Time was, and not all that long ago, that putting money into your house before putting it on the market paid off at resale.

But the "sluggish housing market continues to push down remodeling return on investment," Sal Alfano writes in the most recent cost vs. value report issued by Remodeling magazine, with the overall average cost-to-value ratio dropping to 57.7 percent from its peak in 2005 of 86.7 percent.

Even though the cost of remodeling itself has continued to fall, that is effectively counteracted by a drop in resale values, Alfano writes.

Bottom line: There is no guarantee that any improvement will boost the sale price of a house, especially in a real estate market in which even multiple offers typically result only in an amount near or slightly above asking price.

Yes, doing the necessary improvements to a house will help it compete. If two houses are for sale on the same street for the same price and one has a new roof while the other needs one, it's not hard to figure out which might sell first. But might is the operative word in an era when little about the real estate market is a certainty.

New roof or not, a house's list price must be appropriate for the market to attract buyers who likely will not only expect leak-free conditions, but also a furnace and air-conditioning that work properly.

Market observers say some sellers are still demanding prices well above what's appropriate, in an effort to turn their improvements into more cash. That, they say, is an attitude that keeps many listings sitting idle, some for a year or more.

Not to mention that it assumes the sellers' idea of improvement is in sync with the opinions of the buyers they wish to impress.

Harris Gross of Engineers for Home Inspection in Cherry Hill gets to see the results of homeowners' misguided assumptions about what it will take to sell.

Assumption: Your house has just one bathroom, and you need at least another half-bath (also known as a powder room) for buyers to even consider you.

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Home Economics: Recouping costs at resale is iffy, at best

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va., June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc. of Fairfax County, Va. has won two national remodeling industry awards for the creativity, professionalism and overall excellence of its projects and exceptional customer satisfaction.

Sun Design has won a national Chrysalis Award for a residential basement project in Fairfax County. Chrysalis Awards honor the finest remodeling projects in the country. Some 81 remodeling companies from across the United States were named winners. Winning projects were selected from 420 entries judged on overall design, creative use of space and materials and the degree to which the project enhanced the original structure.

Sun Design has also won The 2012 Guildmaster Award (with Distinction) which is given based on a lengthy track record of exceptional customer satisfaction. The awarding organization surveys recent actual customers of homebuilders, remodelers, real estate developers, and home services contractors across the country and makes awards based on specific testimonials provided by those customers.

This has been one of most spectacular periods in Sun Design's 24-year history. Earlier this month, the company announced it had its best sales month ever in March 2012. Sales were more than $1.8 million, beating its last record of $1.6 million in June 2007. The company won a national CotY Award as a "Contractor of the Year" from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), in April of this year, for a dramatic remodeling project in Fairfax, VA.

Sun Design President Bob Gallagher, said, "This is really an exciting time for all of us at Sun Design. We're beating records, winning the hearts of our clients and growing the organization to exceed the expectations of each and every client."

About Sun Design

Sun Design, celebrating its 24th year, has been the recipient of dozens of industry awards. Each year, Sun Design shows off its work during a series of home tours and other special events. For more information, visit the "Events" page at http://www.sundesigninc.com or call 703-425-5588. Sun Design is located at 5795 B Burke Centre Parkway, Burke, VA 22015.

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Sun Design Remodeling Specialists of Fairfax County Wins Two Major Industry Awards

The Better Business Bureau says a Bismarck-Mandan contractor using the BBB logo is not a member of the organization and has received a failing rating from the business information organization.

JK Customs has a BBB logo on a trailer and on its website but is not actually a BBB member, a news release said..

The companys misuse of our logo is compounded by the fact they have the lowest rating we assign, Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB, said in a release. Our hope is they will correct the misleading advertising issue and work with us to resolve the concerns of their customers.

The BBB also has given JK Customs, owned by Jason Kust, a failing grade due to consumer complaints. According to the release, JK Customs had been accredited by the BBB from 2009 to November 2011, when their accreditation was revoked due to an unanswered complaint. Two complaints have been lodged with the BBB about JK Customs without an answer from the company.

The voicemail for the telephone number for JK Customs was full and could not accept new messages, and no one answered at a phone number listed in court documents for Kust. No one answered at the door of the address listed with the North Dakota Secretary of States Office for JK Customs on Thursday afternoon.

The unanswered customer complaints filed with the BBB involve situations where down payments were made and work did not proceed as planned. The information in the BBB complaints mirrors cases in which customers brought Kust to small claims court and won.

In one case, a man was awarded $2,635 after Kust did not return a down payment on a basement remodeling project when the man decided to cancel the project. In another case, a couple was awarded $3,050 after putting a down payment to have Kust build a staircase and he never showed up to do the job.

In another case still pending in small claims court, Kust is accused of never starting a bathroom remodeling job that a man put $2,000 down on. The plaintiff in that case wrote that Kust did return $500.

In February, the BBBs Advertising Review department challenged JK Customs use of the BBB logo, which misleads consumers into believing the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, the release from the organization said. The company failed to respond within the six-week timeframe provided and the violation was closed as Major, further lowering the companys rating. The matter has now been turned over to the Council of Better Business Bureaus, where further action may be taken to ensure the company discontinues use of the BBB trademark, a release from the organization said.

Dan Hendrickson, a spokesman for the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota, said the Council of Better Business Bureaus could take legal action against JK Customs for the misuse of the logo.

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Better Business Bureau says local contractor is not a member

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -05/28/12)- According to the Annual BMO Home Renovation Report, fewer Canadians are planning home renovations this year but are choosing projects with the greatest returns - a sign that consumers are scaling back and becoming more strategic on spending amid rising concern about household debt.

Half of Canadian homeowners (51 per cent) plan to renovate their homes in the next year, compared with 62 per cent in 2011. Single family homeowners far out-pace their condo-dwelling counterparts (62 per cent versus 41 per cent respectively).

Regionally, the report revealed:

"The scaled-back plans for home renovations likely reflect increased caution on the part of households as they continue to reduce discretionary spending to rein in debt," said Sal Guatieri, Senior Economist, BMO Capital Markets. "After averaging 9 per cent in the past decade, consumer loan growth has slowed to almost 2 per cent recently, suggesting Canadians are taking recent debt warnings to heart."

The study, conducted by Leger Marketing, also revealed the top five renovation plans for Canadians:

"Making home upgrades can add significant value to a home; however, it's crucial that homeowners consider the financial implications involved," Laura Parsons, Mortgage Expert, BMO Bank of Montreal. "Renovation projects come in different shapes and sizes and vary in return on investment. Homeowners planning to move forward with renovations should consult a professional to help balance wants versus needs and the overall value of the investment."

Ms. Parsons added that if the renovations are smaller in size and spaced out over a few months, a personal line of credit can give homeowners the flexibility to borrow what they need, when they need it. For larger projects, homeowners can consider a secured line of credit, such as BMO Homeowner ReadiLine.

HGTV.ca and BMO offer the following advice on which renovation projects provide the best return on investment to help Canadians make sense of their reno plans:

1. Painting: When done well and with taste, applying a fresh coat of paint to the interior or exterior of a home is a simple way to realize gains on your renovation investment. Return: As much as 300 per cent.

2. Kitchen remodeling: A kitchen renovation can be one of the most costly home improvement projects, However, careful planning, budgeting and shopping will help minimize expenses. Consider aspects such as whether or not the project is in line with the style and quality of the rest of the house and neighbourhood. Return: 68-120 per cent.

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BMO Home Renovation Report: Canadians Scale Back Plans for Spending in 2012

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -05/28/12)- According to the Annual BMO Home Renovation Report, fewer Canadians are planning home renovations this year but are choosing projects with the greatest returns - a sign that consumers are scaling back and becoming more strategic on spending amid rising concern about household debt.

Half of Canadian homeowners (51 per cent) plan to renovate their homes in the next year, compared with 62 per cent in 2011. Single family homeowners far out-pace their condo-dwelling counterparts (62 per cent versus 41 per cent respectively).

Regionally, the report revealed:

"The scaled-back plans for home renovations likely reflect increased caution on the part of households as they continue to reduce discretionary spending to rein in debt," said Sal Guatieri, Senior Economist, BMO Capital Markets. "After averaging 9 per cent in the past decade, consumer loan growth has slowed to almost 2 per cent recently, suggesting Canadians are taking recent debt warnings to heart."

The study, conducted by Leger Marketing, also revealed the top five renovation plans for Canadians:

"Making home upgrades can add significant value to a home; however, it's crucial that homeowners consider the financial implications involved," Laura Parsons, Mortgage Expert, BMO Bank of Montreal. "Renovation projects come in different shapes and sizes and vary in return on investment. Homeowners planning to move forward with renovations should consult a professional to help balance wants versus needs and the overall value of the investment."

Ms. Parsons added that if the renovations are smaller in size and spaced out over a few months, a personal line of credit can give homeowners the flexibility to borrow what they need, when they need it. For larger projects, homeowners can consider a secured line of credit, such as BMO Homeowner ReadiLine.

HGTV.ca and BMO offer the following advice on which renovation projects provide the best return on investment to help Canadians make sense of their reno plans:

1. Painting: When done well and with taste, applying a fresh coat of paint to the interior or exterior of a home is a simple way to realize gains on your renovation investment. Return: As much as 300 per cent.

2. Kitchen remodeling: A kitchen renovation can be one of the most costly home improvement projects, However, careful planning, budgeting and shopping will help minimize expenses. Consider aspects such as whether or not the project is in line with the style and quality of the rest of the house and neighbourhood. Return: 68-120 per cent.

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REPEAT-BMO Home Renovation Report: Canadians Scale Back Plans for Spending in 2012

Belmond Hospital Administrator Nancy Gabrielson gave members of BIDCO a pictorial tour Monday night of the new $26 million addition at the Belmond Medical Center.

The audience was able to see photos of four floors, from the basement to the roof, and just about everything in between.

Gabrielson said the final touches are being put on the facility. The elevators are finished and working. The helicopter stop on the roof has passed inspection. The initial cleaning has been done, but a more critical cleaning remains before patients can move in and the emergency and operating rooms can be put into service. There are several small jobs being finished, and several state inspections must be completed before the building can be occupied. While the kitchen is being finished, meals are being brought in from the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

We hope to move patients into the new facility by the end of May or first part of June, Gabrielson said. But Ive learned not to get to get my hopes up because there are always delays. We still plan to have our public open house sometime in June. We will be taking down most of the fence around the building and getting the parking on Main Street opened back up.

Gabrielson said extra volunteers are being sought for the next few months to work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (hours are flexible). These volunteers will show visitors where to find things in the new addition.

A financial report from the first three quarters of the current fiscal year show that business at BMC continues to be strong. There have been 1,644 patient days in the hospital compared to 1,110 for the nine-month period one year ago. There have been 316 surgeries compared to 267 last year. Gross revenue is up over 18 percent.

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Hospital addition nearly finished

Construction crews and maintenance workers continue to work on the Wayland Baptist University campus in preparation for what could be record enrollment in the fall of 2012. The last two years have seen an increase in student enrollment on Waylands Plainview campus, and indicators show that the 2012-13 school year may be no different.

In an attempt to meet the needs of the students, several projects are taking place at Wayland this summer, including the completion of Jimmy Dean Hall. Along with the dorm, the University Center also is being renovated to make it more accommodating to students. Also, the Wheeler Building will be remodeled to add locker rooms for athletics teams.

The new mens dormitory, which was officially named Jimmy Dean Hall at a special announcement March 22, will take the place of existing McDonald Hall, which has fallen into disrepair. Wayland officials looked at the cost of renovating McDonald Hall, but determined that bringing the aging building up to code would not have been cost effective. Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Claude Lusk said the cost per square-foot to renovate McDonald would have been more than the cost per square-foot to build the new dorm.

Dean Hall also will provide an additional 250 beds. The added space for male students will allow Ferguson Hall to revert to a womens dorm, accommodating the growth of Waylands womens population.

Construction of the dorm is taking into account green technologies in all electrical and plumbing fixtures. The outdoor area also will be ecologically friendly. The courtyard of the dorm features four collection pools and tanks that will collect rain water as it drains. The water then will be used to assist in irrigation around the structure. The dorm also will feature increased security, making use of coded keyless entry systems and other precautions.

Although McDonald Hall will not be used as housing next fall, the historic dorm is providing much-needed office space during the summer. As part of the renovation and remodeling plans, Waylands University Center has been gutted and will be reconfigured to become more user-friendly for students. Due to construction in the building, all of the offices housed in the UC, along with the university store, moved to McDonald for the summer.

The University Center renovations include an updated cafeteria, giving students easier access to food and drink stations. The long table seating will be replaced by more intimate round tables to better simulate a dining experience. While changing the seating structure will remove some seats, the cafeteria will increase the number of operating hours throughout the day, allowing more flexibility in eating times for students.

Other changes to the University Center will include the remodeling of the student lounge area. Petes Place, located in the basement, will reopen as a coffee shop, serving Starbucks products to students.

The area also will house a grill and a stage area with lighting and sound systems. The south portion of the basement will be turned into offices for student activities and student government.

The courtyard area also will be remodeled, and actions will be taken to control the bird population in the outdoor area.

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Wayland's University Center getting facelift

COLUMBUS The 175 students at Shell Creek Elementary School werent the only ones excited when classes were dismissed for the semester last week.

Construction crews who have spent the past 10 months remodeling the K-6 school will use the summer break to make the final push toward completion of a $5.12 million expansion project there.

It will make things a lot easier, said Jeff Keating of Bierman Contracting Inc., the projects construction manager.

Although Keating said things went surprisingly well with classes in session, the absence of students will allow for unimpeded progress on the new wings and renovations planned in the old building.

Keating expects the project to be wrapped up around July 15.

Schedule-wise, were right where we need to be, he said.

The school, located just north of Columbus at 16786 280th St., will be a double-track facility with two classrooms for each of the seven grades when classes resume this August.

Students and staff began using five of the seven new classrooms a few weeks ago after the majority of work on the east addition was complete.

They were pretty excited that they got to be in the new classrooms, said Principal John Mlinar.

And thats just a portion of the benefits adding about 30,000 square feet to the school will bring.

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Shell Creek school project to be done in July

Summary: The system will handle about 45 percent of the electricity needs for the refurbished Lafayette Hotel, whose guests once included stars such as Ava Gardner and Bob Hope.

The Lafayette Hotel, a historic site in San Diego whose swimming pool was designed by Tarzan star Johnny Weismuller, has installed a 40-kilowatt ClearEdge Power fuel cell as part of a massive remodeling.

The cell should help the property save up to $30,000 annually in energy costs, according to the partnership that operates the Lafayette. It will handle approximately 45 percent of the electricity that the property needs to operate, according to ClearEdge Power. There are seven buildings on the site, hosting 131 guest rooms.

The ClearEdge Power fuel cell uses natural gas to produce its energy; the electrochemical process that takes place along the way generates enough heat to keep the Olympic-sized swimming pools temperature between 76 degrees and 79 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

One of the key challenges in this renovation was finding an alternative energy solution that would preserve the buildings historic value, said Tara Hamacher, president and owner of Historic Consultants, in the press materials about the project. With ClearEdge Powers fuel cell system, we were able to comply with strict guidelines and qualify for energy upgrade rebates and tax credit incentives that help make this renovation a reality in one of the toughest real estate and hospitality recessions.

The energy efficiency measures embraced by the hotel, which should save $70,000 annually, helped the property managers qualify for tax credits that helped fund installation of the ClearEdge Power fuel cell system, which is housed in the basement of the main building.

Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist with a passion for green technology and corporate sustainability issues.

Writing publicly about what the high-tech industry is actually doing to help itself and the world get greener or more sustainable is one way I figure I can contribute more meaningfully to said effort. I am also a big OMG-kind-of-fan of smart leadership, which is why the goodly folks who publish this blog let me go on about this topic and why I am always on the hunt for forward-looking business management ideas.

My daily writing is focused on looking for topics for my blogs, GreenTech Pastures and Business Brains. I also write often about emerging technology trends such as mobile computing, unified communications and cloud computing. Occasionally, I will pop up at an industry conference in some sort of speaking capacity. In cases where a speaking engagement involves a sponsor that may be covered in this blog, that fact will be disclosed in coverage as appropriate.

My corporate writing work usually consists of crafting research white papers about some aspect of technology. In the event that my commentary (in written, audio or video form) mentions a company for which I have provided consulting advice, I will disclose that fact. However, there is no connection between these projects and the topics that I am covering in my blog.

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Hollywood hotel casts ClearEdge fuel cell in supporting role

ELKO Business is booming at the City of Elko building department, with nearly all categories reporting gains in April.

Permits issued for the month totaled 153, an increase from the 95 issued during the same month a year prior. Permit valuations were also up, with $6.7 million reported for the month more than double the $2.5 million reported during April 2011.

If we keep on this pace, were going to way outdo last year, said Elko Building Official Ted Schnoor, who added the biggest category continues to be residential single-family dwellings.

The number of single-family dwellings permitted this year is more than double last years figure 29, compared with 14 year-to-date in 2011.

In April, residential construction again posted the highest figures of the various application types, with 69 permits issued for 10 new buildings. The valuation was $2.1 million, an amount largely due to the permitting of an additional building at the Rabbit Brush Run apartment complex, which amounted to $1.1 million in permit valuations.

Valuations were on the rise across the board, with a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system upgrade at Northside Elementary School amounting to nearly $2 million, and at the Elko Indian Colony the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone is in the process of building a new education center, with a valution of nearly $1 million.

Rounding out projects resulting in high permit valuations are the commercial remodels of McDonalds and Walmart, both on Mountain City Highway. Each of these projects contributed nearly half a million dollars apiece in permit valuations in April.

Theres a lot of activity, said Schnoor, who added the number of commercial permits being issued by the building department continue to grow, particularly with commercial warehouse remodeling.

He expects to see the number of commercial applicants outpace residential as the summer season approaches.

With the number of applications being seen, the building department is reporting a wait of six weeks or longer to issue permits, depending upon the complexity of the project.

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Double the dollars; City building continues strong upward trend