Building Dreams...

Does Remodeling Make Sense in a Recession?

First of all, let me apologize for my long absence. I had my first child in March, and I've been focusing on her and the business since then, not leaving a lot of time to blog! Here's a photo from a project we just finished. Our designer on this project, Kirstin Havnaer, recommended this gorgeous tile pattern.

I came across an article today about remodeling during the recession that I thought was worth sharing. (See link at the end of this post)

The article says that because the housing market is still low, more people are remodeling their homes instead of selling them. We're certainly finding this to be true with our customers. Remodeling is a great way to make your home fit your needs, and can add to the value when or if you eventually sell it. The author discusses three types of remodels that are still in big demand right now.

First: Aging in place and combined family dwellings.

More people are wanting to help their aging parents by moving them into their homes. This can be more cost effective than an assisted living facility, and may make everyone more comfortable. We did a project a few years ago with an addition designed for just this purpose. We added an elevator, two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a kitchen and living room for the mothers of both of our clients. The result was a beautiful space for the mothers to be near their kids. Also, the home is now equipped with features making it feasible for our clients to remain in their own home for a long time.  Here's a picture of the elevator from this project.  You can also refer to my previous blog post about that project.

Second: Outdoor Living Space.

Since less people are vacationing away, and more families are "stay-cationing" at home, it is important to many that the living space they have is relaxing, fun and usable.  Here's a deck with a unique railing that we built in 2006 in Vancouver, WA.

Third: Smarter Kitchens.

According to the article, kitchens are being designed to look less like a work area and more like an extension of living space. This means more customization and more storage.  We remodeled this kitchen earlier this year in Hillsboro.  It has some great features such as a large pantry and a coffee bar in the nook at the back of the room.

Article

I see a couple of other ways to add value with remodeling during a recessionary time. One way is to bring some of your expenses in house. These clients added a small workout area to their master bedroom, which could eliminate the monthly gym bill.

Do you work from home? If this is an option for you, consider adding a comfortable space to work, such as this built-in desk we added for a client.

Wendy Markt

 

New Technology in the Garage

I was reading an article in the fall issue of Ecohome Magazine today about the advances that have been made in electric cars.  According to the article, GM will release an all-electric car by the end of 2010, and other auto companies, including Ford, Nissan, Toyota and Honda, are not far behind with electric cars of their own.  The 2011 Chevy Volt (see picture) boasts a range of 40 miles on battery power, which means that many commuters would need no gas for a typical work week.  The models of electric cars being developed now charge using a typical outlet, but there are some things to think about when building or remodeling.

According to the article: "...the Volt charges in eight hours on a 120-volt/15-amp outlet or in about three hours on a 240-volt/30-amp outlet.  Though most detached houses already contain a 120-volt outlet in the garage, forward thinking builders should consider installing a 240-volt outlet no more than 25 feet from parking spots and providing a dedicated circuit.  Ford also recommends a dedicated 240-volt line to the garage, with 80 to 100 amps to accomodate two cars at 40 amps each.  Ford will require a "charge point," a hard-wired box that contains the cord and ensures it isn't charged unless it's plugged into the car...  Consumers [already] expect a plug for the dryer and stove, and in very short order, they're going to expect an outlet in their garage."

These new developments are exciting, in that we're seeing forward progress toward the mainstream use of alternative fuel sources.  However, many homes may not be prepared for this change.  At Markt & Company, we always encourage people to think toward the future when doing a remodel.  Why not put in that extra plug now and save money?  If you try to put in a plug later, you may have to pay more to have an electrician make a special trip to your house, and you might have to repair drywall, paint, siding or other things to put the garage back together after installing the outlet.  Plus, if your storage area looks anything like mine, the thought of clearing out the area twice is daunting at best!

  
Above: Before and after pictures of a garage and exterior remodel we did a few years back. 

Below: A more recent before and after picture of another major remodel done in 2009. 

**I saw this electic car charging station on the side of a road in Lake Oswego:

Wendy Markt