Thrifty Solutions for an Outdated Kitchen

 

If a cramped, old kitchen is turning off buyers, follow the lead of these home owners and turn a liability into a showplace.

By Sarah Shideler
| October 2008

Excerpted from REALTOR MAGAZIZE November 2008

In the eight years that we’ve operated our design and building business, WMS Construction in Marin County, Calif., my husband, Bill Shideler, and I have collaborated on a number of kitchen remodels for other people. A few years ago, we moved into an outdated ranch home and decided to use that collective experience to expand and update our own kitchen.

The challenge we faced involved a key element in limited supply: money. We knew that we’d be doing a substantial amount of the work ourselves or supervising subcontractors called in for selected jobs. But our budget couldn’t exceed $40,000—a bargain here in California. Here are some of the lessons we learned that sellers can use in turning that old, tired kitchen into a showplace buyers will clamor to call their own. 

1. Add space and light by removing a wall. Instead of shelling out thousands of dollars to build additional floor space for our cramped kitchen, we took a simpler, less invasive approach. We replaced the partition walls with a single supporting beam and extended the exterior wall to enclose an underused 8-by-9-foot deck. For more light we added a large skylight and enlarged the garden window. 

2. Don’t move the plumbing. Although it was tempting to move the sink from the back wall to the new island, it would have cost us an additional $1,200. Relocating the stove was possible, but moving the gas and electricity would have run at least $500 plus the cost of a new stove to work with the island. We did relocate the fridge to make room for the island, which we use for both food prep and casual dining. However, keeping most of the appliances in the same place saved us an estimated $2,000. 

3. Unclutter the countertops with special hardware. Limited counter space doesn’t have to mean limited workspace. Mounting a stand mixer and a food processor on heavy-duty appliance lifts from Rev-A-Shelf kept them out of the way but instantly accessible. The brackets are strong enough to support an appliance in use, so you can lift it up to create an instant workstation. The lifts average about $90 each. 

4. Buy ready-to-assemble cabinets. We chose white melamine boxes for most of the kitchen and cherry for the hutch, all from CabParts. The drawer boxes were ordered from Drawer Box Specialties. Ordering parts by mail and installing them yourself requires careful planning and precise measurements, but the payoff is major savings (for us, about $15,000). 

5. Consider a variety of countertop materials. We wanted granite for its look and durability, but our budget kept us from using it on the island as well as the countertop. By shopping around, we found a 3⁄4-inch-thick granite slab that cost 30 percent less than a 1 1⁄4-inch version. The granite’s true thickness is visible around the under mount sink, but a laminated edge makes it look like a thicker slab and hides the plywood backing, which adds structural support to the countertop. A maple butcher-block top on the island costs about $450. 

Adapted from an article in the October/November 2007 issue of Fine Homebuilding. To read the entire article as well as other stories about home repair and remodeling, go to www.finehomebuilding.com.

 
 

 
 

 
 

You can contact the staff of REALTOR® magazine by e-mail at narpubs@realtors.org.

10 Ways to Cut Energy Bills This Fall

 

Staying warm doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are some ideas from the U.S. Department of Energy for conserving heat and saving money.

Excerpted from REALTOR® Magazine November 2008

By Kelly Quigley
| October 2008

When the leaves start falling, you know that the heating bills are about to start rising. But keeping your home warm and cozy on chilly autumn nights doesn’t have to break the bank. 

The U.S. Department of Energy offers these simple tips and relatively inexpensive home improvements that will help ensure cold gusts stay out and your furnace doesn’t have to work harder than it should. 

The goal: Conserve energy and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket. 

Share these ideas with customers and use them for your own house. After all, who doesn’t need to save a little money these days? 

1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent ($190 per year) or more on energy bills. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls. 

2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family’s energy bill (approximately $950 per year). Make sure the furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. The small cost (about $75-100 for most service calls) will pay back in better performance all year long. 

3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programming the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day while no one is home, or everyone is tucked in bed, will cut the heating bill up to 10 percent ($90 per year), paying for a basic unit in less than a year. 

4. Seal and insulate heating ducts. A system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register (wasting $570 in warmed air per year) if ducts are not properly insulated in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces. 

5. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on home energy bills ($630 per year).  Focus on the attic. (Heat rises.) Most homes should have between R-30 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Learn more at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.   

6. Close fireplace dampers when not in use.  When in use, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window about an inch, close doors to the room, and lower thermostat setting to 50-55ºF. 

7. Let the sun shine in. Open curtains on south facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows. 

8. Stay out of hot water. Water heating accounts for 15 percent of household energy use. Reduce water heating costs by lowering the water heater’s thermostat setting. Each 10ºF reduction can save between 3-5 percent in energy costs. Also insulate the hot water heater and hot water pipes.

9. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with Energy Star qualified windows. Storm windows reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent, and storm windows with low-e coating that reflect heat back into the room during the winter months save even more energy.  Look for the Energy Star label to maximize savings. Energy Star qualified windows reduce heating and cooling bills by an average of $345, but could be higher in cold and hot climates, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows. Can’t afford new windows just now? Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present. 

10. Net big savings with a little label. When replacing appliances, light bulbs, electronics, or heating and cooling systems, cut energy bills by up to 30 percent ($600 per year) with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find retailers at www.energystar.gov. 

These and other improvements that impact the energy efficiency of a home can save home owners money in the short term and serve as a selling point to potential buyers later. Be sure to save receipts, documentation, and manufacturer’s information. 

Not sure where to begin? Try the Department of Energy’s online energy audit tool at www.hes.lbl.gov. In the long run, a whole-house energy audit is a fool proof way to make a plan to address wasted energy and make a home operate efficiently for years to come. Visit www.natresnet.org to find a qualified auditor in your neck of the woods.

Kelly Quigley is online editor of REALTOR® magazine. She can be contacted at kquigley@realtors.org.

OHFA CHANGES LOAN REQUIREMENTS

OHFA has discontinued their down payment assistance and second mortgage programs for home buyers. I copied the below statement from their website.  I would reach out to all of the agents and make them aware.  Depending on where the property is located and income, some of these folks may qualify for the Rural Housing Program.

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As volatility in the financial market continues, offering a product that meets the needs of first-time homebuyers has become increasingly difficult. The ability to obtain capital to continue our programs is severely limited. Despite recent rate increases, program volume has continued at a pace that cannot be sustained. It has become evident that down payment assistance, not interest rate, is the primary reason today’s homebuyers select an Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) mortgage.