The Town Broker

HELP! There’s Lead Paint In My House!!

One of the things that attracts so many people to our community is the lovely older homes. Many were built around the turn of the century, and some even earlier. We decided to purchase our Westfield home (built in 1927) because we love its character and architectural style.  But trust me…when your home is this old, one thing is certain: repairs and renovations!

EPA Issues New Lead Paint Renovation Compliance Rules

If your home was built prior to 1978, chances are pretty good that they used lead paint somewhere. It was in this year that there was ban placed on using leaded paint, because of the damaging health effects on children. (In New Jersey, if you purchase a home built in or before this year, you’ll need to sign a lead paint disclosure form acknowledging the risks.)

Since the ban on lead paint was put into effect, the number of children poisoned by the dangerous metal as declined significantly. But the EPA still estimates that a millions (with an “M”) children are still impacted annually. And that’s waaayyyy too many!

When we think of homes that present a lead paint hazard, we often think of decaying urban structures with peeling paint and falling walls. And while these do present a problem, that’s not the whole picture. Re-modeling and renovation projects to upscale suburban homes can also present a significant risk.

Remember…the danger is in disturbing the lead paint and sending the dust into the air where it can be inhaled.

To address these risks, the EPA has now issued new rules for re-modeling projects. These rules went into effect on April 22, 2010. These rules don’t apply to individual homeowners doing minor repairs. But if you’re paying someone to do the  job, your contractor will need to be properly certified to do the job safely. Failure to comply with these rules will lead to big fines, and possible health risks to you and your family.

To learn more about what these rules say and how they might impact you and your re-modeling project, check out this video. Or, feel free to give me a call with any questions.

Tags: EPA, lead paint, remodeling

Home Remodeling Projects: Which Ones Are Best For Resale?

There are some who say that a professional remodeling job is never a wasted effort. After all, it’s YOUR house, and you want it to be the way you like it.  I will admit that we probably “overbuilt” when we did our kitchen remodel a few years ago. But my wife and I love to cook, and we enjoy this space each  and every day. So for us, while our investment might not pay off at resale, it’s paying for itself over and over again in ”happiness”. It’s a decision I’d make again in a heartbeat! 

But if you’re thinking about a remodeling project this year, and you’re concerned about getting the most for your money at resale, then listen up. Remodeling Magazine just released the 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report, and you might want to take a look. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: investment, remodeling, ROI