Michael Emilio » Home Improvement

How to Have a Pet Friendly Home

Michael Emilio — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:00:33 +0000

We all know pets can be a blessing… and a curse. They can give us tons of hours of entertainment and love, but let’s be real about it – they can be a pain in the butt to take care of! You have the food, the cleaning, the regular veterinarian visits. And on top of this, you have to keep a clean home. Usually clean homes and pets don’t go together – like oil and water! I’m personally a cat guy, but I’ve had dogs and birds and they can all get your place wild. But there are ways to keep your home clean even when you have some furry creatures roaming around – we’ll go through each pet tip one by one.

Pet Tip #1: Make your furniture pet-proof

When I say pet-proof furniture, I mean taking care of the upholstery. Obviously, if we’re talking about plastic lawn furniture all you need is a good hose and maybe some soap. But with upholstered furniture, you’re going to want to cover your seat cushions with covers that you can zip off. This makes it easy to just zip-off and throw in the laundry to wash and clean. When you’re dealing with pets on a daily basis, easy-clean is key. Don’t even bother buying fabrics that you have to dry clean – it isn’t worth the hassle and headache involved. Get covers that are easy maintenance.

When purchasing a sofa or love seat, make sure to get a fabric that’s a dark color like tan or brown (that way dirt won’t show) or a white color that can be bleached. Don’t worry too much about light colors like cream because many spot removers work very well when you’re dealing with light colored fabrics.

Pet Tip #2: Get pet beds that are easy clean and comfortable for your pet

If you have a pet that always sleeps on the same seat, you might want to cover that seat with a throw that’s washable for example. You’re going to want to go with fabrics that react well to regular laundering. If you have a cat that likes snoozing on a dining or coffee table, make those items you have on the table durable and simple. Don’t bother with expensive and easy to break table accessories – they won’t last too long!

Pet Tip #3: As a pet owner, remember you are responsible for pet training

Instead of getting upset at your pet, focus your attention on learning techniques that will make it easier for you to teach your pet about what they can and can’t do. Have a system where you consistently dissuade the pet from jumping on the dining if you don’t like them there, for example.

The key to pet training is consistency and firmness with a loving touch. And lots of treats help too (of course).

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Rule to Grow Rich By #1: The Best Home Renovation

Michael Emilio — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:00:39 +0000

This is one part of a series where we’ll be looking at the real estate-related rules in Money Magazineâ€™s â€œ25 Rules To Grow Rich Byâ€. We’ll be taking these rules one-by-one and going in-depth as to whether it’s a rule “to grow rich by” or not. Take a look at the rules we’ve covered at the 25 Rules list.

Rule 1: For return on investment, the best home renovation is to upgrade an old bathroom. Kitchens come in second.

If there is such a thing as a home improvement “fact” it’s that kitchens and bathrooms are the first places to look at when you’re remodeling your home. They tend to give you more bang for your buck in terms of resale value. The reason for this is that when buyers come to look at your home, they know they will be spending an inordinate amount of time in these two rooms. So if you’re selling your home, then give the buyers what they want!

But wait a second. Are you selling your home? Because this conversation just became way more interesting if there are some out there that aren’t selling their home.

So it this a conversation on selling your home for the most money and highest possible profit at the closing table or is this a conversation on what’s a better improvement to do to live in your home?

What’s better: Just to live in the home

Ok, I’ll give you a quick answer in this case, if you’re just looking to improve your house and you plan on living there for at least a few years. Whatever you want! Seriously. Just do whatever you feel like. Why should you care what the resale value is if you’re going to be living in the house for years and years! How do you even know for a fact you’re going to leaving the house and selling it anyway? For all you know, you might just retire in that same house you’re getting all concerned about future market value about!

If you’re looking at home improvement when you plan on living in the house for a long time, then do so purely thinking from a pleasure, not a profit standpoint. What rooms in your home do you feel the least comfortable in? Do a little exercise for me. Walk around your home. Take a mental note about how you feel in certain rooms. Do you like the way your kitchen looks? Is your bedroom painted the right way, with the fixtures you like? How are the bathrooms, do you like them and is there a comfort level there? How’s the patio? How’s the entrance to your home? Landscaping looks ok?

If you’re doing home improvement from a pleasure standpoint, forget about the profit and focus on how the house makes you feel! You want to feel comfortable in your house, you want to feel happy you live there, and you want to get excited about coming home after a long day at the office or business. You don’t want to blow thousands of dollars on a home improvement project just because you read in a real estate blog that it’s good for profit, yet you have a bedroom that looks like it came out of Saturday Night Fever.

What’s better: Selling the home for the highest possible profit

Now, if you’re doing this home improvement project in order to make some serious money for investment purposes, then we move out of personal emotions and move onto facts and the emotional impact on the potential buyers.

Kitchens and bathrooms are usually the most expensive home improvement projects to undergo. There is some expertise involved, since there are pipes and fixtures to contend with. Water and electricity usage is a huge concern. Infrastructure of the property must be considered. Adding an extra room is also something to consider, since bigger homes usually equal bigger money, but not always bigger profits.

One of the worst home improvement projects you can do is add a swimming pool. Think of a swimming pool as a hole where your money drains into. Many buyers don’t want that maintenance chore of a swimming pool – that’s extra money they have to pay on a regular basis. Either that, or that’s monthly back-breaking work of cleaning their swimming pool. Of course, some buyers will like it – but that’s the minority. For the most part, steer clear of building a swimming pool for real estate investment selling purposes.

Home offices are in the same category as swimming pools. Only a small percentage of your potential buyers will want a home office. Only a minority of buyers will need or want a home office. With these buyers, your home office project will go to waste.

Let’s take a look at kitchens. Don’t think that splurging on a huge kitchen makeover is going to make a monster of a difference in your pocketbook come selling time. Small improvements such as refinishing old surfaces, painting outdated wall colors, and upgrading antiquated or broken appliances definitely gives you the most bang for your buck when it comes to the kitchen and most home improvement projects in general. A good tip in painting is stay with neutral colors – this usually appeals to the broadest scope of buyers.

When it comes to bathrooms, make sure the basics are taken care of. All faucets, showerheads, and toilets must be in excellent working order. Fix all leaks. Painting the walls with a gloss latex paint is a good investment of time and money. Either clean the grout or re-grout if it’s not in good condition. If the bathtub/shower uses a curtain, consider installing a sliding shower door – much classier and definitely in style.

Kitchens versus Bathrooms: Which do I focus on

This is a very situational question. Bathrooms are usually rated slightly higher in most regions, but for our purposes they are almost equal in resale value. Your best bet is to take an honest look at both these rooms and evaluate which is in the worst shape. Simple answer: Fix that one! The weakest link between those two rooms will bring the home value down so if one of these rooms is obviously worse and a major sorespot, then focus all your attention on getting that one done right. And, again, if you’re planning on living in the home for a while, forget what I just told you and just do what you want!

Revised Rule #1: For return on investment, the bathroom and kitchen bring the highest return-on-investment (ROI) almost equally so improve the worst of the two to get the most bang for your buck.

25 Rules | Jump Forward to Rule #2

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25 Rules to Grow Rich By: Real Estate Edition

Michael Emilio — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:35:31 +0000

Did you know there’s 25 rules to grow rich by?

Don’t worry if you don’t know them, I didn’t know them either.

But after reading them at CNN Money, thanks to an article from Simple Dollar, I’m not so sure they’re all true.

Now, not all of these rules relate to real estate, so we’ll be tackling the rules that deal with real estate only, since hey that’s what this website is all about. We’ll go through each rule one-by-one and see how valid and applicable they really are. Is it just a bunch of filler that the author of the article on CNN Money wrote or do they have merit?

When I read them, I started thinking, “Hmm.. is this really a rule? Or is it just an opinion?” Too many sites on the internet have tons of “rules” that we should supposedly follow in order to “lose 50 pounds in 8 days” or “achieve financial independence in one month by investing in timeshares” or some other nonsense. Here we’re all about separating the wheat from the chafe and finding out what works in real estate. What’s going to make us money. What’s going to give us the biggest bang for our buck in remodeling our homes. How to save money on your rental payments. Where to find the hottest real estate deals in the country.

There’s a little challenge with our goal of analyzing these 25 rules to grow rich by and modifying them.

There are only 6 rules that really apply to real estate. So we’re going to focus on them and really dissect them!

Here are the 6 rules in their original form (click on the Rule hyperlink for each one to read the revised version):

Rule 1: For return on investment, the best home renovation is to upgrade an old bathroom. Kitchens come in second.

Rule 2: Itâ€™s worth refinancing your mortgage when you can cut your interest rate by at least one point.

Rule 3: Spend no more than two times your income on a home. For a down payment, itâ€™s best to come up with at least 20%.

Rule 4: Your total housing payments should not exceed 28% of your gross income. Total debt payments should come in under 36%.

Rule 5: Never hire a roofer, driveway paver or chimney sweep who is going door to door.

Rule 11: If you donâ€™t understand how an investment works, donâ€™t buy it.

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How to Extend the Life of Your Dishwasher

Michael Emilio — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:19:33 +0000

From Frugal Duchess:

Here are easy ways to extend the life and efficiency of dishwashers, which typically last eight to 15 years.

â€¢ Check the filters. The filters, which trap or catch excess food, are at the base (interior floor) of the dishwasher. ”Always make sure the filters are clean after every load,” said Mike Kozlowski, director of product quality and support for Sears.

â€¢ Prevent rust. Examine the tines that hold dishes in place. Look for tines that are nicked or damaged under the rubber coating. Faulty tines could leave rust stains on dishes or break off and damage the pump.

You can fix the damaged tines with rack repair kits sold in the repair section of appliance stores or at major hardware stores. You can also purchase replacement dish racks.

â€¢ Inspect the spray arms, which are in the floor or ceiling of the appliance. A buildup of food or detergent can block holes in the arms, preventing the even distribution of water during the cleaning cycle.

â€¢ Remove large food particles from dishes, but let the dishwasher do the rest. For example, clear away the French fries, but don’t worry about the dried ketchup stain on the plate, even if you run a load only once a day. This strategy will save water, energy and effort.

”Some people literally clean their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher,” Kozlowski said.

Don’t make that mistake.

â€¢ Speed the process. Cycles are often prolonged so that machines can fill up with hot water. For instance, the dishwasher will continue to run water until the water is hot enough to begin a new wash cycle. To conserve time and energy, Kozlowski recommends running hot water for 10 seconds in the sink adjacent to the dishwasher before turning on the machine. This gives the dishwasher a head start by warming the water in the pipes and shortening the running time for the machine.

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How to Get Tax Breaks on Your Home With Green Improvements

Michael Emilio — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:14:40 +0000

From Forbes:Â

Leveraging real estate ownership into deductions has long been an effective strategy for fending off the Internal Revenue Service. Now, if you’re willing to make green improvements, your home can lighten your tax burden even more.

In an effort to reduce energy consumption and pollution, loads of tax credits are available for homeowners looking to limit waste and emissions–consider it a stick and tofu approach. They’re the result of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which became effective for the 2006 tax year.

The biggest projects carry the largest credits. A solar power system for creating electricity carries with it a 30% of cost tax credit up to $2,000. The same credit goes for solar-powered water heaters, so long as they’re used for residential purposes. Trying to write off a pool or Jacuzzi system will get you in hot water.

“Solar water heaters in the right kind of climate are the most accepted technology,” says Warren Karlenzig, chief strategy officer of SustainLane, a best practices consulting firm for state and local governments. “But they’re not as effective if you live in a place which doesn’t get a lot of sun.”

For the ambitious green-thumbed builder, any energy cell system that has an efficiency rating of 30% and a capacity of at least .5 kilowatts receives a 30% cost credit, as well as an additional $1,000 for every kilowatt of power the system can produce.

Spread The Wealth
But new tax credits for home efficiency improvements aren’t limited to large-scale enterprises. In fact, available credits exist for low-key projects that, in recent Aprils, have been out of bounds for tax breaks.

Substantial undertakings like building a driveway or adding a pool have been deductible for a long time, but in years past you couldn’t save money for window, floor or roof improvements. Now, if the materials are Energy Star-certified and fall under the scope of the Energy Policy Act, you can recoup some costs.

The effect is twofold, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which estimates that efficient materials can reduce energy costs by 30%. It may have been a mild winter in many parts of the country, but the average American still spent $1,900 on energy bills last year.

Where To Begin
Throwing yourself headfirst into green improvement by going after tax incentives will help your tax return, but it may not be the best place to start for maximizing your home’s energy efficiency.

“Before you start thinking about using solar energy or any of the other high-tech options available,” says Karlenzig, “the first thing is to do an inventory.”

Most local utilities will perform one free. It highlights your home’s trouble spots where the most energy is being wasted. For a couple hundred dollars, private companies improve the service through the use of thermal imaging to graphically map out on a micro level the points at which energy loss occurs.

The biggest perpetrators are almost always windows and doorways, improvements that in the past haven’t been tax deductible but now carry credits if they improve energy efficiency.

Exterior windows and doors, including skylights, that meet Energy Star requirements have a 10% tax credit up to $200. This also goes for storm windows and doors. Roofing and insulation or sealing that meets efficiency requirements earns a 10% credit up to $500.

Going Green
The green building movement has legs in the high-end luxury market. Pharmaceuticals mogul Stewart Rahr has a geothermal cooling system in his $45 million home in the Hamptons, and former CIA Director R. James Woolsey has an expansive solar-powered energy system installed on the roof of his Maryland home.

But while the tax abatements are nice, the money saved in the long term and the ethical motivation to emit less are the primary motivations for green home improvement.

“It’s all connected–you save money, you save energy,” says Karen Schneider, an environmental protection specialist at the EPA. She points out that the average American home emitted 22,000 pounds of carbon last year. “Credits are paid for 2006 and 2007, but the payoff will be for the life of the product.”

Mother Nature’s Helper
If you’re looking for the most consistent long-term green solution, the answer lies at your local nursery–trees.

Summer heat flows through the east and west of a North American house, and the EPA estimates that mature trees planed on eastern and western exposures can reduce temperature by almost 10 degrees in summer months. In some cities, like Sacramento, Calif., the local government gives trees away in order to reduce strain on the grid.

Now that’s a green solution everyone can wrap arms around.

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Upscale Kitchens and Bathrooms Gain Momentum

Michael Emilio — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:11:47 +0000

From Realtor Magazine:

The slowdown in the housing market hasnâ€™t curbed consumersâ€™ desire for upscale kitchens and baths, says American Institute of Architects Chief Economist Kermit Baker.

â€œHouseholds continue to emphasize size, features, and high-end products used in their kitchens and baths even as the overall housing slowdown has encouraged many to scale back on their overall housing investment,â€ he says.

No longer just a place to cook, the kitchen has evolved into the most popular room in the house. â€œThereâ€™s a strong desire to integrate the kitchen with living space that allows for a more open home environment with the ability to converse and access entertainment options while in the kitchen,â€ says Baker.

In the most recent AIA design trends survey, 40 percent of architects report a trend toward larger kitchens. Almost one-third see separate kitchen facilities (other than the main kitchen) or secondary food preparation or food storage areas as also increasingly appearing in homes.

Kitchens also are an area where owners are likely to upgrade. â€œUpper-end appliances are becoming more popular, even for homes that arenâ€™t at the upper end of a price range,â€ says Baker.

Survey: Most Popular Kitchen Features

AIA rated the most popular kitchen features by subtracting the number of survey respondents who say a feature is decreasing in popularity from the number who say itâ€™s increasing.

â€¢ Upper-end appliances: 65 percent

â€¢ Increased pantry space: 64 percent

â€¢ Renewable flooring material: 53 percent

â€¢ Wine refrigerators/wine storage: 53 percent

â€¢ Integration with living space: 53 percent

â€¢ Recycling center: 48 percent

â€¢ Island work areas: 43 percent

â€¢ Natural stone countertops: 42 percent

â€¢ Drinking water filtration systems: 37 percent

â€¢ Duplicate appliances: 34 percent

In the Bath: What Buyers Want

In the bathroom, â€œaccessibility features and universal design to accommodate an aging population are on the rise,â€ Baker says. â€œFrom an amenities standpoint, heated floors lead the way, followed by multiple showers and towel warming racks. The popularity of whirlpools has dropped for the second consecutive year.â€ Here’s the complete list of the most popular bath features:

â€¢ Radiant heated floors: 62 percent

â€¢ Multi-head showers: 62 percent

â€¢ Accessibility/universal design: 48 percent

â€¢ Doorless showers: 47 percent

â€¢ Linen closet/storage: 36 percent

â€¢ Hand showers: 36 percent

â€¢ Multiple vanities: 26 percent

â€¢ Dressing/cosmetic areas: 23 percent

â€¢ Towel warming drawers/racks: 22 percent

Growing, too, is the desire to incorporate green features into kitchens and baths. Increasing, according to architects, is consumer demand for renewable flooring material, such as bamboo or concrete, and drinking water filtration systems.

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Study Determines Life Expectancy of Home Components

Michael Emilio — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:06:13 +0000

From Florida Association of Realtors:

How long will a home improvement actually remain an improvement? How long do new wood floors last? New stoves? A new countertop?

A study sponsored by Bank of America Home Equity and conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) attempts to quantify lifespan, with a nod to the fact that many factors â€“ use, maintenance, climate, advances in technology and simple consumer preferences â€“ can have a dramatic effect on product longevity. The National Association of Home Builders/Bank of America Home Equity Study of the Life Expectancies of Home Components was conducted in the summer of 2006.

â€œBy polling experts in a wide range of fields, we learned that many home components are expected to last for the life of the house,â€ says Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president for research and surveys in NAHBâ€™s Economics Group. â€œAmong them are toilets, wood floors, all types of insulation, and fiberglass, steel and wood exterior doors. On the other hand, some components have a much shorter life expectancy. Wood decks should last about 20 years, depending on climate, and kitchen faucets should last about 15 years. Linoleum floors have a life expectancy of about 25 years, and furnaces can be expected to last 15 to 20 years.â€

â€œItâ€™s important to remember that the life expectancies for materials included in this study are averages,â€ says Ahluwalia. A number of other factors can influence it. â€œFor example, the practical life expectancy of kitchen cabinets is about 50 years. However, many people buying a 15- or 20-year-old house would make installing new, updated kitchen cabinets a priority. Likewise, some home owners paint their homes every year or two, even though interior paint has a practical life expectancy of about 15 years.â€

According to the study, the life expectancy of a typical appliance varies. Of the major appliances in a home, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy: 15 years. Dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years. Some of the appliances with the shortest lifespan are: compactors (6 years), dishwashers (9 years) and microwave ovens (9 years).

Kitchen cabinets are expected to last up to 50 years, medicine cabinets for 20-plus years, and garage/laundry cabinets for 100-plus years. Closet shelves are expected to last a lifetime.

Natural stone countertops, which are less expensive than a few years ago, are gaining in popularity and are expected to last a lifetime. Cultured marble countertops have a life expectancy of about 20 years.

Exterior fiberglass, steel and wood doors will last as long as the house exists, while vinyl and screen doors have a life expectancy of 20 and 40 years, respectively. Closet doors are expected to last a lifetime, and French doors have an average life of 30 to 50 years.

Copper plated wiring, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper wiring are expected to last a lifetime, whereas electrical accessories and lighting controls are expected to last 10+ years.

Kitchen sinks made of modified acrylic will last 50 years, while kitchen faucets will work properly for about 15 years. The average life of bathroom shower enclosures is 50 years. Showerheads last a lifetime, while shower doors will last about 20 years. Bath cabinets and toilets have an unlimited lifespan, but the components inside the toilet tank do require some maintenance. Whirlpool tubs will function properly for 20 to 50 years, depending on use.

All natural wood floorings have a life expectancy of 100 years or more. Marble, slate, and granite are also expected to last for about 100 years, but can last less due to a lack of maintenance. Vinyl floors last up to 50 years, linoleum about 25 years, and carpet between 8 and 10 years (with appropriate maintenance and normal traffic).

The complete study is free and available in PDF format at NAHB.org.

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Creating a Floor Plan To Help Plan Your Home’s Layout

Michael Emilio — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:14:16 +0000

When you are staging your home for a sale or you’re moving into a new home, decorating each room is an artistic endeavor. The walls and floor are the blank canvas and your furnishings and accessories serve as the "paint." While some individuals are graced with the natural talent for bringing it all together, the rest of us get the job done by trial and error or mimicking what we’ve seen somewhere.

Begin by drawing a floor plan to scale and measuring the furniture. Then determine your focal point, around which you will anchor your room arrangement. Some rooms have an architectural feature that could serve as a captivating focal point, such as a fireplace or a large window with a breathtaking view. A sculpture, piano, or other interesting element might also serve as the main attraction.

Once you’ve determined your starting point or main attraction, it’s particularly important that your floor plan takes into account how traffic flows into the room. To ensure that a room functions well, don’t crowd furniture together and be sure you have ample space around each piece. For the room’s main route, allow a path that’s a minimum of 36 inches wide.

When arranging furniture, think in terms of conversation. Keep furniture close enough so that people can hear each other. Also, if space allows, arrange your furniture at an angle to the walls. This will keep your room from looking too "boxy". In general, try placing your chairs and sofa away from the walls.

If you have no choice but to place your sofa along a wall, try positioning a narrow sofa table with a floral arrangement or area lamp behind it for more definition. Want a more casual effect? Try using an asymmetrical design concept. For example, mix and match the shape of artwork on your walls. Combine both fitted upholstery and relaxed contemporary slipcovers. Add a couple of unexpected accessories into the mix as well.

If your style is more formal, balance furnishings and accessories symmetrically. For example, place identical end tables and lamps on both sides of the couch. Create linear wall art groupings. Frame your focal point with matching bookcases, plants or picture ledges.

If you have a spare corner or a small tabletop, lend elegence and warmth to the space with a small sculpture or a unique lamp. Likewise, if you have spare wall space, hang a large mirror or group several mirrors together. This will visually enlarge the area and add depth.

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How Bathrooms Can Improve the Look of Your Home

Michael Emilio — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:08:54 +0000

The highlights of today’s bathrooms are not white, sterile looking fixtures. The bathrooms of today are more like personal retreats, furnished for comfort and decorated with as much grandeur as some formal dining rooms!

Take tubs for example. These days, instead of soaking in a traditional rectangular tub, home owners retreat from the world in oversized, multi-jet spa tubs in a myriad of styles and shapes. Sinks and vanities, too, come in all shapes, sizes and finishes and are designed with elegance in mind. Go with a wood color and sink vanity to match your tub surround. Add character to your bathroom with an unusual sink made from materials such as marble, granite, stone, glass, china, stainless steel or copper.

For the ultimate in luxury bathroom accessories, consider a sparkling crystal chandelier or a set of retro-style wall sconces.

Finally, don’t forget to spoil yourself with a few practical luxuries. How about a heated towel rack, a fogless mirror, ultra-plush rugs and a comfortable chair with a side table? Turn your bath time into a formal affair!

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How Mouldings Can Add Character to Your House

Michael Emilio — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:06:24 +0000

Most often, the mouldings in a home go unnoticed, quietly framing walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. But for those who appreciate fine details, moulding accents are valuable elements for creating elegant, beautiful rooms.

Mouldings come in a multitude of designs and materials. If you have plain baseboards, why not add character with a wide, decorative one. Instead of settling for a plain door casing, select one with ornate ridges accented with a stand-out corner piece. Add an elaborate crown moulding to your ceiling that echoes the bends and turns of your walls. Or, use it to create a great fireplace surround.

Break up a long wall by positioning a chair rail moulding about one-third of the way up the wall from the floor or set the top portion off with a picture rail moulding. In turn, you’ve created two distinct wall sections that can be decorated using paint.

You don’t have to replace your existing mouldings to change your decor. You could add a moulding element to the outside edges of your current casings or change the color of your existing trim with paint.

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