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HOME your Building Your Dream Home Anytime, Anywhere

Family Features

Formost homebuyers, their dream homes are not something they’re likely to find already on the market. With a unique vision of your dream home’s look, location and features, building a custom home is generally the easiest way to make that dream a reality.

To keep things moving as smoothly as possible amid what can be a complicated process, consider these tips as you embark on the journey.

Set a Realistic Budget

You’ll need to start by determining how much you can spend on your house. Typically, the cost of building a home is around $100-$200 per square foot, according to research from HomeAdvisor. You’ll also

While building your budget, consider what items and features are “must-haves” and things that should only be included if your budget allows.

tips to create a comfortable forever home

Top reasons

Homeowners are selling their houses right now

Some people believe there’s a group of homeowners who may be reluctant to sell their houses because they don’t want to lose the historically low mortgage rate they have on their current home. You may even have the same hesitation if you’re thinking about selling your house.

Data shows 51% of home owners have a mortgage rate under 4% as of April this year. And while it’s true mortgage rates are higher than that right now, there are other non-finan cial factors to consider when it comes to making a move. In other words, your mortgage rate is important, but you may have other things going on in your life that make a move essential, regardless of where rates are today. As Jessica Lautz, Vice President of Demographics and Behavioral Insights at the National Association of Realtors

(NAR), explains:

“Home sellers have histori cally moved when something in their lives changed – a new baby, a marriage, a divorce or a new job. . . .”

So, if you’re thinking about selling your house, it may help to explore the other reasons homeowners are choosing to make a move today. The 2022 Summer Sellers Survey by re altor.com asked recent home sellers why they decided to sell. The visual (above, right) breaks down how those homeowners responded:

As the visual shows, an appetite for different features or the fact that their current home could no longer meet their needs topped the list for recent sellers. Additionally, re-

mote work and whether or not they need a home office or are tied to a specific physical office location also factored in, as did the desire to live close to their loved ones.

The realtor.com survey sum marizes the findings like this:

“The primary reason home owners decided to sell in the last year was the realization that, af ter so much time spent at home, they wanted different features and amenities, such as walkability, outdoor space, pool, etc. . . . ”

If you, like the homeowners they surveyed, find yourself wanting features, space, or amenities your current home just can’t provide, it may be time to consider listing your house for sale.

Even with today’s mortgage rates, your lifestyle needs may be enough to motivate you to make a change. The best way to find out what’s right for you is to partner with a trusted real estate professional who can provide expert guidance and advice throughout the process. They can help walk you through your options, so you can make a confident decision based on what matters most to you and your loved ones.

Bottom Line

While the financial reasons for moving are important, there’s often far more to con sider. Non-financial reasons can also be a significant motivating factor. If you need help weighing the pros and cons of selling your house, let’s connect today.

5 Tips for Organizing Your Home Office

Family Features

W

hen temperatures cool down again, it signals time for an annual tradition: fall cleaning. While big proj ects like windows are hard to overlook, don’t forget smaller areas that need attention, too, such as your home office.

Making sense of a year’s worth of paperwork and clut ter can take some serious time, especially as many people have been working from home more than normal, but getting organized can help you tackle home management tasks more efficiently. Making the office a

priority can reduce frustration when it comes to spending additional time in your office while working from home.

These five tips can help get you started:

1.Make sure you have furni ture that can adequately store your stuff, including plenty of space for files, ref erence books and computer equipment. Pieces need not be costly to be functional and there are plenty of attractive options available online and at both small and major re tailers.

2.Arrange

the space with its intended use and your own work style in mind. For example, if you don’t need ample space to spread out over a large, flat work area, eliminate that space - it’s simply an invitation for clutter.

3.Place items you rely on frequently, such as a calculator or ruler, within arm’s reach so they can easily be put away between uses. Capture these items in containers and bins to keep the space looking neat and free of clutter.

4.Establish a filing system that lets you keep track of important papers you need to keep and have a shredder handy to help you discard any sensitive documents. Whether you alphabetize, color code or use some other method, group paperwork into segments for categories such as bills, banking, health care, auto, insurance and so on for easy access in the future.

5.Tangled cords can make even the most organized

spaces look messy, and they may pose a fire or tripping hazard. Get control of your cords by storing devices you don’t use regularly and securing the remaining cords with twist ties or clips. Remember to use a surge-protected power strip to minimize the chance of damage should a power surge occur. Find more tips to make your workspace tidy and organized at eLivingtoday.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS

Source: Family Features

5

Tips

to create a comfortable forever home

need to account for the lot price as well as design fees, taxes, per mits, materials and labor. Mate rials and labor should make up about 75% of the total amount spent, but it’s wise to build in a buffer for price changes and overages. While building your budget, consider what items and features are “must-haves” and things that should only be included if your budget allows.

Identify the Perfect Location

Think about where you’d

like to live and research com parable lots and properties in those areas, which can give you a better idea of costs. Because the features of many dream homes require a wider foot print, you may need to build outside of city limits, which can make natural gas more difficult to access. Consider propane instead, which can do everything natural gas can and go where natural gas cannot or where it is cost prohibitive to run a natural gas line. Propane also reduces dependence on the electrical grid, and a pro pane standby generator can

safeguard your family if there is a power outage.

“As a real estate agent and builder, I have the pleasure of helping families select their dream homes,” said Matt Blashaw, residential contrac tor, licensed real estate agent and host of HGTV’s “Build it Forward.” “The homes we de sign and build are frequently in propane country, or off the natural gas grid. Propane makes it possible to build an affordable and comfortable, high-performing indoor living spaces and dynamic outdoor entertaining areas.”

Keep Universal Design Principles in Mind

Many homebuyers want to ensure their space is accessible to family members and guests both now and for decades to come. As the housing market slows and mortgage rates rise, buyers may look to incorporate features that allow them to age in place. Incorporating principles of universal design - the ability of a space to be under stood, accessed and used by people regardless of their age or ability - can make it possible to still enjoy your home even if

mobility, vision or other chal lenges arise as you age.

For example, the entryway could have a ramp or sloped concrete walkway leading to a front door wide enough to ac commodate a wheelchair with a barrier-free threshold. Inside, wider hallways and doorways, strategic lighting and appli ances installed at lower heights are mainstays of universal design. Counters of varying heights, drop-down cabinet racks and roll-under sinks in kitchens and zero-entry show ers, slip-resistant flooring and grab bars in bathrooms offer enhanced accessibility.

Consider Alternative Energy Sources

With today’s electric grid, more than two-thirds of the energy is wasted; it never reaches homes. Unlike elec tricity, propane is stored in a large tank either above or below ground on the property. A 500-gallon tank can hold enough propane to meet the annual energy needs of an average single-family home - enough to power major sys tems in a home.

Matt Blashaw, residential contractor, licensed real estate agent and host of HGTV’s “Build it Forward.”

Propane pairs well with other energy sources, includ ing grid electricity and on-site solar, which makes it a viable option for dual-energy homes. Like natural gas, propane can power major appliances such as your furnace, water heater, clothes dryer, fireplace, range and standby generator. Often, propane works more efficiently with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than electricity, meaning your home is cleaner for the environment.

Propane can even power a whole-home standby generator, which is often a big selling point. When a homeowner purchases a standby generator, a licensed electrician installs the unit outside the home and wires it to the home’s circuit breaker. When a power outage occurs, the generator auto matically senses the disrup tion of service and starts the generator’s engine, which then delivers power to the home. From the warm, comfortable heat of a propane furnace to the peace of mind offered by a propane standby generator, many homeowners trust pro pane to provide a safe, efficient, whole-home energy solution.

Build a Team of Experts

Hiring the right people can make the process of turning your dream into reality go much smoother. Start by research ing reputable builders, paying special attention to the types of homes they build to find a style that matches what you’re look ing for as well as price ranges for past homes they’ve built. Consider how long the build ers have been in business and if they’re licensed and insured.

Depending on your builder’s capabilities, you may also need to hire an architect or designer. In addition to your real estate

agent to assist with purchasing the lot and selling your previous home, you may need assistance from other professionals, such as a real estate attorney, land scape architect and propane supplier. A local propane sup plier can work with the builder to install a properly sized pro pane storage tank either above or below ground and connect appliances.

Find more ideas for building your dream home at Propane.com.

Propane-Powered Appliances

You may be surprised to learn propane can power major appliances, which can increase the value of a home because of their high per formance, efficiency and reduced dependence on the electrical grid.

Furnace

A propane-powered furnace has a 50% lon ger lifespan than an electric heat pump, reduc ing its overall lifetime costs. Propane-powered residential furnaces also emit up to 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than electric fur naces and 12% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than furnaces running on oil-based fuels.

Boiler

Propane boilers have an expected lifespan of up to 30 years, but many can last longer if ser viced and maintained properly. High-efficiency propane boilers offer performance, space sav ings and versatility as well as a significant re duction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to those fueled by heating oil.

Standby Generator

Propane standby generators supply supple mental electricity in as little as 10 seconds after an outage. Plus, propane doesn’t degrade over

time, unlike diesel or gasoline, making it an ideal standby power fuel.

Clothes Dryer

Propane-powered clothes dryers generate up to 42% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to electric dryers. They also dry clothes faster, which can reduce energy use and cost.

Range

With up to 15% fewer greenhouse gas emis sions compared to electric ranges, propanepowered ranges also allow for greater control of heat levels. Plus, their instant flame turnoff capabilities help them cool faster.

Tankless Water Heater

Propane tankless water heaters have the lowest annual cost of ownership in mixed and cold United States climates when compared with electric water heaters, heat pump water heaters and oil-fueled water heaters. They also only heat water when it is needed, reducing standby losses that come with storage tank water heaters.

Home Upgrades

To Improve Indoor Air Quality

much

The air inside your home also contains pollutants from everyday activities like cook ing, bathing and cleaning. A family of four can produce the equivalent of 22-30 pounds of

per day from normal activities, according to the In stitute of Specialist Surveyors and Engineers, while house hold cleaners and products like paint, upholstery, carpeting

Today’s skylights can also be automated to open and close at regular intervals or extend and retract shades to block light as needed. Many models, including those from Velux, can even connect to a smartphone app to combine convenience with a soothing mood booster that supports health and wellness.

YOUR HOME

and plastics can release chemi cals containing volatile organic compounds.

On average, Americans spend an estimated 90% of their time indoors, according to the EPA. All that time with minimal access to daylight and fresh air can take a toll on your health. These steps for manag ing indoor air quality can help you create a healthier home.

Support your HVAC system

Many homeowners as sume their heating and cooling (HVAC) system is adequate to manage their home’s indoor air quality. Typically, these systems only circulate existing indoor air, so you’re missing out on the benefits of circulating fresher, cleaner air.

What’s more, without regular servicing and frequent fil ter replacements, it’s easy for standard HVAC systems to fall short. This is especially true in older homes or in households where there’s a high volume of allergens like dust or pet dander. Adding standalone or integrated devices can help give your HVAC system some extra support. Air purifiers can effectively help fil ter pollutants while ultraviolet lights purify the air and help control pollutants like bacteria, mold and mildew.

Improve fresh air ventilation

When it comes to upgrades that improve air quality, bet ter fresh air ventilation is near the top of the list for many homeowners. Improved ven tilation allows you to clear out stale, polluted indoor air and circulate fresh, outdoor air in your home.

Polluted air tends to stagnate at the ceiling, so one effec tive and energy-efficient way to create natural ventilation is with skylights that open. Sometimes called venting or operable skylights, when you open skylights in combination with vertical windows, you create natural airflow that can help release indoor air pollut ants and bring in fresh, clean air to keep your home healthy and pleasant. This concept is known as the chimney effect. Warm air naturally rises and escapes from open skylights while fresh air is drawn inside through the win dows. This practice can reduce your reliance on air condition ing, improving your home’s overall efficiency and keeping a lid on cooling costs.

Today’s skylights can also

be automated to open and close at regular intervals or extend and retract shades to block light as needed. Many models, including those from Velux, can even connect to a smartphone app to combine convenience with a soothing mood booster that supports health and wellness.

Keep up with cleaning

Textiles like carpeting, rugs and window treatments can harbor a great deal of dust and dander that reduces air quality. It’s important to regu larly clean and air out these decorative fabrics and surfaces, especially thick carpet that is likely to host dust mites and bacteria. Remember air quality while you’re cleaning, too, and opt for cleaning products with fewer chemicals. When pos sible, use microfiber cloths and natural materials like white vinegar and soap flakes.

With proper upgrades, ad justments and care, you can enjoy a home filled with fresh, healthy air and comfortable sur roundings year-round. Learn more at whyskylights.com.

Source: Velux

“

When it comes to upgrades that improve air quality, better fresh air ventilation is near the top of the list for many homeowners. Improved ventilation allows you to clear out stale, polluted indoor air and circulate fresh, outdoor air in your home.

the world of design, what’s old inevitably becomes new again, and a similar pattern is inspiring today’s on-trend color palettes for home decor. The latest styles reflect reviving and comforting colors influenced by heritage and romance,

to a look that is familiar in

individualistic way.

living through the romance of rural lifestyles, the comfort of home or the nostalgia from far-off times, some of today’s most beloved design aesthetics celebrate the past, present and future while bringing balance, hope and comfort for you and your family to embrace.

YOUR HOME

Timeless Color

Using color to evoke feelings and emotions is hardly new but combining a carefully curated color palette with other design elements can allow you to create a look that pays homage to the past while breathing new life into your living space.

Reimagining classic, familiar tones allows you to achieve a design motif that is equal parts reminiscent and refreshing.

“The Vintage Homestead Color Collection offers an ef fortless look that reveals the importance of being hopeful to find stability and balance,” said Ashley Banbury, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams senior color designer. “Our 2023 Color Collection of the Year revives elements from the past that are perfectly paired with vintage, comfortable and classic colors.”

Blending Past and Present

Striking a balance between old and new can take many forms, as these styles show:

* Heritage Revival: An inter est in reviving the past is evident in design trends like a remerging appreciation of antiques and vintage elements, such over sized furniture and traditional shapes. To capture this style, your design should focus on contrasting old and new for a mix-and-match look.

A cohesive color scheme can allow the various elements to stand on their own while working in harmony for an in tentional design. For example, the HGTV Home by SherwinWilliams 2023 Color Collection of the Year includes a combina tion of familiar tones that have been thoughtfully curated by design experts who borrow color and design concepts from the past for a hopeful future and a sense of belonging. Hues like Poetry Plum and Hot Co coa evoke warmth and depth, while moderate shades like Restrained Gold and Glamour offer fresh ways to incorporate mid-range neutrals. Meanwhile, soft tones like Natural Linen and Cool Beige offer subtle color for lighter, brighter spaces.

* Mixing and Matching of Eras: A new take on retro de sign is emerging in which eras are blended and new and old furnishing work side by side. To get this look, you’ll craft a space that marries historical and con temporary design, celebrating both old and new. To design for longevity, incorporate pieces that are ambiguous in era and stand the test of time.

viving design elements from the past with mixed patterns, classic shapes and vintage decor adds up to comfortable and comforting design. With this trend, prints and patterns encompass a range of styles, reinforcing how interiors con

nect to fashion. Mixing classic elegance with sleek vintage shapes is refining the con cept of polished comfort. To achieve the look, curate pieces in heritage shapes and pat terns, along with retro accents. Be sure to incorporate vintage

lighting and glass, as well.

A versatile color choice like Darkroom, the 2023 Color of the Year from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, is an allur ing shade that is classic enough for heritage interiors but also modernly retro for a throwback-

Get inspired to combine the past with the present for a comforting design that’s all your own.

inspired aesthetic. It’s a neutral perfect for creating an eclectic yet modern look inside and out. Get inspired to combine the past with the present for a comforting design that’s all your own at hgtvhomebysh erwinwilliams.com.

Improve Curb Appeal

home’s exterior can say a

about

also making a first im

your fam ily

on guests (and potential

of

impact

on the amount

willing to spend on a home, it’s important for homeowners to look beyond simply choosing the right sid ing color and consider different siding materials and profiles, adding accents like stone veneer and researching other exterior upgrades that can both increase beauty and deliver performance over time.

buyers

In fact, exterior remodeling projects typically top the list of projects that add the most resale value to homes. Accord ing to Remodeling’s 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, nine of the top 10 projects delivering the best return on cost were exterior renovations.

If you’re looking to sell or just want to increase the overall val ue of your home, consider these high-ROI exterior upgrades from the experts at Westlake Royal Building Products that can improve aesthetics and in crease resale value.

Front Door

If replacing the front door isn’t necessary, adding a fresh coat of paint is a simple way to refresh your home’s exterior. You can take your “dated” door and make it modern again with a bold, on-trend color. Take it one step further by adding artistic house numbers, a new light fixture or a door knocker in an unexpected shape for in expensive pops of style.

Vinyl Siding

Updating your home’s ex terior with vinyl siding yields a 67.2% return upon sale, ac cording to the report. When considering new siding, look

for high-quality, low-mainte nance materials. Depending on where you live, insulated vinyl siding can add additional pro tection against the elements, as well as increased energy efficiency. While function is important, don’t be afraid to make bold choices with color, texture, different profiles and contrasting trim to make a true statement with your home’s exterior.

For example, Westlake Roy al Building Products offers a wide range of vinyl siding options in the latest shades, including adding five on-trend colors to its Royal Siding and Exterior Portfolio lines. In spired by colors found in na ture, the gray, blue-gray, brown and green tones reflect the lat est trends in modern exterior home design. Both lines fea ture patented color protection technology to resist fading, which is especially important for darker shades.

Shutters

Adding or replacing shut ters is another easy way to add a bit of flair and can be a key finishing touch in creating the perfect exterior. With the potential to play beautifully alongside windows and siding as well architectural style and surrounding landscaping, it’s important to make thought ful choices and install them properly to ensure they look and function as designed.

Composite Decking

Another exterior remodel ing project with a high ROI (62.1%), according to the re port, is replacing your home’s existing wood deck with com posite decking. An option like Zuri Premium Decking com bines the natural beauty and warmth of exotic hardwood with the durability and low-

maintenance requirements of PVC (cellular polyvinyl chlo ride), which resists stains, scratches, fading and moisture, for a deck that will last for years with minimal upkeep.

Column Wraps

Give your front porch an instant facelift by wrapping your existing columns with PVC wraps. This is an easy way to achieve a cleaner and more modern, updated look. Resis

Antiques

tant to moisture, PVC column wraps prevent issues found in traditional wood columns, such as warping, rotting and insect damage. Available in a variety of ready-to-install styles, they can also be painted

to complement your home’s exterior color palette.

Find more ideas to increase your home’s beauty and resale values at westlakeroyalbuilding products.com.

Keeping families comfortably cozy in their homes year-round for over 76 years!

Make Health a Priority When Remodeling

related issues. Dust barriers and negative air enclosures can help minimize, but not eliminate, dust contamination to the rest of the home. Commercial dust “scrubber” filtering systems can significantly reduce dust contamination.

Installation

Once the existing hazardous materials are appropriately ad dressed, new materials will be placed in your home to replace or enhance the project. Due to strong demand by homeown ers, you’re likely to find many options for healthy products.

Keeping families comfortably cozy in their homes year-round for over 76 years!

Family Features

When you tackle a remodeling project, there are many unknowns, including what types of materials you might uncover. Hazardous materials must be addressed, and possibly removed, if exposed during a remodeling project. There are also some ma terials that should be removed to create a healthier home environment.

Whether materials “must be” or “should be” removed depends on several factors. It is always wise to consult with trained professionals, such as members of the National As sociation of the Remodeling Industry, when you encounter hazardous materials.

The complete removal of all hazardous materials is the pre ferred approach, but budget is often a hindrance. Thoroughly exploring your options may re veal a lower level of acceptable and more affordable mitigation.

Demolition

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Most common residential hazardous materials are not hazardous if they remain in a dormant or undisturbed location. Typically, they be come hazardous during the demolition phase when they are ground, cut, bumped, scraped or disturbed in some way, causing the materials to become air borne and inhaled.

Examples of hazardous materials include:

* Lead-based paint, which

can be found on be anything that is painted or varnished such as windows, millwork, cabinets, siding, walls and other surfaces.

* Lead water lines, which are primarily hazardous after water sits in the lines for some time prior to consumption, although contamination still occurs dur ing normal flow rates.

* Asbestos, which was once commonly used in a wide range of materials such as pipe or duct insulation; flooring tiles or sheet goods; ceiling tiles and plaster; wall and attic insulation; and plaster used as a binder.

* Silica, which is exceptional ly dangerous during saw cutting processes where dust is created.

* Mold, which is not hazard ous until the spores are disturbed, become airborne and are inhaled or ingested. Any visible or detectable mold should be removed, and the surfaces cleaned or removed. High con centrations of mold should be addressed by trained profes sionals, as it can be hazardous if not handled properly.

* Dust, which can be hazardous to some individuals who are sensitive or have breathing-

For example, prefinished materials (that can be painted, stained or varnished off-site) aid in the reduction of on-site fumes and vapors.

Other products to look for when you’re remodeling with health in mind include:

* Low volatile organic com pounds, which limit the amount of off-gassing of the materials used in the manufacturing pro cess. Typically, these are paints, stains, varnishes, carpeting and vinyl products.

* Renewable products, which can be replenished quickly.

* Heat recovery ventilation systems that exchange the ther mal qualities of the interior air with fresh air brought into the home.

* Air purification systems, which may involve ozone, pleat ed filters, high-micron filters, electrostatic filters or UV light systems, among others.

* Dehumidification systems designed to keep the relative humidity levels in a safe range to prevent mold growth.

* Exhaust fans in baths, kitch ens, lower levels and workshops, installed to discharge smells, smoke, fumes and humidity.

* Radon systems designed to exhaust radon gases to the exterior.

Find more advice to navigate a health-conscious home re model at remodelingdoneright. com.

Source: National Association of the Remodeling Industry