Study: Exterior Improvements Bring Better Returns - RealEstate.com

December 17, 2010

A report from the National Association of Realtors finds that those looking at potential home improvement projects before putting their properties up for sale should focus on exterior jobs, because they generally bring in a better return.

The study found that of the 10 projects that brought in the best return for the investment involved, nine of them were exterior projects. The most cost-effective project was the installation of a steel entry door, which actually brought back an average of more than 102 percent of the investment after the home was sold.
Study: Exterior Improvements Bring Better Returns - RealEstate.com

Washington post Reports: Contractors Making Deals to Stay in Business

Homeowners looking to remodel will find contractors willing to negotiate

By Sandra Fleishman

Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, September 25, 2010 

 With homeowners holding on tighter to their hard-earned dollars -- or trying the do-it-yourself route -- remodelers are fighting to hold on to business by offering to do more for less, said remodelers and experts at this month's annual Remodeling Show in Baltimore.

Some remodelers are cutting their margins sharply; others are willing to do competitive bidding again; and some are offering faster completion dates or more services than before, said industry experts such as Sal Alfano, editorial director of Remodeling magazine, a co-sponsor of the show. "This market is good for homeowners, but not for remodelers," Alfano said.
For a while this summer, it seemed the worst was over. Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies in July issued its Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), projecting that national homeowner spending for improvements would be up 5 percent in 2010 over 2009 and that the market would continue to improve in the first quarter of 2011.

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Washington post Reports: Stairs can pose a problem as you get older, so take steps now to ease the climb

Options for Aging Homeowners In Homes With Lots of Steps

By Maryann Haggerty

Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, August 14, 2010

Eventually, the 17 steps became too much for Karl Schwengel.
Schwengel, 79, a retired business manager for a D.C. nonprofit association, has lived in his two-story Capitol Hill townhouse since 1969. Over time, his health has deteriorated, so about two years ago, he had a stair lift installed.
"It's marvelous," he said. "I couldn't imagine going down those 17 steps or up those 17 steps. It's not fast, thank goodness, but it does get between floors."
As the U.S. population ages -- or just thinks about how the knees can be the first thing to go -- more homeowners may need to contemplate what steps to take about steps.
Buyer preferences vary by region. While ranch houses are popular in many parts of the Sun Belt, the default in the D.C. region is a two-story Colonial. Some buyers, especially those with children, prefer two-story houses because they separate public and private areas. However, older buyers overwhelmingly would choose one-story living, according to a consumer preference survey by the National Association of Home Builders. While 52 percent of all buyers said they would prefer a single-story house, that number climbs to 79 percent among buyers 55 and older.CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Are Energy Star Certifications on Appliances Legitimate?

U.S. agencies try to restore faith in Energy Star appliance testing

By Sonja Ryst
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 10, 2010

When you buy something with an Energy Star label on it, are you getting ripped off for trying to be green?
The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have been fighting to end such worries in recent months. They are taking steps to reassure consumers that the blue and white stamp really means what it says, namely that the product is highly energy-efficient, and they are revamping the way they certify products that bear the label.
This comes after the Government Accountability Office flayed the Energy Star certification process because manufacturers could exploit it. GAO investigators said in March that they set up Web sites, mailboxes and cellphones for four bogus manufacturing companies and then used that contact information on Energy Star commitment forms. The bogus companies received Energy Star partnership status within two weeks. When the GAO investigators filled out forms describing 20 bogus products, 15 qualified for Energy Star labels, including a gas-powered clock radio and a feather duster attached to a space heater.
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Better Homes & Gardens Reports: storage solutions for smaller items

Storage Ideas for Small Items

Top-Drawer Solution

Control clutter in a junk drawer with this low-cost solution. Here silicone cupcake liners hold small, loose items. An egg carton stashes items such as thumb tacks and staples in the egg cups and larger items such as pencils, a calculator, and a pair of scissors on the other side. Click Here for Full Article

Washington Post Reports: Crown Molding Can Help Make Your Home Look Like a Jewel

The crowning touch: Moldings span a range of styles, materials and prices

By Maryann Haggerty

Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Look up toward the ceiling. You may notice that it's ringed by a strip of crown molding along the top of the walls. This sometimes simple, sometimes ornate strip of architectural embellishment represents a mix of classical Greek aesthetics, Victorian sensibilities and modern ingenuity.... Click HERE for full article