Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The term value-add appears to be trending everywhere you turn. Understanding what that concept really entails is crucial to establishing sound projections and return on investment for any multifamily investment (and for the vast majority of other types of deals). Just as important is understanding what not to get to hung up on and realizing what will maximize your dollars.

You have run all your critical numbers, and the deal looks good. You're happy with the price and the loan, and your due diligence has come back clean enough to start considering your value-add opportunities. Where to start? The following are some sound value-add practices to consider, as well as a few that multifamily investors may want to avoid.

Interior

There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to change the entire feel of a property. Brighten up as many areas of the unit as you can, and consider adding an accent wall or two. Paint is one of the cheapest components of any value-add project and can bring a major appeal to the property. From reviving dated schemes to bringing light to dingy and dark hallways, focusing on your paint makes a big impact.

Flooring is the next major interior value-add item you should prepare to invest in. Whether its carpet, tile, wood or laminate, having clean and uniform flooring helps bring the interior of a property together. If your budget permits, remodeling your kitchen or bathrooms in addition to painting and upgrading flooring is the ideal objective to maximize your values and raise your rents.

If after the paint and flooring you are tight on capital, make sure all electrical outlets and light switches are new and uniform, and change out all the hardware (doorknobs, hinges, locks, drawer and cabinet hardware, etc.). These touches go a really long way visually and economically.

Exterior And Curb Appeal

How high this is on the list may surprise people, but no matter how new, modern or warm and fuzzy you think your interior is, without an attractive exterior and clean curb appeal, you risk not maximizing your value-adds. Painting and rebranding a building can go a long way. A long-standing perception of a property can be quickly changed by just repainting or changing the faade, and this can bring in a whole other market or tap into an existing market that was just looking for some modern touches.

Landscaping also plays an important role. If youre in a climate where water is not scarce and that is conducive to green and lush landscaping, then by all means, make sure you take that opportunity. Colors and attractive plants add life and beauty to any community and draw in positive attention. If you are limited to a dryer climate or a denser urban area, focus on a clean xeriscape or creative art dcor, such as mural paintings or artificial replicas (artificial turf, bark, industrial metal art, etc.) as strong alternatives.

Security And Cleanliness

At the end of the day, most tenants want a clean, safe and secure community to live in. Do not minimize this value-add opportunity. Functional security gates, fencing, covered or gated parking, and patrolling security are huge value-adds.

As well as budgeting for regular interior cleaning, landscaping, pest control and other detailed items must be top of mind. When tenants feel they have all of these items as a standard part of their community, the likelihood of lease renewals tends to increase, and this demand leads to justifying consistent rent increases. Both the tenant and owner win when all of these items are factored into the value-add formulas.

What To Avoid

When making decisions in the value-add process, it's easy to get carried away. Making sure you keep things functional and as impersonal as possible is key. Its not to say there is anything wrong with adding some of your style or preferences to the procedure; just make sure its within the budget and not something impractical. Examples of that could be installing granite countertops when resurfacing would suffice, or replacing cabinets when repainting and adding new hardware would suit the situation.

Each property and each situation is different, but the faster you realize that there is only so much money you can squeeze out of certain value-add situations, the better your chances to maximize your bottom line.

The last thing any value-add analysis should be is a shortcut. This type of approach is bad practice and, in the long term, causes many more issues for both owners and tenants alike. If you are looking at an investment that has you spread too thin, rather than cut corners, it is much better for you to focus on what you can allocate the right way. It also may be a clear indicator that this particular investment is over your ability. The liabilities for misrepresentation are quite severe, and the consequences of subpar work to save a dollar could end up costing you much more.

Value-add is a key ingredient to every investor's strategy when evaluating multifamily properties. Ensuring the improvements are in line with the price, demographics and location is key. Also key is knowing when to take your foot off the gas while spending. Although there is no formula to a successful value-add outcome, using common sense and applying quality work is a step in the right direction during this phase.

Excerpt from:
Where To Add Value In Your Multifamily Investment - Forbes

When Somia Mourad first walked into the Minneapolis home that she would buy, she saw dark-stained oak woodwork mixed with white woodwork on much of the main level. In the kitchen, three different wood finishes fragmented the space.

The house had clearly gone through a ton of renovations, Mourad said. Though the work had been done with care and had been maintained well, she wanted a more cohesive look. So even before she, her husband, Keith Bush, and their two daughters moved into the 1891 three-story, painters were summoned. The fireplace mantel, centerpiece of a gracious living room, went from a dark oak stain to white enameled paint so that it would match the shelves on either side, which were already white. Beams in the ceiling got the same treatment. Wood panels in the dining room, which is open to the living room, also got coats of white paint.

Like many of todays home buyers, Mourad and Bush prefer the sleek, clean look of white enameled woodwork. But their experience also speaks to the conundrum of sellers considering whether to paint their woodwork in order to sell a house more quickly. Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. But some homes, especially Craftsmans and Victorians, can dazzle with stained wood.

Mourad said she fell for her house the moment they walked in and saw the wood door that led to an entryway with delicately detailed woodwork.

The entryway was so warm just stunning with intricate carvings on the wood banister at the staircase; I didnt want anyone to touch it, Mourad recalled. She kept that nod to the history of the home, even as the painters set to work on other parts of the house.

Sometimes a home shows best when it remains true to character. The oak beams and other wood accents of Craftsman-style bungalows, for example, help make those homes distinct.

You wouldnt change the color of a classic car, even if its a little funky, and sometimes you shouldnt paint the woodwork of a house, said Ruth Whitney Bowe, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Burnets Minneapolis Lakes office.

In midcentury modern homes, wood paneling and other details can warm up the clean lines. In Victorians, intricate woodwork can speak to the homes original era and can also be expensive to paint.

In addition to the style of the home, competition is another factor.

If a home is in an area surrounded by other homes with wood cabinets in the kitchens, there may be no need to turn the woodwork white, Bowe said. But most often, white woodwork helps a house sell.

Jayne Morrison of Morrison Interiors in Plymouth, Minnesota, is a designer and stager who helps people ready their homes for the marketplace.

Millennial buyers want white woodwork, she said. If we are staging for a young family in a neighborhood of young families, it is advisable to have woodwork painted white.

Thats especially so for owners of homes built in the 1980s with the golden oak woodwork that was popular during that era.

If you are in a 1980s house and you have a lot of that golden oak woodwork, [painting it white] will help sell your house faster, she said.

Morrison is seeing a generational shift as she works with homeowners on design.

Baby boomers love woodwork, she said. Millennial clients say they want an estimate for painting everything white. It is quite pricey, but often they go ahead and do it. They want that total white woodwork look.

Whether it is sellers or new homeowners hoping to create a space they adore, the decision to paint is often based on that bad word that starts with b: budget, Morrison said. When clients decide to do the painting themselves to save money, she suggests they start in one room and see how it goes before tackling the entire house.

Painted woodwork is a fresh look, she notes, and its been going strong since 2010. In recent years, she has seen the white warming up a bit, shifting to warm gray.

When Mourad got around to remodeling her kitchen and ridding the space of three different wood finishes, in fact, a designer suggested that she paint the center island gray to contrast with the white paint elsewhere in the kitchen and the home. Mourad declined, preferring to keep the look cohesive. Plus, she said, I knew I would never tire of white.

And she hasnt. Now when I walk into the house, I feel peaceful, uplifted, happy. There is a lightness and a calm, she said. It is amazing how much woodwork impacts the feel of a home.

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Should you paint the woodwork white? Opinions vary among owners, experts - Seattle Times

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Dont let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your homes market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when youre ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

1. A chef-quality kitchen

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazines 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesnt necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000, says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

2. Do-it-yourself painting

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a homes sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

A good paint job is not easy, says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. It is all in the prep work, and most people dont want to do the prep work. Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

3. An expanded master suite

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal, Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes dont mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom.

4. Plush wall-to-wall carpeting

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time homebuyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

In general, people are grossed out by [carpeting]. It can make a room look a little bit dated.

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

5. A swimming pool

It doesnt matter if its infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who dont want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesnt add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If youre thinking resale, its not worth it youll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if youll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

How to decide if a renovation is worth the cost

To ensure youre making an informed decision:

Consider your timeline. If youre going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off, Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

Consult an expert. Talk to a professional so you arent making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years, Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

Compare home features in your area. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

Get an appraisal. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your homes current value and its likely value after the improvements.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Wood is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kwood@nerdwallet.com

RELATED LINKS

NerdWallet: Find out how much your home is really worth

NerdWallet: Tips for first-time home buyers

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5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell - Seattle Times

(MENAFN - iCrowdNewsWire) Feb 18, 2020

WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On '' Home Remodeling Market 2020 Global Share,Trend,Segmentation And Forecast To 2026.

Home Remodeling Market 2020

Description: -

This report focuses on the global Home Remodeling status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Home Remodeling development in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Central & South America.

The global market of Home Remodeling produced a standard product that provides better services and quality performance to its users all over the world. Thousand number of manufactures of the product are existing, and some are have introduced newly to the world market. These manufacturers are committed to the improvement of product quality. It has been observed that technology always plays a most crucial role in the performance of the product, increasing the demand and market growth.

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Major Key Players Included are:-

Andersen CorporationABC Supply Co., Inc.Builders FirstSource Inc.Ferguson EnterprisesFranklin Building SupplyJELD-WENKohlerMasco CorporationPella CorporationThe Sherwin - Williams CompanyHarvey Building ProductsBMC Stock HoldingsNational Wholesale SupplyLu Kitchen & BathEnterprise WholesaleWebb Concrete & Building MaterialsAPCO IndustriesUnited Wholesale SupplyMayer Electric Supply CompanyWoodhill SupplyBeacon Roofing SupplyHD Supply HoldingsWatscoM S InternationalF. W. Webb CompanyKeller SupplyT & A Supply CompanyMac ArthurPacific Coast SupplyR.E. Michel Company

The innovation of new technology generates a great opportunity for key players and the large investors that are ready to pay for business development. In recent times, it is being noticed that some manufacturers are stick to the traditional procedure of making the product to reduce the cost of production. And many product manufacturers are considering a structural change on the part of producers of products to make it highly technical to reach success in the global market.

Market Dynamics of The Global Home Remodeling Market

The market dynamic is the collection of factors that has a very positive impact on the market. In this case, the global market economy depends on the supply chain, quality, demand, and price of the product. From the aspect of a business, the market dynamics are considered as the factors that affect the planned project, blueprint of the business model that involves in the market development. The key propeller that drives the market positively is the rapid increment in the demand for the product. The survey report of the product market of Home Remodeling is based on some crucial factors that collectively include growth opportunity, the status of the market, and profit to the future forecasting period, market leader, market size, and major market players.

Market Segments of The Global Home Remodeling Market

The market segmentation analysis is consisting of qualitative and quantitative research that comprises various aspects, including the impact of economic and non-economic issues. The geographical or regional report contains detailed information about the condition of the product market in a specific region, including the demand, supply chain, and market growth. The market is segmented by its market value and volume to describe the sub-segment pattern.

Industry News

The global market ofHome Remodeling is growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of XX%. It is currently witnessing the market growth of XX value and will generate revenue of more than its expectation in the year 2026. The global Home Remodeling market was recorded to be moving at a higher positive side during the forecast period, which is termed as 2020- 2026. The product market in the developing countries has been seen to witness the highest growth, expecting to gain a significant market share and has the highest number of the regional market and the maximum number of manufacturers.

Enquiry About Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/4931902-global-home-remodeling-market-size-status-and-forecast-2020-2026

Table of Contents Major Key Points

1 Report Overview

2 Global Growth Trends by Regions

3 Competition Landscape by Key Players

4 Breakdown Data by Type (2015-2026)

5 Home Remodeling Breakdown Data by Application (2015-2026)

6 North America

7 Europe

8 China

Continued.

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Home Remodeling Market 2020 Global Share,Trend,Segmentation And Forecast To 2026 - MENAFN.COM

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Greensboro, North Carolina (forpressrelease) February 17, 2020 - The Greensboro carpet cleaners at Safe-Dry Carpet Cleaning recently created a blog listing the benefits of professional carpet cleaning . In addition to the aesthetic benefit of a clean carpet, hiring professional cleaners can also improve the air quality in the home, among other benefits.

Homeowners often find it difficult to properly clean their carpets. Vacuuming can only do so much to remove dirt and contaminants, and it does little to remove stains and odors. The embarrassment many feel about their stained, dirty, and ugly carpets may even prevent them from inviting guests over or enjoying their homes on their own as well. Professional carpet cleaning may be necessary for this reason alone, but it can also provide numerous other benefits for your family.

The most apparent benefit of cleaning your carpet is, of course, the enhanced appearance of the room after removing dirt and other materials from the carpet. Professional cleaners deep clean your carpet, removing traffic line effects that differentiate commonly used paths from less-traveled areas for a uniform appearance. The deep cleaning process also removes dirt and bacteria from your carpet, which can improve the health of your friends and family. Carpets act as filters, trapping these contaminants and preventing them from entering the air. When carpets get full, however, these materials will remain in the air instead of being absorbed, damaging the air quality. Cleaning your carpet helps empty them of contaminants and continue cleaning the air. Finally, professional cleaning can prolong the life of your carpet. Instead of purchasing a new one when it appears worn, give your carpet a thorough cleaning to return it to its former appearance and performance.

Reach out to Safe-Dry for more information about getting your carpet professionally cleaned or for more information about the benefits of professional carpet cleaning. Safe-Dry uses a proprietary, organic cleaning solution that is safe for children and pets. Its trained technicians can provide a deep, refreshing, and odor-removing cleaning for your carpet, area rug, oriental rug, and upholstery, ensuring that each area of your home looks its best. The company can be contacted online at https://www.1800safedry.com/ or by phone at 336-560-9630. Safe-Dry's Greensboro location can be found at 7343 W. Friendly Avenue, Suite K, Greensboro, NC 27410.

###

Company :-Safe-Dry Carpet Cleaning

User :- Chase Hoagland

Email :-info@1800safedry.com

Phone :-336-560-9630

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Greensboro Carpet Cleaners List Benefits Of Professional Carpet Cleaning - MENAFN.COM

When it comes to the best carpet cleaning service in Winnipeg, Carpet Cleaning Winnipeg is a wise choice. Not only do they offer excellent carpet cleaning service, but they also offer upholstery cleaning, fabric protection, and leather cleaning.

Winnipeg residents looking for the best carpet cleaning service can stop there search because carpet cleaners Winnipeg is here. Their cost is the most competitive in the business and they will provide the best service. They provide both commercial and residential carpet solutions. Not only that, but they also offer the best and most thorough upholstery cleaning service. They also cater to stain and pet hair removal when conventional ways just won't do. Upholstery cleaning is another one of their specializations to help customers who suffer from allergies and constantly getting cold. With Carpet Cleaning Winnipeg's help, they can get rid of all the harmful particles that can potentially create health problems. Other services they offer include area rug cleaning, duct cleaning, fabric protection, and leather cleaning.

It has always been Carpet Cleaning Winnipeg's goal to provide the best service to Winnipeg residents. They cater to all kinds of clients and offer services such as general carpet cleaning, spot carpet cleaning, and even oriental carpet cleaning. They only use environmentally friendly products to clean not only carpets but also upholstery and furniture. This ensures their customers are protected from the harmful effects of a dirty carpet and upholstery. All their services are done by extremely skilled and trained professionals that use state-of-the-art cleaning tools and equipment to ensure high-quality results.

Carpet cleaning is something everyone is familiar with but not all are willing to take on the task. Carpets, whether at home or in the workplace, might make the space comfortable and cozy but it can also become the source of harmful bacteria and germs that can harm within its vicinity. In order to preserve the health and wellness of residents and workers, it's important that a carpet cleaning specialist is called to handle the all-too-important task of carpet cleaning. Carpet Cleaning Winnipeg is simply the best in the area. In order to provide quality services, they only hire the best cleaners, use the best cleaning products, and use the best cleaning equipment. Choosing them over other cleaners will ensure customers get high-quality carpet and upholstery cleaning without having to pay a ton of money for the service.

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Carpet Cleaning Winnipeg is the Number One Carpet Cleaning Service that Caters to Residential and Commercial Carpets - Press Release - Digital Journal

This is a collaborative blog by both Bruce and Carol McElmurray from each individual perspective. Both Bruce and Carol have varying viewpoints on some subjects when it comes to their home in which they have lived for 23 years. It is located in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of southern Colorado at 9,800 feet of elevation. Both have separately expressed their views as indicated below.

Carol: When we built our cabin in the Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado we were both in our 40s. We chose to build a small A-frame which fit our budget and our goal of minimalism. Over the years, and now that we are in our 70s, we have discovered some choices that we made that have made life a bit more challenging as we have aged. Perhaps sharing these insights will help others who are making plans to build a retirement home.

Bathrooms. Carol: When we retired we moved from a 2 bath home to a one bath home with a commode, sink and shower. We didnt realize how often we would like to have had two bathrooms and a bathtub if only to give the dogs a bath in! Having more than one bathroom even a bath would be a good thing to consider. Bruce: I would agree that having more than one bathroom even for two people would be a good option. It isnt often that we have a conflict with the one bathroom but nature being what it is, there are occasional conflicts. A composting toilet would normally be an option but regretfully our county does not allow them.

Second floor. Carol: It did not occur to us that as we aged that going up a spiral staircase to the sleeping loft would be an issue - but it has proven to be so. Having a home that is on one level is a good choice or a sleeping loft for company or storage. Bruce: I have to agree that having a one story makes sense for when you grow older. Life in the mountains is hard on our bodies and especially our knees, ankles and hips. Going up and down stairs or a spiral staircase becomes increasingly difficult and painful.

Bedrooms. Carol: The home we moved from had 3 bedrooms. We have only the sleeping loft. In retrospect enclosing an area on the first floor would have been a wise decision given the reasons cited above or even a second sleeping space. Bruce: We had considered converting our pantry into a bedroom when we became older but that became less practical as time passed and has become less of an option. Adding an additional bedroom initially would have been a better choice.

Location of doors. Carol: Be sure to figure out where the snow that slides off the roof will go. Will it block doors to any entrances? Having to shovel your way out of your home on occasion is a bit of a problem as you grow older. Bruce: We receive from 250 to 300 inches of snow a year and sometimes get 3-5 feet in a single storm. The contractor that built the shell positioned the steps off the deck along the edge of the roof. We had to change that quickly because given a significant snow storm they were buried under 8 to 10 feet of hard-packed snow.

Basement access. Carol: Being able to get from the interior of the home to the basement makes things a lot easier, especially if snow blocks the doors to the basement during the winter time. Bruce: We do have storage under our house that is heated, separate and dry. I do not mind it as much as Carol does but in the winter we have to put boots, coats, hats and gloves on to get to it. Dealing with 23 feet of snow over a winter season can be difficult enough without having to shovel to get to the basement.

Laundry room. Carol: Having the laundry room on the first floor instead of the basement makes things a lot easier for everyone! Bruce: Since I rarely do laundry I really dont have an opinion on this other than if a washing machine overflows it causes less damage if in the basement where water can be pushed out the door to soak into the ground.

Closets and storage spaces. Carol: With the slanted roof of the A-frame, being able to build closets is difficult. We have done well by some inventive ideas. Bruce: Closet area has been a challenge for sure but we have adapted and overcome the issues and kept the house looking open inside.

Kitchen, dining room, and living room. Carol: There is a good possibility that you will not need a big kitchen if there are only two people. Having a dining room for the occasional guest and a formal living room would be a waste of precious space. Bruce: I agree totally.

Visitors. Bruce: Our small home does not accommodate visitors with only one bathroom and one sleeping loft. We dont have many visitors but when we do we put them in the sleeping loft and have a sofa/bed downstairs for us. Depending on the length of stay we will often put them up in a motel in the nearby city of Ft. Garland. A local B&B is another good idea.

Garage. Our first project when we moved full time to our A-Frame retirement home was to build a two story garage - A-Frame - to match the house. It has proven to be a wise choice.

Early decisions count. When you build an A-Frame where the side walls are really the roof it limits your adding on options. Also in the high mountains where we get heavy snowfall the snow sometimes piles up several feet deep coming off the roof. While our home is cozy and we have adapted to its limitations, it meets our needs very well. Its small size makes it easier to clean and we dont need to clean or maintain areas we dont often use.

Bruce McElmurray homesteads at high elevation in the Southern Rockies with his wife, Carol. For more on their mountain lifestyle and their observances of animals coupled with their strange behavior, visit Bruces personal blog site at Bruce Carol Cabin. Read all of his MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.

All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers have agreed to follow our Blogging Guidelines, and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this post, click on their byline link at the top of the page.

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Sizing Your Home to Fit Your Individual Needs - Mother Earth News

Ah ... love. Love is soft. Love feels good. Love should not be hard, crunchy or leave a bad taste in your mouth. Is your homes water full of love?

More than 85 percent of the United States has hard water, but Arizona has some of the hardest water youll find anywhere, said Mike Mattox, general manager, Kinetico Water Systems, a Rosie-Certified Partner.

So, if you dont have a home water treatment system, then you probably dont love your water. Heck, you probably dont even like it. But there is something you can do about it.

We can change the waters quality by installing a water treatment system," said Mattox.

A purification system will give you bottled-water quality at the convenience of your kitchen tap. This is perhaps the most effective form of water filtration. A water softener removes the minerals that make your water hard all over the house. Whole house filtration removes chlorine.

These systems remove up to 98 percent of metals, pathogens, chlorine, and dirt, so your water smells and tastes like nothing but water.

TIP: Youll need to change purification filters about every 12 to 18 months. If you touch the filter by accident, bacteria from your hands can contaminate your drinking water.

Love Your Drinking Water: Remember when you were a kid and youd just turn on the tap for a glass of water thats if you even bothered with a glass. Now, very few people drink from the kitchen or bathroom sink unless they have a water treatment system. Stop wasting money on bottled water. It adds up, and the bottles are not good for the environment.

Drinking water that has been treated results in better laundry, softer skin, and tastier beverages.

Love Your Shower & Bath Water: A whole home water treatment system will leave your hair and skin silky smooth. You wont need to glop on a bunch of hand and body lotion throughout the day to stave off the dryness. You will also use less conditioner to control dry, frizzy hair. Additionally, minerals wont build up on your showerhead, faucets, door, or in the tub. It will make cleaning your bathroom quicker and with less elbow grease.

Love Your Laundry Water: After a soothing warm shower or bath, the last thing you want to do is step into a crunchy robe or swaddle yourself in a stiff towel. A whole home system will keep your laundry soft, fluffy and fresh.

Untreated water can turn white fabrics gray and fade colored laundry. Fabrics wear out up to 15 percent faster, too. Washing machines can wear out nearly 30 times faster when using hard water. The Water Quality Association reports laundry costs can double in households using hard water.

Treated water will make your laundry soft enough for a babys nap.

With a whole home treatment system, your washing machine will last longer. You can even spend 80 percent less on soap and cleaning products because hard water prevents soap from lathering, so you need to use more of it.

Love Your Coffee & Tea Water: Hard water distorts the taste of coffee and tea. If you spent money on a high-end coffeemaker, you arent getting your moneys worth. You may as well boil a pot of water and dump in a handful of dirt and leaves. Treated water will bring out the rich, full flavor and color of coffee and tea. Your coffeepot will last longer. Concentrated juice and drink mixes also will taste better.

Love Your Household Cleaning Water: What's the point of cleaning if the water you are using is not clean? Heavy minerals can leave watermarks and scratch very fine surfaces. Using untreated water requires additional cleaning time and the use of environmentally unfriendly cleaning products. With soft treated water, you can use less cleaning agent, therefore saving money.

Love Your Kitchen & Bath Fixtures: No matter how much you clean, you simply cant get that white crusty stuff caused by hard water off your fixtures. Once cleaned and with a new whole home water treatment system in place, you will regularly be able to see your reflection in them.

Love the water flowing into your home by giving it some love. Install a water softener and reduce hard water mineral deposits throughout your home for better tasting and feeling water.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert since 1988, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8 to 11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and from 7 to 10 a.m. on KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

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An attendee of last year's Garden and Home Show. Courtesy of Colorado Garden Foundation

The annual show, which takes place February 22 to March 1, will distribute over a half-million dollars in grant funding to horticulture therapy programs throughout the state.

February is a welcome time to see greenand thats what youll get as you walk into the Colorado Convention Center from February 22 to March 1 during the annual Colorado Garden and Home Show. In fact, youll see every color of the rainbow (and more) thanks to the staggering number of flowers (10,000) spread throughout the complex. But sight isnt the only sense visitors can use to enjoy the acres of plants.

Thats because horticulture therapy, and more specifically sensory gardens are taking center stage at this years event. This genre, now relatively popular in the gardening and landscaping industry, essentially refers to gardens that urge visitors to engage with all their senses. Not only is smelling, hearing, touching, and tasting plant life fun, but it can be therapeutic as well.

As part of its grant program, the Colorado Garden Foundation will award a total of $543,000 to these local nonprofits, which use horticulture as a means to promote healing, learning, and in some cases, hope.

Anchor Center for Blind Children: Horticulture Therapy ProgramAnchor Center will receive a $9,000 grant to renovate their outdoor classroom and continue their compost services, which they use to teach students about the plant life cycle and environmental sustainability.

Horticulture has become central to the curriculum at this Stapleton institution, which has been around for almost four decades. The center, which provides education and therapy to children from infancy to age five who live with visual impairments, depends on its outdoor spaces for horticulture therapy. One of those spaces they call the pizza garden, where the youngsters can improve their motor skills by helping plant the seeds of basil and tomato plants. As they grow, the students can smell and feel the plants, until finally they become toppings on handmade pizzas. The process not only engages the childrens senses, but also helps them make connections from seed to plant, to a delicious meal.

The center also has a bountiful sunflower patch, where children plant seeds and later feel the flowers stalks grow until the petals are barely reachable above their heads. It can be really impactful for them to see the flowers grow even taller than they are, says Molly Jenkins, one of Anchors managers.

Such experiences are vital for the 100-plus students who are involved with the Anchor Center per year. What we know from research is that up to 90 percent of early learning takes place through incidental visual observation, Jenkins says. So for these kids, the lessons, activities, and skills they learn at the Anchor Center can help close the gap that could otherwise appear between them and their peers.

Norwood Public Schools: Outdoor EducationNorwood Public Schools will receive a $15,000 grant to add on to their outdoor classroom area.

Three years ago, teachers within the Norwood Public Schools District installed a hoop housea greenhouse-like structureto become part of their outdoor education curriculum for high schoolers. Now, with the grant they received from the Colorado Garden Foundation, they can install irrigation and build plant beds. Students who take the schools agriculture course, now in its second year, will then be able to design and create additions to the existing hoop house, incorporating other disciplines such as woodwork and welding for a fountain or water feature.

The idea is for the program to be interdisciplinary, incorporating not only trade skills like those listed above, but also to help students who are interested in agriculture understand the value of their math, bio, or writing classes. Science teacher Catherine Kolbet used two students as examples: Both wanted to become ranchers, and thanks to the agriculture curriculum, were able to grasp how algebra would play into accounting their property and livestock and how grammar could strengthen their correspondence with stakeholders.

We appreciate that the foundation was willing to take the risk, Kolbet says. Now were just waiting for the ground to thaw to get started.

Denver Art Museum: Sensory Garden and CourtyardThe DAM will receive a $50,000 grant to complete its sensory garden and courtyard, including adding an additional terrace.

Prescribing art as medicine is being seriously considered in the United Kingdom, Canada, and elsewhere. Though the trend has yet to gain traction here in the U.S., its the premise behind the Denver Art Museums next big project: a sensory garden and courtyard. The idea is to create a space that fosters community creativity by bringing together people, plants, and art, says Heather Nielsen, the museums director of learning and community engagement.

Designed by Didier Design Studiothe firm responsible for the steppe garden, sensory garden, and all-American selections garden at Denver Botanic Gardensthe courtyard will ultimately serve as both an aesthetic outdoor setting and an education space. For example, an Art and About tour for visitors with dementia or Alzheimers could be one likely program.

Though the museums new digs are set to open June 6, the installation of the sensory courtyard will be ongoing into the fall. The plan is to incorporate community input and then host planting days, so that visitors can play a role in the creative process.

Craig Hospital: Garden Repairs and ImprovementsCraig Hospital will receive a $3,750 grant to replace a flagstone pathway and update its existing garden spaces.

When Craig Hospitals horticulture therapy program was just a seedling back in 1982, the program largely focused on rehabilitating and providing adaptive equipment to recovering farmers, gardeners, and ranchers. Since then, under the leadership of coordinator Susie Hall, who joined the team in 1994, the program has expanded to offer a mix of physical and mental therapy to patients who are recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries.

By partnering with the hospitals physical and speech therapists, the horticulture team works toward goals through gardening. Take, for example, a recent patient recovering from a traumatic brain injury who is able to stand longer working in the greenhouse than in the treatment center. Or patients who can practice memory skills and problem-solving in a more bucolic setting than a hospital room. Hall says some patients have sent her thank you notes, claiming they dont know what they would have done without the horticulture program at Craig.

Its a way to connect people with plants, Hall says. For some, that may mean diving back into their previous activities involving gardening or being in nature. For others, its an introduction to a new leisure activity. The form of therapy has taken off globally; Hall says shes seen representatives from Japan, Hong Kong, Norway, Australia, and elsewhere at horticulture therapy conferences.

It doesnt end thereBeyond the grant recipients, the Colorado Garden and Home Show has, for the past quarter century, selected a community group to box up a majority of the flowers and take them to local nursing homes (this year itll be a local junior football team). It costs us about $1,500 to give our flowers away, says Jim Fricke, Colorado Garden Foundation executive director. But we think its money well spent. Because when they walk into the nursing homes, they say the look on residents faces is amazing.

If you go: The Colorado Garden and Home Show takes place February 22 to March 1 at the Colorado Convention Center. Tickets are available online.

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