West Point makes extensive interior renovations to bring ‘cramped, old’ space into the 21st Century. The school has set out to change that with a two-phase, seven-year, interior-only renovation project—the science hall’s most extensive upgrade to date. It is now in its second phase that, when completed, will transform the Bartlett Hall Science Center into a state-of-the-art facility.

At-Risk Homes Now Face FEMA’s New Flood Maps. With the senate’s recent passage of a $50.5-billion Superstorm Sandy aid bill, some hard-hit homeowners in New York and New Jersey now face a new issue as the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently released new flood elevation map data for the city that details how rebuilding should occur. The new maps double the number of NYC properties lying in flood zones, and FEMA advises homeowners to build higher.

The new Local Law-2013, which is scheduled to go into effect this July, eliminates a $1-million cap on program-eligible contracts.

Midwest, other regions show positive growth in October.  Architectural billings accelerated to their strongest pace in nearly three years in October, with all U.S. regions logging positive growth for the first time since the start of the Great Recession, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architectural Billing Index (ABI).

The 12-year project will improve access to O’Hare International Airport.  The tollway, part of a 15-year, $12-billion capital program named Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will replace the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway, a corridor that doesn’t connect local roads to O’Hare Airport.

Project will add 900,000 square feet of office space to the city’s West Loop. Named River Point, the $300-million project will add 850,000 square feet to Chicago’s financial district when completed in 2016. It also will add a 1.5-acre park and plaza to the city’s riverfront, where the project is sited.

Growing evidence not only suggests the climate is rapidly changing, but that extensive burning of fossil fuels is the primary culprit, according to the draft third National Climate Assessment, authored by more than 200 scientists, in addition to representatives from government and business.

Project calls for upgrades, enhancements to the 99-year-old structure.  After failing to win support for taxpayer-funded improvements to Wrigley Field, home to baseball’s Chicago Cubs, franchise owners have agreed to bankroll $300 million in improvements to the landmark structure in exchange for concessions involving signage and additional night games.

Indianapolis developer repurposes a 1930s-era ballpark into new apartments, anchoring a budding life-sciences corridor. Costs dictated that the new three-story structure be framed with wood, although the steel trusses and supports for the roof are being refurbished and will remain exposed in upper units.

Their leadership, innovation and commitment are transforming their professions and communities. Among the youngest are a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Des Moines, a project manager who at age 31 already serves as mentor to younger colleagues and a 32-year-old designer who is president of the American Institute of Architects Illinois Chapter. Among the oldest: a 38 year old serving as general manager of Turner Construction Co.’s Cincinnati operations, a 39-year-old architect known for his innovative uses of sustainable building skins and a 39-year-old civil engineer who has made her mark in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Each is among the rising stars selected as ENR Midwest’s Top 20 Under 40, an annual competition recognizing young design and construction professionals from the region who have made lasting contributions to their professions and communities.

A major $984-million water desalination plant has been green-lighted for construction near San Diego, after years of legal challenges and pipe dreams.  The plant, which will be the nation’s largest seawater desalination plant, was approved November 29 by the San Diego County Water Authority’s (SDCWA) Board of Directors. The Board approved a 30-year Water Purchase Agreement to purchase up to 56,000 acre-ft of water annually from the facility.

The Pasadena firm is working on a $25-million education center for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District in Sunnyvale and the $53.3-million Student Recreation and Wellness Center at San Francisco State University.

Spanning two blocks in the heart of downtown Sunnyvale, the Carmel Loft House project is designed to bring new life into the city by the San Francisco Bay.

Consisting of two buildings, with 133 loft-style apartment homes and more than 6,000 sq-ft of ground floor retail space, Carmel Loft House will feature 1- and 2-bedroom open floor plans ranging in size from approximately 700 to 1,500 sq-ft, with 10′ ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and balconies.

The project, which broke ground with site preparation on January 2, is being built in-house by Carmel Partners.

Dynamic Systems, a Redmond, Washington software developer, specializing in data collection applications, has introduced a Kiosk Wall Mount Terminal for use with the CheckMate Suite of Barcode Software applications.  The Wall Mount Terminal is used with the CheckMate Software Suite.

The Kansas Institute of Underground Technology evolved from the increasing need of a trained workforce in the career fields of horizontal direction drilling and training for locating underground utilities. North Central Kansas Technical College is a leader in the delivery of technical education within the State of Kansas.

Dynamic Systems, a leader in Barcode Tracking Solutions, is pleased to announce Thrasher Basement Systems has installed the Checkmate Tool & Equipment Manager to track tools and maintenance on their equipment.

Square is an app that gives you the ability to take credit card payments through your iphone.  Upon signing up for the service,  Square sends you a free card scanner.

The card reader actually plugs into the headphone jack on your phone and a gives you the ability to swipe a credit card. Once you’ve swiped the card, a screen pops up and the customer uses their finger to sign their signiture.  Square then directely deposits the money into the your account minus their fee.

Evernote gives you the ability to take notes on your iphone and have them automatically sync with any PC or mobile device that you may choose. With Evernote you can use it for taking down job information such as dimensions, lists of materials needed for a jobs, and any other information needed for your business. There are several other features built in that you may or may not use, but it is definitely worth checking out.

Iphone has an app call the Service Call.  You can use it to store clients information such as name, phone number, e-mail, address, as well as notes about jobs you may have completed in the past.

This app also has the ability to quote and invoice customers.  By simply uploading your handyman logo and adding some information about your business, the app creates a professional invoice template.  You can then fill in line items for the job you are quoting or billing and it automatically populates the template.  Once you’ve completed filling out the customer and job info, the app allows you to easily e-mail the invoice or quote to your customer.

You may want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of having a truck and trailer.

Truck and Trialer

Goods

1) Workshop on Wheels
2) Ability to stand up inside the trailer
3) Added Storage
4) Good for branding and advertising you business
5) Eaily to load and dump
6) Can haul larger items.

Bads

1) Maneuveravility
2) Trailers required a place to store it
3) Trailers will effect you gas mileage and they require extra maintenance.
4) A main disadvantage with trailer can be available parking.  Such as if you are  driving to houses access to a house is not always great

When deciding between a van or truck for your handyman business it can be helpful to know the good and bad’s of each.

Vans

The Good:

1)Vans are good for storage
2)Vans are better for organizing supplies and tools
3)Vans are excellent for branding/advertising.
4)Vans provide for easier access to tools and tool security
5)Vans keeps everything out of the elements.

The Bad:

1) Vans can not park in most home garages.
2) Vans will typically get bad gas mileage.
3) Vans are not ideal for trips to the dump.
4) Vans has limited room for lumber.
5) You are in the same air space as whatever chemicals you may be carrying.

When deciding between a truck or a van for your handyman business it can be helpful to know the good and bad’s of each.

Truck

The Good:

1)Truck will normally have good gas mileage compared to other options.
2)Trucks are easy to clean
3)Trucks can be use for both business and personal use when needed.
4)You can have chemicals in the back and not have to smell them while driving.
5)Trucks have versatility you can haul just about anything you would need to as a handyman.

The Bad:

1) Tools and supplies are less accessible than a van
2) Whatever is in the back is open to the elements.
3) Trucks have limited space for branding.
4) Tools in the bed are susceptible to theft.

For the individual handyman that does not get to use the “company car” having the right vehicle for your business is important.   If you are just starting out in the handyman business then the best vehicle for you is more then likely the one you currently have, since buying a new truck or van right off can add a lot of additional financial stress that you may not want to have when just starting up.  However the three common vehicles options that are used most often would be a van, a truck, or a truck and trailer.

Online is a great resource:   As with almost everything you can get a quote for Handyman insurance on line.  At HandymanInsurance.com you can receive a quote by clicking on the Start Quote link provide up at the top right hand side. Then you only need to submit your information in order to get quotes from your desk at home.

You may also want to seek an insurance agent though referral. Talk to other contractors or handymen and ask them which agent they used and if they like them.

There are many of factors that will play into the cost of handyman insurance and therefor prices can vary greatly.  One of the best way to make sure you are not paying too much is to deal directly with an insurance agent that you got through a referral or personally know and trust.  The agent should be able to provide you with  quotes from three or four companies that they underwrite for so you can have a few options.