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Home IMPROVEMENT
AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL
OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2016
The Right Renovation Project BY NATHANIEL SILLIN specialsections@antonmediagroup.com
Before the housing market collapse of 2007, all renovation projects—no matter how expensive—seemed like winners. Today, home renovation is a whole new ballgame and you should carefully research any potential fix-up project you’re planning for your home. For the past 14 years, Remodeling magazine’s annual Remodeling 2016 Cost vs. Value Report (www.remodeling. hw.net/cost-vs-value/2016) has tracked cost recoupment on renovation projects nationwide and by region, as local tastes are important. Based on trends from transactions tracked in 2015, several guidelines emerged:
Aim to cover your costs.
Pre-housing crash, people were investing heavily in their homes and seeing returns greater than 100 percent on their spending. In 2016, the cost and
see RENOVATION on page 24A
INSIDE: Fall Tree Care
•
Electrical Safety
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HOME IMPROVEMENT • OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2016
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23 HOME IMPROVEMENT • OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2016
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BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com
The gardening season on Long Island isn’t over once fall arrives, especially when it comes to trees and their care. It’s an excellent time to plant trees, assess the conditions of your trees and make decisions on whether to prune or remove certain trees on your property, especially those that represent a safety issue. Paul Grilli, president of Walsh Brothers Tree Service on Long Island said, “When the foliage starts to change colors and drop to the ground, some homeowners think they no longer have to worry about their trees. The opposite is true and the Fall is an excellent time to address any issues that could cause problems in the future.” As we just saw with Hurricane Matthew, the storm season is far from over and now extends from June 1 to Nov. 30. Long Island is vulnerable throughout this time frame and homeowners know the devastation it can cause to life and property. We only have to think back a few years to the devastation caused by Super Storm Sandy and the impact on Long Island. Flooding is always an issue during these storms but wind and falling trees and limbs cause the majority of the problem. Beyond taking down power lines and the loss of electricity, people have been seriously injured or killed and property losses have been severe due to falling trees. Grilli said, “Homeowners on Long Island should take it upon themselves to take a hard look at trees on
Fall Is The Right Time To Focus On Tree Care
or near their property. If they notice dead limbs, a cavity in the trunk, root damage, or other concerns, they should contact an expert for an appraisal and a plan of action. Firms like Walsh Brothers can make suggestions to homeowners on how to deal with a potential problem.” Some other easy tips for homeowners to handle themselves is to make sure their trees that don’t have a deep root system continue to be watered. Even though active root grow slows and ends, trees will continue to absorb water and nutrients. In addition, clean up leaves after they fall in autumn. Removing fallen leaves removes the environment that oftentime attracts insects and promotes damage your trees.
Homeowners should lookout for the following: • Are there mushrooms present at the base of the tree? • Have any adjacent trees fallen over and died? • Has the trunk developed a strong lean? • Have the roots been broken or damaged by installing pavement, lowering the soil level or digging trenches?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are not only putting the value of your home on the line, but the safety of your family and neighbors as well. “It’s important for homeowners to recognize that pruning is extremely important to a tree’s health and their function in your landscape,” continued Grilli. “Each cut into a tree can change the growth of the tree and shorten its life.” Homeowners are encouraged to contact Walsh Brothers for a free assessment to see if pruning is necessary. For further information or questions, call Walsh Brothers Tree Service and Contracting at 516-333-8733.
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• Do you have large dead branches in the tree or have any branches recently fallen? • Are there detached branches hanging in the trees? • Does the tree have cavities or rotten wood along the trunk or major branches? • Are there cracks or splits in the trunk?
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HOME IMPROVEMENT • OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2016
RENOVATION from page 21A
Moving, Downsizing or Just Need to Get Rid of Junk?
return at resale for the projects listed in the report averaged 64.4 percent for a home sold within a year of the upgrades. Making a profit on a renovation isn’t guaranteed, so aim instead to tackle projects that will allow you to recover your costs at the highest possible level.
Call us and see what we can do for you!
✔Estate / Tag Sales
✔ Cleanouts / Donation Hauling ✔Junk Removal
How long will I stay post-renovation?
ALL AMERIC AMERIC ERICAN AN
Smaller projects focusing on essentials can provide better returns.
TAG SALES
call us at
516.521.8816
www.allamericantagsales.com
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THE BEST CHOICE FOR YOUR NEXT STEP
Upgrade rooms and spaces, but keep it modest.
WALSH BROTHERS
A minor kitchen remodel including upgraded cabinet fronts, new hardware and the addition of one or two energy-efficient appliances averaged a return of more than 83 percent of original cost compared to the 65 percent for the gut jobs. After assessing the national and regional averages, you’ll need to evaluate your personal situation, local home market and the type of homes that are selling in your neighborhood. Let’s start with the questions you need to ask yourself:
TREE SERVICE ✔ Free Estimates ✔ Tree Removals ✔ Tree Pruning ✔ Land Clearing ✔ Stump Grinding ✔ 24/7 Response ✔ 25 Years Experience
What kinds of improvements make sense for my neighborhood?
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A decade ago, it was an upscale outdoor deck or a gourmet kitchen. These days, new doors, which can cost under $500 to replace and install, are one of the most popular projects. A high quality fiberglass entry door replacement can recoup an average 82.3 percent of costs; a garage door replacement can return over 90 percent.
Generally, exterior renovations that complement nearby homes have greater value, so consider how your new exterior might fit in with other houses on the street. As far as interior renovations, keep your spending in line with your future sale price. For example, a $100,000 kitchen in a home that might not sell for more than $300,000 would probably be a wasted investment, but a kitchen update worth $10,000 or less might help your house move quicker once it’s listed for sale.
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Remember, the latest Remodeling magazine numbers cover only one year of cost recovery on projects. People renovate for a variety of needs, either to make the home more livable or to make it more salable. The longer you stay, the more you’ll get out of the investment, but if you have to sell soon, think carefully about what you’ll need to spend to attract a buyer.
Will this send my property taxes through the roof?
Renovation projects that create larger homes can risk higher property taxes. You should think through potential property tax impact not only for yourself but also for your future buyer. Consider checking with your local residential taxing body to determine “before and after” property tax rates for renovated properties in your vicinity. Sometimes this information might be available on their websites. If you know a real estate broker with significant knowledge of your immediate neighborhood, you might consider speaking with them about this issue. Consider consulting experts to help you answer the basic questions you’ll have as you make this decision. Start with trusted financial professionals who can offer a second opinion on what you’re planning to do, how much you want to spend, and what particular tax issues may arise when it’s time to sell. If you need to borrow to renovate, that means it’s time to make sure your credit reports (www. annualcreditreport.com/index.action) are accurate and you are pre-qualified or pre-approved for your loan based on what is required. In short, do your homework before you renovate your home. Bottom line: In 2016, home renovation is far from a home run. Know how long you’re planning to stay in the home before you start and make sure the project you choose makes sense for your local marketplace or you won’t get your money back. Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs.
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Safety Prevents Electrical Fires
BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com
PSEG Long Island is reminding customers of the importance of electrical safety in homes and businesses. Electrical failures or malfunctions can cause fires in wiring, cords, lighting and any other type of equipment that uses electricity. Customers need to think safety first when doing construction, upgrading or repairing the electrical wiring in homes and businesses. It is prudent to contact a qualified electrician to install and inspect electrical work for up-to-date specifications and codes. “The safety of our customers and employees is always a top priority for PSEG Long Island,” said John O’Connell, vice president of transmission and distribution. “At every level, PSEG Long Island employees demonstrate a commitment to safety and, as our customers enjoy all the comforts and convenience that electricity provides daily, we want our customers to make the same commitment, to know how to be safe and spot potential problems.” The National Fire Prevention Association indicates U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 47,000 reported home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction in 2014. These fires resulted in 520 deaths, 1,250 injuries and $1.4 billion in direct
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property damage. Electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in one of every five (20 percent) of home fires.
Safety tips for homes and businesses:
• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords. • Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets. • In homes with small children, make sure your home has tamper resistant outlets. • Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each outlet at a time. • If outlets or switches feel warm, frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuits, or flickering or dimming lights, call a qualified electrician. • All outlets and switches should have faceplates. Exposed wiring is a shock hazard. • Use the correct wattage and proper kind of light bulb in an overhead or ceiling fixture. The wrong type of bulb can lead to overheating and fire. PSEG Long Island offers a variety of outreach programs that educate our children about safety and emergency preparedness. Visit www.psegliny.com/ page.cfm/community/education to schedule a presentation for your school or organization. Visit www.psegliny.com/page.cfm/home/safety/64waysmakeyourhomesaferplace for more electrical safety information.
Don’t think of them as traffic cones. But as part of a $500 million improvement plan. We know our crews make getting around a hassle now and then. But all that work is a sign of our investment creating the most reliable electric system possible right here on Long Island. So not only will we respond to downed power lines faster, we’ll be able to prevent many outages before they occur. The cones will soon be gone—the improvements will be here for years to come.
“Works For Me!” Luke Sylvanus
See how we’re investing in your town at PSEGLINY.com/Reliability
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HOME IMPROVEMENT • OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2016
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