additions Dormers Baths Decks Kitchens Porches 1 Siding Roofing Windows artier Free Design r & Son UCT ON Teknicolor Paints, Inc Carole Schwartz has removed and added bedrooms, redone her kitchen and A Paint Store and More! other areas of her Birmingham home. PRATT & LAMBERT PAINTS Never compromise' Benjamin Moore° Paints W hat we got here is a failure to communicate" is the sher- iff's famous line in the Paul Newman movie Hud. But it also applies to remodeling and renovating homes and con- dos, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "The biggest complaint we get from people who are having remodeling work done on their residences is not about possible fraudulent contractors, but about a contractor's failure to commu- nicate with those who hire them to do the work," declared NAHB Remodeling Division spokesman Jim Lapides. "Communications problems always top the complaint list. The remodelers may be in someone's home for several months, and the owners still often have a hard time finding out exactly how the work is progressing and how much longer it will take. "We advise consumers to be wary of whom they hire, make sure they have an understanding in advance of exactly what has to be done, and establish a line of communication between themselves and the contractor, plus a time-line for the length of the job. They should keep in mind that the best remodelers are very busy and require a long time to work on a large project." Lapides points out that it's not always the large and expensive proj- ects that add the most value to a residence. Small, cosmetic changes also are important. "Siding work, painting, roofs, gutters, new garages and, of course, landscaping often attract the attention of buyers right away, and that work maximizes a home's value," he said. Communicate! on page 8 Extensive line of products and knowledgeable staff to help you with any project. Faux Finishes or Venetian Plaster ... No Problem Nearly 600 2 oz. color samples s r) rill • 77 to test on your walls. available for you at Teknicolor, the name you can trust and the service you deserve!! * NEW LOCATION ORCHARD LAKE WOODWARD * ORCHARD LAKE * 14 MILE 12 MILE Farmington Hills 849 Orchard Lake 1300 Birmingham 33488 Woodward 248-646-5924 * WOODWARD S. * WOODWARD N. 10 MILE N. LAFAYETTE (Pontiac. Trail) Pontiac South Lyon 248745-0003 248-486-4910 51616 Woodward 117 N. Lafayette (Pontiac Tr) Visit us at wwzv.teknicolors.com or at 1 of our 4 convenient locations HOME IMPROVEMENT • AUGUST 31 • 2006 7