Recently the National Association of Realtors (NAR) published 7 Best Remodeling Projects for the Money on their consumer-focused Web site HouseLogic.

Here’s a summary of some Louisville home improvements that will net you the most money.

1. Tough-as-Nails Siding Replacement: Percent of investment recouped: 78%
2. A Low-Cost Entry Door with Steely Good Looks: Percent of investment recouped: 73%
3. A Bedroom with High Aspirations: Percent of investment recouped: 72.5%
4. Energize Your Tired Kitchen: Percent of investment recouped: 72.1%
5. Put a New Face on Your House: Percent of invest recouped: 71.9%
6. All Decked Out: Percent of investment recouped: 70.1%
7. Siding with Value: Percent of investment recouped: 69.6%

Other reports I’ve read show the value of a front door replacement to often be more than 100%.

Keep in mind those are national values. Rates will be different here in Louisville. Consult with your real estate expert before tackling any home improvement projects directed towards improving a home sale.

Be sure to take extreme caution and use the proper equipment when dealing with asbestos.

As mentioned in a previous post, asbestos was commonly used in building materials throughout the 20th century and many homes to this day still contain these materials. Recently, many homeowners are choosing to remodel their homes instead of putting it on the market or hiring professional contractors. With popular television shows on the DIY Network and HGTV , more homeowners than ever before are ready to dive into these household projects. A recent study published in the Medical Journal of Australia explains that do-it-yourself projects are largely to blame for an increase in asbestos related diseases, which may soon be the case in the U.S. if we aren’t careful. Here are some tips to help keep your family safe if you are considering a DIY home project.

Have Your Home Inspected for Asbestos Before a DIY Project

If your home was built prior to 1980 and you have reason to suspect asbestos materials are in an area you plan to remodel, having your home inspected and sampled for asbestos fibers is important. An asbestos professional will come and sample the air. If the sample contains more than 1% asbestos, according to the EPA the area is “asbestos containing” and imposes a health risk. This is important before starting a DIY project on your home; you don’t want to risk releasing more damaged asbestos fibers into the air.

Hire an Abatement Company

If your air sample came back showing that your air does in fact contain asbestos, you should remove asbestos before starting your project or remodel as this will damage the materials sending the asbestos airborne. Removing asbestos can be an overwhelming and dangerous project for someone who is not a professional. The job will get done quickly and safely by using a certified asbestos abatement company in your area.

Have you taken all of the safety steps above? GREAT! However, it is still very important to wear proper safety equipment while working on your home project. When working on your renovation, wear a dust mask and goggles at a minimum. This will protect you from inhaling any dust particles as well as protect your eyes. The safest and best recommendation is to wear a mask that contains a HEPA filter and covers the nose and mouth securely.

For more information on asbestos safety during home renovations visit Asbestos.com.

Despite powerful incentives like historically low mortgage interest rates, a surplus of home inventory and bargain home prices, the Louisville real estate market remains sluggish. Without a great push in these final three months, there will be fewer homes sold 2011 than there were in 2010.

A by-product of this is that more and more homeowners are spending their money with Louisville home improvement companies. Everything from updating bathroom faucets on the low end, all the way up to newer, more energy-efficient HVAC systems. Even high-tech products like geo-thermal and solar that have been a previously rare sight to behold are now catching on with Louisville homeowners.

Installing a Solar Solution in Your Louisville Home

I sat down with Dan Hofmann, president of RegenEn Solar to learn more about today’s solar systems.

There’s a great deal of specific information about today’s solar products, far too much to cover in this piece. I’ll outline a few of factors involved in today’s solar solutions below.

• Panel Types: Many homeowners may reject solar solutions outright simply because of aesthetics. The most powerful solar products are bulkier and less attractive but there are also slimmer products available that are less powerful but more visually appealing. You have options!
• Energy Management Systems: Today’s solar systems include monitoring software systems that are more user-friendly that those in the past. They communicate a great deal of information on the status of the system, as well as, how much energy the solar system has generated today, last week or last month.
• Property Attributes: When dealing with complicated systems, it pays to have someone like Mr. Hofmann explain the variables in a way that you can make an informed and strategic decision. Solar solutions require you to consider the home’s direction placement, size of the roof, current and expected energy use and many more factors. There’s definitely no “one size fits all” when it comes to solar; each installation is truly custom.
• Green Considerations: For some, the reason for choosing solar is a desire to Go Green. This is completely valid! For others, it’s simply a return on investment decision. In my opinion, both should be considered when evaluating whether solar makes sense for your Louisville home.
• Predicting the Future: Of course, it’s impossible to accurately predict the future but certain guesses are fairly safe. Even though the cost of energy here in Louisville is very low compared to other cities in our nation, we can assume energy costs will continue to rise over time. Once the solar installation is complete, maintenance costs are very low, so the benefit over time increases.

Test Case Data for Solar

I asked Mr. Hofmann if he could quote my home as a test case for this article. After simply sending him my address and an easily obtained report of my energy usage downloaded from the LG&E website, he quickly sent me a very detailed quote.

In this quote, he calculated how the style and number of panels that would be the best for my homes size, setting and energy usage. Here is a portion of that quote:

Contract Price                                        $29,981
Federal Tax Credit (30%)                               $8,994
Net Cost                                              $20,987

System Size in watts                                    8,640
Number of solar panels                                     36
Wattage of each solar panel (DC)                          240

Estimated Payback in years with Home Value Increase*,     **1
Estimated Payback in years with SRECs** (w/o Home Value)   11
Estimated Payback in years w/o SRECs** and w/o Home Value  15

Annual kWh Production                                  11,605
kWh Usage Offset                                          50%
Life Expectancy of Product                             40 yrs
Solar Cost per kWh                                     $0.072
Current Utility Cost per kWh                           $0.079
Total $ ROI (after 25 yrs)*,                       ** $81,907
Total % ROI (after 25 yrs)*,                        ** 390.3%
Annualized Rate of Return (over 25 yrs)*,            ** 15.6%

Conclusion

It’s a given that installing a solar system will improve your homes value. It’s also easily calculated that solar will reduce energy bills and eventually pay for the system. This quote shows that with Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) the system will be paid off in 11 years.

In an understandably simplified equation, homeowners planning to remain in their current home for only a few years should likely pass on solar, in my opinion. Five to ten years is a tougher call. A stay ten years or longer translates into solar making strong financial sense.

If you’d like more information or a free customized quote, call Dan Hofmann at (502) 298-8160 or email him at dhofmann@regenensolar.com. Tell him you read this story on LouisvilleHomesBlog.com.

A basic concept in marketing anything is having an item appeal to the most amount of people possible. This concept also applies to selling your Louisville home. The more appealing it is to the market as a whole, the faster it will sell.

If you’re thinking about doing some home improvements to add value to your home, here are some that you may want to avoid. These improvements will not add as much value as kitchen or bathroom renovations would when you are selling your Louisville home.

Home Additions

While some additions can add a lot of value, some rooms appear to be tacked on to the rest of the house. Buyers will get the feeling that the room simply doesn’t belong to the rest of the house and this will be a turn off for a lot of them.

Additions need to take into account the overall flow of the house and need to appear as natural as possible. It can be a problem adding a new room because you may not be able to sense the flow of the house as an insider. If you’re serious about putting up an addition get some outside help from a design professional that can look at the layout and make suggestions.

Appropriate Finish Upgrades

Any type of upgrades that you add to your home need to be matched to the rest of the home. If you have a modest house and buy high-quality upgrades for one room only, that room will look completely out of place when compared to the rest of the house. Again, it is maintaining the flow of the whole house that will attract more buyers when selling your Louisville home.

Pools

A lot of people are not even going to look at a home that has a pool. You will be limiting your target market by adding a pool to your home. If you are thinking of selling in the not too distance future, avoid getting a pool for the home you’re in now and put it in your next home instead.

Conclusion

Talk to a top Louisville Realtor about the home improvements you are planning before going ahead with any of them. The agent will let you know what kind of return you can expect by upgrading and whether it will hinder (or promote!) the buyer’s market when you are selling your Louisville home.

Nobody likes taxes. Well, almost nobody… there is this loopy bird who wants Obama to raise his taxes. But for the remaining 99.999% of us, lower taxes is a good thing.

How would you like to lower your taxes and improve your home at the same time?

In the past, both the State and National goverments have put forth efforts to help the struggling housing market. Most famously, the first time home buyer’s tax credit gave some incentive for renters to become owners. Alas, those efforts have ceased. But never fear, opportunities still exist!

I spoke with Dan Small CPA, with Curry Drake & Associates about the potential tax saving options still available. In my thinking, if a homeowner in Louisville is considering multiple home improvement projects there’s a benefit knowing that certain projects bring a tax benefit while others do not.

Dan was quick to advise me, “I never council my clients to make a purchase decision based solely on the tax benefits. You need to consider all the factors involved.” It’s simply one more piece of data to include in the decision making process.

So, if the other factors do align themselves towards a particular project, I’ve outlined the Federal Tax Credits that are currently available for Louisville homeowners. Please note, some of these expire at the end of 2011 so you may have to act quickly.

Tax Credits That Expire on December 31, 2011

These require that it be an existing home and your principal residence. New construction and rentals do not qualify.

• Biomass Stoves: Tax Credit Amount: $300
  Requirements: Thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%
• Heating, Air Conditioning: Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan: Tax Credit Amount: $50
  An Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan is an efficient fan, or blower motor which blows the air that your furnace heats up through the duct system.
  Requirements: Must use no more than 2% of the furnace’s total energy.
• Insulation: Tax Credit Amount: 10% of the cost, up to $500
  Requirements: Typical bulk insulation products can qualify, such as batts, rolls, blow-in fibers, rigid boards, expanding spray, and pour-in-place.
• Roofs (Metal, Asphalt): Tax Credit Amount: 10% of the cost, up to $500
  Requirements: “Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings” and “asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules” that also meet ENERGY STAR requirements.
• Water Heaters (Non-solar): Tax Credit Amount: $300
  Requirements: Energy Factor ≥ 0.82 OR a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.
• Windows & Doors: Tax Credit Amount: 10% of the cost, up to $500, but windows are capped at $200
  Requirements: Must be ENERGY STAR qualified.

Tax Credits That Expire on December 31, 2016

Existing homes & new construction qualify. Both principal residences and second homes qualify. Rentals do not qualify.

• Geothermal Heat Pumps: Tax Credit: 30% of cost with no upper limit
  Requirements: Closed Loop: EER ≥ 14.1, COP ≥ 3.3
  Open Loop: EER ≥ 16.2, COP ≥ 3.6
  Direct Expansion: EER ≥ 15, COP ≥ 3.5
  Tax Credit includes installation costs.
• Small Wind Turbines (Residential): Tax Credit: 30% of cost with no upper limit
  Requirements: Must have a nameplate capacity of no more than 100 kilowatts. Tax Credit includes installation costs.
• Solar Energy System: Tax Credit: 30% of cost with no upper limit
  Requirements: At least half of the energy generated by the “qualifying property” must come from the sun. The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
  Note: The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs. The water must be used in the dwelling. Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement. Tax Credit includes installation costs.

Tax Credits That Expire on December 31, 2016

Existing homes & new construction qualify. Must be your principal residence. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.

• Fuel Cells: Credit Details: 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity
  Requirements: Efficiency of at least 30% and must have a capacity of at least 0.5 kW. Tax Credit includes installation costs.

For all the details and how to apply for the tax credits, please visit 2011 Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency.

Update 9/29: Also see Kentucky: Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency for State incentives.

So there you have it! Considering a Louisville home improvement project? Don’t forget the tax ramifications. If you need an expert CPA for your personal taxes or those of your small business, I fully recommend Dan Small with Curry Drake & Associates.

I had a chance to sit down and chat with Rob Benefiel, owner of Certified Comfort to learn more about his company and gain some insight into the best ways to make sure that your Louisville home is cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter.

Having the proper temperature inside your home is generally more important than size of the house size or other home features but people often take this for granted. When I asked Rob what the most important thing homeowners needed to know about HVAC, he replied, “Have an annual maintenance agreement with a company that is thorough with their tune-up. Proper on-going maintenance is key.”

His company, Certified Comfort Heating & Cooling, as part of their maintenance agreement has a 10-point checklist for the heating systems and a 10-point checklist for the cooling system. The first visit is $150, with each following visit just $125.

Which HVAC Brands Are the Best?

I tried to learn which hardware brands were the best, in terms of quality, but Rob shared that all of the top five or six major brands are quite similar and it’s really the role of the service tech and their attention to detail that plays the larger role in long hardware life.

“If homeowners don’t pay for routine maintenance they’ll likely have a break down or major failure at an inconvenient time. These repair costs run about $100-$300 for a small repair, $400-$700 for a medium-sized repair up to $800-$1,500 for a major repair,” said Rob.

High Efficiency Is Where It’s At

When I asked Rob about innovation or new trends in the field, he answered, “There’s an ongoing push towards higher efficiency systems. In the next couple of years the minimum will require a 14 SEER system, which will be an increase in the lowest tier of pricing.”

I also wanted to Rob to explain exactly what a heat pump was and what made it better. Rob replied, “A heat pump is heating and cooling in one box, that lives outside and looks like an AC unit. Only when temperatures drop very low does it turn off and let the interior furnace turn on. Savings can be up to 30% over standard systems.”

Conclusion

Every home is different. Louisville HVAC services will depend on the characteristics of your Louisville home. Rob believes it’s his job to come out and see your home before prescribing the best solution for your home and pocketbook. Rob’s clients that I’ve heard speak highly of his service and quality of work so I can recommend him whole-heartedly.

If you’re thinking about a quick and inexpensive way to update your home, consider kitchen and bath fixtures. Whether you’re selling or remodeling, take a look at your cabinetry hardware. Is it worn or outdated? Consider new satin or polished nickel or oil rubbed bronze finishes. Simple, sleek contemporary or trans-modern styles are popular at Willis Klein Showrooms in St. Matthews, says Director of Marketing Rebecca Johnson.

Kitchen Designer Teri Nall seconds the nomination for oil rubbed bronze fixtures, and notes that chrome is still popular too. For faucets, she advises looking for versatile features such as high necks for tall cooking pots, as well as faucet/hose combinations. Nall also recommends using brand name products when possible, as the major vendors back their products and tend to run better longer.

Linda Greenebaum of Home Depot also mentioned brushed nickel as a popular choice, in practical pull down and high neck faucets for kitchens. For bathroom sinks, two handled and high arc spouts are trends as well.

Johnson adds that in addition to chrome and brush nickel finishes, black is a color that’s gaining popularity for ease of use, pull out and industrial styles. The clean lined look has an added benefit of requiring only one hole in counter tops. For baths, high arc spouts are mentioned again. Also look for updated styles such as lab vessels and mini wide fixtures with no bar.

Whatever finish or model you choose, it’s easy to update your Louisville home’s style and make your kitchen or bath more functional at the same time.

Angela Mullins Boggs is the author of the Louisville design blog derbycitydarling.tumblr.com. She has worked in sales/design in Louisville since 2000, at stores including Habitation, Calico Corners and Norwalk Furniture. A native of Whitesburg, KY and graduate of Georgetown College, Angie lives in Clifton with her husband Bruce and kitty Ariel. Angie currently works in sales at Rite Rug flooring on Hurstbourne Pkwy.

Love the warmth and beauty of wood flooring but not sure where to start? Here are a few tips! As you’re shopping, keep in mind your budget and how long you plan on staying in the home.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid wood is durable and beautiful but generally costs a little more. Most styles can not be used “below grade” (i.e. basements, cellars, etc.) because they need to be nailed down to a wood sub-floor, not concrete. They are also not a good idea in areas with moisture or humidity, such as bathrooms, because they do expand and contract to a small degree with the weather.

A benefit of solid wood is that it may sanded and refinished for years of beauty and durability. Bear in mind, however, that solid wood can change color over time due to sunlight and aging, for example, cherry darkens and walnut lightens.

In solid wood, Bruce’s “Manchester Oak” in Gunstock is another versatile local favorite. But hickory is also making a showing. Exotics, such as Brazillian Cherry and Santos Mahogany are gaining popularity as well.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered woods can be used below grade (glued down), and are better for humid areas. Engineered is usually less expensive than solid wood, because it uses the best wood only in its top layer. Because it is constructed of several wood layers stacked at 90 degree angles, re-sanding can result in mismatched grain, so it may not be your best choice if you want the floors refinished in the future.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring has the look of wood but costs less and is easy to clean. It can be used above or below grade and can many times go over some existing flooring.

Laminates are now available in a variety of colors and textures, ranging from distressed, rustic looks to shiny contemporary styles. If sound is an issue, be sure to add a good underlayment (a thin layer of foam or rubber such as VersaQuiet).

Because I work with flooring companies, I can tell you that laminate flooring is popular in Louisville. I love Pergo’s “Accolade,” in color Jatoba, a rich, reddish color that is perfect for formal or informal rooms, and with both light and dark furniture.

Not actually a laminate, vinyl flooring can also resemble wood and fools many who see it. An exciting option is luxury vinyl plank, such as Mannington’s “Adura” or Armstrong’s “Alterna.” These products offer the look and feel of real wood with the durability and easy cleaning advantage of vinyl.

Pick the floor that fits your Louisville life

Whatever wood, or wood-look, you choose don’t forget to add an area rug for style and comfort. If you can’t find a size and style you like pre-made, any flooring store can custom order carpet bound as a rug. It’s another way to express your personal style and make your room more comfy at the same time!

Angela Mullins Boggs is the author of the Louisville design blog derbycitydarling.tumblr.com. She has worked in sales/design in Louisville since 2000, at stores including Habitation, Calico Corners and Norwalk Furniture. A native of Whitesburg, KY and graduate of Georgetown College, Angie lives in Clifton with her husband Bruce and kitty Ariel. Angie currently works in sales at Rite Rug flooring on Hurstbourne Pkwy.

Need a little update for your home without spending too much? Try a new paint color! PPG Porter Paints just introduced the Louisville Color Collection, in honor of the company’s 90 year anniversary.

There are some great neutrals like Fort Knox Gold (6832-2), Lillies for the Fillies (6823-1), and Kentucky Hot Brown (6702-3). My favorite is Fleur-de-lis (6867-2), a crisp, light tan.

Earthy and relaxing, soothing blues and greens continue to be a big color influence. Try Kentucky Lake (7059-1), RiverWalk (7055-3), or Great Lawn (6995-2). Sour Mash (6928-2) is a cool, pale sage, and it’s just fun to say. Imagine telling your friends and neighbors that your walls are painted in “Sour Mash”!

If you want a little color without the commitment, the ever-popular accent wall may be your new best friend. For drama and style, go for a rich deep brown like “Whiskey Straight” (6678-4), or a vibrant red like Derby Hat (6059-5) or, of course, “Run for the Roses” (6048-5) would be great for every occasion.

Angela Mullins Boggs is the author of the Louisville design blog derbycitydarling.tumblr.com. She has worked in sales/design in Louisville since 2000, at stores including Habitation, Calico Corners and Norwalk Furniture. A native of Whitesburg, KY and graduate of Georgetown College, Angie lives in Clifton with her husband Bruce and kitty Ariel. Angie currently works in sales at Rite Rug flooring on Hurstbourne Pkwy.

Amid the dozens of bathtup overlay companies, tool shed builders and assorted specialty sales companies (need a new cell phone case?) you’ll find some intriguing booths at this year’s Louisville Home Garden and Remodeling show which starts today.

I’ll have more in-depth stories in the next several weeks but a few companies that caught my eye might be interest to you as well.

• Classic Metal Roofing Systems of Kentuckian: If you’re planning to stay in your current home for the long term, you should consider a metal roof which is longer lasting, more eco-friendly and now available in a larger variety of styles.
• Enercept: As energy costs increase having your home insulated becomes a bigger and bigger factor. SIP constructed buildings are becoming more common on the residential side and should be considered by anyone in Louisville thinking about building a new home.
• A.N. Roth Insulation Services: Spray foam insulation isn’t new but Airkrete is and it’s a greener product that is sure to gain market share as more people hear about its benefits.
• Fireplace Distributors Inc.: Not all fireplaces are created equally. To ensure the safety of you and your loved ones, make sure your is a direct vent fireplace that removes all the harmful gases completely from your home.

There’s much, much more (solar power, quartz counter-tops, geothermal, etc.) but this will give you a head start if you’re heading out to the event.

I’m hoping to have some subject-matter experts write for LouisvilleHomesBlog.com in the coming weeks to further explain some of the new technology that is now available. If you are interested in contributing, please contact us.