry slab or butcher block into your countertop.

Kitchens have and will most likely always be the most cost-effective remodeling choice when trying to attract buyers. Whether you live in Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, or in another part of the country, there is no reason why you can’t make money off of your spring remodeling project with these five easy trends.

As the storm season is upon us in full force in the Tri-State area, it is important to take the necessary steps to be prepared for this year’s inevitable storms. Being prepared can mean the difference between life and death, and when you know exactly what to do before the storm arrives, you can greatly increase your chance of not getting hurt.

When you are at home:
When you are at home and you hear the dreaded cry of the alarm, what do you do? Put a clear plan of action in place so when this situation arises you do not panic.

• Know where in your home is the safest place to be. Generally, the safest place to go is the center of your home, the basement (if you have one) or if all else fails you can take shelter in the bathroom or under a heavy piece of furniture. Stay away from windows at all costs.
• Mobile homes are not safe when a severe storm hits and should be abandoned. Arrange to go to a neighbor’s home or a shelter that is close to your home beforehand.
• Have an emergency supply kit in the designated safe zone. Some of your supplies should include: first aid kit, radio, water, a heavy blanket, candles and matches, and a game or cards to keep your mind off the storm.

When you are not at home:
Nothing is more frightening than being away from your home when the storm siren sounds. You are the most vulnerable to sustaining injuries when you are not at home when the storm arrives.

• Get a list of all the safe zones around your city (these can be found by contacting the news stations or OEP). Again, do this before the storm!
• Make sure that every member of your family knows the plan and nearest safe shelters.
• If you are trapped on a stretch of road, do not attempt to drive, get out of your vehicle and lie on your stomach in a ditch with a heavy blanket over your body.
• Listen to the radio for any storm developments.

Observing these precautions greatly minimizes the chance that you and your family will be hurt in a severe storm such as a tornado. Let’s keep the Tri-State area safe this storm season!

Many homeowners might associate water damage as something that occurs due to a flood or heavy rain, but water damage in your home can happen anytime, even during a drought!

For example, if a pipe in your home bursts, your home and its belongings are immediately at risk for water damage. It doesn’t take weeks or even days for the damage to set in, and it’s crucial to start the clean-up process immediately.

So, what do you do?

There are tons of articles online that lay out steps that homeowners can take themselves to clean up after water damage has occurred, but we recommend calling in professionals to access the situation, especially if the damage is extensive.

How do you know if the damage is extensive?

If you’re not professionally trained in water extraction, you could end up doing more harm than good. One very serious consequence to improperly handled water damage, is the possibility of mold setting in. The last thing any homeowner needs is to worry about mold issues popping up as a result of an unprofessional water cleanup job.

What are the benefits to calling a professional?

• A professional restoration company such as Paul Davis Restoration Tri-State will get your property back to normal faster. Many water damage jobs require no demolition to repair and our innovative drying methods mean most projects are completed in a few days instead of weeks.
• Paul Davis Tri-State can save your personal possessions. Using specialized equipment and cleaning methods, we can clean and restore the contents of your home (i.e., furniture, clothing, artwork, electronics and computers) back to their prior condition.
• Our team will assist with the insurance claims process. We will work with you and your insurance company to help speed the settlement of your claim.

We’re in the midst of a strong storm season with rain, thunderstorms, and tornadoes becoming commonplace in the Tri-State and Cincinnati areas.

One common question many homeowners have is, What happens if my neighbor’s tree falls on my insured property? Is it the homeowner's responsibility or the neighbor's responsibility? This scenario is one that occurs frequently in neighborhoods in and around the Tri-State area.

Most insurance policies cover damage caused to the structure (home, garage, building, etc.) and the contents damaged or destroyed within that structure. Whether or not the tree was yours or your neighbor’s, the homeowner with the tree on their house is the one who should file the claim with their insurance company. Your insurance policy may also cover the cost for removing the tree if the tree hits an insured structure.

The same basic principle might also apply to a tree fallen on a vehicle if you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle.

One of the best things you can do to is to become knowledgeable about your insurance policy and know what questions to ask your agent in the event that you have to file a claim. Call your agent today with any preliminary questions, that’s what they’re there for! In the event that you do encounter storm damage or roof damage from fallen trees or strong storms, Paul Davis Tri-State is here to help restore order to your life.

Springtime storms in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area have a reputation of being strong and sometimes even severe as evident by the tornadoes earlier this month. Property damage caused by heavy winds and hail needs immediate attention and should be reported to your insurance company. Do you know what steps to take if you suspect your roof has hail or wind damage?

Here is some advice from Paul Davis Restoration:

• Even if you’re not 100% sure your roof has suffered damage, it’s always best to call your insurance company first. They can send out an adjuster to take a look, or might even call a reputable roofing company to inspect your property.
• Know what you’re responsible for. Are you familiar with your insurance policy enough to know what is covered and what is not? Do you know what your deductible is and whether or not you’ve met that amount for the year? It’s best to arm yourself with knowledge now so you know what to expect when it comes time to file a claim.
• Don’t hire the cheapest contractor to repair your roof. When bad weather hits, unknown “businesses” and independent contractors seem to crawl out of the woodwork. They might be cheaper than some well-known companies, but remember that with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Just be leery and lean on your insurance agent to choose the right contractor for you.
• Be patient. Remember that when a storm hits, you’re one of many who need attention.

Contact Paul Davis Tri-State or visit our website to learn more about preparing for storms and cleaning up after them.

By: Lauren Kidwell
March 20 was the beginning of spring, and I know many of you are starting to think about your annual top-to-bottom cleaning of your home. If you are like me, some of you may have even started thinking about this weeks ago, and have already got a head start. Here are four reminders that people often forget about when working on their spring cleaning:

1. Duct Cleaning – You would be surprised how much dust, mold, and allergens build up! If you have never had your ducts or units cleaned, please get them inspected and clean as soon as possible. The EPA recommends having your ducts inspected and cleaned for proper air flow every three to five years. If you ever had soot damage, mold damage, or years of nicotine build up, please make sure that your ducts and unit have been cared for. Always change your filters at least every three months too.
2. Carpet, upholstery, and drape cleaning – Everyday living is the culprit for this category! I know my kids, and yes, even my hubby, don’t listen to my rule of no shoes on in the house. I like to make sure that all of these items have a good cleaning once a year. Freshens them up and amazingly the color comes back to life.
3. Inventory – I know you are thinking, “Why on earth would I need an inventory list of my stuff?” Well it might surprise you. Most everyone has contents insurance and, God forbid something should happen to your home, you would have an updated list with pictures and receipts indicating what you had and how much it cost you. This list also will let you know if your policy amount is enough to cover everything. So while you are organizing the house during your spring cleaning, start your list and put it in your fire proof safe box. Inventory list can also be used for dividing assets in divorce or death situations.
4. Heavy duty cleaning – Maybe some of you are elderly, disabled, or cannot give your home a thorough cleaning. A heavy duty cleaning may be needed if you have an oil furnace, wood burning furnace, smoking in the home, rodent problems, etc.

Paul Davis provides all of these services. Our technicians are trained and have years of experience. So, as you start your annual spring cleaning, put these on your forever-long to do list and Call Paul!

Damage caused by a windstorm or a tornado can vary in severity. Sometimes we get lucky and only suffer minor damage to our home. Other times our property is classified as a total loss.

No matter how minor the wind damage is to your home, it’s important to take the necessary first steps in order to prevent or minimize additional damage. Paul Davis Restoration of the Tri-State Area is always available — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — to provide emergency services to protect your property. Our emergencies services form can be used for prompt service anytime.

If your home has suffered wind or storm damage, here are some important first steps you can take in order to get your home repaired as quickly as possible:

• Contact a qualified insurance restoration contractor.
• Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible.
• Watch for wires that may have been pulled down by wind or falling tree limbs.

In preparation for future storms, here are some measures you can take to help your home sustain wind damage in the future:

• Reinforce your garage doors to withstand strong winds.
• Glue your roof down. From inside the attic, apply construction-grade glue along the joints where the sheathing rests on the rafters or truss.
• If you plan on replacing your roof, have your roofer remove all layers down to the wood sheathing. Make sure rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls. Refasten the existing wood sheathing according to builder-code requirements.
• Reinforce double-entry doors with heavy-duty foot and head bolts.
• Make sure screened porches and carports are properly fastened to the house.

Paul Davis Tri-State is here to help you prepare for and clean up after damaging winds and storms. Contact us today if your home has suffered wind damage or if you need helping putting these cautionary measures in place.

While we’re all probably wondering where winter went, we shouldn’t dwell too much on what season we’re in at this point in the game. No matter the month or time of year, the fact of the matter is that we’re already experiencing damaging weather—and have for a couple months now.

Spring-like conditions have certainly been quick to come, and so have the storms that accompany the spring season. This has caught many Cincinnati residents off guard, because while we’ve been preparing for snow and ice, what we’ve gotten instead is rain and thunderstorms!

In preparation for what seems to be a rather eventful spring weather season, Paul Davis Tri-State has created a Storm Damage Response form on our website to help you quickly report storm damage and receive prompt service.

If you live in Cincinnati or the Northern Kentucky area and experience storm damage, simply go to our website and fill out our Storm Damage Response form. Day or night, our team will be notified of your situation and will contact you promptly to begin the process of restoring your home or property.

The Storm Damage Response form can be used for:

• Water damage or flooding
• Roof damage from high winds
• Trees or objects on your property
• Fire damage or smoke damage
• Damage to your contents
• Broken windows
• Structural issues from high wind or water damage
• Other restoration needs you have