Boomers Don’t Have to Budge if They Remodel Right

Baby boomers — people born in the post-World War II years between 1946 and 1964 — are entering or nearing retirement age. And research shows that Americans have a strong preference to remain in their current residence for as long as possible as they grow older, meaning they will need to remodel or adapt their homes to meet their changing abilities and circumstances. This is called aging-in-place. 

Aging-in-place is generally defined as living in one’s home safely, comfortably and independently, regardless of age, income or level of mobility.

It can be an agonizing decision to have to choose whether to move or stay put. Older Americans have always been the least inclined to move, compared to home owners of any other age group.

Research from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found that more than 50 percent of those ages 55 or older have lived in their homes longer than 10 years. 

Many older home owners would prefer to stay close to friends and family, value the community that they have been a part of for many years and don’t want to start over someplace new. Also, some may have to stay where they presently live because of financial concerns and limitations imposed by living on fixed incomes. 

Very simply, “getting around” is the key to making a house compatible to the needs of the aging-in-place occupant.  Remodelers report that the most common projects for their aging-in-place clients are making more accessible accommodations, installing brighter lighting, widening doors and hallways, adding railings or grab bars to prevent falls, changing floor coverings to add traction and eliminate slippery surfaces, and installing ease-of-reach and bend systems. 

Home builders and remodelers are ready for this large population that will seek their services to help them live conveniently and safely in the home and community where they feel most comfortable.

To address the unique demands of the burgeoning aging-in-place market, NAHB Remodelers, in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, the NAHB Seniors Housing Council and AARP, developed the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) program. This designation program equips remodelers with the marketing, technical and customer service skills required to help home owners, regardless of age, maintain their independence and increase security in their present homes.

CAPS remodelers and builders have been trained in the unique needs of the older adult population, aging-in-place home modifications, and common remodeling expenditures and projects. They have been taught the strategies and techniques for designing and building aesthetically enriching, barrier-free living environments, and given the resources needed to provide comprehensive and practical aging-in-place solutions.

Finally, CAPS graduates pledge to uphold a code of ethics and are required to maintain their designation by attending continuing education programs and participating in community service.

To find an NAHB member builder who holds a CAPS professional designation in the Asheville area, contact www.Ashevillehba.com. You can also search for Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist designation holders at www.nahb.org/designationsdirectory.

Beware Foreclosure 'Bargains'

It’s an unfortunate result of the recession — many families haven’t been able to keep up with their mortgage payments and have lost their homes to foreclosure. And foreclosed homes often sell for less than market rates, making them seem like a bargain to buyers who are used to the inflated prices of a few years ago.

But comparing a new home to a foreclosure on price alone is a mistake. You can’t put a dollar value on your peace of mind, safety, financial reserves and time — all of which could be in jeopardy if you buy a foreclosed home.

For example, a foreclosure could have legal issues. Before buying a foreclosed home you will have to do thorough research — or hire a title company or lawyer — to make sure there aren’t any additional financial or legal liabilities attached to the home. There may be liens on the property for unpaid taxes, home owners’ association dues, or the home may have been put up as collateral on other loans that weren’t paid. You could become liable for thousands of dollars of debt you weren’t aware were attached to the foreclosed home.

As soon as you take ownership of a foreclosed home, anything that breaks or any problems that arise are your responsibility. This could cost you lots of time and money that you may not have budgeted for.

With a new home, maintenance won’t be an issue for a while with the brand new appliances and systems. And if something does go wrong in the first year, there is often a new home warranty that guarantees repair or replacement.
   

Foreclosed homes also often haven’t been taken care of by former owners who knew they were going to lose the home. In some cases vandals, thieves or even the owners have damaged the home, removed appliances or torn apart walls to remove copper pipes that are valuable as scrap metal.

A foreclosed home could have been sitting vacant for months or years, and if it wasn’t properly secured, there could be significant damage from water, mold, weather or pest infestations. It could cost you thousands of dollars and a lot of time to bring a home that was allowed to deteriorate back to a livable condition.

You also don’t have to spend time or money changing someone else’s design preferences with a new home. No tearing down wood paneling, repainting walls, or replacing outdated flooring. Your preferences are included as the home is built, and they are there waiting for you the day you unpack your boxes.

Finally — and most importantly — don’t forget safety.

New homes have been constructed under a strict set of codes and standards, and have to be thoroughly inspected before the certificate of occupancy is issued and you are allowed to close the sale and move in.

With a foreclosure, you don’t know how many renovations or repairs have been made over the years, or who made them. There could be faulty wiring, weakened structures, or other conditions that could be dangerous and costly to bring up to safe and modern standards.

When you are looking for a place to keep your family safe and to build a lifetime of memories, it may be well worth paying a higher upfront cost to get convenience, modern features and peace of mind — and avoid the potential pitfalls of a foreclosure that could turn your dreams of homeownership into a nightmare.

To find new home builders in the Asheville area, contact ashevillehba.com. 

Popularity of Green Home Technology Increases With Familiarity, Lower Costs

Even though prospective home buyers balk at incorporating green home technology in their new homes because of the perceived costs involved, their apprehension is beginning to wane as the technology becomes more affordable and its benefits become more apparent, according to panelists participating in the recent NAHB webinar, “Green Home Technology: How to Cut Costs for Your Customers.”

Green home technology “helps the home function more efficiently while simplifying the home owner’s lifestyle and saving them money,” green builder Matt Belcher, CGP, of Belcher Custom Home Building in St. Louis, told the audience of the June 15 webinar, which was sponsored by NAHB and the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA).  

“In general, the perception that green home technology is expensive has been valid up until recently,” added Dave Pedigo, CEDIA's senior director of technology, while noting that home buyers with the most disposable income generally were the technology’s earliest consumers.  But costs began to decrease as use of the technology became more widespread, he said. Coupled with lower costs, Pedigo said home owners are becoming more familiar with the technology, especially as it is being integrated with mobile devises such as the iPad, iPhone and android products, which enable home owners to manage their homes — such as monitoring energy use — remotely. This, too, is adding to the technology’s acceptance among home buyers.

Belcher said that many of his buyers know exactly what home technology components they want in their homes and why — which makes the sale easier. But for those who are hesitant, he focuses on relating the technology’s benefits and demonstrating how easy it us to use.

“The bottom line is still their bottom line,” said Belcher, adding that, if the benefits fit their lifestyle, they will be more willing to buy and incorporate the technology.  “People, even though they are strapped for cash, will still go out and buy the newest mobile device,” he said. “They can control the power for their homes from their phones, so it’s more interesting to them.” "The price point has gone down, and competition is a wonderful thing for consumers when it comes to this market. Cash incentives and federal tax incentives are helpful as well,” Belcher added.

A Growing Demand for Higher Tech

Belcher stressed that home technology is not higher priced — “just higher tech.” “As remodels and rehabs become such a large part of the market, more people are putting these systems in their homes to help them reduce their operating costs — and it is going to be a major profit center for builders and remodelers who are working with electronic systems contractors (ESCs) to meet the demand,” Belcher said.

He explained that although home buyers may not want to incorporate all of the home technology components at once, offering them the choice to add more technology components later can help get consumers off the fence.

How to Appeal to Potential Buyers

One engaging approach to selling home technology “is to let the consumer know that pre-wiring for the technology is still an option, so when they are ready to incorporate those green home features, they can do so on their own time,” Belcher said.

Another tactic is to get prospective buyers actively involved in the benefits.  "In my experience with customers who have decided to incorporate these kinds of technologies, they are excited about the control it gives them,” said Belcher. “They love to talk about the baseline of their home and energy use, information that we can share with them,” he said. “It gives them a ballpark to work within that they also constantly try to improve and outperform on a monthly basis.”

Keeping up to date with technology trends and working with an experienced ESC from the very beginning will add credibility and quality to a builder’s building process and product line.

Burgeoning Trends

One of the most popular home technology systems that builders currently are installing is lighting control, Pedigo said. Many consumers are more aware of this measurable part of their budgets. They can foresee the benefits and are willing to make the investment, he added.

“I expect this trend to continue as more home owners attempt to reduce their household costs,” he said.  Another technology frequently requested is “daylight harvesting” — using an astronomical clock or similar programming to operate motorized window shades. Properly used window shades can save home owners a significant portion of their energy consumption.

“In the summertime, shades passively cool the home, and in the winter they are programmed to allow optimum daylight to enter and warm the home,” Pedigo said.   “Energy dashboards and energy management are also a burgeoning trend,” he said. “This allows the home owner to actively monitor the amount of energy used by way of a dashboard that visually indicates the energy levels in the home.”  “Programming options allow home owners to monitor their home’s energy output and adjust their consumption,” he said. Solar energy is another popular system in specific regions that is increasing in demand, he said.

Collaborate With an ESC

Belcher and Pedigo discussed the importance of collaboration between an ESC and a builder when creating home technology systems and working with prospective buyers.  “The ESC is an integral part of the team,” Belcher said. “With an ESC involved early in the process, we are able to solve a lot of problems at the discussion and planning stage. He helps the customer as they add things to their house.” "It is key to have an ESC brought into the project as early as possible,” reiterated Pedigo. “If you are going to sell a sustainable lifestyle, it makes a tremendous difference in the quality assurance when you bring in the ESC at the beginning of the project and not as an afterthought,” he said. “As an example, if you put solar panels on — slightly altering the direction of the home can make a significant performance difference, and the ESC would know to look for those details,” he said.  In addition to keeping up with technology trends, Belcher said working with an ESC, knowing how to educate buyers and following the National Green Building Standard will help builders enhance their business and green building practices. 

“The standard levels the playing field for green builders,” he said. “I can better focus on choosing the right systems and components that we can include in our homes and it makes me more efficient on the business side of things.”

He said the standard can help builders apply better building practices and increase their credibility. “Those are just a few of the biggest benefits for me,” Belcher said. 

Replays and New Webinars

For a replay of the webinar, visit the Webinar Rewind page (www.nahb.org/webinardownload) on the NAHB website. For more information on the design and technology series of NAHB Webinar Wednesdays, visitwww.nahb.org/webinars. For more information, email Erin Grant at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8461.