Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

QUICKREAD

Information courtesy of The Bray Report produced monthly by Bray Real Estate, which compiles data from several sources, including the Grand Junction Area Realtor Association Multiple Listing Service and the Mesa County Public Trustees office.

By Special to the Sentinel Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2014: 1536 properties were sold in Mesa County. The median price for those sales was $180,000 which is a 5 percent increase over the same period in 2013. The number of sales is down about 3 percent during the same period in 2013 (1,578 homes sold). Of the 260 homes sold in June, 28 sold for less than $99,000, 123 sold for between $100,000 and $199,000, 71 sold for between $200,000 and $299,000, 24 sold for between $300,000 and $399,000, 10 sold for between $400,000 and $499,000, 4 sold for between $500,000 and $749,000 and none sold for $750,000 or more. Listing inventory is up 11 percent from the same time one year ago (115 more homes), but down 37 percent from four years ago. Homes sold in January through July spent an average of 91 days on the market. Building permits through July are up 1 percent from last year.

Dave, We are planning on putting our home up for sale next spring, but in the meantime we are going to be taking care of general maintenance items that need to be addressed and also those things that are in need of obvious repair. We are considering several other more significant improvements like updating the kitchen, the bathrooms and potentially the carpet. We do have a limited amount of money to make the fixes and we were wondering which of these might prove to be the most beneficial? We are looking to make the most impact, but also be putting our money and time in the right places, considering we are selling soon and will no longer be there to enjoy our improvements. Any advice would be great. Ron and Beth, Grand Junction

Ron and Beth, Great question and also wise to start planning for a spring sale now, especially if you have work that needs to be done! Planning to get your home in tip top condition is not only in your best interest financially, but will also help you sell your home in a more timely fashion, assuming your price it correctly! Condition is one factor that every seller has control over and should never be overlooked, as you never get a second chance to make a first impression and first impressions are very valuable. When you take care of all the things that obviously need repair and also dial in the overall condition, you will be well on your way to getting ahead of your competition. I can generally say that cosmetic fixes go a long way in making your homes first impression a better one. I always recommend flooring and paint, as those are two items that can make the biggest impact for a reasonable investment. As for more complex or major remodeling projects I generally go to another source, the Cost vs. Value report that is annually put together by Remodeling magazine and Realtor magazine and can be accessed in its entirety at realtormag.realtor.org. The Cost vs. Value report is a wonderful tool to see, on average, what return you can expect from any moderate/major remodel you are considering. Remember the returns may be greater or lesser depending on many variables, but it is a nice measuring stick to see how different projects stack up on a national level. Remember, this is a good measuring stick, but not a definitive indicator or expected rate of return for our specific market or your specific home. Some of the highlights are as follows:

Front entry door replacement with steel door returned 85% Deck addition returned 77% Siding replacement (with fiber-cement) returned 79% Garage door replacement returned 75% Minor kitchen remodel returned 75% (major kitchen remodel 69%) Window replacement returned 72% Bathroom remodel returned 58%

One thing to note here, most of the highest returns on the list deal directly with exterior changes! Curb appeal is one of, if not, the most important aspects of selling any house and often times the most overlooked. Remember, buyers are generally exposed to your home online first and then drive by it several times before scheduling a showing. My recommendation would be to make sure you spend an adequate amount on the exterior to spruce it up and make sure that the curb appeal is as good as you can get it and then look to the inside for other improvements. A growing trend is outdoor living and entertaining space that provides a real impact for potential buyers! Inside, go with flooring, paint and fixtures first and then move on to the kitchens and bathrooms. Remember to spend wisely and have your real estate agent help you decide which improvements can be done to deliver the most impact at the most reasonable cost! New pulls on kitchen cabinets, new light and sink fixtures with a wow back splash can sometimes provide enough impact and keep your costs down. I hope this helps.

Dave Kimbrough The Kimbrough Team REMAX 4000 Inc.

Do you have a question? Send it to askdavegj@gmail. com and Dave Kimbrough will personally answer it in this space. Some questions may be more technical in nature than others and require more time to research. Due to volume we cant guarantee a response to every question.

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Real Estate Q & A

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With annual revenues north of $64 billion, United Technologies Corporation is one of the biggest players in the Aerospace and Defense Products and Services industry (a subset of the broader Aerospace and Defense industry ). But bigger isn't always better.

Put in context, "UTC," as it's commonly abbreviated, lies somewhere in between Boeing and Lockheed Martin in size. But United Technologies is a much more diversified business than either of these aerospace peers. In fact, only about 54% of its revenues derive from aerospace products at all -- and UTC's biggest revenue generatoris its Climate, Controls & Security division, which makes HVAC, fire sprinkler systems, alarms, and video surveillance for buildings.

Result: The same cutbacks in global defense spending that have affected revenues at Boeing and Lockheed Martin affect United Technologies' more diversified business less. But that doesn't mean the stock is totally immune to downdrafts. Today, we're going to take a look at three things that could potentially have a negative effect on United Technologies' stock price, starting with...

Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet. Photo: Lockheed Martin .

Reason No. 1 to be cautious about United Technologies' stock price is exactly what you think it would be: the June 23 incident in which a UTC-built F135 engine, powering a Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet, caught on fire -- severely damaging the plane.

UTC is believedto charge the Pentagon anywhere from $14 million to $34 million per F135 engine (with F135-PW-600 engines for the short take-off and landing USMC-variant F-35B costing about twice the price of an ordinary F135 engine). The average cost at present is working out to be about $29 million per unit -- or about 19% of the costof the entire plane.

Now, June featured the second such incident with the F135 engine, and subsequent investigations revealed several more planes were at risk of experiencing at least "mild rubbing" between their "integrally bladed rotors" and the engine casing, which could cause excessive friction.

Worries about the quality of the F135 engine's construction have some Congressmen on Capitol Hill wondering if they might want to have General Electric build an alternate engine for the F-35 fighter . So far, only two instances of serious trouble with the new engine probably aren't enough to justify spending the billions of dollars it would cost to develop an alternate engine. But further incidents could change this calculus.

With 3,000-odd F-35s expected to be built and engined by UTC over the next 60 years, we're looking at as much as $87 billion in potential sales revenues (let alone maintenance and upgrades and replacements) put at risk by this issue with the F135 engine. For now, it's not a reason to sell the stock. But it is a reason to keep a close eye on how the F135 story plays out.

Speaking of General Electric, one month ago, shares of GE were selling for $27and change. Today, they fetch less than $26. Part of the reason for the drop, one imagines, was GE's decision to sell its storied Appliances division to Electrolux for just $3.3 billion -- a price less than half what GE once thought the division was worth .

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3 Reasons United Technologies Corporation's Stock Could Fall

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One thing is for certain: High-rise window washing is not a job foreveryone.

Eric Katzer said he can tell by the way job candidates walk across a roof whether they are cut out for it or not. Katzer owns and operates WestCoast Window Cleaning, a window washing company that cleans windows on tall downtown buildings like the U.S. Courthouse, the downtown post office, the Spokane Arena and on this particular day, Rock Pointe CorporateCenter.

And some applicants just kind of go wobbly when they get up here, Katzer said, while standing on the roof of Rock Pointe

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Mark Rutkowsky, above, and Eric Katzer hang off a building at Rock Pointe Aug. 27. The two regularly rappel off the roofs of buildings to clean windows aroundSpokane. (Full-size photo)

One thing is for certain: High-rise window washing is not a job foreveryone.

Eric Katzer said he can tell by the way job candidates walk across a roof whether they are cut out for it or not. Katzer owns and operates WestCoast Window Cleaning, a window washing company that cleans windows on tall downtown buildings like the U.S. Courthouse, the downtown post office, the Spokane Arena and on this particular day, Rock Pointe CorporateCenter.

And some applicants just kind of go wobbly when they get up here, Katzer said, while standing on the roof of Rock Pointe. The worst thing that can happen is that they dont tell us how scared they are before they go over the side of thebuilding.

Katzer got into the business when he was about 16 because he needed work and a friends father owned a window washing company. And today, roughly 30 years later, its still what he does for aliving.

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Unusual Jobs: Window washers - Thu, 11 Sep 2014 PST

Unprecedented demand for propane for grain drying and home heating led to temporary price surges and strained the nations transportation infrastructure last winter, even as U.S. propane production reached all-time highs.

This fall, the Propane Education & Research Council and propane industry are taking proactive steps to ensure that residential propane heating customers and agribusiness operators, among others, fill up early and make arrangements with propane providers to keep their tanks full.

America makes more than enough propane to meet U.S. demand, yet the transportation challenges we faced last winter stressed many propane providers and customers, said Roy Willis, PERC president and CEO. The best thing propane customers can do to avoid any weather-related difficulties this winter is fill their tanks now.

A multimedia safety campaign, featuring TV and online advertising in states hit hardest last winter by temporary price surges and deliverability challenges, begins today. The campaign directs customers to propanecomfort.com where they can take a quiz to determine if they are adequately prepared. For those who havent already made arrangements, the quiz encourages users to consider early fills, automatic refills, and payment programs.

According to Willis, the most important step customers can take this winter is a simple one: to start a conversation with their local propane provider.

By filling tanks early, customers and propane retailers, many of whom are small businesses, can better plan for supply needs and work together to ensure that everyone has a comfortable and safe winter. Because delivery and payment programs vary by company, its important that customers have a conversation with their provider to start making plans for winter today.

At propanecomfort.com, customers can also review top safety and efficiency tips, including:

1 Make sure that you have an adequate propane supply. Ask your propane provider about payment programs and scheduling regular visits so that theres always enough propane in your tank. This will help avoid ever running empty if inaccessible roads delay deliveries.

2.Confirm that your heating system and appliances are running efficiently. Before the start of each heating season, have a qualified service technician inspect and service your appliances and propane system. When appliances are running as efficiently as possible, you conserve fuel and save money.

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Propane industry to residential customers: Plan for winter now

Media release

11 September 2014

New framework sets outline for a world-class downtown Auckland

A new framework for downtown Auckland has been launched today, setting out 12 major programmes of work that will help create a world-class area that is able to compete globally to attract investment, tourism and jobs.

The Downtown Framework sets out how the programmes of work fit together, and provides the context for future engagement and decisions on downtown projects.

The framework was approved by the Auckland Development Committee. Committee chair, Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, says: These are really exciting times for Aucklands city centre. Better transport and great quality public spaces will help it to become globally competitive, attracting businesses, talented people and creating new jobs. This is critical for the future success of all of Auckland.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity here to create a well-functioning, efficient and vibrant downtown. This framework is a major step forward. It sets out principles to guide some of the difficult discussions ahead, including Aucklands central wharves and how to improve the amount and quality of public space in the city.

The framework, which is led by Auckland Councils City Centre Integration team, builds on the momentum of improvements happening across the city centre including the three new cycleways launched last weekend and the quality walkways being opened this week and next.

Councillors also approved the sale of Queen Elizabeth Square (west of lower Queen Street), to enable other better-quality public spaces to be developed downtown.

The decision follows analysis that the existing square is shaded, windy and not well used; a larger, better-quality civic square could be created by pedestrianising part of lower Queen Street and the sale could fund new, high-quality public space at the waterfront. The three options are at the foot of Albert St, in front of the ferry building and at Admiralty Steps.

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New framework outline for a world-class downtown Auckland

ORLANDO --

X marks the spot.

The former "Fun 'n Wheels" family entertainment center off International Drive in Orange County is now home to cracked pavement and weeds, along with painted directional arrows still on the ground to aid exiting riders.

Yet, among new survey markers and dried drilling slurry left behind from core samples, awaits an old address ready to become vibrant once again.

"The land wants to be an attraction," says Joshua Wallack with a grin.

The intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road in Orange County is getting a facelift from Wallack.

"It's downtown Orange County, he proclaims.

In his leather dress shoes and suit pants, the Chief Operating Officer of Wallack Holdings runs through the construction site of Mango's Tropical Cafe' Orlando, grabbing a hard hat as he enters.

Almost immediately upon entering, a construction foreman jumps at the opportunity to grab Wallack's attention, since the real estate developer doesn't slow down often.

"I never thought we would ever be involved in anything of this magnitude," Wallack says of the four projects he has envisioned for one of Orange County's busiest corners.

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Orlando's International Drive's changing face

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