by Erik Braunitzer of Douglas Elliman Real Estate Company, agents for Bronx Rentals

photo by Big Dog Renovations

The two best investments homeowners can make to improve the value of their home are to renovate both the kitchen and bathroom. These rooms are the most important selling features of any house. Most of these improvements are DIY projects that do not mandate hiring a professional or using expensive materials.

Glass Tiles
Many glass tiles are available on the market today. Many are handmade from recycled glass, making unique tiles that are almost impossible to reproduce with machines. Installing these tiles is only slightly different than ceramic tiles, with much of the same types of mastic and grout. The look is luxury without the price tag.

Some glass tiles are available with glitter or other pieces allowed to stay in the glass. The look is one of sheer brilliance. Any color combination is possible with recycled glass, even soda bottles. These make beautiful sea-green tiles unlike any machine made tiles today.

Use glass tiles as accent pieces, medallions, borders, backsplashes, tub surrounds and more. The possibilities are only limited by imagination.

Tin Ceilings
These have never gone out of style. Choose antique or vintage tiles for a look of opulence. Tin tiles cover drab or stained ceilings with ease. Installing them takes no more than a screws or special cement. The tiles can be painted or stained, or even treated with faux metals and glitter paints for effect. If one cannot afford vintage tiles, PVC tiles molded to resemble tin tiles provide the same looks for a fraction of the cost.

New Hardware
One of the simplest ways to rejuvenate a bathroom or kitchen is to change the hardware. New hinges, drawer and cabinet pulls, new slides are all part of the hardware. Vintage glass pulls bring new life to any cabinet, or perhaps a more modern look with metals. Handmade pulls, such as horn or specialty woods bring an exotic outdoor look into the home space. In many cases, kitchens look entirely different with just hardware changes and a can of paint, usually under $100.

Improved Flooring
From floor tiles to hardwood, improved flooring often makes a selling point or focal point for visitors. Floating floors are inexpensive and easy to install, while solid hardwood floors last forever but require the installation of an expert. Maintaining a hardwood floor is not difficult if stains and spills are cleaned up quickly, and pads placed on furniture feet are used to prevent scuffs and scratches.

Use hardwood floors even in the bathroom and throughout the house to maintain the flow of the décor. Rugs and carpets protect the floor while allowing the room to change looks with the seasons without removing the hardwood.

Sustainable woods, such as ipe, bamboo and teak are making their way to the top of the flooring world. Although costing more than traditional hardwoods, they are often more durable, and allow more design and color choices. Cork is another sustainable flooring option popular among homeowners today. These woods provide flooring for homeowners, and create jobs and industries in their countries of origins. Sustainable practices also protect the environment.

Spend the time to research the options for remodeling the kitchen and bathroom today. Many projects cost far less than the finished project looks suggest. No one has to tell their guests they did not spend a fortune.

The National Property "After"

Home Renovation Guide gets the dish from Stacey and Megan Valnes (from Sunset Park Realtors), on a recent project success. They had a property that had been appraised at $875,000. After spending $11,000 on exterior improvements, the property’s value went up to $1,025,000.

1. How did you decide on which home improvements projects to do and did you have a budget in mind?

As Realtors, our makeovers usually consist of an update and beautification of the outside of the building or home. For example, we paint, landscape, change out hardware (garage door handles, light fixtures, window screens, etc.) and stage when needed. We decide on a case to case basis which makeovers to do, depending on the state of the property at hand. If a property is old, shabby, or we believe it could be sold for more once improved, we improve it. The National property screamed for help because it was very dated, needed painting, and it’s landscaping was an overgrown unattractive jungle of a mess. Creating great curb appeal is simple and shouldn’t cost too much money. We always have a budget in mind, which comes from our seller. For $10,000 we can usually get everything done.

"Before"

2. What inspired your design choices in terms of improving curb appeal?

For the National property, our design choices were inspired by more modern buildings with a contemporary feeling to them. Our sellers were open to color and fresh ideas, so we used that to our advantage. The building was a big square block type, so in order to make it look more homey and appealing, we used warm colors (greens, olives, creams, and orange) in the paint and really popped it out with lots of colorful flowers in the landscaping. In the end, the building looked like a very distant cousin of it’s old self and was truly beautiful.

3. Were there any surprises that came up – i.e.: challenges that were unexpected or some of the work ended up being easier than expected?

The biggest challenge on this project was picking the paint colors. The sellers really wanted something bold and outspoken, like blue and purple, and we had to get them to acknowledge that the general public doesn’t find blue and purple attractive on a building, and we should use more trendy colors. Property styles change in fashion like clothes and one has to follow trends closely in order to stay in the game. Stacey and I decided to compromise and give them their bold color by including a fabulous orange for the door colors. Other than that, it was smooth sailing.

4. Was the work DIY or professional? From this experience, what would you recommend should definitely be done by a pro or what could a homeowner tackle himself/herself?

All the work, with the exception of the design, was professional. Stacey and I are Realtors, not painters. We contract out whatever needs to be done to our trusted group of people. We have a man for every job. Stacey and I choose paint colors, flowers, and communicate how the general look and feel of the building should be, and the professionals take it from there. Of course, a homeowner can tackle whatever they feel competent at and do it themselves, if they choose to. For example, if someone is an avid gardener and really wants to get into the landscaping job, by all means go for it. However, this can slow the process and end up being more expensive.

5. Is there anything you learned from this experience that you can apply to future projects?

We learn something from every project. From the National property, we learned that an array of color in the flower landscaping can change the whole face and feel of the building. Many people stick with green plants because it’s easy, but color in the garden is spectacularly beautiful and most everyone appreciates it.

6. Do you have any tips to share with those who are looking to increase their home’s value that are good for the budget-conscious?

If you want to increase your home’s value, you should be able to do so significantly for $10,000 or less. Make it look pretty on the outside. Remember that old saying about first impressions? It applies to homes and properties as well. The outside of your property is the first thing a potential buyer sees when stepping out of their car or walking by, so impress them with fabulous paint, meticulous pride-of-ownership, and beautiful landscaping!

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About the Contributor

Stacey and Megan Valnes from Sunset Park Realtors (follow them at @svalnes or check them out at: www.Sunsetparkrealtors.com

Remodeling Dilemma: We’re re-doing our kitchen. How do you feel about granite countertops?

Hermanity Answer: (Yawn) Been there, done that. They are SO over did. Give concrete or recycled glass a try.

More eco & budget friendly!

Watch me enumerate with my trademark sass & sagacity the reasons why this viewer should skip granite counter tops!

• Bad for mother earth
• Requires too many Benjamins
• Honey, that ship has sailed. Next!

What do you think? Are granite counter tops here to stay? Or have you discovered some great alternatives? Please share!

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About the Contributor

Herman Chan, celebrity real estate personality seen on HGTV House Hunters, Money Magazine’s real estate expert and is Logo tv’s resident real estate expert. Feel free to check him out on Habitatforhermanity.com or follow him on twitter @hermanity.

by Robert Wright

I again have been asked to look at a home that has been recently purchased. The thought the family had, was to buy a home that needed some work and then improve it to suit them. Many people do this, and they rely on the home inspector to guide them on this major purchase. I won’t be asked to inspect a home before a purchase.

What has happened is that now that the family is in the home, problems are showing up. Like most families after they move into their new (to them) home, they don’t have a large amount of cash for additional repairs or if issues arise. The added problem in this case is the health of the family is being affected by the home.

They did what they should have…they walked through the home with the inspector and discussed various issues. However the issues raised by the home buyer were not considered of great importance to the inspector. The problem is that these issues might indicate additional problems, which could be of major concern. The next issue is that the costs suggested by the inspector and/or real estate agent for repairs in no way reflect the reality of the actual repair costs. So while they bought the home at less than listing price, the less than anticipated purchase price did not leave them enough to cover the cost of the repairs and issues that are now apparent, due to neglect by the previous home owner. In addition, I noted other problems that were missed by the inspector. The only saving grace – maybe – for the homeowner is that a form was signed by the previous home owner, which indicates that all work done on the home was done with permits. A lot of wo rk was done, that would not pass inspection and was clearly done by non professional trades.

Does the real estate industry in general work in the interest of the home buyer? All the agents, inspectors, and lawyers have a vested interest in the sale proceeding. While they all may not get paid by the home sale like the agents, they may rely on the referrals and/or repeat business from the agents. So everyone involved, is not going to seriously rock the boat when you are planning on purchasing a home – the deal puts food on their tables. So what can you do when planning your next home purchase?

First understand how the system is set up. Next, look for some independent help. While I will not do or be asked to do a home inspection, I have been asked for my opinion on issues and thoughts on the work being considered for a home to be purchased. So look for a renovation contractor to help you confirm if issues you see are major or not. You may also want to hire trade contractors to look at things like the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems. Ensure that your real estate agent works for you when purchasing a new home and keep looking for the home that is right for you.

When I look at home, I have a very good idea what the problems are and what it would take to fix them. Do you? When you are planning the biggest purchase in your life, take some time and really understand what you are buying.

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.

Planning to Buy a house soon? It’s a big investment so it’s important to get it right. Go through this checklist to make sure you’re fully prepared and you have all the info you need to get the house of your dreams.

Click on the image (below) for a larger view.

The downside to choosing not to have TV in my home is that I’ve missed tons of fall premieres, including the slew of new and returning home improvement shows.  Just to have an idea of what I’m missing out on, I thought I’d have a peek at what the line up is for this fall on HGTV.

One of my all time faves, not to mention one of the few English programs that aired during the many years I spent in Taipei was “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”.  I think that for most people, the favourite and most impressive segment of the show was when Thom would unveil his interior redesign.  Every time he’d knock my socks off!

The stable of HGTV shows also rely mostly on Cinderella-esque transformations.  But there’s no winning formula despite the similarity of these programs, it really comes down to a combo of talent and personality.  There was only one show that I’ll remember to check out the next time I’ve got a remote in hand.  It was the only one that I can say seems genuinely interesting, has an attention-holding premise and uses the host’s natural charm and humour instead of having to rely on cheesy editing or campy overacting.

Sarah’s House 2

The plethora of billboards dotting my neighborhood have done their mesmerizing work – this was the first show I checked out through the wonderful world of internet streaming (maybe it set the bar too high for the others).  Clips of Season 1 can be viewed here. It only took the length of clip 1 (about 6 mins) to see why this show got a second season.

As host Sarah Richardson (who has two other successful shows under her belt) traipses across town, seeking a diamond in the rough to sharpen and shine, viewers get a voyeuristic thrill, touring through otherwise uncrossed thresholds.  It’s sort of like getting introduced to one of those back alley nightclubs – or maybe that’s just from the retro shmaltz they venture into clip 1.  I can only imagine how once she makes her pick, the “after” portion of the series tops the “before”.

I wonder if there’s anything else worth catching on the tube?

Stay tuned …

Photo from www.HGTV.ca

Dear Reader: how many houses do you own?

I know, silly question. For those lucky enough to be homeowners, the answer is usually one, with perhaps a summer cottage or chalet added to the tally. For the super-rich or those who rent out properties, the number can climb up a few more notches.

And then there’s Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. When asked how many houses he owns, McCain—who paraded an everyman, town hall–style, let’s get back to basics campaign—couldn’t produce an answer. Two? Five? Ten? He wasn’t sure. Granted, he’s getting old, but surely his wife, Cindy, should know. “I’ll have my staff get [back] to you,” he said.

Can you imagine being so rich you can’t remember how many houses you own? Of course, a political gaffe such as this produces offspring only possibly in the YouTube, digitalized era.

This wouldn’t be so funny if it weren’t for the Rupublican party’s recent attack advertisement dealing with the U.S. housing crisis; in the ad, an announcer says, “Barack Obama knows a lot about housing problems. One of his ‘biggest fund-raisers’ helped him buy his million-dollar mansion.”

So, for the record, Obama owns one house, a hefty $1.5 million mansion; and McCain owns (at press time) 10 houses worth about $13.8 million, just slightly less than the net worth of his prime time gaffe.

[ed: McCain's spokesman claims four houses, along with "investment properties and stuff." And check out the pictures here to see his Arizona abode.]

Thinking outside the box. I know, we’re all sick of this tired, old cliché, but Yale University graduate student Elizabeth Turnbull really did think outside of the box—in this case, the box being your typical dormitory or ghetto-ized student housing unit.

Estimating her housing costs for the year at $14,000, Turnbull brainstormed on more creative ways to live and spend that money. Her insightful solution: build her own house. After all, Turnbull’s major, Forestry and Environmental Studies, emphasizes shrinking carbon footprints and waste, and what could be greener than building a tiny, transportable house?

The new home is eight feet by 18 feet, built atop a flatbed trailer. Features include a small sleeping loft, a study room, kitchen and bathroom, plus some storage and (apparently) a designated “living room.” Seems a little cramped, but a neat idea.

Ever the idealist, Turnbull has installed solar panels to power up her cellphone and computer—free, off-the-grid power—and heat the house with propane. More ecological features include a recycled (and recyclable) aluminum roof, sailboat sails for ceilings (brilliant idea!), a composting toilet and salvaged fixtures and finishes for a total cost of $8,000.

While not the first to conceive and build a tiny, portable house—she was inspired by California builder Tumbleweed Tiny House Co.—she is certainly the youngest (age 26) and likely the first college student to do take such a green approach to living expenses.

Kids these days.

While traveling through London a few weeks ago, my wife and I were able to cut costs by staying with friends. Since buying their place a year ago, our friends were keen to show off the home’s special features, including a bright garden lined with dark brown, antiquated railway ties. Nice touch.

But it was the parts of the house I couldn’t see that I was most interested in: the second floor. You see, in London, at least, owning a home doesn’t necessarily mean owning the whole house; co-ownership is common, especially as house prices climb, pushing potential buyers outside of the market. Live downtown? Would love to, if only I could afford to buy and not just rent; plus, the houses are just too big. Solution: shared ownership.

In North America, where this type of co-ownership isn’t as common, sharing a house usually means finding a buying partner and then retrofitting the place, either vertically (dividing the house in half from basement to attic) or horizontally, with one owner taking the bottom and one taking the top. In most cases, the two units will not be defined legally as separate dwellings, so the house title and the mortgage will be singular. In other words, unlike the U.K., where a single floor—a flat—can be defined as a dwelling, and carry its own mortgage and title, North Americans must choose their partners wisely or risk mortgage-payment fiascos and other shared-property problems related to renos and repairs.

Still, risk acknowledged, shared ownership can be a smart move so long as you’re prepared to do some extra planning and, let’s face it, live with other people. Because even if you build separate entrances, you’re still sharing space, so make it formal by writing up a set of rules and protocol for things like emergency repairs, large-scale fixes (what happens when the roof needs an update in a few years?), and, most importantly, what to do if one person wants out of the agreement. Like any investment, co-ownership carries risk and reward.

While the U.S. Census Bureau no longer gathers statistics specifically focused on home renovations, up in chilly Canada yearly stats are published on what’s happening in the world of remodelling, compiled by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Usually, what’s happening in America is happening in Canada—economically speaking. Usually, but not always; it seems like Canada is charting its own future these days. Unlike American builders and renovators, which have taken a hit since the economic slowdown and credit crisis began, Canadian contractors are doing well.

In 2007, Canadians spent close to $19.7 billion on home renovations—about 37 per cent of households across 10 major cities from Vancouver to St. John’s, N.L., according to the recently released CMHC Renovation and Home Purchase Report. An estimated 1.5 million households completed some form of reno in 2007, and while this number is down slightly from 2006, when 39 per cent of all households renovated, things are not exactly cooling off.

Homeowners across Canada spend an average of $12,800 on renovations in 2007, an increase of more than $1,000 compared to 2006. The highest average amount spent was in Calgary, at $15,600, and increase of $3,000 over 2006. The lowest average for 2007 was Winnipeg, at $7,900, a decline of more than $2,000 from 2006.

Statistics Canada divides home renovations into two categories: improvement/alteration, which refers to work done to increase the enjoyment or value of the home, such as a deck or addition; and repair/maintenance, a renovation undertaken to keep the home in working order. According to the CMHC report, 59 per cent of households renovated for improvement, 48 for repair or maintenance, seven per cent to add more space and five per cent to make their home more energy efficient.

More stats: 31 per cent of renovating households remodelled a room, followed by painting/wallpapering and flooring/carpeting, at about 27 per cent. In Ottawa and Edmonton, 20 per cent of all reno projects in 2007 involved some type of major landscaping or exterior addition, including patios, swimming pools and outdoor kitchens.