Remodeling is a HOT topic lately. With many sellers waiting to ‘ride out the storm’ and not move unless they have to, they’re looking to do some remodeling and upgrading their existing homes. More often than not, they ask where they will get the most ‘bang for their buck.’ The old saying is “kitchens and bathrooms sell houses” and if you’re looking for a project, those are normally where you would want to start.  But with personal budgets being squeezed, people want hard core numbers. 

For obvious reasons, I do not like giving exact numbers to clients who ask.  After all, if I knew exactly what someone would get out of their investment, I’d be in Vegas right now.  Lucky for me I don’t have to.   Remodeling Magazine has just put out their 2008-2009 remodeling cost vs. value report that gives a seller exactly what the need to start their project.  They’ve even adjusted for the downturn in the economy and housing markets.

If you’re looking to do a remodel, consider going ‘green’l.  Buyers today are starting to look for ‘green’ options in a home.  Ways they can save money and also have a healtheir home to live in.  If you’d like help on where to find ‘green contractors’ or remodelers, email me and I’ll be happy to share my vendors list with you.

Happy remodeling!

I wrote a post on my green blog this morning regarding a recent NYTimes article I read. I enjoyed it so much I thought it would be worth posting about here.
Check out the post

I’m so excited and happy that this past week I purchased a new furnace.  As I was sitting there with the my guy Dan from Apollo signing the paper work and picking out my new machine, I thought to myself “you know you’re growing up when purchasing a new furnace gets you all pumped up.”  I think Dan was tickled seeing me get so excited about it.  Well, what’s not to be excited about?  My Duke bills will be lower this winter, i will actually be warm in my house without feeling guilty and I’m helping the environment by upgrading my efficiency!  YIPPEE!

My old furnace (and i’m sad i didn’t take a picture of it before they started dismantling it) was a Williamson probably installed somewhere between the 1960’s-1970’s.  When I purchased my house 3 years ago, my inspector told me that my old Williamson furnace is a “work horse” and will never die.  In fact it’s rumored that Williamson put themselves out of business because their equipment never broke down and never needed replacing!  Not sure how true that is, but everyone in the real estate biz around here seems to know that story.  This furnace was so inefficient that everytime I would hear it crank up in the basemnt I would just see dollar bills floating out the windows.  My heating bills weren’t outrageous, but I also wasn’t very warm for the prices I was paying.  So, now I can feel comfortable both temperature and pocket book. 

Here are some before and after photos of the furnace: 

The Old Heat Exchanger - Its so BIG!The NEW heat exchanger

The New 95% Eff Furnace!

The ENTIRE new furnace could fit inside the duct work of the old furnace!  WOW!

I

With the debut of our LEED Gold Homes in Northside a few weeks ago. The action hasn’t stopped. These homes are unique to Northside and some of Cincinnati’s first.

Not only are they energy efficient, but they are extremely affordable as well. Nestled in one of Cincinnati’s growing communities, these homes have really made some “buzz” around town. Everyone who sees them are impressed by their simple, yet sleek design and when they realize how good they are for you and your pocket book they just can’t get over it.

As a matter of fact, on one particular showing, the buyers agent adamantly insisted that we not attend the showing to demonstrate the uniqueness of these properties, almost to a point of being rude. We were kind and reminded them that these properties are unique and that buyers need to be guided through to really understand how great these homes are. They arrived, we gave our tour and both the client and the other agent were raving fans by the end.

What’s so great about these homes? There really are too many details to list. So I’ll give you an over view:

1. They’re affordable.
2. They save on energy usage (40-60%) - thus saving your pocket book
3. They’re healthy - low VOC paints, no carpeting, filtration systems, etc… Possibly saving you on doctor bills
4. They have a 15yr tax abatement - estimating your taxes at ~$25/mo
5. They look cool.
6. They’re in Northside - a great growing community.
7. They’re brought to you by a LOCAL NON PROFIT - CNCURC

We and those who see them really can’t say enough great things about these houses. With all of this activity, I’m afraid they won’t last long. If you’d like to schedule a showing just give us a call!

I recently met up with Brent Quebman from Energy Que to talk about what his company has to offer and about educating and helping our city reduce their energy consumption.  I can really see a need for his services in the areas where I primarily sell real estate (older homes with virtually no insulation, old furnaces, etc…)

He is also an educator of Environmental Sciences as Cincinnati State and he briefed me on a “powerless challenge” he posed to his students.  It goes a little something like this:

Turn off your power for 24 hours - on purpose with a purpose Saturday, April 19th…
  

Many people in the world go without electricity every day. Whether a farmer in sub Sahara Africa, Homeless in a major US city or an ice storm has knocked out your power, we quickly realize electricity is a luxury. So the question is, have you lost sight of the basics? What if you chose to go without for a 24 hour period? Do you think you could do it? What does it say if you can’t?

 

Electricity generation is responsible for 41 percent of US man made carbon dioxide emissions. Although there is tremendous focus on alternative and renewable energy sources, we talk very little about our own consumption. Even those that do talk about consumption still use electricity regularly. So what if we chose to turn the power off on purpose and planned for it. In preparation for Earth Day on April 22nd, we will be turning off our main breaker for 24 hours Saturday, April 19th on purpose for a purpose. The first 8 hours should be pretty easy, but after that will be interesting! What will we learn from this challenge?

 

Awareness of what we take for granted.

Takeaways for future power outages.

What could we go without to save power.

How much money and emissions did we save that day.

Perhaps a little more about each other.

Lessons hidden in plain site.

Duke energy is partnering with Lowe’s and offering a coupon discount for CFL light-bulbs.  What a great deal!  I wish I would have known last week when I purchased a bunch at full price. 

Just remember, they do contain small amounts of mercury, so be sure to dispose of them properly when they do burn out.

See here for details: http://www.cinergyregulatedbiz.com/AuthFiles/ee/promos/cfl-coupon.asp

If you haven’t heard as of March 14 the USGBC has officially come out with a great resource on how to ‘REGREEN‘ your home.

“REGREEN is the nation’s first set of resources and tools for green home remodeling
projects. The REGREEN residential remodeling guidelines help make your home
renovation project green, from installing a new dishwasher to remodeling your master
bathroom to refurbishing an entire home interior. REGREEN addresses the major
elements of any green renovation project, including the site of the home, water
efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources, and indoor environmental
quality. The guidelines blend product selection, building systems integration and
proven technologies into a seamless compilation of green strategies and case studies
for the homeowner, builder and design professional.
The REGREEN guidelines can be applied to a variety of home projects, from remodeling
a kitchen to adding a major addition, from redoing a back yard to executing a gut
rehab. Homeowners can either use the guidelines for their own do-it-yourself projects
or visit with a professional who can apply REGREEN as a design guideline.”

                                                                        -USGBC's REGREEN FAQ's

What a fantastic resource this is! So many of us have been needing a guide like this. The areas of Cincinnati that I mostly sell real estate in are homes that are between 50-100+ years old. Many times they are old and drafty, they haven’t been updated with high efficiency furnaces, etc… With the rising costs of energy bills, health care, etc, we need a guide from the expert on how to retro fit and renovate our great old homes with the charm and character we love to have modern environmentally friendly upgrades. The USGBC has done just this for us. Yeah!

If you are currently have a REGREEN project going on, I’d love to hear about it!  Send me pictures and details of what you’re doing and we can document your process!

It seems as though everyone these days is talking a bit greener. From saving at the pump to buying those funny shaped lightbulbs, there is something that everyone can do to save some cash and help the environment in the process. To help some of you who haven’t jumped on the green train, I’ve pull together a list of energy saving tips (and rebates for doing so). Well, I must admit it is a list pulled together from reading several resources. The best one I found is from www.greenhomeguide.org. I apologize for not originally giving credit where credit is due, their list summed up the best of the best guides. Check out their website for more energy saving tips.

1. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs

Those are the new “funny shaped bulbs.” These bulbs can be a huge energy saver and typically have a much longer life than other bulbs. Replace some (or all) of your incandescent bulbs with fluorescents and enjoy reductions in heat production, energy use and electric bills. Changing five of the most frequently used bulbs in your home can save you $100 per year on electric bills.

2. Program your thermostat - or get a programmable thermostat!

Having a programmable thermostat is imperative!  When you are at home, keep the thermostat at 78 F or higher in the summer and 62 F or lower in the winter. I even program it to turn down at night while we are sleeping and pile the blankets on or use space heaters. This is especially helpful if you live in an older home that doesn’t have as much insulation.  If you live in a large house and don’t use all the rooms.  Shut those doors and close the vents.  No need to heat rooms that aren’t being used.

3. Plug air leaks and Insulate

This simple step can go a long way toward keeping your home at the temperature you desire, saving money on heating and air conditioning bills and more. Common leaks occur around windows, doors and other wall penetrations. Plugging those leaks with weather stripping and caulk can be a simple task for anyone. If you live in an older home, chances are its not well insulated. An easy thing to do is insulate the attic space and the basement ceiling. You can even hire a contractor to come out and put insulation in your walls.

4. Tune up your heating and cooling (HVAC) system

Have a checkup for your HVAC system every two years to make sure it is running efficiently. Be sure to clean the filter monthly during times of peak usage; a dirty filter can significantly reduce the system’s efficiency. If its time to upgrade the furnace or airconditioning, check out Duke Energy’s rebate program .

5. Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances

ENERGY STAR®-qualified products meet a high level of energy efficiency, which can translate into savings on electric bills. So when it’s time to replace that old refrigerator, microwave, clothes washer or other appliance, remember that even if an ENERGY STAR appliance costs more, you could reduce your energy bill by $50 yearly for each appliance. Also, check with your electric utility – some offer incentives for replacing old appliances with more efficient ones.