How to Reduce Utility Bills

Weather Stripping

Whether it is extremely hot or cold, homeowners and renters alike can face very large utility bills. As energy costs continue to increase we can anticipate that our costs are likely to continue in an upward trend. With utility costs increasing and the troubled economy everyone is looking for ways to save money. There are a few ways that may be effective at reducing home utility costs. Here are a few ideas on ways to save on utility bills without making huge investments of time or money.

Adding Insulation and Weather-stripping

Whether it is summer or winter the home can be more comfortable for less money if it is well insulated. Energy Star has estimated that about 20% of your heating and cooling costs can be saved by adequately insulating the home. Adding insulation is a relatively easy task which you can do yourself and almost immediately start realizing savings. Don’t forget that you can also insulate your water heater and help save some on water heating costs. Light switches and electrical outlets can also be insulated to prevent leakage of air. This is especially useful if they are on an outside wall. Weather-stripping is also an easy do-it-yourself project that will not require a lot of time or expense. Weather-stripping around doors can help keep indoor air inside and outdoor air out which means your heater or air conditioner will not have to work as hard to keep you comfortable.

3 Big Ways to Make a Small Bathroom Luxurious

Pelican Shower/Bath

With so many of us leading busy lives and rushing about from here to there, it can be difficult to set aside time to conceptualize, much less carry out, any home improvements. Between work, school, social engagements and other obligations you may often spend so little time at home that you scarcely have a moment to consider whether you’re happy with your dwellings. That is, until you step into your bathroom or kitchen each morning and have that fleeting thought of, “I really should fix/change/replace/ that”. Our only true sanctuary from the outside world, home is where the heart is, and it can be wonderful to focus a bit of effort on your own space. Having a luxurious bathroom can truly improve your quality of life, so even if you’ve got a small area to work with, it pays to make it as comfortable as possible.

Big Items First

When designing a bathroom, the larger fixtures generally must come first. Items like a bath, shower, and sink must be chosen with care according to the bathroom’s measurements and plumbing locations. However, even smaller spaces can take advantage of luxury fixtures. Experts agree that having a bath of any size will increase your home’s value for future buyers.  The most practical way to implement a bath in a small space is to opt for a shower bath , which allows you to make the most of your floor space. Space-saving toilets can be very attractive as well, so look for styles like back to wall toilets and wall hung models to make the room seem streamlined instead of small. Compact, even minuscule sinks are available in a variety of styles. You’ll be amazed by how nice it feels to rest your eyes on a shiny new sink instead of an old, moldy, cracked or stained one. Replacing this feature will add major luxury appeal.

Make the Space Seem Bigger

It’s difficult to make a cramped space luxurious, but you can use a few tricks to make it seem bigger. First off, make sure to eliminate all clutter by storing it properly (implement proper storage if necessary). A good tip for smaller bathrooms is to use open shelving; it allows the eye to travel to the wall, opening up the space. The same goes for clear glass shower doors instead of a curtain. Check your lighting to make sure it makes your bathroom light and bright- few truly luxurious bathrooms are dark and dank. If possible, leave any windows uncovered to allow for maximum natural illumination. Install mirrors on dull walls, to reflect light and give the appearance of a room that goes on much further.

Luxurious Accessories

What exactly is it that makes a bathroom ‘luxurious’? Aside from having smaller versions of larger luxury features, like a shower bath, many times all a small space needs is the right luxurious accessories. Replace an old plastic shower head with a chrome model, and switch out your basin taps for chrome as well. If you’ve always fancied having marble or stone tiles, a small bath can be a great place to install them, as you’ll need far less material to cover your space. Purchase thick, plush towels, scented candles and quality soap. You can also consider added an extra luxurious heating element, such as a heated towel rack or underfloor heating. Many luxurious bathrooms also incorporate texture, in order to create a sensorial experience. Try adding a plush rug for the floor or have a velvet bathrobe to slip into. By adapting the guidelines for larger bathrooms to fit any space, you too can have a luxurious bathroom.

Sonia Bieber is a home design expert and avid cyclist. She spends her free time in the great outdoors, but appreciates coming home to her cozy home, family and two cats. She is also a freelance writer for Bathroom Heaven, retailers of luxurious bathroom furniture and fixtures.

Kitchen Remodeling On A Budget

The Kitchen is the heart of every home. Often the scene of breakfast chats and late night mingling with cocoa, it is in the kitchen where the family is gathered the most. It is not only the place where the food is prepared that nurtures the body but it is also the place where talks are held that nurtures the soul. If you feel as though your kitchen is overdue for a “facelift”, read on to get some inexpensive tips and remodeling ideas.

DIY, or Do It Yourself, is the first way to minimize costs. While you may not be able to do everything you should try to make as many changes as you can without hiring a professional, you’d be surprised at how much you know. Adding new doors and handles to cabinets will change the feel of the entire room. This is a pretty simple job that doesn’t require much knowledge or skill in carpentry. The biggest thing you will have to make sure of is that you measure the old doors correctly to make sure the replacements fit properly.

Backsplashes adds new depth and texture to the space. Update the old one or add one if none exist. The sky is the creative limit with this. You can use colored tiles or use other materials like steel or aluminum sheets. Repaint and match the tiles or use different tiles to make a fun design. It is always nice to see a backsplash that is not of one solid color which adds interest and a focal point to the space. Patterned tiles are a bit more expensive but they are a lot more interesting, a great option if you don’t have the time or desire to be creative. You will need to choose colors and patterns that will be best displayed by the lighting available in your kitchen. Lighting can play an integral part in the overall appeal of the kitchen. This may be another thing to think about replacing. You can buy new fixtures to accent and highlight the new look or install track lights over the backsplash to show it off better.

Counter tops can be a way for you to add a fresh bold look to your dated kitchen. Granite counter tops can be purchased and installed fairly cheaply. Do your research, compare prices and installation fees. Don’t be afraid to let people know what prices you’ve been getting they might price match or someone might be hiding some “unexpected” fees. The end result is always a beautiful more thoroughly modern looking space. Which brings us to the “triangle”; most kitchens are laid out in a pattern that flows similar to a triangle. There are some features that can only be accommodated by certain kitchen designs. You can ask your sales professional for more ideas based on your knowledge of your kitchen layout. Here are the four types of layouts of the kitchen that will help you talk knowledgably with salespeople:
- The Galley style: Makes use of dual walls to make going from workstation to workstation a lot easier.

Modern kitchen design

- The one wall straight-line: This design generally has the sink in the middle of the station flow. Going from left to right it roughly goes in the order of refrigerator, counter top, stove, and sink counter top.

- The L- shape: Part of an open flow design it tends to blend the kitchen into the other sections of the home.

- The U-shape: By far the most versatile because it has more counter space. It usually wraps itself around as an entire room unto itself and features an island workstation.

Contemporary kitchens

Making an old kitchen fresh and new without having to totally demolish it can be done and it’s not so bad. Take it slow and do a little bit at a time; it will make it less stressful to you and easier on your bank account just keep on it. You may have to be a little handy with a few tools and you may even need to learn some new ones, but most of the work can be done even by a novice.

This was a guest post written by Rick Valence

Rick Valence has a vast array of writing interests that include fiction, non-fiction and how-to guides. He considers himself a bit of a wine aficionado and enjoys spending his vacations in the beautiful California Wine Country discovering great new wines and food pairings. Rick works Monday through Friday as a digital camera repair specialist at C.R.I.S. Camera Services in Chandler, Arizona. He is also the webmaster of his company’s camera repair blog.

Cost of Second Story Floor Addition

This is a guest post by

Erick D. Smith is a blogger living in San Diego who writes about home construction and remodeling. To get a more accurate estimate from one of San Diego’s expert home construction firms, click here.

A second story addition can be a great way to increase the spaciousness of your home, raising its value and giving your growing family the room it needs. Undertaking the project, however, is no small thing. It can be very costly, depending on the size of your house, and regardless of size, it will involve a lot of planning, time, and hard work. Making a thorough cost analysis and creating a realistic budget will make the whole process a whole lot easier and will help you avoid overspending. To help get you started thinking about and planning your second story addition, here is a brief breakdown of the costs that will be involved.

Important Things to Consider

• City and County Requirements – Before you get started on the logistics of the project, it’s important to do some research into the region’s second story addition regulations. Every city and county has its own set of rules regarding how much square footage you’re allowed to add to your home. This is usually based on the amount of land you have. Using San Diego as an example, a good place to find the information you need is the sandiego.gov construction permits page.

Temporary Housing – A lot of contractors will recommend that you live somewhere else, temporarily, while your house is being remodeled. This is a good idea, as it will be more comfortable for you as well as safer, so start thinking of a good place where you might stay before beginning your project. The cost of alternative temporary housing is something you should definitely calculate into your budget.

Standard Expenses

• Contractors – Even if you opt to do as much of the managerial work as possible yourself, there’s no getting around the cost of skilled subcontractors. About 30 – 40 percent of your budget is likely to go towards contract work. The average cost for contractors when adding a second floor to your home is usually between $70 and $150 per square foot.

• Structural Engineer – When you’re looking for home construction services, be sure to look for a good structural engineer in your area. This is someone who will be able to inspect your home and determine whether the existing foundation will support a second story addition, or whether additional foundation work will be required.

• Architect – An architect is an important part of a successful second story addition project. He or she will be needed to create a blueprint of the project and an accurate set of plan drawings. The cost of an architect depends on the size and complexity of the project, and will either be a flat fee or a 5 to 15 percent commission.

Effect on Your Home Value

Adding a second story to your home will lead to a reassessment of your property taxes. This means that they’ll probably increase, but in most areas the reassessment will only be of the second story addition, not of the whole house. The overall value of your home will increase significantly, but keep in mind that utility bills are also likely to go up.

Tips for Eco-Friendly Furniture Refinishing

This is a guest post by Eric Munoz

Eric Munoz owns a wood furniture design company in Houston that can custom build pieces from scratch or duplicate existing pieces. He has over 10 years of experience working with his hands. Visit his site at http://www.cambiumworks.com.

Refinishing can be great way to give old pieces of furniture a new life and maybe save yourself a couple of bucks in the process. However, in order to make this a safe, enjoyable, and eco-friendly process, there are certain things of which you should be aware. Here are four areas of the eco-friendly furniture refinishing process that you should consider before getting into a project.

Beware of Toxins and Pests

Refinishing can be a lengthy process, and you might not be sure of exactly what you are stripping or sanding off of some pieces of furniture. There could be dangerous toxins in the dust that comes off while sanding wood furniture or in the fumes that accompany stripping paint or varnish off a piece. It can therefore be important to wear items such as gloves, a face mask, and protective eyewear.

It is also important to note that while picking up old furniture from unknown sources such as a garage sale, someone’s trash, or wherever, might be an eco-friendly way to reuse these items, there may be unexpected and dangerous surprises involved. With the sudden re-emergence of bed-bugs, you’ll need to be on the lookout for these tiny pests, and keep an eye open for hornets’ nests, other bugs, rodent droppings, and even the rodents themselves. While you might have the best of intentions at heart with your eco-friendly purposes, at times there can be some unintended and unexpected consequences — so be prepared!

A Proper Location

Finding the proper location to work on refinishing your furniture can be important to a safe and eco-friendly process. A well-vented place like a garage, outbuilding or other typically uninhabited space can make for a better spot to work than inside the home. This way, you can give your furniture time to sit and ensure it is devoid of pests, and have a safe place to remove dirt, debris and possibly dangerous and eco-unfriendly material.

Excess Materials

When removing what might be hazardous or toxic material from furniture, whether it is dust, old paint, stain or similar material, using a tarp or clean, hard surface on which to collect this material can keep it from escaping out into the environment. A vacuum may also be handy to sweep up dust.

To dispose of such material, it’s important to remember not to just throw it in the garbage where it will end up in a landfill. Instead, check the phone book or Internet for a local drop off facility for hazardous material. And remember, when working with furniture that might be padded such as chairs or sofas, there may be metal springs that could be recycled, fabric that could be reused or turned into rags, and foam or other padding that might be reused either as packing material or in the refinishing of the furniture itself.

Go Natural

When you have your piece of furniture prepped and ready to be refinished, look for natural finishes that could work for your purposes. Consider leaving the wood in its natural state. Maybe an all natural wood wax or oil would work, or an organic, cotton cover for a cushioned chair or sofa.

If you decide that a finish of some type is needed such as a lacquer, stain, or paint, look for products that are non-toxic and eco-friendly in nature. A quick search of the Internet should provide you with numerous options in this area as well as where such items might be found.

Eric Munoz owns a wood furniture design company in Houston that can custom build pieces from scratch or duplicate existing pieces. He has over 10 years of experience working with his hands. Visit his site at http://www.cambiumworks.com.

Adding Value to Your Home

This is a guest post by, Kevin Fortmyer

Kevin was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He lives with his wife and 2 kids, and enjoys spending his free time camping and fishing. He works for various online schools as a freelance writer.

In the current economic climate, every penny counts more than it has since the Great Depression. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of home improvement. Hit hardest in the current recession, the present real estate market is slowly on the rebound, but is growing at a much slower pace than the rest of the economy is. Many home owners have seen their greatest investment, their house, lose up to 40% of its value in the past 3 years. Many are enacting various home improvement projects in an attempt to shore up or increase the value of their home as a result. Some are even attending interior design schools to become experts in home improvement and design. This begs the question: what are the best home improvement options to consider in the current economic climate?

1. Paint

Painting is a cheap, easy way to remodel any room of your house or revamp the exterior. With many space-enhancing color schemes to choose from, it’s hard not to find a room that could do with a splash of new color and personality. Speaking of personality, stenciling is making a comeback during the recession, allowing for an expensive look with minimal overhead cost.

2. Extend

Adding an extension to your house can add between 10 and 50% to its value, depending on where you put it and how well it’s built and finished. The key here is to find a need your home has and consider the addition to accommodate that need, such as expanding a tiny kitchen or adding a necessary bedroom for your growing family. Another idea is to add an outdoor room extension, giving you extra space for a playroom, home office, or whatever your heart desires.

3. Kitchen Remodel
Though it can be expensive, remodeling your kitchen can add 10% to your home’s value, essentially paying for itself. It is the first room potential buyers will look at that will make or break their interest in your home. It is also a room you’re likely to spend a lot of time in, and should be as comfortable, modern, and spacious as possible. Some easy and relatively inexpensive ways to improve your kitchen are:

• Add new lighting fixtures.
• Add an island.
• Paint and revamp the cabinets.
• Install new counters.
• Replace the kitchen sink.
• Make a backsplash.

4. Re-insulate
Improving the insulation in your home is a basic cost cutting home improvement you can do in a weekend that can cut your utility bill by as much as one-quarter! And while rolling out the pink fiberglass in attics and basements is a great start, there are other areas where insulation is needed that many homeowners do not consider:

• Weather-strip doors and windows to prevent both heat loss and cold air invasion.
• A water heater insulation jacket prevents heat loss through the walls of your water heater.

• Insulating your connected garage will form an extra protective barrier between your home and the elements.
• Some homes have room for blown in insulation in between the siding and the frame of the house.

5. Where you go
Although it may not seem an obvious choice, improving your bathroom is a great way to add value to your house in a room everybody will be visiting sooner or later. Adding new tile and a splash of light color to the walls can be enough to give the bathroom a completely different ambiance. Changing the lighting and the counter space can also change it into a completely new room.

As with anything in life, do not embark upon home improvement ideas without having a good plan and the proper tools and materials to execute them. Attending some classes at interior design schools is another great way to prepare yourself for the home improvement tasks that are placed before you.

Home Remodeling – Are You Prepared?

This is a guest post by Amy Chokshi

Amy Chokshi is a home decor and re-modeling enthusiasts. She enjoys creating beautiful home decor pieces for thematic home decor and re-modelling projects. She has been designing indoor water fountains for 3 years from variety of natural material. To learn more about her creations, please visit the tabletop fountain store.

Every few years most of us feel they need a change in their life and the easiest thing to change is the environment around you. Usually people choose to remodel only one room in their house due to financial reasons. Nevertheless, if you have the money you should not settle just for one room and start thinking of the benefits of remodeling your entire house. One of the reasons you should redo your whole home is that whenever you start renovating just one room, you tend to start observing the faults and things that need an improvement in the rest of your house instead of enjoying what you just remodeled.

If you decided that you would remodel the house, the next step is to take your time and think about what changes you want in every room of your home. This should not be a hasty decision and you should consult with all the members of your family about what rooms to expand, what changes they need in their rooms, what to do with the space you have and how will the change affect each of them. You should also keep in mind that the needs of your family change over time, therefore think about the changes that can happen in the next few years with you or your family in order to make a decision that will benefit all of you.
If you came to a conclusion and everyone is happy with it, the next step will be to take a close look at your budget and see how much of everyone’s wishes can come true. Thus, if you see that your finance does not allow you to make all the changes you want, then maybe you find an alternative for the change.
At this stage it is also a good idea to talk to a couple of home remodeling experts because they can offer you a clue or two about how to handle a renovation or remodeling that you cannot afford. If you find that you like the idea of one of the experts, learn more about him and then hire his team to work for your project. Also, do not forget that it is important to negotiate a contract with the home renovation expert you choose in order to avoid future problems. Make sure that if you decide to make structural changes you get a permit from your local authorities.

Amy C. invites you to browse beautiful collection of indoor fountains for your home decor.

 

2010 Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency

This is a guest post by James Kenton

James Kenton is owner of Advanced Metal Roofing, a residential metal roofing company featuring ENERGY STAR metal roofing colors that qualify for the 2010 Federal Tax Credit.

The federal government is offering a tax credit for energy efficiency that expires December 31, 2010 through its ENERGY STAR program. This means that now is the time to make home improvements or jump start that remodeling job you’ve been waiting on in order to benefit from the tax credit. It’s important to first confirm with your home improvement contractor that the appliance or parts they are installing comply with the qualifications of the tax credit. You can also check this yourself in order to hold your home contractor accountable.

The ENERGY STAR website provides information on what type of home improvement or home remodeling projects qualify for the energy efficiency tax credit. They point out that products that qualify for the ENERGY STAR seal do not necessarily qualify for the tax credit, but they do ensure that you are helping to make your home more energy efficient while also saving money on home heating, cooling, electric, and/or gas bills. Categories of home improvement projects that do qualify for the 2010 federal tax credit include:

1. Windows, Doors, and Skylights
2. Storm Windows and Doors
3. Metal Roofs with Appropriate Pigmented Coatings
4. Asphalt Roofs with Appropriate Cooling Granules
5. Insulation such as Bulk Insulation and Air Seal Products such as Weather Stripping, Spray Foam, Caulk, and House Wrap
6. Gas, Oil, and Propane Water Heaters
7. Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters
8. Advanced Main Air Circulating Fans
9. Air Source Heat Pumps
10. Central Air Conditioning
11. Gas, Propane, or Oil Hot Water Boilers
12. Natural Gas or Propane Furnaces
13. Oil Furnaces
14. Biomass Stoves

The home improvement items listed here each have specific requirements that make them eligible for the tax credit. You can check with your contractor to make sure that the appliance, item, or system you choose will meet those requirements. You can double check for yourself on the ENERGY STAR 2010 Federal Tax Credit website.

Each of these items are eligible for a 30% tax credit of the cost of the item up to $1,500. You may have heard of this tax credit referred to as the 30% Tax Credit or $1,500 Tax Credit. Those are both slightly misleading because you may receive a full 30% if the cost is under $1,500 or you may receive $1,500 if the item cost exceeds that amount. In most cases, the tax credit does NOT include installation costs.

In order to take advantage of this energy efficiency tax credit, you must purchase the qualifying home improvement item before December 31, 2010. Then you must file an IRS Form 5695 with your 2010 federal taxes (this link is for the 2009 version of the form – please check back with the IRS for the 2010 version).

The ENERGY STAR website has more information and answers to frequently asked questions: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index. This post is not a definitive resource. Please be sure to read the ENERGY STAR website thoroughly to be sure you are in compliance with their guidelines and that you follow their instructions in order to receive the energy efficiency credit.

Happy Home Remodeling!

Real Estate Intervention: Make room for baby

http://www.hulu.com/embed/5fX_RV9AtCWArAskNatHcA

The Patel’s have a young baby already and another baby soon coming, wanting to sell their current home to purchase a home with larger space; they’re in for a Real Estate Interventions. Not only will they have a new addition to their family, family will come to stay to see baby. There is no room for this at this time and time is ticking, the Patel’s want to be settled before baby comes.

The Patel’s look into selling options before looking at buying options; Real Estate Intervention walks over the current market and give them realistic options in pricing options and in how to best sell their home. Currently the Patel’s condo has granite counter tops, nice roomy cabinets, hardwood flooring, and a nice sized fireplace which adds value to their condo. However, it is not enough for the price they want. They want 549k when other like condos is selling for 495K. These other condos actually have added benefits so the Patel’s really need to look into their asking price first. The problem, the Patel’s at least wanted to break even.

Not only do the Patel’s have to lower their price, they have changes to make. Their enormous bed and television in their master bedroom should be removed before selling; it makes the room look too small. With the second room being a nursery, buyers won’t see extra room as a defined space of an additional room… Real Estate Intervention recommends adding room furnishings when selling. Many of these tips you can receive from our friends, Short Hills real estate, just as the Patel’s heard from Real Estate intervention. In the end, the Patel’s didn’t list at 495k but listed for 525k. They only received 500k. The Patel’s agree the show was helpful even though didn’t follow Mike’s advise. Had they followed his advice, they may have sold their home sooner.

Color Splash: Mediterranean Patio Makeover

http://www.hulu.com/embed/8m0gu_8v4VNcNqXr0xL4iw

David Bromstad, Color Splash host, created a Bellagio Hotel inspired romantic getaway for Mark and his wife by adding dramatic and elegant scenery. A simple backyard equipped with a grill, a pool, and some seating for entertaining guest has become that of a vacation romantic getaway for this couple. Not only does this couple have a getaway to enjoy for themselves they now have a place to entertain guest like that of an oasis.

How was this done, a backyard turned into an oasis? David and his crew added a vintage cabana for added luxery and comfort. He added trees, urns and other sculptures, added flowers, a fountain with a face of a lion, and other decorative items to give the ambiance like that of Bellagio Hotel. Near the cabana the crew added tall Cyprus trees to make a focal point. To make things complete, they primer and painted the brick to their fireplace to accent the colors in the statues added to the yard, then decided to paint the back of the home a dark gray to better mesh with the decor.

As an addition, the Color Splash crew added many home décor additions to make this space an extension to this family’s home. They added window treatments to the outside of the home to make a more elegant feel and look softer. Added as well, a valance to their patio that matches the cabana they built but was placed on the other side of the yard to create a flow. Adding the finishing touches; additional seating, flowers in vase on table top, pillows throughout, a coz fire pit, a painting, lighting in the trees, added table umbrellas, and waalaa! At last, this family has an elegant romantic getaway, right outside their door step.