Buying Homes Pre-Construction

Many people hear about buying homes in the pre-construction phase of development and having the home value skyrocket in the first few years. The stories usually involve someone “getting in" during the early phases of development when the builders offer good incentives and competitive pricing. These homes can be great investments, but deals like these are harder to find now than they were even five years ago. So, talk to your real estate agent about pre-construction homes (and investing in the Charleston area in general) if this is something you are interested in.

A lot of our clients have opted to buy homes pre-construction because they need time to sell their current home. Building a new home in Charleston usually takes anywhere from four to nine months. We have found that new construction is the best way for people to go ahead and buy a home (reserving a price in the market) but also postpone their closing date (giving them time to sell their house). Along the same lines, most builders only require you to put down a small amount (anywhere from $1,000-15,000 depending on price of house) upfront. After you make this payment, you don't usually pay any more until the house is built and you close on it. So, if you are still making mortgage payments on your current home, you don't have to worry about making double mortgage payments until the time that your house sells. Also, if you are an investor, it would be beneficial for you to try to not close for a while so that you can capture the appreciation of the home.

Another benefit of buying homes pre-construction is that you know your home will be low maintenance. Builders are required by law to give specific minimum warranties to ensure that you don't face any major problems during the first few years of living in your new home. One of the warranties is a minimum of 1-year “bumper to bumper" warranty which ensures that everything in the home is covered by the builder. There is also a 2-year warranty that covers all systems (electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, etc.) in the home. Another warranty is the 10-year structural warranty which covers foundation and other structural problems.

An obvious benefit of buying pre-construction homes is that you get to choose many features in your home. Depending on the progress of construction, you can often choose flooring, cabinetry, light and plumbing fixtures, etc. You can either go with the upgrades, or you can keep the standard features in order to keep costs down. If you are buying a home during the early phases of development, you can usually choose which floor plan you want to use and even which lot you want to build on.

Although there are plenty of benefits of buying new homes, there are also some drawbacks. New construction homes sometimes sit on smaller-sized lots compared to older homes. Older lot sizes in Charleston are typically about 1/3 of an acre, while newer lots are generally ¼ of an acre. These averages vary according to area, and you'll find larger lots in general in areas that are farther out in Charleston. Another drawback of pre-construction homes is that you don't have a definite closing date. Due to weather and building permits, the builders don't always close on time. A third drawback is that people can't always walk through the house and see how it looks before you buy. New construction neighborhoods almost always have a model home to show you examples of finishings and upgrades. Although these homes have different layouts and features, they can still give you an idea of the quality of work you can expect from the builder.

Tags: NEW CONSTRUCTION HOMES, BUYING HOMES PRE CONSTRUCTION, BRAND NEW HOMES

The Best Suggestion for Your Apartments

Nowadays people begin to think about the problem of fuel that we require to heat their houses in winter period. Such materials as squared timber blockhouses and beam frames lost their ability to befit the demands of contemporary energy conservation. There are provided severe rules for thermal shielding of houses in Europe. Persons need effectual heat insulating stuff to fulfill the requirements of these norms. There are provided various dimensions of thicknesses for diverse kinds of walls. Clinker walls must not be less than 150 centimeters, squared timber walls - 50 centimeters and only 15 centimeters for wooden carcass walls.

Usually, such building technology is named a Canadian one. The first frame homes were built in Canada. Another notion for such houses is “sandwich" that was used in the very beginning of the nineties and defined panel houses.

To built an accommodation that will answer to all modern demands citizens have to apply framework technique with effective insulation materials. It will befit you in such aspects as energy conservation, comfort, ecology and fire safety. And one of the main points is in comparison of price and quality that is on the high level owing to this construction. Today eighty percent of citizens in Canada, USA, Denmark, Netherlands and France build completely this kind of accommodations.

The basis of wood frame of a house is dry wood carcass. Honeycomb structure makes this building very solid and durable after it is aggregated. Wall carcass is planked with fireproof cement plate from the outside and than it must be filled with fireproof basalt wadding within. There must be applied vapor sealing to prevent the moistening and to secure the construction from fumes that may appear inside the house. Moreover, there is used reflecting insulation to keep over ninety percent of heat in the building. Carcass buildings usually mantled with windproof diaphragm on the walls that is helpful for heat preservation of the building. This structure warranties the safety of wood framework for the whole period of maintenance of the building.

As for dressing it is a task of a master of the house, because it may be of any type the owner would like to. From the outside it may be facade plastic, coloring, tile and other stuff. From the inside, dressing may be boarding, panels, wallpapers and coloring. This is the greatest technology that gives a lot of ways for wonderful facing of the building. Moreover, you may begin trim your house right after the installation of frame, because it doesn't subside. And one more thing is that such building is lighter that a brick one in six times. As a result there may be utilized not massive basis. So, the cost of such house will be lower in several times. You can utilize a shallow basis in making of this kind of houses. To prevent the penetration of frost into the soil under the basis you may use Armco piles with heat insulation materials.

As you may see there are a great amount of troubles in building you own house. There emerge practical troubles, beginning with money for building, and ending with architecture and design. All in all you try to create you future home, castle or cozy nest, that is why you have to be very thorough with the matters, employees and other details that would influence on the quality of your house. Be persistent and create the accommodation where you will live with satisfaction.

Tags: CONSTRUCTION, BUILDING, ARCHITECTURE, DEVELOPMENT, ENGINEERING, BUILDING INDUSTRY

When Buying property Cyprus is a Country to Think About

If you're thinking of buying property, Cyprus has a lot to offer. Of course the wonderful climate is one of the first aspects that people think about, but there is also the mellow way of life, the warm sea to swim in, the healthy foods, the rustic landscape and the welcoming people. There are direct flights from the UK to Cyprus and many 'mod cons' that people have grown used to in the UK are also available in Cyprus, such as air con and satellite TV so ex-pats can still get their weekly fix of Coronation Street!

Buying property in Cyprus could be a great investment, especially for those who want a holiday home or an investment property. However, you have to keep in mind if you're buying an investment property in Cyprus for a rental income; the holiday season is fairly short which is from May to September. From the end of October to April the whole area is virtually closed. However, general apartments and houses for sale still offer overseas investors attractive opportunities because the market is booming and the price of land is still increasing.

While buying property in Cyprus is an attractive option, there are certain legal and other procedural aspects, which need to be kept in mind;

Loans and Mortgages

You can easily obtain a mortgage from local banks when you are buying property. Cyprus has a few banks to choose from however, it is advisable that you choose the bank that is already financing or backing a developers' project, since the bank has already concluded the project is worthy. On the other hand, if you try another bank, independent of the developer, you will have to pay a bank guarantee which will be 1.5% to 1.8% of the value of the property annually until you get the title deeds.

If you opt for paying the money in stages, especially for a new property, you should use a finance specialist in place of a local bank as it could save you thousands of pounds when you arrange the transfer.

Legal Procedures When Buying Property

The legal system in Cyprus is based primarily on the British system and safeguards the buyers' rights in many ways. For the buyers' protection, once the sales contract has been signed and a deposit paid, the Land Registry in Cyprus provides a simple and effective legal instrument called the 'Specific Performance'. This procedure protects the purchaser's ownership rights until the title deeds are issued in their name. The contract cannot be withdrawn by anyone and therefore the property cannot be mortgaged, leased, sold or transferred. This status can only be changed by the purchaser.

To handle the legal issues an English speaking lawyer should be appointed and if you're buying a new build in Cyprus, ensure the lawyer is not concerned with any aspect of the property development so that conflict of interest does not arise. The fees of the lawyer are generally 1% of the property price.

Taxes

Stamp Duty: a one-off stamp duty is levied on the purchase of property in Cyprus. The rates depend on the contractual purchase price and payment is due within thirty days of signing the Sale Agreement. The amount is payable by the buyer to the tax authorities.

Council Tax: is paid annually and is considerably cheaper than in the UK.

Transfer Tax: the purchaser will be liable to pay transfer tax for the property when the property is registered in their name at the Land Registry Office. The fees are charged on the property's market value at the date of purchase.

In conclusion, buying a property in Cyprus is fairly straightforward, and Cyprus also has a lot to offer both holiday home purchases and property investors alike.

Tags: BUYING PROPERTY CYPRUS, PROPERTY INVESTMENT, REAL ESTATE

Steel Building Kits

Steel Building kits are an easy way to construct a new building for most any need. They have always enjoyed popularity for industrial purposes, and governmental purposes. But these kits are seeing a rise in popularity with homeowners too.

A quality-built steel building kit provides an easy to assemble building at a very competitive price and with a long life span to boot. Steel building kits are offered in various colors and sizes in order to satisfy the specifications of the customers – both residential and commercial.

The steel building kit provides strength and structural integrity. There are many types of steel buildings available, but one of the most popular for residential and smaller commercial applications is the type with a stand-alone frame. Residential (do-it-yourself) builders seem to prefer the frame kits that consist of metal studs. The frame is built just like a traditional wood frame studded building. You can see an example of this at http://www.absoluterv.com/Garage_Frame.htm
Depending upon the size of the building, you can get these studs in 2” x 3” or 2” x 4”. This type of frame system is much easier to install for most people than is an I-beam and cable structure.

In the past, you would find that most steel buildings were assembled by attaching purlins and girts to a rigid I-Beam. This heavy I-Beam bears almost the entire load stress of the building. That's why it has to be so big and heavy, requiring a forklift or crane to assemble. Using this method, the exterior panels are most definitely a part of the structural consideration. With a building that's up to 12.5 feet in height or shorter, those exterior wall panels are usually attached to only a channel running next to and parallel to the floor and then again up at eave.

Take away the exterior panels on other buildings, and you'll find there's nothing there - no support, no stability! This is why you would hear about those "heavy duty" 26 gauge panels. Those buildings need them! While this might have been appropriate for a large structure such as a horse arena, a warehouse, or the like, this construction method was not appropriate for ma and pa homeowner trying to put this together on weekends.

For smaller buildings, most people should consider the stand-alone frame buildings. The frame systems on these steel building kits are "stand alone". This means the loads are evenly distributed throughout the frame system. You can even apply siding that’s not metal – just like you would on a traditional building frame.

What does this mean to you?

•It means you won't be dealing with large I-Beams that require forklifts or cranes.
Our heaviest single component weighs 28.65 pounds!

•It means your end walls will not have those frustrating "cross-tied cable ends" that never adjust properly. This type of building won’t be "wired" together!

•It means you'll save money on your concrete/foundation because you won't need massive 3' x 3' footings to support those isolated areas of load stress.

•It means that you can use most any exterior material you want on the outside of your building: wood, stucco, brick, stone etc. You can have your building match your house, landscape or most anything else you want!

Tags: STEEL GARAGE KIT, GARAGE BUILDING KITS, CARPORT KITS, STEEL BUILDING KITS

Consumer Attitudes about Green Building

Consumer interest in green building exploded in 2007, and it's still growing. Thanks to extensive media coverage, an increasing number of consumers are becoming familiar with sustainability and green building. Newspapers warn about climate change and soaring gas prices. Retail giants like Wal-Mart have adopted sustainable practices and opened green stores. Hollywood has jumped on the green bandwagon, incorporating green practices in its 2008 Oscars. Home and garden television shows offer a steady stream of shows promoting green living.

As the media pushes green building into the mainstream, consumers are becoming more attuned to the benefits of green homes. Homebuilders have an opportunity to meet consumer demand by adopting practices that improve the energy efficiency, durability, and indoor air quality of homes. It's important to know the variety of consumer attitudes about green building in order to respond to the changing market.

Consumer uncertainty: Is green building more hype than reality?

Some consumers are skeptics and wonder about the hype surrounding green building. They may acknowledge that green is an effective marketing strategy, but they question companies' motives for advertising a product or home as green. Many of these consumers are cautious of greenwashing, a tactic that companies use to mislead consumers into thinking their products or practices are green when they're actually not. Homebuilders must be able to prove to these consumers that they're homes are legitimately green.

Consumer profile: Who buys green homes?

People who buy green homes can't easily be lumped into one category. They buy for different reasons. A family may find a green home appealing because they want their kids to grow up in a healthy home without allergens and toxins. Empty-nesters may be attracted to the cheaper utility bills.

For a growing number of consumers, green building is not a hard sell. These consumers have done their research; they're concerned about reducing their ecological footprint or impact on the environment. They understand that energy-efficient homes can alleviate global warming and soaring gas prices even more than hybrid cars can. In some cases, they're more knowledgeable than the homebuilder and can shop around for green features. Many others recognize the benefits of a green home, but their understanding is more basic.

Consumer values: What are the benefits of green building?

The key to selling green homes is to understand the values that consumers hold and what motivates them to buy green products. In other words, the best way to market green building is to educate homebuyers on its benefits. Realize that sustainability and environmental benefits won't resonate with everyone. However, if you frame the benefits of green homes in terms of indoor air quality, comfort, and economy, you're more likely to convince buyers that green homes have a direct impact on their health, happiness, and quality of life. Avoid using the vocabulary of the builder—“energy recovery ventilators" means little to most buyers, but lower utility bills and fresher indoor air make a whole lot of sense. The more relevant you make green building to consumers, the more they'll recognize its value.

Tags: GREEN BUILDING, HOME, REAL ESTATE

Finding the perfect Building Plot

If you have been contemplating on building your dream home, the first thing you ought to do is to decide on your budget and then begin the task of looking through suitable residential building plots on which to build it. If you are interested in making Kent your new home, then you will be searching for building plots Kent.

Although there is always a lot of land available for purchase, most of it might be in some far-flung area or it might not have the approval of the planning authorities. It might not always be easy to find building land just the way you might want it. The rise in property rates over the last decade has led to a large number of people opting to build their homes on their own. As a result, land is getting to be scarce when clubbed with the normal residential developments. So rather than go in for building land, it would be wiser to go in for building plots.

Building plots Kent are comparatively smaller pieces of land obtained by dividing a big garden or compound. Permission has been obtained from the planning authorities for a pre-determined number of properties. These house building plots are normally sold one plot at a time and although they are smaller in size as compared to the building land, they tend to be cheaper and are normally centrally located.

It is extremely important that one of the building plots that you purchase already has a planning permission or the probability of it getting the approval is very high. It would be futile to spend several thousands of pounds on a building plots Kent only to find that you will never be able to build your home there. Sometimes building plots come with what is called outline planning permission if there is a house or building close by. Talk to your estate agent or to the planning authorities to make sure that you will be able to build your house there when you choose to.

The building plots Kent that you shortlist should be in the perfect location where you have access to it by road, besides easy access to electricity, gas, phone and water. If you don't take care to check out all this stuff in the beginning, you can end up buying one of the building plots Kent which could cause you a lot of pain once you start on your project and selling a bad piece of land will not be easy either.

For good advice you can go one the Net or else speak to some estate agents. Most plots in the UK are sold be estate agents though not all of them might deal in building plots. Visit some agents in your locality and register wit them giving details of the building plots Kent that you would be interested in. Often plots are sold at auctions by the real estate agents; so they will keep you informed if you register with them. Or check out the advertisements in property magazines or your local newspapers.

Self-build companies also have a list of building plots along with the agents' names. If you have decided to purchase your home from a self-build company, they will be very eager to help you in your search for the right plot. Real estate developers or builders too might have a plot of land for sale on which they would rather not build. But all said and done, the Net is your best bet. You even get an email in your box when building plots Kent as per your specification become available.

Tags: BUILDING PLOTS, BUILDING PLOTS KENT, BUILDING LAND, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PLOTS, HOUSE BUILDING PLOTS, SELF-BUILD

How to Pass the Leed Exam

Are you a building professional who wants to ride the increasingly large sustainability wave? Well becoming a LEED Accredited Professional is a lot easier than you think! Passing the LEED exam will make your self look that much better, not only on paper, but also in practical terms.

Ever since the United States Green Building Council appeared, people have been becoming more and more serious about building green. The USGBC created a rating system to help set industry standard levels of green building. Green buildings are appearing everywhere. Many owners know the benefits of building green and require that the architects achieve certain LEED ratings. Some counties and cities are requiring that all buildings over a certain size threshold be LEED certified. Many public projects are also incorporating LEED into their buildings.

There is no question that if you want to survive in this industry, you are going to have to go green. With energy prices on the rise, fossil fuels becoming more and more scarce, and the earth's natural resources being slowly finished off, you better go green or go home. This world won't be able to sustain itself unless there is a huge push to go green.

The LEED Rating system might be a little overwhelming at first glance, but once you start digging into it, you realize it is not as difficult as you had imagined. I passed the LEED exam over a year ago, and I didn't really start studying until one week prior to the exam. When I started studying, I didn't think I would stand a chance. There were so many credits and just so much to learn about every single one that I didn't think it would be possible to retain enough information to pass. After spending a lot of time in a panicked state of overwhelm, I organized my studying approach, and was able to pass the test without breaking a sweat.

The first thing that you do when you start studying, is obviously begin by reading the LEED manual. I tried to start by the darn thing page by page. That really didn't work. After reading a few credits, I was so overloaded with information, I figured the test would be impossible. I decided to change my approach. I went ahead and tried to memorize all of the 50+ credits. The only thing I needed to memorize was what the goal of the credit was, and if not that, at least the name. The intent of the credits are pretty straight forward; they make logical sense and you can understand what the point of the credit is without having to think too much. In no time, I was able to list every single credit from memory. It helps to break them down into the six sections (sustainable sites, water efficiency, etc).

Once you lay the foundation down, it is time to dig into each credit. A lot of the time, there is more info than you need to know in the reference manual. Just try to get a good understanding of how each credit works. You will notice that each credit is explained in a similar way (intent, approach, references, calculations, etc). It really helped me to set up a spreadsheet summarizing everything about each credit. I chose a small font, printed mine out on a few sheets of paper and carried it everywhere I went.

When you get into the exam room, you are given a few sheets of paper and put in front of a computer. You get two hours from the time you click “ok" on the computer. Before I touched the computer, I went ahead and wrote down all the credits on my scratch paper. Even though I already memorized them, I referenced this sheet a whole lot during the exam.

Go through and choose the best answers to each question. Your gut instinct is usually right, so go with your first intuition. Make sure to skip any questions you are unsure of; there is a feature on the computer that allows you to go over any skipped or flagged questions. Use the entire two hours, and submit just before the deadline. You will find out if you passed or not about 20 seconds after you submit!

Best of luck on your Leed Exam!

Tags: LEED EXAM, LEED, GREEN BUILDING, LEED EXAMINATION

Property Investment Seminars- A ladder to step ahead in capital growth

Property investment seminars to sell commercial properties can offer secure long-term income streams and steady capital growth: it can help you diversify your property investment portfolio from residential property, shares and bonds. By attending property investment seminars, property buyers get a way to connect with other people who may be able to put you on to a good property investment deal or who may be able to help you when the time comes to purchase your commercial investment property. Property investment seminars include commercial property solicitors, residential properties and finance brokers etc. After opting investment property from property investment seminars is sure to do some thorough investigation which includes a detailed look at the lease agreement and checks on the property itself.

Learn from property investment seminars
A property investment seminar is all about property investments only. Their are various advantageous of participating in property investment seminars. Such as:

- To learn reliable and precious information on investment properties from property investment seminars
- Property investment seminars are free of cost
- property investment seminars will provide property information on numerous property issues e.g. real estate marketplace, property investments, tax laws, property appreciation or depreciation.
- Property investment seminars will teach you to how to get pre-approved, what type of low-down loan product to choose, and finding the cheap houses in UK.
- Property investment seminars is the best place to find new business associates or even possible customers for your rental properties.

Property investment seminars are conducted by property professionals who are specialized university lecturers, or property investment managers that will lead the property investment seminars and share with you their experience. Property investment seminars are attended by popular persons that have experience in this domain and who come to share with others property investors - some of their secrets. So, property investment seminars will be held by property specialists and you will have plenty to learn from it if you are a beginner in this industry. You will have a great experience in property investment by attending these property investment seminars.

In property investment seminars property owners get potential customers and real estate investors who themselves are searching the network and create new business deals for healthy capital growth.

Before going inside do research on the property investment seminar companies will also help you weed out poor quality presenters and many times you'll discover that the speakers have relationships with property development firms.

Tags: PROPERTY INVESTMENT SEMINARS, INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, CHEAP HOUSES, PROPERTY INVESTMENT, PROPERTY INVESTMENT INFORMATION, PROPERTY INVESTMENT ADVICE

Canadian Builders Association Looking Green

The Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) are not happy chaps at the moment! There is concern in the industry that building codes are being compromised by the use of programs that were not designed in Canada and that are replacing Canadian based standards.

The newly developing interest in green homes and sustainable energy has meant that several new green programs and standards in construction and house building have been introduced that do not have CHBA approval.

Their concern is centred on the new LEED-H standard that is currently being developed in Canada by the Canadian Green Building Council. The CHBA are concerned that municipalities will regulate the building of new houses by insisting on LEED compliance, thus circumnavigating the CHBA system of codes and standards.

The vice president of CHBA pointed out that the LEED standards are developed by a private group to suit their own agenda, and that this is not the way building standards are introduced in the country. He added that the codes and standards development processes are rigorous, transparent and involve a lot of accountability.

Interest in homes with high-energy efficiency and sustainable building practices has prompted several new 'green' programs and standards to be introduced in Canada.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED standards are based on five principal categories: energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources, sustainable sites and water efficiency.

Currently they are only applied to commercial and multi-housing construction, but now standards for LEED -H are being developed to include domestic housing.

CHBA has developed an outline for domestic housing; R-2000 was introduced twenty years ago and has had several updates since then. Its mandate was to build super energy efficient homes; a criterion that has brought international demand for Canadian home designs from all over the world. Countries such as Chile, Ireland and Russia are just a few of the countries that have used Canadian building consultants and expertise.

However, builders have said that back home in Canada, the R-2000 was a tough sell. Rather than spend extra money on energy efficiency, prospective home owners would opt to spend their money on upgraded finishes, which gave more visual enjoyment.

As with many green issues, until the Government step in to legislate and demand forms of energy-saving, by law, home owners the world over will often choose to spend their home owner's money on visual appeal.

The CHBA have said that it is time to upgrade their R-2000 standard to serve its original purpose which was to provide an elite standard of energy and environmental performance that will stimulate innovation within the home building industry.

Sounds like something has stimulated innovation within the Canadian Home Builders Association....?

Tags: GREEN HOMES, CANADIAN GREEN HOMES, CANADIAN BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, CHBA, CONSTRUCTION, BUILDING

Are You in the Market for a Quality Home for Less? Think Manufactured Homes!

The process of building a manufactured home is completely different, from its origin inside a factory to its ultimate destination -- your property. Homebuyers can have the security of knowing that weather won't affect the building process, nor will their home be damaged by inclement weather; manufactured homes are built in a temperature-controlled environment.

Because of this temperature controlled environment protection, manufactured homes are of a higher caliber than traditional homes. Manufactured homes are made in a factory and protected from the elements. There is very little chance that the building materials will be exposed to dampness and moisture, a homeowner's worst enemy.

This is of great interest because, building a house with wet materials could compromise the structure of the home. You could be setting yourself up for costly repairs from the beginning. This could also, negatively impact your home's resale value.

Manufactured Homes-The Positives

Manufactured homes allow you a greater flexibility of design than traditional homes. There are literally hundreds of options of features for your manufactured home. You get to be the designer of the appearance and functionality for your future home. Fireplaces and sliding glass doors are features that can often be added, and you can even choose an entire set of appliances to be shipped along with your home.

The easy process involves examining the possibilities, determining which extra variables suit your taste, finding the cost, and then your manufactured home can be ordered according to your own specifications. Compared to a manufactured home, changes or additions to the design of a traditional home are very expensive, especially if they weren't part of the original blueprint. Architects, new floor plans, and new permits may all be needed should you wish to make modifications to the blueprint.

Just one of the benefits of choosing a manufactured home is that construction is three times faster than building a traditional house, so you can move into your new home in a third of the time! If money and time are of the utmost importance to you, manufactured homes are the best choice, being well priced and quickly built.

Today's manufacture homes are upheld to the highest of standards. The manufactured home industry is controlled by nationwide, region-specific, and state-specific restrictions and regulations. In addition to region-specific and state-specific regulations, there are nationwide restrictions and regulations that are enforced for the manufactured home industry. Traditional homes must only meet local regulations, and therefore, may be of a lower standard than manufactured homes.

In short, manufactured homes won't take as long to build, will meet the highest standards and regulations, and won't break the bank. A manufactured home may be an excellent choice for you, so book a tour at your local company today!

Tags: SACRAMENTO MANUFACTURED HOME, AMADOR COUNTY MODULAR HOME, SACRAMENTO MOBILE HOMES, SACRAMENTO MOBILE HOME DEALERS

Drywall Manufactured in China is Not Dry; Neither is it Safe

Respiratory issues, other health problems and frequent appliance failures are only a few of the problems claimed to be caused by “Chinese Drywall”. Drywall is a flat board made from gypsum plaster. It is used to create interior walls for its economical cost, smooth appearance and fire-resistance. However, it seems that many Florida homeowners are having problems in homes where drywall manufactured in China has been installed.

The housing boom in the early-mid part of the decade has been noted as the beginning of this problem. Normally, drywall is bought from domestic producers, but the boom caused shortages, so some home builders, particularly in Florida, purchased drywall shipped in from China. Only a few years later, in 2009, there appears to be something rotten in the State of Florida.

Home owners have reported everything from sore throats to unexplained personality changes in their pets. Everything in between includes: respiratory problems, headaches and nosebleeds, pet ill health, nasty sulfur odors with no apparent source and a general feeling of malaise. Homeowners with young children or those who are expecting are refusing to return to the houses they bought, for fear it might damage their children's health.

Despite the Florida Department of Health's assurance that there is “no immediate health threat”, homeowners remain unconvinced about the “un-immediate” health threats lurking in their homes. The experience of some homeowners, who felt ‘miraculously' better when traveling away from their residences for an extended period of time, has convinced many that the problem lies within the homes and could constitute a threat to their continued health and safety.

One theory is that the drywall isn't gypsum at all, but a less appetizing mix of waste from power plant scrubbers. This would explain the high content of sulfur-based gases that are being emitted from some of the drywall examined, and for the rapid deterioration of electrical connections and household appliances. Some gases named as being present in tested board include hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide, and carbonyl sulfide. Fumes from hydrogen sulfide can cause severe respiratory distress and death.

Sulphur-based gases produce something else when they come into contact with moisture: sulfuric acid, which eats away at many materials like a beaver in an aspen grove. This can explain while many people have gone through three or more appliances in five years when the appliance itself should be lasting for ten or twenty. Air conditioners, TVs and other common household appliances are being affected as well as medical equipment. While not having a TV working can be an annoyance, not having one's dialysis machine or heart monitor functioning can be serious or even fatal.

The drywall problem, combined with other issues relating to toxic materials found in other items produced in China is leading to a demand for tighter regulations and inspections. Also, for provisions that address the needs of homeowners faced with homelessness because they dare not re-enter their homes due to health concerns. Some home builders are addressing this by relocating families while they conduct tests, but many homeowners are fighting with their home builders who say that there is no appreciable health risk.

The “Chinese drywall” problem is something we are likely to hear more about in the very near future. For now, it behooves those who are purchasing new homes to find out where their drywall comes from and avoid anything with a “Made in China” label.

Tags: CHINESE DRY WALL, HOME REMODELING, NEW CONSTRUCTION, BAD DRYWALL, HOME REPAIRS, HOME HEALTH HAZARDS

Semi-Pro to Professional Contractor

In the realm of construction, just like any other discipline, there is nothing more important then having the right tool for the right job. A chef can no more prepare his menu or a doctor make ready with a surgery if the proper implements are not in place. The site supervisor of a pipeline install or getting the building excavation properly completed must also depend on having a complete inventory of proper tools. Why this basic look at what most contractors know? Because, in this tech aged society, many folks may not understand the true nature of what goes on in planning a big construction job. Let us look at some of the tools needed and why they are important. In this case, we will look at road building.

What is a good tool for opening up the compacted ground for beginning the job? A SCARIFIER is the most used implement for digging up solid ground or the old paved work. The scarifier can dig into a significant depth for pulling up the old surface. There is also the means of reclaiming old pavement using a, you guessed it, a reclaimer. These machines allow for the reclamation of old material and utilized again in the roadway... (This day and age of recycling and green, it is important to keep sustainability in mind of resources.)

Many jobs require the application of a soil stabilizer. To do this job a SCATTERER is put into play. This machine applies a solidry with the soil to maintain a stabilized road base. This is important so that the ground does not disperse and create depressions for later paving.

Once a roadway has been opened up, comes the work of making a level field. This is done by means of a GRADER. The path to be paved has to be evened out. The job of the grader is to come through and plane the surface using a blade. These tools have the ability to change the angle of their blade in pitch, tilt, and depth. This function makes the job easier in relation to type of road surface and need for proper road perspective.

On many jobs, the need to keep the dust down due to wind or environment health concerns is necessary. This is completed by using a WATER TANKER. This vehicle has the ability to spread water over a wide area, without necessarily saturating the ground, to allow for easier work progress. Many site supervisors realize that health of their workers being imperative, a tool like this can be invaluable.

So how do we compact the ground? Using a sheepsfoot roller will make the job easier and follow-up with a flat roller to give a well-proportioned surface for laying a good road surface.

There more tools used in a project like this, but this gives an example of the importance of proper tools for the correct job. Just keep it simple for cost effectiveness.

Tags: BUILDING, MATERIAL, DRILL, TOOLS, CONSTRUCTION, SAW, GRINDER, SURVEY

Managing Customer Expectations with Construction Meetings

Customers have certain expectations about the finished state of their new homes. They paint pictures in their heads that may or may not accurately reflect the homes you're building for them. As a result, it's important that a homebuilder's representatives, typically a site supervisor and a sales representative, properly manage customer expectations during the construction process.

One of the best ways to manage expectations is through construction meetings, which are held between the builder's representatives and the customers while the home is being built. Most builders hold three such meetings: one that occurs before construction begins, one that occurs before drywall is installed, and one that occurs right before closing. They take place at key milestones during the home's construction and give you the time to thoroughly explain the homebuilding process to educate customers and shape their expectations. In addition, if these meetings are successful, they lead to a friendly working relationship and higher customer satisfaction ratings. Infrequent or unclear communication usually leads to unwanted surprises later in the process, such as someone upset over a missing upgrade or a misunderstanding about the floor covering.

Continuously making sure you and your customers are on the same page while the home is being built is important. Use these communication opportunities to your advantage!

Pre-construction meeting

At the pre-construction meeting, the customer reviews the site plan, home plans, and other paperwork for the home with the builder's representatives, usually the site supervisor and sales representative. The meeting is typically held immediately before the foundation work begins on the home and is often accompanied by a lot walk, so the customer can get a complete picture of the site.

Pre-drywall meeting

At the pre-drywall meeting, the customer tours the home with a member of the builder's team to review the construction and the location of the major mechanical and structural systems of the home. The meeting is usually held just after the framing is finished and insulated but before the drywall installation begins.

Pre-closing meeting

At the pre-closing meeting, the customer walks through the home with a member of the builder's team--usually a site supervisor, sales representative, or quality assurance person--to review the construction and agree to close on the home. The meeting is typically held one week prior to closing.

These days, customers are more likely than ever to take an active interest in how their home is built. As a result, much of your time has to be spent making sure the homes the customers have built in their heads is the home described in the paperwork. It's up to you to manage their expectations so they're satisfied with the final result.

Tags: CONSTRUCTION, HOMES

Concrete & Foundation Requirements for Steel Building Kits

Author’s Note: We have been in the steel building kit business for a lot of years and ship buildings to homeowners, government agencies, and commercial customers almost daily. We know the business. The article below covers a subject that we are frequently asked.

Through the years we have seen many sets of engineered plans for our steel buildings come through our offices. This has given us the opportunity to examine different concrete and foundation requirements for many different parts of the country. While we have attempted to provide you with accurate information with regard to what your concrete and foundation requirements will be, this information is not guaranteed to be what an engineer would specify for your unique circumstances but is intended to be used only as a guide in your concrete requirements.

You will find that steel building kits can be anchored on the ground (without a concrete floor) or on concrete. Before getting into particulars, if you are in an area that has a frost line, you will need to be approximately 12" under that frost line for your perimeter footings. This depth requirement for colder areas applies to ground anchoring as well.

The below described concrete applications do not account for frost line requirements.

Ground Mount (no concrete pad):

1.When mounting your steel building kit to the ground, you will be required to dig a post hole approximately 10” in diameter and 30” deep every five feet or every four feet depending upon whether you have purchased a 5’ on-center system or a 4’ on-center system.

2.Assemble your base rails and lay them in place, marking where your holes should be dug. (A 16 D nail poked into the ground through the pre-drilled hole in the base rails works very accurately for this.)

3.Next, use a post hole digger or auger and drill your holes 30” deep. Clean out the holes.

4.You would now lay out your steel building kit base rails according to the instructions and drop the ground anchors into the pre-drilled holes. Use a 2500psi concrete (pre-mixed bags or mix your own) and, using a shovel, fill the holes.

You should wait at least seven days for the concrete to properly set before moving on with the assembly of your steel building.

Concrete Mount:

1.Size the slab. You should make your slab 4” wider than the width of your steel building and 6” longer. This is so you don’t break or crack the edge of the slab when affixing the concrete anchor expansion bolts into your slab.

2.Concrete Floor: Your floor should be a minimum of 4” thick. Make it 6” thick if you are intending large vehicles such as trucks or larger RVs to be parked on it. The concrete should be a minimum of 2500 psi concrete with fiber mesh reinforcement added at the batch plant OR #3 rebar on 24” centers. You should also consider going with a concrete mixture of 4000psi along with the extra two inches of concrete if you are intending more than a normal amount of weight.

3.Be sure to saw cut expansion joints within an appropriate time after the pour is finished or trowel in the expansion joints while the finishing is occurring.

Footing Requirements:

(International Building Code 2000 or “IBC 2000” requirements)
At the same time you pour the floor, you are going to pour the perimeter footings. This is called a monolithic pour or monolithic slab. Perimeter footings need to be 12” deep (you can include the 4” of floor as part of the 12”) and 16” wide. The footings will have to have two #4 rebar lengths top and bottom, continuous run around the complete perimeter.

In our local area (Tempe, AZ), the footings would cost approximately $11.50 per lineal (running) foot.

That’s it. If your building department is still using UBC 1997 (Uniform Building Code), which many of them are, your footing only needs to be 12” wide. That should knock about $1.00 per lineal foot off the above footing price estimate.

Tags: STEEL GARAGE KIT, GARAGE BUILDING KITS, CARPORT KITS

The Benefits of Wood Blinds

In interior design, the blinds found on windows and doors are major decorating elements. Blinds made of wood or those with a wooden look add a feeling of warmth and coziness to the atmosphere in the room. They provide privacy without looking stark. They have an inviting look and add beauty to the rest of the furniture in the room. Interior decorators prefer wood blinds for their warmth, versatility, and durability. They can be custom-crafted to suit the décor of any room.

Wood blinds give a natural look to the room with a graceful charm. They look much better than traditional curtains or shutters. They look pretty from both inside and outside the window. In addition, window wood blinds are good insulators from heat or cold. For humid areas like windows in the bathrooms or in the kitchen, faux-wood blinds, which look exactly like wood blinds, can be used.

Wood blinds are crafted from two different types of wood in most cases: Ramin wood and Bass wood. Bass wood is the most preferred since it has more distinctive grain and is stronger. It is also good for staining. Blinds can be constructed with a no-hole option that enables the blinds to make the room really dark. Using a 3-inch valance on these blinds is very decorative. Ramin is the less expensive alternative and generally uses a 2-inch valance at the top of the window to hide the metal head rails.

Wood blinds come in lots of varieties--vertical blinds, woven wood blinds, faux wood blinds, wood mini blinds, etc. They are also available in various shapes, stains, colors, and shades and can be created from different varieties of wood. Window wood blinds can be custom ordered. They can be fitted with other optional features like fabric tapes, cord-want tilt and motorization, light-blocking, UV control, and anti static control.

The size of the slats has to be determined when buying wood blinds. One-inch slats are for French doors and smaller windows whereas two inch slats look good on windows of any size and shape. Blinds that have slats bigger than two inches look like plantation shutters and provide maximum see-through space when open. Other options provided with wood blinds are cordless operation and valance upgrades as per customer requirements.

Wood blinds are available in home improvement centers and stores that provide home/interior decoration services. Nowadays, blinds can also be ordered through online stores with catalogues on their website. They can be ordered as per custom requirements also.

Ordering wood blinds online directly from the manufacturer can be very inexpensive.

Tags: INTERIOR DESIGNING, HOME DECORATION, INTERIOR DECORATING, HOME DECORATING.

Tips to find the best building plots for sale

A lot of people dream of building their very own house. For a number of people it is a means of owning the ideal home, made and built according to each one's tastes. Others might look at it as a way of getting accommodation thereby saving money which would otherwise be spent on rent or other alternate accommodation. The first thing that comes to mind when you decide to build your own home is the building plots you will have to choose from. If you are looking to settle down in Kent, you will find there are plenty of building plots Kent that you can choose from.

Each year, you find that about thirteen percent of all new houses built in the UK are so done by the owners themselves. That could be about twenty thousand homes or so. Although the design, finance arrangements, construction type and the quantity of work done by the owner himself will vary from one project to another, what is common among all the projects will be the need for residential building plots on which to build homes.

Let us concentrate on how to get hold of the best building plots Kent. People who are fortunate to have a lot of space surrounding their existing home can easily build a new one in garden space itself. They do not have to worry about searching for building plots and then actually purchasing it. All they need to worry about is getting a license from the planning authorities, the connections for water, electricity, sewage and water, planning restrictions and ground conditions.

There are basically two steps involved in finding your dream building plots:

1. Your requirements:

The first step in finding building plots for sale is to decide on your requirements - how much land you will need which will of course depend on how big a house you want to build and what it's design is going to be like and of course, the kind of locality you would want it to be. Another issue will be the money you are ready to spend on; what your budget will be. You can take ideas for designs from magazines or from already built homes. Once you have a fair idea about the kind of house you would like to build, then you can go into more details like the number of bedrooms you would like to have and whether you will need to have a spare one for your guests. You might also need to consider the number of cars your garage will need to house besides other stuff like freezers or lawn mowers. Another thing is whether it's a bungalow you want to construct. Depending on whether you want your house to be in a village or in a city or in a particular place like Kent, you can search for residential building plots building
plots Kent.

2. Seeking out the right plot

Building plots for sale are sometimes not very easy to find as per your specifications. Some might be too small while other might be too large or they might just not fit into your budget. But you needn't worry; with the internet, finding your dream building plots Kent might just be a mouse click away. If you register on some of these sites, you will receive an e-mail alert when a plot as per your specification becomes available for sale. Good building plots Kent get sold fast so this will give you an added advantage.

In order to get a lot of choice besides registering online on some sites which deal with building plots Kent, you can also look into other options. Most building plots are sold through real estate agents, so if you want to build your home in Kent, check out the real estate agents there or you might have some in your locality who would put you in touch with their counterparts in Kent. Be very specific about the details like location, size and budget.

Tags: BUILDING PLOTS KENT, BUILDING PLOTS, BUILDING PLOTS FOR SALE, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PLOTS

The Basics of Builders' Incentives

Home builders who have surplus inventory on their books are coming up with creative ways to entice buyers into making a purchase offer. In an effort to make a house more attractive to potential buyers, these builders are offering what are known as "buyers' incentives" or "builders' incentives." These can include pricey electronics such as flat screen TV's and stereo systems, or more traditional add-ons such as furniture and art work.

As certain markets around the country become more competitive and housing sales stall, builders are forced to offer higher ticket items such as brand new cars, vacations, and gas cards. While this may seem like a costly way for a builder to do business, if it means a sale, then it's worth it. Spending money on a new car can offset the potential losses that the company will incur if the house remains vacant, where it will lose value every day that it sits on the market.

Flashy incentives can bring a lot of foot traffic to open houses and showings, which increase the chances of a sale. People like to think they're getting something for free, so buyers' incentives grab a lot of peoples' attentions. However, it is important to remember that getting a free car isn't going to do anything to lower your monthly mortgage payments, or reduce your interest rates. In fact, the car may simply be added onto the purchase price, which means that you're paying for it with your home loan.

It is important when dealing with buyers' incentives that you look at the offer with a critical eye. Is what the builder offering something that will benefit you in the long run? Or is that high-end stereo system something that you could easily do without? And be sure that the incentive isn't distracting you from what you should be focusing on —the house. You don't want to be lured into making an offer simply because the incentive is so attractive. Make sure that the house is right for you and your family, and that you would be willing to make an offer even without an incentive attached to the deal.

If you have any bargaining power, try to nix the incentive, and get a reduction on the purchase price instead. This will pay off much more in the long run. If they won't budge on price, see if the seller will consider covering your closing costs, or making the first few mortgage payments for you. Anything that you can do to lower the amount you have to spend on the property, the better. A plasma television will do nothing for your pocketbook, whereas having even a slight price reduction will drastically reduce the amount you have to pay back on your mortgage in the future.

One thing to be wary of however, is the tendency for builders to only offer reductions and certain incentives to buyers who use the builder's official lending company. Because you might find a better deal with an independent lender or broker, it's a good idea to look at what discount the builder is offering, and compare it to the savings you would get by using an independent mortgage broker.

Tags: HOME BUILDERS, HOME BUYING INCENTIVES, BUILDER INCENTIVES, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS, HOME BUYING

The Color of Living

Colors play such a dramatic role in our daily life, but the strange thing is that we rarely give them a second thought. Seldom do you stop and think that maybe you are feeling sad because your room is so dark, or that you are happy because the walls are painted a cheerful yellow. The truth is, colors can sometimes blend into the background of our daily lives, but whether you know it or not, they play a very important role.

When you are looking at colors, it's important to remember that everyone is affected by colors differently. How you react to certain hues will depend on your age, sex, and ethnic background among other things. However, there are some general guidelines that you can use when it comes to color.

Blue- Is often thought of as a calming, relaxing color. Blue is often chosen for bedrooms or bathrooms because of it's calming effect. Studies have shown that it will reduce blood pressure and promote serenity.

Red - Has been shown to increase blood pressure, can cause an angry or violent reaction. Red is also the color of passion and can stimulate romance. Perfect for causing excitement and creating a dramatic effect. It can be a good choice for larger rooms used for entertaining.

Yellow - Often thought of as a happy, cheerful color. Perfect for bathrooms and kitchens. Yellow is widely thought of as an uplifting color, but as the main color palate, it has been found to create feelings of frustration and can tire the eyes.

Green - Combines the qualities of blue and yellow to create a very calm and cheerful color. This is a great choice for a bedroom or family room where you want to create comfort and warmth. An excellent choice for the main color palate.

Before you even look at colors, you should try to determine what type of mood you are trying to create in your home or room. And keep in mind that you do not have to be a slave to whatever the fashionable colors are this season if you are choosing colors for your own home. It is far more important that the colors you select speak to you and evoke the appropriate response in you and your family. Experiment a little bit, until you create the mood that you are trying to achieve. If however, you are choosing colors for a home or property to be sold—you absolutely MUST know what colors are in vogue for the season, neighborhood and customer. A personal color choice may just turn someone off completely that would have otherwise fallen head over heals in love with the property.

Tags: HOME STAGING, HOME STAGING AND REDESIGN, REDESIGN, REAL ESTATE STAGING, HOME STAGER, HOME STAGING BUSINESS, DESIGN SERVICES, REALTORS, DECORATORS

Ventilation by Power Tube Make-Up Air System

NISCO Fan Co. distributes all kinds of industrial air moving equipment. It developed a PT Power Tube Make-Up Air System - one of the most economical options for larger industrial plants ventilation air make up systems.

PT Power Tube Air Make-Up fan system is a new ventilation concept. It utilizes some aerodynamic principles for supplying, tempering and distributing make-up air in a building in cold weather. It offers more efficiency, economy and comfort than most conventional make-up air units.

When exhaust fans are used to provide ventilation, both for industrial and process exhaust and personnel comfort, a negative air pressure is created within the building. This negative pressure causes several problems:

- Process exhaust systems are less efficient and may not work properly.
- Down flow can occur through gravity vents and result in the back venting of products of combustion from flues and stacks of heaters and process equipment.
- Drafts are created that are a dsicomfort to employees. Safe operating of outside doors may even be impaired.

Our Power Tube Fan Make-Up Air System solves all of these problems economically, even on the coldest winter day.

PT Fan System consists of a specially designed air supply fan, a wall housing and a motorized air inlet damper. A long polyethylene tubing is attached to the unit and extends horizontally inside building supported from wire. It has precision holes punched on both sides at specific intervals along its length and has an opposed end closed off.

Each fan housing assembly is mounted in the outside wall opening or connected to a roof air supply fan.

In the winter, conventional make-up air systems have to heat the cold outside air prior to introduction into the building. This is an expensive process in both equipment and continuing energy cost. The Power Tube Fam Make-Up Air System is a simplier system that utilizes waste3d building heat and basic earodynamic principles for supplying, tempering and distributing make-up air. And that makes it less expensive than conventional make-up air systems to purchase, to install and to operate.

When make-up air is needed, the motorized inlet shutter opens, the supply fan turns on and supplied fresh outside air inflating the tube for its full length. The air discharges from the punched holes in the tube located overhead as small high velocity jets which create turbulent mixing with the warmer inside air. As a result the outside air is effectively tempered before it reaches the worker level, creating a uniform draft free make up air system.

Normally several PT Fan systems are required for a building, depending on the size of the building, volume of make-up air required, size of PT Fan models selected. Additional heating, if required, may be furnished from conventional type space unit heaters positioned near the distributing PT tubes.

NISCO Fan Co. PT Air Make-Up System has the following advantages over coventional make-up air units:

* Offers savings in initial investment and operating costs;
* Provides draft-free and uniform air distribution from along tube rather than blasting air from a single source outlet;
* Uses less energy due to lower horsepower for the same supplied air volume and because of friction loss of blowing air through a heat transfer system is completely eliminated;
* Easier and less costly to install, as PT Fan system is relatively light in weight ans the polyethylene tubing can be installed in a fraction of time normally required for conventional ventilation ducts;
* Eliminates coil freeze-up problems typical for AHU with heating hot water and steam heat exchangers;
* Reclaims overhead heat wasted in most buildings - through mixing of outside air with inside hot air;
* Very quiet, normally within 20 Fan Sones;
* Flexible in capacity, which is achieved by running only the required number of PT units based on the temperature inside the building;
* Provides a more comfortable eworking environment by maintaining gentle air flow and uniform temperature distribution.

Power Tube Make-Up Air Fans are available in Sizes 18 to 48 for for air flows up to 40,000 CFM.

PT Power Tube Make-Up Air System tube is constructed of thick woven high density polyethylene fiber (8 x 8) laminated with poly coating to a thickness of 6 Mils. It is 3.8 oz. per square yeard material. Burst strength is 118 Lbs per square inch. The material is flame retardant and complied with NFPA Standard 701. Tubes are available in two colors: blue and white. One end of the polyethylen tube is factory dealed.

Sufficient make-up air should be provided to balance exhaust from general ventilation and process ventilation. Usually several Power Tube Fans will be required, located to distribute air throughout the plant. If additional tempering of make-up air in specific plant areas becomes necessary, unit heaters can be added.

Tags: VENTILATOR, FAN, BLOWER, ROOF, WALL, PROPELLER, PT, HEAT, COOLAIR, AMERICAN, POWER, TUBE, MAKE-UP, AIR, SYSTEM, INDUSTRIAL, VENTILATION, VENTILATING, JET, MIXING, HOT, COL

Designing Green Log Homes: Your Top 10 Guide

Mountain Architects, the industry leader in log and timber frame home design, has also set the trend for green design and consulting. Check out what they say are the 10 most important elements to consider when designing a green log home.

Top 10 list for designing green log and timber frame homes

1. Consider the Log Home Carbon Footprint using a higher proportion of log or timber in construction. ECCM (Edinburgh Center for Carbon Management) estimated there could be up to an 88% reduction of greenhouse gases by using log or timber structural elements wherever possible rather than other conventional building materials. (see the “Log Home Advisor").

2. Reduce the use of chemically processed materials in your home by using more logs and/or timbers. Logs and Timbers are 100% natural. As a building material they do not emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) or other pollutants into outdoor or indoor spaces. Ecologically and environmentally, solid wood is the only building product that is renewable, biodegradable, recyclable, energy efficient, and extremely beautiful.

3. Consider good basic design decisions.
Orientation of the house to elements and the site.
Avoid afternoon sun and dark roofs in warmer climates.
Use “Sun Angle Calculator" to get the ideal overhang.
Use a radiant barrier on the underside of roofs.
Use a vapor barrier on warm or humid side of walls.
Reduce the number of can lights in roofs and switch boxes in exterior walls.
Placement, type, and size of windows and doors. Use clerestory windows for lighting and ventilation to cool the house.
Build air tight.
Limit vaulted ceilings.
Use eaves, porches, and awnings to reduce the amount of summer sunlight entering your windows.

4. Use energy efficient products such as:
SIP's (structural insulated panels)
ICF's (insulated concrete forms)
Low E / high performance windows and glazing
Install Energy Star appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators and freezers.
Use Radiant Heat.
Use a Programable Thermostat.

Select the proper Water Heater for your home - Conventional storage (size is important), instantaneous, heat pump, solar or tankless coil / indirect water heaters.

5. Use locally sourced products when possible to reduce carbon emissions reduces the amount of fossil fuels required for the transportation of products from other parts of the country or the world. It also reduces the amount of plastic and paper products consumed in the packaging of such far-traveling products. Buying local reduces consumption of valuable natural resources.

6. Use low-VOC products such as indoor paint to improve indoor air quality. Health experts are becoming increasingly aware and alarmed that man-made chemicals are showing up in our blood and lungs. Logs are 100% natural and don't emit VOC's or other pollutants. Soil, water and air combine with the energy from the sun in a miraculous process of photosynthesis to produce wood. Also use eco-friendly stains and sealants on the exterior. The exposure to toxic chemicals in our every day lives is resulting in significant increases in asthma and respiratory illnesses, skin problems, migraine headaches and any number of health related problems.

7. Use wood Alternatives or FSC-certified wood products. Consider using environmentally preferable and rapidly renewable products such as linoleum, bamboo, recycled-content tile or non-VOC carpet. Choose wood products from sustainable managed forests, such as those certified by the forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

8. Use rapidly-renewable materials. Examples include linoleum, form-release agents made from plant oils, natural paints, geotextile fabrics from coir and jute, cork, and such textiles as organic cotton, wool and sisal. These materials are biodegradable, often (but not always) low in VOC emissions, and generally produced from agricultural crops. You might also consider recycled interior finishes such as carpet with recycled fibers and countertops made of recycled paper.

9. Plant Green. Plant trees to shade the house and for wind protection. Use native plants in your landscape plan and eco-smart landscaping techniques. Consider catching rain water from roofs to water some of your vegetation and use stormwater management to control run-off. Reduce site disturbance.

10. Use Green Power. Green Power is an optional utility service for customers who want to help expand the production and distribution of renewable energy technologies. With green power you do not have to change your electricity provider. Instead, customers choose to pay a premium on their electricity bill to cover the extra cost of purchasing clean, sustainable energy. More info on green power can be found at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenposer/markets/index.shtml. Additionally, there are several renewable energy technologies commercially available for electricity production. They include:
Biopower
Concentrating solar power
Geothermal electricity production
Photovoltaics
Wind energy

Tags: HOME DESIGN, GREEN DESIGN, GREEN BUILDING, LOG HOMES, TIMBER FRAME HOMES Rating:

Home Building: Everyone Deserves a Piece of Heaven on Earth

Everyone dream of a beautiful home. Home building is an art where you make a simple space into perfect living rooms. From time immemorial people like to plan, decorate and construct beautiful homes. Nowadays there are many facilities which can make your dream come true. Before building a home one must have a plan about the structure, design and decorations. All homemakers, architects and other professionals related to home building industry finds new ideas and creations to make their work elegant. Each rooms of your home must be well equipped, designed, and decorated. One needs a good homework to get a dream home.

The most important thing of home building is the plan. Homemakers, architects and other professionals must have an idea about the structure. All the facilities must be well arranged in the plan. You must have an idea of whether the house is small or bigger one. There are many options like luxury homes, modern home, contemporary home, etc. Nowadays you can find eminent architectures, engineers, and contractors who give you their best work. Several publications come with the best plans. There are many magazines, websites and books which tell you and show the one that suit your dream plan.

Homebuilding is not just building a home. It is the decorations, furniture, style and designing. Each room, from kitchen to bedroom to living room to bathroom, of your home must be well arranged and well equipped. Homebuilding is an art through which simple space is made into a perfect place for living. Home building is not only the building of new homes but it can also be the renovation of traditional homes into modern ones. If you need to get a stylish and beautiful home then you need to do thorough homework.

You must choose the style ranging from traditional to modern ones that suits your dream. After selecting the style just check with the colors that suits the style. Everything from minute things must be double checked. Nowadays there are wide variety of furniture from traditional ones to latest ones are available. If you like traditional ones then go through the websites or magazines or shops and choose the one that suits your home. There are fashion designers who can help you. The designers will do according to your taste. Decoration makes your home a real one. There is wide variety of accessories and items that suits each room.

Nowadays apart from all these aspects people look the vasthu sasthra, wind, water and feng shui, plants and feng shui, feng shui for bedrooms etc. If you have children then there comes the question of childproofing your home. It is necessary to childproof your home if you have small children. Garden is an essential part of homes. Everyone loves to have a garden space. You can have a perfect garden along with beautiful and stylish homes.

Tags: HOME BUILDING

Difference between Florida Custom and Tract Home Builders

Food, clothing and shelter are the three basic needs of human beings and among these getting decent shelters is the toughest one. Home is the biggest investment made by a person and so it requires careful planning before making investment in it. There are various factors that need to be considered before purchasing a property, like location of the property and price of the property. Purchasing a new home in Florida is a large investment and one should properly plan out to successfully build a home in Florida. After all everyone wants a home that meets the requirement and can withstand the test of time. It is an aspect in which one really needs the help of home builders who can guide them through all the construction processes.

To help people in solving their problems related to home and construction of homes, Florida has different types of home builders. Mainly they can be divided into two types, Custom home builders and tract home builders. The basic difference between these two types of home builders is quality and availability of custom options. Tract homes are generally identical in look and other aspect as the material used for construction is bought in bulk. More often lower quality material is used be the Florida home builders to construct tract homes.

Custom home builders do not purchase the construction material in bulk quantity and they adhere to higher standard of quality products. Since these homes are custom homes, the buyer has the option of choosing material and color of his choice. With this type of builders a buyer is free to express their feeling and can incorporate changes as per their need and requirements. Custom homes are expensive compare to tract homes but owner of custom homes knows that it is money well spent.

Each builder is different from other, but high-quality builders have certain things in common. First, they use the highest quality materials and usually build their homes with solid, poured concrete or steel-reinforced concrete that is designed to withstand a powerful hurricane. While purchasing a home in Florida, hurricane safety is surely considered and the highest quality home builders pride themselves on building homes that are above hurricane code. They also give importance to features such as impact resistant windows and a greater number of roof truss straps.

One can easily spot a low-quality; tract house builder by their inferior building materials, construction that only meets code and does not exceed safety standards in any area, and the cookie-cutter appearance of their homes. Florida home buyers should be wary of these builders. Their homes may be less expensive, but one definitely gets what he pays for.

Tags: FLORIDA BUILDERS, FLORIDA HOME BUILDERS, FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, FLORIDA HOME BUILDER, FLORIDA HOME BUILDING, PRE CONSTRUCTION MIAMI, PRECONSTR

Using Sustainable Materials in Construction

More and more people are realizing how important it is to lead a life that makes a minimal impact on the. Each person making their own individual contribution can lead to big difference for the outlook and safety of our planet. A big step that you can take is to use sustainable materials when constructing your home or commercial business. Appreciating how these green materials can be included into your life can go a long way to lessening your impact on the environment.

The best place to start when trying to appreciate what sustainable materials are-is to first appreciate what the expression "sustainable" refers to. Sustainability means consuming quantities and categories of resources in such a way that will make sure that the resource will be there for generations to come. An alternate way to think about this is as resources that renew themselves. This concept can be better understood through illustrations. Building with wood is an excellent example of sustainability. Through a concentrated effort, a forest can be re-grown. Then wood can once again be used as a building material. A counter example would be the use of steel for a building. Although steel cannot be replenished, it can at least be recycled.

Better resources to use when renewable ones are not available or won't fit the job are recycled materials. This includes the majority of metals. Consider using metals in other applications, such as for a wall, floor, or countertop. You can also obtain recycled stone to employ in your home as well.

Part of achieving sustainability is to watch your energy consumption. When you are considering which materials to buy for your building project, consider the amount of energy it may take to transport such a material. If you truly want something like granite countertops, try purchasing granite from a company that is located nearby, rather than from another country. Think about all of the unnecessary energy that goes into transporting a piece of granite from Malaysia. A local manufacturer will use much less energy to get the material delivered.

Making sure that an environmentally friendly property is on target takes more than just using sustainable materials. Employing the ideology of sustainability is only one part of the process. The rest of it includes using the right materials with the right architecture and correct construction techniques to make an entire system. Manage your water consumption, the energy efficiency of the property, and integrate your building site with the rest of the surrounding property. Remember, that your goal is to construct a home that takes as little as possible from nature.

Keep in mind that you shouldn't expect to make your home sustainable all at one time. It's just a matter of considering different materials than you might have thought of before. When you need new countertops, think about using cork as an alternative for granite. Instead of tile for your floors, think about bamboo. Instead of paint, think about covering your walls with natural fibers, which will in fact improve your air quality. In a matter of time you will have created an eco-friendly and sustainable home to call your own.

Tags: GREEN CONSTRUCTION, GREEN BUILDING, ECO-FRIENDLY, GREEN, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, GREEN REAL ESTATE, ECO-FRIENDLY HOME

Are Dallas Condos Still Hot? Depends on Who you Ask

The question of the moment seems to be, “Has the Dallas condo market seen its peak?"

The answer is “yes" and “no."

The high rise condo boom over the last few years has seen a tremendous amount of condo construction in and around the Dallas area. However, with soaring construction costs and weary investors, some residential tower projects in Dallas have either been put on hold or cancelled altogether.

The latest news in the condo market has been the fact that construction costs have been rising faster than the sales prices of condos. As a result, many investors are abandoning the housing market in Dallas. Other markets, such as California, Florida and Las Vegas have seen a much worse decline.

The interesting thing about the Dallas condo market, however, is that the high-end condos, which appear predominantly in the Uptown section of Dallas, are still fairing quite well. As a result, Uptown has continued to see strong numbers in the condo construction market.

Some of the projects currently underway in Uptown include Azure, Granite Gables and The Tower Residences at the Ritz-Carlton.

Azure

A prime example of fine, Uptown living is the Azure Dallas luxury condominiums. This spectacular building, which opened amidst much fanfare last December, boasts exclusive residences with resort-style amenities.

Located on North Harwood, Azure condominiums are considered to be one of the most affluent addresses in Uptown Dallas, and for good reason. The stone, metal and glass detailing, coupled with the amazing architectural lines and the small details such as the spectacular, encircling pool, afford Azure residents with the pinnacle of prestige and affluence.

Some of the features of Azure include a whirlpool, sunbathing lounges, a 17-seat movie theater, a state-of-the-art health and fitness center, in-home saunas, floor-to-ceiling windows, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors.

Granite Gables Granite Gables, which is slated for construction and due to be completed by March 2010, is a mixed-use development project in the heart of the affluent Uptown section of Dallas.
This $200 million dollar project will consist of two towers: an office tower and a residential, high-rise apartment building.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of these dual towers is the convergence of the two towers on the seventh floor via a one-acre, beautifully landscaped haven. Called the amenity deck, this urban oasis boasts a 4,000 square foot fitness center, an outdoor, infinity-edge swimming pool and a gorgeous, park-like setting which overlooks Victory Park and downtown.

Features of the 20-story residential tower include balconies, ten-foot ceilings, loads of windows and fantastic views of Uptown, downtown and the future Woodall Rogers Park.

The Tower Residences at the Ritz-Carlton

The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton are located close to Uptown's fine restaurants, clubs, galleries and shops, as well as the Central Business District, the Arts District and the American Airlines Center.

Some of the exceptional features of the Residences, which are located on the Ritz-Carlton Hotel's upper 13 floors, include separate, private entrances, elevators and parking, as well as the amenities of the hotel, including a large ballroom, private meeting rooms, fine dining, a full-service spa, a large pool, a fully equipped fitness center.

Tags: SAN ANTONIO REAL ESTATE, DALLAS CONDOS

Real Estate Buying “Property Subject To"

Real Estate Buying “Property Subject To"

Buying Subject To. This is similar to many of the other listed Options and perhaps a Hybrid of several. Involving a motivated Seller(s) that needs to sell but is not able to find a Buyer(s) in a timely manner. The Seller(s) has a property for sale that is of market value or perhaps lower.

The Buyer(s) will agree to purchase the property assuming that all legal and financial items are legally in order. The Seller(s) will deed over, “quick claim deed", the property over to the Buyer (the Buyer will now legally own), and the existing mortgage(s) would remain in the Seller(s) name(s).

The Buyer(s) now have the responsibility (legally, morally and ethically) to pay the mortgage(s), taxes, HOA and all other monthly expenses in a timely manner with the understanding that within a preset period of time the Buyer will either payoff the existing loan, gain new financing and or sell to another Buyer and satisfy the existing mortgage.

Many ask about the “due on sale" clause, and the lender(s) do have the right to call the loan, but I have NEVER heard of any lenders ever calling a loan, assuming that all was being paid timely or was given a specific reason to act otherwise.

To the Buyer(s) it is like any conventional deal of home ownership except the Buyer(s) did NOT have to apply or qualify to get a new loan, just assumes the existing Seller(s) mortgage(s).

The new Buy(s) can live there, rent it or sell it. If the Seller(s) is in foreclosure and the back payments are not too high and there is some equity, then the new Buyer(s) can pay the loan(s) current and reinstate, but do NOT do as a short sale. Often times the Seller(s) will actually pay the Buyer(s), no really, it's true, to do the deal.

The Seller(s) may pay the Buyer(s) 6 months of mortgage payments, taxes and real estate commissions knowing that if the property is unsold for that period of time that have to pay it anyway. Not recommended for the newbies... Then when the market rebounds, then sell it for a tidy profit.

To learn more about the amazing value of buying real estate property subject to, please visit our website or contact us for more in depth information. Have questions...please contact us.

Tags: BUYING SUBJECT TO, REAL ESTATE, NO QUALIFYING, SELLERS, BUYERS, LENDERS, MORTGAGE, LOANS, ASSUMING LOAN, FINANCING, MONTHLY PAYMENTS, BACK PAYMENTS, A

A Modern Feel for Your New Bathroom

If your bathroom features dingy fixtures and linens that resemble shag carpeting, then it's definitely time for an upgrade. Most modern bathrooms now aim for a spacious, relaxing atmosphere where you can unwind after a long day. In this article, we've got some practical and inexpensive bathroom remodel ideas that will help you get started.

Many people consider their bathrooms to be a place for relaxation, so they try to create a spa-like atmosphere there. What you want is to design a room that is peaceful and re-energizing. The color palette used to design the room should include colors that are very relaxing. The colors most often used are the cooler shades of blue, as well as purples, greens, and pinks. For a soothing effect, you can include soft or frosted light, bathroom wall mirrors, and greenery. If you have space in your master bathroom, you should consider a day bed for stretching out on after a hot bath. This will offer you both privacy and total comfort. If space is limited, look around in bed and bath shops for bath pillows. These pillows attach to your tub with suction cups, so you can lean back and enjoy the comfort they provide.

Fabulous bathrooms can also be designed with edgier, dark colors while using white and highly polished marble to accent the room. This type of design is quite modern and can be highlighted with pedestal sinks and claw-foot tubs that almost look like pieces of art. You can add an elegant touch with pewter or black porcelain accessories such as soap dishes, cups, and toothbrush decanters. For the ultimate in luxurious comfort, install an electric floor or towel warmer to heat your floor and towels on those cold days.

No matter what type of design you choose, modern bathrooms are all about comfort. If you're going to replace aged fixtures, carefully select ones that are designed for your body. When shopping for a bathtub, assess the angled back and lip for comfort and neck support. Jacuzzis and soaking tubs have both come down in price, so that is definitely an affordable option. Even toilets have been redesigned to be more comfortable. Models with elongated bowls and seats are usually the most comfortable. All fixtures now come in a wide variety of materials including marble, granite, glass and wrought iron.

New bathrooms don't have to cost big bucks if you choose your pieces wisely. If your fixtures are in good shape, creating a modern bathroom may be as simple as changing the color of your paint or updating the pattern of a tile backsplash. To create a room that is up to date and polished, aim for a look that is pulled together. Many department stores sell pre-coordinated towel, mat, and accessory sets that are great for one stop bathroom shopping. No matter which color or design you select, if you're comfortable when soaking in your tub, you know that you've made the right choice.

Tags: PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB REAL ESTATE, PINE MOUNTAIN CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE, PINE MOUNTAIN CA REAL ESTATE, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB CALIFORNIA