Posts tagged renovations

Keys to Selling: Kitchen/Baths!

May24
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

kitchen

According to an article in the Lansing State Journal last month, the most important home improvements you can make are in the kitchen and the bathrooms. Not only do renovations to these spaces improve your enjoyment of your home, but they also increase your home’s value. Often, sellers will recoup most of the renovation investments in a higher selling price!

Here are some suggestions offered by interior designer Elizabeth Falconer, who was interviewed for the Lansing State Journal article:

  • More appliances: If you’re looking for tips on purchasing new appliances to add value to your kitchen, check out this Buy Owner Blog article!
  • More kitchens: It’s increasingly common for homes to have second kitchens in the basement or outdoors. Even a mini kitchenette adds value in the minds of buyers.
  • Better storage: Think built-ins and cleverly concealed spaces.
  • Bathrooms with designated his/her space
  • Separate closet for toilets

And these ideas are just the beginning! Previous Buy Owner Blog articles discuss all kinds of possible kitchen improvements, from cabinets and countertops to sinks, lighting and even decoration.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Converting Porches

Nov21
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

Picture yourself in hot and sunny Orlando. You’re sitting on a spacious, open patio during a peaceful evening. Suddenly, you feel little mosquitoes pecking at your legs and you have to rush into the house!

Now imagine relaxing on your partially covered patio while enjoying the crisp, fall weather Chicago has to offer. Without a moment’s notice, the wind picks up, it starts raining, and you are soaked from head to toe.

Wouldn’t you like to get away from all of this? These two examples demonstrate exactly why it makes sense to enclose your porch. Enjoy maximum usability, year-round!

An existing porch that boasts a well-constructed ceiling and roof offers a ton of potential for the space to be enclosed into a sunroom. The advantage of having a sunroom allows homeowners to enjoy the outdoors without the hassle of being bothered by pesky insects, light rain and varying hot/cold temperatures.

The four components you must consider when constructing an enclosed porch are insulation, temperature, electrical power and lighting.

Insulation & Temperature
In order to determine how much insulation is needed, you must decide the purpose your enclosed patio will serve. If you would like this space to function as a home office, the walls and the ceiling should be fully insulated for temperature control. If you would like to construct a sunroom, the space should be screened-in, or walls (with very little insulation) should boast wall-to-wall glass windows. You may even want to add a sliding glass door for extra ventilation and access to the backyard. It is possible to extend your existing heating and cooling systems from the main house into the converted sunroom. Another option is to add ceiling fans, air-conditioning wall units or baseboards heaters.

Electrical Power & Lighting
Your existing electrical system can be extended into the sunroom. However, the best part about having a sunroom is taking advantage of the natural lighting. Walls of windows not only offer breathtaking nature views, but they also allow streams of sunlight to pour into the space. Consider building skylights into the ceiling! Additional lights allow you to enjoy peaceful nights inside the sunroom, and surround sound speakers are great for parties!

Once you have converted your porch, it needs some spice! Stay tuned for a future post, giving you tips from Buy Owner on decorating your sunroom.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,

Going Green: Bathrooms

Nov07
2008 1 Comment Written by Alicia

If you’re looking to go green, saving money on your energy bills, your bathroom is a great place to begin! According to the California Urban Water Conservation Council, 60 percent of a home’s water consumption takes place in the bathroom! Many opportunities are available to decrease your water usage and create a greener bathroom.

Toilets can use up to 5-gpf (gallons per flush), especially older models. Updating your commode could save you hundreds of gallons of water a month! Newer toilets use as little as 1.6-gpf. If you think a low-flush toilet just won’t cut it in your household, look into a dual-flush one. These toilets provide two flush options: a full flush for solids and a reduced flush for liquids. Low-flush and dual-flush commodes have become easier to find than ever.

More toilet tips:

  • To gain the most efficiency from your toilets, change parts every five years. If you have a leak, fix it immediately. Make sure to ask for low-flush replacement parts at the hardware store.
  • Use recycled toilet paper.
  • Close the toilet lid before flushing. This prevents a flow of bacteria through the air.
  • Don’t flush anything but toilet paper. This will use up less water and decrease pollution.

Showers now contain many options for water-saving efficiency. Showerheads use way more water than needed. A showerhead should only use 2.5-gpm. Even if you have this type of showerhead, they are often used improperly. Make sure that your showerhead is dishing out appropriate amounts of water. Steer away from dual-heads, which use way more water than necessary.

More shower tips:

  • Purchase a tankless water heater and your water will heat up in a mere 30 seconds. This will save tons of water in the long run.
  • Use a PVC-free shower curtain in order to not release chemical gases and odors into the bathroom air.
  • Take cooler showers or shorten the length of showers. Turn off the water while you shampoo your hair or while shaving. If you take daily baths, only fill the bath halfway.

Faucets constantly spurt more water than what is necessary. They should use around 2.2-gpm or less. A low-flow faucet gadget costs little to nothing and can save ample amounts of water.

More faucet tips:

  • Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or wash your face.
  • If you shave in the sink, fill the sink halfway with water and dunk your razor into the water instead of leaving the water running.

Besides saving water, here are other ways to create an all-around green bathroom:

  • Add a skylight or a glass-block window. These allow natural light to stream into your bathroom and leave the bathroom lights off during daylight hours. They still provide privacy. If these are not options for you, use compact fluorescent lights that use less energy and last longer.
  • Add or replace your ventilation fans to keep the room dry. By doing so, your light bulbs will last longer and you can keep mold and mildew away.
  • Use organic cotton bath linens or bamboo linens. Regular cotton linens are filled with chemicals that can cause harm to you and the environment.
    If you are looking to entirely revamp your bathroom, add flooring and a vanity with recycled products that are good for the environment! Bamboo cabinets, recycled linoleum/ceramic floors and recycled aluminum countertops are all excellent choices.
  • When keeping your bathroom tidy, use green cleaners or homemade cleaners to do the trick! Click here to learn more about these types of cleaners.
Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , ,

Big-Time Home Remodeling

Mar08
2008 1 Comment Written by Sarah

How to Hire the Right Contractor and Keep to Your Budget

Contractor

While do-it-yourself remodels are all the rage these days, there are some projects that will inevitably be outside your realm of expertise. When these larger-scale projects come around, it might be best to hire a contractor to organize and execute your plan. Structural changes and major additions will likely result in hiring outside work, and it is important to know what you need before you begin construction. While your contractor should be well-versed in local building codes, trade expertise and organization, it is your responsibility to bring as much to the project as you are able. Knowledge, planning and solid records are three solid ways to minimize the cost of your remodel:

Know Exactly What you Want

Write down every detail of your remodeling plan, from the massive wall knock-downs down to knobs and faucets. This is important when writing a contract with your contractor; the more detailed the plan, the closer you will stay to your proposed budget when construction begins. Also, the more information you include, the less likely your contractor will make a costly error due to miscommunication. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry advises customers to “include all your product selections in the contract to avoid confusion…Include the model, size, color, and…save 10-20 percent of your budget to allow for items added to the scope of work.” Keep in mind that some projects are more labor-intensive than others, and can affect the total of your proposed budget.

Know how to Add Space

There are two ways to add space to your home: you can either add square footage beyond the original structure, you can use space from one room to make another space bigger. This is called space reconfiguration, and can save a lot of money if you aren’t remodeling for the sole purpose of adding square footage. The NARI suggests “stealing” space from linen or pantry closets, finding spaces in between wall studs to build sleek storage niches or using hallway space.

Minimize Labor Costs

When installing minor accessories such as crown molding, chair-rail molding, trim, casings or siding, you can order them pre-finished to avoid extra on-site labor. The NARI also suggests ordering finger-jointed trim instead of clear, vertical grain to save money and make installation easier. If you are remodeling a bathroom, consider installing a shower/tub combination or a pedestal sink instead of a full vanity. These additions can make installation much easier and less costly; some pedestal sinks can be pricey, but the upside is that they also save space.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,

10 Ways to Create More Space in the Kitchen

Dec17
2007 1 Comment Written by Becky

There are plenty of easy ways to add space without remodeling your entire home. Welcome to a four-part series that zeroes in on specific ways to open up your home’s interior.

Overall tip: Especially when working with a small area, the first thing you want to do is eliminate all the clutter.

  1. Hang pots and pans on overhead pot racks to free up cabinet, counter, and drawer space.
  2. Pullout drawers can be tucked away to conceal items, providing a clean, clutter-free look.
  3. Drawer inserts allow you to keep your silverware organized and make the best use of drawer space.
  4. Organize a pantry to utilize all the space it offers. Consider separating items by category, with different shelves for snacks and meals, or cans and boxes.
  5. If you don’t already have an island installed, consider a moveable island that can be rolled away when not needed.
  6. Glass-front cabinets give the illusion of more space while elegantly displaying dishware.
  7. A corner lazy Susan provides easy access and convenient storage for items that are not used every day.
  8. Miscellaneous items can be hung in baskets and on hooks to free up counter space while still being easy to reach.
  9. Recessed under-cabinet lighting will expand the room while creating a nice ambiance.
  10. Use diagonal patterns on the floor and walls to open up the space.
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,

About the BuyOwner.com Blog

Welcome to the BuyOwner.com Blog, your source for regularly updated market information!

Founded in 1984, BuyOwner.com® is the leading provider of real estate marketing services. We pioneered the "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) market, which today represents over 20 percent of all residential real estate transactions.

You can read more about BuyOwner.com here.

Article Archives

Blog Roll

Real Estate Top Blogs Real Estate Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory Add to Technorati Favorites Find the best blogs at Blogs.com. Blog Directory Home Improvement Blog Directory

Subscribe

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner