Whilly Bermudez for HOME IMPROVEMENT AMERICA

10 DIY Home Improvements for $20 or Less

2015-09-12T10:46:00.002-04:00

10 DIY Home Improvements for $20 or Less

Andrea Cannon / Wise Bread

Give your home a facelift without making a dent in your pocketbook.

If you have an extra weekend and $20 burning a hole in your pocket, then a DIY home improvement project may be just what the doctor ordered. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best DIY home improvement projects that can give your home a facelift, without making a dent in your pocketbook. These affordable upgrades can add curb appeal and even value to your property, without requiring a large investment of time or money.

1. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a room or piece of furniture. Experiment with different colors and trims to update any room in your home. If you don’t feel like painting the whole room, consider adding an accent window frame or accent wall by choosing one or two walls to paint. You can even add stripes or dots to any wall for a unique, sophisticated touch. While you’re at it, add a fresh coat of paint or spray paint to your air vent covers.

Total cost for a quart of interior paint: $18.95

2. Paint the Front Door

Adding new paint to the front door will make it feel and look completely fresh and renewed as soon as you or a guest drives up. Often, a door can become covered in scuff marks, signs of weather changes, and other exterior damage. A fresh coat of paint can help cover that damage and make your door look like new again. While you’re at it, consider painting the inside of the door as well, which can add an exciting accent to your home. It should only cost you about $15 for the paint and supplies.

Total cost for a quart of exterior paint: $17.07

3. Change a Window Treatment

Choose an inexpensive fabric treatment to update the window in your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. Drapes and window coverings are available in all different colors, designs, and price ranges, so you can find the perfect fit for any room. You can even use fabric remnants on small windows.

Total cost for a new window shade: $9.38
Total cost for new window panels: $5.00

4. Install a Message Center

A message center can help you get organized and allow you to leave notes and reminders for your family. There are several possible message center options for your home, including:

Install a premade magnetic, cork, or dry erase message board on any wall.

Buy chalkboard paint and paint any surface you like for an instant chalkboard message center anywhere. You can even add chalkboard paint to your cabinets to draw or write inspirational words.

Use an inexpensive glass panel to create a DIY dry erase board. You can then paint the back of the glass panel to match your kitchen or office decor and color scheme, and frame the glass panel to complete the look.

Total cost for a magnetic dry erase/cork combo board: $12.99

Total cost for spray-on chalkboard paint: $3.74

5. Add a Wall Decal

Wall decals are extremely affordable, simple to install (they work like a sticker), and can completely change the look of any room. They can be applied in an office, bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom, and are available in a variety of colors and designs. You can also use self-adhesive and repositionable wallpaper to create a unique accent on any wall. You can experiment with different patterns, colors, or even shapes!

Total cost for a vinyl wall decal: $3.99

6. Upgrade Doorknobs and Handles

Installing new doorknobs or spray-painting old ones can transform the look of any door, making it look more polished. The same can be done for the handles and drawer pulls on any of your cabinetry. These are simple projects that won’t cost much and can make old doors and furniture feel like new.

Total cost for a new privacy doorknob: $10.50

Total cost for 10 decorative cabinet handles: $11.15

7. Add Hooks, Shelving, and Storage

Hooks can be easily added to any room to increase space and allow you to hang up things like your bathroom towels and robes. Consider adding hooks or shelving to your closet for an instant storage upgrade. You can also install floating shelves in your bedroom, office, or bathroom. This can add the extra storage you need to better organize any room. You can also use them to display unique artwork, vintage finds, and other decorative items that display your personal style.

Adding labels, dividers, and clear plastic bins can help instantly organize things and make it easier for you to locate all of your items at a glance. If you decide to add more storage, keep your eyes open for used or refurbished furniture that you can use around your home. With the right paint and handles, any furniture can be transformed.

Total cost for six medium hooks: $7.07

Total cost for a set of three floating shelves: $19.95

Total cost for a 12-drawer plastic storage bin: $17.99

8. Change Electrical Plate Covers and Wall Outlets

Whether we like it or not, electrical plate covers and wall outlets are in every room of the house. Take a look at yours and replace any that are cracked, stained, or just need an upgrade. There are a variety of affordable electrical plate covers to choose from, or you can paint your current switch plate and install an affordable frame around it for a decorative flair. While you’re at it, consider also replacing your wall outlets or upgrading to USB wall outlets, which can also charge your mobile device.

Total cost for an electrical plate cover: $1.18

Total cost for a three-outlet wall mount with USB ports: $14.99

9. Upgrade the House Numbers and Doorbell

The numbers in the front of your home are the first things a guest will look for as they’re driving by looking for your home address. You can easily and affordably install new metal or wooden house numbers or simply add a fresh coat of spray paint to your current ones. You can also install a new doorbell for under $20, adding a modern, vintage, or retro flare to your home.

Total cost for each brushed nickel house number: $5.98

Total cost for a satin nickel doorbell: $7.00

10. Take Up Gardening

Decorating with potted plants, hanging plants, and flowers is a home improvement project that will continue to provide benefits to your home over time. Visit your local nursery to speak with someone about what plants may be right for you, based on how often you want to garden, your budget, and the look you are trying to achieve. With the right plants and flowers, you can add a decorative touch that welcomes you and your guests.

Total cost for a gardening tool set: $15.02

Bonus: Clean Up and Get Organized

Nothing transforms a home like getting rid of clutter and giving the place a good cleaning. Give your home a spring cleaning by shampooing the carpets, cleaning the furniture and upholstery — and don’t forget about your filters and vents. Get rid of what you aren’t using and donate what you can. This will instantly make your home feel bigger and can even help clear allergens.

Total cost for a spring cleaning kit: $19.99

Outdoor kitchens heat up remodeling scene

2013-08-02T18:03:00.005-04:00

Outdoor kitchens heat up remodeling scene

By Jim Nowlin, Remodeling Concepts

Many homeowners enjoy the summer months - and spring, fall and winter - with the sizzle of their outdoor grill. But running back and forth between the kitchen and the barbecue can get old quickly.

Outdoor kitchens make life easier for those who enjoy grilling meals and entertaining outdoors, making a deck or patio an extension of your living space. It also can enhance your home's resale value. With the proper amount of forethought and planning, you'll be enjoying your meals in the great outdoors in no time.

Here are some factors to consider when determining if an outdoor kitchen is right for your household.

What works best in your space?

Outdoor kitchens can be as elaborate or as simple as you'd like. But to make the most of your new space, you need to consider the design carefully.

Think about how the space will be used. Do you want guests to eat outside or mingle while you cook? What features (pool, trees, etc.) are in your backyard and need to be worked around? Is there enough ventilation area so smoke from the grill can blow away?

Have a professional check the patio or deck where you plan on building your outdoor kitchen beforehand. While most can support the additional weight, you may need to add structural support.

Make sure there is plenty of space for people to watch without getting in the way or being too close to open flames. Typically, there should be 3 feet of space on either side of the grill for work space and food preparation.

How often will you be using your outdoor kitchen?

This will determine numerous factors, including the equipment you purchase. If you will use your outdoor kitchen just in the summer, a grill with wheels can be moved into the garage and protected from the elements once the seasons change. These types of grills are the most common and come in a wide variety of sizes and prices with a range of features.

If you want to use your outdoor kitchen year-round, consider a built-in grill. Look for one with side burners in the base unit that allow for cooking at different temperatures simultaneously. This base can provide extra countertop and storage space. Make sure the grill is in an area that can withstand high temperatures and is impervious to stray embers or sparks, such as a stone patio. You won't be able to take it with you if you move, so think carefully before investing a lot of money in a permanent grill.

Take into account lighting needs. If you eat or entertain into the dark evening, you'll want direct light for work areas. Softer lighting works well for socializing areas.

What other equipment do you need?

Standard grill accessories include griddles for grilling fish and vegetables, a meat thermometer and tongs. An exhaust hood for a built-in grill will keep smoke out of guests' eyes. Refrigerators with ice makers are ideal for storing beverages and food that needs to be kept cold. An outdoor sink makes prepping and cleaning veggies an easy task. Unless you plan on washing dishes outside, a cold-water connection is all you need.

For small appliances and stereos, you'll need outdoor GFCI outlets. Consult with a professional electrician for local code requirements. Consider purchasing patio heaters or an outdoor fireplace if you plan on grilling in the chilly months.

For those days with inclement weather, you'll want to get a cover for your grill. Select weatherproof materials for countertops, cabinets and other elements of your kitchen. Stainless steel, slate, tile, stucco and stone all work well. A large tent or outdoor umbrella can cover your guests and equipment and provide shelter from the sun or rain.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness through education, certification and service to the community. To find a professional remodeler in your area, visitwww.ghba.org/consumers.

4 Home Improvements That Will Save You Money

2013-07-30T21:25:00.000-04:00

4 Home Improvements That Will Save You Money
By GEOFF WILLIAMS

Judging by the TV commercials, most home improvements are a blast. You waltz into a store, throw a bunch of new faucets and buckets of paint in your shopping cart, without sweating about the cost, then transform your dingy kitchen into something out of, well, a TV commercial.

Frequently, those TV spots are spot-on. It is fun to have a new kitchen or to show off your newly installed hardwood floors to your friends and family. But it's all too easy to forget about home improvements that will only get you a polite nod when showing them off – and yet if you ignore them, they could cost you serious money.

So if you're a homeowner with some extra cash this month, look around. There's plenty you can do.

The basement. Particularly if you live a humid climate, you could install a dehumidification system, suggests John Isch, co-chair of the American Institute of Architects Custom Residential Architects Network. This is a much more sophisticated operation than your basic humidifier and will get rid of the humidity in the basement, and some are designed for the entire house.

It may not sound like much of an improvement at first, especially if your family and visitors aren't complaining about the humidity in your home, but even if it isn't noticeable, the humidity may well be there. As Dawn Zuber, another American Institute of Architects member, points out, if the humidity is removed, the house will feel cooler – which may mean you use the air conditioning less.

A dehumidifier may also protect your collectibles. "I run one in my basement and as long as it takes the humidity out of the air, it's keeping all the junk I am storing downstairs from decaying," Zuber says.

Typical cost: Expect to spend at least $1,000, depending on the system.

Typical savings: It is impossible to say, and it may not be worth the cost. But consider how often you use your air conditioner and how much the stuff in your basement is worth.

The attic. If you're interested in only heating and cooling the parts of the house that you live in, and not, say, the drafty attic you rarely visit, Zuber suggests homeowners seal up the air in the upper part of their homes.

"Have someone go up in the attic and seal any penetrations between the ceiling and the attic, like where the pipes and vents go through, and add spray foam insulation to the rim joists in their basements or crawl spaces," Zuber says. "This is the area above the concrete or concrete block wall, where the floor framing meets the exterior wall. Adding attic insulation also provides a nice return on investment if there's less than 10 inches of existing insulation."

Why is that important? The thinner the walls, the faster heat passes through. The more insulation you have, the longer your house stays warm in the winter, and in the summer, it'll stay cooler longer, since the heat from outside can't get inside as quickly.

If you're really into this project, Zuber suggests hiring an energy auditor or home energy rater to test your house and recommend the most cost-effective insulation and air sealing techniques.

Typical cost: A can of spray foam insulation only costs about $6. Of course, if you hire an energy auditor or home energy rater, plan on spending $400 to $500. And if you send a professional handyman up to the attic with a can of $6 spray foam insulation, you may want to add another $100 to your cost.

Typical savings: Again, it's hard to quantify, but if all you have to spend is $6 on a can of spray foam insulation, and you find even one gap to fill, you'll probably come out ahead.

Cracks under windows and doors and holes near the foundation. Unfortunately, there probably aren't just cracks and gaps in your attic – your basement may have them, too, and there may be spaces around your windows and doors where air is getting in. (If you want to, you could spend a good month or two, and quite a bit of cash, sealing up all the cracks in your house.)

Dean Bennett, who owns Dean Bennett Design and Construction, Inc., a design and building firm in Castle Rock, Colo., suggests looking for gaps in the walls of your basement. "It's very common to have these gaps in houses that are more than 15 years old," Bennett says. "Construction techniques did not involve sealing between the sill and foundation very well. Now, they use a layer of foam between the two."

If you live in an older home, Bennett says you can do yourself a favor by doing a "close visual check" for any holes around your basement or foundation. He says filling in the holes could help prevent hot summer air or cold winter air from filtering into your home – not to mention mice and other critters.

Advertisements will tell you to replace your current windows and doors with energy-efficient ones, and maybe you need to. But many home improvement experts will tell you that if there's a draft, it may be adequate to simply weather-strip your doors and windows.

In fact, "the biggest home-energy and money wasters are windows and doors because of the heat they let out and cool air they let in, depending on the season," says Andrea Thomas, Wal-Mart's senior vice president of sustainability.

Typical cost: The can of spray foam insulation to use in your basement runs about $6. As for weather stripping, the price varies, but a 10-foot strip of rubber window weather stripping can be found at many stores for less than $10.

Typical savings: If you weather-strip, Thomas says the average homeowner can save $160 every year in heating and cooling costs.

Decks. Have a wooden deck? Don't forget to put a new coat of stain on it, once every three years, according to Bennett. "It will weatherproof it as well as make it look better," he says.

Typical cost: Deck stain can cost anywhere from $40 to several hundred dollars. Add a couple hundred dollars if you hire a professional to do it. And if you want to replace a deck, Bennett points out that those made of composite materials don't require staining.

Typical savings: A wood deck that is stained regularly can last 20 to 30 years, Bennett says. "If you never do it, you'll shorten the life of your wood deck by 50 percent or more."

Cheap improvements to boost home value

2013-07-24T10:09:00.000-04:00

Cheap improvements to boost home value

By Polly Keary, Editor of the Monroe Monitor

With housing prices rising, some homeowners are wondering if it’s time to sell.

If you are trying to sell, local real estate experts agree that it doesn’t take a big home improvement investment to get top dollar for your home.

Rather, with some effort and some small expenditures, your home can stand out from many others and fetch you a motivated buyer.

“Fetching top collar for your home in today’s great market doesn’t require an $80,000 kitchen remodel or an expensive landscape redesign,” said Monroe REMAX real estate professional Ed Hurst. “Real estate experts say your best bet is to invest a little sweat equity into a series of small weekend jobs-$300 or less-that boost your home’s appeal and eliminate buyer’s biggest objectives.”

Here are the easiest things that two local real estate experts say to do to add value to your home without breaking the bank.

1. De-clutter

The single easiest and fastest way to improve that value of your home, said both Hurst and longtime Windermere agent Shirley Hudson, is to get the clutter out.

“De-cluttering should be the first job sellers cross off their list before starting any other project,” said Hurst.

Most people, he said, get used to their clutter and don’t see how distracting it would look to a buyer.

“You want to give a buyer the chance to see their stuff in your house,” he said.

“Rent a storage unit and get your stuff out there, especially the stuff that’s personal, like pictures of your family,” said Hudson. “Make it so someone can come in and see themselves in there.”

2. Repaint to neutral colors

“If a buyer sees an orange kitchen with yellow highlights and a light blue wall, that is a detraction to most home buyers. They look at color,” said Shirley Hudson of Monroe’s Windermere Real Estate. “So one thing to do is look at what a buyer might see coming into your home and consider the colors you’ve used. You might want to consider repainting.”

Neutral colors are best, she said.

3. Update windows

Windows can be expensive to replace. But not always, said Hudson.

“If you are the original owner of the house and your windows are fogged, quite often you will find that you have a lifetime warranty on those windows and you should get them replaced free,” she said. Twice recently clients have gotten new windows that way, she said.

Also, the PUD may have programs to help you replace old windows with more energy-efficient models.

4. Make over cabinets

The kitchen is the room you really want to get right, said Hurst. And cabinets are the biggest problem, he said.

“You don’t need to get your cabinets refaced or replaced to make them look presentable,” he said. “If they’re scratched or look dated, just spring for a couple of cans of paint and put a new finish on them.”

He advised choosing white or other neutral colors for the kitchen, and for bathrooms, too.

“If you have a larger kitchen that gets a lot of natural light, you could even try a dark chocolate brown or black,” he said. And, he said, don’t forget to replace the hardware.

“It’s an accent that people notice,” Hurst said. “Chose something simple and relatively modern for the pulls, preferably in a brushed nickel. Steer clear of brass, brightly-colored glass or anything decorated with pictures of birds or flowers.”

5. Clean thoroughly

Buyers want a house that looks well-maintained. So make sure your home is well-groomed, said Hudson.

“Have it cleaned, and I mean really deep clean,” she said. “Get someone to do the gutters, wash and paint the gutter edges, and get your roof cleaned.”

Pressure wash the driveway for a finished look. Spruce up your landscaping, and take a look at your appliances. If any are decrepit, invest in upgrades.

“If your fence needs staining, stain it,” said Hudson. “Those kinds of things make a huge difference.”

If you are considering replacing an aging deck, use the extruded plastic product Trex, she said.

“It weathers beautifully and it’s low maintenance,” she said. “It’s so much better than old, treated wood decks.”

6. Update flooring

It’s not as expensive as you think to put new floor coverings in your home, and it can make a world of difference, said Hudson.

Putting new linoleum in a bathroom can run a mere $100. And modern nylon or polyester carpets are affordable, wear extremely well and look great, she said.

Above all, don’t spend so much that you can’t recover the cost in the sale price, said Hudson.

“When I go on a listing, I limit what they spend on the home,” she said. “In this market, they probably bought when the market was high, and they don’t have a lot of money to put in.”

The right agent can guide a seller through the process of prioritizing investments to maximize potential return, she said.

“The home is the most expensive purchase one will make in their lifetime,” she said. “It has to make good economic sense.”

Big Home Builders Gobble Up Rivals Starved for Cash

2013-07-18T21:35:00.001-04:00

By ROBBIE WHELAN and DAWN WOTAPKA

The nation's biggest publicly traded home builders are on a buying spree, snapping up small privately held companies who made it through the housing slump but now are struggling to find financing.

Big builders are seeing their profits healthy and their homes selling at higher prices. For their smaller, privately owned competitors, times remain tough.

What sets the big builders apart is access to capital. The bond market has been kind to big builders, which issued a record $8.1 billion in bonds last year. Bond issues are on pace to have one of the strongest years ever this year, according to a recent analysis by J.P. Morgan JPM +1.99% .

Private builders have traditionally relied on small or regional banks for funding. But many of those lenders stopped making loans for construction and development during the financial crisis and have been slow to resume. More than 480 banks have failed since the beginning of the downturn, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

And lenders haven't been eager to make new loans to the industry: According to the FDIC, the dollar value of outstanding construction and development loans has declined 68% since the peak of the market in early 2008.

Without bank credit, small builders are unable to buy and develop the land necessary to build homes. That has allowed the biggest builders to rapidly gain market share, in large part by acquiring their smaller competition.

"It's getting tougher and tougher for the little guy," said Michael P. Kahn, a building-industry consultant based in Palm Coast, Fla. "The big builders are coming in with big purses and saying, 'Sell me what you've got, I'll write you a check for it.'"

Mr. Kahn, who has advised builders on 96 mergers and acquisitions since 1987, retired from real-estate deal-making in January 2011, but came out of retirement late last year. He has since advised on three deals, and predicts there will be as many as 20 more over the next two years. "The floodgates have opened," he said.

In the past 18 months, public builders have completed at least eight large acquisitions totaling an estimated $1.5 billion, according to Mr. Kahn, the biggest round of consolidation the industry has seen since 2009.

The largest 10 publicly traded builders, which sold 24% of the nation's new homes in 2007, sold 30% of all new homes during the first quarter of 2013, according to aDeutsche Bank DBK.XE +2.85% analysis. Sales of newly built homes were running at an annual pace of nearly 480,000 in May, according to the Commerce Department.

"We have two ways to win right now: We participate in the natural recovery, but additionally, we're picking up market share from a group of builders that isn't able to get financing," said Stuart Miller, chief executive of Miami-based Lennar Corp.,LEN -1.35% the country's third-largest builder.

Since the downturn, Lennar has gained market position in 14 of the 30 markets in which it builds, according to the company. The gains helped drive home-building revenue up 59% to $1.28 billion in its second quarter from the prior year.
Meanwhile, many small builders are fighting to survive. Craig Perry, who built luxury homes for 20 years in Florida, hosted a party last year in Orlando, Fla., at the industry's biggest convention to show off 2012's "Concept Home," with a poolside dining room and an outdoor cabana guest room.

Last month, Mr. Perry sold his company, along with land enough to build 3,200 houses, to Standard Pacific Corp.,SPF +1.63% a publicly traded builder based in Irvine, Calif.
"Our capital is a lot more expensive than the public builders. There is a sense of, 'If you can't beat them, join them,'" said Mr. Perry.

Even some small builders who were able to secure bank loans have decided to sell out rather than continue to compete.

Eric Campbell founded CamWest Development in Seattle in 1990, when he was 25. At the height of the market in the mid-2000s, his company was selling 250 luxury homes per year and bringing in revenue of $160 million.

But starting in 2008, Mr. Campbell said, his lenders began asking him to contribute more cash to each subdivision he was building, eventually as much as half the cost.

For about six months in 2008, he said, he became sleep-deprived from worrying about how to refinance multiple short-term loans he had personally guaranteed.

In 2011, he said, when he tried to buy a piece of land big enough for 81 homes with views of a lake near Bellevue, Wash., his lender asked CamWest to invest $10 million in cash before it would make a loan.

Instead, Mr. Campbell sold his company to publicly traded Toll Brothers Inc.,TOL -1.13% the nation's largest builder of luxury homes. Now a Toll division president, he bought the land in Bellevue and started selling homes there, priced from $1.1 million to $1.7 million, late last year. He said he has hired 25 new employees for his new Toll division, and the sleepless nights are a thing of the past.

"The lending environment for private home builders just doesn't match the business model," he said.

Other big builders have also been shopping. In May, Ryland Group Inc. RYL -0.70%said it was buying Texas-based LionsGate Homes, its third acquisition in a year. D.R. Horton Inc. DHI -2.34% and NVR Inc. NVR -0.05% also acquired smaller players in the last year.

Small builders, many of which turned to private-equity funds for financing during the downturn, are rushing to convert into public companies. Three new builders have gone public since January, and more are expected. The public market gives builders easier access to capital.

New home sales fell 76% between their peak of 1.28 million in 2005 and low of 306,000 in 2011, the worst year on record. Hundreds of small builders failed, but not one of the 10 largest public home builders failed during the downturn that took hold in 2008.

Large public builders survived by writing down a combined $38.9 billion in value from their land portfolios—a flexibility many private builders didn't have—and pushing the government to refund some taxes paid during the boom years to offset losses during the housing crash. That policy, signed into law in 2008, gained the large public builders a combined $7.9 billion, according to Zelman & Associates, a research firm.

"That was a lifesaver for these publics," said Robert Curran, Fitch Ratings' lead home building analyst. "In the absence of these refunds, another four or five might have gone belly up."

Stuck Homeowners Spend Big Bucks on Remodels

2011-08-22T10:51:00.000-04:00

Stuck Homeowners Spend Big Bucks on Remodels
Doug Magditch

As the housing market struggles, homeowners are staying put. Rather than selling at a loss, many are working with what they've got.

That means big business for home remodelers.

Ralph Stow started a home remodeling business five years ago, and business is booming. He now owns four different remodeling businesses, under the umbrella Dallas Renovation Group, and he doesn't forsee things slowing down.

"I think people are staying in their homes a little bit longer, and by virtue of that, people have a little bit of disposable income. So, they're really looking at ways where they can make their homes more livable, more energy efficient. They're seeing themselves in their homes longer," said Stow.

That includes people like the Ponds, from Grapevine. With retirement right around the corner, they knew they couldn't afford a dream condo on the beach.

"You start looking at what the potential, having to sell one and moving, and relocating away from the family, and the expense of having to find a second home. For us, it was a no-brainer. We just couldn't do it," said Robert Pond.

Instead, they sunk $80,000 into a home over-haul. Robin Pond sacrificed her beach dream for a dream kitchen.

"I'd always wanted a nice kitchen, with spacious cabinets, that was updated. That's what we did," said Pond.

Contractors say, rather then people spluring on media rooms or wine cellars, most remodels these days are kitchens and bathrooms. They're spending their money on updating and upgrading.

"Now we're kind of back to the basics a little bit, doing more kitchens and bathrooms. We're still doing some large remodels, but again, it's people really saying, 'hey, I'm going to stay in this home and I want to upgrade this home,'" said Stow.

Like many owners at the DFW Home Show, when the market was up the Ponds may have considered selling. Now, they're in it for the long haul.

"It benefited us, at our age right now, to spend the money to get things upgraded to a point that it would last us through the rest of our lives," said Robert Pond.

5 Home Improvement Projects for Under $25

2011-08-09T14:24:00.000-04:00

5 Home Improvement Projects for Under $25

HouseMaster Provides Homeowners With Easy Do-It-Yourself Fixes to Keep Repair Costs Down

BOUND BROOK, NJ--(Marketwire - Aug 8, 2011) - Today's cost conscious home owner is focused on two things: reducing costs and protecting the value of their home. Accordingly, HouseMaster, the first and one of the largest home inspection franchisors in North America, provides homeowners with simple tips on how to maintain and update their homes with fixes that they can inexpensively do on their own.

"One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is letting small problems turn into big ones," said Kathleen Kuhn, President of HouseMaster. "Home maintenance is crucial since a home is typically the largest investment an average person makes in their lifetime. Proper home maintenance can alleviate the need for large and often costly repairs and protect the value of the home."

HouseMaster provides homeowners with the following five tips that can all be completed for under $25 and can save homeowners thousands down the road.

1. Be aware of termite or carpenter ant damage. Homeowners who diligently check their property and foundation can alleviate serious termite or carpenter ant problems. Before selling or purchasing a home look closely for any signs such as "mud tubes" or wood damage. Also, moving wood piles and debris away from the home can eliminate termite or carpenter ant problems.

2. When it rains, it pours. One of the most common places for water damage is in a bathroom. When grout breaks down water can easily get behind the tiles and cause them to come loose. An easy solution to this is to re-grout, caulk and use sealant on bathroom tile and surrounding fixtures. In other cases, where water penetration is affecting the foundation of a house, a splash box is a cost-efficient solution to direct water away from the foundation.

3. Clean the Gutters. Stained siding under a gutter indicates overflowing, which can cause structural damage. In addition, overgrown vegetation on gutters can cause clogging or potential termite issues. Trimming vegetation away from the house and cleaning gutters offers many advantages and minimizes the risk for potential costly repairs in the future.

4. Replace Rusting Roof Flashings. Flashings deteriorate over time and can allow water penetration, resulting in expensive damage to the underlying roof structure. For under $25 replace roof flashings or apply sealant to the problem area.

5. Seal your Deck. If not properly maintained decks are very susceptible to the effects of weather exposure. Once wood becomes rotted it is more likely to be infested by termites, carpenter ants, etc. Purchase deck sealant at an inexpensive price to seal your deck and prevent future damage.

For additional $25 tips for homeowners or more information on HouseMaster, please visit www.housemaster.com or call (800) 526-3930. For more information on HouseMaster franchise opportunities, please email franchise@housemaster.com.

About HouseMaster:Headquartered in Bound Brook, N.J., HouseMaster is the oldest and one of the largest home inspection franchisors in North America. With more than 365 franchised areas throughout the U.S. and Canada, HouseMaster is the most respected name in home inspections. For over 30 years, HouseMaster has built upon a foundation of solid leadership and innovation with a continued focus on delivering the highest quality service experience to their customers and providing HouseMaster franchisees the tools and support necessary to do so. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.

For more information please visit www.housemaster.com or call 800-526-3939.

Builders catering to couples who start the night together but end separately

2011-08-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

That's it honey, I'll be in the snore room
Builders catering to couples who start the night together but end separately
By Jane Hodges

Judy MacDonald faces a near-nightly domestic conflict. When she wakes around 2 a.m. to her husband’s snoring, she has to decide between migrating to another room or toughing it out beside him in bed and watching TV to block out the noise.

If Judy and her husband, Ross, were in the market for a home today, they could snap one up with a feature designed to solve the problem of late-night sleep incompatibility: The snore room.

Builders specializing in communities for “active seniors” over 55, such as PulteGroup’s Del Webb brand and D.R. Horton, are offering new home designs featuring snore rooms near the master bedroom for couples who can’t always catch a good night’s sleep together due to differing schedules, nocturnal habits or medical conditions.

The concept of the snore room isn’t unknown: Celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and “Judge Judy” Scheindlin and her husband, reportedly have snore rooms in their homes. Crowne Plaza, the international hotel chain, began testing “snore absorption” rooms this year to cut down on noise in 10 hotels in European and Middle Eastern locations.

But for 55-and-up communities, the concept of a snore room is an outgrowth of the realities couples like the McDonalds experience: Many older adults get into bed together but wind up unable to make it through the night together.

Indeed, as many as 23 percent of married couples don’t sleep side-by-side through the night, up from 12 percent in 2001, according to research cited by Del Webb.

“The chat we hear about on the sales floor is often about nocturnal sleeping habits,” says Andy Pfeifer, VP of sales for PulteGroup in Tennessee. “What we’d see happen before we offered our new floor plan option was that one spouse would be relegated to a secondary bedroom.”

McDonald, an Arizona retiree, said she wishes the concept was available when she and her husband bought in 2008. On the one hand, she doesn’t want to leave the master bedroom to make the trek to the sofa or guest room, which is often occupied by visitors anyway. On the other hand, if she stays at her husband’s side counting sheep while infomercials roll, she won’t get a good night’s rest either.

“It’d be nice to have a little room for when my husband wakes me. I’d be much more likely to use that room than to wander out to the sofa,” says McDonald. “Usually I don’t go in the other room. I turn the TV on, and sometimes it’ll wake him up, and sometimes it won’t.”

Del Webb and D.R. Horton don't specifically refer to snoring but market the new areas as optional “dual owner suites” (Del Webb) or “alternate dual master suites” (D.R. Horton). Both builders say these elements don’t typically change the overall size or price of a home. At Del Webb, for instance, a dual owner suite may mean trimming a little garage storage space or slightly reducing the size of a walk-in closet.

Del Webb has begun offering the dual owner suite configuration as a customization option at communities in Houston and Nashville and will be available in Southern California starting this fall, according to a spokeswoman. D.R. Horton, which is building model homes showcasing the designs at sites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

John and Jaunita Veasy, a couple in Tennessee, were intrigued by the idea of a dual owner’s suite when they learned of its availability. They’re among the first two buyers to choose one at Lake Providence by Del Webb, a 55-and-up community outside Nashville. Their home should be completed in October.

Jaunita says she and her husband chose the home design because they keep such different schedules. She is still working full time and goes to sleep at 8, rising around 3 a.m. He goes to sleep between 10 and 11 p.m., rising between 6 and 7 a.m.

“If I get up and turn on the TV it wakes him up,” she says. “And sometimes he wakes up at 2 in the morning and makes popcorn, and that wakes me up.”

So their home will offer a room linked to the master bedroom via a pass-through bathroom, but also accessible via a hallway. The couple plan to arrange the room with a day bed and television as well as desk space for Jaunita when she gets up and wants to get on her computer or watch TV.

“In today’s active adult and empty nester communities it's about choice and adaptable home designs,” says Jessica Swanson, a spokeswoman for D.R. Horton.

She adds the room designs aren’t just for senior couples but also can serve extended families. “Flexible home designs such as this are perfect for dual-generation active adults that live in the same home.”

“It’s not something for everybody,” says PulteGroup’s Wong. “No one says, ‘I want another bedroom for my spouse.’ But many say they wind up sleeping separately by the end of the night, even though they start out in bed together.”

The Veasy family says simply that the room offers “dual-purpose” functionality.

“I looked at the floor plan when this became available, and I thought, ‘This is pretty wild,’” says John Veasy. “Because of her late-night antics, we took this option to make the space a dual-purpose room.”

Millions In Disputes With Builders - Survey

2011-08-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

Millions In Disputes With Builders - Survey

More than 2.5 million people have had a dispute with a builder or decorator over the last three years, a survey has revealed.

Householders are advised to get written agreements with builders before work starts

A quarter of those cases saw formal action taken, according to the research by consumer group Which?, with quality of work the most common source of disagreement.

Traders failing to turn up at agreed times, delays over completion, and properties being left untidy were also major causes of complaints.

Which? said the figures showed householders should always have a written agreement in place with builders or decorators in case a dispute breaks out.

The survey revealed quarter of people failed to receive a written quote from their builder or decorator before work began.

As many as 4% were asked to pay the full amount for the job upfront.

Being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after a bad experience can be a huge blow for families already feeling the pinch.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd

Trader disputes left two in five people out of pocket, with a quarter feeling they were owed at least £500, and one in 10 saying they had lost more than £1,000.

And while most managed to resolve their quarrel, 15% had to seek the help of a professional body and 18% were forced to spend more money by taking the trader to court.

Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, said: "Being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after a bad experience with a builder can be a huge blow for families already feeling the pinch."

Which? Legal Service suggests householders find builders through personal recommendations and obtain three detailed quotes before traders begin work.

Mother-in-law suites growing home trend

2011-08-03T11:21:00.000-04:00

Mother-in-law suites growing home trend

Betsy McCann and her husband, Jim Forbes, often worried that his mother was growing isolated in her Los Angeles-area home. At 90, Lois Brokus had stopped driving and was sometimes afraid to be alone in her house.

Jane and William Merrill also decided that they didn't want his mother living on her own any more. Then 81, Jane Merrill, who shares her daughter-in-law's name, was still active but in need of companionship.

Both families considered nursing homes, assisted living and retirement communities. In the end, they came to the same conclusion: Their homes were the best place for their mothers. But they needed more home.

So McCann and Forbes added a 400-square-foot bedroom and bathroom to their Escondido, Calif., home; the Merrills converted a two-car garage at their 8-acre spread in Carmel, a suburb of Indianapolis.

Now, both older women live with their adult children, with a large degree of independence and privacy.

Although it isn't for everyone, it is a choice many families are making. Home builders across the country say they are getting an increasing number of requests for such additions, known as mother-in-law suites, granny flats or accessory dwellings.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 62 percent of builders surveyed were working on a home modification related to aging in 2010. About one in five builders added an entry-level bedroom.

About 3.5 million American households last year included adult children and their parents — a number expected to rise as the country ages and baby boomers move into retirement, said Nancy Thompson, an AARP spokesperson.

To accommodate the growing demand, AARP teamed up with the home builders' association to create a designation for Certified Aging in Place Specialists, who are trained in designing and modifying buildings for the elderly. About 3,000 builders, contractors, remodelers and architects have been certified.

One is Todd Jackson, CEO of San Diego's Jackson Design and Remodeling, which handled the room addition at McCann's home.

"There's both a physical component and a sensitivity side to these projects. The family needs to take that into account," said Jackson, who noted that aging parents may be reluctant to move into their children's homes, and may worry about losing their independence.

"The transition will go over a lot better if you bring the parent into the conversation," said Jackson. "Ask them: 'What do you need?' 'What color do you want?'"

That's what McCann and her husband did when they decided to build an addition in 2008. Brocas, now 93, was part of the planning.

"We didn't want her to feel like a guest intruding on our house," said McCann. "She kept telling all her friends about how she was involved in the design process, and that the paint colors were her choice."

Brokus now proudly calls the addition, which includes a bedroom, wet bar and wheelchair-accessible doorways and bathroom, "her apartment," said McCann. Every month, she writes a rent check covering the cost of utilities — an act that adds to her sense of independence.

The arrangement has given the family more time together and greater peace of mind, and may have averted a tragedy in July when Brokus suffered a heart attack. Had she been alone, McCann said, she might not have called 911. As it was, she just had to walk a few feet for help.

The addition, which was part of a major renovation to other parts of the house, cost the McCanns $250,000. The average price for a bedroom addition can run from $100,000 to $400,000, depending on size and amenities, according to builders.

For the Merrills, who used a company called Next Door Garage Apartments to do their garage conversion, the cost was much lower.

The Indianapolis-based company remodels two-car garages into complete apartments within 10 days for $35,000. (The Merrills, who converted their garage 11 years ago, paid $25,000).

The company's owner, Susan Jennings, came up with the idea when she was managing a trust department at a bank and often worked with widows yearning to live with their adult children.

Jennings worked with a designer to come up with a dwelling attractive to both the adult children and the older parent. For privacy and independence, the apartment has a separate entrance, full kitchen and wheelchair-accessible features.

"The biggest advantage is that my husband can sit down with her every evening. Because of that constant contact, he has learned much more about his parents and their lives," said the younger Jane Merrill. "He would not have had that if she was in assisted living."

However, both Betsy McCann and Jane Merrill caution that this may not work for every family. For one thing, their mothers-in-law are self-sufficient and do not need daily medical care. In both families, they got along well before moving in together.

"If you can't stand one week or one weekend together, this won't work," said McCann. "You need to have realistic expectations about the impact on your life."

Nancy Thompson, of AARP, offered other tips for families considering building a mother-in-law suite for an aging parent:

— Decide what your expectations are well in advance and make sure everyone agrees. Involve the elderly parent in the process.

— Make sure the addition is built following universal design guidelines. Are counters, bathrooms and doorways wheelchair accessible? Is there a walk-in shower with grab bars? Opt for entry-level additions to eliminate stairs. Look for a contractor or builder with experience in universal design or aging in place.

— Check municipal building codes to make sure that accessory dwellings are allowed.

Animal ingredients often found in home improvement products

2011-08-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

Animal ingredients often found in home improvement products
BY STEVE GRAHAM

To get serious about having a vegan home, you must look beyond the pantry and the wardrobe. A large number of home improvement products contain animal ingredients. Unfortunately, it is hard to identify all these animal byproducts because most home improvement products are not required to list ingredients.

To avoid animal ingredients, consult the Vegan Society's Animal Free Shopper directory or look for the "no animal ingredients" label. However, note that there is no independent verification of the "no animal ingredients" label. It may mean different things to different manufacturers, and it does not guarantee an avoidance of animal testing.

Here is a partial list of products that may contain animal ingredients. In many cases, synthetic ingredients or petroleum products have largely replaced the animal ingredients, but these substitutes may be a greater concern for some eco-conscious homeowners.

TOOLS

Many hammers, axes, knives and other carpentry tools still have real leather handles. Even if every hammer and knife you own has a 100-percent plastic handle, tool belt and tool aprons are most often made of leather. Some people also have secondary environmental concerns about the chemicals used in leather tanning and production, and the resulting pollution.

Rubber tool parts may also contain animal ingredients, including animal fats and casein, a milk protein derivative.

PAINT

Casein also is a common binder in paint. It is widely used in natural paints as an alternative to synthetic binders. Some paint colors also include animal ingredients. For example, Golden Paints notes that it uses no animal ingredients, with the exception of bone black pigment, which is derived from ground cattle bones.

Also, many paints and paint ingredients are tested on animals. Even Golden and other companies that avoid animal testing say they cannot guarantee all their suppliers avoid animal testing.

PAINT BRUSHES

Natural paint brushes have animal-hair bristles. Many are pig hair, but some artists' brushes and other specialty products contain hair from more unusual animals such as the Siberian weasel.

VARNISH

Shellac is made from the secretions and bodies of a tropical insect, and it is used in varnish, as a wood and plaster coating and in electrical insulation, among other uses.

LUBRICANTS
A small number of lubricants still use oil from fish and marine mammals, such as porpoises. However, most modern lubricants are derived from petroleum or synthetic oils.

Notably, WD-40 is not believed to contain animal ingredients. The all-purpose lubricant is a petroleum-based product despite a widespread urban legend about fish oil being the main ingredient. The WD-40 formula is a closely guarded secret, but the U.S. Material Safety Data Sheet lists mineral spirits, liquefied petroleum gas and mineral oil as making up more than 90 percent of WD-40.

CLEANERS
Many fatty acids and other animal fat derivatives are used in soaps, detergents and household cleaners. The fatty acids may come from cows, sheep and many other animals, including cats and dogs that were euthanized in animal shelters. If ingredients are listed, animal-based fatty acids may be listed as caprylic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid. Some of these fatty acids also have plant sources, so you may be able to use products containing them if you can verify the source.

FERTILIZERS
Of course, many fertilizers use animal waste products, but a cow is unlikely to miss its manure. However, bone meal is also widely used in garden and lawn fertilizers. The ground animal bones are also used in toothpastes and vitamins, but animal-free alternatives, such as vegetable compost and vegan toothpaste, are widely available.

LAMINATED WOOD

Laminated wood and interior doors sometimes contain adhesives made with casein glue, which is derived from a milk protein.

PLYWOOD

Another animal-based adhesive is blood glue, which is a slaughterhouse byproduct. It has traditionally been combined with soybean protein to make an adhesive for soft plywood. However, the formula has largely been replaced with a synthetic adhesive.

This is a partial list of home improvement products with animal ingredients. Keep in mind that not every paint or fertilizer contains animal products, but some do, and the animal content may be worth considering in shopping choices.

ONLINE

Vegan Society's Animal Free Shopper directory: http://www.vegansociety.com/afssearch.aspx

Remodeling broadens food format at Target

2011-08-01T11:28:00.000-04:00

Deal of the Week
Remodeling broadens food format at Target
By KATHERINE FESER

Target has completed remodeling the bulk of its 20 Houston-area stores slated for a new format designed to bring more fresh grocery items to the chain nationwide.

"You'll find fresh items that frequently top weekly shopping lists, like bananas, seasonal fruit, baby carrots, meats and chicken," said Kristin Jahnke of Target. "It's really about added convenience."

Target is adding about 10,000 square feet of grocery space to the typical 135,000-square-foot store. The stores will have 40 percent more food offerings, including prepackaged baked goods such as dinner rolls and pies, fruits, vegetables, packaged meats and dairy goods. SuperTarget stores, by comparison, average 186,000 square feet and offer a full line of groceries.

The concept was first tested in Minneapolis in 2008 and was rolled out on a wide scale last year. By the end of 2010, 450 stores offered the new format and another 380 stores are being remodeled this year. Stores with the new format show an increase of 6 percent in sales and traffic, Jahnke said.

Completed renovations

300 Meyerland Plaza

2580 Shearn

13250 Northwest Freeway

984 Gessner

1100 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands

4323 San Felipe

25901 U.S. 290, Cypress

4510 Garth Road, Baytown

19955 Katy Freeway

6955 Texas 6 North, Copperfield

21515 Tomball Parkway

23912 Commercial Drive, Rosenberg

6801 FM 1960, Willowbrook

8605 Westheimer

to be completed by October

10801 Westheimer, Westchase

202 Texas 332 West, Lake Jackson

6128 Broadway, Galveston

14302 FM 2920, Tomball

12701 FM 1960, Steeplechase

32858 FM 2978, Magnolia

There are 20 Target and 13 SuperTarget stores in the Houston area.

Corral de Tierra Marketplace opens after long remodel

2011-07-29T11:52:00.000-04:00

Corral de Tierra Marketplace opens after long remodel
Written by Robert Walch

Nanci Linares and Lonnie Wigham realized a long-cherished dream when the Corral de Tierra Marketplace opened a week ago. The two women, friends since they were young girls, had always wanted to own their own business and when the opportunity availed itself last year, they seized it.

Noticing that the building at 2 Corral de Tierra Road, a former grocery store on the corner of Highway 68, was empty, Linares approached the property's owner, whom she knew, to see if he'd be interested in opening a new store there. Although he declined, he suggested she consider leasing the site instead.

"It had always been a dream of mine to have a business like this where I could use all my prior experiences," Linares said. Why not open a restaurant closer to her Pacific Grove home rather than a deli/market?

"Location! Location! Location!" she responded, explaining that the site made the decision.

At that point Linares contacted her girlhood friend, Wigham, who was living in Scottsdale, Ariz., and managing a food store.

"When Nanci called me in Arizona to explain this opportunity, I was delighted to join her," Wigham said. "I knew the site and couldn't believe it was available.

"I had always thought that that was the ideal location for a store like ours."

As Linares' business partner, Wigham oversees

"the front of the house" — the groceries — while Linares handles the "business end" or back office part of the venture.

Getting the Corral de Tierra Marketplace off the ground was more complicated than either woman expected. They had hoped to be open by the first of the year but remodeling the interior of the building posed a number of unexpected hurdles.

The plumbing and electrical systems had to be brought up to code and a new bathroom had to be added. At times the process was a bit disheartening, but both Linares and Wigham were willing to tackle all the "surprises" that extended the remodeling process to nearly seven months.

Most frustrating of all was discovering that some people have been using the back of the lot as an impromptu dump site. Just recently, Linares said, they found a whole truckload of yard waste had been unloaded there. They hope the installation of a security camera will put a stop to that problem.

"We really appreciated the support of those in the area who continually encouraged us through the ordeal," said Wigham, now a Corral de Tierra resident. "They stood by us and gave us the strength to keep going."

With about 2,400 square feet to work with, the women have divvied up the space to fit in a deli work area as well as display shelving for grocery items, a fresh produce section, an ample wine display and refrigeration cases.

Using her experience in the grocery sector, Wigham ordered the "staples" that a person would need on a regular basis or on short notice. These items include fresh bread, dairy items, produce, some canned goods and cleaning products.

She stressed that this part of the marketplace is a work in progress. As customers tell her what they need, she'll "tweak" the offerings to reflect their requests.

The store's upscale wine collection will feature local vintages from both the Salinas and Carmel valleys as well as from other sections of the state.

Besides an espresso bar and variety of salads, cold meats and cheese, the deli will offer a daily special plus seven "house" sandwiches. The sandwiches include the Corral de Tierra (a veggie combination), the Toro Park (tuna salad with lettuce, tomato, pepperoni and jack cheese on sourdough) and the Laguna Seca (a combination of roasted turkey, ham and roast beef with cheddar, tomato, lettuce and avocado).

Linares grew up on the Monterey Peninsula, attended school in Carmel and worked in the restaurant and catering business. She was employed by Clint Eastwood at the Hog's Breath Inn for a number of years and then Toots Lagoon, another well-known Carmel watering hole.

Most recently, Linares worked for Sodexo, a large corporation that operates the food service at California State University, Monterey Bay. She was in human resources and then became the sales catering coordinator on campus.

Born and raised in Monterey, Wigham has managed grocery stores, run a café and sold real estate during a multi-faceted career.

Looking ahead to the end of the year, Linares and Wigham hope that by then they will have refined the marketplace's merchandise mix to reflect what local residents want.

Obviously, they want the Corral de Tierra Marketplace to be well on its way to becoming the preferred destination for those who live along the Highway 68 corridor and want a good sandwich, a fresh cup of coffee, or need to pick up a few items for lunch or dinner.

Linares said she's trying to find out more about the history of the building. Constructed in the 1940s and once used as a dance hall, it has been the site of two grocery stores as far as she knows.

"We'd like to learn as much as we can about how the structure was used over the years and perhaps write up a little history to post in the market," she said. "I think it would be fun to share that story."

What to do when house lingers unsold

2011-07-28T14:27:00.000-04:00

What to do when house lingers unsold
By Michele Lerner

The real estate market in the Washington metro area has been luckier than most in maintaining its stability, but it has by no means been immune to the economic downturn.

While homes in some neighborhoods have managed to hold their value and even experience price increases, in others, homes still languish on the market. Sellers have a few options available if their home stays on the market too long, including lowering the price, making some home improvements or renting their home while waiting for the market to improve.

“In the D.C. area, most homes should sell within no more than 60 days if they are properly priced and in good condition,” said Valerie Blake, an associate broker with Prudential Carruthers Realtors in the District. “There are three things that determine whether a home sells and for how much: location, condition and price. You can’t control the location, so you have to look at the condition and price if something is not selling.”

Heather Elias, a Realtor with Century 21 Redwood Realty in Ashburn, Va., said sometimes the lack of an offer is market-dependent and sometimes it is simply about the house itself.

“If a home is getting showings but no offers, you can look at the feedback from other agents and see if the problem is the price or the condition of the property,” Mrs. Elias said. “If there are no showings at all, then the problem is usually the price.”

Mrs. Elias recommended that frustrated sellers visit three other properties on the market in their area that are comparable in size and price to evaluate the differences.

“You have to look at homes like a buyer,” Mrs. Elias said. “For instance, if two houses are similar, but one has granite counters and yours doesn’t, you either need to drop the price or make adjustments to the condition. It depends on what the issue is as to which choice makes more sense.”

Home sellers who are not getting many showings should carefully evaluate the marketing efforts of their real estate agent. Most buyers today first sift through properties online, so if your home does not have enough photos that show the home at its best or does not appear on a variety of websites with property listings, it may be time to push your Realtor to do more marketing.

While all Realtors recommend pricing a property appropriately from the beginning, they also acknowledge there is an art and a science to setting the listing price.

“The hardest part for sellers is to recognize that the real estate market is fluid, with some areas coming back more quickly than others,” saidDebra Swann, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate in Mitchellville. “It is best to get the price right within the first six weeks a home is on the market, because if you have a house on the market too long and you keep dropping the price, you look desperate.”

Mrs. Elias said if houses in your area are selling and yours is not, a price reduction may be required to at least bring your property in line with others on the market.

“Pricing a home is very specific to the owner’s situation and how quickly they want to sell the property,” Mrs. Elias said.

Other options besides lowering the price include staging the home and making improvements.

Mrs. Elias said it may be time to bring in a professional stager if your home is comparable in size and condition to others that are going under contract, but you still are not getting offers.

“A stager can make a house show better,” Mrs. Elias said.

Sellers need to be cautious about overspending on a stager or for home improvements to make sure they do not reduce their potential profits.

“There are plenty of inexpensive ways to give a place pizzazz and to differentiate yourself from other places on the market,” Ms. Blake said. “For example, you can put a stone or glass backsplash in the kitchen for a little bit of money or paint an accent wall to draw attention to the house rather than the furniture. Some of the best things sellers can do are free, such as decluttering. But sometimes it makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars on some improvements that make a home show better.”

Sellers can offer incentives to buyers, such as closing cost assistance, but they also can work with their agent to offer an enticement to buyers’ agents.

“Sometimes people offer a bonus to the buyer’s agent to encourage them to bring their clients to the property,” Ms. Swann said. “It is important, too, to make sure the seller’s agent is holding open houses for other brokers and actively marketing the property to them as well as directly to buyers.”

Mrs. Elias said that while some builders and Realtors offer a buyer’s agent bonus, she said the commission each agent earns should have no bearing on whether they show one house or another.

Some frustrated sellers opt to take their home off the market temporarily, but Ms. Swann said a home must be off the market for six months before it is treated as a newly listed home on the multiple listing service.

“Sometimes sellers want to temporarily stop showing the house in order to have it on the market at a busier time, such as in the spring or fall market,” Ms. Blake said.

Mrs. Elias said agents easily can see whether a home has been on and off the market, so she said it only makes sense to do this if a homeowner wants to sell at a different time of year or wants to stop showings to make improvements to the property.

“Sometimes moving out can help you sell a home, especially if you put in new appliances, fresh paint and carpet and some new landscaping, because that can make a home look new,” Ms. Swann said.

A vacant home can be easier to sell because it is always available for showings, but sometimes, Mrs. Elias said, a home just looks better furnished.

Some sellers opt to rent their home for a year or two, hoping for a market turnaround by the time the lease ends.

“Sellers need to be prepared to spruce up the home in order to attract a renter and then to fix it up again with new carpet, new paint and perhaps new appliances when they put it back on the market,” Ms. Swann said.

Ms. Blake said with rents rising in this area, sellers may have a better chance of the rental income covering their mortgage, but she said they need to consider the difficulty of selling the property with a tenant still on the premises.

Two other options are to sell the home at an auction or to investors who advertise quick sales for cash, but Realtors say both of those scenarios typically result in a relatively low sales price compared to the market.

“You can always try burying a St. Joseph statue in your backyard, which is supposed to bring luck to home sellers,” Mrs. Elias said. “They even make environmentally friendly statues now of clay called ‘EcoJoe.’ “Since thousands of homes sell each month in the Washington area, one of these tactics is likely to result in a sale — with or without a little help from St. Joseph.

Women's Roles in Home Improvement

2011-07-27T12:54:00.000-04:00

Women's Roles in Home Improvement

The Do-it-yourself home improvement market used to only occupied by men, but now women are catching up with men when it comes to house projects. According to a study completed by the Home Improvement Research Institute, do-it-yourself projects at home are being completed by more and more women. $70 billion of home improvement purchases are made by women and that's a $16 billion increase in the last 16 years. Also, forty-four percent of do-it-yourself projects are now completed by women and fifty percent of most home improvement purchases are made by women.

Men still are the main buyers of tools. Men are also more eager to hire female construction specialists now as well because women construction specialists are more likely to understand what areas of the home are important to other women (areas often overlooked by males). Home improvement marketing has focused more attention on women as a result of this trend.

Home Improvement: A Roofing Material with Real Mettle

2011-07-26T13:14:00.000-04:00

Home Improvement: A Roofing Material with Real Mettle
BARBARA BALLINGER

Because of affordability and ease of installation, asphalt shingles have long been the No. 1 residential roof choice. However, metal roofs have slowly become a closer contender.

Though metal roofs may cost more up front than asphalt shingle roofs, they can be much more durable. Their lifetime is pegged anywhere from 40 to 60 years, versus 15 years for asphalt, says Mike Kowal, president of Custom-Bilt Metals, which manufactures metal roofs. Adds Thomas Black, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance, "By choosing a metal roof, it's the last time most homeowners will have to put on a roof."

Besides longevity, metal roofs also can be more energy efficient - a "cool" solution because reflective coatings can be applied to the base metal and reduce how much heat enters a home, Kowal says.

Aesthetics are yet another plus. They come in a variety of configurations, from standing seam to stamped panels and shingles. And with Kynar(r)-based pigments, they can add vibrant color that withstands strong sunlight for decades.

Before proceeding, know a few potential downsides:

• Metal may dent during a major hail storm, but still will maintain its strength and performance ability, says architect Scott Rappe, of Kuklinski + Rappe Architects in Chicago. "If your area is prone to hail, consider a higher weight metal panel," he says.

• Hire an experienced pro to install it since it takes more skill than putting on asphalt shingles, says Kowal.

• If you plan to move within a few years, you may not recoup your full investment, but should see some increased value, says Bob Kulp, director of the National Roofing Contractors Association.

10 Green Tips for Summer Remodeling

2011-07-25T11:04:00.000-04:00

10 Green Tips for Summer RemodelingSave money and make your remodel a little greener.
By Heather Pritchard

Thinking about remodeling your kitchen, bathroom or outdoor area this summer? Lately, I've seen Home Depot and Lowe's hoping with customers and full of discounts, which inspired me to find ways to not only save some money, but make those do-it-yourself remodels a bit greener.

Even if you aren't doing it yourself, you can still make greener choices—although some may not be lighter on the pocketbook. As my husband and I have found out, not every green alternative is a cheaper one, so you have to weigh your conscience with your ability to pay. However, there are always many options to get what you want at a price that's right.

Here are a few options:
Go with sustainable products. Bamboo, cork and other materials are made from sustainable resources that are easy to replace. Bamboo for example, is a grass that grows quickly unlike many hardwoods that come from trees and take years to re-grow. There are many discount dealers for sustainable products, like bamboo.
If you don't want the sustainable products, another option is to go recycled. There are many brands of recycled products for flooring and countertops that use recycled glass and reclaimed wood to give you a unique product that is sturdy and stunning at the same time.

Can't afford the recycled alternatives? Try used! One interesting resource is Orange County's Habitat for Humanity's Restore. They sell items that have been donated to Habitat for Humanity and the proceeds go toward building more homes in Orange County. Another option is Builder's discount centers where you could find products that the previous owner didn't like or it wasn't what they ordered. You can purchase what they didn't want at a bargain price. Better in your home than a landfill! Technically reused to me.

What about all those tools you need to do your work? How about borrowing them if you don't need to own? Someone always has an uncle or friend who owns way too many tools. Maybe they are willing to come and help as well, it never hurts to ask.

Go green with your decorating supplies. When ever possible, go for low VOC paints, organic fabrics and sustainable wallpapers.

Thinking of redoing the front yard? Go native! Ditch that turf and use drought tolerant alternatives for your front yard. The water savings alone can help pay for this renovation. And it doesn't have to be boring. Does it mean you have to ditch green? No, there are alternatives to the traditional grass. I am going to be trying an alternative myself in my own backyard. I will share how that goes once it is installed. Keep tuned in.

New lighting? Skip the incandescent and the Compact Fluorescents and go LED! They are more expensive initially, but will last longer than your CFL's and will save you just as much money. And if you are really feeling ambitious, you can add daylighting—the use of natural sunlight to augment light in your home. Add a skylight or solar tube (hole in the roof that brings sunlight to a room in your home that doesn't have a window) in your home.

Reuse anything possible. Maybe you have something that's not quite working where it is now—try moving it. Our most recent project at my house was a bunch of river stones in the backyard. I moved them to the front and used them as mulch to cover bare ground. They serve the same purpose and added a much needed detail that our front yard was missing. They will also come in handy when we finally "go native."

It's not an easy task, but buy American if you can. The more local it is the better. We live in an Ikea world where the most affordable options are most likely things not made in the USA. Overstock.com has "Made in the U.S.A." options as well as manufacturers who advertise proudly that their products are made right here in the U.S.
Do your research. There is so much information that cannot be covered in one article about household hazards. A great resource is the The Green Home Guide. They give you their picks for green options from countertops to flooring.

Not everything you do in your renovation has to be green, not even one thing if that's what you choose. But it is important to know there are many options out there. It doesn't hurt to educate yourself. You never know, you might actually like one of them. And it's not just about being green, there are real health benefits to avoiding some of the products out there. The best thing we can do is educate ourselves and learn as much as we can before we make big changes and choices for our homes.

Designer Lane Offers Painless Home Remodeling

2011-07-22T12:37:00.000-04:00

Designer Lane Offers Painless Home Remodeling

For the last few years, DIY (Do It Yourself) has been all the rage, with numerous television shows helping to fuel the rise of Do It Yourselfers. For some individuals, DIY can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially if those individuals have previous construction experience, great connections, a knack for building things, tremendous patience, or all of the above.

There is an experienced and reliable, yet new and innovative organization in the DFW Metroplex that aims to save their clients lots of time, lots of money and the obligatory headaches that usually accompany home remodeling projects. Designer Lane recently opened its beautiful 1,500 sq. ft. showroom in Hurst, and according to CEO Charly Everett, “We hope to change the public’s perception about the way to remodel their home, all the while educating our clients to help them avoid the pitfalls that unfortunately await those who are less experienced. Our vast experience dealing with clients who have experiences fire and flood damage to their homes, and working under the worst situations, really gives us a unique perspective on how to truly be a service provider.”

For the average person, Designer Lane suggests the DDIY (Don’t Do It Yourself) approach. There are many potholes on the road from the beginning of a dream design in one’s head until it is finally complete and everything is functioning properly. Often times, eagerness on the part of the homeowner and the yearning to be self-sufficient works against them, and this is never truer than when it comes to design and remodeling.

The internet has helped people have increasingly grand visions of the type of beautiful kitchen or bath they desire, and this is both good and bad. Many folks will look up some designs online, and from there plan a big Saturday to go out and get their entire remodeling project laid out in a few short hours. In their minds, a morning trip to one of the big box retailers will have them done and home in time to attend their kid’s soccer or baseball game. Once bombarded with an avalanche of design information, reality usually smacks would be designers in the face, which can cause lots of frustration and wasted money.

To get the kind of beautiful kitchen and/or bath you truly desire, and avoid the plentiful potholes along the way, check out the Designer Lane approach. The folks that make up the leadership of Designer Lane have been in the construction business for nearly 40 years, and unlike the big box retailers and most contractors, Designer Lane provides a truly turnkey project from design to installation, utilizing their own people to do so. According to the good folks at Designer Lane, the time, money and headaches you save will be well worth it.

Designer Lane is located at 113 Souder Drive, Hurst, TX. To ask a question or set an appointment, call 817.268.0000.

Vanilla Ice Awards One Lucky Dallas Couple with a Rock-Star Ronavation

2011-07-21T11:49:00.000-04:00

Vanilla Ice Awards One Lucky Dallas Couple with a Rock-Star Renovation
Winners to be featured in DIY Network's "Ice My House" Special, which Kicks Off Season Two of "The Vanilla Ice Project" in 2012

Just moments ago, Vanilla Ice, 90s pop icon, home remodeler and host of DIY Network's The Vanilla Ice Project, knocked on the door of Dallas' Sean and Erica Heatley to announce that they were winners of DIY Network's inaugural "Ice My House" contest. The Heatleys were selected from thousands of video entries to receive a $30,000 personal room renovation to be completed by Vanilla Ice and DIY Network, the go-to-destination for home improvement television.

The transformation will be documented for a one-hour special, "VIP: Ice My House," which kicks off the second season of DIY Network's popular primetime series, The Vanilla Ice Project, in early 2012.

Erica, a retail buyer and Sean, a director of planning at a thermal management company, have lived in their mid-century modern home for over three years and have always wanted to renovate the small guest house at the rear of their property to have space for their guests. While the couple had remodeled their main house, they left the back house on the back burner - completely unlivable and in need of structural renovations, new gas lines and electrical wiring. Filming of this special project will begin mid-August.

"The surprise on the Heatleys faces makes this all worthwhile," Vanilla Ice noted. "I'm looking forward to rocking this renovation and giving this great couple an off the hook space they can share with family and friends."

Currently in production on season two of DIY Network's The Vanilla Ice Project, rock star turned home improvement all-star Vanilla Ice and his crew are back for another season of 13 half-hour episodes of jaw-dropping renovations as they tackle a new, busted up Palm Beach area mansion. This time, Vanilla Ice's imagination runs wild as he chases down the hottest home improvement trends and technology. But first, he's going to move walls, tear out shoddy work, and build this house up from the studs.

After his chart topping hit "Ice Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice turned his focus to a new hobby -- buying land and flipping houses. He's renovated old homes and foreclosures, and taught himself the basics through hands-on experience and a lot of research. The first season of DIY Network's The Vanilla Ice Project premiered to critical-acclaim in October 2010.

ABOUT DIY NETWORK

DIY Network, from the makers of HGTV and Food Network, is the go-to destination for rip-up, knock-out home improvement television. DIY Network's programs and experts answer the most sought-after questions and offer creative projects for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. One of the fastest growing digital networks and currently in more than 53 million homes, DIY Network's programming covers a broad range of categories, including home improvement and landscaping. The network's award-winning website, www.DIYNetwork.com , is a leader in the Nielsen Online Home and Garden category and features multiple resources, including thousands of do-it-yourself home improvement projects, expert advice, how-to videos and images, and user-friendly reference guides with step-by-step instructions.

Connecticut lures 44 unregistered contractors in sting operation

2011-07-20T11:23:00.000-04:00

Connecticut lures 44 unregistered contractors in sting operation
By Lee Howard

All face $250 fine after submitting bids at Waterford home

Using a tiny camera concealed in a display of plastic flowers at a Waterford home, the state Department of Consumer Protection conducted a sting operation over the past three months that led to 44 people - most of them from southeastern Connecticut - being cited Tuesday for failing to register as home-improvement professionals or, in one case, allowing someone else to use their registration number.

Caught in the sting were seven contractors or salespeople from Waterford, three each from New London and Bozrah, two each from Norwich, Colchester, Middletown, Madison, Waterbury and Westbrook and one each from Old Lyme, Niantic, Groton, Ledyard and Taftville. One contracting company involved in the sting, Certapro Painter, hailed from Pennsylvania.

The sting, conducted at 345 Rope Ferry Road, placed investigators posing as homeowners at the deteriorating Waterford home, where a small operations center was set up in an office area off the kitchen. Investigators reviewed more than 200 advertisements and invited contractors to submit bids on various projects.

"They said, 'We just bought the place, and we have to redo the whole thing,' " said Claudette Carveth, Consumer Protection spokeswoman. "Look around, and tell us what to do.' "

Bids on projects ranged from roofing and carpentry work to painting, flooring, paving, fencing and landscaping. The home is currently owned by the state Department of Transportation and previously had been used as a group home by the state Department of Developmental Services.

Unregistered contractors face a $250 fine for violating the Connecticut Home Improvement Act or the Home Solicitation Sales Act. A contractor's license costs $220.

"We want the penalty to be greater than the cost of compliance," said Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein, who held a short press conference at the musty home used for the sting.

But at least one person caught in the sting, Cheryl Pappas, owner of the Greek Gardener in New London, said she had never submitted a written quote for work at the home. Pappas said she had merely offered advice to the purported homeowner, and refused to even respond when the investigator asked whether she thought the gardening work would cost $5,000.

"It's entrapment - that's what I think," she said in a phone interview.

Pappas said she's a gardener, not a landscaper, but admitted it's a gray area and said she would henceforth register as a home-improvement contractor. Meanwhile, she vowed to fight the state's civil penalty.

"I walked away," she said.

The state has conducted home-contracting stings for the past decade, with the exception of 2008, when budget constraints canceled the operation. The most recent sting locally was conducted in Montville six years ago.

Rubenstein said compliance with state contracting laws has improved since the stings started. A decade ago, 60 percent of contractors investigated were found to be flouting the law. This year, only 21 percent failed to comply.

What's more, the state currently has 27,000 registered home-improvement contractors, an increase of 4,000 from just four years ago.

Rubenstein pointed out that homeowners who use registered contractors have more protections than those who don't. The state's Home Improvement Guarantee Fund can help compensate consumers left with problems after a registered contractor fails to perform, but no such rights are given to those who use workers without Connecticut registration numbers.

"In terms of volume and cost, the highest-ranking consumer complaint in Connecticut and nationally each year is home improvement," Rubenstein said. "We're working for 100 percent compliance."

The home where the sting occurred is right off Route 156 near the Niantic River Bridge. According to William A. Dorn, supervisor of rights of way for the DOT, it was acquired by eminent domain in 1987 as the state began planning the construction of a new bridge, and the state likely will put the property on the market now that the government has no more use for it.

A tiny video camera hidden in a plastic flower was used by investigators from the Department of Consumer Protection in a sting operation against unregistered home improvement contractors.

Remodeling remains robust in ailing real estate market

2011-07-19T11:21:00.000-04:00

Remodeling remains robust in ailing real estate market

An upward bounce in a popular remodeling index shows that homeowners are going ahead with remodeling projects despite the dismal real estate market. In fact, BuildFax says that remodeling projects were up across the country in May continuing a 19-month trend. "Even with the continued struggles in the economy, the remodeling industry has been a bright spot, as consumers look to make upgrades to their current homes, rather than purchasing a new residence,” said Joe Emison, Vice President of Research and Development at BuildFax.

Based on construction permits filed with local building departments across the country, the BuildFax index shows that in May remodeling increased by 12 percent in the Northeast, 7 percent in the South and West and 18 percent in the Midwest. “Based on the trends from the first months of this year, we expect to continue seeing strong gains from coast to coast," said Emison.

Apparently, homeowners aren’t waiting to replace aging appliances, worn flooring or banged-up countertops. And they don’t have to spend a lot to do so as Consumer Reports testing shows. In our recent special reportYour New Kitchen we found major appliances and home improvement products that’ll stand the test of time, including:

Flooring. In our latest tests we found that the best oak and bamboo floors can fend off most wear and tear for about the same price as vinyl, which is still tops at resisting dents. Three oak floors from Mullican, Lumber Liquadators and Bruce topped our tests of sold-wood products. And Congoleum and Armstrong produced the top-scoring vinyls.

Countertops.This year we added bamboo, recycled glass and soapstone to our tests of countertop materials. The bamboo was a bust and was the lowest-scoring product in the entire kitchen report. Granite and quartz, an engineered stone, were the only materials that aced most tests.

Cabinets. Well-made cabinets are likely to look good year after year. Look for doors with solid-wood frames, drawers with solid-wood sides and dovetail joints and shelves made of ¾-inch plywood or medium-density fiberboard.

Major appliances. Our new Ratings of refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and cooktops and wall ovensfeature a lot of bargains. And keep in mind that today’s refrigerators and dishwashers use less energy and water.

If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, take a look at our special video section which has makeovers that cost $5,000, $15,000 and $50,000 as well as interviews with homeowners about their biggest remodeling mistakes. Number one? Not planning ahead.

—Mary H.J. Farrell

Refresh Your Space Using These Home-Improvement Apps

2011-07-18T12:30:00.000-04:00

Refresh Your Space Using These Home-Improvement Apps
By Meg Baker

If you are planning a home-improvement project, adding on an addition, or moving into a new space this summer, make designing a little easier with the help of these apps on your smartphone.With a tap or a drag, find design inspiration, create your own visual lay out plan, and even search for a reputable builder to help refresh your space.

Remodelista

Spice up your humble abode and steal some design ideas using the $2.99 Remodelista App-- a sourcebook that allows you to save décor concepts, and room and furniture ideas right on your phone, so when you are out shopping you can easily compare the looks. You can even buy some products directly through the app with the "buy now" feature. Sort through categories that are updated daily like “10 Easy Pieces, “Steal This Look,” “DIY Projects,” and “Palette and Paints,” to create your home’s new look. It’s okay to copy, because as the saying goes, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Download Remodelista.

Home Design 3DIf you are a do-it yourself type, start out by creating your perfect floor plan right on your iPad for $5.99 with Home Design 3D. First select the dimensions of the house, then change the floor and ceiling and even “paint” the walls. Check out how your furniture fits by dragging and dropping objects to fill the space. Choose from over 150 items like windows, doors, tables, desks, carpeting and more. Get a first person tour of your newly designed space by navigating through in 3D mode. This is great for seeing how the furniture you own will fit into a new space. If you are juggling multiple projects, you can save and easily modify each at any time.

Download Home Design 3D.

Here's how it works:

Service Magic Home ImprovementIf you need help around your house, Service Magic Home Improvement will match you with pre-screened contractors, electricians, plumbers, landscapers and many other professionals. Just describe your need, submit the timeline of when you need the job completed, and enter your location to get a list of experts in your area as well as their rate quote. This free service does criminal background checks, and state-level trade licensing on all recommended pros.

Hire someone to do anything from tree and shrub removal, to cabinet installation, to pest control. Once you choose someone, you can contact them with one touch call, email or text—and save their contact info in case you need it for another time. If you are happy with the completed job, share the wealth and refer them by posting pictures of your project.

If you just have a question about a remodeling endeavor, have no fear the pros are here. First search for your answers within the expert articles and if you can’t find the information you are looking for, simply submit it and get a response ASAP.

Download Service Magic Home Improvement.

Remodel before moving? Just paint and move on

2011-07-15T11:51:00.000-04:00

Remodel before moving? Just paint and move on

Tom Kelly: Real Estate Today

Whether or not to sell your primary residence might be the most important decision you make in the next few months. If you decide to sell, don't jeopardize the decision by making the costly mistake of over-improving your nest egg - or racing to create a new room the new owner might enjoy.

Major structural changes, especially in this economic environment, need to be intensively scrutinized. Ninety percent of all remodeling projects take more than one year of appreciation to recover the costs of the improvement.

And, some projects never even get close to becoming a financial wash. Don't get carried away with a pet project that may draw the eye of a certain set of home buyers.

The solution? Paint, paint and simply paint some more. Paint is the least expensive and the most profitable improvement you can make. For example, be certain your entry is especially crisp and bright. Take advantage of your outside trim and highlight it with a color that truly makes your home stand out on the street.

Thinking about a color for the kids' old bedrooms? Most prospective buyers won't see the magic of magenta or the charisma of chartreuse. Stay boring, and attractive, with light beige and don't wander very far from off white.

If you want to be bold, be sure you know the type of buyer who will be looking at your home before you bring out your version of "wow" yellow in the den or "cool" gray in the bedroom.

If you are a female and single - and are certain your buyer will be the same type of individual - the paint and fixtures you choose for your home can be far different than those of a family home in a huge subdivision.

The way we live and work has changed dramatically in the past decade and our expectations of our homes have changed, too. If you are getting ready to list your home for sale, don't gamble that your taste in a new kitchen, den or master suite will match the desires of the potential home buyers that come through your door.

Don't waste your time - or jeopardize your money - by undertaking remodeling projects in an attempt to draw potential home buyers to an open house. It takes too long and you could easily guess wrong.

Remember, most buyers want to purchase a residence in model home condition, so all they have to do is turn the key in the front door and move in. Your challenge is to bring this feeling with the least possible amount of stress, cash and time.

Weathering the storms: Home improvements could save your life

2011-07-14T12:05:00.000-04:00

Weathering the storms: Home improvements could save your life

By STACY DOWNS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It can take seconds for a monster tornado to tear a stick-built Midwest house to shreds. But even much weaker winds have damaged regional residences this storm season. We've seen the destroyed roofs and broken windows that prove it.

Fred Haan, a mechanical engineering professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., builds 5-inch-tall houses with little holes drilled inside them -small-scale versions of our life-size abodes-to see how they fare versus tornadoes big and small. A giant simulating machine at Iowa State University creates twisters that are 3 feet in diameter. The models are typically demolished in seconds.

"The main issue with houses in the Midwest is the lack of strong connections," says Haan, whose academic research helps lead to better storm-shielding products.

Relying on gravity, roofs rest on walls sitting atop foundations, and there is nothing fastening those components together. Unfortunately, saving frame-construction houses from 200-mph winds that occur in EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes , such as the May 22 Joplin tornado, is almost impossible. But there are steps to help strengthen houses so they can survive more than a 3-second gust of 90-mph wind, the standard to which most houses in the Midwest are built.

For example, better-quality hardware can make a big difference.

"An extra $500 or $600 spent on replacing a roof could improve things a lot," says Tim Reinhold, chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, which does research for the insurance industry.

Ring-shank nails are the most effective roof fasteners, Reinhold says. The flat-top nails look similar to screws, with ridges along the length of the nail that penetrate the wood. The nails have much better holding power than typical nails with smooth shanks, because the rings act as wedges to keep nails firmly in place. Ring-shank nails typically add about $250 to an average roof cost.

Also, metal brackets commonly known as hurricane clips are effective at connecting roofs to walls. Hurricane clips attach the top plate to trusses or rafters, greatly increasing the strength between the two. These could help a home withstand wind speeds up to 135 mph, or a tornado up to an EF-2 . Roughly 90 percent of tornadoes are at this level or below.

"Metal strapping isn't like some exotic thing," Haan says. "I lived in Iowa, and my house was built with it, without me requesting it. Some builders use it on their own, without building codes mandating it."

Large openings in a house are also its weak points. That means doors, especially garage doors, and big banks of windows. So simple upgrades like steel-reinforced doors and high-quality jambs and latches also can help fight wind damage.

"Tornadoes are about generating a suction," Haan says. "Those openings increase pressure inside a house and get underneath your roof."

This year's storms have prompted Kerry Mooneyham, a paralegal who lives in Platte County, Mo. , to research roof shingles.

"I've been reading about impact-resistant shingles," says Mooneyham, whose hail-damaged roof needs replacing. "I'm willing to pay extra for them, up to a point."

Making houses more durable costs money that people might not be willing to pay, says Mark Heinze, co-owner of Phoenix Renovation and Restoration, an Overland Park, Kan., company that repairs houses after storm damage.

"Unless codes mandate things, insurance companies won't pay, and most people won't want to pay the difference because they're not sexy improvements," says Heinze, president of the Kansas City chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Still, Heinze says, more cities are beginning to require additional protective measures against storm damage. For example, Olathe, Kan., code enforcers now mandate ice and water shields for roofs, which can add 15 percent to roof costs.

City officials in Joplin, Mo., are reviewing building codes and are considering hurricane clips for home construction.

"I hope Joplin does it right, like Greensburg," says Tim Marshall, an engineer and meteorologist of Haag Engineering, a consulting firm in Dallas. "I hope houses and other buildings get built stronger and better, even if it takes a little longer."

STRONGER IN STORMS

From top to bottom, you can fortify your exterior.

Roof

If you need to have your roof replaced, specify:

Ring-shank nails . The design of a ring-shank nail resembles a screw, except that the head is flat.

Hurricane clips . The metal bracing connects roofs to walls.

Shingles . Look for materials rated by UL 2218 or FM 4473 as Class 3 or 4, which indicates they have been tested and found to stand up to increasing levels of hail damage. Also make sure the roof cover you choose is rated for the wind speed in your area. For example, shingles meeting the ASTM D 3161 Class F standard are rated for wind speeds up to 110 mph, while shingles meeting the ASTM D 7158 Class H standard are rated for wind speeds up to 150 mph.

Asphalt shingles are the best value with their hail resistance and wind warranties up to 130 mph. Metal is susceptible to hail damage. Slate is durable but more expensive.

Siding

Cement board is more resistant than vinyl. Cement is not rated by impact and wind like shingles.

Doors

High-pressure rated . This is important for attached garages, the largest hole in your house. High-pressure rated garage doors are $300-$400 more than the average garage door. "It may be a special order, but it's worth it," says Tim Reinhold, chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Avoid garage doors that have a removable brace, Reinhold says. "In a strong storm, you're not going to go to the garage door to put on a brace."

Windows

Impact-resistant windows , such as Andersen Windows with Stormwatch protection-designed for hurricane-prone coastal cities-have stronger frames and hardware to withstand wind and debris. A clear film is sandwiched between two sheets of glass so the glass doesn't shatter into the house if the glass breaks. The windows are up to 30 percent more in price, compared with regular windows.

Foundation

Walls bolted to foundation . This is invasive and is best done when the house is constructed but can be retrofitted if you're replacing drywall or adding siding.

---

A safe room in a house is the best way to protect people in a tornado. To build one using Federal Emergency Management Agency specifications, go to www.fema.gov and search "safe room." Pre-fabricated rooms are available for less than $5,000. The National Storm Shelter Association (www.nssa.cc) lists verified safe room vendors, according to FEMA.

Tim Marshall of Haag Engineering in Dallas surveys storm damage. In Oklahoma, he met someone who invested in an in-ground shelter, crediting it with saving his family. "He said it was the best $1,800 he'd ever spent."

Marshall says lots of families have a fire plan but not a tornado plan. "Some people have as little as 10 seconds to take action, so it's crucial to know what to do."

Close exterior doors and windows to minimize rain and flying debris; also interior doors if you have time. This provides more barriers between you and the storm.

If you don't have a safe room/shelter, go to a basement or small interior room without windows, such as a bathroom, during the storm. The more walls between you and the outside, the better. Sit underneath something sturdy like a workbench or staircase, or go to a bathtub and cover yourself with a mattress.

AT-HOME ALERTS

Edith Lawellin of Joplin, Mo., credits a weather-alert feature on her home security system for saving her life. A National Weather Service alert from Alarm.com beeped on her Vivint home-security panel before city sirens sounded, giving her time to take shelter in a reinforced closet. Her house was destroyed, but she survived. The service costs up to $1 extra per month on top of normal security service charges.

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Ask storm experts what type of house they would build for themselves and the answer is unanimous: a concrete one.

"Eight-inch concrete walls are like having a storm shelter throughout your whole home," says Tim Reinhold, chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

Insulated concrete forms cost 4 percent to 8 percent more than traditional frame houses.

PROTECTING MEMORIES

Engineer Tim Marshall, who has surveyed the aftermath of severe weather across the U.S., including Joplin, says of all possessions, survivors are most excited when they find pictures among the house debris.

"They're interested in saving wedding photos, not the Sheetrock," he says.

It's a good idea to put scanned photos and back-up computer files on a portable hard drive along with important documents (birth certificates, wills, insurance papers and passports) - stored in airtight plastic food bags-in a safe.

The Inprint by 9G Products is designed and distributed in Bonner Springs. It uses fingerprints, not codes or keys, and is available through dealers across the U.S. and at www.9gproducts.com for $349.

How To: Dealing with an unusual toilet; sealing and polishing concrete

2011-07-13T13:03:00.000-04:00

How To: Dealing with an unusual toilet; sealing and polishing concrete
By Jeanne Huber

Q. When a home improvement company renovated my front porch several years ago, it was in a hurry to finish and painted the concrete when it was too cold. So now the paint is peeling. I could strip the peeling paint and apply a fresh coat, but I’m wondering whether it’s possible to seal and polish the concrete to make it look similar to the concrete floors at Ikea, the Home Depot, Costco and other warehouse-type places. My porch has a roof but is exposed to the weather. If sealing and polishing the bare concrete is an option, can you give me any advice on how to do this?

A. Sealing and polishing the concrete is certainly an option. There are a couple of approaches. A company with the right tools can simply polish the surface and apply a penetrating sealer. Or the crew can color the concrete by applying a stain before the sealer goes on. A third option is to sand deeper, enough to expose some of the aggregate, or small stones, within the concrete mix. This leaves the floor looking similar to terrazzo.

Mid-Atlantic Floor Care (www.midatlanticfloorcare.com; 877-745-4705) charges $5 to $7 a square foot for the treatments, with a minimum job price of $2,000. Based in Richmond, the company tackles jobs throughout the Washington area. Find other companies that polish concrete through listings atwww.concretenetwork.com.

Tool rental companies carry diamond-grit grinders suitable for polishing concrete. At Sunbelt Rentals (202-529-4667; www.sunbeltrentals.com) an electric grinder rents for $92 a day. So polishing the concrete yourself may seem like a great way to save money, since the process is basically like sanding wood. But to use the machine, you need to buy a kit with the different grinding pads from the manufacturer — and that costs about $600. Steve Howe, the manager at Sunbelt Rentals, says that in six years, he’s rented only to pros except for once, to a homeowner who had ordered the kit. “He got the machine on a Thursday,” Howe said, “and it took him through the whole weekend to complete his project. But he did it.”

When wet, polished concrete is more slippery than broom-finished concrete — the kind you’re probably used to — but less slick than polished marble or waxed concrete. “It has the best slip-resistance of any polished flooring,” says Jeremy Wilkerson of Mid-Atlantic. To keep people from slipping in rainy weather, you can add a mat where people walk. If the mat traps moisture underneath for long periods, it might make the sealer on the concrete look cloudy, but that should disappear once the concrete dries out, Wilkerson said.

Sweeping and damp-mopping usually keep polished concrete looking good. Periodically, you might want to have the surface rebuffed. And after several years, you might need to reapply a penetrating sealer.

Q.I live in a 30-year-old house. One of the toilets is working okay now, but it has leaked in the past and is cracked at the base. A plumber looked at it and discovered it has an 81 / 2-inch rough-in. We have been unable to locate a replacement toilet with such a short rough-in. It’s an American Standard, but the company doesn’t remember ever making such a unit! The plumber said the easiest fix might be to cut away the drywall and create a setback, but it turns out my walls are not thick enough to make much difference there. I hate to be forced into an expensive remodel because of this. Any suggestions?

—Silver Spring

A.There are commercial toilets with eight-inch offsets, but to install one in your house, you’d have to rework the plumbing behind the walls — not a practical option. However, a simple part called an offset flange might be the answer. It fits over or into the drain pipe under the floor and works like an angle fitting, effectively moving the top opening by up to 11 / 2 inches. That would give you enough room to install a modern toilet designed for a 10-inch offset. Models with this offset aren’t as common as ones designed for today’s standard 12-inch offset, but they exist.

Offset flanges used to be prohibited by the plumbing code in effect in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, but they are now allowed provided they are smooth on the inside and don’t create a ledge or shoulder that might impede flow. Ted Podles, who supervises plumbing code reviews for Prince George’s County, which also handles plumbing code issues for Montgomery County, said the main thing is to avoid an offset that is just an inch or so tall. This type tends to clog — not the fix you want. Home centers carry PVC offsets (about $8 each) that work with plastic drain pipes. If your house has cast-iron drain pipes, you or your plumber might need to shop at a specialty company for a cast-iron fitting; it’s about $65 at Ferguson (www.fergusonenterprises.com; 301-589-6662 for the Silver Spring store).

Before you commit to the job, you might want to double-check what the plumber told you. Measure straight back from the center of the bolts holding the tank to the floor. The distance to the wall is the dimension you need. If there is a baseboard, ignore that when you measure.