Archive for the ‘Remodeling With Style’ Category

Remodeling costs are down an average of 5 percent to 10 percent nationwide with some areas down 20 percent, the remodeling industry reports.

In the 12 months that ended in March 2009, the most recent data available, $118.2 billion was spent on home-improvement projects, down from $146 billion in the 12 months ending in March 2007 – the national peak of remodeling activity – according to a report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

One of the reasons for the price decline is competition. Most home buyers spend the most on remodeling within the first two years after purchasing a home. Not only are there fewer home sales, but also strapped home builders are seeking remodeling work, confirms David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, M.P. McQueen (10/28/2009)

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Summer has finally arrived and it is time to expand your living and entertaining space to the outdoors. 

When it comes to decorating your outdoor space just think of it as your great room.  Section your patio/deck into three different areas: eating, conversation and relaxation.

Once you have figured out how you are going to use each space, it is time to pick out furniture.  Before purchasing the furniture, do some measuring of the space so you know exactly what will and will not work in the space.  This will help keep you from over spending and buying furniture that will not fit. 

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You want the paint to glide on smoothly, so be sure the surface is clean before you start painting. Remove any handprints, dirt, or scuff marks. Lightly sand any glossy spots to avoid streaks.

2. Select a paint sheen and color.

Ah, the choices! Many paint stores are making it easier to narrow down your choices by offering small trial sizes so that you can test the color at home and look for any variations in daylight and night. Lighting has a big effect on the way color appears. Remember: Higher sheen paints tend to offer more durability than flat paints, so use them in high-traffic areas. Stain or low-lustre finishes offer more warmth and depth than a flat paint. Consider a high sheen paint on the ceiling, which offers good reflection in the room.

3. Don’t go cheap on the paint.

It’s always tempting to save a buck, but it might not be worth it on paint. Painting is a big job, so you want the expense and quality to show. The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, a national painting education group, recommends purchasing top-quality acrylic latex interior paint, which will go on smoothly and allow for easy soap and water cleanups.

4. Choose the right paint tools.

If you’re using a roller to paint, select the right length of roller nap cover for proper paint coverage. The smoother your painting surface, the shorter the nap should be. Use synthetic materials, which are made from nylon or polyester, when applying latex or water-based paints.

Source: The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute

You want to remodel your bathroom, but you don’t want to break the bank, and that’s a distinct possibility with any home renovation project. Here’s the skinny on how fat your wallet needs to be to do the remodeling job that you want. And once you know what costs what, you can figure out which corners — or countertops — to cut.

According to Remodeling magazine’s 2005 Cost vs. Value Report, a mid-range bathroom remodel is approximately $10,499, higher or lower depending on where you live (and how you define mid-range). Redoing your bathroom will cost you less in the South and more in the West and Northeast. The report also estimates that such a job will recoup 102 percent of its cost at resale. So at least you know you’re not flushing money down the toilet. An upscale bathroom remodel is estimated to cost $26, 052 — a hefty jump in price — and to recoup about 93 percent of that on resale.

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For the second year in a row, REALTORS® report that exterior remodeling projects return the most money as a percentage of cost, as detailed in the 2008 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.

On a national level, wood deck additions and all types of siding replacements–upscale fiber cement, midrange vinyl, and upscale foam-backed vinyl–returned more than 80 percent of project costs upon resale. Of these, the most profitable project was upscale fiber cement siding, which recouped 86.7 percent of costs, followed by wood decks at 81.8 percent, midrange vinyl siding at 80.7 percent, and upscale foam-backed vinyl siding at 80.4 percent.

The 2008 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 30 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 79 markets across the country, expanding from 60 markets last year.

Projects With Highest, Lowest Returns

In addition to wood decks and siding, window replacements and kitchen remodels also returned a relatively high percentage of remodeling costs on a national basis.

All types of window replacements–upscale and midrange wood and upscale and midscale vinyl–returned more than 76 percent of costs. A major midrange kitchen remodel returned 76 percent of project costs, while a minor midrange kitchen remodel returned 79.5 percent of costs.

On a national level, bathroom remodels, while still a relatively good investment, do not return as high a percentage as in previous years. A midrange bathroom remodel was estimated to return 74.4 percent on resale, comparable to a midrange attic-to-bedroom conversion, at 73.6 percent of costs recouped, and a midrange basement remodel, at 72.7 percent of costs recouped.

As in last year’s report, the least profitable remodeling projects in terms of resale value were home office remodels, sunroom additions, and back-up power generators, returning only 54.4 percent, 56.6 percent, and 57.1 percent, respectively, of project costs.

National Association of Realtors® President Charles McMillan says the resale value of any given remodeling project depends on a variety of factors.

“A home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location, and regional economic climate are all factors that will influence the value of any remodeling project,” he says.

Full project descriptions, as well as national, regional and local project data for the 79 cities covered by the report will be posted at www.costvsvalue.com by Dec. 5.

Source: NAR

Far too many of today’s homes and communities lack character, says urban designer and author Marianne Cusato, a featured speaker at this week’s Sustainable Development & Restoration Summit in Newport, R.I.

Urban sprawl is largely responsible for poorly constructed communities popping up across the country, Cusato says. It’s resulting in homes that lack energy efficiency, cities with poor layouts, and long, congested commutes.

So how do you avoid the cookie-cutter look and create a sense of identity for your house? Start by using older homes as a model, Cusato suggested.

Use four-sided architecture. Many home designs focus exclusively on the front, but the side of the home can be just as important and prominent. For example, windows on the side of a home are not only aesthetically pleasing but they also are functional – they offer cross-ventilation for cooling the home during the summer months to curb air conditioning costs and they allow more light to enter the home.

Use color. Think beyond beige. Color can add more identity to a house. For example, if all the homes on the block have the same architecture, the color of the exterior can be one way to differentiate and add more character to the home.

Less is more. Don’t overdo it on design elements to the exterior of a home; Too many details can make a home lose character. Focus on creating a hierarchy of most important elements. For example, the entryway and the side windows are prominent areas.

Be functional, not just stylish. Shutters along a window of a home that aren’t functional and don’t close, don’t make much sense. The towering, grandiose entryways on many McMansions won’t provide much covering when it’s raining outside. One aspect of good design is that it’s functional, Cusato said.

Connect with the outdoors. The home doesn’t have to be as big inside if it offers livable outdoor space. For example, a side private garden, front porch, and a public area near the house can connect home owners more to the outdoors.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey for REALTOR® magazine online

As more people are staying put in their homes, rather than selling and moving to a bigger place, the basement is becoming a more important living area.

A recent survey says more people are remodeling this part of the home to make the most of every square inch of living space.

ServiceMagic.com, a company that connects home owners with pre-screened contractors, commissioned the survey. Results revealed that nationwide basement remodels rose 10 percent in the first six month of 2008 compared with the same period last year.

The most popular uses for the space are spa-like bathroom retreats, children’s playrooms, workout areas, billiard rooms, and home offices.

With an average cost of $40 to $60 per square foot – or a base price of about $35,000 – basement remodels are far more economical than an addition, says Laura Sanchez, director of internal operations at McStain Neighborhoods, a home builder in Colorado.

Source: The Denver Post, Sheba R. Wheeler (07/17/2008)

As more people are staying put in their homes, rather than selling and moving to a bigger place, the basement is becoming a more important living area.

A recent survey says more people are remodeling this part of the home to make the most of every square inch of living space.

ServiceMagic.com, a company that connects home owners with pre-screened contractors, commissioned the survey. Results revealed that nationwide basement remodels rose 10 percent in the first six month of 2008 compared with the same period last year.

The most popular uses for the space are spa-like bathroom retreats, children’s playrooms, workout areas, billiard rooms, and home offices.

With an average cost of $40 to $60 per square foot – or a base price of about $35,000 – basement remodels are far more economical than an addition, says Laura Sanchez, director of internal operations at McStain Neighborhoods, a home builder in Colorado.

Source: The Denver Post, Sheba R. Wheeler (07/17/2008)