“It’s a hot item,” said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in
Maitland, Fla. “And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a
grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It’s a whole entertainment
system. People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since
HGTV came around.”

Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, said
Russ Faulk, vice-president of product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor
Gourmet in Kalamazoo, Mich. “They add to the quality of life for the
homeowner. Preparing a meal outdoors is not a chore, it’s an occasion, a
reason to have friends over and enjoy the process.” In addition, an
outdoor kitchen expands a home’s living space and adds to its value, he
said. “The return on your investment is comparable to an indoor kitchen
redo.”

Since the economic downturn, “People have been unable to sell their
homes, so they are starting to upgrade with better landscaping and
outdoor kitchens, spending more time at home,” said Sue Fern, manager of
the Florida chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The built-in grill was the start of the outdoor-kitchen trend, said
Faulk. “Then came the sink, the refrigerator, a counter for food prep,
cabinets for storage—pretty much what you’d have in an indoor
kitchen.” As more equipment is added, outdoor “rooms” are becoming
larger and more covered, he said. Seating areas are added, along with
outdoor TV sets, fire pits and water features.

The grill—fired by gas, wood or charcoal—is still the heart of the
outdoor kitchen. Especially popular are hybrid grills, which can be
switched from gas to wood or charcoal, depending on what is being
cooked, said Faulk. “There’s nothing like grilling fish over an oak fire.”

Pizza ovens are starting to threaten the grill’s reign as king of the
outdoor kitchen. Oven designs range from large, wood-fired brick and
clay ovens that take several hours to heat up, to compact countertop
models fired by gas that are ready for baking pizzas in 20 minutes.

Also gaining popularity in outdoor kitchens are keg-tappers, wine
chillers, ice makers and warming cabinets.

When designing an outdoor kitchen, be sure to look for low-maintenance
equipment, said Faulk, “or you defeat the purpose of carefree outdoor
cooking.”

Also, make sure any cabinetry is designed to keep the contents clean and
dry in inclement weather; install good task and ambient lighting and
choose counter-top material that is stain- and grease-resistant and
stays cool in direct sunlight.

“Get counter-top samples, leave them in the sun and see how hot they
get,” advised Faulk. “Heat-retention is not always related to color.
Some light colors get hotter than dark colors.”

He also offers these cost-cutting tips: “Design the outdoor kitchen
against the house to reduce the cost of getting utilities to the space.
And buy the best grill you can afford.”

When designing an outdoor kitchen, “Consider how the space will be used:
as a personal refuge or a place to entertain and be social; as a place
to cook and eat, or to drink and socialize,” said Eduardo Xol, exterior
designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and celebrity designer for
hayneedle.com.

And remember, indoor-outdoor living helps balance the soul. It keeps you
connected with nature and helps you become more aware of living green.

–
Bojana (Bo) Foster, Broker
Voted Best Agent 2006 ~ 2009 in the Best of Nisqually
Signature Service Real Estate, Rainier
360 446-4646 ext 11
Bo@SignatureService.com
www.SignatureService.com

“…Buy Land. They’ve stopped making it”.
Mark Twain

^[1]
RISMEDIA, June 10, 2010—If you’re like most homeowners, there is never
a shortage of options when it comes to projects around the house. But
studies have shown that some of the highest return on household
improvements can come from those on the outside, not the inside.

A primary reason is that outside investments can produce curb appeal,
which is especially important if you are planning to sell your home.
Those same improvements can enhance the enjoyment factor if you and your
family plan to stay in your home.

For example, one national industry resource—the National Association
of Realtors, reported recently their experience shows a new wood deck
produces the second highest return on home improvement investment of any
common addition, remodel or replacement project.

However projects don’t have to be big to add value or enjoyment,
according to Jimmy Rane, president of Great Southern Wood Preserving, a
leading producer of pressure-treated lumber products and maker of
YellaWood brand products.

*The following popular outside improvement projects will increase the
curb appeal or value of a home:*

*Adirondack chairs*—Uniquely-American classic outdoor furniture is
made entirely of wood and has a straight back and seat, which are set at
a slant to sit comfortably on a hillside or mountain incline, but still
be comfortable at any angle.

*Gazebo*—A gazebo can be freestanding or attached to a garden wall,
roofed and open on all sizes to provide shade or shelter.

*Planters and window boxes*—Planters have become popular because they
are both functional and ornamental. Additionally, some can be moved
frequently to account for seasonal weather or just to create a change in
scenery.

*Picnic table*—Picnic tables go well on a patio or a deck, but equally
as well on the grass or under a tree in the yard. A traditional picnic
table is all in one piece so that it wears well without a lot of
maintenance.

*Trellis*—A trellis can function as a unique sun screen or it can be
the framework for an outdoor hanging garden. Building it with pressure
treated lumber can add life by minimizing rotting and other threats.

*Trash can corral or compost b*in—While many outdoor projects tend to
be cosmetic in nature, here are two ideas that are both practical and
pretty. With a trash can corral, you can hide unsightly trash cans and
with a compost bin, you can reduce your own carbon footprint in a way
that doesn’t take away from the visual appeal of the place.

For more information, visit www.greatsouthernwood.com

“As more consumers begin to realize how much their home affects every aspect of their health, they are beginning to see the importance of improving its environmental quality with products to benefit their health and that of their family,” Lenahen said. “The new emphasis toward healthy living focuses around four main categories – air, water, odor/fumes and lighting.”

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, pollutants are often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors and this can significantly affect air in the home causing breathing problems and respiratory diseases. When it comes to the quality of the air, Lenahen said several products are available on the market that homeowners should incorporate into their home such as:

-Advanced allergy filters to control dust particles and pollutants
-Dehumidification devices to manage the humidity in the home
-Variable speed air handlers to maintain the circulation of air throughout the home and ventilation fans to introduce fresh air into the home while removing stale, humid air

Improving the water quality in a home is just as important as the air quality, Lenahen said. Several products are available to improve the quality and efficiency of a home’s water flow and usage, including:

-Carbon filter and reverse osmosis units to purify drinking water by removing particulate matter and harmful minerals
-Whole-house water softeners to remove calcium and other harmful minerals while providing added benefit to the home’s appliances and pluming fixtures. Water softeners also improve skin tone and texture by removing calcium, magnesium and iron from the water.
-Underground cisterns to collect rainwater from the gutter and downspouts to use for irrigating the lawn and landscapeHealthy home living is also improved by the use of low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) materials, which emit lower levels of gasses into the home from everyday materials such as paints, sealants, cabinets and flooring materials. Lenahen said homeowners should use the lowest emitting VOC products for custom homebuilding and remodeling projects, thereby reducing the negative health impact the products may have on the occupants. Low VOC products will have labeling to help homeowners find the healthiest option.

Better lighting solutions can also foster healthier living. Traditional light fixtures typically include high wattage bulbs, which waste electricity while adding excessive heat into the home. Suggested improvements include:

-Decorative light fixtures with less wattage requirements and soft-light emitting globes
-Compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs or L.E.D. fixtures and bulbs for longer life usage
-Next generation skylights, such as Velux Sun Tunnel or Solatube, that bring natural light into the home, reducing the need for artificial light and energy consumption

“These are just some of the many changes that can be made to current homes or built into new homes that will greatly improve the quality of life and health of its occupants,” Lenahen said. “The more consumers become aware of the positive affects of healthy living within the home, the more products will enter the mainstream of standard building practices.”

You can also take this one step further for the rest of your house. Sure your knickknacks look great in your home and they are a part of what makes your home yours. But you will have to pack them away for the move anyway, so do yourself a favor and pack them up now. A clutter free home looks bigger and it will also create a space for the buyer to envision where their personal effects can be displayed.

If you don’t want to go through the expense of renting a storage facility just make sure these extra items are stored in a single, neat space. It may not seem important but keeping your home free of clutter is one of the key elements in showing a home effectively. If you have any questions about these suggestions please do not hesitate to call me in my office.

Sincerely,

Tim Barlow

Cornerstone Home Mortgage
www.timloans.com
Tel: (360) 570-0106
Fax: (360) 570-1001
Direct:(360) 250-3400
3604 Henderson Blvd. SE
Olympia WA 98501

On a national level, eight out of the top 10 projects in terms of costs recouped were exterior replacement projects that cost less than $14,000. Certain types of door and siding replacements, as well as wood deck additions all returned more than 80% of project costs upon resale. A steel entry door replacement-a new addition to this year’s list-recouped 128.9% of costs, followed by upscale fiber-cement sliding replacements at 83.6%. Wood deck additions recouped 80.6% of costs.

“Once again, this year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance of a home’s first impression,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz. “With exterior projects returning a high percent of project costs upon resale, Realtors can help give your home curb appeal while adding value to the real estate transaction.

The 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 33 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 80 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 12th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with Realtor Magazine, as Realtors provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets.

On a national level, the project with the biggest improvement from 2008 was the attic bedroom addition, recouping 83.1% of remodeling costs compared to 73.8% in 2008. The only other interior project that landed in the top 10 was a minor kitchen remodel with 78.3% costs recouped.

Other exterior projects in the top 10 include midrange vinyl and upscale foam-backed vinyl sliding replacements, which returned more than 79% of costs. In addition, several types of window replacements-midrange wood, midrange vinyl, and upscale vinyl-all returned more than 76% of costs upon sale.

Similar to last year’s report, the least profitable remodeling projects in terms of resale value were home office remodels and sunroom additions, returning only 48.1% and 50.7% of project costs.

Regionally, cities in the Pacific states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington once again outperformed the rest of the nation in terms of remodeling costs recouped upon resale. The West South Central region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; the East South Central region of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the South Atlantic region of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia also performed relatively well.

The regions that generally returned the lowest percentage of costs were New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin), West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota), and the Middle Atlantic (New York and Pennsylvania).

Golder commented that remodeling projects are just one of many factors that contribute to a home’s overall resale value. “As the first, best source for real estate information, Realtors are experts in providing insight into what projects and investments will make a difference in your house. It’s important to consult with a Realtor who can explain the variety of factors that affect a home’s value, such as location, condition of surrounding properties and the regional economic climate,” she said.

For more information, visit www.realtor.org

Fall

Shawn Anderson
PC Home Loans
8730 Tallon Lane NE
Suite 202

Lacey, WA 98516

(360) 402-0308 (360) 402-0308

shawn@pchomeloans.us

www.ShawnAtPCHomeLoans.com