Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2012-05-05 by Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Real Estate LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

SATURDAY May 5, 2012

Black Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Yellow Magenta Cyan SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012 A1

Inside Real Estate:

lubbockonline.com

The South Plain’s #1 Real Estate Source ● Visit our mobile site @ m.homes.lubbockonline.com

Local Real Estate News - Page 5 Home Showcase - Page 5

On The Web:

WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 7 Vegetable Gardens - Page 8

homes.lubbockonline.com

Produced By Advertising Editorial Staff

Realtor Revealed Jan Alexander

GRI, SRES, ASR

RE/MAX Lubbock 806-789-9325 (cell) janalexander@remaxlubbock.com Where did you grow up? Levelland, Texas Why do you live in the Lubbock area? What do you like most about it? I moved to Lubbock in 1975 to attend Texas Tech University and after I graduated in 1979, I got married. We both got jobs here, so we stayed and are still here. The best thing about living in Lubbock is the people. I know that everyone hears that all of the time but it is so true. How long have you worked in real estate? Seven years. What did you do before that? I have an undergraduate degree in Horticulture, and there is not a big demand in this area for people with that degree. So I ended up going back to Texas Tech to get my teaching certificate, and at the same time I got a graduate degree in education. I taught junior high science and health for 11 years, then decided I needed a career change so I decided to get my real estate license. What is your specialty? My specialty is in residen-

someone looking to buy or sell a home? For someone looking to buy or sell, they need to make sure they have a competent, experienced Realtor who is willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure the transaction moves along as smoothly as possible.

tial real estate – both existing construction and new construction. What designations do you have and what does that mean for the people you work with? My designations are GRI (Graduate, Realtor Institute), SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist), and ASR (Accredited Seller Representative). I also have my real estate broker’s license. For clients that I work with, by having these designations, I have “skin in the game” so to speak. If I expect my clients to trust me with such a large financial investment, such as a home purchase or sale, then I need to invest in my career as well. In acquiring the designations that I have, quite a bit of time and money are involved, and the knowledge that I have gained has proven to be invaluable. What is the most unique property you’ve listed? The most unique property that I’ve listed was one that had been built and was owned by a local family physician and his wife. It was unique in that the owners had the abstract of title for the land that the house was built on dating back to 1878.

What do you see in the future for real estate? We are lucky to live in an area that doesn’t experience the extreme highs and lows of the real estate market. Our market typically remains fairly steady, although the past two years we have seen a correction in prices from the previous few years of steadily rising prices. This year, homes sales are already on the rise compared to the previous year, and I think that it will continue throughout the year. With interest rates at such a low level, now is a great opportunity for anyone looking to buy.

Jan Alexander, RE/MAX Lubbock

What are the most gratifying and most challenging aspects of what you do? The most gratifying aspect of what I do is to help people have a fresh, new start. Whether it is someone buying their first home or someone selling their last home

Photo by Misty Setzler

to move to a retirement community or something in between, it is always fun to be able to get to know the people that I work with and their families and be a part of their lives. What tips do you have for

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? We are season ticket holders for Texas Tech football, basketball and baseball. I also love animals, and while my children were growing up, our house was home to quite a variety – from iguanas to guinea pigs to even hissing cockroaches! We have always had the usual pets like cats and dogs and still do, along with several box turtles that live in our backyard.

SCAN ME!

m. homes. lubbock online .com Check out our mobile site to search thousands of local homes and land for sale, homes to rent and an open house map every weekend.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A2

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

homes.lubbockonline.com

Real Estate

Black Yellow Magenta Cyan

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A3

Replace or repair? That’s the home improvement question (ARA) – Maintenance and improvement are both essential realities of home ownership. From windows and skylights to gas ranges and front doors, everything in your home will eventually need some work. But how do you know when something simply needs repair, or merits being replaced? Of course, each situation will be as unique as the home in which it occurs – and as individual as the homeowners themselves. A few good rules of thumb, however, do apply in most cases. When you’re considering repair or replacement, ask yourself these questions: • How old is the malfunctioning item? • How extensive/pervasive is the problem? • Will the cost of repair approach the cost of replacement? • Which course – repair or replace – will yield the maximum energy efficiency? • How does the cost of repair measure up to the value it will provide? How does replacement stack up using the same measure? To help you get an idea of how these rules apply, here’s what some experts have to say about home elements that frequently raise the repair/replace question: Skylights While many modern skylights are energy-efficient, qualify to use the Energy Star mark and are leak-free, if you have an older, plastic model it’s probably a good idea to replace it. Not only are these older plastic bubble-type skylights often faded and unsightly, reducing visibility, they are not UV resistant, are not energy efficient, and are much more likely to leak. “There are millions of those unattractive, cracked and yellowed plastic skylights still out there,” says Ross Vandermark, national product manager of VELUX America. “Replacing them with new energy-efficient, double-pane (insulating) glass models is quick and easy. They don’t leak, they look better, they reduce UV rays and provide substantial energy savings.” In fact, based on an estimate of 15 cents per kwh/hr, replacing an old plastic skylight with an Energy Star-qualified VELUX skylight can save a 2,000-square-foot home about $194 a year on cooling costs, a company study shows. Add skylight blinds and the energy savings can be enhanced even more. What’s more, depending on the age and condition of even older glass skylights, it’s not a bad idea to consider a modern, more energy efficient model. To learn more about replacement skylights, visit www.veluxusa.com.

Windows Recent research shows that skylights and vertical windows can work well together to effectively daylight a home while contributing to heating and cooling energy savings. Like skylights, windows have vastly improved in energy efficiency over the past few decades. Leaky, inefficient windows can be a major source of heat loss in a home, boosting energy bills and decreasing the comfort level indoors. Window manufacturer Pella points to these signs that old windows need to be replaced: • They’re difficult to open or close. • You can feel air leaking in or out around them. • Condensation or fogging occurs on or between glass panes. • You can see chipping, deterioration or water stains on the window or the wall around it. • Cleaning is a major chore. • It’s difficult or impossible to find replacement parts for the old windows. The Efficient Windows Collaborative (www.efficientwindows.org) site also provides extensive information on selecting both windows and skylights, including fact sheets and computer simulations for typical houses using a variety of windows in a number of U.S. cities. Heating and air cooling Furnaces and air conditioning units are among the most important parts of your home’s infrastructure; they’re directly responsible for the comfort level and air quality inside your home. They’re also among the more costly items to repair or replace. So how do you know when it’s time to replace part of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system? EnergyStar.gov offers these guidelines: • If your heat pump or air conditioner is older than 10 years. • Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old. • Your energy bills are spiking. • Equipment needs frequent repair. • Some rooms are too hot while others are too cold. • The HVAC system is very noisy. • Your home is very dusty. Replacing older HVAC systems with newer, Energy Star-qualified ones can significantly impact your heating and cooling costs, according to EnergyStar.gov. An Energy Star-qualified heat pump or AC unit can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, the website says. You can learn more at www.energystar.gov.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A4

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

homes.lubbockonline.com

Real Estate

homes.lubbockonline.com

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Local Real Estate News – Lubbock Association of Realtors

Is an open house in your future?

Black Yellow Magenta Cyan

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A5

BY Debora Perez Ruiz, President Lubbock Association of REALTORS®

Most open houses are held to attract potential buyers. However, when your home is open to the public, anyone can stop by for a peek… even casual observers looking for decorating ideas. Your Lubbock Realtor can help you decide Ruiz if an open house is right for you and can walk you through the process. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision. Why Hold an Open House? An open house is an opportunity

for you to market your home directly to potential buyers. Visitors can take their time walking from room to room and ask questions about the home’s features. Potential buyers can the inside of the home in a way that just isn’t possible from flipping through photos online. Hosting an open house is also a good opportunity for you to get honest feedback on your home. You can count on at least a few of the attendees to offer candid comments about what they do and don’t like. Your Realtor can collect this information during the open house and share it with you afterward. You may even decide to make minor improvements or highlight certain amenities based on visitors’ input. Isn’t It a Lot of Work? It’s actually very easy to host an open house, as long as you do

the prep work ahead of time. Your Realtor will discuss with you what day and time is best to host the event. Most open houses are held for a few hours on weekend afternoons, but he or she may suggest hosting one mid-week so buyers can observe the area’s school or rush-hour traffic patterns. Get The Word Out Holding an open house requires more marketing than just putting a sign in the front yard. Your Texas Realtor’s marketing plan may include advertising the open house in the classified section of your local newspaper, on her website or other online media, and directional signage in the neighborhood. Ready, Set, Show It’s important to help your home look its best before holding an open house. It just takes a few steps. • Create some curb appeal

– The more appealing a property looks from the outside, the greater chance a potential buyer will choose to drop in. • Clean the house – First, put away anything that will distract buyers from the property, such as personal photos and other knick knacks. Second, scrub the house from top to bottom. Nothing is less appealing than a dirty home. • Freshen it up – A little paint goes a long way to brighten a room. If you do paint, choose neutral colors. They are much more appealing to buyers. • Eliminate the odors – To help alleviate the smells, deodorize upholstery and carpets. • Perform minor repairs – If you can fix it easily, do it. Check for squeaky doors, leaky faucets, faulty lights, etc. If you have repairs that require more work, talk to your Lubbock Realtor to determine if the repair is worth

the cost. • Keep yourself and your belongings safe – Secure your valuables, prescription medications, and personal items before the open house. Work With a Professional Don’t be surprised if your Realtor recommends that you be out of the house during the open house. While it may be tempting to stay, some buyers feel uncomfortable with you there while they open bedroom closets and kitchen drawers. Your Realtor will work on your behalf to field the questions and point out the home’s assets. Talk to your Realtor to determine whether an open house should be part of her plan to market your home. For more information about buying and selling in Lubbock, I invite you to visit LubbockRealtors.com and TexasRealEstate.com.

March pending home sales rise, market recovering Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February and is 12.8 percent above March 2011 when it was 89.9. The data reflects contracts but not closings. The index is now at the highest level since April 2010 when it

reached 111.3. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing. “First quarter sales closings were the highest first quarter sales in five years. The latest contract sign- YUN ing activity suggests the second quarter will

be equally good. The housing market has clearly turned the corner. Rising sales are bringing down inventory and creating much more balanced conditions around the county, which means home prices will be rising in more areas as the year progresses.” The PHSI in the Northeast slipped 0.8 percent to 78.2 in March but is 21.1 percent above March 2011. In the Midwest the index declined 0.9 percent to 93.3 but is 16.9 percent higher than a year ago. Pending home sales in the South rose 5.9 percent to an

index of 114.1 in March and are 10.6 percent above March 2011. In the West the index increased 8.7 percent in March to 108.0 and is 9.0 percent above a year ago. The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing. The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing

about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales; it coincides with a level that is historically healthy.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A6

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

homes.lubbockonline.com

Real Estate

Black Yellow Magenta Cyan

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A7

Featured Floorplan – Odyssey Homes

6519 72nd St. – Primrose Pointe Today’s Featured Home is sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Located at 6519 72nd Street, this Featured Home is currently under construction by Odyssey Homes. Located in southwest Lubbock, this Featured Home is in the Primrose Pointe neighborhood and is in the highly acclaimed Frenship school district. Scheduled for completion in June, this lovely 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage home by Odyssey Homes has approximately 2,013 square feet of living space. One of the highlights of this front entry floor plan is its exquisite curb appeal. Featuring a French country look, complete with a brick, stone, and cedar elevation, this home stands apart from its neighbors. The following will describe the home as it will look when completed in June: As you enter through the front door you will notice the openness of the family, dining, and kitchen areas. The family room features 10-foot ceilings, crown molding, and recessed can lighting. Also featured is the corner stone fireplace. As you move into the kitchen and dining areas, you’ll notice custom cabinetry, granite countertops, tile flooring, tumbled marble backsplash, and black Whirlpool appliances. The kitchen also features a large island with granite tops and room for barstools. An abundance of natural light fills the dining room and kitchen, which features a large twin window, full-view back door, and corner sink. This home has an isolated master bedroom complete with a 10-foot ceiling. The master bath is equipped with custom cabinetry, marble vanity with two sinks, and a 3’ x 3’ tile shower and garden tub. The master bath also features his and hers walk-in closets. The three guest bedrooms have ample space and share a tiled bathroom, also with custom cabinetry, tub and shower combination and a marble vanity. This home will also include Bermuda sod, automatic sprinkler system, and landscaping. Also included are the quality components and craftsmanship and the same attention to detail found in all Odyssey homes. Located at 6519 72nd Street, this Featured Home is priced at approximately $177,900. This home is under construction and will be completed in June. To view this home, please visit the David Rogers Homes model home located at 6316 76th Street. The model is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Odyssey Homes also offers available homes of different sizes and price ranges and an assortment of floor plans that you can choose from that would suit the needs of your family.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Real Estate

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

lubbockonline.com

Black Yellow Magenta Cyan

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A8

‘Veggin’ out’ is so in! Tips for starting your own veggie garden (ARA) – Vegetable and herb gardening is in and studies indicate it will continue to grow in popularity. If you’re not growing your own yet it’s time to start. Why? The reasons are as varied as the people who garden. Some do it to save money. Others want to ensure their food is chemical-free, and as safe as possible. Still others grow their own vegetables because fresher is just better. Many do it because gardening is good for you and some because it’s still fun to play in the dirt. Whatever your reason for opting to join the 7 million Americans who grabbed their gardening gear and grew their own vegetables and herbs last year, your road to success is basically the same as everyone else’s – planting at the right time, making sure your soil’s in shape, weeding and watering responsibly, and feeding and nurturing your plants. This season, you won’t have to buy your fresh herbs and vegetables from a farmer’s market; you can grow them on your own, and you don’t need a farm-sized backyard – or pocketbook – to do it. Avid gardener Stan Cope, president of Bonnie Plants, the largest producer of vegetable and herb plants in North America, growing locally in 75 locations nationwide, offers some time-saving tips to make the growing easy: • Survey your soil – Your first step is to decide where you’ll put your vegetable and herb garden. Good soil is key. The best soil is loam, a soft, dark, crumbly dirt. Loamy soil holds water, allows for drainage and is easy to dig. If you encounter clay or sandy soil, add peat moss and bone meal so that these soils can also be produc-

tive gardening bases. • Size up your space – When plotting out the size of your garden, you’ll want to be sure it’s big enough to yield a good harvest to make your efforts worthwhile. But if you’re limited on yard space – or have none at all – you can grow vegetables and herbs in containers on a deck, terrace, balcony or even on the windowsill. • Let the sunshine in – Your plants need plenty of sun – at least six hours a day. A sunny and open location is your best bet for producing a plentiful harvest. • Pick your plants for your plot – Grow vegetables that are expensive to buy in the grocery store or at the farmer’s market, such as tomatoes and peppers. A tried-and-true prolific producer, the Bonnie Original Tomato, was developed exclusively for Bonnie Plants in 1967. They come in environmentally friendly, biodegradable pots that you plant right into the soil. Recent trials, planting five of these tomato plants in 25-gallon containers, averaged 100 tomatoes each at an average of 37 pounds per plant. Another tomato that will tip the scales is Bonnie’s Sun Sugar tomato, a yellow cherry type. Trial garden plants averaged 1,228 tomatoes each. If peppers are your passion, the Yummy Bell Pepper, ripening from green to apricot orange, is a best bet. Trial garden testing of five plants averaged 248 peppers per plant during the summer growing season. • Time-saving transplants – When you’re ready to begin planting, opt for transplants – seedlings that have already been started – rather than starting from seed. Transplants will buy you lots of time

When picking plants for your plot, try to grow vegetables that are expensive to buy in the grocery store or at the farmer’s market, such as tomatoes and peppers.

because plants are six weeks or older when you put them in the ground, and you’ll begin harvesting much sooner. • Feed your food – Your vegetable plants will need food and water to survive and grow. When feeding plants, try to avoid chemical fertilizers that could potentially seep into groundwater. Look for organically-based formulas instead. Give your garden a good watering once or twice a week, although some crops may need more water, especially if your climate is very hot. A thorough soaking, allowing the water to penetrate 4 to 6 inches into the soil, is better for plants than frequent shallow watering. Gardening is rewarding. It will bring great pleasure as you bring your produce from plot to plate so you can literally enjoy the fruits of your labor. For more information on varieties and gardening advice, visit www.bonnieplants.com.

Gardening is rewarding. It will bring great pleasure as you bring your produce from plot to plate so you can literally enjoy the fruits of your labor.

What are Universal Design and Aging-in-Place? Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Universal Design is related to aging-inplace remodeling and a Certified Agingin-Place Specialist (CAPS) can help you remodel your home using universal design concepts. The NAHB Remodelers in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, and AARP developed the CAPS program to address the growing number of consumers that will soon require these modifications. While most CAPS professionals are remodelers, an increasing number are general contractors, designers, architects, and health care consultants.

To find a CAPS remodeler in your area visit www.nahb.org/designationsdirectory. What makes a home “universal”? It’s simple. Everyone can use universal design! It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. You could be short or tall, healthy or ill. You might have a disability. Or you may be a prize-winning athlete. Because of universal design, people who are very different can all enjoy the same home. And that home will be there for all its inhabitants even when their needs change. Here are some of the more common universal design features that are also incorporated into aging-in-place remodels: No-step entry. No one needs to use stairs to get into a universal home or into the home’s main rooms.

One-story living. Places to eat, use the bathroom and sleep are all located on one level, which is barrier-free. Wide doorways. Doorways that are 32-36 inches wide let wheelchairs pass through. They also make it easy to move big things in and out of the house. Wide hallways. Hallways should be 3642 inches wide. That way, everyone and everything moves more easily from room to room. Extra floor space. Everyone feel less cramped. And people in wheelchairs have more space to turn. Some universal design features just make good sense. Once you bring them into your home, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. For example:

Floors and bathtubs with non-slip surfaces help everyone stay on their feet. They’re not just for people who are frail. The same goes for handrails on steps and grab bars in bathrooms. Thresholds that are flush with the floor make it easy for a wheelchair to get through a doorway. They also keep others from tripping. Good lighting helps people with poor vision. And it helps everyone else see better, too. Lever door handles and rocker light switches are great for people with poor hand strength. But others like them too. Try using these devices when your arms are full of packages. You’ll never go back to knobs or standard switches.

Make roofing color choices with confidence (MS) – Standard slate gray or bold terra cotta? Solid brown or a blend of three warm brown tones? For some homeowners, the question of what color to cap off their homes is more challenging than the decision of what roofing product to use. “Our research clearly pointed us toward polymer slate roofing tiles for their durability and resistance to severe weather,” says Tim Wahl of Kansas City, Kansas. “But I was surprised that the decision of what color or blend to select sort of paralyzed me. I was afraid of making the wrong decision and then having to live with my choice for decades.” According to color expert Kate Smith, CMG, Wahl’s experience is not unusual. “Selecting exterior building product colors can be daunting for some people specifically because of the long lifespan of those products,” says Smith. “A roof may have a 50-year warranty. That’s a longterm color investment. So, while it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to repaint the interior of a room, you want to maximize your roofing investment by selecting a color you can live

Practical advice from Color Expert Kate Smith with for many years. Many people need some support and guidance when making those larger color decisions.” Smith, a nationallyknown color expert and the owner of Sensational Color, offers these tips for homeowners determining what roofing colors to select. Tip #1 – Take time and do your homework. Don’t rush a decision. Try to envision a home exterior that you will like next year, five years from now, and then 20 years from now. Tip #2 – Consider your options. While a solid color roof may work for some home styles, a blend of several colors may offer a “softer” look with more accent options. Pre-bundled roofing color blends can be made with two, three, four or five different color blends that complement each other. Tip #3 – Investigate the different roofing color

options available to you online. Use a Color Design tool, such as the one available at www.davinciroofscapes.com, to create your own custom color blends or to see a company’s standard color blends. Tip #4 – Request lifesized samples of your favorite color roofing tiles to hold up against your current roof to see the change that a new color will make for your home. Tip #5 – Look at the other homes in your neighborhood. Your home should blend in or stand out from other homes, but never clash with the rest of the homes in your community. A roofing color can help achieve a harmonious look. Tip #6 – Get assistance from a professional. Just as selecting the roofing product is a big decision requiring assistance of a professional, so is the choice of the roof color. Consult a color expert and use the color tools offered

The warm mosaic of tan and gray colors on this synthetic slate roof is accentuated by striking purples reminiscent of provincial Tuscan hillsides.

by experts and product manufacturers to gain a strong comfort level for your color choice. After considering his options, Wahl selected a color blend for his home. “I felt like the color blend offered me so many more long-term options than a single color,” says Wahl. “This blend has rich, warm grays, stone, green and purples that combine to

create a striking roof. I can choose several complementary colors for our home’s trim, shutters and siding, so we can change our palate over the years as the home ages.” Wahl’s home renovation was so impressive that it received the Remodel of the Year project award from Kansas City Homes & Gardens magazine. “One hundred percent of

the interior and exterior of this home was renovated, and the results are awesome,” says Wahl, president with Develop KC, a company that remodels homes and apartment complexes throughout Kansas City. “The roofline really attracts attention. I’m glad we took the time to consider a color blend because the resulting look is truly outstanding.”

Real Estate

homes.lubbockonline.com

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Local Real Estate News – West Texas Home Builders Association

Five things new homeowners should do right away

Black Yellow Magenta Cyan

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A9

BY Trey Strong, President West Texas Home Builders Association

You’ve gotten through shopping for a home, the closing process, and even unpacking your boxes. But it’s not time to put your feet up and relax just yet! There are a few more things you should do shortly after moving into a new home STRONG to make sure you and your family will have a safe and healthy place to build lifelong memories in. 1. Create a home maintenance checklist. To make sure your home stays safe and healthy for you and your family, you should regularly check, clean and/or test a wide variety of interior and exterior

systems and structures. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a Home Maintenance Checklist that you can download from their website www.hud.gov. It provides basic guidelines for keeping your home dry, clean, well-ventilated, free from contaminants, pest-free, safe and well-maintained. 2. Make sure you have enough insurance coverage. At a minimum, you need to purchase a home owners insurance policy to cover the house and all of your family’s belongings inside. To determine how much insurance you need, find out how much it would cost to rebuild your house today on your existing lot. Your personal property coverage should then be anywhere from 55 to 75 percent of that amount. Damage caused by natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes and hurricanes are not covered by regular home owner’s policies, so depending on where you live, you may want

to consider additional coverage. Your insurance agent can help you figure out the right amount of coverage and suggest upgrades or additional policies that would be appropriate for your specific situation. 3. Protect your home from break-ins. If you bought an existing home, you should rekey the locks right away. You never know who the previous owners gave keys to. The National Crime Prevention Council recommends that every exterior door should have a deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw. They should be at least 1 3/4 inch metal or hard wood with the hinges on the inside. Install a peephole or wideangle viewer – not a chain – in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Sliding glass doors can be secured by placing a long piece of wood at least one inch thick in the track. Keep all entrances and doors well-lit, and prune shrubs

so they don’t provide hiding space for someone who wants to break in. 4. Prepare an emergency kit. In the event of a disaster, local officials and relief workers may not be able to reach your home immediately, so you should have an emergency kit on hand. Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even weeks, so you should be prepared. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends stockpiling at least three days’ worth of food and water for your family. Their website www.ready.gov offers a list of items to include in a basic emergency preparedness kit, as well as guidelines on food and water storage and protecting yourself from airborne contaminants. 5. Improve your home’s energy efficiency. Even if you’ve purchased a

brand new home with the latest energy-efficient building materials and techniques, there are still some improvements you can make to save even more money on utility bills. For example: • Replace incandescent light bulbs with longer-lasting CFL or LED bulbs. • Install a programmable thermostat that can be set to automatically adjust the heat or air when the home is most or least used. • Increase the insulation in your attic, on exposed water pipes and around your water heater. The U.S. Department of Energy has an online Home Energy Saver™ tool for home owners at www.hes.lbl.gov that recommends energy-saving upgrades that are appropriate for the home, the climate and local energy prices. Even if you haven’t just moved, these suggestions will help you protect your family and maintain your investment for years to come.

Quality, value driving growth in the green building market McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies, released its latest SmartMarket Report: New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market at the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Green Building Conference and Expo. The report includes McGraw-Hill Construction’s estimate that the green homes’ share of the construction market was 17 percent in 2011, equating to $17 billion, and expected to rise 29-38 percent by 2016, potentially a $87114 billion opportunity, based on the five-year forecast for overall residential construction. The report reveals that two of the key factors driving this market growth are the fact that green homes are seen as having higher quality and that they save consumers money. “In the current residential market, there is an enormous need to differentiate your homes for con-

sumers,” says Harvey Bernstein, Vice President of Industry Insights and Alliances at McGraw-Hill Construction. “When builders are able to offer homes that not only are green, but also offer the combination of higher quality and better value, they have a major competitive edge over those building traditional homes.” This report, produced by McGraw-Hill Construction in conjunction with the NAHB and Waste Management, is designed to provide key insights into product and market opportunities in the single-family home building and remodeling industries. It is backed by proprietary research surveys and the power of the McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge database. “NAHB builder and remodeler members were surveyed on their green building practices, which allowed us to shine a light on the state of the green market in this new report,” said NAHB Chair-

man Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “The results highlight the tremendous growth in green building, and the potential market opportunities that lie ahead. As more projects seek green certification, NAHB and the NAHB Research Center stand ready to meet the demands of this exciting and ever-changing market.” Factors driving the growth in the green home building and remodeling market include: • Higher quality for both new home builders and remodelers. For those doing a high volume of green homes (at least 60 percent of the homes they build), its importance is magnified, with 90 percent who regard higher quality as an important trigger for building green, compared to 72 percent of builders overall. • Customers are strongly value-driven – around two-thirds of builders and remodeler respon-

dents state that customers request green homes or remodeling projects in order to lower their energy use or save money, more than twice any other factor. • Higher first costs for building green are noted by a much lower percentage of builders as an obstacle now than they were reported in 2008. The study also reveals the key practices and technologies taking over in the residential marketplace as a result of the shift toward green: • More than 80 percent report that energy efficiency is making today’s homes greener compared to two years ago. Use of energy-efficient features is pervasive in the market – the top practice by nearly all surveyed builders and remodelers, regardless of their level of green building activity. • Indoor air quality is growing in importance and focus for home builders; 60 percent of home build-

ers believe that efforts to improve indoor air quality make homes greener than they were two years ago, and 95 percent of high volume home builders report including features that impact air quality. • More than half consider durable materials one of the most important features in their homes today. In particular, remodelers emphasize this key aspect of their projects. Durability and better materials are key reasons why green homes and remodeling projects are considered of higher quality. “These findings confirm the shift we’ve seen in the market,” says Jim Halter, Vice President, Construction Solutions for Waste Management. “Builders and remodelers are placing more emphasis on energy efficiency, increases in sustainability focused waste management practices and more products made from post-consumer materials. These important factors are pushing our industry forward.”

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 A10

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

homes.lubbockonline.com