Green Real Estate Appraiser

Change in state law (Calif) addresses common area for HOA

Posted on September 6, 2016 | Leave a comment

Definitions of exclusive use common areas can be found in either the Condominium Plan, the CC&Rs, or in the Civil Code. Civil Code Section 4145 provides

the default definition, if the governing documents do not fully cover

the topic, which includes: “shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, balconies, patios, exterior doors, doorframes, and hardware incident thereto, screens and windows or other fixtures designed to serve a single separate interest, but located outside

the boundaries of the separate interest…”.

Fixtures

serving a single unit but existing outside of the boundaries of the unit may include water heaters, or air conditioning equipment, for example.

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Non-Utility ways to heat the home in winter

Posted on September 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

Winter is just around the corner and for many that means surging gas and electricity bills.

But for those who plan ahead there are many environmentally-friendly products designed to maintain a comfortable temperature without electronic heating.

Invest in insulation

The use of insulators helps lessen Australia’s carbon footprint in residential buildings, which Choice magazine reports accounts for 10 per cent of Australia’s total carbon emissions, and reduce the $47 billion Australian households spend annually on energy, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A well-insulated roof can save the average Australian family 45 per cent on heating and cooling, with a further 20 per cent saved via wall insulation according to Choice magazine.

New technology has given rise to myriad products designed to better insulate homes, such as Ortech Durra Panel, “a walling system made out of waste straw, bonded with pressure and heat with no toxins, great acoustic and thermal performance,” says Dr Dominique Hes, director of Thrive Research Hub at the Melbourne School of Design.

In Western Australia, family home The Bling Box is setting a new precedent for sustainable Australian residential architecture. The home incorporates Bondor’s Equitilt wall panelling and SolarSpan roof sheeting for high thermal performance that exceeds the Building Code of Australia’s current six-star thermal efficiency requirement.

Another effective insulator is Thermablok, a NASA-developed material that utilises aerogel insulation technology.

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Home Buyers are Willing to Pay extra for Smart Homes

Posted on August 31, 2016 | Leave a comment

smart home

Disclaimer: For information and entertainment purposes only. The data nor the study has been verified. It is unknown what criteria was used to determine if “smart home.”

Could “smart home” technology — features such as network-connected thermostats, security devices, appliances and lighting — help you sell your home faster and for more?

Probably so, according to recent consumer polling data plus anecdotal reports from appraisers and realty agents. The key, though, is that the smart products need to be installed before you list your house, because most buyers in 2016 don’t want to have to install them on their own. They want things pretty much turnkey.

The latest in an ongoing series of research projects by Coldwell Banker Real Estate found that 71 percent of buyers out of a sample of 1,250 American adults want a “move-in ready” house and that 57 percent of those buyers looking at older houses would consider them updated, and more appealing as move-in ready, if they have smart home features already in place.

Change in state law (Calif) addresses common area for HOA

Non-Utility ways to heat the home in winter

Home Buyers are Willing to Pay extra for Smart Homes

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