Category Archives: Member News
‘Green’ Your Home Well Beyond St. Patrick’s Day
Written on February 16, 2012 at 1:53 pm, by sthbra
By Marc Mazzei President, Southern Tier Home Builders & Remodelers Association In March, many Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by attending parties, wearing green clothing, and even bedecking their homes with green shamrock and leprechaun-adorned decorations. With nearly 37 million Americans claiming Irish ancestry (according to Ancestry.com), that’s no surprise. But what may surprise you are the many ways that you can “green” your home that will last well beyond March 17, and save you money on utility bills year-round. Here are a few recommendations from NAHB Remodelers to home owners who want to increase their home’s efficiency, decrease costs, and take advantage of the other benefits of “greening” your home. • Add insulation Adding insulation will help save energy costs, increase comfort by better controlling temperature, and improve indoor air quality by eliminating many gaps through which dirt, dust, and other impurities can enter. Insulation is rated by its ability to resist heat flow, known as the “R-value.” The higher the R-value, the better its ability to resist heat flow. • Install high-efficiency windows [...]
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hiring A Professional Remodeler
Written on February 16, 2012 at 1:50 pm, by sthbra
The decision to hire a home remodeler can be intimidating. This section will give you the tools and inside information on finding, evaluating, hiring and working with a remodeler. Your home is your biggest investment, and the best way to protect it is by hiring an ethical, professional remodeler. Let’s get started! Find a Professional When you hire a remodeler, you are buying a service rather than a product. The quality of the service the remodeler provides will determine the quality of the finished product and your satisfaction. Get a List: The first step to hiring a professional is to build a list of candidates, and flipping through the Yellow Pages is not the ideal method. Learn the best way to begin your search. The Inside Scoop: Once you have your list of remodelers, how do you properly evaluate their credentials? Get the inside information on what to ask and look for in home contractors. Evaluate References: You don’t want to just question the remodeler, but also learn first hand from the remodeler’s current and [...]
New Homes of the Future: Smaller, Greener and More Casual
Written on November 29, 2011 at 1:46 pm, by sthbra
By Mike McGowan President, Southern Tier Home Builders & Remodelers Association The economic downturn has changed the way Americans look at a lot of things, including what they are looking for in their next home. A study by the National Association of Home Builders suggests that the recession has caused prospective home buyers to shift their perspective on the housing they want and need, and that the new home of the future will focus more on efficiency than indulgence. The survey asked builders, designers, architects, manufacturers, and marketing specialists about what they thought the likely characteristics of the average, new single-family detached home would be in 2015. First, the typical size of new homes will continue to shrink, with respondents saying they expect homes to average 2,152 square feet. That is 10 percent smaller than the average size of single-family homes started in 2010. Census Bureau data shows that the average size peaked in 2007, at 2,521 square feet. This decrease is likely influenced by economic hardship, with consumers focusing on lowering the cost of [...]
Capital Improvement Tax Eliminated
Written on October 7, 2011 at 11:56 am, by mike
The Governor has withdrawn the Capital Improvement Tax…due in part to the determination and tireless efforts of Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, NYSBA and STHBRA Leaders. This is one item on the list of taxes that will be eliminated from the proposed 2009-2010 Executive Budget: Eliminate Proposed Limitation on the Capital Improvement Exemption. The Executive Budget would have limited the capital improvement exemption under the tax code to new construction, a new addition to existing construction, or complete reconstruction. This proposal is no longer recommended. (2009-10 Impact: $120 million, 2010-11 Impact: $160 million). This is Good News for our area and this industry!!!