OK, so maybe with the stock market in the toilet and your 401k plan not looking so hot as of late, it might not be the best time to take on challenging remodeling projects for your home. But even as you tighten your wallet, sometimes you just gotta get your decorating fix on. And the best fix is something that actually fixes something, like a sky-high heating bill.

If you're looking to help make your home more energy-efficient and cut down on that dreaded heating bill, you should think about swapping out your current window treatment for cellular shades, which insulate against heat loss at the window. Cellular shades are an easy way to update the look of a room while earning a payback in reduced energy costs all year long as they also help to keep rooms cooler from the incoming summer sun.

Cellular shades were introduced more than 25 years ago, but with mounting concerns of rising energy prices, more and more homeowners have gotten hip to these shades. The vast collection of choices has also helped to boost their popularity. Cellular shades are offered in myriad colors and even patterns. Blinds To Go, which has 107 stores and an online store at Blindstogo.com has a new collection that is directly color matched to the best-selling Benjamin Moore paint trim colors to make decorating really easy.

While the current economy might be keeping you from knocking down those walls and building the master bathroom you've always wanted, small upgrades around the home might just be the remedy to help sooth that decorating itch.

Want to learn more about creating an energy-efficient home? Check out HomeFinder.com's Green Home Guide.

The U.S. Economy today has impacted every homeowner, as well as every business connected to the U.S. housing industry. If you're considering a home improvement project this year, you may want to be sure that the general and subcontractors you are considering will be financially viable enough to complete your project and pay their people. You also want to assure yourself they complete their work in a professional and timely fashion.

Virtually every homeowner can share stories or know at least one person who has experienced poor quality craftsmanship or long delays in getting home construction projects completed. I've even seen cases where the contractors went out of business or simply left town, leaving the frustrated homeowner holding the bag.

Don't get scammed
A dozen or so years ago, my sister-in-law and her family encountered trouble with a contractor they hired to build an additional room in their home. The work began professionally, with workmen completing demolition work and framing on schedule. My brother-in-law was referred to the general contractor, and even knew him socially.

But the builder's financial troubles soon became apparent. Rough interior work was left untouched for weeks at a time. Then, different workers would do some of the inside work piecemeal. Subcontractors would complain that they hadn't been paid.

The general contractor wouldn't return phone calls and as time passed, his phone was disconnected and his storefront business closed. Havoc ensued in the family, and they eventually got new workers and family to help them complete the job. But flaws in the previous work remain to this day, such as improperly leveled floors and settling cracks.

Attempting to find and sue the original general contractor went nowhere. Their home improvement budget was blown, and unpaid sub-contractors filed mechanic's liens for payments, which were subsequently settled, with the liens removed. But this took several years and created considerable headaches! So how do you protect yourself when hiring home contractors?

I recently came across a really great article in the Chicago Sun-Times which gave tips on how to avoid shady contractors.

Associated Press reporter, Melissa Kossler Dutton, interviewed Angie Hicks, who founded Angie's List, an Indianapolis IN, membership-fee-based online directory of home repair and improvement contractors of various stripes, as well as Shari Purves-Reiter of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry, Kip Morse, Regional Governor for Better Business Bureaus, and President of the Central Ohio Better Business Bureaus.

Here are a few of my favorite tips from the AP article and a few suggestions of my own:

1. Check company credentials thoroughly, and ask for examples of previous work. Be wary if the contractor refuses to give you references, even if they are well known and advertised in your area. Be especially careful with those who have relocated their business locations frequently. My real estate team has had negative experience, with roofing contractors who offer "lifetime guarantees," but have a habit of moving around the Chicago area frequently, with slight changes to their company name in order to avoid living up to their warranties.

2. Get a complete list of all subcontractors the general contractor plans to hire. Contact them, and inquire how the general contractor's payment habits. Have the subs been paid in a timely fashion? In full? Have they had any disputes with the general? Again, if info is lacking you should be concerned. Very concerned!

3. If unsure about any company, check their credentials with the Better Business Bureau, or on Angie's List or a similar service. Call your local chamber of commerce and check with neighbors to see if they have any knowledge of poor performance by the contractor you are considering. Some verification companies and local government agencies, such as the Chicago Department of Consumer Affairs, may also help you check credit credentials of home contractors, and whether the firm has been sued by other homeowners.

4. Get a written contract, spelling out in detail specific work schedule and payment terms. Minimize your down payment. You should be concerned about contractors who require sizable down before work begins, and never make your final payment until ALL WORK is completed to your satisfaction. Written confirmation of a work schedule, perhaps building in a small contingency for unanticipated delays, may incentivize the company for finishing early, or penalize a company for delays in the project. Before signing any contract, review with your lawyer or professional adviser, if you are unsure.

5. Get lien waivers from the general contractor and all of the subcontractors after their portions of the work is completed. No waivers, no final payment! If possible, pay the subcontractors directly, rather than passing their payment through the general. This assures with certainty that the subs will indeed be paid. Avoid the potential for mechanic's liens against your home!

My real estate team also maintains our own Professionals Guide, which you can find on our Web site. It lists Chicago area companies previously used or personally checked out by our team members.

You can also contact us by phone or e-mail for a referral. We would rather you consider working with someone we have had successful experience with, and with strong reputations in business, versus a company you do not know. Please share this checklist with those you know and work with.

Visit DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO at BlogChicagoHomes.com.

What is space design? Space design is how we use and manipulate the space around us. The fields of architecture, interior design, land planning and green building all incorporate it. In large part, it requires the professional to truly consider all the possible and ever far-out ways the space will be used.

Space design goes beyond thinking of which way a door should open. It does not require large expanses of space, nor is it limited by small quantities of space. Rather, it's a matter of ultimate functionality. Beyond that, it isn't merely a literal process; it's also a matter of social and environmental sustainability.

Interior architecture
Imagine being able to move easily about the kitchen even when entertaining 20 guests. That's what award-winning architect Jonathan Parks of Sarasota, FL., achieved in one client's major renovation. He transformed the boxy, claustrophobic area, originally segmented by walls into an open, airy space that includes a wet bar, dining area, breakfast bar and prep area. The newly renovated kitchen area is a space people can easily move about, even when the cabinets, the oven or the fridge are open. How did Parks do it? He used forethought to incorporate flow, process and design. Not only did he use the boundaries of the space — the surrounding walls — he also emphasized the center space, which amplified the possibilities.

Knocking down walls, using an L-shaped bar, building in a small wine bar, and using pocket sliders between the patio and the kitchen helped manifest the concepts. The wife can remove hors d'oeuvres out of the oven comfortably and entertain guests in the kitchen, while her husband comes in and out of the kitchen as he's barbecuing on the patio. And the best part, no one gets in each others way.

Mixed-use communities
Smart growth, often associated with New Urbanism, is a growing policy trend in residential development and land planning. It's often manifested in mixed-use projects. In the book,'New Urbanism: Comprehensive Report & Best Practices Guide," Edward Gramlich, a former Federal Reserve governor, says that implementing smart growth strategies rather than permeating sprawl would save the U.S. $250 billion over the next 25 years. Those costs would be saved mostly by lower development and utility costs for developers and lower reduced land and road costs to the government.

This type of development is a throwback to land planning before the prominence of the automobile. Before the advent of suburbs and the era of popular pre-WWII, small businesses occupy the first floor while residents live on higher floors. Curbside parking and courtyard parking are usually available to expedite and encourage the buildings use by those who live and work there. By their very nature, mix-used developments are green-oriented. These types of developments encourage their inhabitants to shop where they live and promote pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Residents and business owners become more interconnected, creating a healthy work-live environment. Smart growth projects like these also engender generational diversity. According to James Falbo, a marketing manager for Florida-based Waterford Companies, research indicates that both young professionals and downsizing seniors want to live in these mix-used communities.

Say no to bad design
The architecture profession has evolved boundlessly in the last century. Space planners, interior designers and architects have learned how to reconceptualize the space they're working with and are more likely considering long-term effects and usability in their design. They consider a wide variety of uses rather than simple, pragmatic ones.

Take for example my apartment – apparently unchanged since its 1920s construction. A radiator located in my bathroom proves to be a laughable impediment. Its permanent location negates the ability to completely open the bathroom door. Furthermore, getting burned is an immanent risk. Beware of bending down too much at the sink or ZING! Ouch! That radiator has been known to leave interesting (but fortunately temporary) tattoos in rather private places!

Had a designer with a good sense of space design created this today, she might install a pocket door rather than a fully opening one. But then again, she would have prevented the problem forthright by installing a contemporary heating unit toward the ceiling.

View more blogs by Nichole Reber at Spacedesignjournal.com

As I was conducting a home inspection this week, I noticed cigarette butts scattered around the exterior entranceway of the property. Inside the home, the smoke detectors had been removed. When going over my report with the owner, I let him know that these important safety devices were missing. 'Do I really need to have them?' he asked me. Even if the cigarette butts outside didn't belong to him, I explained that smoke detectors are essential in keeping his family safe inside their home.

Reporting on the necessity
In Texas, starting in February 2009, I will be officially required to report on any missing appliances or devices that are needed in a home. There are many new pieces of equipment that I will need to check, and if they are absent on the property, I am now required to include them in my final report. I personally think this is a great way to educate homeowners on the newest advances in home safety and construction.

For example, most of the homes that I inspect do not have AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupter) breakers for the bedrooms. With this new standard operating procedure, I am required to include these missing devices in my report. Why would this be important? If you have a wire which is sending a spark across to a piece of metal, that metal could heat up to the point of causing a fire. If you are asleep, how will you stop the sparks from igniting? The breakers shut down the power for you, stopping a potentially deadly fire in its track.

Some people argue that the new system of reporting puts older homes at a disadvantage, especially if they haven't been built with these upgraded home safety devices. But I usually reiterate to the Realtor and my clients that my report is just a statement of condition, not a repair list. The buyers themselves have to determine what they feel is an absolute necessity for repair.

The punch list
Home inspectors are usually asked to provide a 'punch list' from the Realtor. These lists include what we consider to be the most important repairs that need to be done before the buyer moves into a house. I gear my lists to the needs or concerns of the client. If they have children, then I mention safety issues. If they are worried about something such as storm damage, then I make suggestions to lower the risk of such damage.

This rule is not always followed by all home inspectors. Most home inspectors would agree that our job is to advise and guide our clients so they can make a decision on their own. However, Realtors and buyers really like that punch list, and inspectors can use it as a means to convey what they believe is important.

Most home fires are caused by some form of human action such as kids playing with matches, or a lit cigarette butt or candle left exposed. If there is a safety feature that could prevent an injury, then I am all for it. But is it necessary for everyone to update their house, particularly when they do not see the benefit of a certain device? Fortunately, the new reporting system in Texas includes a clear statement that any findings in the report do not bind the seller or the buyer to make those repairs.

Personally, my hope is that eventually Realtors and home buyers no longer ask their inspectors for a punch list. I believe it is far better to understand why items are being reported on. The more informed you are on your inspection report, the better prepared you'll be at identifying the necessary repairs before you move into the home.

I have seen where these punch lists have prevented a sale. The buyer felt that everything absolutely had to be made perfect before they made the purchase. But in the end, it's important to remember that no home is ever perfect, not even a newly built one.

Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, Professional Real Estate Inspector

While most people like to believe they are opened-minded, most of us have been guilty at some point in our lives of making judgments based on appearance. When it comes to home buying and selling, the appearance of a property is everything. But to get a true sense of the quality of the home, people should never strictly judge a home by its exterior appearance. A great deal of work may have been invested into making the home look nice, but an inspection can sometimes turn up major internal problems, which could have been easily taken care of beforehand. Whether you're currently in the process of selling a home are just waiting out the real estate downturn, keeping up with basic maintenance repairs will only help increase your home's value.

Recently, I was on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Web site when I came across a press release from the trade group on the state of the remodeling industry. I was surprised to learn that remodeling projects have been declining since 2005, and that growth within the industry is expected to remain flat for the coming year. Considering that my wife's 'honey to-do list' is ever increasing in scope, I thought that other homeowners would be focusing on revamping their own homes as the real estate market slowly recovers. I guess that I should stop using my wife as a barometer for consumer sentiment.

Affordable repairs
After one weekend of writing several inspection reports, I began to notice that I was making note of the same problems for each house. During the next week, I reviewed some reports produced by other inspectors and found that they had listed some of the same issues. I was taken aback by one report where the inspector noted that the cost to caulk a door would be $75. He gave the same price for a window. I was thinking it would cost me $4 for a tube of caulk, and I could pull out my caulking gun to have the job completed around the house in less than an hour.

With energy and food costs at record highs, people aren't spending the money they once were for basic remodeling and repair projects around the house. To help homeowners cut down cost for basic home projects, I've compiled a repair list detailing some common findings by inspectors, which are all simple tasks that most homeowners can tackle on their own.

Maintenance is a way to prevent major problems with the home in the future. For more helpful repair tips, checkout Ron Haynes's Wisdom Journal blog. Haynes is a veteran in the lumber and building supply industry, his thorough list of common repairs will defiantly help you in your home maintenance. A little different from my own list, but I think they're simple enough to be executed by any determined homeowner.

Take care of your home and it will take care of you. I keep by my calendar a list of items around the house that can use some maintenance, and each week I complete most of those tasks. I find doing a little each week really helps. Don't let repairs pile up. It will only cost you more money and unneeded headaches in the long run.

Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, Professional Real Estate Inspector