The Great Remodel: Part III

There are plenty of ways to alter a home, from simple improvement projects to the high-end additions. Should you pay for a kitchen overhaul, adding an island, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances? Or would you be better off painting the room and sticking new doors on the cabinets? Will a new deck raise the value of your home or simply be a perk you enjoy as long as you live in the house? ROI (return on investment) should play a part in your remodeling plan. In a nutshell, it's how much money you could recoup when you sell.

There are many factors to consider when making the decision to give your house a face-lift. Location is always a key issue—not only the neighborhood, but which part of the country. Some improvements are popular with buyers regardless of the region, while others seem to be in higher demand in certain areas of the U.S. More often than not, sellers can get back a substantial percentage of their outlay for a variety of well-executed improvements in different parts of the country if they keep the market in mind.

Kitchens and bathrooms generally tend to recoup their cost. Those are widely appealing to the marketplace, and they tend to be more standard in form. If you're looking to get your money back when you sell, it's a good idea to avoid designs that are unusual. Buyers look for a place they can move right into and call their own. When you detour too far from the values of the typical home buyer, you shrink the pool of potential buyers. Features that are really customized to the homeowners may not appeal to as wide an audience.

Remodel to existing standards. Look around at other houses in your neighborhood to see what is popular. If the average home in your neighborhood has 2.5 baths and your house has 1.5, adding another bathroom could net you a better return than the average when selling. Check into what renovations net the highest return in your region and use that information as a basic plan for your remodel.

Green Remodeling

Why go green? It’s easier on the earth, it lowers costs, and it provides a healthier home in which to live. According to the Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC), housing alone consumes 20% of America’s energy. Homeowners who choose to remodel green can lower their energy consumption by 30-50%. It’s widely agreed that forests produce 40% of Earth's oxygen, and that building supplies use 25% of its forests. Remodeling green by incorporating recycled materials or sustainable species will help homeowners to tread more lightly on Earth’s natural resources. Green remodeling is becoming more popular as homeowners consider health issues, skyrocketing energy costs and Earth’s natural resources. More than 15 million Americans are estimated to have asthma, including one-in-13 school-age children, and more than 28 million Americans suffer from hay fever and other allergies, all of which are aggravated by poor indoor air quality.

Components of Green Remodeling Energy conservation:

• Energy Conservation: The average home today utilizes systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and most homes are not built as efficiently as they could be, all of which results in high energy consumption. The U.S. Department of Energy believes if current buildings were green-improved, they would use $20 billion less energy per year. Green remodeling puts a strong emphasis on making homes as efficient as possible with modifications like energy efficient appliances and thermostats that can be programmed at different temperatures for different times of the day.

• Indoor air quality: There are many sources that contribute to the air quality inside a home. They include pollutants brought in from the outside, toxic chemicals existing inside the home, and the activities of the occupants that create pollutants. Major contributors are tobacco smoke, smoke from the burning of wood, coal, kerosene or other such substances, toxic fumes from sealants or chemicals from cleaning products, lead paint, asbestos from insulation, damp carpets or fabrics, and certain pressed-wood furniture products that release chemicals into the air. Green remodeling seeks to remedy these problems with things like better ventilation systems and using wood, paint, and sealants that are nontoxic.

• Reduced material waste and resource conservation: When remodeling a home, there is often a large amount of construction waste. This amounts to 136 million tons of waste annually, according to the EPA, which in turn makes up 20% of the waste in landfills. Green remodeling focuses on reducing this waste during remodeling and reusing materials whenever possible, as 85 to 90% of materials thrown out can be recycled. Using local materials, building with engineered lumber, and using recycling companies to remove waste are all ways this can be achieved during remodeling.

• Environmentally safe products: Many products and practices used in the remodel of a home have negative effects on the environment. From chemicals and materials that pollute the air to the disturbing of the surrounding landscape, a myriad of actions taken can cause harm. With green, care is given to minimizing or eliminating products that could cause harm to the environment or the occupants during remodeling or after.

Overall green remodeling proves to be very beneficial for homeowners. It:

• Reduces operating costs in the home by increasing efficiency
• Conserves natural resources
• Increases the value of the home
• Improves indoor air quality and in turn, overall health
• Reduces waste
• Reduces emissions costs
• Increases productivity of occupants
• Improves quality of life

Ways to Implement Green Into Your Home: Green remodeling can be done in small ways and doesn’t necessarily have to encompass the entire home. It’s easy to pick and choose elements that fit each particular homeowner.

• Non-toxic paints and sealants
• Programmable thermostats
• Energy efficient appliances
• Natural flooring
• Local building materials
• Natural fiber rugs and fabrics
• Recycled material roof shingles and tiles
• Energy efficient lighting
• Insulated hot water pipes
• Tankless water heaters
• Quality insulation
• Native plants for landscaping

Winter Weekend Improvements

Six simple, inexpensive projects to consider for a winter home improvement lineup.

1. Good lighting is critical, especially in the dining area. The right chandelier sets the tone and makes a dramatic impact. Think universal appeal. In other words, don't go all Liberace if your house is country-style. Also, beware of an oversize or undersize fixture, which can make the room seem out of proportion. Use your dining table as a judge: The chandelier's diameter should be 12 inches less than the table's width.

2. Spend a day finding a place for everything. Invest in a good garage cabinet that will enable you to organize tools, hardware and other garage items neatly. This will help keep clutter out of sight and allow residents in the home to find everything when needed. Another inexpensive way to declutter a garage is by installing large wall hooks, which help get bikes, lawn implements and other items off the ground and onto the walls.

3. Do you have an odd nook that otherwise would seem like wasted space - say, under the stairwell or alongside the fireplace - or you need to add dimension and character to a room that lacks any architectural detailing. Hardwoods like oak and mahogany are sturdier and more appealing than cheaper fiberboard and particleboard. Fixed shelves are beloved by realtors and designers for their clean look (no unsightly brackets). As for color, aim for innocuous - natural woods or woods painted off-white or beige are best.

4. Make your laundry room into a restful spot by organizing non-seasonal clothing into labeled storage bins, adding a candle or picture, or installing a comfortable chair with favorite reading materials where one can relax while waiting for the next load of laundry to finish. Adding wall hooks, inexpensive wire shelving and other storage container units can make the room seem like a whole new place.

5. Add a new tile backsplash to your kitchen. Ever-stylish white tile will brighten up the space. Even if you can't afford a full kitchen renovation, small changes like inexpensive tile will give your space a nearly instant nip/tuck effect.

6. Focusing on a small room enables homeowners to feel a sense of accomplishment when a project is complete. A bathroom is perfect for a small winter home improvement project. Whether replacing a tub, sink and/or toilet or simply choosing new area rugs, towels and other bathroom accessories, the area of the room is small, making it a perfect room to start and finish on a cold winter weekend.