HouseLogic sat down with author and architect Sarah Susanka to talk about remodeling that builds value and saves money. (see link to original article at bottom)

For Sarah Susanka, architect and author of the Not So Big House series of books, remodeling is an opportunity—not just for realizing your improvement and decor dreams, but for making your home comfortable, right-sized, and energy efficient.

In this Q&A, Susanka helps homeowners make smart decisions about that next big project.
HouseLogic: What are your top three pieces of advice for homeowners considering a remodel?

Sarah Susanka: 1. While you’re remodeling, take the opportunity to upgrade the energy systems in your house. It will make the house more comfortable and more valuable in the long haul. Today’s buyers will ask to see utility bills, and may not consider homes that aren’t energy efficient.

2. You can remodel without having to add on. We tend to assume we have to add space. But many spaces in a home are underused. Consider how to repurpose that space to do double duty.

3. The way we live in our homes today is different than before the 1970s. Formal dining rooms may not get a lot of use, for instance. Open a view from the kitchen to the dining or living room. People will start using those rooms and the house will feel a lot bigger, which is also a sales point.

HL: Where do you get the biggest return for your remodeling investment?

SS: Kitchens and bathrooms. But often people spend more money on their kitchen than they think they will, which can affect the return. Work within the existing footprint of the kitchen to stay reasonably priced.

People often assume that if they buy more expensive materials, that equates to higher value. But it’s the quality of design that sells and equates to more value.

HL: How can the budget-minded homeowner conserve funds?

SS: Consider materials. Opt for a plastic laminate countertop with bullnose (fully rounded edges in which the laminate wraps under the countertop) rather than a granite countertop. It’s a great look, but less expensive than granite. You can’t tell that it isn’t a solid material.

For tile backsplashes, make an impact by spending a little more to add some drama tile above the cook top.  But spend less on surrounding tiles. That can save one-sixth of the price than doing the whole backsplash in expensive material.

HL: Where should you splurge?

SS: On the kitchen island. It’s a focal point. Here you could invest in granite, since the island requires a rectangular chunk of material without a lot of cutouts, which is where the labor and expense come in. And then you can say, “I have granite.”

Flooring is another place to invest. Get a designer to help you select a product that gives the room a sense of permanence and solidity. Also, people often pick too light a color, which makes it look cheap.

HL: What about green materials—do they have to be expensive?

SS: People are scared about green materials being expensive. But they don’t need to be. Many IKEA products, for instance, are green certified. More products, like cost-effective bamboo, will begin appearing at home improvement stores, too.

HL: Why is retrofitting an existing home more cost efficient than building new?

SS: For each $5,000 in energy improvements you spend on a new house, you only get small, incremental gains in energy efficiency. A California energy consulting company study found that retrofitting existing homes with energy-efficient features is four to eight times more carbon and cost efficient than adding energy-efficient features to new housing.

HL: You believe beauty is sustainable. Why?

SS: Beauty is one of the greenest things you can do. If a home is beautiful, it will be looked after by the current homeowner and all those who follow. It’s good to create beauty and energy efficiency as you go. If your home is beautiful and comfortable, you’ll save money and enjoy it. If it’s not beautiful—even if it’s energy efficient—someone will tear it down, and that’s not green.

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If you are thinking of selling and what to do some updating, be sure to contact a Real Texas Agents Realtor first to discuss what options will be most financially sound based on your goals. Austin: 512.535.3590 San Antonio: 210.363.8647

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http://www.houselogic.com/articles/QA-author-sarah-susanka-talks-budget-smart-remodeling/

According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)

Ready to put your home on the market? Ask us about our successful marketing plan that gets your home sold!

Austin Real Estate Services: Call Angela at 512.762.0923
San Antonio Real Estate Services: Call Lloyd at 512.363.8647

View my Housing Trends Newsletter for February for a one minute housing market video report from Chief Economist Ted C. Jones and view US home statistics.

Looking to buy? Search all Austin homes here.

Want to buy, but can’t get approved through a lender? Ask me about available owner finance homes in the Austin area. Call 512.762.0923 today for a list of Austin owner finance homes.

]]> http://realtexasagents.com/live-green-in-austin/real-estate/housing-trends-february/feed/ 0 http://realtexasagents.com/live-green-in-austin/real-estate/market-analysis/ http://realtexasagents.com/live-green-in-austin/real-estate/market-analysis/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:35:34 +0000 Angela http://realtexasagents.com/live-green-in-austin/?p=222 For a complimentary Highest Price Market Analysis, fill out the quick form below and submit!

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Our Listing Services Include:

-Comprehensive Market Analysis
Option to preview comparable homes with agent
Ongoing market updates and monitoring of market activity

-Quality Photos

-Multiple Listing Service with full information and descriptive ad copy

-Extensive Internet Exposure
Showcase listing on Realtor.com
Real Texas Agents Website
Personalized Property Website*

-Craigslist: Full color html flyer posted with home photos, re-posted every two weeks

-Virtual Tour**

-Stepstone Realty yard sign

-Professional property flyers

-Home Information Binder and Financing Option Sheets

-‘Table Top’ stand and other signs in the home highlighting various features

-Open House (optional)

-Area Property Tour, exposure to other agents, neighbors, and centers of influence

-General Staging Consultation and tips for preparing home for effective showings

-Communication, weekly feedback, and follow up

* Personalized website for listings with sales price of $175,000+
**Virtual tour offered on listings with a sales price of $250,000+

All homes marketed with a website and virtual tour require an upfront fee of $250 that will be refunded at closing.

Five important factors that affect the sale of your property:

1. Location
2. Price
3. Condition
4. Market Conditions
5. Exposure and the Agent You Choose

You can’t change the location of your property, however, you can improve the condition and you absolutely must price the home effectively, especially in today’s market. When it’s time to sell your house, you need the best representation to make sure you get the most out of your investment.

Angela Sparks provides solutions and results for sellers through market knowledge, effective pricing, home staging, negotiation skills, and extensive marketing.

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Fill out the quick form below for a Highest Price Market Analysis for your property.

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Why do you need professional representation? Excellent question! Other than showing houses, negotiating is a key factor in any real estate transaction. It is not always a fun process to negotiate contracts, and if you are not experienced with the contracts or Realtor standards and practices, it could be very confusing, not to mention legal concerns that could come up. With our experience, we strive to make it as stress-free and pleasant as possible. In addition to the complimentary reports on our site, we have a list of trustworthy mortgage brokers and inspectors, and other service providers.

How do we get paid? Another great question. A common misconception is that you have to pay for Realtor services if you are buying a home. While it varies, traditionally the buyer’s agent is paid by the seller through the listing agent. Let’s say the listing agent is getting paid 6% of the sales price; that listing agent will typically commit to paying the buyer’s agent a percentage of that 6%. Some people think that they are saving money by not having an buyers agent, but this is rarely the case. In that situation, the 6% is just entirely paid to the listing agent. You save nothing and loose out on having a professional represent you to get you the best terms possible in the transaction.

Listing Services Include:

-Comprehensive Market Analysis
Option to preview comparable homes with agent
Ongoing market updates and monitoring of market activity

-Quality Photos

-Multiple Listing Service with full information and descriptive ad copy

-Extensive Internet Exposure
Showcase listing on Realtor.com
Real Texas Agents Website
Personalized Property Website*

-Craigslist: Full color html flyer posted with home photos, re-posted every two weeks

-Virtual Tour**

-Stepstone Realty yard sign

-Professional property flyers

-Home Information Binder and Financing Option Sheets

-‘Table Top’ stand and other signs in the home highlighting various features

-Open House (optional)

-Area Property Tour, exposure to other agents, neighbors, and centers of influence

-General Staging Consultation and tips for preparing home for effective showings

-Communication, weekly feedback, and follow up

AFFILIATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• SRS (Seller Representative Specialist)
• GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute)
• CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist)
• EcoBroker Certified
• Texas REALTOR®
• Member: National Association of Realtors (NAR)
• Member: Austin Board of Realtors (ABOR)
• Member: Austin Multiple Listing Service

Contact Angela: 512.762.0923
www.RealTexasAgents.com
www.LiveGreenInAustin.com
www.Vintage-Austin-Homes.com

* Personalized website for listings with sales price of $175,000+
**Virtual tour offered on listings with a sales price of $250,000+

All homes marketed with a website and virtual tour require an upfront fee of $250 that will be refunded at closing.

The bloom is back on Austin’s yellow rose now; it moved up the leader board
to become the sixth largest home building market last year. Job creation
explains the move. While other markets lost employment, Austin added 17,400
jobs last year, 2.3 percent growth rate. It helps that Austin is home to
both a major university, The University of Texas, and the state capital.
Existing homes cost a little bit more in Austin than other Texas markets,
roughly $188,600, but that’s still below the national average. Also, Austin
is one of the few metro areas in the country where median prices actually
rose in 2008–2.7 percent.

Read the full article here: Builder Online

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