Maine Modular & Custom Home News

I just ran across this incredibly comprehensive green check list.  It is from a company in Seattle Washington, so some items are listed as a Washington state standard, but the list is helpful for anyone trying to get a handle on green building.  There is so much to learn and so many ways we can go green, it can be overwhelming. This checklist puts everything you can think of in a nice orderly manner.  It reminds us that green building isn’t all about the structure we are building, but it’s also about maintaining the site and water at the building location.  Review the checklist. - it will give you a lot to think about.

If you are a visual person you probably don’t need help imagining what your bedroom will look like painted your favorite hue of lilac.  However, if you need a little help seeing just how that ivy colored trim will look with your lilac walls, check out the color assistant at My Home Ideas.  This great tool lets you choose from a variety of rooms and styles and then peruse through hundreds of color choices for the walls, trim and ceiling.  You can point and click trying literally thousands of different combinations - instead of guessing what your choice will look like, the virtual room will change colors right before your eyes - then you will know for sure if your room will be everything you imagined.  It’s lots of fun - try it out : The Color Assistant

What’s that?  It’s the newest in solar power where the conversion into electricity is immediate, as opposed to creating water power which then converts into electricity.  The demand for this renewable energy systems is going up by 20-30% per year so they must be doing something right.  If you would like to read additional information about photovoltaic systems click here on the free informational site Toolbase Services.  They offer some great information that’s not boggled in technical details, plus additional links to get further information.

We all know what the buzz is these days…..saving on gas mileage.  A lot more employers and employees are reaching agreements for one or more days of telecommuting.  Once upon a time everyone always went into the office from 8am-5pm, but times are changing.  With secure and fast internet connections, we can work from our computers at home.  So, now we’re left figuring out how to incorporate a home office into a home that may not have space for one.  I found that the website for My Home Ideas had some very creative thoughts on how to put an office space into places you never would have considered.  They have ideas for the more traditional offices, also, and if you are building a new home don’t forget to incorporate some of these great ideas.  If your boss has not agreed to let you stay home to work yet, it’s still great to have a space to become more organized in paying bills and keeping track of appointments.  If you have the space ready for personal use, then when the boss does suggest telecommuting, you’ll be one step ahead!

Some green building has hidden benefits - the incentives, tax rebates and tax credits that are hard to keep track of.  The Green Made Simple website lets you search for all kinds of free bonus and incentive programs for making your home more green.  All you need to do is put in your zip code and search by category and you will be enlightened to all kinds of savings and benefits you never knew existed.  It’s like shopping a super sale…gotta love that.  Check it out at Green Made Simple.

Well, not really…just a little friendly competition.  When two celebrities try to make their homes more green, it becomes a contest to see who will do the best job.  Read the story about Begley vs. Nye to find out who’s ahead.  What a great way to bring attention to the importance of trying to make our planet healthier, and have a little fun, also.

Or VOCs as they are fondly referred to.  VOCs are found in the off gassing of harmful chemicals and pollutants commonly found in solvent-based finishes, adhesives, carpeting, particleboard, and many other building products.  One of the more common ways that VOCs escape into our living habitat is through paint, stains and sealers.  Safecoat paints and primers offer a full range of ecologically safe enamel paints as well as other safe sealants and stains.  The paints are taintable with zero VOC colorants in a variety of shades.  Their products are fully LEEDS certified and they are available throughout the U.S.  The air we breathe is polluted enough with everyday toxins.   Check out the Safecoat website at www.safecoatpaint.com, to view their full range of environmentally safe products.  They offer downloadable spec sheets on their products so you can compare them to other products you might be considering.   Using zero VOC paints and stains can help our immediate surroundings to be a little more healthy - and that’s a good thing.

I post articles on green building all the time.  In my travels on the internet to find reliable sources, I ran across this: My Green Journey.  Ok - so it’s not about building, but it is very helpful information for each and every home owner.  There are green things growing around our homes that definitely are not good for us.  While gardening or exploring your lot, be very careful not to encounter poison ivy, poison oak, or any of the other poisons that are out there.

If you are a first time shopper for home owner’s insurance, here are a few tips for saving money.  These are common areas that most all insurance companies will allow discounts for.  First, you will need to decide how big of a deductible you are comfortable with.  In general the higher deductible on your policy, the lower the cost.  After you decide your deductible ask about discounts:

• Discount for using same insurance company for both auto and home insurances
• Discount for having smoke detectors
• Discount for having a burglar alarm
• Discount for have a sprinkler system
• Discount for not living in a flood zone
• Disccount for being 55 or over
• Discount for a radon or natural gas detector

 Of course you should shop several insurance companies and find out which ones offer the best deals. And finally, make sure you ask for an explanation for anything that is in fine print.  It’s better to not have any surprises.  Know what to expect before that incident occurs - the one that causes you to call your insurance agent.

Some of us are better at saving money than others….I happen to fall into that “others” category.  Everytime I save twenty dollars I seem to get an unexpected bill for fifty dollars.  Always one step forward and two steps back.  After reading Saving For A House Ain’t That Hard, I learned some very practical steps for saving money.  A lot of it appears to be just attitude; convincing yourself that you really can do it.  Apparently once you get started it doesn’t take as long as you would think.  I have to admit, for my first home I did follow one of the recommended steps - I asked my mother for the money.  Back when I was trying to get into my first home, there were no such things as on line savings accounts and automatic payroll deductions.  These are great tools to use, and I do feel that it makes saving for a down payment much easier.  Get started today, and while you’re waiting to get all that moolah together, follow another recommendation - come to one of our Home Buyer’s Seminars in either our Oxford or Bethel Maine location. You can sign up by clicking right here.  Along with all the great tips you will learn, It will help you keep a focused goal in mind and keep you excited about building your very own new home.