Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

St. James Plantation, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to introduce our readers to REMODELING Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report. In November 2009, the magazine released their report for 2009-10 which examines the relationship between remodeling costs and resale value. The national and regional averages are compared for 33 popular remodeling projects and are available online; for the Southeast region of the US, click here and to find your region, visit their website!

St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share these natural pest control strategies from the Green Home Guide’s Doug Smeath. Below are the home building and design considerations for your home and to read more on nontoxic strategies and ongoing maintenance tips, click here!

“Include no wood-to-concrete connections or separate any exterior wood-to-concrete connections—such as posts, deck supports and stair stringers—with metal or plastic fasteners or dividers.

Use solid concrete foundation walls or concrete-filled block. Foundations are particularly vulnerable to many subterranean pests, include termites.

Keep all wood, such as siding and trim, at least 12 inches above soil, as opposed to the 8 inches typically required by building code.

Use a sealed-to-the-wall vapor barrier for homes with crawlspaces on the floor or beneath a concrete slab to limit moisture intrusion and a damp environment that will appeal to insects.

In areas prone to termites:

• Use non-cellulosic wall structures. That means avoid wood, straw, and other plant-based wall materials.
• Treat any cellulosic material, such as wood framing, with a borate product to a minimum of 3 feet above the foundation.
• Install a sand or diatomaceous earth barrier.
• Install a steel mesh barrier termite control system. These mesh systems are installed around pipes coming up through slab and outside walls to keep termites from finding their way through gaps.

St. James Plantation, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an extremely informative article on improving the quality of the air in your home. Willem Maas of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide summarized three levels of ensuring your home has clean air (basic, better and best) and what steps you can do to achieve those. Below is the outline and to read the steps in detail, click here!

Basic Steps to Cleaner Air

• Clean with the least toxic product that will do the job.
• Avoid having your clothing conventionally dry-cleaned, or air out dry-cleaned clothing before bringing it inside.
• Dispose of unused paint, solvents, pesticides, and other household chemicals promptly, and tightly close the containers of products still in use.
• In temperate climates, use natural ventilation to cool your home.
• Use the exhaust fan over your stove to remove gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, and fans in your bathrooms to remove water vapor.
• Employ other simple moisture management measures to keep your home’s interior dry.
• Replace the air filter in your furnace and air conditioner at the start of the heating or cooling season, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Room-size air cleaners can be effective tools for removing pollutants in one or more rooms.
• Don’t allow smoking inside your home or around your home (near your windows or doors).

Better Steps to Cleaner Air

• Remodel in temperate months of the year, when you can open outside doors and windows to naturally ventilate construction areas without reducing energy efficiency.
• Use low-emitting, low-maintenance building materials to achieve improved indoor air quality year round.
• Reduce the use of carpeting, and keep carpeting clean and dry.
• Add a fresh air intake to your forced-air heating/cooling system’s ducting.
• Install a whole house fan system.
• Design your garage to keep vehicle fumes from entering your home.

Bigger Steps to Cleaner Air

• Install an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to provide a continuous supply of fresh air while minimizing loss of heat and water vapor.
• Use a heat pump water heater to increase energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality.
• Install a radiant hydronic heating system rather than a forced air system.

Courtesy of Willem Maas, David Bearg and Dean Sherwin of the Green Home Guide.

St. James Plantation, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an article posted today by RealtyTimes.com’s Kenneth Harney. Harney shared some positive outlook for the 2010 housing market, including a rise of home sales and new home starts. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“The latest pricing numbers released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency found home values nationwide up modestly in the latest month — by six tenths of a percent. That sounds really small, but annualized it comes to more than seven percent, which is not bad at all.

And recent sales results from key local markets also are encouraging. For example, in November, every major metropolitan area in Florida saw sales of houses and condos up compared with the year before for the second straight month.

Overall, according to the Florida Association of Realtors, sales of houses were 61 percent higher than November of 2008. Condo sales were up by an amazing 111 percent!!

Plus consumer confidence has been trending upward nationally, by 7.5 percent during December, according to the University of Michigan’s bellwether survey.”

St. James Plantation, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a very informative article from the U.S. Green Building Council and This Old House Magazine. The September 2009 article outlined over 30 ways to make your current home more Green and eco-friendly. The article also has a cost and benefit key to help you determine what actions are best for your home. Below are 10 of the tips and to read more, click here!

1. Battery Recycling

2. Think Globally, Act Locally

3. Dim That Bulb!

4. Paint Your Home “Green”

5. Prevent Energy-Wasting Air Leaks

6. Audit It

7. Automate It

8. Be an “Energy Star”

9. Good Day, Sunshine

10. Nix the Night Lights

St. James Plantation, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a recent article by RealtyTimes.com’s Richard Thompson addressing how to best utilize Homeowners Association newsletters. If a newsletter is the most efficient way for your HOA to correspond, then these tricks are sure to help you in 2010! Below is the list Thompson compiled and to read the complete article, click here!

1. Keep Articles Short.

2. Include Good Stories.

3. Put “Hook” into Your Headlines.

4. Stick to the Facts.

5. Lead with Power.

6. Proofread.

7. Use Photographs.

8. Share the Good News.

9. Standardize Your Look.

10. Use White Space.

11. Use a Readable Typeface.

12. Humorize.

13. Post It Online.

For more innovative homeowner association management strategies, see www.Regenesis.net.

St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder would like you to discover the attractions, events, activities and more that Brunswick County, NC islands and towns have to offer you. From pristine beaches to exciting wildlife, Brunswick County, NC is a beautiful place to both vacation and live. Visit www.NCBrunswick.com for information on what to do in Bald Head Island, Southport, Ocean Isle Beach and more and while you’re there, request a Vacation Guide!

Courtesy of the Brunsick County Tourism Development Authority

St. James Plantation, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a recent RealtyTimes.com article by Bob Hunt regarding the Federal Tax Credits. Through this article, Hunt aims to disprove the media’s implications that the Federal Tax Credit is only available to “move-up” buyers, as well as outlining the eligibility requirements. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“Move up, move down, move sideways; it just doesn’t matter. Whichever direction you move, financially, you may still qualify for the new tax credit available to current homeowners. It is unfortunate that the credit has too often been characterized as a credit for “move-up” homeowners. The phrase carries the implication that the new home must cost more than the sale price of the former one. Indeed, even the November 6 White House Press Release said that the credit would be available to qualified homeowners who “wish to step up to a new home.” Same implication.

So, it is worth emphasizing that the credit is equally available to homeowners who are moving down, cost-wise.

The move-down homebuyer is not an unusual phenomenon. For years retirees have been known to move from a larger home to one that is smaller and often less expensive. Moreover, it is reasonable to think that current economic conditions may lead to even more move-down buyers. Just as thousands of families have found it necessary or desirable to downsize with respect to their cars and their general lifestyle, so it may be when it comes to considering the costs of owning and maintaining a larger house than they really need.

The same requirements apply to both move-down and move-up buyers.”

St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages you to support those in need this holiday season! Southeastern North Carolina’s WARM (Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry) is currently looking for donations to help low-income homeowners stay “WARM for the Holidays.”

Your tax-deductible donation in the name of a loved one will help support and expand WARM’s important work across Southeastern North Carolina.

They will be happy to send your loved one, or their family, a greeting card acknowledging your thoughtful gift. Make sure to include your phone or email when you check out!

They have set up a secure online form for accepting donations. You can also donate via mail, phone or in person if you desire.

Your donation is urgently needed, so please pass the word along and click here for more information!