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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Awards and Recognitions

JH BASEMENT FINISH COMPANY
Joseph D Hannah Sr
Owner and General Contractor
Office (303) 693-2088  -  Cell (303) 888-2513
***AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS***
2003 BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2004 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”        
2005 BBB *“Gold Star Award”  
2006 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2007 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2007 -  Joseph Hannah Sr - Owner and General Contractor - selected                
            as “Who’s Who” among Executives and Professionals
2008 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2008“BEST OF AURORA” in the field of Construction Companies
2009 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2009“BEST OF AURORA” in the field of Construction Companies
2010 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2010 - “BEST OF AURORA” in the field of Construction Companies
2010 - Nominated for “The Gold Torch Award” by the BBB
2011 -  BBB *“Gold Star Award”
2011 - “BEST OF AURORA” in the field of Construction Companies
2011 - Merchant Circle - Circle of Excellence” - Honored for Excellence. Recognized by Customers, Peers and other Respected Experts

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Frequently Asked Questions


JH Basement Finish Company
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Your Estimates Free?
     The majority of our competitors would charge a substantial fee for a complete estimate on your basement.  In fact, the industry standard is between $3.00 and $5.00 a square foot for a written guaranteed design and proposal.  At JH Basement Finish, we think this is unacceptable.  Our philosophy is, and always has been, that the client should not be charged for the opportunity to learn more about finishing their basement and what that entails, including cost.
What Is The Cost Per Square Foot?
      The square footage price will vary depending on the individual client’s needs and desires and ultimately the design.  However, something to keep in mind is that in this area, the industry standard varies greatly.  Some of our competitor proposals are 30-50% over ours.  We do not meet the industry standard for complete basement finish, which is $35.00 to $75.00 a square foot; we beat it every time guaranteed.
Is The Price On Your Proposal Guaranteed?
     Absolutely, 100% of the time, no exceptions!  No overcharges and no hidden costs ever.
How Soon Can You Start?
      It is the goal of JH Basement Finish to start a project within 2 to 3 weeks of the contract being signed.
How Long It Will Take To Complete?
      Some of our competitors estimate a week for every 100 square feet.  Others estimate 6 months from start to finish.  We will be completed with the proposed work within approximately 4 to 6 weeks of our start date.  Most of our projects finish even ahead of this schedule.
Can We Make Changes Once The Project Has Begun?
     We will do everything in our power to accommodate any client request.
How Much Mess Will There Be?
     Our contractors assure daily job site clean up.
Who Will Do The Work?
      I will personally be your project manager.  As such, I will oversee all construction.  JH Basement Finish employs only licensed electricians, plumbers, HVAC’s and experienced drywall contractors.  The majority of our contractors have been with JH Basement Finish a minimum of 13 - 15 years.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

This is what you can expect from JH Basement Finish

JH Basement Finish Company
Minimum Standard Features List
Preliminary
*Plans
*Specifications
*Design
*Layout
*Full Consultation
Plumbing
*Plumbing completed to code
*Accessibility to all plumbing shutoffs
*Toilet, pedestal sink and bathtub or shower, mirror and light bar, towel bar and paper holder
Electrical and Safety
*Electrical completed to code
*Recessed Can Lighting System
*Smoke Detector
*Cable
*Telephone
*White toggle-style receptacles and switch-plates
*GFI
Framing
*Metal stud framing
*Sub-division of complete areas per plan
*Ductwork
*Closets as applicable
Drywall
*Bull nose corners
*Texture to match existing house
Trim
*6-panel hollow-core white doors
*Gold lever door handles
*Baseboard to match existing house
*Ceramic tile in all shower or tub areas
Paint
*Painting of entire basement in one color
Debris Removal
*Breakup and Removal of all construction debris
*Daily job-site cleanup
*Thorough cleanup when job is complete

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Designing Your New Basement

JH Basement Finish Company
Design Ideas
*Media Room:    Since it’s quiet and secluded, the basement can be the perfect place to escape and watch a movie in an entertainment room or home theatre.  If your basement is dark, it can be ideal for a media room - simply install indirect lighting on a dimmer switch for once the show is over.  You’ll want to take special care with wall and floor covering as well as furnishings, to preserve the sound quality.
*Activity Room:    Whether it’s a home workshop for the do-it-yourselfer in the family, an art studio, or a child’s playroom, you can find a home for it in the basement.  It’s easily accessible yet out of the way, and will free up space upstairs.
*Laundry Room:    Consumers are asking home designers for more and more out of their laundry rooms and the basement is one spot where it’s easy to deliver.  It offers space that is usually hard to come by on a house’s main level, and is easy access to necessary components like water and drainage.
*Wine Cellar:    There’s a reason you’ve never heard of a “wine attic.” The temperature climate of a basement is perfectly suited for storing wine.  If you are a connoisseur - or would like to be - think about including a wine cellar in the plans for your new basement.
*Rec Room:    Entertaining can be a blast in a fully outfitted recreation room, complete with a pool table or other fun accessories.  Decorate however you would like, and have fun with it - homeowners often feel more comfortable taking chances with decorating themes in their basements that they might be hesitant to try upstairs.  A walkout basement can even be more suited for entertaining in warm weather if it opens up to a patio or backyard.
Home Spa:    If you want to really indulge - and enjoy the peace and quiet of the basement - consider adding a whirlpool or sauna to your basement.
With all these options, its no surprise that more and more homeowners are discovering the 
benefits of basements.
***Courtesy of eplans

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Financial Options

JH Basement Finish Company
Financial Strategies
      These are tough economic times, the stock market is volatile, IRA’s are in jeopardy and we have seen the equity in home values drop.  The question becomes is this the right time to make a major investment in your home?  The answer is yes!  According to market experts within 12 months we will not only see the values of homes return but a single family home remains the major contributing factor to long-term individual wealth.        
Money has and will always be safer in real estate than in any other area of investment.  As a bonus, the cost of finishing your basement has declined during the past months but will rise substantially as the financial crisis is resolved.  So, even though this decision needs to be considered carefully - now is the right time for such an investment.  There are several fiscally sound options to obtaining the initial capital required. 
Refinance of Existing First Mortgage:    Mortgage rates are low, possibly lower than when your home was originally purchased.  By refinancing your existing mortgage, it is feasible that your payment will be lower than it is currently.  Also, since this money is being invested directly back into your home, no equity is lost.  This is also a viable alternative because the interest on this loan is then tax deductible.  This is a sound financial choice.
      We can provide you with contacts at several mortgage companies and although we cannot endorse any one in particular, we have had success with all of them.  
Second Mortgage:    This is a popular alternative to homeowners.  There are a couple of different ways to obtain a second mortgage.  You can apply for an open-ended equity loan.  With this loan you will pay interest only on the amount you have borrowed to that point.  You can also obtain a fixed second mortgaged based on the current value of your home.  We can provide you with contacts for this type of loan as well. 
Debt Consolidation Loan:     This loan can consolidate other higher interest debts such as credit cards and open lines of credit with the money needed for the basement finish for a new lower interest loan.  The monthly payment on the consolidation loan, including the money needed to finish your basement, is generally equal to the combination of the individual debts.  This is a great selection if you would like to consolidate at the same time you finish your basement, and are concerned with higher monthly payments.
Rental Property Income Loan:    Most importantly, do not forget that your basement is now an asset.  Recent studies have shown that a one-bedroom basement apartment will rent for between $1,200.00 - $1,400.00 per month.  Even considering a loan of $40,000.00 with payments of approximately $400.00 a month, it is feasible that you will show a net profit of approximately $800.00 to $1,000.00 per month beginning directly after the basement is finished.  Many clients have renters lined up before the basement construction is complete.  With no initial investment, this is a great way to increase your monthly income.

Monday, January 31, 2011

A Few Answers to your questions

JH Basement Finish Company
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Our Estimates Free?
     The majority of our competitors would charge a substantial fee for a complete estimate on your basement.  In fact, the industry standard is between $3.00 and $5.00 a square foot for a written guaranteed design and proposal.  At JH Basement Finish, we think this is unacceptable.  Our philosophy is, and always has been, that the client should not be charged for the opportunity to learn more about finishing their basement and what that entails, including cost.
What Is The Cost Per Square Foot?
     The square footage price will vary depending on the individual client’s needs and desires and ultimately the design.  However, something to keep in mind is that in this area, the industry standard varies greatly.  Some of our competitor proposals are 30-50% over ours.  We do not meet the industry standard for complete basement finish, which is $35.00 to $75.00 a square foot; we beat it every time guaranteed.
Is The Price On Your Proposal Guaranteed?
     Absolutely, 100% of the time, no exceptions!  No overcharges and no hidden costs ever.
How Soon Can We Start?
     It is the goal of JH Basement Finish to start a project within 2 to 3 weeks of the contract being signed.
How Long It Will Take To Complete?
     Some of our competitors estimate a week for every 100 square feet.  Others estimate 6 months from start to finish.  We will be completed with the proposed work within approximately 4 to 6 weeks of our start date.  Most of our projects finish even ahead of this schedule.
Can We Make Changes Once The Project Has Begun?
     We will do everything in our power to accommodate any client request.
How Much Mess Will There Be?
     Our contractors assure daily job site clean up.
Who Will Do The Work?
     I will personally be your project manager.  As such, I will oversee all construction.  JH Basement Finish employs only licensed electricians, plumbers, HVAC’s and experienced drywall contractors.  The majority of our contractors have been with JH Basement Finish a minimum of 10 - 15 years.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

You Know "Why Finish Your Basement" Now, "Why JH Basement" Should Do It.

JH Basement Finish Company
Why Choose JH Basement Finish
How long have you been in business?
     JH Basement Finish has been in business for over twenty years.  In 1995, our company was recommended on the Tom Martino Show as being “on-time, on-cost, professional and courteous.”  That was our motto then and still is.  We were one of the first Basement Finish companies in Colorado and remain one of the finest.  In fact, we have been awarded the Gold Star Award by the Better Business Bureau eight years in a row for not having one complaint filed against us and we were just nominated for the 2010 BBB Torch Award.  We are also very proud to have been awarded the 2008 and 2009 as well as the newly announced 2010 “Best of Aurora” Award for Construction Companies.
Are you a licensed, insured, and bonded contractor?
     I maintain a General Contractors License and Supervisor’s Certificate, which I have held for over 20 years.  Our company has been insured with the same Insurance Company for the entire time without one claim.  Each of our contractors carries their own insurance and our electricians, plumbers, and HVAC’s are individually licensed.
Do you have references?
     We will provide you with a list of local references.  Please feel free to contact them, some are even kind enough to let you come out and look at their exciting new basement.
Will you provide assistance with our basement design?
      This is what we do!  We have a qualified architect working with us to make sure your design becomes a reality.  If you would like assistance with creating a design, we would love to offer you suggestions, ideas and pictures of other designs we have created.
Will you provide a thorough, final cleaning?
     We not only provide a thorough cleaning, we complete a final walkthrough to make sure everything is to your satisfaction.
How timely is your work schedule?
     Since basements are all we do, we offer high quality with a more efficient timeline.  We offer a shorter completion schedule than any of our competitors.  We can generally schedule you in within 2-3 weeks of signing the contract and the estimated time of completion is approximately 4-6 weeks from the start date.
How adaptable are you to changes?
     We will do everything in our power to accommodate any of your change requests.  However, since we are so meticulous in our initial design, other than additions you might decide on, there are usually very few changes.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Why or Why Not?

Hope you find the previous post informative.  These are tough economic times and tough decisions have to be made but I personally feel that there has never been a more financially sound time to finish your basement!

Why Finish Your Basement

JH Basement Finish Company
Why Finish Your Basement
How can we recoup the money we invest in this project?
    
     Realtors and Investment Analysts agree that besides kitchen and bath renovations, Finished Basements provide the biggest return in homeowners’ investments.  Take this example from Remodeling Magazine.

Market
Square Footage
Job Cost
Resale Value
Cost Recouped
National Average
788
$51,051
$46,010
90.10%
     Now consider that JH Basement Finish come in approximately 30-32% below the National Average; this means you will show a profit of approximately 20% - 30% when you finish your basement with our company.  This profit can be increased even more dramatically when you decide to add a kitchen or wet-bar.
Why not an addition opposed to finishing our basement?
     
     According to Home plan Finder the cost of adding square footage to your home in the construction stage or in addition are as follows:

Region
Low Price Per Square Foot
Med Price Per Square Foot
High Price Per Square Foot
National
$68.80
$94.80
$118.80
Northeast
$79.30
$105.30
$129.30
Midwest
$70.90
$96.90
$120.90
South
$61.55
$87.55
$111.55
West
$76.55
$102.55
$126.55
     
     Since the national average for completely finishing your basement is between $35.00 and $70.00 a square foot; it is easy to see why this is a much better choice in adding additional square footage to your home.

What if we decide to move, how will finishing our basement affect the resale?
According to MoneySense, the answer is as follows:
     “If you can complete the basement you will increase the sale ability and price of your home...stick with an open-concept floor plan, and perhaps add a bedroom/office with French doors if the space permits, finish the bathroom also.  The important thing is not to make it look choppy.  When it is time to choose the colors go with very neutrals...like a light taupe and high white baseboards and a neutral carpet.  A  lot of people do not have the money to spend after making such a large purchase, so the fact of having a home that is totally finished (keep in mind that workmanship must be good) will definitely be a plus!”
   
     “Most people do not have the time, energy, finances, knowledge, etc to renovate so if it’s done with quality the home is more attractive, gets a better price and sells quicker.  By the way with a walkout basement, I would recommend you consider a multifunctional renovation.  In other words, since it’s a walkout consider doing the plumbing, electrical, and space planning for an apartment.  Parents are living longer, kids are staying at home to obtain an education so it’s a really smart idea.  If those situations don’t fit you then you could rent it out or visitors to your home can have complete privacy.”
     In addition to those long-term financial benefits, what are the other advantages?
*Climate:    Basements are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  Because basements are naturally insulated by the earth, you’ll spend less on heating and cooling costs and find yourself drawn there on particularly hot or cold days.
*Peace and Quiet:    If you long for an escape from the hectic comings-and-goings upstairs, get away to the basement.  On the other hand, if your children’s playroom or your spouse’s exercise room makes too much of a racket where it is, move it to the basement and reclaim the quiet upstairs.
*More Space:    Maybe you were planning on using an extra bedroom as a home office before a new addition to the family created the need for a nursery.  With a basement you could always move the office downstairs.  With less and less space available around homes, expanding down is usually a more attractive option than expanding out.