Aging-in-Place Seminar – “Renovation Solutions for a Lifetime”
Tuesday, February 28, 7:00 pm, Renewal office
Learn how to make your home accessible for life.

Will you or a family member be living in your home long-term or throughout retirement? Adapt your home to meet the immediate and long-term needs of your active lifestyle and maintain your independence comfortably, without sacrificing modern style and design. Learn more about universal design and aging-in-place.

Seminar will be held at 124 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur.

RSVP online, or call 404.378.6962.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named Renewal Design-Build a 2012 Southeast Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) in two residential kitchen and bath categories of its annual awards competition.

Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards on an annual basis, and all regional winners will now be eligible for the National CotY Awards. National winners will be announced at NARI’s Evening of Excellence^SM on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Conference Center, located in Grapevine (Dallas), Texas.

About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry.  The Association, which represents member companies nationwide—comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors— is “The Voice of the Remodeling Industry.”™

View the award-winning kitchen and bath.

Although you can certainly use savings or short-term credit, there may be other ways to fund your kitchen remodel, addition, or master suite.

Cash-out refinancing – If your interest rate is higher than the current rate, consider refinancing. With an appraisal of your home’s existing value, you have the option to cash out your equity and enjoy the benefits of a lower interest rate.

Construction loans – If you plan to add significant square footage or make major changes to your home, a construction loan could be the solution. This loan takes into account your home’s After Repair Value (ARV), determined by a home appraisal based on your project’s construction drawings. The loan is then applied to your current mortgage.

Home equity loans – If refinancing isn’t an option, a home equity loan is comparable to a second mortgage. You can use your home’s current equity to make improvements, and you receive the entire borrowed sum upfront.

Home equity lines of credit – Similar to a home equity loan, a line of credit is based on your equity; but you only take out funds as needed – something to consider if you’re unsure about the amount of improvements you’ll be doing.

Contractor financing – Only borrow money through a reputable, stable contractor offering financing through an established bank. This kind of funding is most beneficial to homeowners who can pay off their project in a shorter period of time. For example, Renewal offers 12 months same-as-cash financing through EnerBank USA.

**Always consult a loan officer for the best possible financing solutions for your home improvement project.**

It’s an all too common story. You found the perfect home in the perfect location, but it’s lacking that modern kitchen you’ve always wanted or that extra bathroom your family desperately needs. Some helpful tips for purchasing and renovating your next home:

Know Your Budget -First, look at your monthly budget. Make sure you can afford the home, including property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Next, start thinking about how you would finance any renovations. Do you have the cash to fund your kitchen remodel? Or, will you have to finance your project? This could affect your monthly budget drastically.

Timing is Everything – When submitting your offer, request a long due diligence period – the timeframe given to you to evaluate your future asset. During due diligence, you’ll want to: get the home inspected, consider renovation changes, obtain estimates, and get bank approval on all loans. A good time span is 60 days, and for very extensive renovations, you may want to ask for 90 days.

Choose Your Team – As you’re looking at homes, have your team in place. This might include: an architect, a licensed general contractor, a design-build firm, mortgage loan officer, and of course, your realtor. The earlier your trusted team is at hand, the easier the process will be.

Do Your Due Diligence – Once your offer is accepted, it’s time to get your home inspected and start the design process. If financing your renovations, your lender will need to approve the drawings prior to closing. Approval can take 30 days or more, so make sure that any offers include an understanding by the buyer of the process that your bank will need to follow.

How Construction Loan Financing Works – After the estimate and drawings are submitted to your lender, your lender’s appraiser will calculate what the house will be worth upon completion of the proposed project. The After Repair Value (ARV) is based upon the drawings and proposed pricing for the renovations. The ARV determines how much money will be available for your described renovation. It is essential to work with a bank and an appraiser that fully understand your renovation goals.

During Construction – Your total budget for the project may be substantial, but while your project is in the construction phase, you typically pay only interest on your loans and at a discounted rate. In addition, your property taxes are deferred. For many construction loans, your regular monthly payments only start back up again once construction is complete, and you’ve received your final inspection.

High energy bills got you down? Many homeowners think that adding more insulation or upgrading to high efficiency windows will shrink their energy usage. Actually, home performance is much more complicated. It’s a science, and just like people, each house has its own DNA. So, before you dive into your ductwork, consider taking a whole-house approach to energy efficiency.

A holistic approach to your home means identifying and correcting problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. It ensures you’re making the right improvements toward better comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency.

The most important step is determining where your home is losing energy – and your dollars – by getting it tested. A comprehensive home assessment administered through Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program is a day-long set of evaluations, diagnostics and safety testing that identifies problem areas in your home using state-of-the-art equipment. The test pinpoints exactly where your home is leaking energy – saving you time and money.

The results are then put into modeling software and compiled into a detailed report with a list of the best possible improvements for your home. Once the improvements are made, your home will be assessed again to measure the expected energy reduction.

Once complete, you’ll be sitting in your comfortable, healthy, efficient home waiting for those rebate checks – and lower energy bills.

If you own a home in the City of Decatur, consider participating in the DecaturWISE [Worthwhile Investments Save Energy] Rebate Program. The City has partnered with Georgia Power to give a limited number of homeowners up to $3,200 in rebates for weatherization and energy efficient retrofits. For more information, visit the City of Decatur website.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s Atlanta Chapter recently hosted its 19^th annual Gala Awards, and Renewal took home a CotY (Contractor of the Year) award – our third in three years!  View the project here.

What is NARI? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only national association designed, organized and dedicated specifically for service to professional remodelers. The Atlanta Chapter has over 350 members. Every year, contractors from all over Atlanta vie for CotY Awards. An impartial panel judges entries based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.

Choosing the right materials for your new kitchen can be stressful, and perhaps, one of the biggest decisions made is the choice of countertop. You’re probably already familiar with the traditional granite, but if you’re looking for an alternative to this popular material, consider:

Other Forms of Natural Stone – Other stone options do exist (marble, soapstone, limestone), and all can give your kitchen a luxurious and organic feel. Most stone is heat resistant; however, it can be susceptible to stains and scratches and may need to be sealed every year, depending on use. And, because each piece is different, there is a large price variation.

Concrete – Concrete is a unique alternative; however, direct heat is not recommended. Concrete may also age and weather over time, so tiny cracks may develop and corners can chip, giving it a rougher edge.

Quartz – Quartz is a very popular countertop choice. Extremely durable, it won’t scratch or scorch. Unlike granite, the quartz countertop has a very uniform color and design (no significant variations with each piece), nor does it require sealing. Certified as a green building material, it also contains antimicrobial properties. Cost is comparable to a mid-range marble and granite material. The most popular brands are Silestone, Cambria and CaesarStone.

Solid Surface – Corian, one of the most recognized brands of solid surface countertops, is a man-made acrylic material with many color options. While easy to clean, stain- resistant and relatively affordable, Corian countertops are not as heat-resistant as stone or quartz and can scratch easily.

Other – Other materials, like glass, stainless steel, and recycled paper products, can bring a unique and unexpected look to your home. Keep in mind that these usually carry a premium price. Consider using them in a smaller section of your kitchen to save money.

If you’re thinking about remodeling in 2012 – maybe you have a baby on the way or a family member is coming to live with you – don’t wait to start your project. The remodeling process starts long before any work is performed on your home. Depending on your project, it can take two to four months to fully prepare the design and plans and to choose selections like countertops, cabinetry, and fixtures.

If you have a project in mind for 2012, now is the time to get started. Your project is also guaranteed to be done on time with our Guaranteed Renovation.

Renewal Design-Build has just won two Professional Remodeler Design awards in the Additions and Historic Renovation categories. In this annual awards program, entries are judged on criteria including construction quality, creativity, design, problem solving, effective space planning and functionality.

The Professional Remodeler Design Awards recognize the nation’s best remodeling projects in more than 20 categories.

See the award-winning project here.