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Home Improvement Costs vs. Values for 2009

Mar 15, 2010 Home Improvement

One of my favorite posts of the year is the National Association of Realtors Remodeling Costs vs. Value report. Like last years post, this one will feature the top home improvement projects purely by the numbers.

Unlike last week’s Top 8 Home Upgrades According to Kiplinger, this comes straight from homeowner surveys. What’s even better is that the data is broken down by region, so we’re not getting a national average but instead, we receive numbers that better represent home improvement costs right here in Louisville, Kentucky.

So let’s get started!

The top five, mid-range home improvement projects for Louisville home owners are:

1. Entry Door Replacement (steel) – 128.9%
2. Attic Bedroom – 83.1%
3. Deck Addition (wood) – 80.6%
4. Siding Replacement (vinyl) – 79.9%
5. Minor Kitchen Remodel – 78.3%

Below is the full list:

Now let’s look at the top five, upscale home improvement projects for Louisville home owners are:

1. Siding Replacement (fiber-cement) – 83.6%
2. Siding Replacement (foam-backed vinyl) – 79.0%
3. Window Replacement (vinyl) – 76.5%
4. Window Replacement (wood) – 71.5%
5. Grand Entrance (fiberglass) – 68.8%

Here’s the complete list:

Similar to last year, siding and window-replacement win the day. Still, it’s interesting to see the numbers of the mid-range gain on the upscale home improvements. Also note that almost all 2009 numbers are down from 2008.

Selling your Louisville home these days often means making it “move in ready.” Today’s buyers don’t want to fix things up right away.

Tags: cost vs. value, home improvement projects, National Association of Realtors

Top 8 Home Upgrades According to Kiplinger

Mar 9, 2010 Home Improvement

With many homeowners looking for the market to rebound before selling, home improvement is now a hot topic! I bet Lowes and Home Depot are enjoying significant growth these past three years.

Let’s put aside the discussion about the money you’d gain by buying a new house at this low point in the market and focus on which mid-range home improvement projects are going to give your Louisville home the best bang for your buck.

According to Kiplinger, these are the top eight home improvement projects.

1. Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets
Rather than redoing the entire kitchen for $25,000-$50,000, resurfacing your cabinets is an easy, cost-effective upgrade. Having your cabinets repainted will cost you between $4,000-$6,000, but handy homeowners might tackle the project themselves.

2. Replace the Sinks and Faucets
Kitchen sinks may get no respect, but they sure get a lot of use. Sinks have come a long way in design and function. The current trend is toward undermounted sinks (shown here), which looks great and are easier to clean. Such cast-iron and stainless steel sinks cost around $1,000.

3. Replace Your Countertops
Improved laminate countertops are the more affordable options at $25 to $50 per linear foot and silestone carries a $50-$125 per linear foot price tag. For a more expensive designer look, concrete or recycled glass might be attractive options.

Three projects complete and your Louisville kitchen is looking great! Now let’s tackle the bathroom!

Tags: Home Improvement, home upgrades, Kiplinger

Top 20 Home Improvement iPhone Apps

Feb 20, 2010 Home Improvement

Home improvement just sounds complicated. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a few handy tools that don’t kill your budget to improve your home improvement? Just whip out your iPhone and get going on that dry wall or cabinet refinishing project. That’s right, for all you do-it-yourself types and iPhone addicts, your have been answered. We’ve compiled a list of 20 handy, dandy apps that make home improvement projects and mundane chores easier (or at least more fun).

1. ConsumerReports.org – A trusted resource for consumer product testing. Check the free mobile news and video app for information on products for home, and to get the best bang for your buck. A must-do before you start any home improvement project.
2. Home Improvement Calculator – A calculator equipped to estimate exactly how much of a certain material you’ll need to complete home improvements. It covers painting jobs, wall papering, tile laying, fences, concrete laying, brick laying, carpeting, gravel and deck building. Enter the measurements for the project’s size and the calculator will do all the work (almost).
3. Home Improvement Store Finder – For 99 cents, find and get directions to nearby home improvement stores. Simple and convenient when you need a quick phone number or address to a home improvement supply store.
4. iHandy Carpenter – A toolkit on your iPhone. This app features five carpentry tools, a plumb bob, a surface level, a bubble lever bar, a protractor and a ruler, to make home improvement a cinch. All the tools can be used in landscape mode, and if you calibrate the plumb bob, level bar and surface level, you can use them together as a clinometer to read angles precisely.
5. Handyman Sidekick – Another easy-to-use calculator for gardening, wallpapering, painting and flooring. It converts and saves units of measurement for easy reference. At $1.99, this app eliminates the need for a contractor on small jobs and saves a few dollars by figuring the amount of needed materials for a project.
6. Home Sizer – A simple app made to calculate the square footage of a room or your home. It can also be used when designing a new home. The app features a file manager to save your data or your “house” plans and a mortgage calculator to estimate monthly payments for your dream house.
7. Palettes Lite – A free app to create color palettes. Use it to repaint and develop a color scheme for your entire home. The company also features an upgrade version, Palettes, with more advanced techniques and options at a cost of $9.99.
8. Warranty – Who knows where to keep all the warranty junk that comes with a new product? This $4.99 app keeps up with it all for you. No more paper stuffed boxes or drawers full of warranty papers. It’s all gathered in one place at your fingertips.
9. Convert Aid/Converter – Two 99 cent apps that calculate units of measurement for you without the algebra book.
10. Drywall Calculator – This app adds up the square footage of a room so you can quickly assess how much dry walling you will need for any room in the house.
11. ConcreteCalc – Similar to the Dry Wall Calculator, the Concrete Calculator app calculates the amount of concrete you’ll need per cubic yard.
12. EZ Loan Calc – Figure up the money needed for a project and get an estimate of what a loan would cost you. It has endless possibility written all over it.
13. Distance Calculator – Convert distances easily with the $2 app. No more memorization and calculations for you.
14. Goal Tender – A nice app to keep your home improvement goals and projects on track. The price is right at $2.99, and it allows you to write down and review your goals and track your success rates.
15. Flashlight – A free app that glows like a tiny flashlight for dark spots. It comes in handy for midnight trips to the bathroom as well.
16. Homelogic Mobile Control – An app designed by HomeLogic to control your home with the touch of a button on your iPhone. Use this free app to adjust electronics and other WIFI-enabled systems from your iPhone or the Internet.
17. Computer Repairs – When you can’t fix the computer yourself despite all the Computer Programming for Dummies you read, use this 99 cent app to look up a professional in you area to help.
18. Trash Day – For those of us that forget home improvement includes the little things like taking out the trash. Program reminders, and never miss a trash pick-up again.
19. Heat – A free temperature converter app. It converts Fahrenheit and Celsius as well as Kelvin and Rankine.
20. Builder Dan’s Toolbox – This toolbox is a reference of building codes for contractors and do-it-yourself folks. Downfalls? The codes are based on Canadian standards, and it’s $6.99 for the download. Keep in mind, nothing replaces the expertise of a professional. If the sink you fixed, with the help of your new iPhone app, is rerouting water to the toilet and flooding the bathroom faster than a tsunami, it may be time to make the call for a pro.

Tags: iPhone, Nicole Adams

Is Your Next Louisville Home ‘Green’?

Jan 25, 2010 Home Improvement

I think it’s safe to say that Green is the new Black and that’s not likely to change. But many green products are very costly and their benefit to the environment is relatively small. So, how do we decide which ones make the most sense?

Leigh A. Poltrock is an attorney in Pittsburgh who published a piece called Going Green Without Going Broke. It’s directed at people thinking about incorporating green building practices and products into their new home. There’s a myriad of government programs and incentives centered around energy efficiency in today’s homes that clever consumers can benefit from. This section especially caught my eye:

For an increase of up to 5 percent in development costs, studies have shown that buildings could use 30 percent to 50 percent less energy to heat and cool, 20 percent less electricity, and 10 percent to 20 percent less water. This equates to savings often far exceeding the 5 percent initial premium.

If you’re looking to custom build a green home here in Louisville, these builders have a great reputation: Landis Homes, Kimbel Construction and Thoroughbred Homes.

Also, John Morris with Kentucky Quality Homes is one of the few local builders who builds with insulating concrete forms (ICF) which is very energy-efficient and has increased strength against severe storms and tornadoes. Here’s a clip on his building process from FoxNews.

If you’re not planning a move but want to green-up your current home, thedailygreen.com posts simple tips daily to help you go green and spend less. Switching light bulbs is easy (and obvious) but they have a large amount of helpful advice, as well.

Tags: green products, John Morris, Kentucky Quality Homes, Kimbel Construction, Landis Homes, Leigh A. Poltrock, Thoroughbred Homes

Weatherize Your Louisville Home

Dec 16, 2009 Home Improvement

Today, our Louisville weather brings us a crisp 20 degrees on our thermometers. That’s chilly! Homeowners should (if they haven’t already) give some thought to the heat that could be escaping their homes. Saving 15% on that new sweater for Aunt Sharon is great but if you’re paying an extra 15% on your LG&E bill because of heat escaping through cracks in your house, it’s all for naught.

It seems many look to our government for guidance far too often as some are actually calling for a “cash for caulkers” program. From today’s Wall St. Journal:

Such unsexy-sounding home improvements can be some of the most lucrative in terms of energy savings and make a home far more comfortable. The federal Energy Star program estimates homeowners can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs just by sealing and insulating, or “weatherizing” against the elements.

I find this one part tragic and one part common-sense. Couldn’t we just hire a Louisville handyman or do the work ourselves?

10 DIY Cheap and Easy Ways to Protect Your Home

Nov 12, 2009 Home Improvement

According to the FBI, a house, apartment, or condominium is burglarized once every 15 seconds. This results in thousands per hour and untold millions in stolen goods, not to mention the rise in insurance premiums. Don’t be part of the statistics by following these top ten DIY cheap and easy ways to protect your home.

DIY Cheap and Easy Ways to Protect Your Doors

According to a study by the California Crime Technological Research Foundation, the most common ways burglars use to break into homes involve doors. Use the below for inexpensive and simple ways to strengthen them.

1. Replace Locks: Unless you are the first owner, chances are the keys to your home are still out there. Old and outdated locks are also another good reason to replace. State Farm recommends an ANSI Grade 1 lock, the more pins, the better. Be sure to address all entry doors. All you need to install them is a screwdriver.

2. New Strike Plates: Because most strike plates come with holes for two screws, they are easier to break into. Try finding a strike plate that has four holes for screws, making it twice as hard to kick down or pry open. Whether upgrading to four screws or staying with two, be sure to use wood screws that are a minimum of two inches in length.

3. Upgraded Door Hinges: If any of your entry doors swings outward, a burglar may be able to enter your home by simply removing the pins from your door hinges. Don’t tear your hair out over replacing the entire door and frame just yet, there are cheap and easy DIY options. Try getting a hinge with non-removable or fast-riveted pins or even a safety stud.

Low Tech DIY Cheap and Easy Ways to Protect Your Home

You don’t have to be computer or hardware savvy to utilize the below ways to protect your home.

4. Neighborhood Watch: Because if the whole neighborhood is watching, it will be like your home is never empty. USA On Watch can help you find one in your city or help you start your own. You can also visit National Neighborhood Watch Institute for supplies, handbooks, decals, and more.

5. Alarm Decal or Sticker: Use these decals, stickers, and signs to let criminals know your home is protected by an alarm system or camera, even if it is not. This online store sells a variety of impress security signs and can even customize them. If you prefer a more authentic one, contact the security provider of your choice to purchase your decal directly from them.

6. Lock the doors and windows! The most common ways burglars enter into homes, it happens more than you think. Many of these criminals will even enter an unlocked home if there are people inside. Still have a hard time remembering? Then read this story to remind yourself why.

High Tech DIY Cheap and Easy Ways to Protect Your Home

Although some tech is required, by no means is a doctorate in science needed to follow these higher tech ways to protect your home.

7. Light It! Because criminals like to work in the dark, nothing stops them in their tracks light a security light. Whether security or motion detecting, these lights are easy to install, even if you don’t have any experience. This article on eHow gives detailed instructions on how to install security lighting and even offers related videos.

8. Use That PC Camera: Follow the instructions on this site to turn your PC web camera into a motion detection and recording security camera. You only need a PC (Mac instructions coming soon), web camera, and Dorgem. There are even advanced options and a how-to on working with multiple cameras.

9. DIY Home Alarm: Install yourself and customize yourself to protect your home cheaply and easily. You don’t need a monitoring service for the alarm to go off when a door is opened or window is broken. In addition, criminals won’t know if the alarm is hooked up and neighbors who hear it are likely to phone for help. UDoItAlarms sells a variety of DIY home security products and even has how-to videos.

10. A Real Home Alarm: Competitively priced for installation and surveillance, many security systems can actually give you a break on your home owner’s insurance. This site has a beginner’s guide to home security, explanations on common security devices, and even a Just For Fun section. Be sure to check out the Review tab for reports on security providers such as Brinks and Protection One before purchasing.

Although break-ins can be scary, they are one of the most preventable of crimes. Even though nothing is guaranteed, you are far less likely to become a victim after doing all of these top ten DIY cheap and easy ways to protect your home.

Tags: Adrienne Carlson, Brinks, California Crime Technological Research Foundation, National Neighborhood Watch Institute, Protection One, UDoItAlarms

Geothermal Explained for Your Louisville Home

Nov 12, 2009 Home Improvement

The movement of homeowners to “go green” by utilizing geothermal heating and cooling is becoming ever more common. However, there is still a large part of the population who doesn’t even know where to begin when it comes to tackling the concept of geothermal. So let’s lay some ground work, peel back the layers of this 21st century question of “To go Geo or not to go Geo?” and see if it is right for your Louisville home.

How does a geothermal system work?

Outdoor temperatures fluctuate with the seasons. However, the underground temperatures remain more consistent. About four to six feet below the earth’s surface, temperature remains relatively moderate and constant year-round.

In winter, fluid circulating through the geothermal system’s earth loop absorbs stored heat and carries it to the home. The indoor unit compresses the heat to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the home. In summer, the geothermal system reverses, pulling heat from the home, depositing it in the cooler earth. A geothermal system uses the energy from the sun, which is stored in the earth, to heat and cool homes.

Typically, electric power is used only to operate the unit’s fan, compressor, and pump. These systems simply transfer heat to and from the earth. If you are a tech guy or girl, check out the WaterFurnace website, which contains great information on how geothermal systems work, various loop systems for geothermal and equipment specifications.

OK, Mr. Geothermal, what makes you so “green”?

Installing a single geothermal unit in your home or business is the environmental equivalent of planting 750 trees or removing two cars from the road. Geothermal heat pumps produce no emissions which means that they do not pollute the atmosphere. The U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that if geothermal systems were installed nationwide, Americans could save several billion dollars annually in energy costs and substantially reduce pollution.

By reducing the demand placed on electric utilities, geothermal systems reduce the need for new power plants. The systems minimize the threats of acid rain, air pollution, the greenhouse effect and other environmental problems that are directly linked to burning fossil fuel. Since geothermal systems are recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the most environmentally friendly heating and cooling technology available, it’s a system you can feel good about using.

Your own backyard has the potential to be your source of heating and cooling comfort. You can get safe, reliable, energy efficient heating and cooling from one piece of equipment. Geothermal energy represents the leading edge of heating and cooling technology. It moves heat energy to and from the earth to heat and cool your indoor environment. Geothermal is the safest, cleanest, most reliable space conditioning system you can invest in.

Does my house qualify for geothermal?

Geothermal systems can be installed in new construction homes, as well as, existing homes. Existing home applications are typically referred to as “retro-fit” designs. A home’s design does not dictate if geothermal can be installed, only access to the lot for drilling can put the brakes on a geothermal project.

Some would think that it would be impossible to drill through solid rock. However, it is actually one of the best heat transfer mediums for geothermal. In the Louisville, Kentucky area you will usually see solid rock at about 15 feet. The ground may contain solid rock, clay or sand. All of these ground materials can be drilled, provided you have access to bring in the drilling rig.

A smaller home will see a longer period of time before the initial investment would be returned. However there is not a 1:1 ratio for home size to payoff. The return time is dependent upon many variables some of which include insulation, the homeowner’s comfort settings and the geothermal system installed.

What is the difference between a traditional system and geothermal?

Because geothermal systems use the energy found beneath the earth’s surface, they cost less to operate, up to 60% cost savings and generally last twice as long as a conventional units. Also, unlike the conventional systems, geothermal does not emit dangerous gases or fumes of any type.

Yeah it sounds good but how much does it cost?

Geothermal typically costs about 2-3 times higher than a traditional high end heating and cooling system. What that means is that you’re looking at an investment of $14,000 and up. A large part of the system’s cost is related to the initial drilling, so that the earth loops can be placed in the ground.

Like everything, a geothermal system does come with several upgrade options, one of which is the “de-super heater” option. This option allows the homeowner to divert excess heat produced during the heating and cooling process. The heat is then used to heat hot water for domestic hot water usage, resulting in “free hot water.”

The federal government is currently offering a 30% uncapped federal tax credit for installing a geothermal system. The 30% credit is based on the total installation cost of the system in your Louisville home. The current regulation states that you have until 2016 to take the federal tax credit. However, it is best to seek the advice your tax professional for the specifics on your personal situation.

With geothermal being up to 500% efficient, you will get $5 for ever $1 spent in energy. What this means is homeowners can see their initial investment returned in as little as 4 years, which opens the door for significant savings in the long term.

Let’s look at an example

A typical home in Louisville measuring 3,000 sq. ft. could see an average monthly heating, cooling and domestic hot water heating bill of $71.00 a month! For a this situation, the estimated R.O.I. would be 5.7 years.

Not that there are many people living in a home this large, but a 10,000 sq. ft. Louisville home could see an average monthly heating, cooling and domestic hot water heating bill of $157.00 a month! This R.O.I. is lowered to 4.8 years.

Louisville Homeowners interested in seeing geothermal costs and benefits for their own home can visit this online geothermal savings calculator.

Tags: Allgeier Air, Environmental Protection Agency, Geothermal, Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Jay Welker, louisville ky, U.S. General Accounting Office, U.S. Green Building Council, WaterFurnace

Energy-Efficient Rebates Pushed to Spring

Oct 20, 2009 Home Improvement

The Federal government is notorious for spending money it doesn’t have. These housing rebates are just one of a hundred examples.

The federal government will not distribute $296million in federal funds until after Nov. 30, leaving scant time for the state to print, distribute and begin processing rebate coupons. Instead, Kentucky is aiming for a springtime campaign to spread around its share of the money — estimated at $4million.

Kentucky home owners can still upgrade their homes now, but won’t see the money until Spring. Before you buy, check the list of criteria required to qualify for the rebates. This won’t be listed until next year but the Department of Energy grants Energy Star status for the following appliances:

Boilers
Air conditioners
Clothes washers
Dishwashers
Freezers
Furnaces (oil and gas)
Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
Refrigerators
Water heaters

Tags: Energy Star, Home Improvement, tax rebates

Why Home Improvement Projects Are Good if You’re Looking to Sell Your Louisville Home

Oct 12, 2009 Home Improvement

You may have thousands of reasons for selling your home, but for the person buying it, there is only one reason to do so – because they like it. And it’s simple common sense to know that homes that look good that attract the most prospective buyers and convert into sales. So if you live in Louisville and are planning to sell your home, the first thing you must do is to ensure that it is in top condition. And if it’s not, then get down to making some much needed repairs and improvements, because:

• Beauty is skin deep: No matter how practical your home is on the inside, if the exterior is shabby and unkempt, you’re never going to be able to find a buyer. So first things first – get your exterior spruced up and your lawn clean and free of clutter. Only then can you expect people to notice the FOR SALE sign on your lawn.
• First impressions are important: People going through your home with the intent to buy it are not going to be impressed when they see a house that’s been well lived in but not well maintained. They must be wowed by how good your house looks and by how comfortable it seems, and improvements go a long way in making an old house look new.
• Buyers don’t want to incur additional costs: When you renovate your home to make improvements, you save them the cost of giving the house a makeover. This gives them the feeling that they’re buying a new home for the price of one that has been lived in for a while, a psychological advantage that works for you.
• You can sell your home for a higher price: And most important of all, when you make improvements to your home, there’s no doubt that the asking rate goes up. You can hike up your price according to the going rate in your neighborhood and city.

When you plan to sell your home after an improvement project, it’s important to keep your renovation budget to the minimum. While you may want to go over the top and splurge on accessories and stuff that you think will add value to your home, putting in a pool or a bar is not the way to go. It’s not only expensive but also difficult to maintain, and people are not going to pay a whole lot more for exclusive items like these. So when you embark on an improvement project in order to attract prospective buyers, stick to the basics that every home needs and leave the comforts and exceptions for the new homeowners to decide. Also, stick to what is common in your neighborhood because you cannot ask more than the prevailing rate in that location.

What you can do however is to tell them of the options available to them so that they will be more interested in your home. Use not just your home to sell your home, but also your mind.

Tags: Adrienne Carlson, Construction Management Degrees

Top 10 Louisville Home Improvement Projects

Sep 25, 2009 Home Improvement

Let’s be honest. In this economy, money is tight. People are now being very creative in how to keep more money in their own pockets. Home improvement is one great way!

Here at LouisvilleHomesBlog.com, we want to provide the very best in real estate information and advice so that you can make the decisions that best fit your situation. With that in mind, the National Association of Realtors publishes a Cost vs. Value Report every year. This is great stuff! What’s even better is when you find data for our specific market. That’s what we have and you’ve come to the right place.

The following home improvement projects are ordered by Cost Recouped. This data is also specific to the East South Central region where Louisville KY real estate is located. This region contains Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama as well.

1. Siding Replacement – 91.5%

The average costs for foam-backed vinyl siding is $11,111 where the resale value increase is $10,165 for a cost recouped percentage of 91.5%. Fiber-cement siding is only slightly less at 90.2%, so it’s also a good choice. Vinyl siding, without the foam backing came in much lower at only 84.6%.

2. Deck Addition – 85.2%

The average costs for adding a wood deck addition to a Louisville home is $8,903. This increases the resale value by $7,588 for a cost recouped percentage of 85.2%. Projects like these can also add a bit of “wow factor” for lower priced homes and could possibly be necessary for homes in more expensive neighborhoods where having a deck is expected. Using composite decking only returns a 71.7% for Louisville Kentucky.

3. Basement Remodel – 83.9%

The average costs for a mid-range basement remodel is $53,552 where the resale value increase is $44,924 for a cost recouped percentage of 83.9%. These numbers are considered average for our area so you can expect there is potential to spend much less or much more. In either case, remodeling an unfinished basement in Louisville is a very good investment, especially when you consider that the national average is only 72.9%.

4. Bathroom Remodel – 83.1%

The average costs for a mid-range bathroom remodel is $14,413 where the resale value increase is $11,973 for a cost recouped percentage of 83.1%. An upscale bath remodel comes in at $47,265 and increases the resale by $37,471 for a recoup of 79.3%. Each of these remodels beat the national numbers by 9% so they are smart choices for Louisville home sellers.

5. Window Replacement – 81.8%

The average costs for vinyl window replacements is $12,289 where the resale value increase is $10,049 for a cost recouped percentage of 81.8%. This number is several points higher than the 76.2% recouped cost for using wood replacement windows.

6. Kitchen Remodel – 81.1%

The average costs for a minor kitchen remodel is $20,307 where the resale value increase is $16,461 for a cost recouped percentage of 81.1%. A major kitchen remodel comes in at $106,369 and increases the resale by $79,050 for a recoup of 74.3%. Currently, the kitchen is the hottest room in the house for Louisville home buyers. If yours is in need of updates, this may be the home improvement project for you.

7. Attic Bedroom – 79.8%

If this is a possibility for your home, you’ll see an average addition cost of $42,277 return $33,749 for a recoup value of 79.8%. This also adds square footage to your home which may attract more buyers than previously possible.

8. Bathroom Addition – 73.1%

The only case where the upscale version beats the mid-range version is the bathroom addition. Adding an upscale bathroom in our region costs $67,217 and returns a resale value of $49,149 for a recoup cost of 73.1%. The mid-range bathroom addition only returns a 69.5%.

9. Two-Story Addition – 72.1%

Though very pricey—$131,511—the two-story addition returns $94,791 for a recoup value of 72.1%.

10. Backup Power Generator – 69.9%

Rounding out our Top 10 Louisville Home Improvement Projects is adding a backup power generator to your home. The cost is $12,820 which yields a resale value increase of $8,957 for a cost recouped percentage of 69.5%. This beats the national average of 57.2% by more than 12%.

As you might guess, all these numbers are down from 2007 levels. It also should be mentioned that the publishers of this report only track certain home improvement projects, usually just the larger ones, so smaller projects can possibly yield even more. Contact your Realtor® (or drop me an email) for great advice on what will give your Louisville home the most bang for the buck.

Tags: Home Improvement, louisville ky, National Association of Realtors

Home Maintenance Tips for Fall in Louisville

Aug 10, 2009 Home Improvement

I like to publish home improvement and home maintenance tips every so often here at LouisvilleHomesBlog.com, mainly because sometimes we Realtors forget that buying the house is just the beginning. For the homeowners to keep their investments in tip-top shape, you need to be ever vigilant.

So for autumn here in Louisville, I’ve put together some of the best home maintenance tips for all homeowners. Now’s let’s all get to work out there!

1. Repair/Caulk Windows & Doors: More energy escapes a house through windows and doors than other other location. Want lower energy bills? Start here. Also, don’t forget the weather stripping!
2. Service HVAC: With winter approaching, it’s usually a good idea to have your HVAC serviced at least every other year. There’s cleaning to be done and you want to do that before a problem arises.
3. Clean Out Gutters: If your home has gutters, chances are they’ve accumulated some leaves and other debris since the last time you cleaned them out. Before the ice and snow comes, make sure your gutters are free of anything that could cause a much bigger problem.
4. Safety Checkup: Don’t forget about all the devices in your home that help to make it a safe place to live; things like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or fire extinguishers. These items may not come to mind very often, but if an emergency ever occurs, you’ll be glad you have them ready and working.

Improve Your Deck for the Fourth

Jul 3, 2009 Home Improvement

Home improvements can cover anything from replacing a faucet to adding an addition onto your house. Given that it’s the 4th of July, I thought I’d post how you can improve your outdoor experience by updating your deck. Just three steps… let’s get started!

1. Wash the Deck

It may sound like an unnecessary step but experts agree that washing the deck first make repairs easier, and more importantly, helps the staining process. Rent a power washer and have at it! Make sure to let the wood dry overnight before moving to the next step.

2. Repair Any Problem Spots

Nail pops, loose screws or cracked boards will each require your attention in this step. Using screws rather than nails gives the connection a more secure fit. If you’re replacing a board or two, the new boards may appear to be a bit larger than the current ones but they’ll shrink a bit as time goes forward.

3. Stain the Deck

Unlike composite decking, first made famous by Trex, wooden decks need to be treated every few years. You can’t always believe what the label on a can of stain boasts, in terms of how long the stain will last. Instead, look to experts like Consumer Reports who rate Cabot Decking Stain very well. Getting 3 years out of a treatment is better than average.

Also remember, after applying the stain, wait about 48 hours before walking on the deck to allow it time to sink in.

I hope you find this information helpful. Enjoy your summer!

Tags: Trex

Home Improvement Costs vs. Values for 2008

Apr 10, 2009 Home Improvement

I posted Are Replacement Windows a Wise Home Improvement? last month with the chart you see below. Today I thought, why not include the whole story for you?

So here is a link to the official 2008 Cost vs. Value Report: Still Many Happy Returns for Home Rehabs. If you want to know how different home improvement projects affect the value of your home, this stuff is information gold!

Make sure you check out the whole article but I wanted to include here the National Association of Realtor’s Top 10 Project Paybacks:

1. Upscale fiber cement siding (86.7%)
2. Midrange wood deck (81.8%)
3. Midrange vinyl siding (80.7%)
4. Upscale foam-backed vinyl (80.4%)
5. Midrange minor kitchen remodel (79.5%)
6. Upscale vinyl window replacement (79.2%)
7. Midrange wood window replacement (77.7%)
8. Midrange vinyl window replacement (77.2%)
9. Upscale wood window replacement (76.5%
10. Midrange major kitchen remodel (76.0%)

Regional Data

They used to publish how those numbers changed by regions here in the United States. So, if for example, you lived here in Louisville, Kentucky, which I assume most of you do, you could find that a Midrange Bathroom Upgrade won’t get you as far (63.8%) as in other parts of the country (66%). I think they’ve found that the data follows cost of living levels so they aren’t extremely helpful.

Here’s a helpful chart for you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Tags: Home Improvement, NAR

Foreclosures: Builders Lose, Consumers Win

Mar 12, 2009 Home Improvement, Residential

Just a quick post to bring this issue to your attention. I feel like half of my job is battling the largely negative news coming from almost every media outlet on a daily basis. Sure, you can speak to how foreclosures are hurting builders, like the Wall St. Journal does in this piece called Foreclosed Houses Haunt Home Builders. That’s certainly true.

Or, you could talk about how this phenomenon positively affects consumers, who now have a much greater selection, lower home prices and historically low rates.

It’s almost like the media wants our economy to continue to slide with how much they focus on the bad. If more consumers would wake up to the possibilities that exist in today’s housing market, these new transactions would only help to revive our country’s economic activity.

Ok, I’ll stop for today.

Tags: foreclosures, Wall St. Journal

Are Replacement Windows a Wise Home Improvement?

Mar 9, 2009 Home Improvement

Perhaps no home improvement project has more perceived value than installing replacement windows into your home. Is this a well-deserved perception? Like most things the answer is, “It depends.”

The first thing to do is analyze your current situation. How many windows does your house have? How old are they? How many panes of glass do they have?

It may be the case that your current windows, while not at peak performance levels by today’s standards, are still performing well.

According to Consumer Reports:

Replacement windows can save you between 10 and 25 percent per year on heating and cooling if you have single-paned windows.

But because the cost of replacing all the windows in your home can run anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on the number, style and performance of the windows, it’ll often take many years just to recoup their cost.

If you do decide to buy new replacement windows, take into consideration what kind of windows homes in your neighborhood currently have. Vinyl windows are by far the most popular and generally cost a great deal less than clad wood windows. But if your home is located in a more upscale neighborhood, selecting the more attractive clad wood windows makes more sense.

Pella has a new line of fiberglass windows called Impervia that are designed to be more durable than vinyl windows but still be wholly maintenance free. These received a recommendation from Consumer Reports in their latest report.

If you have any questions about your home, feel free to contact me or your Realtor. I’ve also included some statistics from the National Association of Realtors 2008 Cost vs. Value Report below. You can see that replacement windows average between 76%-79% recoup cost nationally.

Tags: Consumer Reports, Home Improvement, Pella, replacement windows

Louisville Home Owner Asbestos Prevention Info

Feb 24, 2009 Home Improvement

Asbestos is a highly fibrous mineral whose qualities made it one of the most desirable building materials in the 20th century. Manufacturers of asbestos were aware of its potentially harmful components, but continued shipping the product anyways. Its main uses were found as insulation, piping, brake lining, flooring and roofing. Located on the Ohio River, asbestos exposure incidents in Kentucky have mainly occurred as a result of industrial sites.

How Asbestos Affects You

Potential home buyers in Louisville or those seeking to remodel older homes should be aware that many homes and buildings built before 1980 could still contain asbestos. This doesn’t mean you should be frightened because asbestos exposure can be easily prevented with the proper precautions. Although asbestos in the home is a concern, not all asbestos poses problems. It is only when asbestos becomes damaged and its fibers become airborne, where exposure can be a health concern.

Frequent and long term exposure to asbestos has been known to cause asbestosis and pleural mesothelioma, two forms of asbestos lung cancer. Although progress has been made with mesothelioma treatments, physician prognosis is usually poor and fatal. Research has alluded that it can take up to 20 to 50 years for this illness to develop. Although significant progress has been made with mesothelioma treatments, patient prognosis is usually poor.

What To Do If You Find Asbestos

If any asbestos is located in the home, most experts recommend leaving it un-disturbed as not all asbestos poses concerns. Asbestos that is disturbed or damaged due to age is known as “friable” asbestos. This is a serious concern because its toxic fibers can easily circulate and become inhaled. A professional home inspector can determine the best course of action to take.

Sometimes, the best action is no action. If asbestos removal is necessary, it should be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling toxic materials. The Kentucky Division For Air Quality strives to protect the environment and civilian health by monitoring and assisting in the disposal and removal of asbestos.

Once the removal is complete, green insulation alternatives now exist that replace the need for asbestos entirely. These eco-friendly options include cotton fiber, lycnene foam and cellulose. They provide home owners with the same intrinsic qualities possessed by asbestos, a healthy replacement and can even reduce annual energy costs. Studies have shown that the use of cotton fiber can reduce energy costs up to 25 percent annually. As a home owner, you have additional responsibilities to make sure you are living in a hospitable environment. This information will allow you to live free of any health damaging materials.

Tags: asbestos, Louisville homes, Louisville real estate, mesothelioma treatments, pleural mesothelioma

Winterize Your Louisville Home

Dec 16, 2008 Home Improvement

I’m certainly no home improvement specialist myself, but I understand the value to prospective buyers of having a property in tip-top shape.

Heading into winter (heck… it’s been frosty here in Louisville for a month now!) here is some great advice that will help you winterize your home, save money and keep your #1 investment in the best possible shape.

Furnace Maintenance

Most of the time, homeowners should hire experts to perform maintenance updates or modfy their HVAC systems. But there are some tasks that any property owner can do. I’ll leave it to you to decide which of these you feel confident tackling.

1. Clean/Repair Air Ducts

It’s not a difficult concept, but cleaning out the air ducts requires the correct equipment. If you have access to a high-powered vacuum, maybe you’re up for the job. Along the way, if you notice any gaps or openings in the ducts, use the appropriate sealant on the gap and then wrap it from the outside.

2. Clean Furnace

This one can be a bit tricker. Make sure to refer to your owner’s manual on the proper ways to perform maintenance on your system. It will usually involve cleaning dust out of several locations, clean/replace any internal filters and lubricating specific moving parts.

3. Replace Main Air Filters

This should be a task you conduct on a regular basis but even still it’s very important. Replacing the air filter in your system regularly will not only improve your home’s air quality but will also extend the life of the overall HVAC system.

Winterize the Rest of Your Home

The following items all deserve some attention heading into winter and cold weather.

Exterior Doors and Windows

Check the caulking around all exterior doors and windows to make sure there is no way for your (expensive) hot air to escape to the outside. Depending on what kind of windows you currently have, it may also be a good idea to install storm windows to increase the amount of insulation in these areas.

Hot Water Heater

Make sure your hot water heater is properly insulated. Home improvement stores will have various options for you if yours isn’t currently wrapped. Heating water is one of the most energy intensive tasks your home undertakes.

Various Items

If you have exposed pipes in the basement, you might want to insulate them before they may become sealed off due to any projects that might hide them, i.e. finishing the basement. Fireplaces are also prime culprits for letting heated air escape your home. Whether your fireplace uses natural gas or is wood burning will determine how you insulate any air gaps you find.

These are just a few of the ways you can help winterize your Louisville home this year. I sincerely hope you have a great Holiday Season this year!

Tags: Home Improvement, winterize

Home Improvements That Are Eco-Friendly Too!

Nov 10, 2008 Home Improvement

I saw this article—Top 10 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Home Improvements—a while back and thought I’d share with you. If you can find that the environment-friendly solution also saves you money, then I get really excited!

Be sure to read the whole piece because I just pulled my favorite five ideas.

• Every year tons of water gets flushed in your bathrooms. So when you are considering remodeling your home then opt for dual flush in your bathroom. So depending upon the need you can use powerful mode or gentle mode. This step will reduce your yearly water consumption.
• When you want to renovate your flooring then you can go for cork floor. Besides being natural cork flooring is comfortable to walk on and durable. Cork floorings are available in a wide range of designs and colors.
• Instead of replacing entire flooring you can reuse or refinish the existing material. This is easily possible in case you have other type of flooring beneath your wood flooring.
• In case you are opting for carpet tiles then carpet padding is not compulsory. It is better to avoid carpet padding. Avoid padding will reduce the additional material, labor and chemicals used to install. Carpet padding also increases the need to keep your carpet clean and it becomes hard to clean without using harsh chemicals.
• In case you are not going for big renovation then you can simply switch to eco-friendly furnishing. The best way is to purchase used furniture this step will reduce the demand on forest and materials to be made from scratch. Used furniture besides being eco-friendly is also a cost efficient move.

Tags: eco-friendly, Home Improvement

Save Money on Your Heating Bill This Winter

Oct 14, 2008 Home Improvement

Louisville, Kentucky generally has mild winters but that doesn’t mean we should not take advantage of every opportunity to save money on our heating bills. You never know when we’ll have another massive snow storm like we had this past year.

David, over at My Two Dollars, has a great post that gives us 10 tips to save money this winter. I’ve posted his first five below and you can also read the entire article on his site.

1. Install a programmable thermostat. You don’t need to heat your house to 70 degrees if no one is home all day, so set it to heat up the house right before you get home from work. That way you are not running your heater at full blast all afternoon, but rather just keeping the house from freezing over!

2. Install your storm windows and doors. If you have had your screens up all summer and you have glass inserts for the winter, now might be a good time to start putting them in. I hated doing this at my house when I was a kid, so if you spread it out over a few weekends it won’t seem as bad.

3. Open the blinds and drapes during the day and close them at night. During the day, the sun will come in and help warm up your house, and at night you should close them so the heat stays indoors.

4. Have your furnace serviced. Now is the time to make the appointment, before winter comes and everyone else wants theirs done. A serviced and cleaned furnace runs more efficiently, saving you money as you heat your house.

5. Insulate any heating ducts exposed to colder weather. Do you have any exposed heating ducts running through your garage or attic? You might want to think about wrapping them in insulation to prevent the heat from escaping or cooling down as it is working its way around your home.

Cooling Your Home Without Touching the A/C

Jun 19, 2008 Home Improvement

From a wonderful, home improvements site, Home Tips, comes this helpful list of ways to help your home stay cool as Summer is almost upon us. Keeping your home in great shape is your number one way to have a quick sale when you choose to sell.

1. Cut back the transfer of heat through the roof and walls. If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it NOW. This will give you the greatest change in comfort for the least amount of expense. Before you buy, see the Home Insulation Buying Guide. Weatherize your home to reduce the loss of conditioned air. Employ caulk and weather stripping to cut back on the transfer of air.
2. Install a foil radiant barrier in the attic. Staple it to the underside of the roof rafters, allowing an air space between the foil and the roof sheathing. Place staples about 3 inches apart. Position seams between sheets of foil centered on the rafters and seal the seams with a bead of caulking compound.

Read Tips 3-9 »