Want to Dress Up Your Kitchen For The New Year?

How a little “magic” can make a big difference

 

 

Remodeling your kitchen can run anywhere from $1,200 for new countertops to $50,000 or more for a complete overhaul and the process can take anywhere from a week to six months or longer.

 

To spruce up your countertops, drawer fronts or appliances with a new look without the big investment (of money or time), however, Carter Oosterhouse has a few suggestions.

Featured in a “10 Minute Kitchen Makeover” segment on the Rachel Ray Show, Oosterhouse touts the ease, affordability and flexibility of adhesive faux finishes. You can get faux stainless steel to apply to your appliances, or even drawers and cabinet doors if you’re going for an industrial look. One sheet, about three feet wide by 26 to 28 inches long, runs about $20.

 

For your countertops, he suggests a faux granite — the sheets are also about three feet by 30 inches, and run about $30 per sheet.

Another stainless steel finish option is stainless steel paint. Thomas’ Kitchen Art offers Refrigerator and Range/Dishwasher kits to refinish your appliances with a paint that contains flecks of real steel. The process is a bit more involved than Oosterhouse’s peel and stick solution — requiring three coats of paint topped with one to three coats of clear urethane. See Consumer Reports’ video review of the paint here.

For the Handyman (or Woman) in Your Home

4 cool gift ideas to make those odd-jobs a little easier

Whether you’re giving to an avid or accidental DIY’er, the experts agree these gifts are sure to please:

1.  Keychain flashlight. Have you ever noticed you never have a flashlight handy when you need one? Often times, a small but powerful light will more than do the trick — like the Arc-AAA LED Flashlight or LD01 Keyring Flashlight by Fenix, reviewed at Reactual.com.
   
2. Tool bag.  Chances are there are one or more tool boxes floating around, but a rugged tool bag with a shoulder strap is lighter, can be carried hands free, and set on most any surface without fear of scratching — like the well reviewed tool bags from Veto Pro Pac, or the Dewalt Tradesman’s Tool Bag, both available at Amazon.
   
3. Laser level and stud finder. Whether your project is big (like adding on a room) or small (like hanging a picture), a level is an indispensable tool. Consumer Reports rated the Black & Decker Projected Crossfire Auto Level Laser a “best buy” (available at Amazon).
   
4. 4Multi Tool. Knives, pliers, wire cutters, scissors, ruler, screwdriver and more — all in one small tool. Popular (and well-reviewed) choices include the Gerber Crucial F.A.S.T. Tool (at GerberGear), the Leatherman New Wave Multitool and (at Amazon) and the Kelvin.23 All In One Tool (at Think Geek).

Deadline Approaching for Home Improvement Tax Credits

If you’re considering eligible projects, now’s the time

In addition to your mortgage interest deduction, your home may entitle you to other tax credits this year, including for certain home improvement projects. The tax credits were extended from last year, but at lower levels — and installation (not simply the purchase) must happen before the end of the year for the expense to be eligible.

Energy-efficient home improvements eligible for the federal tax credits include:

• Exterior windows including skylights and storm windows
• Insulation, exterior doors and roofs, including improvements such as caulking, weather stripping and sealing
• HVAC systemsincluding central air, heat pump, furnace, boiler, water heater or biommass stove

To qualify, windows, doors, insulation and roofs must be expected to last no less than five years (a two-year warranty is required to demonstrate this) and must be installed in (or on) your principal residence.

For more details on Energy Efficient Home Tax Credits, visit The Alliance to Save Energy and Energy Star.

Home improvements made for medical reasons — such as installing entry/exit ramps, modifying hardware on doors, installing railings and support bars in bathrooms, etc. — may also be eligible for tax credits. The “Capital Expenses” section of IRS Publication 502 has more detail.

 

 

 

 

Home For The Holidays

11 different wreaths to celebrate the season

In addition to the crowds, the shopping, the baking and the eating, the holidays bring an opportunity to dress up your home inside and out. From traditional to edible, the options are endless when it comes to wreaths.

1.         Stay with tradition — hang a fragrant evergreen wreath on your front door. You can buy one pre-made or make your own (see Dolores Monet’s site for instructions)

2.        In the Southwest?Make a succulent wreath like this one featured in Better Homes & Gardens (how-to instructions on their site here)

3.        Light up the night— hang a wreath of lights on your front door (be sure to tape the electric cord securely out of the way) like this one from Real Simple

4.        More is better— why hang one when you can hang three? Like these from Marth Stewart (available at Grandin Road)

5.        Bring on the bling — satin ribbon, costume jewelry, faux gems… if it glitters, sparkles or gleams, it goes on this pretty wreath (featured on Better Homes and Gardens)

6.        Want something different? Hang a beautiful basket full of seasonal flowers and greens like paperwhites, juniper and moss (like this one from Southern Living)

7.        Hang ‘em high — if you have the room, this wreath chandelier (see the how-to on Martha Stewart) packs a punch

 

8.        The things you can do with an old bike tire — add some glitter, a few starfish and some coral and voila! For step by step instructions, go to DIYNetwork.

9.        Simple and surprising — lights and lacy doilies make for a striking combination (featured on Martha Stewart)

10.      Hang it… or eat it? For the bakers, this gorgeous wreath from Fancy Flours relies on snowflake cookie cutters, sparkling sugar, silver dragees, royal icing and a lot of cookies.

11.        Protect your door — use a door hanger for your wreath rather than driving a nail into it. Try the “Clever Hanger” or the “Zip ‘n Hang” for easy-to-use, invisible door hangers.

Plan Twice, Do It Once

3 online solutions to help you visualize and cost your home improvement projects

Should you replace that door yourself?

Will that couch fit there?

Which green is the perfect color for your living room?

Technology makes it easier than ever to plan, visualize and research your choices for making changes to your home before you ever move a chair, paint a wall or change a fixture.

ColorJive — painting a room a different color is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact in your home. With ColorJive’s online tool, you can upload an evenly lit photo of the room in question and try different colors on the wall – and even find the exact paint color from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams.

ShowOff.com — whether you want to change the couch in your family room or add a deck to the back of your house, getting a preview of the final results can help you figure out what will (and won’t) work for your space. ShowOff.com is a free online tool that uses photos of your actual home and then lets you go through a variety of projects and products to visualize the end result. The tool can even help you request bids from local contractors.

DIYorNot — turns out, doing something yourself is not always the better, or even cheaper, option. Available online and also via a mobile web app (m.diyornot.com) for smartphones, DIYorNot helps you figure out how much a project will cost if you do it yourself or if you hire someone to do it for you (the site allows you to enter your zip code to improve accuracy of cost estimates). In addition to project DIY tips and advice if hiring a pro for the job, most projects also include a thumbs up or down to indicate whether the site’s readers would do it themselves or not.

Can This Tree Be Saved?

3 things you may not know about storm damaged landscaping

Wherever you live, storms of some kind most likely pose a threat to your landscaping at some time during the year. Hurricanes, rain storms, ice storms, snow storms — they can all cause damage from minor to major.

The University of Minnesota|Extension lists three things to remember when it comes to storm damage to your landscape:

Prediction — Predicting tree damage has less to do with listening to the weather reports and more to do with issues that may exist in your landscaping that make it more vulnerable during a storm. Look for decay and existing site problems; problems in a single branch are less worrisome than issues in the trunk. A common test recommends that “for every 3 inches of branch or stem diameter, solid wood should comprise at least 1 to 1.5 inches. Anything less than that often indicates a branch or stem that is more likely to fail during a storm.”

Find more detail on Predicting Tree Failure here.

Prevention — Monitor, prune, protect. Keeping your eye out for potential problems early gives you the opportunity to nip a small problem in the bud, before it becomes a big problem. Although pruning is necessary, improper pruning can do more harm than good. Protect your landscaping from new wounds and potential weaknesses from machines such as mulchers and trimmers; consider mulching and staking your trees to safeguard against accidental injury.

Find more detail on Preventing Tree Damage here.

Treatment — for all but the most minor damage, experts recommend consulting with an expert — if chainsaws or ladders are required, if power lines are down, if you’re not sure the tree is worth saving — those are all signs that a qualified arborist should be called in. Treating storm damaged landscaping can range from corrective pruning to cabling and bracing (see more detail on these and more treatments here).

More resources for preventing and recovering landscape damage from storms:

• Can Your Storm-Damaged Tree be Saved? (HouseLogic)
• Transforming a Storm-Damaged Landscape (Eco Landscaping)
• Storm damage prevention and treatment (University of Florida)

Thinking About A Skylight? Consider a Solar Tube Instead

5 reasons solar tubes are one of the most popular home improvements

Solar tube or Skylight? Consider the following:

1. Solar Tubes Cost less — according to DIYorNot.com, the national average to install a solar tube yourself is $250 (by a pro the average cost is $483), while the cost to install a regular skylight yourself averages $375, and to have it done by a pro, $597. (To see the average project costs specific to your zip code, click here.)
2. Solar Tubes Are Easier to Install —unlike skylights, solar tube installations do not require new drywall, paint or major structural changes to your roof or framing. Solar tubes are designed to fit between rafters and other structural elements in your home. (See HGTV.com’s Installation guide for more details.)
3. Solar Tubes Can Move the Light —while skylights function as “window” on your roof, solar tubes can be installed to bring the sunlight to spaces without direct rooftop exposure to the sun (even through the second floor to a room on the first floor). Available in a variety of sizes, solar tubes are a particularly good solution for hallways, closets and small spaces.
4. Solar Tubes Are More Energy Efficient —because they are smaller than traditional “window” skylights, solar tubes are responsible for losing less heat in the winter and letting in less heat in the summer.
5. Solar Tubes Are Gentler —by diffusing the sunlight through reflecting it down the tube, solar tubes filter the impact of UV light on furniture, draperies and carpets.

 

Some popular manufacturers of tubular skylights include:

• Solatube
• Velux
• ODL
• Natural Light
• Sun-Tek

Just Say No To Chemicals

3 natural cleaners that are cheaper and healthier than the store-bought alternatives

Those blue, green and orange sprays and aerosols so commonly used to clean windows, counters, stove tops and ovens can add up on your grocery bill, not to mention what they might be doing to your health. Vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice are effective natural alternatives that are healthier and less expensive than their chemical counterparts.

To wash your windows: mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray on your windows, mirrors and glass surfaces. For a streak and lint free clean, use old newspapers instead of paper towels.

To clean your oven: make a paste of vinegar, baking soda and water and spread inside your oven. Leave for an hour or overnight and then wipe away with a damp towel (use a spatula to scrape up any stubborn patches).

To remove wallpaper: a mixture of equal parts hot water and vinegar applied with a sponge too old wall paper will loosen the adhesive.

To remove lime scale: squeeze fresh lemon juice onto target area and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe away with a damp cloth. (For lime deposits in your kettle, put a few tablespoons into a few cups of water and boil in the kettle. Swirl and pour out.)

For more natural cleaning recipes, check out these resources:

• EarthEasy’s Non-Toxic Home Cleaning
• EcoCycle’s Alternative Cleaners and Recipes
• eHow’s How to Use Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean
• VinegarTips: 1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar
• Ecology Center’s Alternative Cleaning Recipes

For information on the health hazards of chemicals commonly found in household cleaners, visit Gaiam’s 8 Household Cleaning Agents to Avoid.

10 Simple Household Tips from Yesteryears that Still Work.

Did your grandmother always keep a clean home? Ever wonder how on earth she did it? Here are a few of her simple tips from days gone by that she may have forgotten to tell you that will surely help you keep your house tidy and neat all year round.

1) Got moths in the closet? Well these nasty pests have been around long before moth balls. Try hanging an old nylon stocking filled with cedar chips to keep these pests out of your sweaters.

2) Want a simple air freshener in your bathroom? Try spraying some perfume on the light bulb, when it is turned off. When your guest turns on the light, the heat from the bulb will evaporate the perfume and release its fragrance.

3) Last month’s leftovers leave a funny smell in your refrigerator? Clean it with a mixture of three tablespoons baking soda dissolved in250ml warm water to get rid of the smell.

4) Is your home starting to feel like a cave? Try cleaning your light bulbs. Dust can vastly decrease light intensity. Clean them with a slightly damp cloth or sponge after you’ve turned them off.

5) White toothpaste doesn’t only keep your mouth white and sparkling, it is an all-around cleaning preparation. Use it to successfully remove stains on wooden furniture, painted walls, and clean your silver jewelry too!

6) Did you hang the holiday decorations with double sided tape? Olive oil can help clean glue, removing residue from stickers and decals. Apply some oil, and when it is saturated rub them off with a wet rag.

7) Want to add a little more light around the home? Choose LEDs accent lighting; they won’t produce heat like conventional bulbs, and they will save you on your next energy bill.

8) Is your home feeling a little drafty? Perhaps it’s time to change your weather stripping. An easy way to check is close a dollar bill in the door. If it comes out easily, it’s probably time to replace.

9) To prevent soot from coming out of the fireplace first, dust the logs with salt before firing. Salted like this, the fireplace will also burn longer.

10) Need to clean your candleholders? An easy way to take off the wax is put them in the microwave oven on low power. After a minute or two the wax will melt off. DON’T PUT METAL CANDLEHOLDERS IN THE MICROWAVE. You can also use the opposite method-place the candleholder in the fridge for an hour, afterwards the wax will detach very easily.

Campaign for Police Commission - Endorsement from Connecticut State Representative Chris Lyddy

From Representative Chris Lyddy:

I am thrilled that Andy Sachs has decided to run for Police Commission in Newtown. Andy Sachs has the necessary intellect, thoughtfulness, and understanding of our community to be an effective member of this elected body.

As a local businessman in Newtown, Andy Sachs has proven that he truly understands the unique landscape, needs, and desires of our community. His passion for Newtown and his eagerness to serve in a capacity that will make Newtown a safe place to learn, live, and work is what we need at this time.

As a young father to Emily and husband of long-time Newtown resident Jessica Tendler, Andy Sachs knows firsthand how important it is to create and maintain a community that is both safe and family friendly. Andy wants nothing more than to provide his young daughter, and all children of Newtown, with a safe environment to grow up in. When Andy Sachs takes office, parents will be able to breathe a little easier knowing that our Department of Police Services has the critical oversight that it absolutely needs and that taxpayers absolutely deserve.

I whole heartedly endorse Andy Sachs’ candidacy for the Police Commission and ask that you join me in voting for him this November.

All my best,

Christopher Lyddy

Preparing For Halloween

5 sure-fire ways to zombie-proof your home

It turns out that protecting your home from and preparing your family for a zombie attack can be quite useful. As the Director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) puts it,  “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack.”

Here are some tips from This Old House and the CDC on the best zombie defense.

1. Prepare for a siege —create a Zombie All-Hazards Emergency Kit that includes water, non-perishable food, wooden stakes, a flashlight, basic tools, a battery or hand-crankable radio and a gun loaded with silver bullets if you can get your hands on some.

2. Dismantle your staircase — retreat to your upper floors and eliminate all access from downstairs. In the panic of attack, you might be reduced to smashing your stairs to bits, but a little advanced planning will enable you to take it apart for re-assembly post apocalypse.

3. Power tools are not your friend —there is plenty of precedent for zombies finding nearby power tools and wielding them with deadly effect. Drain the power, bury the tools or break them, but do what you can so they can’t be used against you.

4. Strengthen your siding — fiber-cement siding is the most likely to withstand zombies scratching and kicking the outside of your home to get to you. Not to mention, replacing your current exteriors with fiber-cement siding ranks number one in Hanley Wood’s Cost vs. Value report for projects costing more than $1,200, returning an average of 83% of your investment when you sell your home.

5. Don’t let them know you’re home —keep your curtains closed and your shades down. Cellular shades and wood blinds both offer adjustable light as well as helping to control the temperature of your home, keeping the heat out in warm months and keeping it in during cooler times, which might come in handy if your fuel supply is threatened during a zombie invasion.

For more tips on defending your home, see this step-by-step guide from This Old House.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

5 home maintenance tips that will save you headaches in the future

 

Prevention, not procrastination, is a homeowner’s best friend. Luckily, there are websites, magazines, tv shows and news items aplenty to help homeowners recognize, prioritize and address common home maintenance issues.

 “Mr. Fix-It” himself, Lou Manfredini, who hosts House Smarts TV and is the home improvement contributor for NBC's Today Show, recently released his list of common mistakes and solutions. “Very often, homeowners miss the warning signs that there is a problem or look for short-cuts to save money around the home. However, emergency repairs can end up costing more in the long run, so it's important to be aware of common home maintenance mistakes."

1. Change is a good thing — change heating and cooling system filters regularly

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that homeowners change the filters in their heating and cooling systems at least every three months. Clogged, older and over-used filters may cause the system to work harder and run longer, costing more in energy costs and repairs over time. 

2. Mind the gap — keep an eye out for loose tiles and gaps in the grout

Check the grout in between bathroom tiles annually, especially around wet areas. Gaps in grout can result in water seeping behind the tiles, causing damp patches, risk of water leaking into other rooms and loose tiles.

3. Water can do more than make your hair curl — check your roof regularly

Once or twice a year, take a good step back (about 50 feet) and check your roof for curled shingles, which generally mean there’s a leak in your roof. If you think some shingles look suspect, call a licensed roofing contractor for a more thorough inspection and assessment.

(for more tips from Mr. Fix-It, see his “Home Maintenance Mistakes Will Cost You”)

HouseLogic, an online homeownership resource from the National Association of Realtors®, also offers a wealth of information on keeping your home in tip-top shape, including Home Maintenance 101.

 

4. Less water, less noise, less money — fix running toilets to save water and money

Running toilets can not only be annoying with their constant noise, they waste water and cost money. The EPA estimates that constantly running toilet can waste 200 gallons of water or more a day.

5. Preparation prevents panic — become familiar with controlling your utilities

If water starts rushing into your home, do you know how to shut off the main water line?  What about the gas and electricity? The best time to find out how to shut off your utilities is when there is no urgent reason to. Everyone in your household should feel comfortable turning off the water or electricity if needed.

 

For home maintenance videos, tips, instructions and more, visit these sites:

Home Inspector Locator’s Home Maintenance Guide

House Logic’s Maintenance & Repair

The EPA’s Fix a Leak reviews finding a fixing a multitude of common household leaks

FEMA’s Utility Shut-off and Safety

 

No rush to lock in record-low mortgage rates

No rush to lock in record-low mortgage rates

Decade’s Housing Growth Near Historic U.S. Low - BLOOMBERG

The biggest housing boom in the last 30 years was offset by the sharpest slump in a generation,
ensuring that the growth in housing units over the last decade remained at lows not seen since the
Great Depression, the U.S. Census Bureau said today.

The number of homes, apartments and condominiums added over the decade grew 15.9 million to
131.7 million, a 13.6 percent growth rate. Almost 90 percent of the growth occurred between 2000
and 2007. There were 2.1 million housing starts in 2005. Last year, there were 587,000, Census
figures show.

“This is unprecedented,” said Patrick Newport, an IHS Global Insight economist in Boston. “We
just overbuilt by far. We’ve never seen anything like this.”

The overall growth rate was slightly higher than the 13.3 percent registered between 1990 and
2000. It was less than half the 28.7 percent recorded during the 1980s, when the maturing baby
boom generation added 19.7 million homes, and barely half the 23.2 percent growth registered
during the 1940s.

The nation’s rate of homeownership dropped to 65.1 million, down 1.7 percent from 66.2 million in
2000. The Census Bureau said it was the sharpest drop since the 1930s. Even with the drop, the
percentage of homeowners was the second-highest since the 1890s, the government said.

Seven-County Cluster

Seven of the nation’s 3,142 counties accounted for 10 percent of the new housing units. Maricopa
County, Arizona, added 389,000 homes during the decade, followed by Harris County, Texas, which
 added 301,000, and Clark County, Nevada, which increased its count by 281,000. Some of those
counties are now mired in the housing crisis, with empty blocks of overbuilt homes and no buyers.

Three U.S. counties doubled their housing stock. The number of Sumter County homes in central
Florida grew 110 percent. Teton County, Idaho, boosted its number of homes by 108 percent, and
Kendall County, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, grew by 107 percent.

The number of vacant homes grew almost one-third to 15 million, or 11.4 percent of all housing
units, up from 10.4 million in 2000.

Hardest Hit

Some of the areas that were hardest hit by the nation’s foreclosure crisis registered only small
changes in the percentage of homeowners and renters. The number of renters grew in San
Bernadino County, California, to 37.4 percent from 35.5 percent. Maricopa, also hit hard, had its
renter percentage climb to 35.5 percent from 32.5 percent.

Almost 500 counties lost housing units. St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, lost 37 percent, or 9,996
homes, after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Neighboring Orleans County lost
25,195 homes, or 11.7 percent of its housing units. McDowell County, West Virginia, formerly home
to an integrated mining operation for U.S. Steel, lost 2,260 homes, or 16.7 percent of its housing
stock.

Save on Your Heating Bill Without Turning Down The Thermostat

Tips from the pros on insulating for the winter

Summer is officially over and winter is not that far away — which means it’s the perfect time to prepare for chilly temperatures and blustery weather. Insulating your home properly to keep cold air out and warm air in is the number one way to help control your heating bills.

If you don’t want to replace your windows, but you think they could use a little beefing up in draft and heat loss prevention, here are some tips:

1. CAULK— for obviously leaky and breezy window frames, use an acrylic caulk to create a tight seal around the window.
2. DRAPE— cellular shades or heavy curtains drawn when the sun is down (or hidden behind stormy weather) provide another layer to keep warm air in and cold air out. Tip: keep curtains open during the day to take advantage of the sun’s heat, and drawn at night.
3. CLOSE— make sure vents and flues to the outside are closed whenever possible and keep the doors to closets and unused rooms closed to keep warm air in the areas where you spend time.
4. PROGRAM— if you don’t already have one, consider installing a programmable thermostat that will automatically reduce the temperature at night and other times lower temperatures are acceptable.

For more ideas on how to save while staying warm, visit these resources:

Bill and Kevin Burnett at Inman News: Best way to insulate windows

Las VegasReview-Journal: Fight the battle of rising heating costs

Apartment Therapy: 5 Ways to Insulate Your Windows For Winter

HeatingOil.com: Tips to Reduce Your Winter Heating Oil Bill

Helping Your Lawn Bed Down For Winter

A little extra effort on your lawn in the fall — think about all the time you won’t be spending mowing, trimming and weeding in the winter — can save you a lot of extra effort in the spring.

DO: Feed It!

For those living in cooler climates, where most lawns are “cool-season” grasses, properly feeding your lawn during the fall months is more important than during any other time of the year, as cool-season grasses are most active during this season

In an article on MSN Real Estate, Bob Mugaas, a horticulture expert, recommends fertilizing twice: first with a higher-nitrogen “feeding” early in the season, and then a high-phosphorous feeding towards the end of season. If you are unsure about the needs of the soil in your area, a soil test can give you the answers.

DO: Overseed!

For warm-season lawns, Denny Schrock of Better Homes and Gardens recommends overseeding with ryegrass in the fall for a lush lawn in the cooler wintertime. Seed right over your freshly (and shorter) mowed lawn in a cross-hatch pattern.

DON’T: Cut It!

As you rake and neaten and de-thatch, it may be irresistible to prune as well. Resist the urge. Most experts, such as Mike McGrath, host You Bet Your Garden agree that because pruning promotes growth, cutting plants, trees or shrubs back just before they begin going dormant for the winter only weakens the plants. Best time to prune? Late winter or early spring.

DO: Aerate!

Aeration provides multiple benefits to your lawn — helping to minimize thatch, improving drainage and irrigation, and loosening the soil. Lisa Kaplan Gordon, managing editor of HouseLogic.com, notes that aeration facilitates getting water, oxygen and nutrients to where they are needed (the root system) and allows seeds room to sprout and grow. Depending on the size of your lawn, a hand-aerator tool might be fine. If hand-aerating your lawn seems daunting, power aerators can be rented by the hour.

For more autumn lawn preparation tips, try these resources:

Fall Lawn Care: 4 Ways to Say G’Night For The Winter (HouseLogic.com)

Preparing Your Lawn for Winter (Buckeye Gardening)

14 winter-prep tips for your lawn and garden (MSN Real Estate)

Fall Lawn-Care Secrets (Better Homes & Gardens)

Prepare your yard and garden for winter (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Fall Pruning: Don’t Do It! (Rodale)

Less Money, More Free Time

Top Trends in Home Improvement

It’s not about the biggest house anymore, it’s about the smartest home — the most flexible, the most comfortable, the most energy efficient, the easiest. Whether you’re staying in your home or considering selling, making changes that make your house more cost-effective and lower-maintenance is a good investment.

In today’s world, having your home cost you a bit less each month and take up a little less of your free time each week can make a big difference.

 

Siding - low maintenance and maintenance-free siding solutions can save you time and money. According to Remodeling Magazine, installing fiber-cement siding averages an 80 percent return on your investment, if you sell your home. And that’s not taking into consideration the amount of time you’ll have free not making or organizing repairs.

 

Energy Efficiency - so, your appliances are Energy Star rated, your bulbs are CFL, you’ve checked your windows and doors for leaks; but do you really know where your energy is going? New energy monitor devices can help you track the energy usage for a single device or your whole house.

 

Storage - whether it’s getting rid of that monthly storage facility fee or clearing off your floors, chairs and tables, transforming unused space into creative storage space is one of top ways to maximize the home you’re in. Under the stairs, over doors, inside suspiciously under-used (not the same as not full) closets are all spaces that a little creativity and handywork (or handyman services) can transform into good-looking and useful added storage.

 

For more ideas to save you money and free up your time, try these resources:

• 7 Hot Home Improvement Trends that Make Your Home Work for You
• Small Renovations Can Help Buy Time, Save Money
• 4 Easy Home Improvements to Save Energy and Money

Home Building Sags Again

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Builders broke ground on fewer homes in the United States in August, the government said Tuesday.

Work began on a seasonally adjusted 571,000 homes last month, a 5 percent decline from July, according to the Commerce Department. That’s less than half of the 1.2 million that economists say is consistent with healthy housing markets.

Single-family homes, which represent roughly two-thirds of home construction, fell 1.4 percent. Apartment building plunged 12.4 percent. Building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 3.2 percent. One cause of the downturn was Hurricane Irene, which slowed construction in the Northeast.

Over all, homebuilding fell to its lowest levels in 50 years in 2009, when builders began work on just 554,000 homes. Last year was not much better.

While home construction represents a small portion of the housing market, it has an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

After previous recessions, housing accounted for at least 15 percent of economic growth in the United States. Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, it has contributed just 4 percent.

Cash-strapped builders are struggling to compete with deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales, when lenders allow borrowers to sell homes for less than what is owed on their mortgages. And few homes are selling.

New-home sales fell in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 298,000, the weakest pace in five months. This year is shaping up to be the worst for sales on records dating back a half-century.

Renting has become a preferred option for many Americans who lost their jobs during the recession and were forced to leave their homes. Still, the surge in apartments has not been enough to offset the loss of single-family homebuilding.

Another reason sales have fallen is that previously occupied homes are a better deal than new homes. The median price of a new home is nearly 28 percent higher than the median price for a re-sale. That’s almost twice the markup in a healthy housing market.

The trade group said Monday that its survey of industry sentiment fell slightly to 14 in September. The index has been below 20 for all but one month during the past two years. Any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market. The index hasn’t reached 50 since April 2006, the peak of the housing boom.

Head-to-Toe Fall Prep For Your Home

An easy to remember list to help you get ready for autumn

Summer has come and gone — funny how every year it seems to go by just that little bit faster.

After Labor Day and before Columbus Day is the time to make sure your home is prepared for cooler temperatures and harsher weather. Just as you might be saying goodbye to your shaggy hair, your shorts and your flip flops and preparing to head back to the office, your home too could stand a head to toe review to make the switch.

Head — now is the time to clear off the roof, clean out and repair the gutters and check your chimney.

Body— while it’s still warm, double check your door and windows for cracks, leaks and warping. Apply weather stripping where it’s needed.  Make an appointment to have your furnace tuned up.

Feet — if you have a pool, following winter-closing procedures such as using PH stabilizers and algaecides can make next spring’s opening much easier. Clear and weather-protect your decks and store furnishings. Check your driveway for cracks or damage that could turn ugly in cold temperatures or in icy conditions.

Accessorize— reorganize your garage to move summer equipment and paraphernalia to the back and your fall tools and supplies up front. Sweep and prepare a spot for firewood; check old wood for rot and insects.

For more tips on getting ready for fall, try these resources:

DoItYourself: Fall To-Do List: Outdoor Maintenance

Popular Mechanics: 5 Steps to Faster Fall Yard Work: This Weekend, Autumn Home Checklist, and 7 Steps to Save Money This Fall by Sealing Leaks and Drafts

3 Bathroom Updates That Impact Your Home’s Value

Small Changes That Make A Big Difference

Making improvements to your bathrooms and kitchen is one of the best ways to boost the value of your home. Often times, though, you can make a huge difference without spending a huge amount of money.

Faucets — Whether your current faucets are scratched up, look out-dated, or lack style, a new faucet can make a big difference.

Look for faucets that are consistent with your home’s style. Faucets with handles that have spokes or levers are a better investment than faucets with round knobs — spokes and levers are easier for little hands and old hands to maneuver than knobless handles, which can be hard to hold and turn.

Vanity — Switching out a vanity can change the whole look, and sometimes the very functionality, of your bathroom. For bathrooms long on clutter and short on storage, exchanging a pedestal sink for a cabinet vanity can help streamline and clean up the room. Changing a tile countertop to a solid surface, such as granite or soapstone, is another sure-fire way to transform an outdated looking bathroom to one that feels current with today’s design trends.

Fixtures — Replacing a standard mirror-fronted medicine cabinet with a large mirror will not only make the room feel more modern, but also larger. If storage is a concern, consider a bigger built-in cabinet or updating the front of your current cabinet with a frame. Updating your towel bars, hooks and toilet paper holder with new, stylish versions is a simple way to change the look and feel of your bathroom.

For more ideas and tips on updating your bathroom, visit these resources:

• HGTV’s Front Door: Maximum Value Bathroom Projects: Counters and Vanity
• Home Renovating Guide: Add Value To Your Home With the Right Fixtures and Accessories
• A.J. Perri: Add Value to Your Home & Save Money by Updating your Bathroom and/or Kitchen

Home Prices in U.S. Showed Signs of Stabilizing in June

Residential real estate prices in the U.S. decreased in the year ended in June at a slower pace than in the prior month, a sign the market may be stabilizing.

The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values in 20 cities fell 4.5 percent from June 2010, after a 4.6 percent drop in the 12 months ended May that was the biggest since 2009, the group said today inNew York. The median forecast of 31 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News projected a 4.6 percent decline.

Values fell by 0.1 percent in June from the prior month after adjusted for seasonal changes, matching the decrease in May, indicating the deterioration is slowing. Nonetheless, any recovery in home values is probably years away as foreclosures dump more properties onto to the market, while a jobless rate hovering around 9 percent and strict lending rules hurt sales.

“Prices aren’t going to rebound back rapidly,” said Paul Dales, a senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics Ltd. in Toronto. “Most people think that when the downturn ends the recovery will be pretty good, but that’s not going to be the case at all.”

Another report today showed consumer confidence plunged in August by the most since October 2008 as Americans grew more concerned about job prospects. The New York-based Conference Board’s gauge dropped to 44.5, the lowest reading since April 2009, when the economy was in a recession, the private research group said.

Shares Fall

Stocks fell amid concern the recent rally had gone too far given the U.S. economic outlook. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.9 percent to 1,199.22 at 10:03 a.m. in New York. Treasury securities rose, sending the yield on the benchmark 10-year note down to 2.17 percent from 2.26 percent late yesterday.

Estimates for the price change from June 2010 ranged from declines of 4 percent to 5.5 percent, according to the Bloomberg survey. The Case-Shiller measure is based on a three-month average, which means the June data was influenced by transactions in May and April.

The year-over-year drop in May was the biggest in 18 months.

Nationally, prices decreased 5.9 percent in the second quarter from the same time in 2010. They increased 3.6 percent from the previous three months before seasonal adjustment and climbed 0.1 percent after taking those changes into account. Property values in the first quarter dropped to the lowest level in almost nine years.

Unadjusted Increase

Prices in the 20 cities climbed before adjusting for seasonal changes, rising 1.1 percent in June from the prior month after climbing 1 percent in May.

The year-over-year gauge provides better indications of trends in prices, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller group. The panel includes Karl Case and Robert Shiller, the economists who created the index.

All of the 20 cities in the index showed a year-over-year decline in June, led by an 11 percent drop in Minneapolis.

The smallest 12-month decrease was in Washington, which showed a 1.2 percent drop.

“This month’s report showed mixed signals for recovery in home prices,” David Blitzer, chairman of the S&P index committee, said in a statement. “We are back to regional housing markets, rather than a national housing market where everything rose and fell together.”

With joblessness hovering around 9 percent for a second year, housing has not recovered at the same rate as the rest of the U.S. Existing home sales fell to 4.91 million last year, the lowest level since 1997.

Housing ‘Fragile’

“Consumer confidence is still weak, and the housing sector remains in a fragile state,” Robert Toll, chairman of Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL), the largest U.S. luxury homebuilder, said in Aug. 24 call with analysts. “The nation’s economy continues to suffer from the lack of jobs in housing construction and the related manufacturing and service sectors that a decent new-home market would typically generate.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, speaking last week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, said “an overhang of distressed and foreclosed properties, tight credit conditions for builders and potential homebuyers, and ongoing concerns by both potential borrowers and lenders about continued house price declines” have held back the housing market.

During the speech, Bernanke said the economy will probably improve in the second half of 2011, adding the central bank can aid the recovery if needed. Housing will stabilize, “if for no other reason than that ongoing population growth and household formation will ultimately demand it,” the chairman said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Kowalski in Washington atakowalski13@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz at cwellisz@bloomberg.net

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