There’s definately a new trend in homebuilding emerging.  Green.

Walking through opening day of the International Builder Show has shown a tremendous effort to provide eco-sustainable and eco-friendly living environments for more affordable prices.  Traditionally this technology has been quite spendy (and relative to many main-stream non-eco-friendly options, current eco-friendly options are still a notch or two higher in price).

I have been a fan of a more responsible approach to the way we conduct our lives, and the adoption of new building standards and techniques to minimize waste and improve the quality of life, is win-win.

Some of my favorite “eco-booths” were the Honeywell Wind Turbine and the Eco-Cottages.  The Honeywell Wind Turbine is designed to be a consumer grade wind tubine to help generate supplemental energy for your home.  Despite other turbine models that need elevations of 60 feet and unmanagable wing-spans the Honewell Turbine is designed to perch on your rooftop or similar structure.

According to the manufacturer the turbine can produce up to 18% of an average household’s energy assuming there is an average of a class 3 wind (5-6 mph).  The annual average wind speed in Spokane WA is 8.9 MPH, more than enough.  According to some online retailers of these turbines, one can be acquird for as little as $6,000 (not including any retro-fitting to accomodate installation).  The average cost savings to a home would be in the ball park of $20-$30/month (making  a recoup on investment about 16 years assuming steady energy costs).

My next favorite, and definately the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while are the Eco-Cottages.  These simple, compact and higly efficient dwellings are designed with panelized construction to minimize wast and are extremely efficient.

Entry costs for a studio unit are around $49,000 with installation being around $7,000.  They also have some great, “off the grid” wilderness packages with solar and alternative energy and water resources.  A great tool and a viable option for a lake or river home.

We’ll be spending some more time at the booth’s today looking at new (and old) ideas.  There’s a chance we may integrate many of these into our upcoming building project…

Tags: Fun, New Ideas by Spokane Home Guy (509) 990-7653
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 In the spirit of the holidays and, well, Real Estate – I wanted to share some of my favorite ideas for home related gifts.  Many are mostly functional gifts, but with current economical times many gift-buyes are leaning towards a more functional gift this Holiday Season.  Here are four of my favorites:

Give the Gift of Warmth: with an Avista gift certificate that can be used just like a check to pay heating bills.  Energy bills can often be one of the largest expenses a family has during the holidays, and the gift of warmth will be remember year-round!

A Home Warranty:  Can you say budget protetion?  The gift of a Home Warranty can cover many unexpected household failures from appliances to broken pipes.  The home warranty is a sensible gift for any homeowner.

Carbon Monoxided & Explosive Gas Detector – admitedly not the “funnest” gift of the season, BUT Carbon Monoxide is the number one cause of poison related deaths in America.  A simple $50 gift can save the life of your loved ones.   I prefer the one with the explosive gas detector to alert me if my furnace stops functioning correctly.  This is a must have!

Address Plaques are in!  We’ve had several of these and there’s  no better way to add some fun to the front of your home than with a custom address plaque. 

Do you have a favorite home related gift?  Do share.

Tags: Fun, New Ideas by Spokane Home Guy (509) 990-7653
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I’ve been asked this several times in the past week: “Is it okay to decorate my home for the holidays when I have it listed?”

My answer has always been: “If you want to.”

The more I think about it – that doesn’t sound like professional advice – kind of like shrugging my shoulders and giving a Jeff Foxworthy-esc “Yah-ump-too.”  Analyzing it a bit further and reaching back to the advice we give all year is – depersonalize the home so we can sell.  Decking the halls to the max is hardly depersonalized.  But then again, tis the season.

Think, think think, it’s hardly fair to give a resounding “No.” and then I remembered.  One of the core fundamentals I learned in my staging courses was compromise. In this situation, compromise doesn’t mean “go a head and decorate your house so you can see it from space,” but a mere modest sampling of your FAVORITE decorations tastefully displayed.  Of COURSE you can have a Christmas Tree decked out with ornaments, and heck – even lights on your house – just make sure it doesn’t distract or completely stand out in your neighborhood, because as much as you may like it – the potential buyer may not.  

 My advice: Keep it simple, take it down after Christmas.

What are your thoughts?

Tags: Fun by Spokane Home Guy (509) 990-7653
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