For Kids, Sharing a Room Is So 15 Minutes Ago
While the size of the average U.S. household is shrinking, Zhu Xiao Di of the Harvard Center for Housing Studies notes that "more houses are larger than we've ever seen before." The trend is so prevalent, in fact, that it is unusual today to find siblings who must share their bedroom with a brother or sister. NAHB confirms that the number of new dwellings with at least four bedrooms has been on the rise for decades, save a brief lapse during the recession of the early 1980s. The bedroom boom is not inclusive, however, as many minority and immigrant families double up on households, Zhu stresses. For households that can afford the extra space, though, children often have not only their own bedroom space but separate bathrooms as well. "Jack-and-Jill" bathrooms with two entrances and two sinks are popular among this set, as are individual "princess" bedroom suites that include private bathrooms. (www.usatoday.com)
USA Today (09/12/03) P. 8D; Cohen, Joyce
[ Go to Top ]
Builder, Buyer Use Eye in Sky to Watch Home Rise on Web
Regal Classic Homes has installed a $2,300 system to monitor the construction of a 6,000-square-foot residence near Orlando. A camera stationed on a pole allows the buyers to check the status of their home online at any time. Regal Classic owner Michael McGuffie says the system also enables him to oversee construction from his office and lets subcontractors and suppliers check on their workers' performance. Though cameras are often installed for security purposes in high-crime locales, Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando Executive Director Tom Lagomarsino says Regal Classic is the only regional builder that has done so to keep tabs on the progress of construction. "But what a neat marketing idea," says Lagomarsino. "Others may pick up on it if clients like the idea." (www.orlandosentinel.com)
Orlando Sentinel (09/09/03) P. C1; Snyder, Jack
[ Go to Top ]
The Ranch House, an American Icon, Gets Some New Looks
Ranch homes were once hailed for their open floor plans, lack of formal rooms and child-centric approach, complete with a den and clustered bedrooms. Although the ranch has given way to super-sized McMansions, "Ranch House Style" author Katherine Ann Samon says ranch owners can spruce up their dwellings by constructing an addition or making simple cosmetic alterations. She notes, "The wise buyer should use the existing structure as a starting point." Among the cosmetic changes recommended by Samon are wall-to-wall curtains; several coats of white paint; and the removal of walls to create a great room or a single space for cooking, eating and leisure activities. Samon also believes that taking down cupboard doors, painting the shelves white and using white beadboard on the back of cabinets will make kitchens seem more spacious; while trading in checkerboard linoleum for marbleized designs can help modernize the room. (www.philly.com)
Philadelphia Inquirer (09/07/03) P. J1; Whitcomb, Claire
[ Go to Top ]
Empty-Nesters Face Home Improvement Decisions
Before delving into renovation projects after their children move out, The Home Service Store's Mike Turner urges empty nesters to consider their budget, preferences and the things they will need as they age. Many home owners with adult offspring transform their children's bedrooms into hobby, media, craft or guest rooms or use the space for a bigger bathroom or closet. However, Turner suggests they postpone such projects for a few years because college-age children usually return home for holidays and semester breaks. According to Houston-based Home Service Store affiliate owner Dan Bawden, empty nesters instead might want to install low thresholds, handrails in the shower and bathtub, skid-resistant flooring and better lighting to help them age in place. Bawden says these improvements, as well as room additions complete with kitchenettes and private living spaces, are popular because many empty nesters take in their elderly parents. (www.ap.org)
Associated Press (09/08/03) Bradley, David
[ Go to Top ]
Shifting Tastes
Changes in the American home take decades to show up, according to NAHB research executive Gopal Ahluwalia. These changes are based primarily on what home buyers need and want; however, buyers abandon many of their preferences in order to obtain the best resale value. According to Raleigh, NC-based architect and "The Not So Big House" author Sarah Susanka, "They're told what they need for resale but not given a chance to say what rooms they don't use and would eliminate." In addition, home owners prefer traditional designs because they provide a link to previous generations. Nevertheless, a number of changes are in the works for the coming decades, including the desire for multi-functional rooms, smaller homes with top-quality materials, smaller dwellings on high-priced lots and dining rooms that can double as living rooms or studies. More and more buyers also are opting for family or great rooms over living rooms; kitchens that serve as the family gathering space; jazzed-up secondary entryways; home offices in the back of the house so that wires and papers are not on display; cozy master bedrooms that do not isolate parents from the rest of the family; furnished outdoor areas; detached offices, playhouses and living spaces for adult children; and eco-friendly homes. Other emerging trends include panelized room wall systems, which allow for speedier construction and easy renovations. However, Susanka does not believe home owners will request all of these changes themselves due to concerns about resale value — which means that builders and architects will have to take a proactive stance. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (09/07/03) P. 1; Buchholz, Barbara Ballinger
[ Go to Top ]
County OKs Impact Fees for Schools
Durham County, NC, has become the first in the state to impose school impact fees without approval from the general assembly. The county already charges developers fees to cover transportation, parks and recreation, open space and water and sewer costs; and they will now be forced to pay $2,000 per new home and $1,155 for new apartments, condominiums and townhouses to fund school construction. According to Durham Citizens for Responsible Government — a new group primarily made up of Realtors® and developers — the fees would boost new-home prices by $2,500, prevent the construction of 120 homes, eliminate hundreds of jobs and cost the county more than $1 million in tax revenues over a 10-year period. County officials discredit such reports and insist that the fees would actually spark a property-tax reduction because of the new funding source. Much to the chagrin of proponents, who claim the fees are intended to help the area's children, the Home Builders Association of Durham and Orange Counties and other industry groups plan to sue the county for failing to seek the support of state lawmakers prior to the vote. (www.herald-sun.com)
Durham Herald Sun Online (09/09/03) Assis, Claudia
[ Go to Top ]
New Rules on Treated Wood to Change the Backyard World
Pressure-treated wood, which has been used to construct long-lasting decks, gazebos and playground equipment, will no longer be available after this year. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called for a ban on wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Consumers will have access to a number of alternatives, including wood treated with non-arsenic ammoniacal copper quaternary and copper boron azole; materials comprised of plastic, metal or both; and naturally rot- and pest-resistant woods like cedar, redwood, hemlock, chestnut, mesquite and South American hardwoods. However, Arch Wood Protection Inc. Marketing Communications Manager Huck DeVenzio says these products can cost upwards of 15% more than CCA-treated wood. Meanwhile, the EPA is not recommending that home owners tear down existing structures made from CCA-treated lumber due to the absence of any immediate health risks and the complex disposal process. (www.washingtonpost.com)
Washington Post (09/06/03) P. G2; Lerner, Joel M.
[ Go to Top ]
New Floor Finishes for Garages Are Getting Top Marks
Many home owners are replacing the plain concrete floors in their garages with finished floors to protect the concrete from chemicals, facilitate clean up and improve the room's appearance. Latex, oil and epoxy paints are fairly inexpensive finishes. Though latex and oil paints are easily applied, they tend to peel from the heat of car tires and are not skid-resistant like epoxy paints. Home owners with bigger budgets may want to consider vinyl mats or floor tiles, which are easy to install and clean. Modular plastic floor tiles are easily assembled by snapping the pieces in place; and although they are quite costly, they come in a variety of colors and do not stain. Quartz-based floor tile is another upscale finish that does not blister from hydrostatic pressure and is chemical-, impact-, stain- and skid-resistant. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (09/05/03) P. 3; Carey, James; Carey, Morris
[ Go to Top ]
Seven-Year Housing Upswing Going Strong in Year Nine
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight reports that despite the ongoing turbulence in the nation's economy, the nine-year-old housing boom continues to flourish. The Washington, D.C., agency confirms that home values have soared an average of 37.88% nationally over the past five years and more than 60% over the last 10. Income growth since the middle part of the last decade has provided the housing sector with a secure base, and this past summer's increase in mortgage interest rates is further proof of economic growth that ultimately will help all age and income demographics. OFHEO Senior Economist Shelly Dreiman concludes that the only real trouble signs may be the shaky labor market, adding, "People talk about price bubbles as if it were a national issue, but it was never an issue at the U.S. level. Housing bubbles occur in local places like San Francisco and Boston, areas along the coast where there's a big price run-up" followed by a correction. (www.jsonline.com)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (09/07/03) P. 1F; Derus, Michele
[ Go to Top ]
America Experiencing Pavers Boom
Though decks are still more popular than patios because they are cheaper and require less space, low interest rates, the desire for maintenance-free areas and the post-Sept. 11 focus on the home have sparked a renewed interest in patios. Evidence of this trend can be seen in home center garden departments — which are stocking up on pavers, curb stones, edging stones and blocks. In response to concerns about runoff from concrete- and blacktop-covered areas, E.P. Henry Corp. has launched the Eco-Paver, which features interlocking blocks with sufficient spaces for drainage. The company also offers pavers in numerous shapes, sizes and colors. Paver projects often are viewed as jobs that can be done by the home owners themselves, but E.P. Henry sales and marketing executive Mark Fuss says the weight of the materials — with stones weighing as much as 75 pounds — and the significant amount of labor involved make professional installation necessary in most cases. (www.philly.com)
Philadelphia Inquirer (09/05/03) Heavens, Alan J.
[ Go to Top ]
Combining Office Equipment Can Save On Expenses
Companies currently using multiple machines for faxing, printing, scanning and copying can improve productivity and their bottom lines by upgrading to multifunctional products (MFPs). Not only do MFPs decrease the overall cost of ownership, they also move several maintenance tasks to a single machine. Moreover, MFPs save time and paper by letting employees scan documents and fax them via e-mail. They also bundle maintenance costs and supply ordering, eliminating the need to deal with several manufacturers and maintenance agreements. (www.mcall.com)
Allentown Morning Call (09/08/03) P. D1
[ Go to Top ]
Laptops Dropping in Cost, Weight
Centrino notebook computers, which feature the Pentium M processor, the 855 chip set and the Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 hardware, are faster than previous laptops. They are also lighter and use less battery power. In fact, users can run their Centrino notebooks for five to six hours with the same battery that once offered only two-and-a-half to three hours of computing time. However, users worried more about weight than battery life can make their notebooks easier to carry by opting for lighter batteries with only two to three hours of computing time between charges. The Gateway 450 — priced at $2,000 — boasts Centrino technology, a dial-up modem and an Ethernet connection. The device also comes with Microsoft Works' productivity tools, Quicken and MS Money and audio and video capabilities. (www.boston.com/globe)
Boston Globe Online (09/08/03) Mello Jr., John P.
[ Go to Top ]
|