Universal Design

Remodeling you home for retirement may not be your concern in your 30s or 40s or even your 50s, but the new trend in home design and remodeling is focused on just that - designing your home for your current use with a focus on your future needs. This concept is called universal design.

Kiplinger suggests these simple changes to add 5% to the value of your home:

Substitute door handles for doorknobs. The handle material and design, which can match the décor of your home, will make it easier to open doors with arthritic hands.

Older folks need more light and are more sensitive to glare. Lights with extra illumination and lighting controls can be incorporated into a kitchen remodel.

European-style showers are sophisticated and don't have a lip, allowing wheelchair access as well as a way to wash plants and even the dog. You don't need to put a grab bar in the shower now -- but why not install the plates during a bathroom remodel so that a grab bar can be quickly attached later? 

Many of today's remodeling projects will be undertaken by middle-aged homeowners who are happy to stay in their home and make everyday living more comfortable. If you're one of them, remember that remodeling your home is as integral to your retirement plan as your asset allocation in your 401(k).

Dining Room Remodel

Small changes in your home can make a big impact in how the room feels and functions. If you have an open space with seating for 3 people or 10 people, these ideas may strike a chord with you:

Change the furniture to be ultra modern and create a chic space.

Add a chair rail for a contemporary feel that is still homey. More subdued colors can work with country charm or a shabby chic feel.

Utilize a partial wall for pizzazz.

Paint or wallpaper an accent wall for a striking feature that ties in metallic colors or a favorite piece of art without overburdening the room.

Utilize a wide open space for a breathable room with room to grow.

Make use of a small space with tall chairs for graceful elegance.
 

See more ideas like these at: Interholic

Buying a Foreclosure

With the housing market down, a lot of homes are going into foreclosure. A lot of homeowner, angry with the banks, or for other reasons, are trashing the homes before they leave. As a buyer, these foreclosure homes are a great deal, but require a lot of work. More so than the "handyman special" homes of a decade ago, these homes may require new pipes, lots of wall replacement, all new fixtures, and electrical work.

If you are considering buying a home from foreclosure, here are some tips:

1. Have the house inspected by a General Contractor before making a bid. This will ensure that all aspects of the home are verified and you will know what you are getting into before you put forth any money.
2. Keep my number in your cell phone. Being a general contractor who is familiar with both new and existing construction, renovation and remodeling, I can assist you with making a budget, planning projects, prioritizing, and completing each task to your satisfaction.

Girls' Rooms

Continuing from our last post about cool rooms for your kids, this week's entry shows you amazing ways to showcase your daughter's room, whether she is a toddler or a teenager. Storage is key, as well as usable space to play, to learn, and to express her individual style. Built-in shelving and wardrobes set these rooms apart and could be easily done for you on a budget.

Boys' Rooms

Want the coolest room for your son? Check these out, then let us help you make your dreams a reality!

Outdoor Lighting

Today we take a note from Home Interior Basic with regard to how to best show off your yard, pool, gazebo, and water features to make even a small investment look luxe. We can help you optimize lighting to showcase your home.

There are a variety regarding choices onindustry, which includes low-voltage illumination, flood equipment and lighting, sapling lighting, publishequipment and lighting, lanterns, line light bulbs pertaining to joyful occasions, recessed lighting effects, scoops, pagoda-style louvered experienced equipment and lighting that granite conclude that simply mixture with out door environments, and even solar power lighting lacking wire connections and also operating in NiCad battery packs.

Numerous techniques regarding lights can be utilized in landscape lighting. Spot lighting, that works onlight upon architectural capabilities, might be placed to attenuate glare while focusing completely about the centerpiece. Silhouetting is placing the light sources at the rear of the object to bring your shape ofthe item rather than specific shade along with structure. Key mild as well as following their every movedemands positioning the sunlight origin straight as you’re watching subject of curiosity to produce amild along with darkness result. Moonlighting takes a fixture being added to the actual trees and shrubsas well as looking that down to provide a natural tranquil moonlit effect. Terrace illumination, grazing (light concentrates on the object at the well-defined angle) along with washing the surface (lightingtargets items at the larger or perhaps frank position), phase illumination, pathway lighting, water-featureand also fountain lights, as well as indicator illumination are one of the a variety of techniques employed for outdoor lighting.

In outdoor lighting, a basic issue that has to be kept in mind is that the lamps face every one of thefactors outside. In case there is lighting effects water features, the light resource may also be internallyto create a enchanting glittering and also rippling influence. Consequently, appropriate lights andlighting ought to be decided on.

Insurance Discounts and Coverage

When it comes time for a home renovation project, think beyond installing granite countertops or knocking down walls. Think about renovating your home insurance to protect your investment.

The insurance industry suggests reviewing your coverage with your agent annually, a recommendation roundly ignored by many homeowners. Keeping your agent informed especially makes sense if you're planning a makeover, simply because there's no magic formula to determine how much a project might affect your premium.

Ed Charlebois, vice president of personal insurance for Travelers Insurance, recommends talking to your agent if you're adding to the value of your home by 5 percent or more. Explain what work you're planning and get an estimate of how it will affect your premium.

Increase your insurance coverage before the work begins in case there is loss or damage. While you're at it, make sure the contractor and subcontractors are insured for liability and workers compensation.

The most popular renovation projects are redoing the kitchen or bath. Though these jobs can run into the thousands of dollars, they often offer high rates of returns on the investment.

Installing a fire alarm system can save on an insurance premium through discounts, said Charlebois.

Another safety-related project that could save money is replacing an old knob-and-tube electrical system.

"If you completely updated your wiring — modern wiring, circuit breakers — you're probably eligible for an upgraded program (that could result in a lower premium)," Charlebois said.

Smaller projects — replacing carpet with new hardwood floors or installing granite countertops, for example — aren't cheap, but the cost isn't enough to justify a call to your agent. Those things can be taken care of in your annual review.

When you first apply for insurance, prepare to answer questions about square footage, the style of the home, number of bathrooms, the quality of your kitchen and bath (basic builders grade or is it more?). The answers help the agent calculate the replacement cost or cost to rebuild. When you do an annual review, you and the agent can catch those little improvements that add up to a significant increase in cost to rebuild.

Charlebois also recommends taking a complete inventory of what's in your home. Anyone who has experienced theft, damage or loss knows how important this record is to expedite the claims process. (The Insurance Information Institute offers tips on taking a home inventory at knowyourstuff.org/iii/login.html.)

"Keep an inventory, and keep it off sight in case you suffer a total loss," he said. "That makes life much easier going forward."

To learn more about the costs of rebuilding your home, visit travelers.com and search for "home insurance cost to rebuild."

Source: Chicago Tribune