NRVLiving - Real Estate. Simplified.

Paint - It Makes All The Difference

Watch a home improvement show on TV, or read an article in a magazine, and one of the recurring themes you'll find is that changing a room's paint color can have profound effects.  Recently, I was reminded of this when a client shared photos with me of a kitchen they just painted, and the results are dramatic.

When Ron and Laura bought their home last year, the walls throughout the house were just a boring white.  White everywhere, and it hadn't been cleaned in quite some time.  While they're working their way through the house, putting their own touches on it, Laura surprised me with some photos of the kitchen "makeover" that cost less than $100 worth of paint supplies.

The Before (wish we had better photos of the before so you could see the complete package):

And the after:

So ... is their a simple home improvement project you're taken on this President's Day?  Send me the before and after photos so we can show off your handiwork!

The Language of Building, Part Deux

Last month I mentioned that I had received an email entitled "The Language of Building" from Progress Street Builders.  Today, I got Part Two.  Here it is:

• Punch list: There are literally thousands of details that go into the construction and finishing of every new home. Although we monitor every phase of the building process to ensure each new home reflects our promise of excellence, there are always a few final details that need extra attention before our buyers take ownership of their new home.
  
  To take care of these final details before close of escrow and move-in, we schedule a final home inspection with our clients, from which a "punch list" of incomplete or unsatisfactory items may develop. Our goal is to address every item on the punch list as soon as possible.
  
  Many people are familiar with punch lists that are developed just before or after they move into a new house. However, punch lists are often used throughout the building process to track items that need additional attention. In this way, an absolute minimum of finish items remain when a house is completed and ready for final inspection with the owner.
• Certificate of Occupancy (or CO): Before any homeowner can move in to a new home, we must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy, or CO. This is a required approval by the local building authority certifying that the house meets all code requirements and is ready to occupy. We provide the CO to each homeowner during the process of closing escrow. It's a good idea to keep the Certificate of Occupancy in a safe and secure place, such as a safe deposit box.
• Implied warranty: Under state law, an implied warranty makes the builder responsible for the condition and building code compliance of each new house the builder completes. Put another way, an implied warranty provides assurance that the home has been built to basic safety and health standards.
• Expressed (or explicit) warranty: In addition to the implied warranty, high-quality builders across the country also offer an expressed (or explicit) warranty. This warranty, which differs builder to builder, outlines the terms, procedures, and responsibilities for maintaining the home after the sale. The warranty also offers a procedure to be followed if the homeowner experiences problems with the structure, finishes, or mechanical systems of the house within a specified time frame, which may be anywhere from one to perhaps 20 years.
• "Closing" is the slang term for 'close of escrow': the process for transferring the deed and title to the house and property from us to our homebuyers. Before closing, we make sure we have completed the house to everyone's satisfaction. The closing marks the end of the home building and buying process.

These terms only scratch the surface of the builder's vocabulary. You can add to your housing language skills at 'Contractor's License' website, for a free online glossary...

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The Language of Building

I received this in an email from Progress Street Builders this afternoon, and I thought it might be good material for the blog.  The text is entitled "The Language of Building", and focuses on definitions of things that you might hear in construction of your new home.  As someone who just finished building a home with Progress Street Builders, I can tell you that they do a good job of communicating throughout the process, and I thank them for putting this out.

• Cycle time is the number of days between the first day on the job site and a home's completion. We work with our materials suppliers and subcontractors to determine a reliable cycle time so that our clients can move into their new home on time, as promised. Controlling cycle time also enables us to provide accurate estimates and helps us stay within budget.

• Rough-in: The "rough" stage of construction is the behind-the-wall structural and mechanical work, the parts you don't see when the building is complete. That includes work such as framing the walls, pulling the wiring through the studs, and installing pipes and heating ducts. During this point of the construction process, we can "rough-in" a system or product that provides an upgraded or extra service, such as wiring for a high-speed Internet or digital cable network. Installing a system's "backbone" during the rough-in stage of construction costs significantly less than installing it once the house is finished.

• Staging: To help reduce costs, we stage or organize and schedule the delivery of materials as we need them, rather than receiving a huge load all at once. Staging may also refer to the way we place loads of materials on the job site to make them more accessible to various workers. Both practices help us reduce waste and theft, save time, and keep better track of costs -- all of which keeps budget and cycle time on track.

• Lien Waivers: these are issued to us by each of our materials suppliers and subcontractors for the work they perform on a house. Lien Waivers (also called lien releases) prove that we have paid the agreed or negotiated costs of labor and materials in full. Lien releases also protect our clients from any liability if suppliers or subcontractors claim that additional payment is due. This type of claim can prevent the closing of the homeowners' loan, so we have a formal process to collect and verify lien releases before the close of escrow on a property.

• Tape and Texture: To create a finished wall, our drywall contractor applies tape and texture to hide nail or screw heads and conceal the joints between panels of drywall or gypsum wallboard. The contractor uses a mud-like compound to fill and cover the nail heads and secure a fibrous tape that bridges the joints between adjacent drywall panels. The mud is allowed to dry and is then sanded smooth before applying paint, wallpaper, or other finishes. A quality tape and texture job ensures that cracks or nail heads won't show through finished surfaces.

They say they're putting more terms out in a later newsletter - I'll be sure to post them here next time.

New River Valley Home Expo

Don't forget, the 2008 Home Expo will be held this weekend at the Christiansburg Rec Center on North Franklin Street.  Admission is $4, and will offer more than 140 booths, a silent auction and more!  I know Auz-Bloc will be there, you can meet Bill and check out this amazing product while you're there!

Download home_expo.pdf

Here's a video I did earlier this winter about the thermal mass of the house at 153 Gracie Lane:

Cabinetry By Design

Thanks to Beth Mann from Cabinetry By Design for joining us on the show this morning. More to come on Monday, but thought you might want to check out her site!

Thoughts & Musings ....

I've come across a few things that I just haven't gotten around to talking about, 'cause in between searching for the new Hokie Express and actually trying to sell a property or two this week, I've just run out of time.  So, here are a few things I thought might be of interest:

• It takes a Village.
• NVAR shuts down a Facebook group comprised of it's own members.  Go here.  Or here.  NAR making friends and influencing people.
• The front door of Blacksburg.
• The NRVLiving Real Estate Show live and in prime time tomorrow, 10am.  We'll have Beth Mann from Cabinetry By Design in studio, and Mark Weddle will stop by to make a Big HUGE announcement!  810am or 810wpin.com, call in at 866-961-1430 if you have a question you'd like to ask!

Cabinetry By Design, LLC

Been thinking about redoing the kitchen, but don't know where to start?  Have an outdated design that needs a little refreshing? 

You might want to check out Cabinetry By Design.  Beth Mann has done some really cool work through her little boutique shop, and the results speak for themselves.  Look at some of these before and after photos:

Before (duh):

And After:

Yes ... that's the same kitchen.  Amazing work.

You can meet Beth And learn some of her secrets by attending the YMCA class she's teaching, "A Recipe for Success: The Ingredients Needed For A Successful Kitchen Renovation."  The class will be held twice, you can catch it either Saturday February 23 or Saturday March 8 from 9am - 12pm.  Just contact the YMCA to register for the class, or register online. 

How To Flip Like A Pro

HGTV has created an epidemic, and that's good - in some respects.  For all you HGTV fanatics out there (and I count myself as one of those), house-flipping looks like a great idea that's just made for you, right?  Slow down just a bit, and read this post about flipping.  It's a really good introduction to the idea, and very well-written.  There are pros and cons to flipping homes, so know what you're getting into ... and then, if you're still on board, go for it! 

And don't forget who turned you on to the idea when you're ready to sell!

Remodel Like A Pro & Save THOU$AND$!!

Before:

After:

Looks easy, doesn't it?  Can be done in a weekend with no money down, right?  The infomercials would have you think so, sure - we're all looking for ways to save money when we remodel our homes and investment properties, and with the number of older homes in the New River Valley I thought this piece by CNN Money was appropriate and a good way to get back to real estate this week.  The list offers 10 tips to renovation based on the show This Old House and a home they recently remodeled in East Boston, and has some really great tips on how to remodel with tremendous impact.

Don't forget to check out the before pictures to see just how far this house really came ... if you're interested, you might also want to check out the project they did in Austin, TX and an environmentally-friendly remodel.  It's on their home page ...