Renovations that Add Resilience to Homes BY MICHELE LERNER
F
ollowing Superstorm Sandy wreaking havoc along New Jersey’s coast, it became apparent for many to make home improvements that can withstand intense storms and extreme temperatures.
The home of Joseph McMullen, a Realtor-Associate® in Spring Lake, was damaged in the storm and his experience in the coastal climate helps him advise buyers and sellers with resilient home improvements. “Real estate agents should know the true price of various fixes that may be required now or in the future,” said McMullen. “A lot of buyers think a roof may cost $40,000 when it’s really an $8,000 job. Agents also need to know their market. Right now, homeowners can sell without fixing things, so it helps to advise buyers to budget for potential repairs and renovations.” Existing homes offer a chance for “opportunistic retrofitting,” said Deane Evans, FAIA, director of the Center for Building Knowledge at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark.
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“The average homebuyer spends $7,000 on home improvements when they move into a house,” said Evans. “There are programs available that incentivize or help pay for energy efficient improvements, so it’s smart to use the opportunity to invest in things that will make your home more resilient in a storm and during power outages.” Evans recommends real estate agents inform buyers about the value of renovations designed for resilience. “If a seller upgraded their systems to make them more energy efficient and replaced the windows or the roof, agents can explain how important these things are in terms of sustainability and resilience to extreme weather along with saving money,” said Evans. “In the long run, these things also add value to a home.” Severe storms, high winds and extreme temperatures impact homes throughout New Jersey and are anticipated to become more intense because of climate change. New Jersey has a high water table, so homes are particularly prone to water infiltration, said Alan Archuleta, principal of Archuleta Builders in Morristown.
12 Home Improvements for Durability While not every homeowner or buyer has an unlimited budget, there are plenty of improvements that can be made at a lower cost. 1. Exterior maintenance. About 75 to 80% of water that comes into a basement is caused by poor exterior maintenance, said Archuleta. He recommends cleaning downspouts and checking that the building envelope is sealed. Christine Liaukus, an architect at the Center for Building Knowledge at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, suggests making sure that gutters dump water far from the base of the house. 2. Proper grading. Sometimes when a neighbor changes their landscaping it can cause water to flow into your yard and home, said Archuleta. Grading the foundation to slope away from the house is a lowcost preventative measure that every homeowner should do, suggested Liaukus.
