10 Home Improvement Trends

1. Showplace Kitchens. Open-concept kitchens attached to great rooms are here to stay. Because the kitchen is in full view, it's getting a lot of attention. Open shelving, large islands that look like furniture pieces and more modern lines are all big kitchen trends. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association's 2013 trends survey, gray color schemes in kitchens and baths (including cabinets) are big, but they haven't surpassed white or off-white color schemes.

While granite is still the most-used countertop surface, quartz countertops such as Silestone and Caesarstone are a clear trendsetter, according to the NKBA. Their look is more contemporary which fuels their popularity. Solid surface countertops such as Corian, Avonite and LG's Hi-Macs are also gaining fans. Stainless-steel appliances are still king, but there is growing interest in sleeker white and black finishes. Other kitchen trends include technology, such as touch-activated faucets; satin-nickel faucets; and glass backsplashes.

2. iPhone Home. Home automation has been a longtime amenity for luxury homes. You can control your garage doors, thermostats, lights and more from your smartphone or tablet.

For example, the Nest thermostat, which retails for $249, lets you adjust your thermostat remotely via your iPhone. But it also programs itself after "learning" your habits. The Nest was created by Tony Fadell, who is credited with inventing Apple's iPod. It's gaining fans for its sleek, contemporary design and ease of use, and it promises customers it will help save them up to 20 percent on their energy bills. Chamberlain sells a garage-door opener system that comes with all the bells and whistles, including compatibility with an iPhone app that will let you open, close and monitor the garage door. Smarthome.com sells advanced all-home automation systems and a single LED bulb that pairs with an Insteon hub to turn it on and off remotely via the iPhone. The Philips Hue set lets you turn on three lightbulbs with your iPhone or iPad and even change their color.

3. LEDs. Light-emitting diode bulbs are an energy-efficient alternative to mercury-containing compact fluorescents. Just recently, LED bulbs also became affordable. They last for decades and are up to 85 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs.

4. Energy Efficiency. According to the National Association of Home Builders' latest survey, homebuyers say energy efficiency is the home feature they want most. Specifically, buyers want a well-insulated home with efficient windows and Energy Star appliances that will deliver lower energy bills. A big new thing in energy-efficient building, widely used in Europe and other markets, is the ductless minisplit heating and cooling system. The US Department of Energy blames ductwork for up to 30 percent of heating and cooling losses in central air systems, and minisplits have minimal or no ductwork.

5. Brass/Gold. Antique-brass and gold accents are coming back, especially brass lamps, end tables and coffee tables, bar carts, pillows and accessories. With a vintage feel, it's less shiny and more solid-looking than brass pieces from the 1980s.

6. Flea-Market Chic. There is an increasing nostalgia and craving for handmade and one of a kind items. We crave original artwork, mementos from childhood and knick-knacks that personalize our homes. Repurposing garage-sale or flea-market finds into useful storage options or giving vintage pieces a modern touch with a bold color is a huge trend.

7. Green/Blue. Emerald is still showing up in furniture showrooms and design magazines. AkzoNobel, which makes Glidden paint, named Indigo Night its 2013 color of the year. The deep-blue hue with purple undertones is also showing up in furniture and home-décor stores. And navy has been a go-to new neutral for a while.

8. Spa Baths. Walk-in showers continue to be a construction trend, although a National Association of Home Builders survey says buyers still want a tub in their master bathrooms. The average budget for a full bath remodel, according to the NKBA, is $18,538, down slightly from 2012.

9. Industrial Cool. Industrial metal combined with natural wood is popular in furniture and home finishes and works with both traditional and contemporary décor.

10. Pinterest. Digital Pinterest boards are making all those magazine clips obsolete and physical inspiration boards unnecessary. If you are serious about updating your home décor or just want to keep design ideas organized, try a free Pinterest account.

-From Kara G Morrison, The Arizona Republic

10 Tips for a Smooth Remodel Project

Follow these 10 tips when you embark on an exciting home remodeling project.

1. Establish good two-way communication with the remodeler. It's essential to have good communication for a smooth remodeling project. Does the remodeler listen? Does he or she answer questions clearly and candidly? Can you reach him when you need to? Does he return phone calls promptly? Does he let you know when problems arise and work with you on solving them?
2. Make sure you have compatibility and "fit" with the contractor. You'll spend a lot of time with your remodeler so it's important to have a good rapport and trust in him.
3. Set a clear and mutual understanding about the schedule. You and your remodeler should agree on the schedule up front to avoid conflict and problems later in the project.
4. Request a written proposal. Often times, two people remember the same conversation differently. Get the proposal in writing and work with the remodeler to ensure it reflects your wishes.
5. Determine a clear and mutual understanding on the miscellaneous details. There are a lot of little details that need to be settled before work starts. What times of day will they be working? How will he access the property? How will cleanup be handled? How will they protect your property?
6. Remember to be flexible. Remodeling is an interruption of your normal life. Remember to be flexible during the project so that you can handle the unexpected and go with the flow.
7. Create a clear and mutual understanding of how Change Orders will be handled. With remodeling there is always the chance you may want to change materials or other project details during the job. Agree with your remodeler on how these changes will be handled before the start of work. Also understand that changes could affect the schedule and the budget, so it's important you have all changes in writing.
8. Have a well-written contract that covers all the bases. The contract should include these elements: a general timetable for the project, price and payment schedule, detailed specifications for all products and materials, insurance information, permit information, procedures for handling change orders, lien releases, provisions for conflict resolution, and details on the important issues (such as access to your home, care of the home, cleanup and trash removal).
9. Set up weekly or bi-monthly site visits to inspect the work and ask questions. This allows you to address issues and change orders early and also helps the builder have space to be efficient with his time. Requesting to meet daily or dropping by every day usually takes the builders time and slows things down. Give them time to work and make progress.
10. Establish a project plan, covering all phases and dependencies in the work. Plan your big picture goals with the remodeler and talk out your needs. Hire a remodeler who will plan it out with you, listen to concerns, and answer questions.

-- From How to Hire Your Dream Remodeler by Tom Higgins

For more information, contact www.MySuperiorHome.com

Financing Your Remodeling Project

One of the most important considerations for your home improvement project is financing. After all, the project will go nowhere if you can't pay for it.

Fortunately, there are several options that can provide the dollars you need. Four of the most common are cash, a home equity line of credit, a home equity loan (second mortgage), and a cash-out refinancing of your current mortgage. However, the simplest method of financing is cash.

Cash

If you have cash in savings to pay for your remodeling project, this may be the best way to finance your home improvements. But be sure to consider the fact that, by paying in cash, you tie up money that could be earning interest in other investments. In other words, you need to look at the interest rate that you would be charged by financing the project and compare this to the interest you could earn by investing these funds.

Also remember that interest payments on a home improvement loan may be tax-deductible, while you can't write off the expenses of a remodeling project paid for in cash.

Home Equity Line of Credit

A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. This allows you to tap into these funds whenever you need it. The credit line is usually set at 75 to 80 percent of the appraised value of your home minus the balance of the first mortgage. Your credit history and ability to pay may also be considered in determining the amount of credit available.

Home equity lines of credit usually carry a variable interest rate that is figured by adding a margin to the current Prime Rate or some other index. Other costs associated with setting up a line of credit may also apply and will vary from lender to lender.

Second Mortgage

If you are not comfortable with the open-ended nature of a line of credit then a home equity loan, or second mortgage, may be right for you. This is a fixed-rate, fixed-term loan based on the equity in your house that is paid back in equal monthly installments over a specific period of time.

Cash-Out Refinancing

If interest rates today are significantly less than when you first purchased your house, refinancing your mortgage may be a wise move. This refinancing alternative allows you to use the accumulated equity in your home to take out a new loan to pay off your existing mortgage and then use the remaining funds for your remodeling project.

Make sure you factor in the length of time you plan to live in the house and the number of years left on your current mortgage before you decide to refinance.

Keeping Your Budget in Line

Once you've decided how much you can afford to spend fulfilling your remodeling dreams, the real challenge is making sure you stick to this budget. So, how can you prevent your expenses from spiraling out of control?

Plan on spending only 80 percent of what you can afford. Put the additional 20 percent in reserve to cover changes, unforeseen problems, and miscellaneous charges. Remember that anything not included in the original contract will cost extra. It's very easy to start tacking on hundreds and even thousands of dollars in change orders that will break both your budget and your timeline.

For more information, contact www.MySuperiorHome.com

Home Addition Types and Descriptions

Home Additions are the best way to add extra space to your home without having to sell your house and buy a bigger one. There are many types of home additions and these are listed below with a description of each type:

Two Story Extensions

Two Story Extensions are designed to enlarge a home which has enough height, but could use some extra length or width. A two-story extension can be built on any side of the house, and the rooms inside a two-story extension depend on the size of the extension as well as the customer's desires.

Second Story Extensions

Second Story Extensions are for homes with one level that would like to add a second story to their home. The entire roof is removed from the home and the second story extension is added on, followed by the roofing installation as well as the repair of HVAC, air, electrical, and anything else that had to be removed to put the extension in place. The rooms for a second story extension vary by home and by customer desire.

In-Law Additions

In-law home additions are built onto any side of your home, and are usually built to include a kitchenette, living room, master bedroom, closets and a bathroom. These additions are not just one room being added to your house - they typically are meant for those who would like to up to double the size of their current home to accommodate an additional person(s).

Kitchen Extension Addition

Is your Kitchen too small? Kitchen Additions can add around 200 additional square feet to your kitchen, or any exterior wall of your exisiting home to function as a Room Addition. The existing roofing and siding will be matched to your existing home and a kitchen extension addition will be built on the exterior wall where your existing kitchen resides on a crawl space foundation.

Bedroom Additions

A bedroom addition "home extension" will be built onto an exterior wall of your choice with a crawl space foundation. Roofing and Siding will be matched to your existing house.

Bathroom Additions

The existing roofing and siding will be matched to your current home and a bathroom addition will be built on the exterior wall of your choice with a crawl space foundation.

Family Room Addition

The existing roofing and siding will be matched to your current home and a family room addition will be built off an existing exterior wall of your choice, crawl space foundation.

Sunroom Additions

Sunrooms are large and spacious and typically look great no matter where you put it. A sunroom addition can also be a Large Family Room. The existing roofing and siding will be matched to your current home and a sunroom addition will be built off an existing exterior wall of your choice with a crawl space foundation.

Dormer Addition

Add space by adding a front or rear dormer addition. Dormer Additions are designed to give your home's second or third floor more space and flexibility. Adding a front dormer will certainly give your home great curb appeal, but it will also allow more light into your home, and increase the air circulation on the second or third floor. The existing roof will be cut in the section(s) where the dormer or dormers will be constructed. A dormer will then be framed to your custom specifications.

Front Porch Addition

A porch addition will enhance your curb appeal as well as entertaining possibilities. Porch Additions are generally built onto the front of the home, however they are also able to be added to the rear of the home.

Garage Additions (1-3 Car Plans)

A Garage Addition can be built as an addition onto your home which is attached to the side of your home, or it can be built as a detached Garage Addition. Garage Additions can be built to accommodate between one and three cars. The roof and sides will be built to match your home roof and walls.

Garage Conversion

Convert your existing garage into a room with a garage conversion. Removal of existing garage door, installation of trim, drywall, flooring, interior door, siding, windows, and paint.

Bonus Room Above Garage Additions

Building a room over your garage can be the ticket to a larger home. Existing garage roof will be removed and a master suite will be built above the garage.

Deck Additions

Add a spacious 16-by-20-foot deck using pressure-treated lumber. Pressure-treated joists supported by 4x4 posts anchored to concrete piers. Pressure-treated deck boards installed in a simple linear pattern. A built-in bench and planter of the same decking material adds style and comfort to this deck package. Stairs included, assuming three steps to grade. Also included is a complete white vinyl railing system. Deck Additions can be completely personalized and the above is a sample of a typical deck addition.

For more information, contact www.MySuperiorHome.com