 |
Old Formica top, stainless steel self rimming sink and generic tile splash.
Formica top and vinyl floor before transformation.
Granite top, under-mount sink and stylish tile splash.
Brick pattern tile with glass accent.
Konecto flooring is more durable the hardwood and richer looking than the sheet vinyl.
Contact us for your remodeling or building project.
2011 Home & Remodeling Showcase February 4-6, 2011
Friday 4pm-8pm
Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Tickets are $10 with Free Parking
Presented by Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky
Includes hundreds of local and regional vendors, celebrities and events. Dream Street, an exhibit of six exclusive exhibitors displaying their best products and offerings. Cooking demonstrations with Remke-bigg’s and chefs from local restaurants and bakeries. Value City Furniture Face-Off with interior design students of Antonelli College-vote for your favorite room design.
Date: Monday, January 10, 2011, 12:53pm EST
Homes across the city should be seeing improvements, as Cincinnati has been tagged the No. 1 residential remodeling market in the country for 2011, according to Remodeling Magazine.
Using its Residential Remodeling Index, the magazine ranks the top 100 markets annually using variables such as household median income, household growth, median existing home prices, unemployment, existing home sales and total permits. In addition, the forecast looks at 66 demographic segments including level of affluence, age, urbanization and family status.
The index compares the current level of remodeling with 2007, the baseline year of highest registered activity both nationally and locally.
The index forecasts the Cincinnati regional remodeling market will be better by the third quarter of this year than its was at its peak, the first quarter of 2007.
With so much remodeling going on, the Home Builders Associations of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are anticipating much greater participation in their joint Tour of Remodeled Homes scheduled to take place this fall.
“We are extremely encouraged that the Cincinnati remodeling market is projected to be the top performing market in the country this year. With this important segment on the rebound we are optimistic that performance of the single and multifamily segment will also begin to gain momentum over this next year,†Dan Dressman, executive director of the HBA of Greater Cincinnati, said in a news release.
Rounding out the top five markets expected to see people freshening up their kitchens and bathrooms include are Houston, Minneapolis, Dallas and Austin, Texas.
As for other Ohio cities, Columbus was ranked 10th, Dayton was ranked 51st and Cleveland was ranked 74th.
In this series, the professionals at the B.O.L.D. Company will take you through the process of building a custom home in the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky area. From plan and lot selection, to mortgage approval, to the actual construction, we’ll take you behind-the-scenes each week for an inside look at a different part of the process.
This week, we look at windows:
WINDOW FRAMES
There are many window options to consider when building a new home. First of all, vinyl or wood? Of course, the “window” part of the window is made of glass, but the “vinyl or wood” title refers to the window frame. While there are many options on the market today, from wood-framed, to composite-framed, to steel-framed, typically, customers are deciding between:
a) wood-framed windows with exterior aluminum cladding, or
b) vinyl-framed windows.
Both options are low-maintenance. The wood windows tend to be pricier but more durable, and also give a home a warmer, more elegant look and feel. Some customers will compromise by installing vinyl windows and trimming them out with wood, giving the home a look and feel somewhere between that of wood and vinyl windows.
WINDOW PANES
I did say that the “window” part of the window is made of glass, but hold on! It’s not that simple!! 
While glass is a much better conductor than it is an insulator (making many-windowed rooms a nightmare to heat and cool), modern features greatly increase the energy efficiency of windows:
1) One such feature is Low-E glass. This glass is coated with an ultrathin layer of metal, so thin that it does not obstruct the transparency of the window, but it will reflect heat — in the summer, it reflects heat from outside back out (keeping the home cool), while in the winter, heat from inside is reflected back in (keeping the home warm). Some Low-E glass will also reflect UV rays, reducing fading of carpet and furniture!
2) Another insulating feature available in windows is double (or triple) glazing. This means that the window is made of multiple layers of glass with air trapped between the panes — the air provides the insulating effect. For an even better insulating effect, some windows have gas (typically argon gas) injected into the space between panes.
3) Better than either option alone is the combination of the two! These windows have the metal layer between two layers of glass, with gas injected between the panes.
WINDOW STYLE
There is a wide variety of types of windows, in terms of how they are built and how they function. Different types make more sense in different locations, so don’t necessarily limit yourself to one style:
*Awning windows hinge at the top and open out (like an awning).
*Bay windows bulge out from the wall, increasing the living space of a room, the light allowed to enter, and the scope of the view.
*Casement windows hinge on the side and open out (like a sideways awning window).
*Double-hung windows have two sashes that move up and down, so the window can be opened from the top or the bottom (or both!). Generally, both of these sashes can be folded in for easier cleaning, too!
*Fixed windows do not open at all.
*Single-hung windows have one sash that opens (the bottom). Only the bottom sash would fold in for cleaning.
*Sliding windows slide from side to side horizontally; typically, these windows only open from one side, while one sash remains stationary.
*Special shaped windows go beyond the typical rectangle and square windows: customers can purchase windows that are circular, half-circular, elliptical, octagonal, trapezoidal, triangular, and most any combination thereof.
*Stained-glass windows have reduced transparency, without significantly reducing the light that comes in. They also add color and personality to a room!
WINDOW ACCESSORIES
Once you have decided on the basics of your window selections, there are accessory options you might consider:
* High-transparency v. conventional window screens
*Grilles – wood, interior, removable grids; permanent interior and exterior grids to simulate the look of multi-pane windows; permanent grids inside between the panes, available in aluminum, or with a wood finish to the inside (these make cleaning windows simple!)
*Blinds inside between the panes
B.O.L.D. Homes, a B.O.L.D. company, has been established as among the premiere Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky custom home builders since 1986. We have well over 500 customer designed homes to our credit. Work one-on-one with the owners of the company – including a licensed real estate broker, a licensed real estate agent, a licensed professional engineer, and a CAD draftsman/designer – to design your dream home full of the features important to you. We can help you find a balance between luxury and budget.
In this series, the professionals at the B.O.L.D. Company will take you through the process of building a custom home in the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky area. From plan and lot selection, to mortgage approval, to the actual construction, we’ll take you behind-the-scenes each week for an inside look at a different part of the process.
This week, we look at roofing options:
Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material: attractive, inexpensive, and long-lasting, these shingles provide great value for the money. Regular asphalt shingles come in a variety of colors and color combinations and are guaranteed for at least 20 
years, sometimes 30! Architectural asphalt shingles are thicker (giving a three-dimensional look) and come in color combinations that resemble wood shakes or slate roofing, as well as all the colors and color combinations available in regular asphalt shingles.
Other roofing options include: metal — ranging from inexpensive galvanized, to middle-of-the-road steel panels, to high-end copper roofing, all of which should last close to 50 years; wood shingles or shakes — while adding character to the home, this roofing material is high maintenance and expensive to install; slate — a beautiful and old-style traditional look, but expensive, especially when you consider the extra structural 
support necessary to handle its weight; ceramic or clay tile — think of Florida and California, where the sun is especially hard on asphalt shingles — elsewhere, these tiles are generally prohibitively high-cost due to the material and the very great weight of the tiles (though a ceramic roof will last for more than 50 years!)
These days, you might consider researching the “latest and greatest” engineered products for roofing. For example, slate, wood shingle, and wood shake look-a-likes made from recycled rubber, plastic, and/or other materials are available at much lower cost and weight than the originals. They also meet strict fire codes! 
Remember that whatever type of roofing material you install, it is IMPERATIVE that it be properly installed and accompanied by flashing and trim as needed — a beautiful roof is great, but the most important purpose of the roof is to protect your home against the elements, particularly water!
B.O.L.D. Homes, a B.O.L.D. company, has been established as among the premiere Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky custom home builders since 1986. We have well over 500 customer designed homes to our credit. Work one-on-one with the owners of the company – including a licensed real estate broker, a licensed real estate agent, a licensed professional engineer, and a CAD draftsman/designer – to design your dream home full of the features important to you. We can help you find a balance between luxury and budget.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enacted a new rule for professional contractors in April 2010 to help keep small children safer from the dangers of lead dust exposure.
If you live in a home built before 1978 and you’re contemplating any work that will disturb more than six square feet of painted surfaces inside the home or 20 square feet on the exterior of the home – for example, replacing a window, installing cabinets, or adding on to your home – the contractor you hire is required by law to be trained and certified by the EPA.
Keep your family safe from the dangers of lead exposure by hiring an EPA Lead-Safe Certified 
Renovator. Call your local home builders’ association for a list of certified remodelers or use the tool at www.leadfreekids.org to find one near you.
Tips for Home Owners
Learn more about EPA’s lead paint rule by visiting http://www.leadfreekids.org/ or by downloading the pamphlet, Renovate Right.
The BOLD Company is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator and can help you with your eremodeling project.
In this series, the professionals at the B.O.L.D. Company will take you through the process of building a custom home in the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky area. From plan and lot selection, to mortgage approval, to the actual construction, we’ll take you behind-the-scenes each week for an inside look at a different part of the process.
This week, we look at the process of obtaining permits to begin construction of a new home:
What permits, approvals, and fee payments will be required prior to a new home construction project will depend on where the job site is located and what municipality and state govern within that region. The information that follows is a generalization of the procedures that The B.O.L.D. Company follows in the Northern Kentucky region of Greater Cincinnati. This article is intended only as an informational guide; be sure to check with your local and state agencies to find out what is required for your specific home site. Most agencies have requirements and applications available via their web sites.
The first approval to obtain, if applicable, is from the neighborhood association. This board or committee — 
sometimes known as the Architecture Review Board or the Design Review Board — will review site plans, house plans, and building materials, and will ensure that all of the subdivision restrictions are met. A non-refundable review fee may apply; similarly, many boards will collect a refundable performance bond which will be returned upon proper completion of the project.
Next, before we can obtain a building permit, we must: (1) either obtain an electrical permit or hire a licensed electrician; (2) hire a licensed HVAC contractor; (3) obtain from the county an encroachment permit for a driveway that connects to a county-maintained road OR obtain from the state an encroachment permit for a
driveway that connects to a state-maintained road; and (4) if no sewer tap is available at the home site, obtain whichever of the following is appropriate: (a) for a septic system, a permit from the local health department; or (b) for an alternate sewage control system, a permit from the state division of water.
The next step is to obtain zoning approval and a building permit. In our area, the two departments work 
together — we prepare one batch of materials and documentation which we deliver to the planning commission, who, upon approval, passes the materials across the hall to the building department. (Each collects their own fees, however.) Generally required materials and documents, in addition to the items obtained in the previous step (above), include: (1) at least two copies of house plans; (2) workers compensation insurance certificate or a signed affidavit of exemption; (3) plot plan/site plan; and (4) sidewalk/driveway permit (usually issued as part of the building permit application process). 
Once we obtain a building permit, which would not be issued without also receiving zoning approval, then we apply for municipal water (if applicable) and for a sewer connection permit (if applicable).
At this point, we are ready to begin construction!
The B.O.L.D. Company is uniquely situated to help you through each and every step of the custom home building process, from financing and design/selections to construction and warranty service. We are available to build on your lot in Northern Kentucky, or let our licensed real estate agents help you find the perfect home site! Our in-house drafting and design team, together with our on-staff licensed Professional Engineer, can help you find or design the plan of your dreams! And of course, B.O.L.D. combines quality products and craftsmanship with unsurpassed customer service, so that the finished home is everything you expect and more. Find out why 400+ other new home customers have trusted The B.O.L.D. Company since 1986!
In this series, the professionals at the B.O.L.D. Company will take you through the process of building a custom home in the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky area. From plan and lot selection, to mortgage approval, to the actual construction, we’ll take you behind-the-scenes each week for an inside look at a different part of the process.
This week, we look more closely at financing a new home purchase. There are many types and varieties of financing options, from paying cash, to obtaining private loans, to the myriad mortgage loan options. Because most people do not have access to that much cash, nor do they have friends or family with that much cash and the availability to loan it away, we are going to look at the most common mortgage loan options.
Mortgage loans come in several varieties, with the most commonly used being the fixed rate loan. Usually coming with 30-year or 15-year terms, fixed rate loans provide regular and predictable payments for which monthly finances can be budgeted. A rate is locked-in (“fixed”) and this same rate is charged for the life of the loan. The advantage is in being prepared and knowing what will be owed each month and for how long. The disadavantage is that if interest rates go down, you are still fixed at the same unchanging rate. (However, re-financing is still an option.) 30-year fixed rate loans allow for a lower monthly payment (because less principal is paid down each month), but because of the longer period of time, the total amount of interest paid is higher than with a shorter-term loan; furthermore, the interest rate is generally higher than for a shorter-term loan. 15-year fixed rate loans come with a higher monthly payment (because more principal is paid down each month), but less interest is paid over all, and they generally come with lower rates. Shorter-term loans also help you to build up equity faster and pay off the loan more quickly. Though less common, 40- and 50-year fixed rate mortgages are available; however, in these situations, while your monthly payment may be less, in the end, the result is often that you pay more in interest than the entire principal of the loan!
Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) became increasingly popular before the downturn, and improper use of this option is frequently blamed for the high number of foreclosures. Obtaining an ARM to get into more house than you can reasonably afford is one example of an improper use. Despite its recent bad reputation, used in a reasonable manner, ARMs can be useful. Adjustable rate mortgages are loans in which the rate is quite low for an initial period of time, whether it be one month or 5 years. After this initial term, the rate “floats”– or changes in relation to current market trends. It may change monthly or by some other term specified in the loan contract. Purchasers who do not intend to stay in their home longer than the initial low rate period may benefit from such a loan (assuming they are actually able to sell when expected). Similarly, if purchasers expect to have a better cash flow situation after the initial period (for instance, if they expect to have paid off student or vehicle loans, or expect to earn a higher income) ARMs may be manageable. Adjustable rate mortgages often come with payment caps, or limits on how high the monthly payment can go. While this sounds like a safety precaution, it can actually be a danger, in that if the interest rate becomes high enough that the monthly interest payment surpasses the cap, then the remaining interest due is added to the principal of the loan–so instead of paying down the loan, the loan actually increases in size over time. Very quickly, the principal of the loan becomes higher than the value of the home.
Convertible mortgage loans are adjustable rate mortgages that allow you to “fix” at a rate at some point during the life of the loan–thus, after the initial low interest rate, the ARM can be changed to a fixed rate loan (usually for a fee, often a sizeable one). Ideally, the terms would allow for the borrower to lock in a rate at any time, but be careful: some terms will only allow the borrower to lock in a rate during a narrow time period, and the mortgagee may or may not remind you when that time period arrives (and it is difficult to predict what the market rates will be at that time).
Interest only mortgages allow the borrower for the first few years to make payments covering only the interest, without paying down any of the principal. While this allows for lower monthly payments initially, no equity is built up during this time, and eventually, the payments will have to be increased to pay down principal. Using this option as a means of getting into more house than you can reasonably afford — like with ARMs — is, ultimately, not a beneficial use of this option.
Once you select a mortgage type, the next question is likely to be: what are discount points? Simply put, points are fees paid to the lender at
Lets Make a Deal!
closing in exchange for a lower interest rate on the loan. The benefit to the lender is that they get more cash upfront, while the borrower has the advantage of paying less interest overall. If the borrower plans to stay in their home long enough to recoup the initial fees (often a considerable time period), and if the borrower has extra cash available to make the upfront payment, paying down points can be a good option. Furthermore, in negotiations between buyer and seller, the buyer sometimes pays points on behalf of the borrower, in order to get the sale without lowering the sale price (and thereby devaluing the home and the appraisals of those around it). Each point is equal to one percent of the total mortgage loan amount; thus one point on a $100,000 loan would be $1,000. How much change in the interest rate that this amount would purchase will depend on the terms of the loan, but it is typically about 1/8%. This, in turn, will allow you to determine how much interest you will save by paying points.
Each financing situation is unique, and only by examining each option, doing your homework, and asking questions will you be able to determine the best financing option for you.
The B.O.L.D. Company is uniquely situated to help you through each and every step of the custom home building process, from financing and design/selections to construction and warranty service. We are available to build on your lot in Northern Kentucky, or let our licensed real estate agents help you find the perfect home site! Our in-house drafting and design team, together with our on-staff licensed Professional Engineer, can help you find or design the plan of your dreams! And of course, B.O.L.D. combines quality products and craftsmanship with unsurpassed customer service, so that the finished home is everything you expect and more. Find out why 400+ other new home customers have trusted The B.O.L.D. Company since 1986!
In this series, the professionals at the B.O.L.D. Company will take you through the process of building a custom home in the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky area. From plan and lot selection, to mortgage approval, to the actual construction, we’ll take you behind-the-scenes each week for an inside look at a different part of the process.
This week, we review the financing options and the mortgage process for new home purchases. While loans have become more difficult to obtain in recent years, being prepared will greatly increase your chances of getting financing with the terms you want.
*KNOW YOUR CREDIT SCORE Get your credit report – everyone is entitled to one free credit report per year (visit annualcreditreport.com or call (877) 322-8228). Make sure there are no mistakes in your report, and dispute any you find. It can take a month or more for your report to reflect corrections, so don’t wait to fix errors!
*ANALYZE YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION Determine how much you can afford to spend – and are willing to spend – every month on a mortgage. A general rule of thumb is to expect to spend NO MORE than a third of your gross income on your mortgage payment – and remember, the smaller the percentage of your income that you devote to the mortgage, the easier your finances will be during the tough times (medical bills, lay offs, etc). Don’t forget to determine how much of a downpayment you can afford! Expect to need a downpayment of between 5% and 20% of the purchase price – the more money you put down initially, the less you have to pay interest on later.
*COMPARE RATES, TERMS, AND FEES Compare many lenders and rates to find the right fit for you and your situation. Be sure to add up all the costs so that you are making fair comparisons – include all fees, points, and closing costs in your estimates. Potential lenders should give you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) within three days of your application which details all the costs—but this is only an estimate. If you can get your lender to “lock in†fees and rates, all the better! Finally, be sure that you explore all your options: savings and loan associations, credit unions, local banks, major lenders, stock brokerages, mortgage brokers, and FHA and VA programs. Each have their advantages: for instance, local banks know the area, the building practices, and tend to be easier to contact, while major lenders may be able to offer more competitive rates, and federal programs may offer lower downpayment requirements.
*BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION Lenders need to know that you can afford to make the payments and that you intend to
Lets Make a Deal!
make the payments, so you need to provide evidence that you have a steady income and a history of making payments in full and on time. This means that, in addition to proving your identity by providing your full legal name, Social Security number, and date of birth, you will also be expected to furnish at least two years of tax returns and income, employment, and residence history, as well as at least two months of bank statements and pay stubs. You may also need to provide investment earnings reports, divorce or child support decrees, proof of insurance, or documentation of any other assets or liabilities that could affect your ability to make your payments.
The B.O.L.D. Company is uniquely situated to help you through each and every step of the custom home building process, from financing and design/selections to construction and warranty service. We are available to build on your lot in Northern Kentucky, or let our licensed real estate agents help you find the perfect home site! Our in-house drafting and design team, together with our on-staff licensed Professional Engineer, can help you find or design the plan of your dreams! And of course, B.O.L.D. combines quality products and craftsmanship with unsurpassed customer service, so that the finished home is everything you expect and more. Find out why 400+ other new home customers have trusted The B.O.L.D. Company since 1986!
In this series, the professionals at the B.O.L.D. Company will take you through the process of building a custom home in the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky area. From plan and lot selection, to mortgage approval, to the actual construction, we’ll take you behind-the-scenes each week for an inside look at a different part of the process.
Last week, we looked at creating outdoor living spaces with porches, decks, and patios. This week, we take that idea a step further. Dress up your porch, deck, or patio by stocking a complete outdoor kitchen!
The convenience of an “outdoor kitchen” means dining and entertaining outside without having to continually run back inside for utensils, condiments, or food that is cooled by the time it reaches the table. You also avoid potentially dirty shoes tracking from porch to kitchen. An outdoor kitchen provides everything you need right where you need it!
The most basic (and most budget-friendly!) outdoor kitchen might include simply a grill and an outdoor bar–somewhere to house drinks and snacks for the evening, for the convenience of guests. For a little bit bigger investment, some bar stools and also cabinet space to allow storage of plates, napkins, and utensils, would dress up the space.
Upgrading the outdoor bar design to an outdoor kitchen would consist of a built-in grill with a miniature sink and a small counter space for food preparation. More elaborate outdoor kitchen designs might include a dishwasher, a refrigerator, an oven, or even a television set for watching the big game! Some designs also include an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, to make their outdoor entertaining more of an all-season facility.
All of these items would need to be installed or covered in such a way as to protect them from the elements, however. Keep in mind:
*Flooring – avoid flooring that would become dangerously slippery when wet.
*Hot or wet surfaces – any part of cabinets or countertops that would be exposed to heat from the grill, or to rain or even direct sunlight, will need extra protection, such as backer board covered with stone veneer, or will need, at least, to have a sealer applied.
*Lighting – avoid accidents by including sufficient lighting for walkways, food preparation areas, and dining areas.
*Shelter – don’t be run out of your outdoor space when the sun is too bright or the air too chilly. Prepare for the conditions you expect to face, whether it is by including simply a patio umbrella or a complete pergola-with-plexiglass-panel roof; or maybe a stone-faced outdoor fireplace for warmth, or even just a portable outdoor patio heater.
B.O.L.D. Homes, a B.O.L.D. company, has been established as among the premiere Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky custom home builders since 1986. We have well over 500 customer designed homes to our credit. Work one-on-one with the owners of the company – including a licensed real estate broker, a licensed real estate agent, a licensed professional engineer, and a CAD draftsman/designer – to design your dream home full of the features important to you. We can help you find a balance between luxury and budget.
