Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

On Friday in Richmond, the Jamestown girls swimming team will try to win its fourth consecutive state championship.

No doubt, the target will be squarely on the Eagles' backs, while Jamestown's boys will also enter the meet as reigning champion.

Both Jamestown teams won 4A East Region championships on Friday as the Eagles boys narrowly held off Hanover thanks in part to a dramatic victory by the 400 free relay team featuring freshmen Austin Smith and Matt Williams and seniors Corey Shideler and Taylor Watson.

"Literally the whole building was roaring," Jamestown coach Molly Sandling said. "Everyone I could see was jumping up and down trying to give our boys that extra bit of fight and energy to out-touch Hanover."

The same group won the 200 free relay and Sandling said Smith. Williams and freshman Jacob Vereb have been vital in filling a void that last year's talented group of seniors left.

Jamestown returned its top two girls swimmers this season in senior Joelle Vereb and junior Abby Larson, but also benefitted from a new crop of swimmers.

Freshmen Kailey Carvajal, Kylie Johnson, Kaitlyn Pegram, Shea Buirski, and Katrina Early each will swim in individual events Friday and Carvajal, Johnson and Pegram on relays.

The 200 medley group featuring Vereb, Larson, Ashley Adams, and Carter Roehrle smashed a school record last week by 3 seconds with a mark of 1:49.12 to edge Lafayette's Grace Olsen, Colby Hurt, Sofia Long, and Olivia Nice (1:49.62), who set a school record of their own.

The performance of those freshmen, mixed with underclassmen like Kathryn Burrows and the upperclassmen veterans led by Vereb and Larson should make Jamestown tough to top again.

"I would say the Jamestown girls are probably the heavy favorites on the girls side," Lafayette coach Harold Baker said. "The guys side is probably going to be much more up in the air. There will be some teams out west and Hanover almost beat Jamestown at the regional. So the guys meet will be more up in the air."

Lafayette's boys and girls both finished third in the regional and Baker expects a top-five finish at states for both, at least. "Hopefully at states, who knows, maybe we can even go higher," he said, "because states kind of washes away some of the teams' depth."

Lafayette sophomore Chris Kostelni was the only local individual boys winner on Friday, taking the 500 free.

Kostelni and his fellow underclassmen have been the stars for the Rams this season on both the boys and girls sides.

Kostelni was fourth in the 200 free at states last year and eighth in the 500 free.

"Looking at last year's times compared to what I've done," Kostelni said. "I have a good shot at maybe getting close to (first). But if I don't, fine, I still have two more years."

Vereb, a Virginia Tech recruit, was the top individual girls performer on Friday, winning the 100 backstroke and the 100 breaststroke while Larson took the 50 free and finished second in the 100 free.

Vereb and Larson each took four gold medals back from the state meet a season ago.

"Joelle and Abby continue to be leaders for this team," Sandling said. "Joelle has really stepped into the role of captain, looking out for the other girls, always on deck by my side during meets, watching what everyone is doing, and supporting the younger girls."

A pair of freshmen girls won region titles for Lafayette as Long took the 100 fly title and Hurt set a school record in the 200 IM at 2:05.72.

A virus making the rounds across town has impacted multiple local swimmers. One of them is Lafayette freshman Sam Long, who swam the region meet with a short recovery from a 103-degree fever. He will be one of many underclassmen to keep an eye on Friday as Jamestown and Lafayette each figure prominently in the race for overall, individual and relay state titles.

Whaley wins twice at region meet

Warhill's girls finished third Friday in the 3A East Region girls meet and the Lions' boys were fifth.

The 200 medley girls relay team featuring Faith Tyranski, Shelby Watson, Morgan Whaley, and Kate Watkins (1:52.20) ultimately finished second to Riverside High, but still set a school record.

Whaley is the only Lion that will enter Saturday's 3A meet in Richmond as a reigning champion, having won last year's 100 fly as a sophomore. She claimed region titles this season in the 100 fly and 100 backstroke.

Warhill's individual boys state qualifiers are Noah Frerichs, Garret Niemerski, Julian Ruiz, Ari Semper and Tyler Tobler. Frerichs and Semper, both freshmen, have been key additions for the Lions.

Joining Whaley, Tyranski, Watkins and Watson at states for the girls will be Gwyneth Martin, Zoe Rippel, Megan Welch and Lucy Wiatrowski.

An injury will keep Megan Watkins, who swam on relay teams last year at states, out of commission on Saturday.

Lynch leads Bruton boys in 2A East

Bruton's girls finished third in the 2A East Region meet and the Panthers' boys were fourth.

A total of eight boys and seven girls swimmers will represent Bruton in the 2A championships, scheduled for Wednesday in Christiansburg.

The highlights for the Bruton boys in regionals were Evan Lynch's titles in the 200 and 500 free races while John Morrow took second in the 100 free.

For the girls, Jenny Schuster posted second-place finishes in both the 200 and 500 free.

Schuster also swam the 200 and 400 free relays that each finished second and also included Caroline Helwig, Gina Lynch and Mallory Downey.

Select results, 4A East Region meet

Boys

200-yard medley relay: 4. Jamestown (Zach Clevinger, Nicky Zhang, Julian Montes Martinez, Brett Harlow) 1:44.33; 5. Lafayette (Chris Kostelni, Flynn Crisci, Sam Long, Henry Gaston) 1:44.39

200 free: 3. Chris Kostelni, Lafayette 1:47.53; 4. Corey Shideler, Jamestown 1:51.29; 7. Finn Sensiba, Lafayette 1:56.18

200 IM: 3. Flynn Crisci, Lafayette 2:03.60; 5. Taylor Watson, Jamestown 2:05.08; 7. Jacob Vereb, Jamestown 2:09.28

50 free: 3. Austin Smith, Jamestown 22.59; 4. Henry Gaston, Lafayette 23.10; 6. Matt Williams 23.37; 7. Aiden Francis, Jamestown 23.50

100 fly: 4. Taylor Watson, Jamestown 55.42; 7. Nicky Zhang, Jamestown 56.49; 8. Julian Montes Martinez, Jamestown 56.77

100 free: 3. Corey Shideler, Jamestown 49.92; 4. Austin Smith, Jamestown 50.05; 8. Matt Williams, Jamestown 52.00

500 free: 1. Chris Kostelni, Lafayette 4:44.11; 6. Drummond Poole, Lafayette 5:24.11; 8. Finn Sensiba, Lafayette 5:25.43

200 free relay: 1. Jamestown (Austin Smith, Matt Williams, Corey Shideler, Taylor Watson); 5. Lafayette (Henry Gaston, Matthew Rice, Ethan Detweiler, Finn Sensiba) 1:35.30

100 back: 5. Zach Clevinger, Jamestown 58.73; 7. Julian Montes Martinez, Jamestown 1:00.27; 8. Sam Long, Lafayette 1:00.98

100 breaststroke: 4. Flynn Crisci, Lafayette 1:02.32; 5. Nicky Zhang, Jamestown 1:02.74; 7. Henry Gaston, Lafayette 1:04.35

400 free relay: 1. Jamestown (Austin Smith, Matt Williams, Corey Shideler, Taylor Watson) 3:17.91; 3. Lafayette (Chris Kostelni, Sam Long, Flynn Crisci, Finn Sensiba).

Girls

200 medley relay: 1. Jamestown (Joelle Vereb, Ashley Adams, Carter Roehrle, Abby Larson) 1:49.12; 2. Lafayette (Grace Olsen, Colby Hurt, Sofia Long, Olivia Nice) 1:49.62.

200 free: 4. Kylie Johnson, Jamestown 1:58.86; 5. Kathryn Burrows, Jamestown 1:59.70; 6. Kailey Carvajal 1:59.99

200 IM: 1. Colby Hurt, Lafayette 2:05.72; 5. Carter Catherine Roehrle, Jamestown 2:16.32; 7. Shea Buirski, Jamestown 2:20.72

50 free: 1. Abby Larson, Jamestown 24.26; 6. Kelly Schisa, Lafayette 25.81; 7. Olivia Nice, Lafayette 26.01

100 butterfly: 1. Sofia Long, Lafayette 58.12; 2. Carter Roehrle, Jamestown 1:00.86; 4. Kaitlyn Pegram, Jamestown 1:02.38; 6. Ashley King, Lafayette 1:03.99

100 free: 2. Abby Larson, Jamestown 52.67; 3. Grace Olsen, Lafayette 53.78; 6. Kailey Carvajal 55.64; 8. Kelly Schisa, Lafayette 56.63

500 free: 1. Colby Hurt, Lafayette 5:05.28; 4. Kathryn Burrows, Jamestown 5:16.12; 5. Kylie Johnson, Jamestown 5:19.06; 8. Carissa Hardy, Jamestown 5:34.16

200 free relay: 1. Jamestown (Joelle Vereb, Kaitlyn Pegram, Carter Roehrle, Abby Larson); 3. Lafayette (1. Emma Freiling, Olivia Nice, Ashley King, Kelly Schisa) 1:45.87

100 backstroke: 1. Joelle Vereb, Jamestown 57.55; 4. Grace Olsen, Lafayette 1:00.45; 5. Sofia Long, Lafayette 1:01.61; 8. Nikki Tyler, Jamestown 1:04.53.

100 breaststroke: 1. Joelle Vereb, Jamestown 1:07.20; 3. Emma Freiling, Lafayette 1:10.23; 6. Katrina Early, Jamestown 1:13.04; 8. Ashley Adams, Jamestown 1:13.16.

400 free relay: 1. Lafayette (Grace Olsen, Emma Freiling, Colby Hurt, Sofia Long) 3:41.20; 3. Jamestown (Kaitlyn Pegram, Kylie Johnson, Kathryn Burrows, Kailey Carvajal) 3:46.83.

Holtzman can be reached by phone at 757-298-5830.

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Jamestown boys and girls look to repeat as 4A swimming champions - Virginia Gazette

City leaders agreed to improve and modernize the more than 100-year-old police station building, which continues causing problems for staff members.

The police department building is frequently filled with smells of sewer gas, among other issues such as the smell of natural gas. At the Moundsville Finance Committee meeting Tuesday, Police Chief Thomas Mitchell said they had an assessment performed on the building when the police department first moved in years ago, but regular improvements revealed more problems as time went on.

Weve been doing some improvements to the building, but weve got things come up that might possibly be in the category of major expenditures, Mitchell said. Were going to be shoring up the foundation of the building. We had a bid come in from one company, that involved propping things up, installing posts, and it was a big engineering thing, and its $35,000 for that. We had another company come in (Tuesday), and they were in the process of giving us a free estimate.

In addition to the foundation problems, Mitchell also discussed issues such as the glass used in the windows. While the glass in the lobby was replaced with safety glass after an incident last January, where a belligerent woman pitched herself out of a chair during a confrontation and through the window, receiving serious injuries the glass to the left of the doors in the detectives office remains plate glass, capable of being broken into large, dangerous shards.

Thats in the neighborhood of $8,000 to replace that glass and the door, Mitchell said. Its quite dangerous. Its not on the detectives side, so its not as critical, not as much activity. Its an old building, but were fortunate to have the space. I like it.

Window replacement is also to take place, Mitchell said, on the second floor, which currently serves as an evidence room and storage room. Of somewhat higher priority was the smell of gas, both natural gas and sewer gas, which occasionally permeates the building, such as earlier in the day, when the surveyor on site reported the smell of natural gas while in the basement, prompting a response from the Moundsville Fire Department. Mitchell pointed out that several gas lines run through the building, which were disconnected several years ago. The second and third floors once served as residential apartments before the police department began using the structure.

The committee voted to approve Mitchells independent action to collect estimates for possible repair work and submit them to the city, as is required with jobs worth over $25,000.

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Moundsville Eyes Repairs to Police Station - Wheeling Intelligencer

Mike Ullery | Daily Call Volunteers from the Housing Enhancement League of Piqua, along with Piqua city officials and workers from Morris Heating and Cooling and Harmony Systems gather for a group photo as work nears completion on installation of a new furnace for a family on Blaine Avenue in Piqua.

PIQUA Two local companies teamed up to bring warmth to a resident on Monday.

The Housing Enhancement League of Piqua (HELP) brought together Harmony Systems, Inc. and Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems to donate a furnace and its installation to a resident on Blaine Avenue. Harmony Systems donated the furnace, while Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems donated their time for the installation, which took place Monday morning. The total estimated cost for the furnace and installation was around $3,400.

Its a great help to me, said Ken Baker of Piqua, who received the donated furnace. Baker has been living in Piqua for 25 years, and his previous furnace was on its last leg.

It was in bad shape, Baker said.

Baker reached out to the city to see if HELP or the citys Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) funding, which they received through the states Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, was able to help him keep the heat working in his home this winter.

One of the big purposes of HELP is a way to give back to the community, Development Program Manager Nikki Reese said. Reese explained that HELP then reached out to Harmony Systems and Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems to see if they were interested in working together to help Bakers situation.

This is the second year in a row both companies came together to donate a furnace to someone in need in Piqua.

We were presented the opportunity last year We thought, absolutely, Brad Penrod, operation supervisor of Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems said.

Penrod said that in addition to giving back to the community by donating their time, this also provided them with the opportunity to make the residents home safer by getting rid of one of the older furnace systems in exchange for a safer, newer model.

It was a no-brainer, Penrod said. Its great for the community. The fact that Harmony Systems stepped up and weve been able to help has been huge.

This is a donation from our employees, Cynamyn Clem, human resources manager of Harmony Systems said.

Each year the employees of Harmony Systems think of a Christmas project, and they decided to give the gift of heat to a resident in need this season.

Its great. We love to be able to give back to the Piqua community, Clem said.

Mike Ullery | Daily Call Volunteers from the Housing Enhancement League of Piqua, along with Piqua city officials and workers from Morris Heating and Cooling and Harmony Systems gather for a group photo as work nears completion on installation of a new furnace for a family on Blaine Avenue in Piqua.

http://dailycall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_021317mju_piqua_help.jpgMike Ullery | Daily Call Volunteers from the Housing Enhancement League of Piqua, along with Piqua city officials and workers from Morris Heating and Cooling and Harmony Systems gather for a group photo as work nears completion on installation of a new furnace for a family on Blaine Avenue in Piqua.

Harmony, Morris Heating donate furnace, installation

Reach Sam Wildow at [emailprotected] or (937) 451-3336

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Piqua Daily Call | Heating up this winter season - Piqua Daily Call

Take a moment and imagine you are in your stockroom, taking inventory of your products. After going through each product, you begin to realize what you traditionally offer isnt going to cut it anymore. Your customers are requesting the most-efficient technology available that will allow them to save on utility bills. You need to find a solution to retain and grow your business, and somehow your research leads you here. You might have heard of mini-split heat pumps, but how much do you actually know about the technology that is gaining more attention and market demand in the U.S. residential market?

Why should you and your customers consider investing in these systems? The mini-split developed its name from its split-system design, which consists of an indoor air handling unit connected to an outdoor unit. The term mini, reflects its small size in terms of footprint and load capacity. Mini-split systems can be ductless, ducted or both, and are commonly found in residential and light commercial projects. Typically, Europe and Asia dominate the market share for mini-splits, but as consumer demand increases and the industry shifts continually toward going green, theyve grown from being a topic of discussion to being placed in homes across the U.S.

Now, you may be thinking, why are mini-split systems beneficial for business? Mini-splits are often the best money-making option for residential projects, but lets break down this technology in terms of how it can help your business boom.

Energy efficiency is key

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in demand for HVAC product manufacturers to design and develop efficient products meeting government mandated ratings, called Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER). The government enforced the latest SEER standards in 2015, and now requires heat pumps installed on or after Jan. 1, 2015, must achieve the minimum rating of 14 SEER in most areas of the country, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, some manufacturers, like Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (Mitsubishi Electric), have developed efficient mini-split systems reaching SEER ratings in the low-to-mid 30s as you are aware, the higher the SEER, the better the efficiencies.

How do mini-splits meet this efficiency demand? Well, unlike traditional systems, ductless mini-split heat pumps do not push air through ducts. Instead, the indoor unit is coupled to an outdoor unit by small refrigerant piping and electrical wiring. Because the compressor is inverter-driven rather than fixed speed, it typically runs at a low frequency to maintain the desired temperature and only increases to quickly cool or heat a space.

Utility bill savings outweigh initial expenses

Mini-splits may have higher initial costs than traditional systems, but the upfront costs are justified by a mini-splits reduced lifetime costs their installation and operational costs are often lower as well. Installation costs are reduced because mini-splits offer a simpler installation process than conventional systems, saving on materials and labor. Because of the mini-splits efficiency, overall operational costs are reduced. Thanks to that ingenious inverter-driven compressor, users can expect to see a savings of up to 40 percent a year on energy with a Mitsubishi Electric system, as compared to traditional systems. Over a products life cycle, these benefits add up ultimately making the case that mini-splits are a superior financial choice compared to other options currently available.

Making your job easier

When recommending a system to a potential customer, youre going to get the typical question, How long will it take to install? Its not an uncommon question at all. According the U.S. Energy Information Administrations (EIA) Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), around 44 percent of homeowners in the U.S. never turn off their air conditioning during the summer months. While a whole home installation may take longer to complete, individual rooms or spaces can be installed and functional in the same day. This provides some relief for air-conditioning addicts.

How is that possible? One of the many installation benefits of mini-splits is the simplicity of the unit. The two-component set-up is made up of an indoor unit, mounted to an interior wall and connected to the outdoor unit by two refrigerant lines that pass through a small penetration (three inches or fewer in diameter). Due to their split-system design, alongside the minimal-to-no ductwork involved, mini-split systems can require no demolition to install perfect for renovating a house that was built before air conditioning was available as well as new construction projects. Minimal piping and a small footprint mean lower equipment costs and a faster installation in terms of labor.

Personalized comfort for your customers

For the last few decades, mini-split technology has been known as a smart solution for providing spot cooling and heating for spaces where installing a conventional system would be costly or even impossible. In recent years, as some manufacturers have introduced extremely versatile indoor styles like multi-position ducted indoor units, mini-splits have become a desired system for the whole home.

Because mini-split units are also small by nature, they can easily fit in tight spaces. Since they can be ducted, ductless or both, homeowners can select which indoor units best fits their space and style. For example, with Mitsubishi Electrics Designer EF-series wall-mounted indoor units, homeowners can choose whether they want the unit to blend or stand out. The unit can also be mounted in any space. Mini-split design flexibility does not stop at a wall-mounted indoor unit, though Mitsubishi Electric also offers floor-mounted indoor units, multi-position ducted indoor units, ceiling-concealed ducted units, ceiling-suspended units and ceiling-recessed units.

These systems are not only versatile for the homeowner to personalize, but also versatile for the HVAC contractor to specify. Mitsubishi Electric systems have a capacity range between 2,800 - 42,000 BTUs, offering contractors more options when specifying homes. Because of the flexibility of Mitsubishi Electrics systems, HVAC contractors can design any given system in a variety of ways, whether seeking to maximize comfort, efficiency or upfront cost savings. For example, if a homeowner wants seven zones, that can be accomplished one of several ways, including one multi-zone outdoor unit connected to seven indoor units or seven single-zone outdoor units each connected to one indoor unit. Each option offers something, in this case the former offers upfront cost savings whereas the latter offers ultimate efficiency. Having such flexibility ensures contractors can offer homeowners personalized systems that speak to their individual wants and needs.

Smooth operator

Mini-split technology has a much quieter system compared to traditional systems. The outdoor units feature efficient DC motors and fan blades designed to minimize the noise many central systems make. Further, the compressor is housed in its own insulated compartment and sits on rubber feet for maximum vibration dampening. The indoor units are also incredibly quiet. The small, compact footprint and specially designed fans deliver extremely quiet and powerful, consistent airflow. Ductless and short-run ducted units operate at barely detectable sound levels, which mean some indoor units are even quieter than a human whisper.

Support from manufacturers

Although the installation of mini-split systems is described as simple, it does require a specialized skill set. Fortunately, some of todays manufacturers offer preferred HVAC contractor programs. These programs allow the installing contractor to become familiar and comfortable with the manufacturers brand through extensive product education and training. Manufacturers also typically provide a list of preferred contractors in the area, making contractor selection an easy process for homeowners who are looking for qualified and experienced installers.

Mitsubishi Electric has mobile applications to assist contractors in the selling and installation processes. Rather than an HVAC contractor walking into a house and specifying a system based on the number of bedrooms and the homes geographic location, Mitsubishi Electrics Residential Home Builder application allows the contractor to take it one step further and essentially design the optimal system for any given house. This application provides the homeowner with a more accurate estimate of the size and type of system that should be used, providing the homeowner options upfront.

Its time to take advantage of this technology

While residential HVAC contractors are still installing other cooling and heating systems, the mini-split is an adaptable product thats on the rise to dominate the U.S. market. Over the past two years, the U.S. mini-split market has already grown by 13 percent and will continue to increase over the next decade, according to A Look at Ductless Growth in North America by North America Equity Research, J.P. Morgan.

This technology is a leader in the HVAC category because of its impressive efficiency ratings and ability to provide personalized comfort. As more and more customers ask for these benefits, there is an opportunity for HVAC contractors to meet those demands through stocking and installing mini-split systems. Contractors have the opportunity not to just offer the products, but become true experts in the technology and participate in rewarding manufacturer programs. By doing so, they will grow their business successfully.

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Mini-splits: residential takeover - Contractor Mag

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo last week announced a $15 million proposal to accelerate the use of renewable heating and cooling technologies in New York to stimulate the clean energy economy.

According to a press release, the new policy framework released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority includes a proposed two-year, $15-million program to provide rebates for the installation of ground-source heat pumps.

The release said the plan will support the states goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels.

New York has made great strides to combat climate change by supporting the use of new technologies and growing our clean energy economy, Cuomo said in the press release. We will continue to make green investments that will encourage the use of clean, affordable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and support sustainable communities throughout the state.

According to the Governors Office, currently, fossil-fuel-based thermal energy primarily natural gas, propane and oil is the main energy source for space heating, space cooling and domestic hot water in the residential and commercial sectors. It is responsible for approximately 32 percent of New Yorks energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions is integral to the governors Reforming the Energy Vision strategy for a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.

The press release said renewable heating and cooling technologies not only provide environmental benefits, they also can provide energy bill savings, increased comfort levels and health benefits, compared to conventional heating and cooling technologies.

The NYSERDA framework sets out policy options and market-based solutions for the next few years and identifies approaches for longer term action. Interested parties are invited to comment on the framework.

The proposed $15 million rebate program would provide about $6,000 for a typical residential consumer for the installation of a ground-source heat pump. This technology has tremendous potential to provide New Yorkers with a heating and cooling system that is energy efficient and reliable. However, it is not yet cost-competitive with conventional technologies, so providing rebates will help stimulate market growth.

In addition to the rebate, the framework identifies a range of options for the next few years to lower costs, reduce barriers and grow the market, including:

Community-based outreach, education and bulk procurements.

Integrating renewable heating and cooling in new housing developments and campuses, which can be more economically efficient and lower cost due to the scale of the projects.

Developing a unified and streamlined permitting process.

Reducing project development risks by providing support for feasibility and engineering studies.

Introducing renewable heating and cooling technology into existing trade and distribution channels.

Advancing new business models and financing innovations that can mitigate high upfront costs by spreading them over time.

The framework also explores methods to implement renewable heating and cooling mandates for public buildings, new construction and renovation.

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State funding to advance renewable heating, cooling technologies to benefit economy - Amherst Bee

Whenever we list a property, the homeowner always wants our advice on what improvements or changes they should make before putting the house on the market. As part of answering that question, we often look to Remodeling magazine, where every year, they publish the Cost vs. Value Report.

In that report, they analyze the average cost of typical remodeling projects versus the value that project might generate at the time of sale. Remodeling magazine then provides the results on a major regional and national basis. Here's what the national numbers look like for 2017.

First off, most homeowners think that most improvements will pay for themselves when it comes time to sell. Unfortunately, that's seldom true. In past years, there was generally only one update that would be worth more than it cost. That update was a new front door.

We can understand why a new front door might top the list. After all, it's the first thing people see coming into your house, and if the front door is shabby looking, that can cast a pale over the rest of the house.

However, in 2017, front doors dropped a notch to second place. This year, attic insulation came in first, recouping 107.7 percent of the average cost. Nationally, the cost of some new fiberglass attic insulation came in at $1,343, but it generated an additional $1,446 in resale value. However, attic insulation was the only project listed by Remodeling where the value was more than 100 percent of the cost. The front door came in second at 90.7 percent, and a minor kitchen remodel came in third at 80.2 percent.

Remodeling defines a minor kitchen remodel as "a functional but dated 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry and countertops, leave cabinet boxes in place but replace fronts with new shaker-style wood panels and drawer fronts, including new hardware. Replace cooktop/oven range and slide-in refrigerator with new energy-efficient models. Replace laminate countertops; install mid-priced sink and faucet. Repaint trim, add wall covering, and remove and replace resilient flooring."

Other popular home improvements, such as a basement or bathroom remodel, are also losers when it comes to recovering your investment at the time of sale. For a basement remodel, you'll get 70 cents on the dollar, and a bathroom remodel will only turn up 65 cents for every dollar you spend.

Although this study indicates that nearly everything you do to a house will cost more than it's worth, we don't suggest that sellers just dump places on the market "as is." There's a lot you can do to a house before bringing it to market, and sometimes it's necessary to make certain improvement just to make a house competitive with other properties for sale.

Plus, given the fact that virtually every buyer is going to do some sort of home inspection, it's also important to make sure everything is in working order. So, here's what we believe is the most efficient way to prepare a house for sale.

First, meet with your agent and, with an open mind, listen to what they suggest. Agents have seen a lot of houses, and they know what turns buyers on and off. Also, it can sometimes help to employ the services of a stager, not necessarily to transform everything in your house, but to work with what you've got and amplify the best use of your current furnishings.

Second, clean and declutter your house to within an inch of its life. A good dose of elbow grease, scrubbing every nook and cranny is one of the lease expensive yet most productive things you can do to get your house ready for sale. Part and parcel to that is getting rid of all the junk. You don't need to completely depersonalize your house, but you do need to clear the decks and display the fine china. It might seem kind of hokey to put out flowers and place settings in the formal dining room, but that stuff works.

If you want to know how it all should look, go to the model at some nice, new home construction projects. They know how to set up a house for maximum appeal.

Third, get some new paint and carpet. Next to cleaning, paint and carpet is the cheapest thing you can do with the greatest payoff. Plus, it gives a house a great fresh scent. Just like that new car smell, homes also have a smell that excites buyers, and it's not the smell of your dog or cat. Some homeowners don't even realize that their house smells because they've gotten used to it. Don't be self-conscious about asking your agent how the house smells. They'll know how it will smell to buyers and that can make a big difference.

In sum, forget about tearing out your kitchen and putting in a new one. You'll probably never recover the cost of that. Instead, just freshen the place up, make sure everything works right and price it accordingly. In the end, that's how you'll maximize the market value of your property.

Bob and Donna McWilliams are practicing real estate agents and can be reached at 443-994-9589 or mcwilliams@bobdonna.com.

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Realities of Real Estate: What's the value of improvements when a home is sold? - CapitalGazette.com

Owned and operated by WVU Medicine University Healthcare Physicians, the Spring Mills Medical Office Building will be a three-story, 40,000-square-foot facility in Falling Waters, W.V. It will house an urgent care, orthopedics and sports medicine, primary care, and specialty clinics.

WVU Medicine University Healthcare will lease space in the building to establish various satellite services of Berkeley Medical Center. University Healthcare plans to offer rehab services, a womens imaging center and lab/x-ray services to support the physician practices and urgent care.

Brechbill & Helman Construction Companyis the contractor for the $11 million project, which is expected to be completed in early 2018. The building was designed by Grove & DallOlio Architects.

The New York office of Perkins+Will transformed a vacant 1980s suburban office building into the new cancer center located in Middletown, N.J.

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of the Lowcountry will cost $22 million to build.

The new Center for Cancer and Specialty Care is housed in the sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth's former convent in West Townin, Ill.

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Construction Begins On Spring Mills Medical Office Building - Healthcare Design

Plans for a 700-space parking garage on downtowns south end could launch a larger development that would include the construction of two new office buildings.

The five-story parking garage project has been proposed for 108 E. McCarty St., on a narrow surface lot bordered by Madison Avenue and South Pennsylvania Street about a block west of the Eli Lilly and Co. campus.

A group of investors that includes John Hurley, CEO of software firm SmartFile, has filed plans with the city to construct the garage. The Regional Center Hearing Examiner is set to hear the proposal March 9.

Hurley didnt respond to an email seeking comment. Steve Alexander, a principal of Prince/Alexander Architects Inc., which is headquartered near the site, at 21 W. Merrill St., is the architect on the project. He said plans for the property have been designed to accommodate two additional structures in addition to the parking garage.

The first would be a 100,000-square-foot office building ranging in height from eight to 12 stories.

If that fills up fairly quickly, a second office building could follow, Alexander said. Or it could be a hotel; the developer is analyzing that.

The office buildings could help meet growing demand from local startup tech companies seeking short-term space while theyre in growth mode.

Hurley at SmartFile is helping to lead the effort. His investor group has spent more than $10 million to create The Union, a for-profit venture that opened in January. It is based in a 122,000-square-foot building at 525 S. Meridian St., not far from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The 121-year-old downtown propertywhich is known as the Brougher Building and once housed Harry E. Wood High Schoolwas already 90 percent leased in November, Hurley told IBJ at the time. SmartFile moved in late last month.

The Union courts high-growth tech firms that are past the startup phase but still aren't quite sure how much space they'll need in five years. It offers short-term leases in increments of 5,000 square feet that users can adjust as needs change.

Any newly constructed office building on the site where the parking garage is set to be built will follow that model, Alexander said.

Its absolutely about tech, Alexander said.

If the plans for the office buildings come to fruition, the south side of downtown could be poised for a construction boom.

Illinois-based Hillcrest Development Inc. finally is ready to break ground in April on a $17 million, 146-room extended stay TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotel two blocks east of Lucas Oil Stadium.

Alexander, who also is the architect on that project, said it should be finished in late summer 2018.

Hillcrest received its first approvals from the city in July 2015. The five-story hotel would be south of Merrill Street and between Russell Avenue and South Meridian Street as they come to a point.

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Downtown's south end poised for construction projects - Indianapolis Business Journal

Courtesy: Pelli Clark Pelli Architects A rendering of Rockrose and Spitzer's Alexander Court redevelopment at 2001 K St. and 2101 L St. NW

Rockrose Development and Spitzer Enterprises have landed another major tenant for the JV's CBD redevelopment project,Alexander Court.

Akin Gump will occupy the top four floors at the north building, 2000 L St. NW. The 185k SF lease will beginin 2019, after the firm moves out of its 212kSF spreadat Boston Properties' 1333 New Hampshire Ave. NW. Avison Youngbrokered the deal for the landlord while CBRErepresented the law firm.

Rockrose bought the 2000 L St. building in 2013 and, together with former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, is combining it with 2001 K St. NW to createan 800k SF trophy office building. The buildings will be connected with a 12-story atrium and will have access to a rooftop terrace and 7,500 SF fitness center. The building is set to deliver by the end of the year, Rockrose director Ted Traum said.

The JV landed its first new tenantlast summer when Cornerstone Research signed for 43k SF in the L Street building. Paul, Weiss alsorenewed its lease in the K Street buildinglast summer and expanded from 51k SF to 62k SF. The K Street building is nearly fullly occupied while the L Street sidestill has roughly 175kSF left to lease after signing Akin Gump. Traum said the Akin Gump lease gives the project significant momentum, and he has received interest from other potential tenants.

"It validates the project and indicates how well it's being received in the market," Traum said. "Akin Gump is a large tenant that really had their pick of the litter in terms of all the available product. The fact that they selected us speaks to how well its being received in market and how people appreciate the quality of the architecture and amenities."

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Akin Gump Relocating To 185k SF At Under-Construction Alexander ... - Bisnow

The Kettering Health Network plans to build a medical office building on the site of a former car wash in West Carrollton.

Mike Lucking, city ecomonic development director, said, "The city is thrilled to announce that a Kettering Health Network facility will be coming to our community."

In a prepared statement released tonight, Lucking and City Manager Brad Townsend said the health network is expected to take ownership of a 3.84 acre property at 744 E. Dixie Drive, the site of the former SOnny's Auto Spa, later this year.

"This will be a substantial investment, not only to our local tax base, but also toward the health and well-bring of our community," Townsend said in the statement.

The medical office building is to include physician practices and outpatient services.

The construction timetable and cost have not yet been determined.

We are looking forward to expanding our services into West Carrollton and being an active member of the community, said Fred Manchur, Kettering Health Network CEO.

Everything we do as a faith-based health system centers on how to best care for the patient. Part of that care includes connecting people to better and faster access to quality health care. The medical office building will do just that. We are happy to collaborate with the city and county to redevelop the land.

Demolition is expected to be complete by mid-summer on the underground storage tanks and building that has been empty since August 2012. The Montgomery County Land Bank acquired the property from Sonnys LLC in December 2016.

The city plans to use approximately $176,800 in Community Development Block Grant funding and National Stabilization Program funds. Both sources are from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and filtered through Montgomery County.

We appreciate the partnership by Montgomery County and the Land Bank to help clean up a property that has become an eyesore in our community, Townsend said. The city is committed to fostering new economic development in our city by doing everything we can to limit the high costs of demolishing outdated structures and preparing land for future redevelopment, he said

The citys planning and building department will coordinate the bids for demolition contractors which is expected to be a two phase process that starts in April.

A demolition kickoff event, involving all community partners, will be announced when the schedule has been finalized.

Stay with whio.com for breaking news and news updates.

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Kettering Health Network plans medical office building in W. Carrollton - WHIO