Build Better, Not Bigger in your next green home project

For most of the 2000's we saw people building and purchasing more home than they needed. Living in excess has long been an American tradition, but with the recent recession and housing slump we have seen a trend in the way some Americans are choosing to live their lives.

New homes had doubled in size since 1960, but in 2008 we saw the average size home slide from 2,629 sq ft to 2,343 which is the first time in over a decade that we saw a decline.

Homeowners could be choosing to live smaller because they no longer feel like keeping up with Jones since the Jones' home went into foreclosure, or they want smaller utility bills, or because home loans are more scarce then the days of sub-prime loans. Whatever the reason, I am anxious to see if this is a fad or a trend that we will continue to see increase.

If you are of the ilk that prefers to live a more modest lifestyle and are looking for ways to make your home more efficient, there are many options suitable for a various style of homes. Your home remodeler or designer should be a great source of knowledge of your choices that are available for your specific home. However, there are many good sources of inspiration that you can research prior to contacting your home remodeler.

A book I recommed is Not So Big Remodeling by Sarah Susanka. It is a great source of information on how to make your home more comfortable, functional and sustainable. Here are a few remodeling tips from Sarah:

1. Set priorities. Of three factors -- quality, quantity and cost -- determine which two are the most important and let the other "float."
2. Examine your space. Look at what can be done within the existing footprint. List activities to be accommodated, recognizing that a place is needed but not necessarily an entire room.
3. Study storage. A little well-designed storage in the right place can replace a lot of poorly designed storage, opening up floor space in areas that are currently too small to function properly.
4. Bump out a little. Adding just a few feet to a space can contain costs and maintain a house’s scale.
5. Add on with grace. If none of the above strategies meet your needs, and the budget allows, a small addition may be the best option. Consider what each exterior face of the house will look like.

If you are looking to remodel your home, pick up her book and see how you incorporate more of her tips into your next project.

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Quick & easy fixes for going green in your home

Over the past few years, the advances in products for your home have been signicant. Many of these new products are aimed to make your home more efficient so you make a lesser impact on the enviroment while saving money.

One of our biggest expenses as homeowner is water our water bill. Everyday in the United States we use 300 Billion gallons of water. Luckily there are quick and easy fixes you can make to reduce the amount of water you use in your house:

Shower Heads: In the U.S., showers account for 18% of indoor water usage and 39% of hot water usage. A family of four showering only five minutes a day uses 700 gallons of water a week. By installing a high performance showerhead, which uses about 1-½ gallons per minute, you can save 60% versus a non-water saving head. With a small investment, high performance showerheads offer a high return on your investment.

Toilets: Older toilets use 4-7 gallons every time you flush. The newer toilets, specifically dual flush toilets use only 1-2 gallons per flush. If you do the math on that you can see you will see financial benefits immediatley on your next water bill. It is true that dual flush toilets are more expensive than standard toilets, however it will not take long to get your money back on your water bill savings. If you do not want to take the plunge in spending the money upfront, there some dual-flush kits that are availble that will retrofit your existing toilet into a dual flush toilet that is considerablly more afforable (about $25 per kit) and relatively easy to install.

Faucets: Do you have that drip, drip, drip sound in your house that is driving you crazy? Not only is a leaky faucet annoying, it also can drain your pocketbook. A leaking faucet can use about 15-20 gallons a day. If you can't repair an old faucet, then you can purchase a new one at afforabble prices.



Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Savings for building green!

Are you looking at building a home or remodeling an existing home? If so, you might be taking a "green" approach to your project. One of the major reasons people seek to make their home more eco-friendly is because of the financial savings it will provide them.

As a remodeling professional, many people often ask me what savings they can achieve for the improvements they make in their home. There saving for Federal and State programs. There are a couple of a wonderful websites with a database of incentives & policies for renewables & efficiency based on Federal and state guidlines.

Feel free to visit the websites listed below to see what savings you can take advantage of in your state:
http://www.dsireusa.org/

Federal incentices and policies:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Green Remodeling and product certification

A question a lot of people have that are thinking about taking a Green approach to their remodeling or building project is, "How do I know if a product is really green?"

Luckily there are a number of independent certification programs that are related to the green building industry.

Here are some of the most recognized programs:

Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label:
A testing and labeling program for low emitting carpet, underlayment, adhesives and vacuum cleaners
http://www.carpet-rug.org/index.cfm

Energy Star:

a labeling program for enegry efficient homes, building products and appliance
http://www.energystar.gov/

Forest Stewardship Council:
a certification program for wood products that come from forests that are managed in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable way.
http://www.fscus.org/

Greenguard:
an independent testing and labeling program for low emitting furniture and finish materials

Greenseal:
A life cycle's assesment based labeling program for building products and green operations and maintenance procedures
http://www.greenseal.org/

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED):
A certification program for buildings that achieve performance targets in the five green building categories
http://www.usgbc.org/

Scientific Certification Systems:
Independentlyu certifies that products meet the EPA's environmentally preferable standards for federal government purchases;also certifies manufacturers specific claims on product content and emissions levels
http://www.scscertified.com/

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Home Remodeling 2009 Cost vs Value Report

Home owners choose to remodel their home for numerous reasons. Whether that reason be to make their home more energy efficient, make their home more appealing to buyers if they have their home on the market to sell, to update and outdated room, to create more living space for that beloved mother-in-law who is moving in with you, or for many other reasons.

Whatever the reason for the remodel, home owners always like to get the most bang for their buck. Even if it is home that they plan to never leave and the remodel project is just to meet their specific needs, building home equity is a goal everyone likes to achieve as for most people their home is their biggest investment.

Getting the most value for your remodel project varies from year to year, with the status of the housing market largely being the main conrtributing factor. The top valued projects in 2009 in a year of a volatile and downtrending housing market vary from the top valued projects in 2005 where the housing market was at a peak. You can go to the following link to see the latest report on the home remodeling project cost vs value report:

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/division/west-south-central.aspx

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX

Green Remodeling and Home Building (continued)

What makes a product green? Global Green has broken them down to 5 basic categories:

Save Energy

* Products that either reduce heating and cooling loads, such as building orientation, high-quality windows, and insulation.
* Products that use less energy, such as Energy Star-rated appliances, efficient heating and cooling systems and florescent lamps.
* Products that produce energy, such as solar electricity generation systems.

Conserve Water

* Products that conserve water above and beyond what is required by law, such as dual-flush toilets and under-sink flow restrictors
* Products that consume less water, such as native landscaping and drought-tolerant plantings.

Contribute to a Safe, Healthy Indoor Environment


* Products that don’t release significant pollutants into the building, such as no-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free cabinets, and non-toxic caulks, sealers and adhesives, CRI Green Label carpets and pads.
* Products that block the spread of or remove indoor pollutants, such as duct mastic, effective ventilation equipment, and air and water filters.
* Products that warn occupants of health hazards, such as Carbon Monoxide detectors and humidity sensors.

Protect Natural Resources

* Products with recycled content, such as carpet, tile, wallboard, and wood replacements made from polystyrene.
* Products made from agricultural waste material, such as wheat straw, sunflower stalks, and rice hulls.
* Products that reduce material use, such as drywall clips and concrete pigments that turn concrete slabs into finished floors.
* Products made from rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo flooring, natural linoleum, cork and textiles made from wool, sisal, hemp and organic cotton. Wood products from sustainably managed forests, certified according to the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Salvaged products, such as bricks, lumber and plumbing fixtures.

Reduce Buildings’ Impact on the Community

* Products that mitigate the effects of stormwater runoff, such as permeable pavers, green roofs and cisterns.
* Products that provide easy access to alternative modes of transportation such as bike racks and storage units.
* Products that do not require chemical pesticides or treatment, such as plastic lumber, physical termite barriers and native vegetation.
* Products that contain no dioxin-producing polyvinylchoride (PVC) or ozone-depleting HCFCs.

Remodeling Green offers every homeowner the opportunity to reduce home energy demands, lessen home maintenance costs, and increase comfort and home value. And now with more and more green products becoming available to consumers, making the Green choice does not have to come at a steep price!

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX

Green Remodeling and Home Building in DFW

Whether you are remodeling an exisiting home or building a new one, the opportunities to make your project more eco-friendly are plentiful.

Many local residents in the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex are taking advantage of those opportunities. A recent article from the Star Telegram shows that DFW is second in the nation of cities with the most Energy Star Rated homes. It is great to see our local communities taking a leadership role in living more sustainable lives.

Many people choose to utilize more green practices for typically two reasons:

One being the fact that they want to live a healthier lifestyle and reduce their carbon footprint on the world.

The other reason being for financial benefits. Whether those financial benefits are immediate with the recent energy tax credits available to homeowners or whether it is long term benefits available from utilizing such products as tankless water heaters, Low E windows, flow controlled toilets and fixtures, and many other products available to the consumer.

The biggest misconception about green remodeling or building, is that it is very expensive. There are some very expensive green remodeling options, however that is the same case with many other products/trends that are not eco-friendly. The good thing is that as technology and green products continue to improve, so do the opportunities to make them more affordable.

Over the next week I will continue with this topic in additional blog posts and will provide you with examples of green remodeling trends and products that even the budget conscious consumer can implement in their next remodelign project.

Until the next post, feel free to read the article in the Star Telegram that I previously referenced:
http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1750115.html

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Has the housing industry reached the bottom?

It is difficult to say if the housing industry has seen the bottom of this recession. Especially with the recent increases in unemployment, however there are some good signs out there that hopefully we might see an upward trend in the near future.
Two large companies that have a large presence in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are showing signs that at least in DFW aree we might see the light soon.

The Associated Press reported that Chase Bank is increasing their staff of mortgage loan officers:
"JPMorgan Chase said Tuesday it will hire 1,200 mortgage loan officers by the end of next year, a 60% increase in its sales force.
The workers are needed as the company aggressively goes after new home mortgage business and customers refinancing their home loans."

Beazer Homes saw a profit in the last quarter:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/earnings/2009-11-10-beazer_N.htm

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Save money on your next home purchase with a home remodel loan!

According to the Fort Worth Star Telgram website:

"Mortgage delinquency rates in the Fort Worth-Arlington area are on the rise.

In September, nearly 5.1 percent of mortgage holders were at least 90 days behind on payments, compared with a 3.5 percent delinquency rate in September 2008, according to First American Corelogic."

If you are in the market to purchase a home, now is a great time to find a bargain. While some homes that are forcelosed upon are relatively new, most need a lot of repairs. Hence, the hesitation the reason why many single family home owners shy away from them and most foreclosures are purchased by investors.

For many single family owners, typically the reason why they do not think about purchasing a foreclosure is because they often don't have the money set aside necessary to make the repairs. Little do most buyers know, they have options! Most people utilize traditional home loans, however many people are unaware of 203K Renovation Loans.

203K Loans allow a buyer to include the remodeling costs in the original home loan. That means you can pick up a diamond in the ruff for a bargain, remodel the home to meet your lifestyle and save money in the process. Other benefits of the loan include only 3.5% down payment comared to most other traditional loans that require 10 to 20%.

To learn more about the 203K loans, feel free to read this recent article published by Remodeling Magazine that goes into more detail of the loans:

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/remodeling/renovation-loans-a-foreclosure-silver-lining.aspx?rssLink=203k+renovation+loans

Enjoy the articles and the savings!

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Home Buyer Tax Credits extended

With the unemployment rate topping 10% nationally for the first time since 1983, it was good news to hear that the govenrment has chosen to extend the home buyer tax credits. Not only is it extending the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers, but they have also included a $6500 tax credit for individuals who have owned their home for 5 yrs or more that want to buy a new home.
With the home industry periodically showing some signs of recovery, it is still very sluggish and hopefully this will be a the shot in the arm that the builders, suppliers, real estate agents, remodelers and many more people in the home industry needed.
If you would like to read a little more detail on this, here is a recent article in the Star Telegram:http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1740861.html

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Now is the time to start a remodel project!

Have you been thinking about getting a makeover for your home or business? Many individuals have been waiting to start their project, whether it be because the lending instituions have tightened their belts, fear of losing a job or that the economy will worsen, or because your budget did not fit what you were quoted by your contractors.
Well, for many now is the time to take advantage of the slow times that have been prevelant for many companies in the remodeling industry. The slow times have lead to lower prices for materials and more competive bidding by remodelers for projects.
As remodeling professional myself, I don't recommend a person choosing a contractor soley on price, because like as is the case with most any product or service, you often get what you pay for. But that does not mean that you might not be able to save 5 to 10 percent off of a bid from a year or two ago for the same project and still get quality craftsmanship.
The Wall Street Journal had an excellent article recently regarding this very topic:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703790404574471683619819154.html

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com