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Our houses are just like our cars. They look best and function efficiently when routine repairs and maintenance are not overlooked.

We may not actually think of routine house repair projects in the same way we do as an oil change or a tune-up but houses are a lot more complex than cars are. We’ll be better off addressing the house repair issues as they arise instead of attending to an all-encompassing, top to bottom, clean sweep once every few months.

Keeping a home clean is one great way to stay abreast of all house repair issues before they become major overhauls. But even the cleanest of homes requires some repair every now and then.

Many homeowners attempt doing some of the house repair work themselves but sometimes it’s best to call in the expertise of a home repair or remodeling expert for the bigger fixes needed.

For many of the minor fixes, not much skill or danger are involved. Bigger house repair projects, though, can be very complicated and rather dangerous. For these projects, it’s best to leave the job to a trained professional who really, truly, knows what he or she is doing.

Even the cleanest home needs a touch-up of the paint from time to time and this is one house repair and maintenance job that might be a good one for the professionals.

If it’s the outside of your home the needs the paint job, the professional will have a wide assortment of tools and equipment that make this a house repair that’s a snap instead of a months-long ordeal.

Repairs that involve structural and utility systems are not the type of house repair that the typical homeowner should tackle single-handedly, either. These systems can be dangerous and lead to much bigger problems if done improperly.

Everybody appreciates the value of a trusted mechanic to keep our cars chugging along smoothly. We are equally lucky when we have a trusted house repair and maintenance specialist to do the same for our homes.

And isn’t it true that paying taxes on a home that is in optimum condition is a lot easier to swallow than paying taxes on one that seems to be falling apart?

More of us than in any generation past have realized the American Dream of home ownership, too. We’ve bought homes we are quite proud of and have been eager to maintain them as a showcase monument to our success.

Unfortunately, however, we’re all getting just a little bit older. Those do-it-yourself (DIY) projects aren’t quite as easy as they used to be.

Fortunately, though, we have lots of help to call on when those DIY repairs call for a little more vigor than we are willing to invest.

DIY repair and maintenance projects are required inside and out to keep our homes running as smoothly as we’ve run our lives. We know that and, for the most part, we’ve enjoyed doing them.

But as our bodies are aging, so are our homes and those DIY repair projects can sometimes seem to be accumulating faster than our stamina can keep up.

Even though there will always be a DIY repair job we enjoy doing so much we’ll keep at it, it’s nice to know there are many repair and remodeling specialists who can step in to do the chores we no longer want to do or feel confident doing anymore.

When once laying tile in the kitchen or recarpeting the bedroom was an easy DIY repair job, the floor now seems much farther down there than it used to be. These chores can now be left up to the specialists.

Springtime cleaning out and mending of the rain gutters was once a DIY repair job that marked the passing of the seasons but ladders just don’t seem as sturdy as they once were. It’s OK to let the professionals do that stuff now.

And it seems that every DIY repair job left a bruise, cut, or scrape, one we wore proudly, almost like a badge of honor. Seems lately, though, that it’s taking a lot longer for those bodily dings to heal and they hurt a lot more these days, too. Let the professionals deal with them instead.

We can still keep our homes running in ship-shape order and we can still enjoy the occasional DIY repair or maintenance task, too. We can keep on doing the fun stuff but it’s really nice to know we can call someone else to do the difficult, dirty, or heavy work without feeling like it’s a frivolous expenditure of our money.

Wouldn’t it be nice to transfer your DIY repair work to a professional service started by a Baby Boomer just like you? He’d probably be right proud to let his kids do the work while the two of you enjoy swapping stories of the good old days.

Other times a do it yourself repair project isn’t really one you should do yourself.

Perhaps city permits and inspections are required for a particular job you might have considered a do it yourself repair project. Unfortunately, in order to pass inspection, you will most likely be required to use a contractor specializing in a specific craft in order to pass an inspection.

Your chances of getting a building and repair permit may be jeopardized when tackling a do it yourself repair job, too. Without a proven record of ability, a license to do such business, and the liability insurance to cover any losses or damages incurred, your permit request is very likely to be denied.

Before beginning a do it yourself project, consider how self-contained the project is. Painting a bedroom doesn’t involve anyone outside your home so it’s something that can be done without any legal problems.

Other do it yourself repair projects you can tackle alone involve cleaning out rain gutters, minor landscaping, and replacing the flooring in all or part of your home.

The problems that come with do it yourself repairs that go beyond the legal scope of the homeowner’s jurisdiction are when the project affects the neighborhood and city where you live.

You cannot make electrical and plumbing repairs to your home as a do it yourself repair project because any work you do will affect the utility and water suppliers to your home. Your neighbors will be affected so permits and inspections will be required.

As a shortage of water is becoming a concern throughout the country, any do it yourself repair projects that involve water retention and drainage, such as pouring a new driveway or patio, require permits and inspections, too.

To tackle a do it yourself repair project is a commendable thing, as long as you know your abilities, your limits, and the building codes and restrictions that apply to your intended project.

For all projects outside the scope of do it yourself repair projects, there are highly qualified professionals at your service and ready to assist.

Perhaps it’s time to consider calling a home repair specialist to get an estimate of how much time, money, and temporary inconvenience might be in order to get your castle fit for royalty once again.

It’s easy to do your own minor home repair projects if you keep up with them as they occur. But such diligence is often easier said than done and, before you know it, one repair left undone leads to other repairs that need mending, too, or to major repairs that are too tough to tackle alone.

Before calling a home repair specialist, it’s a good idea to make a list of the repairs desired. A specialist may be able to solve several problems in just one all-inclusive project.

A home repair specialist is also a great source of advice for how to best accomplish a series of repair jobs, too. Chances are, he or she has seen just about anything you can imagine and they’ve fixed them admirably. They can do the same at your home, too.

If your home repair list is extensive or involves some of the major structural systems to your home, a professional will understand the scope of his or her own expertise and will know of qualified, reputable contractors to employ to do the rest.

One tricky aspect of home repair jobs is the permits and inspections that may be necessary, depending on what part of your home needs mending. A home repair professional will know how to work with the municipal issues surrounding the repairs and how to accomplish them safely and effectively.

We rely on our homes to provide lots of things – shelter, warmth, a sense of identity. It’s a wise investment of time and resources to keep it running efficiently. And that sometimes means calling a home repair specialist to keep things in tip-top shape.

Some people just don’t feel comfortable veering off the path that’s straight and narrow. They want a home just like everybody else’s. They want something steady, reliable, tried and true.

Other homeowners are a little more adventurous. They have a unique style that they want to broadcast in the house they call home. These people, too, want something steady, reliable, tried and true, but they also want something distinctive and different.

These people choose a home because it works for them, not because everybody else has one just like it. These people don’t worry about keeping up with the Joneses. These people ARE the Joneses.

For these trendsetters, there’s probably no better avenue of expression than green home design. Green homes employ the latest energy-efficient materials, appliances, and construction methods available.

Green home design is often quite pleasing to the eye, too. The natural landscape surrounding the building is often as important to the design as incorporating all the building’s features.

In fact, the natural landscape is so important to green home design that every possible opportunity is taken to glean building materials from the natural environment of the construction site.

When trees have to be removed to allow room for the home, green home design will recycle the wood from those fallen trees and turn them into as much of the building’s construction materials as possible.

The rocks, stones, and pebbles strewn about the property are also likely to become the stonework incorporated into the green home design. They may also become walkways, walls, fences, and irrigation routes around the home.

Because green home design leads to homes that are highly efficient where energy consumption is concerned, the need for big, bulky, and unsightly HVAC units is minimized. Instead, these smaller, quieter units can be blended into the natural look of the land or incorporated pleasingly into the design of the home.

Green home design takes the landscape surrounding the home into mind, too. Trees, shrubbery, and other plants are usually located in a way to block excessive wind flow or block extreme heat from sunlight. These strategically placed plants usually look right at home and effortlessly located when, in fact, they are hard-working elements of the total energy-efficient design of the home.

Cookie cutter neighborhoods, those with miles and miles of homes that look too much alike, are a perfect haven for many people. The rest of us, we Joneses, cherish the one-of-a-kind buildings designed with us specifically, our environment, and a healthy planet in mind.

While the desire to have a building constructed using green builder techniques is a trend gaining in popularity, the challenge in getting a green home built may begin with finding a qualified green builder in your area.

Green building employs the use of a different set of systems, materials, and techniques than those used in standard construction practices. The people qualified to construct a green building must be thoroughly trained in using these systems, materials, and techniques effectively.

In the United States, green builders have developed a highly organized system of regulatory entities that also provide contact information for their members. In order to join these organizations, the green builder must have clearly documented his or her ability, skill, and knowledge of the green building industry.

Local city and state brotherhoods of builders situated throughout the country will gladly supply a list of their members, too. Local chapters of building trades unions are an excellent source of information.

Building contractors are required to register their businesses or obtain licensing from the state in which they operate. A review of the license holders in your area will likely identify those qualified as green builders.

Real estate trade journals and advertisements clearly identify a green builder from the typical builder. Real estate agents and brokers are another good source of information when researching the right green builder for a particular project.

Real estate development projects designed for green construction only is a rapidly growing trend in the real estate market. Any development offering such a lifestyle will have a green builder as part of the development program.

The architects who design green buildings will have a list of favorite green builder associates they can recommend, too.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the EnergyStar rating program for identifying buildings that are energy efficient. The green builder associated with individual buildings or approved as government-recognized green builders can be obtained from the EPA.

Anyone who has had a building constructed using green building standards and materials will almost always share their experience proudly with anyone who cares to ask. The very best recommendations come from happy customers who are delighted with their new energy-efficient home that is as healthy and comfortable for the people as it is for the environment.

Almost every aspect of construction can be improved to minimize burden on natural resources when green contractors are included as part of the overall construction plan.

Once architects familiar with green building techniques have designed a building, green contractors, specialists in the individual systems that come together to construct the building, perform the actual work of constructing it. Green contractors employ techniques and materials that help sustain the environment in the most beneficial way possible.

Green contractors specializing in plumbing systems are in high demand due to the increasing incidence of drought being experienced across the country. These specialists employ energy-efficient means of heating and transporting water and of making the best use of recycled wastewater. One example of their work is when rainwater collection systems are used for irrigation instead of relying on public water supplies.

Green contractors specializing in woodwork are used throughout the construction process. Framers can use woods that are not chemically treated or that come from trees not endangered. Whenever possible, green contractors are encouraged to use materials gleaned from the construction site, such as the wood from trees felled to clear the land for the construction site itself.

Green contractors use products that are considered rapidly renewable, such as bamboo, straw, and cork. Wood from forests deemed to be sustainably managed is also allowed in green building.

Finish work done by green contractors for carpentry, cabinetry, and trim work must also be from rapidly renewable sources whenever possible.

In order to be classified as green contractors, painters must use only paints that are made from milk or other organic bases. No toxic substances are allowed.

Stonemasons who are considered green contractors will often use stones, rocks, and pebbles gathered from the construction site or from nearby locations.

In fact, all building materials are best when they come from sources as close to the construction site as possible. The shorter the distance of transport, the less gasoline, and its expense and damage to the environment, the better for everyone.

Another highly desirable practice of green contractors is to recycle used building materials whenever feasible. Demolition companies are a good source of materials that can be recycled, renewed, and reused in green building construction.

Concern with the health of the global environment and the depletion of natural resources is the driving force behind the growing popularity of the green builders and their environmentally conscious structures around the world.

Green builders are the people in all phases of design, development, and construction of buildings that meet the energy efficient standards as defined by a growing list of regulatory agencies. While many of the major industrial countries have adopted their own standards for green building construction, the standards and goals are similar.

The FirstRate system in Australia focuses on green builders in the residential arena. The scope of its operations are supplemented by the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating system.

One recent project given an outstanding Green Star rating was a renovation of office space in Canberra. Renovation expenses topped $1.7 million but a 75% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and in water use was realized. Eighty percent of the construction materials were recycled.

Canadian incentives for green builders started in 2000 and some provinces are considering making it a requirement that all new homes be constructed using green building technologies.

Although not currently required, green builders in Germany are highly valued. In fact, Berlin’s new Reichstag government building is so environmentally efficient that it actually produces its own energy.

Green builders in India are mastering the designs and techniques that make energy efficiency a viable option in spite of the country’s vast size and climate zones that differ dramatically.

Israel, Malaysia, and New Zealand have all taken steps to encourage green builders to expand the industry within their borders. Each of these countries has negotiations underway to either develop green builders standards or to enact legislature that requires them.

The United Kingdom has been a strong advocate for green builders since 1989 and has developed standards that are followed around the world.

The adverse effects of prolonged drought, deforestation, and depletion of natural resources are felt everywhere. The rapidly growing human population is expected to increase the burden on the planet as population numbers increase. It is vitally important that green builders and the technologies they employ be considered everywhere at every possible opportunity.

Green buildings, those designed and constructed to generate the least negative impact on the environment, are gaining popularity but the industry is still often misunderstood. A recent survey conducted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development illustrates the point.

While almost everyone agrees that we need green buildings in order to minimize adverse environmental impacts, the cost of such technologies and building materials are thought to be prohibitively expensive. The World Business Council survey finds that the actual costs are overestimated by as much as 300 percent.

In a somewhat ironic turn of events, it’s the people most involved with the green buildings industry who overestimate the costs of such construction. Members of the real estate and construction industries estimated the cost of green buildings to be an average of 17 percent higher than the cost of traditional construction.

Actual figures, however, indicate the typical cost of green buildings is only about five percent higher than buildings constructed using standard methods and materials. The cost of the energy savings involved with day-to-day operations of the green buildings, once construction is complete, are thought to be high enough to quickly recoup the five percent initial expenditure during construction.

The state of Washington has recently enacted legislature that requires green buildings standards to be applied to all new construction and all renovations done that involve public buildings that cover more than 5,000 square feet of floor space. This law was enacted in 2005 and it covers government offices, public schools, and other buildings under public jurisdiction.

The projected savings in energy Washington expects to realize are substantial. The expected savings in overall energy is projected at 20 percent. Water and wastewater expenses are expected to be reduced by 20 and 38 percent, respectively. Construction waste from these green buildings is expected to be reduced by as much as 22 percent.

With savings in energy costs and consumption expected in the double digits, it seems that green buildings are a wise investment in the future of the natural environment. These buildings provide a safer, healthier environment indoors, too, thereby saving on the expense of illness, lost work, and reduced production when the buildings’ occupants are too sick to go to work.