Brenda Keener Expert Guru

I am a very eclectic person - by day, I am VP of Business Development for a very exciting Silicon Valley startup. By night, my passions are music and writing. I hold an MSEE, an MBA, and a BS Materials Science/Engineering, and I sing jazz, play trumpet, and love to write just about anything. I have two dogs, a fish, a husband, a stepson that is 21, and two girls - age 11 and 15. I consider my expertise in the areas of business/marketing, startups, branding, jazz music, free lance writing, home improvement (I used to own a construction company with my husband), and high technology topics such as VoIP.

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Channel Experience

 Hardware/Software
 B2B/Business
 Small Biz/Home Biz
 Green/Living
 Home/Garden
 Health/Wellness
 Education/Training

Career Experience

 Copywriter
 PR Writer
 Web Writer
 Editor

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 Slide Shows
 Text Ads (PPC)
 Articles
 Brochures
 Data Sheets
 Tech Articles
 Press Releases
 Print Ads
 White Papers
 Newsletters
 Keyword Research
 Book

Industry Experience

 High Tech

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How to Select a Contractor

Selecting a contractor for your remodeling or addition project is the most important step you can take! To select the best contractor, first of all, visit one of the many sites that provide prescreened contractors in your area. Two of the best are Reliable Remodeler and Service Magic. Service Magic actually features a rating system, so that you can see how the contractor has performed on similar projects. Secondly, schedule an estimate, which should be free, with three or four different contractors. Pay attention to how much detail they uncover while doing the walkthrough, and how carefully they assess your property and plans. Ask for references, and check them thoroughly. Check each bid not only for price, but also for the amount of detail included. If a bid is not very detailed, chances are that the contractor has left something out that will show up as a change order later. Also check to see if the bid has the payment schedule written out, and all the legal disclaimers that are supposed to be on your contract or bid form (you can find this out by checking the website of your local licensing board). Check the contractor's license to make sure it is valid. Last but not least, make sure that you have good "chemistry" - you will be working with this person for quite some time so it is important that you have a friendly rapport.

How to Choose Paint Colors

A new coat of paint in an exciting color can transform a dull and boring room into a warm and inviting living area. To choose your paint color, the best approach is to find a design program that allows you to enter the dimensions and key furniture pieces of your room, and try different colors on the walls. Chief Architect, used by many architects and contractors, does a beautiful job of this. If you are not working with a professional who has this software, many of the paint company websites offer a similar free service accessible from their site. Take a look at different colors imposed on the walls of your space and see what looks good. Many times, what looks great on a paint swatch will not look good over an entire wall.

After you have simulated your results, buy a small amount of two or three paint colors you like the best, some primer, and some pieces of plywood. Scrap wood works great here. Prime them first, then paint as large an area as you can with your chosen paint colors. Hold each piece of plywood up next to key pieces of your decor, such as paintings, sofas, and other furniture. Does it look good with all the colors you already have?

Finally, ask your family members for their opinions, as they live there too!

Some other basic rules of thumb are these:

1) Use a glossy paint in bathrooms and kitchens as it washes easily
2) Use a satin finish if you want an elegant look, and a matte finish if you want to make a nice backdrop for art and other wall hangings.
3) Dark colors make a room look smaller, and lighter colors make a room look bigger. If you have a small space, stick to light colors.

How to Plan An Addition

Is your home too small? Do you want to add value by adding more living space? If so, the best place to start is to take inventory of your existing space. Are there specific rooms that you need expansion in? Expansion of a master bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom can make a home feel like brand new.

Once you have identified where you want to expand, take a look at what is beyond the walls you want to move to see where you can expand. It is a good idea to check the easements that your city or town allows, to see if you have enough room to expand between your existing home and the property line. If not, is there a closet you can live without that can be sacrificed?

If you DO have the room to move walls, the next step is to make a rough scale drawing of what you want. You can do it in pencil, but make sure that you mark closets, doors, windows, and stairwells clearly. Take your drawing to a design and build contractor, or an architect to be drawn into a permit worthy set of plans.

Your architect or designer will most likely have to create a floor plan and elevation drawings of your entire home for review by the building department, and this will be a process. If you are changing anything structurally, your prints will also have to be stamped by an engineer who will also have to create a beam and/or foundation plan.

Once this is complete and signed off, you are ready to begin!