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Buy. Sell. Improve. Finance.

First-Nest Reality Check

POPULAR PROJECTSWITH HIGH PAYBACKS

Is Your Home a Little Less than (Curb) Appealing?

April 21, 2011

Supplement to

2 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011

By NICOLE [email protected]

Want a faster closing, fewer complications andmoney in your wallet?

With the peak season for real estate already underway, knowing how to make a home more marketablecould make a major difference in both time andmoney.

According to Frank Previte, broker and owner ofPrevite Realty, the first step to make a home more ap-pealing is “curb appeal.” In order to get the outside ofyour house dressed to impress, he suggests having thelawn clean and mowed, the house painted and shrubsmanicured.

Once you get the potential buyer inside, he said, thehouse shouldn’t be cluttered, and walls should bepainted, preferably in a neutral color.

“A little bit of paint goes a long way,” Previte said.To tidy up the clutter, Wally Putt, broker and owner

of Putt Real Estate, suggests organizing the mess in agarage — typically a place where buyers aren’t goingto be as critical.

He also said if you can’t afford to have the carpet re-done, getting the carpet professionally cleaned couldmake a difference, especially if pets live inside thehome.

“It is better to do as much as you can financially forgetting your home ready to sell,” Putt said.

He suggests having a home inspection done prior to

selling, because it gives an idea on what needs to bedone when preparing to get your house ready to showbuyers. He said people expect the electricity to work, aroof that doesn’t leak, a basement without waterflooding and plumbing free of issues.

“You have to get it done,” he said. “It helps the hometo sell better or quicker.”

Dawn Wilson, a Realtor at Northwood Realty Servic-es, said kitchens and bathrooms are what sell thehome, so the best thing to do is have both of thoserooms updated.

“I don’t think that somebody should totally redo ahouse to sell, because somebody is going to come inwith their own ideas.” she said. “Don’t put your tasteinto a house.”

Also to add value to your home, Steve White, brokerand appraiser and owner of Norma White Realty, saidif renovations have to be made, they should be doneto the above-grade square footage — meaning the liv-ing area in the dwelling.

For example, he said adding a game room in thebasement won’t be as beneficial, because that isbelow-grade square footage, which may only add asmall amount of value.

After the home is cleaned and painted and properrenovations have been made, White said, it is impor-tant to not overprice your home, because higher-priced homes aren’t selling as well. He suggested try-ing to price your home below market value if youwant to sell the house faster.

How to sell your home faster

Come on in!PAGE 6■ So you know you need to boost your curb appeal, but how do youdo it? We’ll tell you where to start.

PAGE 8■ Options abound for making porches and patios into an outdooroasis. Find out how to make them work for years to come.

PAGE 11■ Don’t get rid of those hardwood floors yet. Sanding and staining —or even painting — can give them a whole new look.

PAGE 14■ Ready for the big move? We’ll tell you the best and safest ways totransport your belongings.

PAGE 16■ See how a couple turned an old farmhouse into their dream home.

PAGE 18■ Follow a 70-year-old man as he builds his own home from theground up.

Metro Creative Graphic

SMALLCHANGEScan make

a big difference

when trying tosell your

home.

Is that renovation project really worth it?Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 3

Maybe you’ve watched one too manyhome improvement shows.

Perhaps you’re still stinging from thatholiday guest’s comment about howyour kitchen countertop has seen betterdays.

Or maybe you’re just really tired oflooking at the same old, same old everyday.

Whatever the reason the remodelingitch has settled into your brain, beforeyou bring in a contractor — or pick up ahammer — you should consider two im-portant questions: How will you fundyour project? And will it be worth it inthe end?

Fortunately, it’s not difficult to evaluatethe potential resale value of any homeproject.

In terms of resale value, here are somepopular projects with high paybacks, ac-cording to Remodeling Magazine’s 2009-2010 Cost versus Value Report:

■ Adding an attic bedroom: 83.1 percent

■ Adding a wooden deck: 80.6 percent■ Minor kitchen remodel: 78.3 percent■ Major kitchen remodel: 72.1 percent■ Basement remodel: 75.4 percent■ Bathroom remodel: 71 percentKeep in mind that smaller remodels,

while costing less than major jobs, canstill have a major impact on how yourhome looks and feels. For example, sim-ply replacing that old front door with asteel version can cost around $1,000 butoffers a return on investment of nearly129 percent, according to the report.

Another factor to consider whenweighing the value of any remodelingproject is how it will affect your quality oflife in terms of financial security. It’s im-portant to be sure the cost of the projectwon’t be a financial burden that detractsfrom your enjoyment of the results.

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How to make a deck an outdoor living roomNothing beats relaxing in the

shade or entertaining a group ofguests on your own private deck.When you take the time to planyour deck for the way you live, theresult can be a versatile livingspace and a value-boosting addi-tion to your home.

Trent Boozer, publisher of Ex-treme How-To magazine, notes hisreaders have made it clear thatdecks are one of the top projectsthey love to design and build. TheInternet is full of deck plans andplanning tools — and with therange of decking products and ac-cessories on the market, everydeck can take on a personality ofits own, he says.

Personalization is what makesthe deck an extension of the home,says Rick Preble of Deckorators,the leading deck accessory brand

that embraces the concept of deckpersonalization.

“The idea of an outdoor living

room has really materialized aspeople have reattached to their ex-isting homes,” says Preble. A cost-

effective way to add square footageand upgrade your lifestyle withoutmoving is with a deck. With all thedeck products and accessoriesavailable today, homeowners cancustomize their outdoor rooms.”

The North American Deck andRailing Association website(nadra.org) is another good placefor consumers to start when gath-ering information for a deck build.The organization has a largegallery of photographs of decksthat have received national awardsfor design or construction.

Michael Beaudry, executive vicepresident of NADRA, says con-sumers are definitely hungry fordeck design ideas and informationon new products. NADRA offersresources to help consumers withdeck and rail design and deck safe-ty. The organization’s website also

provides access to more than 1,750different building products com-panies.

Homeowners who want to buildor who are renovating an existingdeck will find new trends for 2011.One material making its moveonto decks is stone.

“Stone or simulated stone on adeck has become possible withnew products, and it’s another ex-ample of interior design trendsand the mixing of various ele-ments making their way to out-door living areas,” Preble says.

Experts agree that putting thetime into planning your deck upfront and knowing what yourproduct options are is the best wayto ensure you end up with a spaceyour family will embrace as a trueoutdoor living room.

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For years, the conversationabout strengthening your home’svalue has revolved around interiorprojects.

However, by keeping the focusinside, you might be ignoring oneof the most effective ways to bringyour property value up: the gar-den.

When discussing home value,“garden” means more than justflower beds. It includes your lawn,gathering spaces on your property,paths and walkways, in addition tothe trees, shrubs and flowers thatdecorate the space. In a housingmarket where it’s still difficult tostand out, turning your attentionand efforts to these areas might bejust the thing that will attract buy-ers.

It’s a simple concept: A more at-tractive house is a more valuablehouse.

And since your yard and gardenare often what buyers see first, it’syour best opportunity to set thetone as they consider your proper-ty and what they’re willing to payfor it.

In fact, well-designed landscap-ing was shown to raise perceivedresidential property value by asmuch as 18 percent, in a study re-cently released by Swedish powertool maker Husqvarna.

In terms of return on invest-ment, maintaining an attractivelawn and garden was shown to re-turn $1.80 per dollar spent. Forthose who want to improve theirhome’s value but can’t afford tohire contractors for major interiorrepairs, garden improvements canbe an affordable alternative.

Armed with the right tools, mosthomeowners are capable of tack-ling garden projects that can im-prove their property value, and at arelatively low cost. To get a betterunderstanding of what lawn andlandscaping equipment would bemost beneficial to your yard, visitan outdoor power manufacturerwebsite like www.husqvarna.com.Simply edging your yard with astring trimmer helps create aclean, finished look outdoors andcan be achieved for less than $200.

While many Americans are re-luctant to spend much on theiryards — some 65 percent of peoplespent less than $400 on it annually— keeping return on investment inmind can help you make bettersmarter decisions. If you want tocall in the pros, consider projectsthat are highly sought-after, likein-ground irrigation systems.

Those not sure where to start canlook to the wide variety of garden-ing websites, television programs

and magazines for inspiration andpractical tips.

Some of the top-ranked gardenattributes for improving homevalue included:

■ A well-maintained lawn■ An inviting social area■ Stone paths and walkways■ Decorative trees, bushes and

shrubs■ Well-kept hedges■ Nicely designed flower bedsGardening season and the high

real estate season coincide for areason: Houses look their best sur-rounded by growing plants andblooming flowers. As the warmermonths progress, remember thatnot only can investing in your gar-den give you a good return, itcould also be the deciding factor indrawing a buyer to your property.


Think outside the box to improve valueIndiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 5

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Cost-effective ways to boost curb appealAnyone who’s ever bought, sold

or even just looked at a house cantell you first impressions matter. Ahouse can be filled to the rafterswith luxury touches, but if it lackscurb appeal, few potential buyerswill never step in the door to seewhat’s inside. With real estate salesstill sluggish across the country,curb appeal is taking on a newmeaning for many homeowners.While an attractive home exteriorcan still boost potential resalevalue, homeowners are also look-ing at curb appeal as a way to en-hance the enjoyment of theirhomes. Giving the exterior of theirhome a facelift not only makes thehouse stand out on the street, italso allows homeowners to “moveup” without the expense of remod-eling or moving. Fortunately,many curb appeal-enhancing

projects can be cost-effective too,yielding significant improvementsfor a modest investment.

“Projects can be inexpensive andsimple while adding tremendousvalue and curb appeal,” says MarkClement, HGTVPro.com how-toexpert and host of “MyFixItUpLife.”

If you’re looking for low-cost,high-impact ways to create or im-prove curb appeal, consider theseideas:

■ Make small improvementsthat have a big impact. Simpletouches like repainting the frontdoor, window trim and shutters,planting flowers, and switchingoutdated light fixtures can create awhole new look. Plus, these simpleimprovements have the advantageof being scalable. Instead of re-sid-ing the entire house, you can fresh-

en the facade by tackling smallerportions, such as a porch orgarage. Later, if you want to con-tinue the improvement, you canre-side other areas of the facade.

■ Choose materials that aredurable and stylish. Skimping onmaterials may seem like a greatway to save money, but you couldend up spending more in the longrun if you have to redo a job thatwas first done with lower qualitymaterials. Purchase the best quali-ty materials you can afford — notonly will they look better thancheaper goods, they’ll last longerand provide more enjoyment andvalue.

■ Dress up the exterior with ac-cents. Adding touches like accentsto gables, posts and beams, drainchains in place of downspouts or

ARAcontent

FIRST IMPRESSIONS matter in real estate and are what get potential buyers in the door. Continued on Page 7

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Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 7

Cost-effective ways to boost curb appeal

Enhance your home’s lookBy SARAH WELCH

and ALICIA ROCKMOREgetbuttonedup.com

We’re all told not to judge a bookby its cover. But, like it or not, yourhouse definitely doesn’t get thesame break. Everyone, from neigh-bors to friends, dinner-partyguests and especially visitors toyour open house, will form an im-pression before setting one foot in-side. How, you ask? Things like un-kempt flower beds, weeds in thedriveway cracks and peeling painton the front door might not seemlike much, but fix them up, andyou’ll go a long way toward makingyour home seem more welcomingand inviting.

Spring is one of the most populartimes in the real-estate market fora reason, so whether or not you’re

planting a “For Sale” sign in yourfront yard, use this time to reworkyour entrance. You’ll start hearingthat treasured phrase — curb ap-peal — directed your way.

WINTER MESS: If you thoughtrakes were just for the fall, thinkagain. Spring is a great time tobring them out again to clean upmessy beds and grassy areas thathave lingering winter debris, likesmall branches.

MULCH: This doesn’t take a lot oftime but makes a huge improve-ment. Mulch makes everythinglook neater and cleaner. It evenhides some of those dreadedweeds, which translates to lessmaintenance over time.

GRAB A NOTEPAD: Walk around

your property and make a list ofthings that need repair. Pay partic-ular attention to outside lights aswell as yard accessories, like windchimes and birdbaths.

A CAN OF PAINT: Now it’s time totackle that tired outdoor furniture.Just because a piece looks a littlelong in the tooth, your first instinctshouldn’t be to replace it, but to re-paint it. There’s almost nothing,short of total rot, that a coat or twoof fresh paint can’t help. The samegoes for fences.

LANDSCAPING: Just like mulch ora fresh coat of paint, nothingmakes a house more inviting thana few blooming plants.

They will brighten up your frontyard considerably.

Scripps Howard News Service

planter boxes made with beautiful,sustainable materials like redcedar is a great way to improvecurb appeal while stretching yourbudget. Quality materials retaintheir beauty over time better thancheaper materials.

■ Illuminate. Light is a powerfulaccent, and, thanks to the avail-ability of easy-to-install solarlights, you don’t need to pay a pro-fessional to light your landscape.Solar lights — readily available inhome improvement stores — pro-vide decorative illumination todriveways, walkways and gardens.

■ Introduce shade. Arbors andtrellises adorned with floweringvines are not only beautiful in

warm months; they’re a great wayto add areas of shade to your land-scape. They can even be used toblock the scorching heat from theafternoon sun from parts of yourhome’s interior. Building an arboror trellis is well within the capabili-ties of most do-it-yourselfers. Forfree ideas and plans, visitwww.wrcla.org.

■ Add a splash of color to yourlandscape with low-maintenanceplantings that require little atten-tion. As an added “green” step,consider plants that require lesswater, too. Your local home exten-sion office can help you identifywhat types of plants will grow bestin your region.


Continued from Page 6

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It’s been a long, hard winter inmuch of the country. Toweringsnowdrifts, icy roads, freak hail-storms. For many of us, springcan’t come fast enough, and with itthe chance to enjoy our porches,patios and sunrooms.

Options abound for makingthese indoor/outdoor spaces lookstylish. But can we have all thatgorgeous style while usingdurable, easy-to-care-for itemsthat will stay looking good all sea-son? The experts say yes — if youchoose carefully.

“When it comes to materials,now more than ever the gap hasbeen bridged between indoor andoutdoor. There are a ton of piecesthat look fit for your actual living

room, but they’re meant to be out-doors,” says designer and decorde-mon.com founder Brian PatrickFlynn. “A lot of people are begin-ning to find that perfect outdoorsofa and bring it into their sun-room.”

Here, Flynn and two other ex-perts — Los Angeles-based interi-or designer Betsy Burnham anddecorator and design blogger NickOlsen — offer advice on creatingbeautiful sunrooms and porchesthat you can enjoy effortlessly.

THE OLDEST OBJECTS“Something that’s been through

a lot already is going to be able toput up with even more,” Burnhamsays. She suggests using vintagefurniture and accessories thathave already withstood the ele-ments to give porches and sun-

rooms a dose of personality.Search flea markets for items

made of worn wood and metal. Ifthey become further scuffed, itonly adds to the beauty.

If you prefer a fresh sheen onvintage items, metal pieces such asold wrought-iron furniture can besprayed with automotive paint atan auto-body shop. This creates aglossy, colorful surface imperviousto the elements.

THE EASIEST FLOORSFlynn suggests using porch paint

on wood or cement floors to bringcolor and pattern without a rug.Spill some food or drink? It wipesup easily. And if the painted floorgets worn as the summer wearson, no problem. A faded patinaadds to the charm.

Rugs in outdoor fabrics are also

a good option.“Thom Felicia has a line you can

get on overstock.com right nowthat’s super-affordable,” Flynnsays.

Olsen also visits overstock.comfor outdoor rugs, which he says arevery durable. “The dog can chew itup and nothing happens. ... But ifworst comes to worst and it’s dam-aged, you don’t feel guilty, becauseit was no major investment.”

THE STURDIEST ACCESSORIESLike outdoor fabrics, plastic din-

nerware has come a long way inrecent years. Burnham has foundchic Suzani-print plates that are“fabulous. You’d never imaginethey were plastic.”

For durable seating, Burnhamsays L.L. Bean’s basic rockingchairs have a classic style and arebuilt to last.

For planters, “instead of goingcrazy with really nice pottery” thatcan be expensive and fragile, Flynnsuggests buying an inexpensivealuminum trash bin (think Oscarthe Grouch), remove the label andadd casters to the bottom. Fill theentire thing with used two-literplastic soda bottles, which weighvery little.

Then pour in potting soil, pack-ing it tightly at the top.

“Put in a combination of plantsthat drape over the side, plantsthat grow really tall like grasses,mossy things that are short andthen flowering things,” Flynn says.“You’re using nature as art, andyou’re containing the plants withsomething used out of context”that is durable.

For more fragile accessories, it’sall about location: Olsen says alarge framed mirror brings indoorglamour to any porch, and shouldbe safe if it’s hung properly in anarea away from the flow of foottraffic. Ditto for table lamps.

THE SOFTEST LIGHTINGIn the evening, you can raise the

style quotient of your porch orsunroom by using warm, flatteringlight.

“Hanging lighting is a very inter-esting way to dress up your porch,”Burnham says, “and there are cer-tain kinds of fixtures that you canuse safely outside.” Look for onesthat are “wet-rated,” meaningthey’re safe even in rain.

And for the simplest, easiestdash of beauty, Flynn says, “you’dbe surprised how far those inex-pensive paper lanterns will go.”Hang one over a bare light bulband it instantly “adds a beautifulsoft glow.”


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First impressions are importantand the same holds true when youare showcasing your home for apotential sale. While larger homeimprovement projects are oftennecessary to catch the eye ofsomeone in the market for a newhome, they require a great deal oftime and money. Sometimes sim-ple cleaning and organization is allthat is needed for your home tobecome more appealing to poten-tial buyers. Home staging expertand TLC host Lisa Lynch says giv-ing the perception of clean homeis of utmost importance for peoplelooking to sell or rent their homes.

“Presenting a sparkling cleanproperty gives the impression thatit was well maintained,” saysLynch. “This gives potential buyersand renters a feeling of security.Often they will pay a premium for

a place that has been well-main-tained and has a clean appear-ance.”

Lynch offers these tips to im-press your guests and convincepotential buyers that you took out-standing care of your home:

SIMPLIFYBegin by de-cluttering your

home. By removing personal itemsthat might distract prospectivebuyers, you’ll help them focus onhow they think the home mightlook when they move in. You don’twant buyers to focus on posses-sions that you’ll be taking with youwhen you move.

NEUTRALIZEWhen showing your home to

others, it’s best to set your personalContinued on Page 10

FIRST IMPRESSIONS are whatoften get a home sold.


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tastes aside by decorating in a waythat will appeal to a broad range ofpeople.

Think about replacing strongpatterns with solid colors on itemslike bedding, carpets and drapes. Itmight also be a good call to storethat dramatic piece of art some-where out of sight. You can show itoff again when you move into yournew house.

A PHOTOGENIC HOMEMany potential buyers will make

decisions on which homes theywould like to look at by looking atphotos posted online. Do whatev-er you can to make your homesparkle in the images you and yourreal estate agent select for yourlisting. Focus on glass and metalsurfaces that will add shine to yourphotos. For other bathroom sur-faces, a bath scrubber should beused to remove easy-to-spot andunappealing grime and scum frombathtubs and showers. Thoroughlycleaning these surfaces in bath-rooms and kitchens can makeyour home look fresher and newer.

AREAS THAT MUST SPARKLEWhile it’s important to keep the

entire home spotless, there are tworooms in particular that requirespecial attention: the kitchen andthe bathroom. In a recent survey,the Mr. Clean company asked con-sumers which room they would

clean first if moving into a newhome. Of the more than 1,000 par-ticipants, 41 percent respondedthe kitchen and 38 percent said thebathroom. When selling yourhome, it is always important tomake the extra effort in these tworooms; you’ll never know if it willbe a make or break a deal.

SCENTWhether they know it or not,

people entering your home willnotice more than just appear-ances. Attractive scents can creategood feelings. Candles, diffusers,potpourri and cookies all offerinviting and familiar aromas. Use acleaner with a pleasant scent tokeep your home smelling fresh.

DETAILS MATTEREliminate any small imperfec-

tions that might cause uneasinesswith potential buyers by replacingbroken light bulbs, fixing loosedoorknobs or getting your closetdoor moving smoothly on it tracks.Even something as minor as a littlemess in the microwave could turnoff a prospective renter or buyer,so make sure every place you canthink of is squeaky clean.

Since first impressions are so im-portant, having your home prop-erly cleaned and staged will helpyou make a sale or rental morequickly and net the price you de-serve.


Make your home attractive to buyers


Keep an eye on radon levelsBy DWIGHT BARNETT


Question: Our daughter’s family(with a 2-year-old and a 10-day-old) just rented a home in Tacoma,Wash., that was built in 1920. Itwas recently remodeled, exceptthe basement. The basement isdry, but the kids play there. Shouldthey be concerned about radon?

Answer: We should all be con-cerned about radon gas in ourhomes, and all homes should bechecked. Radon is a colorless,odorless, naturally occurring ra-dioactive gas, the result of thedecay of radium in the soils. Radonis a known health hazard, estimat-ed by the Environmental Protec-tion Agency to be the second-lead-ing cause of lung cancer in the

United States, responsible for20,000 deaths each year.

Radon gas is always with us,whether we are outdoors or insideour homes or offices. Radon canaccumulate to unhealthy levels inany home, but now that we havebeen encouraged to make ourhomes more energy-efficient, wemay be sealing in the radon withthe air we breathe. Sealing and in-sulating just might provide an en-vironment in which radon gas canaccumulate to higher levels thanwhat is normally found outside thehomes. For that reason, the EPArecommends that all homes in theUnited States be tested for radon.

In my area of southern Indiana, Ihave found that a normal outsidelevel of 1.0 to 1.5 picocuries is nor-

Continued on Page 13

Don’t look down on your hard-wood floors just because they’reold and you want a new look un-derfoot. Your existing hardwoodscan be the foundation, literally, ofa fresh new decorating schemeanywhere in your home. In addi-tion to saving time and money,you’re also sparing Mother Earthwhen you don’t choke landfillswith wood that’s still perfectlygood and usable.

“Hardwood floors are so natural-ly durable and wear-resistant theycan go on looking beautiful foryears,” says Linda Jovanovich ofthe American Hardwood Informa-tion Center. “But when you’reready for a ‘fresh’ look, rememberthat there’s a new decorative rolefor that ‘old’ hardwood flooring.”

In Redondo Beach, Calif., de-signer Jackie Balint has cus-tomized old wood floors with floralpatterns hand-painted to matchthe homeowner’s favorite plates.In Lexington, Ky., kitchen designerLaura Dalzell used contrastingstain colors to create checker-boards and borders on traditionalhardwood floors. New York design-er John Buscarello swears by faux-painted finishes like checker-boards and pretend parquet. AndArizona designer Karen Wirrig usesa unique glazing process that winsa floor prize for special effects.

To revitalize old oak floors in aclient’s California home, Wirrigworked with a master cabinet con-tractor who repurposed his cus-tom cabinet-glazing techniquesfrom furniture to the floors.

“I have to admit I was skeptical,”Wirrig says. But when the glazewas applied over the sanded andstained floor, the grain was en-hanced and the “old” floors lookedseamless. “The individual planksreceded visually, giving the floor amuch more continuous look,” shereports. “It’s a rich and elegantlyrustic look, just what the home-owner had in mind.”

Manhattan designer Buscarellobelieves in bypassing the demoli-tion crew in favor of a decorativepainter. For him, it’s all about cher-ishing the old wood and the patinait develops over time.

“Designers really covet oldfloors,” said Buscarello. “Old woodis different; it has a beauty that’shard to replicate. Unless it’s reallytoo worn to refinish — and thatrarely happens — there’s no pointin tearing out an old floor.”

Buscarello likes to refresh oldfloors instead, sometimes with justa gentle cleaning process called“screening” that merely lifts thedirt and old wax from the surface

of the wood. It doesn’t change thecolor of the wood itself, which canthen be re-waxed or coated withpolyurethane to look like new.

When he wants a more dramatictransformation, Buscarello callsfor painted designs, classic floortreatments that “will never go outof fashion,” he says.

This approach applies not onlyin casual country-style rooms butalso in sophisticated contempo-rary settings.

Buscarello remembers the timehis work crew pulled up 20-year-old linoleum in a Manhattanapartment foyer, revealing splen-did hardwood flooring under-neath. Buscarello had a decorativeartist paint a crisp black-and-white checkerboard on the floor,instantly brightening the entry, de-lighting the homeowner and leav-

ing enough in the budget for extradecorating projects.

Even Park Avenue-posh clientsappreciate the classic good looks(and budget-loving price tag) offaux-painted floors. Buscarellomade a grand Park Avenue apart-ment “even grander” with fauxpainting on the half-century-oldfloors — a pattern that looks likewarm Old World parquet runningdiagonally throughout all the ele-gant upfront rooms. “Everyone hasa budget,” the designer points out.“You can save thousands by refur-bishing existing hardwood.”

Drama is what New York design-er Darren Henault has in mindwhen he sets out to renew a wornwood floor.

Over the top and ultra-bold,Henault loves pattern on woodfloors, a message visitors got

twice-over at the most recent KipsBay Decorator Show House inManhattan.

Henault floored adjoining sittingrooms — “His ‘n Hers” — with in-tricate entwined patterns liftedfrom an adjacent carpet and sten-cil-painted on the maple floors.“His” was darker and touched withebony; “Hers,” the reverse, paintedin milky white and lavender tomatch the walls.

“Every surface is an opportunityto do something dramatic,” the de-signer believes. “Especially a hard-wood floor.”

Design pros across the U.S.agree. Don’t show your hardwoodfloor the door.

Simply refresh, renew and redec-orate to make hardwood floorslook new and stylish again.



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Getting a first-nest reality checkBy MIMI ANDELMANSt. Petersburg Times

With mortgage rates so low,some brave first-time homebuyersare checking their bank accounts,ready to go shopping. The perfecthome calls to them. And once themonthly payments are set — theprincipal, interest, taxes and insur-ance — they’re ready for the clos-ing, the keys and a whole new life.

But when the excitement sub-sides, they begin to understandthat there’s more to ownershipthan the monthly mortgage pay-ment.

“I’m in favor of sustainablehomeownership, buying a homethat you can afford, and not justthe payments, but also the mainte-nance,” said Jillayne Schlicke, CEOand founder of the National Asso-

ciation of Mortgage Fiduciaries(mortgagefiduciaries.com).

First-timers usually don’t budgetfor regular maintenance, the rou-tine stuff that’s going to cost themmoney in the next six months, nextyear or beyond.

“I personally recommend abuyer to budget at least $200 amonth that they would put asidein a special bank account to use foronly maintaining a home,” saidSchlicke, 46, who describes herselfas a mortgage educator, teachingreal-estate agents nationwideabout the ins and outs of sales andhomebuyer finances. “You mightwant to up your monthly accountdeposit to $300” for an older orbigger home, she said.

Whereas renters call the owneror rental office for repairs, you ashomeowner have to plan for —

and pay for — those inevitable re-pairs and replacements. The re-frigerator or water heater that has18 months left. The garage doorthat’s going to jam up. The tree thatfell over after a storm and landedon your pool cage. And, oh, theplumbing. Maybe not now, but insix months, or a year, you’ll be ask-ing friends for the number of agood plumber.

The best heads-up on potentialrepair and replacement costs,large and small, is from a profes-sional home inspection, whichyou’ll need before a final contractis made.

“Most inspectors encourage thebuyer to tag along, to take the timeto educate them about the house,”said David N. Tamny, 52, presidentof the American Society of HomeInspectors (ashi.org), in Colum-

bus, Ohio. Here’s where you beginto make your homeowner’s budg-et. Foremost, experienced inspec-tors zero in on the big-ticket items:the electrical system, the plumb-ing, air-conditioning and the roof.They also note many other areaswhere problems may surface.Tamny describes those as latentproblems, “something that may beunsafe that hasn’t turned into anissue yet, but it certainly may.”

Electrical issues, for example, area safety concern. If a house wasbuilt more than 30 years ago,Tamny said, “especially withhomeowner modifications, or anungrounded system,” the buyerneeds to take note.

The first-time buyer may expectthat it’s the seller’s responsibility tomake repairs large and small. “Aseller isn’t going to make an old

house new,” Tamny said.That’s never more true than in

the current foreclosure market.“Homes that have been vacant fora long time, with utilities not re-stored,” Tamny said, are a newproblem. “There’s no disclosure,no upkeep, as the house has beenshut down. A potential buyer maythink, ‘Wow, here’s a house thatsold for $300,000 that I’m now get-ting for $200,000,’ but the houseneeds major repairs.”

First love is a wonderful thing.But when the right house catchesyour eye, stop and take a deepbreath.

As Schlicke said of the first-timer,“In their minds, they’re alreadymoving their furniture in.”

Make sure you’ve got a realisticfinancial cushion to fall back on.


If you’re looking to sell yourhome or upgrade your currentspace, you need to know whichhome improvement projects willpay off in the long run and whichones will end up costing you.

The best home improvementswill increase your resale value,positively affect utility bills, or re-duce the cost of maintenance.

■ Seek out safety: How sturdyare your stairs? Are your walk-ways free from tripping hazards,such as cracked concrete or un-even paving? How secure areyour doors and windows? Areyour entrances and pathwayswell lit? Upgrading these areaswill make your home safer foryour family and help alleviateconcerns for any potential buy-ers.

■ Get energy efficient: Making

energy-efficient additions and re-pairs helps reduce the home’s op-erational costs. Improvements,such as added insulation and up-graded HVAC systems, could re-duce cooling costs by up to 30percent, according to the U.S.Department of Energy. Home ap-pliances account for about 20percent of your utility bills, so ef-ficient choices can cut your costswhile helping the environment.

When planning an improve-ment project, consider the long-term benefits of high-quality ma-terials. Using low-grade productsto save money now can actuallycause more headaches — andpotentially cost you more money— later. Cheaper materials usual-ly don’t hold up as well over timeand often require more mainte-nance.

When upgrading building ma-terials, look for options that re-quire little maintenance andhave a high perceived value.Fiber cement siding is a great ex-ample of this concept because itcan recoup as much as 84 per-cent of the cost upon resale. Ac-cording to Remodeling maga-zine’s 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Re-port, re-siding with fiber cementis one of the best home improve-ment investments, providingmore of a return on investmentthan kitchen and bathroom re-models.

Additional benefits, like termiteand fire resistance, add to thesavings in the overall cost ofmaintenance. For more informa-tion, visit www.jameshardie.com.

What home improvements arenot worth the money?

■ Room additions can be costlyand risky, especially if the spaceadded is customized, such as asauna or wine cellar, which maynot appeal to future buyers.

■ Marble countertops maylook nice in the beginning, butthe porous stone needs constantmaintenance. Marble can bedamaged by water, burned by hotpans and eroded by cleaningproducts. Unless extreme care isused, it is possible that marblecountertops will need to be re-placed at the time of sale.

■ High-tech systems for the In-ternet or sound are a nice luxury,but because technology is con-tinuously improving, updateswill become outdated ratherquickly.

— courtesy of Family Featuresand James Hardie


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mal (1/10,000th of a curie of radia-tion). With our soil conditions,many of the homes tested in thisarea are above 4.0 picocuries. TheEPA recommends that any homefound to have a reading of 4.0 pic-ocuries or higher be mitigated toreduce the dangers of radon expo-sure.

Depending on the design of thehome, proper mitigation tech-niques can range in cost from$1,000 to more than $2,000. Bychecking the EPA’s national radonmap at www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html, I found that yourdaughter’s home is in an area

where most indoor readings areless than 2.0 picocuries perdeciliter of air. Mike Brennan atthe Washington State Health De-partment explained that the gla-cial soil conditions in your areagenerally do not lead to elevatedlevels of radon contamination;however, they do find homes withradon levels above 4.0 picocuries,and he suggested having the hometested either professionally or byusing a DIY radon test kit.

Radon test kits can be procuredonline, or you can contact yourstate’s health department for or-dering information. Radon test kitsare also available at home stores

such as Home Depot and Lowe’s.The total cost for the kit and the as-sociated lab fees should be lessthan $50. Professional testing willcost more, but the results shouldbe more accurate.

You should not attempt to venti-late the air from inside the homeyourself, as this can lead to elevat-ed levels of radon gas inside thehome. Radon gas comes from thesoils under the home, so as air isventilated from the home, fresh airenters from all points, includingthe basement foundation. Testfirst, then mitigate if the readingsare high.



Remember to keep an eye on radon levels

First nestContinued from Page 12

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Packing, transporting tips for DIY moversThe economy is moving again

— and so are Americans. About38 million people moved to newlocations, according to the U.S.Census Bureau. Warm weatherlocales seem to be top-of-mindthese days.

If you’re planning a move toany state this year, Penske, whohas been renting out movingtrucks to do-it-yourselfers formore than 40 years, offers someadvice:

■ For long-distance moves, amoving truck is a must. Buteven if you’re just moving acrosstown, renting a moving truckmakes sense. Making multipletrips can be exhausting — not tomention the gas you’ll use. Re-serve your truck at least twoweeks in advance of moving

day. A 12- or 16-foot truckworks for moving a few largeitems or the contents of a smallcondo or apartment.

■ Pack in increments. Startearly to avoid the stress of last-minute rushing. It’s OK to leavea box open in case you needsomething you’ve packed insideit; it’s much easier to tape a boxshut on moving day than it is topack at the last moment.

■ Buy sturdy boxes in a vari-ety of sizes, along with foamand bubble wrap to protectfragile items. You’ll also need agood supply of packing tapeand markers for sealing boxes.

■ Make sure you have movingblankets and hand trucks onmoving day to make the processeasier.

■ Purge before packing. It’smuch easier to throw away, do-nate, sell or give away items thatyou don’t need than it is to packthem and move them. As a ruleof thumb, if you haven’t usedsomething in the past 12months — or it’s still packed in abox from the last time youmoved — you can probably getrid of it.

■ Label boxes as you pack.First, list the room that the con-tents belong in, and, if neces-sary, a few details such as“glass,” “fragile” or “dishes.” Asyou load the truck, try to keepboxes from each room groupedtogether.

■ Load the heaviest itemsonto the truck first to create asturdy base, then start stacking

on top.■ Moving trucks are taller,

wider and heavier than the pas-senger vehicles you are used todriving. They require more dis-tance to stop. Be extra carefuldriving your moving truck, es-pecially after it’s loaded. Beaware of low-hanging treebranches and building over-hangs, and use caution whencornering. Park only in well-litareas and keep the rear doorpadlocked and the passengercompartment doors locked.

■ Finally, create a travel bagfor moving day and keep impor-tant paperwork, credit cards,identification, a change ofclothes, beverages and snacksclose at hand.

— Courtesy of ARAcontentAssociated Press

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Used materials a hit among home improversIndiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 15

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By MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTONFor The Associated Press

It took Brian Koehl about a yearto buy the materials to build abackyard greenhouse.

Koehl, a master gardener fromWaller, Texas, bought secondhandwindows and doors to constructthe building that houses his rosesand vegetables. Using old materi-als saved him money, and addedinterest to the structure.

“I really liked the look of usingold windows,” he said. “It met all ofmy needs.”

Many homeowners these daysare considering using secondhanditems for home-improvementprojects.

“The interest keeps growing,”said Justin Green, program direc-

tor for Build It Green NYC, in NewYork City. “The No. 1 driver is youcan save a lot of money. The No. 2is people are interested in beinggreen.”

Used building supplies can cost50 percent to 90 percent less thannew, said Shane Endicott, execu-tive director of the RebuildingCenter in Portland, Ore.

“It’s a huge motivator for peopleto reuse,” he said.

Lots of large cities, includingSeattle, Los Angeles and Austin,Texas, now have stores that sellused building materials, such aslumber, kitchen cabinets, lightingfixtures and sinks. Many of thestores are operated by Habitat forHumanity, which sells donatedgoods to raise money to buildhouses (using new materials) for

low-income families.Some of the resale shops also op-

erate deconstruction businessesthat tear down old buildings to sal-vage as much material as possible.

“Our goal is to be competitivewith the wrecking ball,” said TomLongstreth, executive director ofReSOURCE, a nonprofit that offersdeconstruction services and sellsused building materials in Burling-ton, Vt. “It really is a win-win.There’s a huge volume we are ableto keep out of landfills.”

Karen and Bradford “Skip” Hardyroutinely find quality materialsthey could not normally afford atReSOURCE. Past purchases haveincluded bathroom faucets andwindows.

“We seem to get lucky. We getthere at the right time,” Bradford

Hardy said. “On a bad year, weprobably spend 2,000 bucks there.In a good year, we spend eight to$10,000.”

The store also allows the coupleto indulge their creative sides. Herecently found large wooden pipesfrom an old organ, and intends touse them for giant garden windchimes. She has turned old tilepieces into coasters.

Pam Kueber of Retrorenovation.com hears from lots of sec-ondhand-goods shoppers whohave found creative uses for oldbuilding materials and householdproducts.

“This is something you do out ofjoy and creativity as much as utilityand frugality,” said Kueber, wholives in a 1951 Colonial-ranchhouse in Lenox, Mass.

The growth in the number ofstores around the country hasmade it possible for more peopleto consider used materials, shesaid. In the past, she added, it wasmostly people restoring old homesand looking for items from a spe-cific era who were drawn to useditems.

Bart Niswonger has shopped atthe ReStore Home ImprovementCenter in Springfield, Mass., forperiod pieces and bargains. “We’vebought a whole bunch of stufffrom them,” said Niswonger, ofWorthington, Mass.

He has purchased light fixtures,sinks and doors, including someitems for a 1920s house he re-stored. A furniture maker, he alsoused items from the store whilecreating his workshop.


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By LYNN UNDERWOODMinneapolis Star Tribune

THE HOUSEAn early-1900s farmhouse on

nearly 2 acres in Minnetonka,Minn.

THE CHALLENGEOwners Karla and Jerry Greene,

who bought the property in 1988,were attracted to the farmhousebecause of its site, charmingstonework pillars and the oldstone well. But inside, the housewas a hodgepodge of substandardremodeling projects. “It felt like itwas pieced together when webought it,” Karla said.

The Greenes undertook an initialremodeling, building a French-chateau-style master suite on theback of the house and adding alarge screened porch. But thefront, with its low ceilings andsmall, chopped-up rooms, still feltdark and claustrophobic. Thekitchen and den were dreary anddated and the family rarely sat inthe drafty, cold living room. “Thefront foyer was so cold that wetgloves would freeze,” said Karla.

GO ALL THE WAYThe Greenes hired Tim Oskey of

Woodstone Renovation in St. LouisPark, Minn., to determine howthey could make the front of thehouse more appealing and roomyenough to entertain their large ex-

tended family. After assessing thehome, Oskey told them it wouldn’tbe cost-effective or practical topiece things together. “So we de-cided to just tear it off and start allover,” Karla said.

THE SOLUTIONOn the main floor, Oskey, with

the help of Alexander DesignGroup in Wayzata, Minn., demol-ished the front section of the homeand rebuilt it, adding 12 feet to thefootprint in the front and 6 feet onthe side.

That additional space allowedhim to create a great room, an eat-ing area off the kitchen and a frontentryway.

To give the main floor a more co-hesive look, he also remodeled theexisting den, dining room andkitchen.

On the second floor, Oskey toreoff a bedroom to raise the ceilingon the main floor. Then, he built anew bedroom in what had beenthe attic and updated the existingsecond-floor rooms. “We kept thecharm of the original farmhouse,”said Oskey. “We just moved it outand up.”

STRUCTURAL CHALLENGESBefore he built the new section,

Oskey had to install proper foot-ings and steel beams. “After 100years of one mistake built on an-other, we needed to stabilize thestructure,” he said.


THE GREENES were attracted to the home because of the site andstonework pillars.



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Rejuvenating an old farmhouse

FARMHOUSE FLAVORTo give the new addition an old-

house aesthetic, Oskey incorporat-ed rich wood trim, coffered ceil-ings and a massive river-rock fire-place in the new great room. In anod to the home’s century-oldroots, the Greenes display one ofthe home’s original wood doors bythe front entry.

BIGGEST SPLURGEReclaimed barn-wood beams,

which were nailed across the ceil-ing of the new eating area and theremodeled kitchen, “give it thatFrench-farmhouse feel,” Karlasaid.

NEW OLD WORLD KITCHENKarla designed the European-

style kitchen with textural lime-stone atop a large center island,which was built to look like an oldpiece of furniture.

“It was one of the hardest deci-sions because we loved the look oflimestone but were warned aboutthe maintenance,” she said.

LITTLE ITALYThe remodeled den features new

windows and an energy-efficientgas fireplace dressed up with anItalian-look stone surround.

CONVENIENCE OVER CRACKLING LOGS

The Greenes are glad they put ingas, rather than wood-burning,fireplaces, in the den and greatroom. “We’re not that strict on thewhole farmhouse thing,” Karlasaid.

LIFE DURING REMODELINGThe family lived in the basement

with a makeshift kitchen for sixmonths.

“You get used to workers andcommotion every day,” said Karla.“But when it was done, it felt goodto be home alone.”

BEST PART“Every room is comfortable and

warm, and I can go barefoot in thewinter,” Karla said.



“YOU GET used to workersand commotion every day.But when it was done, it feltgood to be home alone.”

Karla Greene,homeowner

Tips■ Do your homework

regarding materials, fixturesand finishes and bring yourideas to the design meetings.

■ “Start with a big wish listand then tweak it to what’s really important,” Karla said.

■ If you can, take a vacationduring the construction to geta break from the mess.

■ Choose a contractor youfeel comfortable working with.“He’ll be your new best friendfor six months,” Karla said.

Scripps Howard News ServiceScripps Howard News Service

THE GREENES opted for a gas fireplace instead of a traditional wood-burning option.

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By MARK S. KRZOSThe News-Press

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — VictorCamp has refused to take his re-tirement in Southwest Floridalying down.

The 70-year-old Bonita Springsresident is nearing the completionof a three-year project and a life-long dream.

He’s building his own house.Sure, he’s had help here and

there with duties that are difficultor impossible for just one person— laying the foundation and put-ting up the roof trusses and tiebeams, for example — but almosteverything else is of his own doing,a true labor of love.

That includes the hauling, lifting,nailing, finishing as well as the

plumbing and electrical work.“I decided to build my own

home because I could,” saidCamp, who graduated from a tradeschool in Chicago and spent someof his 20s building high rises, in-cluding the John Hancock Center,before embarking on a career inzoology in St. Paul, Minn.

“I liked building things, but notas a profession,” he said.

He bought a lot in Bonita Shoresin 2004.

He then began to design andconstruct a three-bedroom/three-bathroom home with Span-ish-style architecture, 13 archesover doorways, high ceilings, cus-tom-made cabinetry, extra-widehallways and gas-powered appli-ances including a stove and hotwater heater.

“We just loved this area andneighborhood,” he said. “My wife,Carolyn, and I used to vacationwith the kids on Fort Myers Beachand while we really liked it there, Ididn’t want to live in a stilt house,and it’s just too busy there duringseason.”

The quiet neighborhood west ofU.S. 41 and in the section of Bonitain Collier County seemed like theperfect place.

So after budgeting $275,000 forthe 2,400-square-foot construc-tion, securing all the required per-mits, paying $34,000 in impact feesand hiring and later firing an ar-chitect who refused to meetCamp’s design demands, Campbroke ground in early 2008.

Getting to the point of breakingground, however, proved to be te-dious.

“There was a lot of paperwork forthe permitting,” Camp said.

“I did it all myself and it took al-most a month. If I were to do it allover again, it would take me abouthalf that time. If you know exactlywhat you need and where to goand what line to get into, it’s a loteasier.”

The construction permit coversmost of it — plumbing, electrical,concrete blocks, roof and trusses,he said.

“I carry that as the builder,” hesaid.

“I found out later I needed sepa-rate permits for the propane andgas lines and the outdoor sprinklersystem.”

When neighbors found outabout Camp’s building plan, theythought he was crazy, he said.

Neighbor and retired buildingcontractor Ty Thelin, 81, saidCamp’s accomplishment is re-

70-year-old man builds his own home18 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011

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Associated Press

VICTORCAMP is

nearly finished

building hishome, whichhe has beenworking onfor the pastthree years.

70-year-old man builds his own homeIndiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 19

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markable.“It takes a long time for someone

to do that,” he said. “I wouldn’twant to do it. I give him an awfullot of credit.”

Everything in the home is de-signed for Camp and his wife.Terra cotta surrounds outdoorwindows and French doors leaddirectly into one of the guest bed-rooms.

“If we have guests, they can goright into their room without hav-ing to come in to the main house,”he said.

The kitchen, which was designedby Camp’s daughter, LindseySchultz — an interior architecturaldesigner — is the centerpiece ofthe home.

Granite countertops and top-of-the-line appliances complement

the Amish cabinetry. Each shelf was designed specif-

ically for different uses, Campsaid.

“I love it. My daughter won the2007 National Kitchen & Bath As-sociation’s Kitchen of the Year,” hesaid.

Friend Chris Shippen said Campand her late husband often talkedabout building their own boatback in high school.

“I think in the back of his mind,he always wanted to build some-thing,” she said.

“I just don’t think that he everthought it (would) take this long todo it.”

Camp has worked eight hours aday, Monday through Friday, sinceFebruary 2008.

“I lost a lot of weight workingthrough the summers,” he said.

“But you wouldn’t know it if youhad just met him. He is built solid,like a linebacker, and his strong,meaty hands suggest that, eventhough he may have spent most ofhis life working with animals, ahammer and nails were never faraway.

He was busy this past week in-stalling his cabinets. It’s usuallyone step at a time — making surethere’s a line drawn on the wall andthen using a laser to ensure eachcabinet is installed evenly.

“I celebrated a little bit yesterdaybecause I laid all the sod just be-fore it started raining,” he said lastweek. “But I never say, ‘I’ve got toget this done today.’ It’s not a mat-ter of getting it done. It’s a matterof getting it right. I think that’s whythis whole thing has taken solong.”


Associated Press

THE KITCHEN was designed by Camp’s daughter, an interior architecturaldesigner.

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