Archive for the 'Home Improvements and Design' Category
Top 5 Remodeling Headaches to Avoid
May 11th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design
Whether you’re adding a room to accommodate an expanding family or remodeling to increase value, home renovations can be one of the best investments you make, especially in today’s economy. The key to a successful remodel, however, is knowing what mistakes to avoid. I have advised many clients on what renovations will offer the best return on their investment and pay dividends when the time comes to sell their home.
According to a Consumer Reports poll, the most popular remodeling projects for homeowners are kitchens (19%) and bathrooms (17%) . In another survey, however, Consumer Reports asked 6,000 readers to reveal what went wrong when they remodeled their kitchens and baths and how much those mistakes added to the overall cost of their projects. Here’s how to avoid their mistakes and save:
1. Don’t rush in. Changing plans is the most common, but costliest remodeling gaffe. Be sure to leave time for research and create a comprehensive plan, listing every product.
2. Prepare for the unexpected. There’s a lot going on behind the walls. Unexpected water damage was an issue with 17% of bathroom remodels, while structural problems caused headaches for 10% of kitchen projects. A good contractor will be able to anticipate such problems, allowing the homeowner to budget accordingly.
3. Don’t chase the “low ball.” Contractors are lowering their profit margins due to the tight market, but they often make up their costs in labor or other areas. Readers who went for “low ball” pricing ended up spending a median of $1,500 extra for labor on their kitchens and $1,000 extra on their bathrooms. Don’t sign a contract with a lot of open-ended amounts for products and materials- these are called “allowances,” in contractor speak.
4. Get the paper in order. Have the contractor attach copies of his or her up-to-date license, insurance and workers’ compensation policies to the written contract. He or she should also get permits and provide a lien waiver when the job is done; this will keep suppliers from contacting the homeowner for unpaid bills.
5. Focus on the boring bits. Specifying lighting and placement of trash cans are not much fun, but are critical to the process. For example, the proper exhaust fan will prevent mildew in baths and vent odors in kitchens.
Following the above advice will help ensure a successful and profitable remodel. For more information or for contractor referrals feel free to email me. And please share this information with anyone you know in the midst of remodeling- don’t let them make these same mistakes! Also, please join others by becoming a fan of Kathy Villa Real Estate by following the link on the left. I look forward to connecting with you!
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How Do I Prepare My Home for Showings?
May 3rd, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design, Sellers
It’s a very exciting time. Your agent has just lined up a prospective buyer. A deal can be made or broken during the showing. How can you prepare your home to its best advantage?
1. Removing the clutter should be your first course of action according to the National Association of Realtors. The reasoning behind this is simple. Clutter distracts the mind and it distracts the imagination. A potential buyer needs to be able to see themselves and their own style in your home. By banishing disorder and welcoming in neatness you can give your house an advantage over any competition who is not as prepared.
2. The next step is to clean, after getting rid of the clutter. In the same sense that decluttering is removing “you” from the potential home of another, cleaning is removing your grimy mark. Have carpets cleaned, wax the floors, and remove any odors of pets or smoking.
3. Luxurious bathrooms are a must! A bathroom that is clean and full of comfort is appealing to most every buyer. Arrange new towels and rugs, as well as burn fresh smelling candles. Consider adding rich decor, such as paintings.
4. Windows that shine. We can be desensitized to the finer details of our home, but buyers will hone in on each and every imperfection. Be sure that during your cleaning and decluttering, you don’t forget to wash your windows. This way buyers will be able to focus their attentions on the beautiful grounds of your property, as opposed to the spots on the glass.
5. Let there be light. Burned out bulbs can make rooms look dark and dingy. Consider buying eco-friendly fluorescent or LED lights for use in your home.
6. Minor repairs are important. There are buyers who are turned off by even minor repairs. They see that loose cabinet door or that warped deck board as a two-fold evil. Either the house has been poorly cared for with bigger repairs waiting for discovery under the surface, or that the home may be too much work for them.
7. Don’t neglect your yard. For many buyers, a yard is an extension of the home. Be sure that for each showing, your yard is freshly mowed and any debris, trash, or clutter (toys, tools, etc) are put away. A great way to make flower beds appear neat and well tended is to add mulch. Clean off sidewalks with a power wash.
8. Add punches of seasonal color. Even if you aren’t a garden guru, you can still plant low maintenance flowers in beds and pots. Some examples of low maintenance flowering plants are: petunias, pansies, and vincas.
9. A petless home. We all love our pets, sometimes like they’re our own children. But they should be safely at a friend’s house or kennel during showings. While you’re at it, take your children and yourself out of the home during the showing as well!
10. Lock up your valuables. It would be nice to think that no potential buyer would steal from your home, but it could happen. Be sure that anything easily removed is locked away for safe keeping. And be sure that your real estate agent gets any one’s contact information before they are allowed into your home.
If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, feel free to call or email me for your real estate needs and questions. Don’t forget to share this information with your friends and family who may find these tips useful or need help selling their homes as well.
Courtesy of Yahoo Real Estate. Today’s Local Market Conditions Report
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Top 5 Ways to Build a Green Home
April 29th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design
Most of us know that adopting an environmentally conscious or “green” approach to life can benefit the planet and its future generations. But did you know that greening your home can also benefit your bottom line in terms of energy savings and tax credits?
I’ve learned a lot of the latest green building strategies from clients and home builders I deal with. I though I’d share some innovative green building ideas from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB, www.nahb.org) in case there’s a remodel or new-home build in your future:
1. The roof. According to NAHB, 75% of new homes use “oriented strand board” (OSB), an engineered wood product that does not require the use of large trees in its production, to sheathe roofs and walls. Additionally, durable roof coverings, such as steel and fiber cement, reduce the need for roof replacement and are a key part of many solar roofing products that lock in heat during winter and help keep homes cool in summer.
2. The windows. Energy-efficient windows that incorporate advanced technologies like low-emitting glass coatings, keep heat inside in winter and outside in summer. “Passive” solar design features like large, south-facing windows, also help heat the home in the winter and allow for abundant natural lighting.
3. The walls. Vinyl siding on exterior walls saves money on installation and maintenance; fiber-cement siding is termite- and water-resistant and warrantied to last 50 years. Increasing the amount and R-value of insulation is a cost-effective way to save energy and help reduce heating and cooling bills, which account for at least half of all energy use in the home.
4. The outside. “Xeriscaping,” or using native plants, can significantly reduce the need for watering fertilizers and herbicides, and preserving trees on your property reduces energy costs by providing shade in summer and a wind barrier in winter. Also consider a covered entry for your front door, which can help prevent water intrusion and costly repairs.
5. The appliances. According to NAHB, the energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers has tripled over the last three decades. Front-loading washers use about 40% less water and half the energy of conventional models. New toilets have redesigned bowls and tanks that use less water, while advanced shower and sink faucet aerators provide the same flow regardless of reduced water use.
Please consider the above green building ideas for your next construction project and share this with anyone else who may be in construction mode. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have or point you toward further green resources, so feel free to email me for more information.
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What is a Mother-in-Law Suite?
April 26th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design
The mother-in-law room, commonly referred to as MIL in the Multiple Listing Service, is usually a private suite with a bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom that is separate from the rest of the home, and may include a private entrance. The addition of a kitchenette to the bedroom and bath offers your senior a little autonomy and the ability to make a cup of coffee or a snack without feeling as if they’re in the way.
Depending on your home’s floor plan, an MIL suite may be easier said than done, but for homes with spaces that can be converted, like a garage, workshop or sun room, preparing your floor plan can be simple. Just take the square footage to a kitchen designer or interior designer and he or she will design a practical and attractive floor plan that maximizes storage and living space.
If you don’t have space available, you can consider contacting an architect or contractor who can create a room addition that will not only complement your home, but also incorporate universal design features such as wheelchair access doorways.
When you decide to add on or build a new structure on your property, remember to check with your city clerk or other municipal authority to see what zoning laws apply to your home or area before you begin construction, because some municipalities prohibit a single-family home from having two full kitchens or a suite having a separate entrance from the main entry, while others will permit these so long as you can prove a family member lives there.
Meeting Your Senior Family Member’s Needs
Remembering the senior’s needs will assist everyone in adjusting to having one more member in the household. Place your senior’s suite on the first floor, away from children’s bedrooms or playrooms, in a tranquil and private part of the home.
Using a few basic tenets of universal design will improve quality of life and make life in the suite more comfortable for your older family member. To begin with, you’ll want to implement wider doors and through ways that are open and easy to navigate visually. Also be sure that doors have lever handles as opposed to knobs to prevent hand cramping or arthritic inflammation.
Lighting is also very important for you MIL. Light switches should be larger than normal and flat, which is also easier on aching joints, and make them easier to see with plates that contrast the paint or wallpaper color. Adding bright lights that help in seeing will make your elderly family member more comfortable, especially if they have adequate lighting for tasks and hobbies. Large windows that let in light are great, especially if they provide a relaxing view of the backyard.
Treasure your time with your loved one, and remember that the time and expense it took to create your MIL suite isn’t wasted, even if it’s only used a few short years. Enjoy the closeness you’ll have with your older loved one. The space will never go to waste, it can always be re-purposed down the road as a family room, second home office, or recreation room. Or keep it ready for that graduating senior as he or she looks for a job!
For more suggestions or questions, feel free to email me anytime. Also- remember to become a fan of Kathy Villa Real Estate on Facebook by following the link on the left. We look forward to connecting with you!
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How to Create a Focal Point
April 24th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design
The focal point defines a room’s ambiance and underscores the room’s purpose. It makes you want to enter, and enjoy the room to sit and relax, study, watch videos, sleep, make conversation, play or whatever the room is designed to do.
What makes a good focal point?
According to Better Homes and Garden a good focal point attracts attention. Focal points are either created for you by the room’s architecture, or you have to create one yourself, but the idea is to make the room enjoyable to use.
The room may have an organic feature that you can enhance, such as a bay window with a beautiful view. A picture window can be enhanced with window seats with colors like blue or green to bring the outdoors inside the room.
By establishing what your focal point is going to be, you have an easier time decorating the rest of your room, because the other furnishings will fit around it. For example, if you are creating a focal point with a fireplace and seating area, you can embellish the mantel with a small group of candles or collectibles. Your seating can be arranged to enjoy the fire in the winter, or you can replace the grate with fresh or dried flowers for the summer.
If you want a warm, relaxing ambiance, add bookshelves and a luxurious lap throw draped on the arm of a chair or couch. Use neutral paints and tones, small patterns or solids on furnishings, and decorate with prints of pastoral scenes or still life. Finish with a thick pile area rug, and you’ve completed a cozy den or study.
If you like this article and other subjects we’ve covered, please follow the link on the left and let us know you like Kathy Villa Real Estate on FaceBook.
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Tacky House
April 20th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design, Upcoming Community Events
I’m really looking forward to a new show on Style channel called Tacky House. I’ve seen a few clips and so far it looks hilarious. The show targets homeowners with… let’s say, interesting taste of decor and rescues them from their decorative disasters with professional interior make-overs. I just love watching the “before and after” footage of these kinds of shows.
Not only is the basis of the show entertaining but I’m even more excited about the host being Thom Filicia. If his name rings a bell, that’s because he was one of the Fab Five guys of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He was the interior design expert of the show and very fab himself! Or perhaps you’re familiar with his work. He redesigned the W Hotel here in Westwood (Los Angeles) California. Can you tell I’m a fan?
The show premieres this Wednesday April 21, 2010 at 11:00pm. You early birds will have to set your DVR’s and Tivo’s! The first show is appropriately titled “When Leopard Prints attack.” Click on the link to see a sneak preview of the show. Feel free to leave your comments and let me know how you liked it.
P.S. Don’t forget to join others and become a fan of Kathy Villa Real Estate by following the link on the left. You can also call or email me with your real estate questions or needs. I’ll be happy to connect with you!
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Spring Cleaning
April 19th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design
Spring Cleaning: Break it down into small parts:
Spring brings renewal; an opportunity to knock off the dust and soot that’s accumulated over the past year. As a homeowner, there’s no greater feeling than seeing your home refreshed after winter’s hibernation, and by using the right method, you can help make cleaning easier, simpler and more efficient.
Start by identifying your problem areas, and then form a plan of attack. Having a plan will keep you focused on each area until it’s done, especially if you’re the kind of cleaner who starts in one room, then finds something that should go in another room only to go back and forth until you’re worn out.
The key is breaking tasks down into manageable sizes. If you tell yourself to clean the kitchen, it’s hard to know where to begin. Instead, focus on specific tasks for each room. List things you can work on like:
Kitchen:
- Organize the pantry
- Throw out old food
- Polish the fixtures until shiny etc.
Children’s Room:
- Box outgrown toys and clothes for donation.
- Clean under the bed
- Let Child help and choose what to give away
Put small tasks on your to-do list as well as big tasks like cleaning windows. Narrowing down your goals and knocking out a few little tasks will actually have a big impact on your living space and keep you motivated.
You may prefer to do the same tasks all at once, such as clean under all the beds, or shampoo all the carpets, or clean closets. When all the closets are finished, move on to another task.
The last step in your plan is figuring out how to get rid of all that stuff you don’t want or don’t use anymore. If you’re a “pack rat” just tell yourself, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to help yourself let go of those knick knacks. There’s many ways to get rid of your unwanted junk- if it’s in bad condition you can simply throw it away, recycle it, sell it, give it away or even donate it. Keeping is not an option. Check with neighbors to see if they have any needs that your stuff can fulfill, or you can collaborate on a yard sale together!
Spring cleaning is a lot of work, but as you revitalize and renew your home you’ll be amazed at how making a simple list and sticking to it will improve your home’s attractiveness and utility. Remember that all your efforts you put in will be an improvement to your home.
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Spring Staging Tips
April 16th, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design, Sellers
Brighten up your home and bring in buyers with these easy ideas courtesy of HGTV’S FrontDoor.com
Springtime brings sunshine, showers- and plenty of opportunities for home staging. Make the most of the season with these fresh updates that are sure to attract buyers:
Whip your yard into shape. When you’re selling in the spring, you need to get your yard in shape as quickly as possible. Clear winter yard debris, and get frost-resistant plants that won’t be affected if a late cold spell hits. Or, invest in silk flowers for a touch of color that you don’t have to worry about watering.
Do some spring cleaning. It’s natural to want to spruce up your space in the spring, so scrub away! A sparkling home will impress buyers and make your home seem even more appealing.
Box up your winter wardrobe. Bulky winter clothes take up lots of space, so move them out as you de-clutter your closets. You’ll impress buyers with all that space.
Spruce up the entryway. If your welcome mat is covered with winter dirt, pick up a new one. A clean, pretty doorway will help set the tone for the entire showing.
Bring spring aromas indoors. Spring is not only a colorful season, but a fragrant one, too. Bring those aromas inside. Scents have a profound effect on mood, so infusing scent into your decor with diffusers, candles, fresh cut plants/flowers, or incense can change the overall feeling of a space.
Bring out the bright colors. Tuck away the heavy, winter flannel comforter and pull out crisp linens with coverlets for color. Bring in the spring with floral-designed spreads or colorful solids. Don’t forget accent pillows for added style and comfort.
Feel free to email me for more tips and ideas on getting your home ready to be sold this Spring. Also be sure to become a fan of Kathy Villa Real Estate by clicking the link on the left. We’d love to connect with you!
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How to Help Your Home Stand Out and Sell Faster
April 3rd, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design, Sellers
In today’s buyers market, home-selling clients are always asking me what they can do to help their homes stand apart from the competition. I have seen how effective home staging can make all the difference in not only a quicker sale but a more profitable sale as well.
First, it’s important to realize that home staging does not refer to the usual steps taken when your home is placed on the market, like painting the front door, taking away personal photos, and baking something in the oven. Staging, rather, is the professional merchandising of your home, which helps create an instant connection with potential buyers as they walk through the door. Just as new home-builders create a model home for buyers to envision themselves living in, home staging does the same for your existing home.
Here are some important facts to be aware of before embarking on the home-staging process:
1. Make sure your home stager is knowledgeable about real estate and, in particular, your local market. Knowing what other homes in your area sold quickly, provides the “stager” with important clues as to what buyers are attracted to.
2. Real estate agents are excellent sources for referrals on home stagers in your area. Be sure to ask your neighbors as well.
3. Staging seeks to minimize the furniture in any given room in order to create the right spacing, while displaying as much floor space as possible. Be prepared with a convenient storage solution before you begin the staging process.
4. According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSPR), there is a growing trend toward eco-friendly home staging, where stagers provide specific “green” materials to sellers. This creates unique appeal to today’s environmentally conscious consumers.
5. Home staging is also on the rise among short sale and foreclosure properties where homes might be in need of special care. If you are in a financially challenged situation and need to sell your home, talk to your real estate professional about staging. Certain lenders are working with stagers in order to expedite these types of sales.
In the current real estate climate, homes must be merchandised and marketed wisely. Please email me to find out how staging can make a significant impact on the outcome of your home sale. Also, please join us and become a fan on our Facebook too!
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Expand Outdoors, Increase Your Home’s Value
April 2nd, 2010 categories: Home Improvements and Design, Money and Mortgages, Real Estate News, Sellers
With many Americans experiencing a financial pinch these days, there is a growing trend among homeowners nationwide to look to the outdoor areas of their own property for not only relaxation and entertainment value, but to also expand their living space and thereby, increase their home’s value.
Through my national network of leading real estate professionals, I have learned that homeowners across the country are spending more time at home and showing an increased interest in outdoor living areas. By sprucing up your patios, porches and decks, you are making your home more livable now and more attractive to future buyers.
Stylish patios and outdoor rooms with comfortable furnishings and convenient cooking and eating areas provided new opportunities for recreation and relaxing family times. A recent survey by the Propane Education & Research Council, found that 35% of homeowners have a finished outdoor room and 34% say they are planning to design one in the next year or two.
Some of my clients are even foregoing expensive vacations in favor of putting in a swimming pool. The reality is, however, that you do not need to make a major investment to improve your outdoor living areas. Here are 5 quick additions that will make an immediate difference:
1. Outdoor lighting units
2. Gas grills with cooking and food preparation surfaces
3. Outdoor fire pits or fireplaces
4. Patio heaters
5. Mosquito/bug eliminators
In any market, financial planners all agree, real estate is the best investment one can make. Increasing the value of that investment with features that extend and enhance the family living area is always a wise decision. For more information and ideas, feel free to email me and be sure to join our fan page on Facebook if you haven’t already!
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