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/

RISMEDIA, May 12, 2010—As Americans continue to put an emphasis on creating as green a lifestyle as possible, real estate professionals across the country are doing their part to explore the benefits of building a green home with their clients. While many homeowners have begun to fill their homes with energy-efficient products, building green homes from the ground up is becoming a more prominent trend.

Carl Seville, Owner, Seville Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia believes that the four main precepts behind the process of building green include that homes be energy efficient, healthy for the occupant, durable and resource efficient. “All of these concepts interrelate, as a lot of things that make a home energy efficient will make it healthy and resource efficient as well,” says Seville. “While green building is only going to become more mainstream as the years go on, it is crucial for real estate agents to be aware of the possibilities of green building in order to help their clients understand the ease of reducing their carbon footprint,” he adds.

Green building is a fairly well-established building principle that anyone can employ with the proper training, and almost any home can be made green. “The key thing to remember is that green building is not about products and materials, instead it is a process,” says Seville. “While there are very few materials that can’t be part of a green home, it is crucial that the home is built correctly before green products are implemented,” he adds. While green building is still considered to be in its early stage, agents who take the time now to learn about green features and their advantages will have the upper hand when working with clients who are interested in energy efficient homes. “Being aware of the green features within a home will enable agents to market homes effectively to clients looking for energy efficient features,” adds Seville.

Not only should real estate agents be experienced with marketing green homes, they should also be aware as to the advantages of living in an energy efficient home. “Living in a green home has many advantages over living in a traditional home,” says Seville. Not only are green homes very healthy, they are also comfortable, quiet, cleaner than traditional homes, don’t get hot and cold spots and they use a lot less electricity and gas. “The advantages to living in a green home are quite evident and while most homeowners understand the benefits of being friendly to the environment, it is crucial that real estate agents take this one step further,” says Seville.

“As the environment continues to be on the forefront of everyone’s mind, green building is going to become the way of the future.” As the entire concept becomes more understood, people will realize they don’t have to spend more money in order to take advantage of green features and it will become clear that there is no downside to building green.

Angela Sparks is EcoBroker Certified

View our current client incentives: www.LiveGreenInAustin.com

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

It’s about smart, sustainable actions (call it “S-squared”) that each of us can accomplish in our daily lives. Actions that, when multiplied by our social networks, and the cross-section of people that make up Team Earth, will have a huge impact on the health of the planet we call home.

We are setting out to tackle the big challenges of our planet and to our lives – climate change, clean water, healthy food, the ways we are using our resources, and more. Each of us can make a difference, and by working as a team, we will all live better, healthier lives.

Excerpt taken from www.TeamEarth.com.  Check it out and pledge to make a difference today!

If this bill becomes law your health care choices will be drastically reduced, and many of the supplements available today will become illegal.  This and other provisions of this misguided legislation affect ALL dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, sports, and diet products.

The supposed purpose of the bill is to make dietary supplements “safer,” which is ironic because dietary supplements already have an excellent safety record.  It also ignores the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration already have the powers they need to police the market.

Click here to send a note in opposition to S. 3002 directly to your two Senators or use the information on the website to write a personal letter.  Either way, you need to act immediately.  Do not let Congress take away your right to dietary supplements.

-Excerpted from www.saveoursupplements.com

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.

With winter over and spring officially here, our thoughts turn to the outdoors- gardening, camping, and just the pure indulgence of enjoying the sunshine.  However, with all of these sunny delights, also come the dreaded intruder- the mosquito.  There are over 200 species of this pest in the U.S. alone with a new species just having been discovered in 2001 in the Florida Keys.  Besides being highly annoying at family picnics, this little insect also has the well-known status of being a disease carrier – especially of the dangerous West Nile Virus.  In an effort to rid us of this nuisance, we run out and get every pesticide on the market and apply it to our yards and ourselves.  Maybe, though, by using all of these chemicals we are actually doing more harm to ourselves than the mosquito ever would.

Most commercial topical agents such as OFF ?, contain the chemical DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) which has been around since the Army patented it in the 1940s.  It is proven to be the most effective mosquito repellant.  However, using DEET comes with a price.  There has been a long debate of the safety associated with using DEET.  One of the more recent and telling studies was done in 2001 there was a study done with showed that using DEET caused behavioral problems and brain cell damage in rats. Researchers came to the conclusion that heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides in the human population can lead to such conditions as: headaches, memory loss, weakness, fatigue, behavioral problems, muscle and joint pain, tremors, and shortness of breath (Exp Neurol. 2001 Nov; 172(1):153-71.)

Pregnant women, their unborn children, and children have the most risk of developing complications using DEET.  In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against using repellents or insecticides containing more than 10% DEET on children under the age of 6.  Children’s skin more readily absorbs chemicals such as DEET and their nervous system is still developing, so chemicals pose a greater risk to them.  If you must use DEET containing products, the EPA suggests that you can reduce your risk by reading and following the product labels, which are included on all products with DEET in them.

If we choose to not apply excess chemicals to our skin, we are not, however, doomed to be carried away by swarms of mosquitoes and spend our whole spring and summer with itchy, red bumps all over our bodies.  There are many things we can do to prevent these bloodsuckers from destroying our fun.  First and foremost is to prevent them from taking a hold on our yards.  Destroy their breeding grounds- stagnant water.  Empty all pots, buckets, old swimming pools (those little plastic toddler pools are infamous for holding stagnant water), or use a mosquito dunk which will kill off the mosquito larvae before they hatch.  Mosquito dunks are contain no toxic chemicals and are fairly environmentally sound.

Most health food stores and websites such as www.Mercola.com carry non-DEET-containing products that can be safely used on even pregnant women and children. In fact, there are even some products I use on my own children that are both an insect repellant and sunscreen all in one bottle.  While they may have to be re-applied more often than DEET containing products, they are less toxic and so are worth it in my book.  Here are some other natural alternatives to using commercial insecticides taken from www.Mercola.com:

-    Bounce Fabric Sheets can be wiped on the skin before exposure to insects.  This is even safe on babies.
-    Avoid eating bananas during times when you will be exposed to the outdoors for long periods of time (i.e. a camping trip).  Our bodies process bananas in such a way that attracts mosquitoes.
-    Plant marigolds around the yard – especially your garden.  The insects don’t like the fragrance these flowers let off and so make a great repellant.
-    Mix equal parts of Avon Skin-So-Soft ? bath oil with rubbing alcohol and apply to skin (make sure to read that warnings associated with using rubbing alcohol).
-    Spread a little of the clear liquid vanilla that is sold in Mexico with some olive oil on your skin to help repel insects.  A side bonus is that you will smell great!
-    Citronella candles and soaps work great.  (Be mindful of using candles especially during the dry season).

There is obviously the fact that you can stay inside altogether this sunny season and entirely avoid mosquitoes, but who wants that?  After the long hard winter, it is a welcome respite to go outside and get a good dose of Vitamin D.  Now we can enjoy the great outdoors without overexposing ourselves to chemicals or donating to the mosquito blood bank -save it for your local blood drive.