Q. I currently put a bid in on a short sale in Chicago. The sellers accepted just need the banks approval. Anyway, I was wondering how much should I expect to spend on fixing the electrical, the plumbing, and replacement of the front porch on the house. I am going in with a 203k. The house is approximately 1,150 sq ft...if that helps any. Victorian style house, three levels.

A. Jconstanza, buying a house, no matter what kind and for how much, is a big investment, so I can understand your desire to determine the viability of redoing the electrical, plumbing and porch to some extent in such a house. Asking for help here on Yah is a good step, though it is not enough when it comes to a big-ticket item like a house purchase. I'd seek the advice of local remodeling contractors (who, by trade, usually handle all such fields construction: electrical, plumbing and related porch work, etc.). Where you need to begin is to get free written estimates from local remodeling contractors. There's no obligation on your part if you seek one of the many local remodeling contractors in your area who are willing to provide free estimates. If you can't get inside the house you intend to buy with the contractor, it's better for the contractor to at least see it from the outside to give you a better perspective of what the costs will involve. Relying on guesses found here on Yah is not recommended, as many factors--including that material and labor costs vary by location--affect the cost of what you are intending to do. You need to get the local going rate in your area--so free estimates are very important. So, to help you out, here is a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in finding a local remodeling contractor with the intention of getting the best deal: INFO ON LOCAL REMODELING CONTRACTORS: http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Remodeling_In_Gen.htm I'm hopeful the above will provide you with the information that is necessary to make a wise consumer choice, including helpful guidance in obtaining free written estimates from the local contractors in your area so that you can make an informed decision about your project. . Source(s): The Internet. Just whatever is available online and what I have on my mind, including the inclusion of relevant sites, like the one cited above that came about from my efforts, which is intended to be useful. Helping people get the relevant info they want is great.

Q. The house was built in 1920; the walls are very damp and I'm sure there's mildew. I would really like to create a living space downstairs, and I was wondering how much it would cost to waterproof/refinish? Any ideas? Tips?

A. My tip/idea: You know, the easiest thing you can do is to call home remodelers in your area--or instead of calling, use the link below--and get Free estimates from them as to the cost involved in refinishing the basement. (Home remodelers usually do all trades in general related to your basement, etc.) This is the only true way of assessing the cost involved, as the cost of material and labor greatly varies by location; so what one person says on here does not get you any closer to understanding what costs are involved in this project without the use of local contractor estimates. Here is a handyman site I use often, which has a section devoted to home improvement articles, where you'll also find towards the far left bottom of the following home improvement page a bright, kind-of-orange home-guru Bob Villa-endorsed ad that offers up to four (4) Free estimates that can be given to you very fast from local remodeling contractors in your area (again, this free-estimate offer is towards the very left-bottom of the following linked page): http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_How_To_Pages_Home_Improvement_Zone.htm Like I said, get a hold of some local remodelers. In exchange for giving them work, you also might be able to get a good deal on the material from the remodeling contractor, since, usually, they have access to wholesale pricing on building material given the great amount of installations they do. That's the way to go. Good luck with your project!

Q. I need to learn ASAP everything I can about Home Remodeling and Improvements. Especially Sunrooms, construction, design, how to build, prepare estimates. Also need a EASY BEGINNER FREE package to use on computer, like Four Seasons Sunrooms give their sales reps. Can go out and take a digital picture, then somehow transfer it to your computer, the home comes up and you can design the sunroom right there to see what the home will look like with a sunroom on it.

A. Tons on information at the library.

Q. We have a home in San Jose and wanted to add a master suite as a second floor addition and maybe even a den. Has anyone had an addition put on or are there any contractors out there who can answer this. I know you can't give me an exact without all the details, but a ball park figure would be appreciate. I was guessing 100K.

A. Sarah, there are way too many variables inherent of such a home addition project of yours, so what you really need is to get a local home remodeling contractor to give you the local rate for such a project. Ask for rough estimates doesn't get you any closer to truly understanding the costs involved, but may actually cause you to abandon a perfectly feasible project due to inaccuracy. Having a local contractor would permit you to better take advantage of being able to more accurately assess the situation in person. Fortunately, there are plenty of local remodeling contractors seeking to give free estimates with no obligation, and taking advantage of this is the consumer-smart way to go about finding an accurate answer to your question. It's important that you get a local estimate and not rely on guesses found here on Yah, as a lot of factors really bear on the cost of such a project, including the following: The cost of material and labor greatly varies by location. Definitely get estimates to start your exploration of the cost, as contractors would be delighted to give you free estimates anyway. A local remodeling contractor can easily assist you in this project of yours. If you negotiate well with the contractor and he buys the building materials for you, you may try to have him pass the discounted cost of the materials to you, as usually contractors get discounts (called "contractor's discounts") when buying from home improvement stores because of the many purchases they make as required by their jobs. As I said, Free estimates from local remodeling contractors are the key to your success in this home improvement project of yours. Here's a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in determining the cost of your project, and, ultimately, selecting a local remodeling contractor in an effort to get the best deal for you: REMODELING CONTRACTOR INFO: http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Additions.htm I'm sure you'll find the information you need, specifically the tips, useful as it relates to being treated fairly by contractors and exploring the consumer-wise approach of getting free written estimates to find the best contractor in your area. . . Source(s): The Internet is what I use. I'm pretty knowledgeable about the Internet. I have a firm belief in helping people with what I know, including from my development of sites, such as the one cited above. Sharing really is caring, and I wish those who I help can reciprocate by sharing what they know.

Q. I live near tampa florida and need a few rooms painted but dont know what the going rate for painting is

A. Usually you get estimates by the job from painting companies. They come look at what you want and see how much and how heavy furniture they must move (you can't do it as they want it moved when and where they want not when and where you want = unless you take it all out of all the rooms to be painted and keep it out till they are finished and leave) You cannot be moving furniture or using the rooms when they are painting. You can hire a low cost home repair and improvement guy that needs work for 15 to 18 dollars an hour on average and you have to help move furniture around and cover and uncover it as an assistant. (This does not get you a reduced per hour cost) It costs you nothing to get estimates and then you can select one or none if they do not suit. Estimates are Free.

Q. What are some start up costs for a dinner theater business? I have already: Light and sound equipment, tables and chairs, remodeling, cash registers, and kitchen appliances. I also need an estimate on how much insurance and licencing would be per month, and I need a name for the dinner theater. This is a class project and I'm submitting it for a competition soon so I really need help. Thanks

A. Go to http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html and download the Excel template for estimating start up costs.

Q. For example, facebook or ebay ? What have an influence on the profit ? For clarify, it is not about production but about the end project. And thanks for the producing answer!

A. You need to break down all of the tasks that need to be done in order to complete the project. This would be a very long list for something like facebook or ebay. Then you need to estimate the duration required to complete each task. You need to know how much you would need to pay somebody an hour to do that task. So, let's say you need to create a new database and estimate that it will take 60 hours to create it. Your DBA costs $120/hour. So, that cost for that task is 60 * 120. Go down the list of each task and then add them all up. You will also need to understand hardware costs. You may need to purchase servers or lease them. Then there are marketing and ongoing operational costs, etc...etc... Income minus costs equals profit (or lack there of). Keeping your costs lower increases you opportunity for profit. Look at each task and ask if there is a quicker or less costly way of doing it.

Q. Okay i've done quite a bit of advertising, does any1 else know how to mayb get free leads on remodeling projects?? And i must mention, i don't give free estimates, not worth my time for my quality of work.

A. I can tell you what a contractor in my area did. He hooked up with a local tv station and answers one viewer question a week, he gets about 2 minutes of air time a week, the viewer get their questions answered, and he established himself, not only as an expert, but as the "go to" guy in our area for remodeling. Hope this helps and Best of luck, http://bloggingmyownbusiness.blogspot.com/