Barry Ripp ~ East Bay Area Real Estate

By: John Riha

Published: March 25, 2011

 Kitchen remodeling can turn a ho-hum room into your home’s pride and joy. Here are strategies to help your project run smoothly. A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen remodels in the $50,000 to $60,000 range recoup about 69% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to recent data from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.

To make sure you maximize your return, follow these seven smart kitchen remodeling strategies.

1. Establish priorities

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends spending at least six months planning your kitchen remodeling project. That way, you won’t be tempted to change your mind during construction  and inflate construction costs. Here are planning points to cover:  Cooking traffic patterns: A walkway through the kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.

Child safety: Avoid sharp, square corners on countertops, and make sure microwave ovens are installed at the proper height—3 inches below the shoulder of the primary user but not more than 54 inches from the floor.

A professional designer can simplify your kitchen remodel. Pros help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Expect fees around $50 to $150 per hour, or 5% to 15% of the total cost of the project.

2. Keep the same footprint

No matter the size and scope of your kitchen remodel, you can protect your budget by maintaining the same footprint: Keep the walls, locate new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes, and forget bump-outs.  Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction costs, you’ll cut the amount of dust and debris your project generates.

3. Get real about appliances

It’s easy to get carried away during your kitchen remodeling project. A six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator may make eye-catching centerpieces, but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle.  High-priced appliances are worth the investment if you’re an exceptional cook. Otherwise, save thousands with trusted brands that receive high marks at consumer review websites, like www.ePinions.com and www.amazon.com, and resources such as Consumer Reports.

4. Light your way

Good kitchen lighting helps you work safely and efficiently.  Install task lighting, such as recessed or track lights, over sinks and food prep areas; assign at least two fixtures per task to eliminate shadows. Under-cabinet lights illuminate cleanup and are great for reading cookbooks. Pendant lights over counters bring the light source close to work surfaces.

5. Be quality conscious

Functionality and durability should be top priorities during kitchen remodeling. Resist low-quality bargains, and choose products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.

6. Add storage, not space

Here’s how you can add storage without bumping out walls:  Install cabinets that reach the ceiling: They may cost more–and you might need a stepladder–but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.

7. Communicate early and often

Establishing a good rapport with your project manager or construction team is essential for staying on budget. To keep the sweetness in your project:  Drop by the project during work hours: Your presence broadcasts your commitment to quality.  Give your cell phone number to subs and team leaders.  Set house rules: Be clear about smoking, boom box noise levels, available bathrooms, and appropriate parking.

Related articles

• Top 5 Remodel Projects For High ROI (dobbsferry-rivertowns.com)
• Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget: Tips & Ideas (dawnrajda.wordpress.com)
• 2010-2011 Best Value Home Renovation Projects (bargaineering.com)
• Remodel or Move? (athomesense.wordpress.com)

Here are 5 more ways you can reduce the risk of having your identity stolen.

• Click with Caution. When shopping online, check out the website before entering your credit card number or other personal information.
• Check your bills and bank statements. Open your credit card bills & banks statements right away. Check them carefully for any unauthorized charges and report them immediately.  Call if your bills don’t arrive on time…it may mean that someone stole your mail or changed your contact info to hide fraudulent activity.
• Stop pre-approved credit card offers.   Those make a tempting target for identity thieves who may steal your mail. Go to: www.optoutprescreen.com .
• Ask Questions.  Ask questions whenever your asked for personal information that seems inappropriate for the transaction.  Ask how that info will be used or if it’s shared with others.
• Check your Credit Report.  One of the best ways to protect yourself is to monitor or credit history.  You can get a free report every year for free from each of the three credit bureaus. One source is:  www.annualcreditreport.com .

I hope this information is helpful for you.

You can find more information about cyber security and safeguarding your personal information at the  California Office of Information Security: http://www.cio.ca.gov/OIS/

Here are 5 good tips to protect yourself from identity theft.

1–Protect your Social Security number.     Don’t carry it in your wallet or purse.  Also, if your health plan uses your SS number for a medical number, as them for a different number.

2– Fight “phishing” …don’t take the bait.  Scam artists “phish” for victims by pretending to be banks, stores, or government agencies. They do this over the phone, in email, & regular mail. Don’t give out your personal information – unless you contacted them. Furthermore, don’t respond to a request to verify your account number or password.

3– Keep your identity from getting trashed. Shred papers that have your personal information before you throw them away. Shred credit card offers and those “convenience checks” that you don’t use.

4– Control your personal financial information. California law requires your bank to get your permission before sharing your financial information with outside companies.  You also have the right to limit some sharing of your info with your bank’s own affiliates.

5– Shield your computer from viruses and spies. Protect your personal information on your home computer.  Use strong passwords: with at least 8 characters, including numbers and letters.  Use a firewall, virus & spyware protection software…and keep it updated.

I hope you pay attention to your identity before someone else does.

Watch for part 2 coming soon.

  ~ Barry Ripp

Update Your Kitchen:  Add new door knobs or paint your cabinets. It’s not much money and can make your kitchen feel new again.

Light-Up Your Kitchen:  Add “under-the-counter” lighting with battery-powered LED lights. With adhesive-backing, they are easy to install.

Create an Accent Wall: Paint or wall paper one wall in your living or dining room. Choose a color that goes well with your furniture.

Paint That Old Brick:  Don’t be afraid to paint the old dirty brick around your fireplace or the front of your house.  White will always give it a clean fresh look.

Add a Stainless Steel Backsplash behind your stove. Nail the easy-to-clean panel on the wall.

All of these things should be easy to find at your local hardware stores.  I hope you enjoy your new upgrades while saving money too.

 ~ Barry Ripp

www.barryripp.com

Paint trim lighter or darker than the walls. This will help highlight your walls and add color.

Light your home at night, by using solar-powered spot lights shining on the front of your house. Easy to install and no wires to worry about.

Add a chair rail wood trim  in a bedroom and paint the lower part with an accent color.

Use new stick on decals in your child’s bedroom, they peel on and off easily without taking off paint, but stay on very well. 

Install new address numbers on your home, you can get creative with style color.

Part One

1-   Remove the top set of cabinets doors, then paint them inside & out with a fresh coat of gloss paint.

2-   Hang matching pendant lamps on each side of the couch. This will free up space on the end tables.

3-   Create cubbies in a bookcase, by cutting vertical dividers to the depth of the unit. Secure them with glue & finishing nails.

4-   Paint your front door a vibrant color. Welcome your friends with a new color, like a rich red or another. Use exterior semi-gloss.

5-   Change the hardware in your kitchen. Give it a new look with new polished nickel knobs and handles.

Are you ready to paint that old house?

Well, if it’s built before 1978, you may be in for a surprise. That’s because lead-laced paint was used in more than 38 million homes before being banned for residential use in 1978. And starting in April 2010 (next week), the EPA’s Renovation Repair and Painting (RRP) rule takes effect; it requires that anyone paid to do a job that will disturb lead paint must:

• Be EPA certified
• Follow specified safety practices to contain and properly clean the work area, minimizing the generation and distribution of lead-paint dust
• Pass a final cleaning inspection
• Provide homeowners with proper documentation, including the Renovate Right pamphlet and a pre-renovation form

The bad news: Renovation prices may go up, what with more certifications, work requirements and inspections. The good news: Job sites will be safer for contractors and homeowners.

If you’re hiring a remodeler or painting contractor, know what to expect from them. Check these important facts about the dangers of lead, checking for lead in your home and keeping your family safe.

Good luck with your painting project.

This information was obtained from the “Handyman Club of America”

It’s hard to believe, but between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage each week. Here are some suggestions of ways to go green this holiday season, and you just might save some green in the meantime.

Start with your gift giving. Giving an experience, like tickets to a movie or ballgame can create much less waste than toys and gadgets. And some of the best gifts can be homemade like cookies and cakes.

As you do begin wrapping up those presents for family and friends, consider reusing gift bags, tissue paper, and bows.

If you need to ship your presents this year, avoid Styrofoam packing peanuts and try using crumpled up newspaper instead.

As you search for that perfect tree, keep in mind that if you purchase a tree from a tree farm you’re not damaging forests. Artificial trees are also a good choice since they are reused every year and that saves on the gas you would use driving to the tree farms.

If you’re buying lights, be sure to purchase Christmas lights made with light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. These lights have been around a few years and are 90% more efficient than traditional Christmas lights. They also last longer.

And start the New Year off on the right foot try treecycling. By recycling your fresh tree you can make a huge difference in reducing holiday waste. Instead of ending up in a landfill, Christmas trees can be ground into wood chips and be reused as mulch gardens, or to prevent erosion.

And remember….have a very Merry Christmas

 Well,  here’s another program designed to help home owners in loan trouble. I hope it helps, but I’m not so sure lenders will go along with the idea of being landlords.

 Fannie Mae last week announced a new Deed for Lease™ program. The new program allows borrowers to voluntarily transfer their property back to the lender and then lease back the house at market rate. The lease period is for up to 12 months, with month-to-month contract extensions after that period. The program is designed for borrowers who do not qualify for or have not been able to obtain other loan-workout solutions, such as loan modifications.

 To participate in the program, borrowers must live in the home as their primary residence and must be released from any subordinate liens on the property. Homeowners interested in this lease program must be able to document that the new market rental rate is no more than 31% of their gross montly income.

 Homeowners thinking of participating in the Deed for Lease™ program should visit Fannie Mae’s loan lookup

website at http://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/ to see whether their loan is owned or guaranteed by Fannie. Mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration and other government agencies are not eligible for the Deed for Lease ™ program.

 To read the full story, please click here:

http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2009/11/06/qa-how-to-rent-your-home-from-fannie-mae/

 Reprinted with permission of the Calif. Asso.of Realtors.  Nov. 2009

  ~ Barry Ripp

7 Ways to Save Money
And Energy This Winter

Since money is tight this winter, homeowners need to become
more cautious with their spending on energy and heat. Here’s how:

1-Install programmable thermostats
They can save you up to $180 on annual energy bills, says the
Environmental Protection Agency.

2-Use Energy Star rated appliances
They use between 10 and 50 percent less energy and water than standard models.

3-Change doors
Energy Star rated doors with built-in weather stripping offer five times
the insulation value of solid wood doors.

4-Update windows
Save up to $465 yearly on energy costs by replacing windows.

5-Install dimmer switch and motion detectors.
Dim lights by 25 percent and save an average of 15 percent on energy
costs — and extend incandescent bulb life by four times.
Motion-sensor lights save energy since they activate only when motion is
detected and cut off during the daytime.

6-Seal
Use caulk, sealants and weather stripping.
Try DAP Side Winder Caulk on doors and windows to fill gaps and leaks,
and save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.

7-Insulate
Cut costs by up to 20 percent by adding insulation to attics, crawl spaces
and basement rim joists.

For more energy saving tips, check the EPA website:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/home.htm#energy

Now you can stay warm and happy this winter.