Who wouldn’t like an extra set of hands around the house? Or some help with basic everyday activities such as keeping your home comfortable? And if that extra help could also make your home more energy efficient – reducing your utility bills – wouldn’t that be an added bonus?
Home automation, once considered an elite luxury, is doing exactly those tasks for more homeowners than ever before, and in ways that may surprise you. Many homeowners recognize the importance of saving energy, something that benefits the environment and their budgets. Three key areas of home automation that influence energy savings are window coverings, thermostats and lighting. Read more...(667 words, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)
If something is giving you a hard time, there is one surefire American way to solve your problems: knock it straight to the ground.
That’s the plan that Bank of America and a number of other financial institutions have been initiating lately. And the victims? Hundreds of foreclosed homes from coast-to-coast.
With more and more homes being foreclosed, real estate specialists are showing worry that never-ending housing transactions could greatly diminish prices. It’s the logic behind the rules of supply and demand and it has bankers running scared. That’s why BofA and others are solving this problem by taking a wrecking ball to the wretched abodes.
“There is way too much supply,” Gus Frangos, president of Cuyahoga County Land Re-utilization Corp. of Cleveland tells Bloomberg. “The best thing we can do to stabilize the market is to get the garbage off.” Read more...(146 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)
(ARA) – Are you keeping your home longer than you expected, due to the sluggish and uncertain home-resale market? If you are, you’ve got company. Only 43 percent of homeowners believe they would get their asking price if they sold today, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker.
That lack of confidence, coupled with interest rates on personal savings accounts that are at or near record lows, has a lot of homeowners investing in their homes instead of depositing money in their banks. Read more...(610 words, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)
(HIT) – The latest options in clay brick offer increasingly green benefits for more sustainable homes that can help homeowners save on major household costs. Naturally organic with virtually no waste, brick helps lower energy costs and upkeep through a maintenance-free exterior that offers superior durability, moisture control, termite resistance, proven stability and enduring beauty. Often incorporating recycled content, brick options including exterior, interior and landscaping features increase sustainability while meeting the highest green building criteria. Read more...(464 words, 1 image, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)
Check out our latest youtube video! It features a custom home designed for a private client in Roanoke, VA. For more on our custom residential design services, visit us online at www.designevolutions.com. In the meantime, enjoy the video and let us know what you think!
Generation X –young families and adults ages 31 to 45 – are likely to lead the home buying recovery as it gets underway, according to real estate experts who spoke at an educational webinar produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in partnership with Builder magazine
These potential home buyers are most likely to think it’s a good time to get off the fence – and have strong opinions about the design features their new homes will include. Read more...(151 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)
Remodeling is more than upgrades-It reinvents spaces to fit lifestyles
(HIT) – Long gone are the days of homeowners putting in new finishes and appliances in their home and calling it a successful remodel. A new consumer poll from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) revealed 49 percent of homeowners consider outcome and design as the greatest determinant of project satisfaction.
“Today’s homeowners are smarter and more strategic when it comes to remodeling their homes,” says NARI National President-Elect Michael Hydeck, MCR, CKBR, of Hydeck Design Build, Inc. “They want their design to cater perfectly to their lifestyles and how they intend to use the space.” Read more...(607 words, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)
When the housing market bubble burst in 2007, it had a devastating effect on an industry that rely on the amercian dream of home ownership. It is one of two key sectors in this economy that provide the revenue flow to prop up this capitalist society. The other industry is manufacturing. With domestic manufacturing giving way to outsourcing, many were left to wonder if housing would ever rebound to what it once was. This question vibrate the loudest amongst those who are key to housing, building designers and residential architects. Read more...(390 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)
(ARA) – The bathroom is an oasis for many of us, a place where we not only take care of personal needs, but also relax and decompress after a hectic day. But as people grow older and less mobile, the bathroom can become a risky place.
Falls are a leading cause of hospitalization among aging Americans, and most at-home falls occur in the bathroom. By upgrading their bath with some products designed to facilitate aging in place, baby boomers and mature homeowners can continue to enjoy their bathrooms, with less concern over possible safety risks. Read more...(681 words, 1 image, estimated 2:43 mins reading time)
The busy season for building homes can back your local building department up for weeks with an influx of plan submissions. So, it is important to plan ahead in terms of scheduling your home building project. Contact the building department to verify everything that is to accompany your set of house plans. This will likely require items in addition to a stock plan or a custom design. If you are buying a stock house plan, you can purchase it in a matter of days because the lead time is rather short in this case. If you need modifications to those plans, give yourself a few weeks to have these changes done and ready for when you need to submit. If you are doing a set of custom home plans, give yourself a few months ahead of your planned construction start date. Read more...(495 words, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)
