When it s time to sell, can you show that you ve maintained your residence? Beyond fresh coats of paint, buyers want to see that your home s HVAC is fully functional. Ninety percent of home inspections recommend furnace servicing and certification,says Jeff Hebeler, associate broker with FourStar Realty, Inc. in Boulder, Colo. Stay ahead of the curve with a…
Need to build a house quickly? Or build a lot of houses quickly to shelter a growing population? This plastic mold framework is filled with cement and sand, with plumbing, electricity, window, and door frames placed “between the formwork.” The shell of the house is ready overnight. Moladi, from South Africa, is aimed at the huge need for affordable housing in…
Jon and Gemma are building a new home from scratch to thatch in Auckland. Join Jon in his diary of all the action - his experiences may hold some good lessons. Or he may need your guidance This is a PS to my blog about our house build in Three Kings Auckland. If you were one of the readsters of my blog who was keen (and in some cases desperate) to see pictures…
Brick walls and paths offer that sturdy, old-fashioned, classic quality that will never go out of style or look dated. But it looks so simple that it seems like something you want to do yourself - especially after the shock of seeing an estimate from a professional bricklayer. If you re curious as to whether you can lay your own brick, the short answer is yes…
One couple who hired Conley Construction Co. a few years ago to remodel their Colorado home simply gave contractor Tim Conley the keys. “We’re going to Cabo, ” they said to Conley. “Call us when you’re finished.” Sybille Hechtel, on the other hand, has remodeled or built seven homes, including her current house in South Boulder and an Earthship in Silverthorne…
In just about every political constituency in the country, there are things you can’t say and expect to get elected. You can’t endorse gun control in Tennessee. You can’t make light of climate change in Seattle. In Arlington, Va., where I live, you have to watch what you say about affordable housing. To question the suburban county’s ambitious subsidized housing…
The construction cost of a house largely depends on its total area, type, location, and finishes. Moreover, the duration of the construction can increase or decrease the cost. Unless you have a list of all the materials needed and their respective costs, and the service fee of the builder or workers you will hire, you can only come up with a rough estimate of…
LEFT: Forms McMeekin used in constructing the walls. RIGHT: John McMeekin tamping a section of wall. MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF Back in the 40 s I was considered an oddball. I wore a beard—revolutionary then—and I started, by myself, to build a house out of (of all things) rammed earth. People wondered about me. Today—as a V.P. and corporation director—I appear…
Architectural Model Building Making a 3D house model can be quite fun. Once you have completed your floor plans it is a fairly simple process. The benefit of having an architectural model of your house design is that you will now be able to visualize how the interior and exterior of the house will really look when finished. It can give you an idea of sight lines…
Collin County: Land battle over retirement home plans Jason Wheeler, WFAA (Photo: WFAA) COLLIN COUNTY, Texas - Looking out from the back porch, Susan Stauffer says the view from her dream home is almost perfect, except that it is not finished and the home really is just a dream. “This was going to be the place where we basically wrapped up life and enjoyed ducks…
FACTOR LOW ↓ HIGH ↑ Roofing Materials A typical dimensional shingle roof costs $22, installed. An upgraded dimensional shingle roof adds anywhere from $10, to $40, depending on selection. Exterior Veneer Typical residential siding averages as low as $8/sq ft, while brick and stucco average $15/sq ft. Stone veneer can cost upwards of $30/sq ft. Flooring Selection…
In 1986 I bought an empty piece of farmland and forest in a quiet corner of rural Canada and began building a full-time country life for myself. I had a clean slate to create whatever house, gardens, water systems and outbuildings I wanted, and the adventure of designing and creating these things with my own hands has become my life’s work. And while I’m thankful…
ARCHITECT DESIGNED KIT HOUSES - DELIVERED AND ERECTED At HEBHOMES we promise you all the simplicity and flexibility of a self-build kit-house together with exquisite contemporary design and the most modern energy-efficient construction. HebHomes portfolio of houses is the culmination of 18 years of award winning architecture fromDualchas Architects Inspired…
This year’s DIY Advent Calendar is definitely my favorite so far! These tiny wooden houses lined up on my mantle are just about the most charming Christmas decor ever! I made the advent wooden houses out of Balsa wood, which is soft and easy to cut with scissors. We created an awesome printable template so you can make your own! The houses are bottomless so you…
Political action committee registered Wednesday with FEC Neither Biden nor Cheney had active leadership PACs in office While President Donald Trump’s White House grapples with the fallout from his firing of the former FBI director, Vice President Mike Pence has taken steps to begin building his own political war chest. Pence launched Great America Committee…
Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates takes over the fifth floor of the AGO’s Contemporary Tower with an immersive exhibition exploring the potential of the house museum—historically important landmarks that have been transformed into legacy sites. Gates proposes new ways of honouring and remembering Black experience and explores the potential of these spaces through…
Yippe! Yay for Friday! I got an email from a reader friend, Laure, about building a house VS buying a house. Reminder: I am not a realtor, nor am I a real estate professional. However, in the last 5 years… *We bought a town house in 2007 that we currently own and rent out. *We bought, built, then walked away from bigger house in 2009, losing all the deposits…
A butterfly house can help to spruce up your garden by adding a landscaping element. There are many great variations on butterfly house plans but the great thing about them is that all of the variations are easy to build and can make a great craft project for a free afternoon. This particular butterfly house can be made with scraps lying around your house. The…
In December 2016, the Navy released a new force structure assessment (FSA) that called for a fleet of 355 ships—substantially larger than the current fleet of 275 ships and also larger than the Navy’s previously stated goal of 308 ships. In response to a request from the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces of the House Committee on Armed Services…
Shutterstock.com Medical marijuana is legal in more than 20 U.S. states, and places like Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., have decriminalized recreational marijuana use for adults over the last few years. Marijuana advocates say this has led to an expanding industry in the home remodeling business: creating rooms in homes in which to…
We first published “How Much House Can You Afford” three years ago, but we’ve been getting a lot of questions about the subject recently. In fact, we’ve also been getting a lot of people asking why they haven’t been approved for a mortgage. In many cases, we simply have to tell them that they’re trying to buy too much house. The easy solution is to know how much…
Coria s longtime friend, Enrique Chavez, described Coria as a decent man, though not a sophisticated one. Chavez, who runs a ballroom in West Dallas, said his friend is a genius when it comes to handling money yet terrible with numbers — an entrepreneur who spits out calculations in his head but relies on his sons to write down phone digits. Chavez said he…
Home building is notoriously stuck-in-the-mud. Throughout history, this industry has stubbornly resisted innovation and new technology. There is some logic behind this. It’s already such a high-risk business, many builders say, so why add the risk of pioneering new methods? However, it’s dangerous to think that way today. The whole world is changing. Customers…
I own a vacant lot in rural Texas. It is ideal for a small hunting cabin. Does the law in Texas allow me to build a tiny house and put it on my land? Does it matter whether I build it on a permanent foundation as opposed to bringing in a trailer with wheels? Answer In comparison to most other states, it is relatively easy to place a tiny house on rural land in…
