Living in The East Valley » Remodeling

Chinese Drywall

patmonahan — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:03:18 +0000

Have you done any remodeling or bought a new home recently? Some home owners are having trouble with drywall made in China. Read the CNN article about a family in Florida.

Learn more about Chinese drywall.

Let us know if you have this drywall, the age of your home and what community you live in.

Features Buyers Want

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:30:00 +0000

Here are the five kitchen and bath features buyers want the most:
36% want a separate shower enclosure in the master bath
31% want an eat-in kitchen
24% want high-end appliances
23% want granite counter tops
21% want a kitchen island

Source February 2009 issue of REALTOR® Magazine - Source: NAR 2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences

Value of Home Remodeling

admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:49:00 +0000

The 2008 Cost versus Value Report for home remodeling projects is now available. It ranks various home remodeling projects based upon the expected percentage of the projects cost that could be recouped when the home is sold. Keep in mind that these are national averages. Some of these figures would not be the same in Arizona. For example, it lists the addition of a deck to a home. In most Phoenix area homes there is a patio not a deck. A covered patio is much more valuable that a patio without shade. Costs for adding a patio would be different than costs to add a deck. Features included in the patio such as a built in cooking area would also affect value.

There are many factors which will affect how much you will recoup on remodeling. If you are planning on selling within a year, consult a real estate agent before engaging in any remodeling projects. The agent can advise you as to which projects will most help the sale of your home. If you are planning on living in the home for many more years, you should not expect to recoup the same percentage as if you sold your house within a year of the remodel.

2008 Cost vs Value Report

Advanced Technologies for Remodeling Projects

admin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0000

I recently learned about PATH, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing , which is coordinated by HUD. Their purpose is “dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America’s housing”. There is lots of information available on their site including:

plus more…

Energy Star Home Advisor

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:34:00 +0000

We are always looking for ways to reduce our energy bill. This time of year in Arizona it is not too bad; but, in the summer the air-conditioning bills can get pretty high. Energy Star offers a Home Advisor on its website, just click the link below. You answer just a few questions and it provides some recommendations for your home. A lot of the recommendations are pretty basic; however, it can still be a useful tool. For us, we should probably take a look at how much insulation we have in the attic.
By entering your ZIP code and some basic information about the types of fuel used to heat and cool your home, the ENERGY STAR Home Advisor can provide you with recommended home improvement projects to increase energy efficiency and comfort in the area where you live.