Fort Collins Community Blog

Hi All;

Anyone interested as to what “Green” means with home remodeling? Here is an article found in our National Association of Realtors news briefs that I thought was great!

This is the second article in a series designed to help you make sense of the green landscape as a real estate professional. In the last article, we covered the big picture – defining “green,” concepts of sustainability and what it means to be green (read it here). Here, we examine green homes and real estate.

WHAT IS A “GREEN” HOME?

Essentially, green homes (or buildings) strive to integrate into the environment, use sustainable design and construction concepts, and have a positive impact on occupant health and comfort.

They achieve this by considering the home in two fundamental ways:

1. A system of interconnected parts that all affect each other (much like our natural environment);
2. A lifecycle—the design, building, maintenance/operation and demolition.

For example, consider how home design affects window choices, which affects lighting, which affects the heating/cooling system, which then affects energy consumption, which affects planet resources, pollution and, ultimately, potential climate change. Get the idea?

5 KEY COMPONENTS

Nearly all green homes consider the following key components essential to green building and remodeling:

1. Design and size: Good site design and just large enough, as opposed to larger is better.
2. Community connectivity: Located close to work, school, recreation and other basics.
3. Energy and water efficiency: At least 15 percent or more efficient than others.
4. Material selections: Use of some recycled and/or reclaimed products.
5. Indoor air quality: Limiting use of materials with potential toxic effects and increased ventilation.

You can research any one of these from the U.S. Green Building Council Web site or simply earn your GREEN designation from the National Association of REALTORS®, where each of these is covered in detail with case studies.

REMODELING CONSIDERATIONS

Consider that when remodeling your home, you can have a significant impact on energy efficiency and therefore utility bills—which in turn affects air pollution and your environment—simply by making your home more energy efficient.

For instance, adding more blown insulation (such as cellulose), ensuring a correctly sized and annually serviced HVAC system, and sealing doors, windows and leaks with weather-stripping and caulking, can all save as much as 15 percent on utility bills, according to many experts (when compared  to similar homes).

Include an Energy Star refrigerator, programmable digital thermostat, CFL or LED lights (instead of incandescent bulbs) and double-paned insulated windows, and you should see 30 percent to 50 percent greater energy efficiency!

Not only does this save on utility costs, but it also means less coal is extracted and burned to create your electricity, which results in better air quality and less greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly half of all U.S. electricity comes from power plants that burn coal, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

WHEN DO YOU GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT?

When you consider the lifecycle costs and total costs of ownership when owning and operating a home over time—not just the initial sales price or upfront cost of an energy efficient upgrade—then payback could be immediate. This is often the case with a new Energy Star Qualified home where the lower utility bill offsets the slightly higher sales price and mortgage payment.

For an older home remodel or energy upgrade, the payback could be in a few years, depending on extent of upgrades and the current-plus-projected utility bills. The best strategy to correctly identify the highest return on investment for a particular home is to get an energy audit performed by a qualified professional. Many local energy raters will assess your home for a fee. Visit the RESNET Web site for details on how to find one.

OTHER REMODELING FEATURES

Although greening homes is a topic too big for one article, some other green home remodeling features include these and other practices:

• Recycling demolition waste to avoid landfill;
• Using sustainably harvested wood labeled “FSC” (Forest Stewardship Council);
• Using countertops made of recycled content such as terrazzo;
• Using a rainwater harvesting system for landscape irrigation and to reduce storm water runoff;
• Switching to low-flow water fixtures and toilets;
• Using low-carbon concrete;
• Planting deciduous shade trees;
• Using low-VOC paints and finishes (volatile organic compounds);
• Using formaldehyde-free interior products in interior paint, carpet and adhesives, etc.

WHERE TO LEARN MORE

We discussed one component—energy—in detail because energy efficiency is the largest single component of a green home (but certainly not all of the consideration). I encourage you to spend some time on the Web sites listed below and check back with us as we cover Green Buyers and Sellers, Listing and Selling Green, and Green Certifications and Rating Systems in upcoming articles.

Web Resources:

• www.energystar.gov (US Dept of Energy & EPA)
• www.resnet.us (Residential Energy Services Network)
• www.greenhomeguide.org (US Green Building Council)
• www.regreenprogram.org (American Society of Interior Designers & USGBC)
• www.greenresourcecouncil.org (National Association of Realtors)

Books:

Happy Presidents Day everyone! Over the past week, I was able to put a link to a local site here in Northern Colorado that will evaluate the price of your home! It is much like Zillow.com, but the information comes right off our local MLS, so it is pretty good! I encourage you to use the price range botton at the bottom of the value field, that will give you a better idea what you might expect.

The biggest problem with ALL of these sites is that data collected for these evaluations are county records only. This will not include any non-permitted improvements on a particular property. For example: I just put $40K in to my home updating the shell (I did not blow out any walls, add square footage, hard construction stuff) but I did upgrade the property quite a bit. However, the county records will not address that because I did not take out a permit for the complete renovation. I did not need one since I did not change the hard construction portions of the house. I did add a gas line, which I did take out an “over the counter” permit for that specifically, but I did not need one for the tile, granite and cosmetic work. How else would they know I made improvements? As well, location in a specific neighborhood will adjust value, environmental issues can do the same. These considerations (and others) will not be recorded at the county. Thus, the value in these unrecorded concerns will not adjust value on these sites accordingly.

You should count on a professional real estate agent (who knows your neighborhood) to accurately evaluate your home after a thorough review. This is the best way to find true current market value. These sites are fun, and probably (roughly) accurate within the price range.

Please visit the site under the botton, “Property Search”, scroll down to “Your Homes Value”. You will need to fill in your address. But if you would like a more “in depth” evaluation on your home, give me a call. I would be honored to work up a Current Market Analysis for you.

Happy February, Spring is only a few months away!!!! (If not sooner!)

Happy February:

Over the Holidays, a friend of mine expressed concern about my new company: “Won’t you lose the exposure of the larger company image?”

In my opinion today, larger company image is neutralizing with the Internet becoming the primary marketing source. Everyone has the same “playing field”: it is how one uses it, which is key to successful business opportunities. It is offered to local, national and international users. With sites like Realtor.com, ColoradoProperty.com, Turlia, Zillow and alike, everyone has the opportunity to market thier listings, information about themselves and thier expertise with this incredible source. The local news paper and magazines are now a secondary, if not (even less) of a marketing tool that is used by consumers for the purpose of buying and selling real estate, anymore. This almost eliminates corporate branding as a primary tool for marketing. Coupled with the fact that the Internet personalizes the individual, (in which it should be) as the Broker or sales associate (or team) is the entity who is representing either the buyer or seller, landlord or lessee.

In Colorado, a new broker/agent cannot start up his/her own business for at least 2 years. They must be employed by a company and be overseen by a managing broker. This makes a tremendous amount of sense to me since a new broker or sales associate needs mentoring. Getting a license is only the first step. I have been in this business for over 20 years. I am not suggesting I “have seen it all” however, I feel confident from all the time and experience I have had. I can provide better service on a one-on-one platform, assisting buyers and sellers with the details and advice they are contracting me for. “Big or Small, I Sell Them All”. I have sold large estates, churches, ranches, little homes, bigger homes. I have worked with issues such as environmental, planning, new construction, historic property, trust and probate to name a few. If I do not have the expertise you are looking for, I will suggest a few referrals that will suit any inquirers needs.

Check out my web site, it will tell you more about my services. Thank you for reading!

Kate Crist, CRS

Get it while it is still available….But you will have to pay it back!

From what I have read, you can get up to $7,500.00 credit on the “Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008″ but you will have to look ahead and add in to that mortgage payment, your additional repayment of installments over a 15 year period.

 There are many rules and regulations, not everyone get’s to take advantage of this. And is it really that attractive? I don’t think it is a windfall for first time home buyers, but it could be an advantage if you know you will continue to be employed for the next 15 years with a guaranteed raise on an annual basis. If you are one of those lucky ones, this just might be for you!

See Coloradoan article dated January 25, 2009 James L. Watt page A12 for lots of details.

Frankly, I think the conventional way of buying a home is still the best strategy. There is nothing new about that, just hard work, cash down and hopefully you can “ride out” the tough markets.

Dear Readers;

After 20+ years of being in a corporate real estate Brokerage Firm with RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker and a few other local agencies, I felt it was time to take my business personally and professionally to a level where I could give my selective clients the best of services available. I provide a “one-on-one”, ground level of expertise that I have acquired throughout the 20+ years I have been in the residential real estate business. And I deliver.

I offer streamline and honest market value analysis, advanced and creative ways to maximize your net goal for your property considerations and, the satisfaction and reward you deserve. There is a great deal of competition out there, not only in my profession, but as well in the levels of inventory. Buyers and Sellers need to make educated decisions about whom they choose as a representative. I offer no gimmicks, promises that I can’t keep and the latest and most effective services any Broker can offer and, more.

 I have been in and around Designers/Stagers for over 30 years. Previously before my real estate career, I worked as a contractor. I executed interior finishes such as: paint application (faux etc), wall paper finishes (some of them custom European hand painted papers or fabrics), murals and furniture finishes of all kinds. My clientele consisted of top Designers and Realtors in the Palo Alto, Atherton and Portola Valley areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. As soon as I received my Realtor license in 1989, I began staging my own listings to maximize my opportunities. As a result of this I have a 92% listing/sales success and an average market time (for listings on the market/pending sale) at 90 days. These averages are for the complete 20+ years I have been in residential real estate.

There is no “other employee” to whom you will be passed of to for processing, assistants or “co-ordinators” who are bogged down with so much work they don’t even recognize your property address. And/or another person who will “take a message” or send you to continued voice mail that leaves anyone frustrated. I will oversee all the details from start to finish. My philosophy is “Quality, not quantity”. That is what you will recieve.

It made sense to me to take my business to a much more personal atmosphere with these experiences and statistics in hand. I work individually with each client. There is no “song and dance” just serious, honest and creative application. You will receive the execution and goal you desire.

Please explore my website further, you won’t be disappointed.

I am up and running, but please check back often, as there will be lots more updates in the site to enjoy and absorb for your decision making process.

Please feel free to comment, I value your opinion. Please call me for an interview or any questions you may have regarding this web site or the general real estate market place.

Thank you for visiting.

Warm regards;

Kate Crist, CRS

Owner/Broker Crist Properties

970-222-2532

Time and time again, I have sold homes faster and for more money by “staging” the home. The Seller authorizes me to move or remove furniture, clutter and in some cases, bring in accessories such as colored towles, prints for wall hangings, bright pillows, plants and other colored items to jazz up a house for sale.

The colors and furniture placement helps the rooms look bigger, allows for the buyers eye yo move around the house easier and makes a connection with the buyer. This service warms up a home for the market place and brings in a more neutral atmosphere so the buyer can invision him/herself in the home. Even some colors just makes that connection with a buyer.

Visit my web site page on staging. There are some examples and further explaination about this marketing technique that will work every time! Get your home sold, and not let it get old. Timing and first impressions are everything!