Remodel a home? Why?

Why do a remodel? Is it to change or improve the function? Is it the necessity for more space? Perhaps it is simply for investment purposes. It could be a combination of all three needs and maybe more. Identifying your core purpose(s) for a remodel will assist you in establishing your goals and boundaries.


Increasing functional living space is probably the number one reason behind a remodel; whether it be a new addition to the family, maybe the parents don't have the energy any longer to care for their own home, maybe you need dedicated office space, maybe there's a new hobby, or you simply need more storage. Either way, more space is a necessity....whether it be a reconditioning of non-functional or unused space, or simply "adding-on". Dependant the floor plan, the age of the house, the lot size, building restrictions and codes, all will potentially influence and impact your decisions for the intended function and size of the new living space.


Another popular reason for remodeling is to improve or modernize existing living space; not add space but simply upgrade it; your kitchen with new lighting, plumbing, cabinets, counter tops, windows, or even change your flooring; maybe you are focusing on enhancing your master bedroom and bath with marble or granite, adding a jetted tub, creating a more elegant and spacious shower; upgrading your family room with French Doors, sky lights, built-in entertainment centers. The opportunities are endless. You don't necessarily have to change the amount of space you have but re-interpreting it could very well increase its functionality.


Remodeling can also be an investment. Some people buy "fixer uppers", remodel them, and sell them in their community, making a very good living doing so, especially now when there are so many homes being forced on the market through Short Sales or Foreclosures. The key to this is to know the market value spread of the neighborhoods of the the subject properties and which improvements to make providing you the best possible return on your investment. Know what sells best in your focus neighborhood, what your financial objectives are, have a strong team (contractor, interior designer, real estate agent, etc.) in place, and how to find the diamond in the rough. Remodeling your existing residence can also be a superb investment. The average buyer is over-whelmed by the home purchasing process. They don't want to have to think about "fixing up". They want something they can move in to immediately....they can visualize a happy, comfortable lifestyle. A remodel will certainly spruce up your home, increase it's first impression appeal, and give buyers less to knit pick in an attempt to negotiate the sales price down. Often times, it does make sense to do a remodel before looking to sell.

Bottom line - remodeling can be fun, very rewarding, and profitable. Often times a remodel will incorporate a reinterpretation of space, an enhancement of space, and adding on to your existing space; all three combined but not all proportionate. Make sure you know and thoroughly understand your motivations, know your goals, know your budget, and get opinions, especially from professionals who are active in your neighborhood; these are the experts who understand the nuances of building and remodeling homes similar to yours, preserving the architectual flavor and community symmetry.

Always Something Cool in LA!

Thinking about getting out of town? Well, here's a great reason for a trip to LA!
Dwell On Design '09

The West Coast's Largest Modern Design Event. Friday June 26, Saturday June 27, Sunday June 28. Los Angeles Convention Center.

ON STAGE Design conference, continuing education classes for design pros, round-the-clock seminars for design seeking consumers.

EXHIBITION Prefab Homes, Outdoor, Food + Wine, Kitchen + Bath, Furniture + Accessories, Energy + Solar, Design Materials, Modern Family, Modern Lifestyle, Design Technology.

HOME TOURS Tour some of LA’s most modern and livable homes.

SPECIAL EVENTS Restaurant Design Awards, Film screenings.


June 26th
10:00am - 8:00pm
Dwell on Design Exhibition - open to Trade only

9:45am - 6:00pm
Dwell on Design Conference - General Admission

6:00pm - 6:30pm
Restaurant Design Awards produced by AIA Los Angeles Chapter

Saturday 27 June

10:00am - 6:00pm
Dwell on Design Exhibition

11:00am - 4:00pm
Sustainability Forum

11:00am - 4:00pm
Design Innovation Forum



Dwell on Design 2009 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center SOUTH HALL.
1201 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015(213) 741-1151

Ten Students Build Arizona’s First NZEH

Hands on. This 1,200-sq.-ft. net-zero-energy home was built in Chino Valley, Arizona, by students in the Yavapai College Residential Building Technology program, in collaboration with the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Prescott. Construction began October 25, 2008. The home’s net-zero-energy performance is also a first for the project’s principal collaborator, Habitat for Humanity

One of the surest ways to generate interest in net-zero-energy homes – and the construction techniques and materials used to build them – is to put one in the ground for a high-profile client and then invite the public for a look. That’s what 10 students in the Yavapai College Residential Building Technology program did a couple weeks ago in Chino Valley, Arizona, where the 1,200-sq.-ft. NZEH they built for the Prescott affiliate of Habitat for Humanity went on public display.
In addition to its energy efficiency and relatively low cost (one estimate put its value at

$125,000), the house has the distinction of being first in a number of categories: it not only is the first NZEH constructed by students in Yavapai’s RBT program, but also the first such home built for Habitat's Prescott affiliate, and the first in the state of Arizona, according to a story published by Prescott’s Daily Courier.

The house features a Styrofoam-insulated slab, 2 in. rigid insulation in the walls, high-performance windows, a heat pump, balanced fresh-air ventilation, a solar-powered hot water heater, a PV system, and Energy Star appliances and lighting.

Robert Bolding, owner of a Prescott-based home inspection company who works as a volunteer building Habitat homes, told the Courier he came to examine the home’s construction because he may have to inspect more like it in the future. Bolding, who also works as a general contractor, added that he wants to understand more about the cost effectiveness of green construction.
"I think this technology is moving from the East Coast to the West Coast," he told the paper. "Arizona residents may not be using as much solar energy as they could be because electricity is a lot cheaper here."

May 29 by Richard Defendorf

Where I shop - New Home Building Supply

New Home Building Supply is a family owned and operated business that began in 1949. New Home prides themselves on employing helpful and knowledgeable people. Their crew consists of over 25 employees, most of whom have been there for over 10 years! And today they staff three generations of the Steving family. The year 2009 brings is their anniversary of 60 years in the lumber & hardware business.

What drives New Home Building Supply? They are proud to offer an abundant inventory of building materials for any size project. They have all of the products builders, remodelers, and the do-it-yourselfer could need. They are competitive but don't compromise on quality goods.

New Home Building Supply has always enjoyed the long time support of the neighboring communities. This was overwhelmingly evident when the brown, homey hardware store burned to the ground in April 2002. New Home's loyal customers and south Sacramento neighbors rallied around us and encouraged the owners Wayne & Ken Steving to rebuild. In the summer of 2003, New Home celebrated it's grand re-opening with a brand-new store but still the homey feel and awesome staff.

Remodeling VS. Moving

If you want to change your home, your other option besides remodeling is to find a new one. But more and more American families are deciding to stay put and improve their existing home. Here are some of the reasons:

• Remodeling allows you to customize your home to meet your needs and desires. The only similar, but much more costly alternative, is to have a brand new custom home designed and built.
  
• Remodeling means that you don't have to give up a familiar neighborhood and schools.
  
• Remodeling is a more efficient use of your financial resources. According to the American Homeowner Foundation, selling your home and moving typically costs about 8-10 percent of the value of your current home. And much of this goes into moving expenses, closing costs, and broker commissions - items that have no direct impact on your home's quality.
  
• Remodeling can be stressful, but few experiences are more stressful than moving.
  

While there are many reasons that people choose to remodel, the bottom line is that remodeling makes your home a more enjoyable place to live. The intangible value of this pleasure needs to be considered, along with any resale value you hope to gain.

But there is no doubt that, as far as improving the sale of your home, all remodeling projects are not created equal. The general rule of thumb is that any remodeling project that brings your home up to the level of your neighbors' is a worthy investment. But it doesn't pay to be the most expensive house on the block - real estate experts recommend that a remodeling investment should not raise the value of your house to more than 10 to 15 percent above the median sales price in your neighborhood.

Remember that potential buyers will be comparing your home to ones newly built. Therefore, you'll want to look at the design trends and amenities being built into new homes. Great rooms (open kitchen/family room arrangements), master bed and bath suites, and higher ceilings are a few of the features sought by today's home buyers.

Each year, Remodeling magazine conducts its "Cost vs. Value" report to assess which remodeling projects create the greatest return on investment. Not surprisingly, kitchens and baths regularly come out on top. These are two of the most used rooms in the home, and they receive the most scrutiny from potential buyers."

From the National Association of Home Builders web site.

PCBC

PCBC® IS MUCH MORE THAN A BUILDERS SHOW

PCBC is a community of builders and manufacturers, building scientists and architects, environmental engineers and landscape companies, working together to advance the art and science of community building. Started 50 years ago as the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, PCBC brings together people creating better communities, imagining and building the places where we love to live.
PCBC The Show is held each summer in San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Featuring hundreds of exhibiting companies displaying the latest product and service innovations and three days of executive conferences, forums, workshops, and speakers, PCBC The Show is the idea marketplace for leading residential builders, developers, architects, investors, product manufacturers, and advisers in the industry.
PCBC Presents a family of conferences and events at the Moscone Center show and throughout the year, connecting the best in home and community development with a business network and community of practice.

PCBC® is quite simply the best possible forum for inventing and reinventing the future of home and community. It takes creators, leaders, visionaries and vanguards to lead the way. Since its inception, the conference has been host to a distinguished group of diverse and inspiring guest speakers. They challenge us. They make us think. And these extraordinary times demand nothing less.

The Sacramento Green Home Expo

The Sacramento Green Home Expo will take place on Friday, April 3, 2009 from 10am to 5pm at theSacramento Convention Center.

The expo is a trade show and education event showcasing the latest environmentally friendly products and services used in the homebuilding and home improvement industries. This is your opportunity to promote your products and services to both builders and consumers. Sponsorship and limited trade show vendor opportunities are available. It’s also a chance to learn about the newest innovations and trends through top speakers and exhibits.