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When it comes to home renovations, ‘as seen on TV’ isn’t always reality.
When it comes to home renovations, ‘as seen on TV’ isn’t always reality. Home reno shows on HGTV and other networks often receive products and materials for free or at discounted costs, making a substantial renovation seem affordable. For some real world advice on planning a budget for your home renovation, we turned to interior designer Rebecca Hay of Rebecca Hay Designs. The Toronto-based designer has a diverse portfolio ranging from condo renovations to luxurious private residences and large scale commercial projects.
1. Get a ballpark figure
In order to avoid sticker shock during your renovation, first get an idea of how much your dream reno is going to cost. Even a small space such as a powder room can cost a lot more than you may think. Common expenses to consider include basic demolition, framing, insulation and drywall, plumbing, wiring, fixtures and materials.
“Talk to your designer or friends who have renovated and start collecting data on what a renovation of your size will cost,” says Hay. “For example, a bathroom reno rarely comes in under $20,000, so be prepared for things to cost more than you expected.”
2. Create a realistic picture of what you want to accomplish
Watching Chip and Joanna Gaines flip a Waco ranch home is a great way to get inspired for your home renovation, but unless you have a celebrity budget to work with, these types of renos aren’t always realistic. Before you start your project, determine what you are prepared to spend and see if it aligns with what you want to do. Consult your financial advisor to see what financing options are available and the types of loans that you can apply for to get a clearer picture of what you can spend.
“This is where having a good designer or contractor on board will help,” says Hay. “A good designer can determine if your budget is realistic because they have the experience to know what it’s going to cost. As a designer, I always try to balance high-end finishes with thrifty finds to create a unique and customized space.”
3. Stay organized by creating an itemized spreadsheet
Take some time to carefully list everything you can possibly think of that needs to be budgeted for, from truck or trailer rentals to furniture and accessories. And consider going room by room to record what needs to be changed, upgraded or fixed.
“Create an itemized spreadsheet of all the elements that are involved in your reno,” suggests Hay. “And don’t forget to include construction costs, millwork (kitchen cabinets), materials or items not included in construction such as design fees, lighting and any furnishings.”
4. Set aside 20 percent of your budget for a contingency fund
Once you know how much you can afford to spend, Hay recommends setting aside 20 percent of your available funds for unexpected costs. You can never really know what’s behind your walls or ceilings until they’re taken down. Support beams may need to be replaced due to pest damage or dry rot, and mold may be growing where you didn’t expect it to be.
“Always consider 20 percent extra for contingency. You see this talked about all the time, but honestly not enough people do it,” notes Hay. “If, by some rare chance, you don’t end up spending it, you can always use those funds to spend on the pretty accessories at the end of the project.”
5. Get ACTUAL numbers and plug those in
Now that you have a spreadsheet, it’s time to do your homework and research average renovation costs. “When I was first starting out and didn’t have much experience with budgets I would create a high/low budget for my projects,” says Hay. “This is a little more work, but will help you see the big picture and help you see the wide range that can occur.”
6. Don’t always rely on a contractor’s “allowance”
An allowance is an estimated cost that a contractor will include as a line item for something that hasn’t been determined yet, but can vary in price. Examples include tile, flooring materials and plumbing fixtures. “Be sure to do your research and look into the price of these items to know if what he or she has “allowed” is enough for the end product that you are looking for,” explains Hay. “If you’re hoping for all marble tile, chances are that your contractor has not allowed for this, and so it could be a surprise extra.”
7. Set priorities and trim where needed
When you’re working on creating the home of your dreams, it’s easy to get carried away with the latest design trends, technology, finishes and materials.These can add up, causing expenses to skyrocket. To avoid any future finance-related stress, make sure to set priorities and trim the project to fit your budget. “There is always wiggle room as long as you have a healthy and realistic budget for what you want to achieve,” says Hay.
Home interiors are softening up with lighter neutrals and more casually designed modern spaces, according to PulteGroup’s in-house team of interior designers that furnish model homes nationwide.
7 Surprising Design Trends for the Home
The Hottest Paint Colors of 2019
“Much like a change to spring weather, warm natural elements are brightening up homes this season, in combination with a clean, modern approach that does not sacrifice comfort,” says Angela Nuessle, national director of interior design for PulteGroup. “Color is also playing a big role in design as we see a shift from cool-toned gray palettes to light, brown-based tones. Layering these warm neutrals and combining them with vibrant accents will be key to making homes fresh and stylish for spring.”
PulteGroup highlights several interior fads:
Spring home design trends
Light wood tones: “Lighter wood grains can be dressed up for a classic upscale feel or down for a more comfortable and casual look. Incorporating these elements through cabinetry, flooring, and furniture selections is easy and trend forward,” PulteGroup notes.
Natural materials: Raw materials are gaining popularity, inspired by soft, organic shapes that are shown in furnishings, home accents, and artwork. This trend strays from the hard, geometric designs that have dominated over the last few years. For example, natural stone featured in coffee tables, sculptures, and lighting are adding a unique visual interest to furniture pieces or home accents. Also, faux animal hide rugs and textiles are adding subdued texture and visual interest to spaces.
Casually modern aesthetic: Design is straying from being too “matchy-matchy,” and instead has a more eclectic vibe that infuses multiple design styles. “Interiors are streamlined and uncluttered, but do not sacrifice comfort and livability,” PulteGroup notes.
Color trends
Layered neutrals with some colorful accents are among the top home design trends for the season, PulteGroup notes. The PulteGroup designers offer their take on the trending colors for 2019:
Taupe: Transitioning from the popularity of gray palettes, home designs are now warming up their interiors with more brown-based tones.
Warm whites: Soft whites are brightening up space while also adding “a touch of warmth and yield a multidimensional ability,” PulteGroup designers say.
Variations of green: Green is popping up in more interiors in a multitude of shades. “Green serves as a warm grounding neutral, with added complexity, that makes for a versatile and serene look,” the designers note.
Blue: Blue has proven itself as a popular accent color over the last few years, but now it’s being added more as a neutral color within design. Blue can blend in with other colors and is popping up on everything from home accessories to kitchen cabinetry.
Onyx elements: More home interiors are welcoming bolder, darker colors. “Onyx can be styled as bold or casual to bring high contrast and an elevated elegance to any space in the home,” PulteGroup designers note. “The color remains a timeless and beautiful go-to that will make a big wave in design this season.”
On this day in 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools’ Day by playing practical jokes on each other.
Although the day, also called All Fools’ Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery.
Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as poisson d’avril (April fish), said to symbolize a young, “easily hooked” fish and a gullible person.
April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.
For the past few years, home sellers have been in the driver’s seat. With hordes of buyers fighting over a very limited supply of properties, many homes sold in days—and landed their sellers a windfall. But lately, sellers have been getting nostalgic for the good ol’ days as the market has slowed down, with residences taking longer to sell and some even having their price cut.
So sellers angling to unload their abodes fast—and for a boatload of cash—might pin their hopes on the first week of April. The week of March 31 to April 6 was deemed the best time to put a home on the market, according to a recent realtor.com® report. (The report looked at the 50 largest real estate markets in the nation over the past three years.
In that week, homes are listed for an average 6% more than at the beginning of the year, totaling an extra average $17,000. They also receive 14% more views on realtor.com than at other times of the year. And they get 5% less competition (the most homes go up for sale in late spring) and sell about six days faster. Plus, they’re 1% less likely to experience a price drop.
“Sellers have to think about the competition in a way they haven’t before,” says Chief Economist Danielle Hale of realtor.com. “Getting ahead of other potential sellers could be even more of a bigger advantage this year given market conditions.”
To be clear: Prices aren’t the highest in April. They typically peak around June, as buyers flood the market, hoping to close on a new property before their children go back to school. But sellers face less competition and homes sell quickly during the first week of April.
Low mortgage interest rates may also incentivize more buyers to get into the market rather than risk getting stuck with a higher rate later on. (Even a single percentage point increase can add more than $100 to a monthly mortgage payment.) Rates were expected to shoot up this year, but instead have hovered around 4.4% for 30-year, fixed-rate loans. They fell to 4.31% on Thursday, according to Freddie Mac.
“Home buyer demand is really sensitive to [mortgage interest] rates right now,” says Hale.
Spring is in full swing this weekend on the Treasure Coast.
Some of the best events and things to do include a seafood and craft beer festival, a Native American powwow, a manatee education day, a pig roast party, a dog festival, classic car shows and a brewery’s one-year anniversary celebration.
Here’s What To Do in 772.
Seafood and beer
Main Street Fort Pierce’s Sandy Shoes Seafood & Brew is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Indian River Veterans Memorial Park at 600 N. Indian River Drive in Fort Pierce.
The event has live music throughout the day, a large variety of local seafood, cooking competitions, a chowder cup competition, a citrus squeeze-off, a children’s zone, booths and more than 100 artists selling paintings, photography, jewelry, clothing and sculptures.
Plus, a craft beer pavilion features 12 breweries with 24 craft beers to sample from 2-6 p.m. A wristband, which comes with a collectible tasting glass, is $20 in advance and $25 at the event.
Here are the breweries: Sailfish Brewing Company, Islamorada Beer Company, Side Door Brewing Company, Hop Life Brewing Company, SweetWater Brewing Company, Motorworks Brewing, Coppertail Brewing Company, 3 Daughters Brewing, Big Top Brewing Company, Elysian Brewing Company, Big Storm Brewing Company and Goose Island Brewery.
Fly The Whale is offering seaplane rides every hour beginning at 10 a.m. for $75 plus tax per person. To make a reservation, go to flythewhale.com.
Admission to Sandy Shoes is free. For more information, call 772-466-3880 or go to sandyshoesseafoodandbrew.com.
The Florida Indian Heritage Association’s 54th annual Native American Powwow is this weekend at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds at 15601 W. Midway Road, west of Fort Pierce. Gates open 4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Grand entry parades are 6 p.m. Friday, noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
The powwow includes Native American food for sale, intertribal dancing, a crafts competition, a tipi display, gourd dancing, a princess competition, dance seminars and vendors.
Admission is $8 in advance and $10 at the gate. Kids ages 6-12 are $5 and ages 5 and younger get in free. Military in uniform and veterans with ID also get in free. To get tickets in advance, go to store13280038.ecwid.com. For more information, call 772-519-7888 or go to fiha.us.
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Manatee education
Manatee Discovery Day is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium at 420 Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce.
Celebrate the upcoming National Manatee Appreciation Day at an event where kids can meet Florida Atlantic University’s Beth Brady, a scientist who studies manatees and manatee vocalizations. They also can learn about manatees, help put together a real manatee skeleton, see and hold manatee biofacts like bones and a manatee brain in a jar and learn how manatees talk to each other with squeaks. Kids then can record their own manatee squeaks, and aquarium staff will provide a digital recording and spectrogram, or a visual representation of voices, to keep as souvenirs.
Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for kids ages 4 and older and seniors, and free for kids ages 3 and younger. Registration isn’t required but appreciated by calling 772-465-3271. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/smithsoniansms.
Jazz Week with the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society kicks off this weekend with free live music from the Waterside Blues ensemble at 1:15-2:30 p.m. Sunday and the Rusty Wright Band at 3-5 p.m. along the downtown waterfront in front of the library at 101 Melody Lane.
The week continues: Steve Ahearn at 8:30 p.m. March 26 at the Sunrise Theatre’s Black Box for $10-12 each, then more free live music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 27 on Melody Lane, from 6:30-9 p.m. March 27 in front of 2nd Street Bistro and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 29 on Melody Lane. For more information, call 772-460-5299 or go to jazzsociety.org.
The Mutt March and WaterFest from the City of Stuart, the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast and Students4H2O is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park at 100 S.E. Ocean Blvd., in Stuart.
Activities include a 5K race, food trucks, a pet photo booth, the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen testing, a flea-less vendor market, a famous canine costume contest, mini derby races, a lure course and a raffle.
Admission is free. Registration for the 5K is $35. For more information, go to www.hstc1.org/muttmarch.
The Stuart Tacky Tourist Pub Crawl is 4:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, starting at Duffy’s at 1 S.W. Osceola St., where you check in and get a name tag with a list of participating locations.
Dress in your tackiest tourist attire and pretend you’re on a Florida vacation as you visit neighborhood watering holes, all within a few minutes of walking distance from each other.
Admission is free. Ages 21 and older only. Drink responsibly and plan for transportation home. For more information, go to facebook.com/treasurecoastsocialsports.
The Elliott Museum’s 23rd annual Classics at the Beach Car Show is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 825 N.E. Ocean Blvd., in Stuart.
The grounds of the museum are filled with an array of automotive gems that come to Stuart from all over Florida. Featured marques this year are Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi, but there are classics of every make. Other highlights include more than 50 silent auction items, food trucks and wine and beer for sale.
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids younger than 6. Free parking with a shuttle operates from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between the museum and Smithfield Plaza at the corner of East Ocean Boulevard and Monterey Road. For more information, go to elliottmuseum.org/classics-at-the-beach-car-show.
Also, the Spring Cruise-In Car Show at Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 4200 Johnston Road, north of Fort Pierce. Admission is free to spectators. For more information, call 772-460-0500 or go to summercrushwine.com.
Mash Monkeys Brewing Company’s One-Year Anniversary Party with live music and catered food is 1-10 p.m. Saturday at 920 U.S. 1 in Sebastian.
Mash Monkeys Brewing Company is the Treasure Coast’s ninth brewery and the second one to open in Sebastian. It’s the first one in the tri-county area to be within walking distance of another brewery. For more information, go to facebook.com/mashmonkeysbrewingcompany.
The Citrus Classic 5K at Pocahontas Park starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday on 15th Avenue in downtown Vero Beach, travels through scenic neighborhoods and ends back downtown.
The run/walk celebrates the history of the citrus industry in Vero Beach and Indian River County. Post-race festivities at Pocahontas Park on 14th Avenue include music, refreshments, raffles, an awards ceremony and plenty of juice. For more information, go to runvero.com.
The second annual Pareidolican Challenge in the Indian River Lagoon is Saturday at Pareidolia Brewing Company at 712 Cleveland St. in Sebastian. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on the brewery’s deck.
Participants can paddle any type of vessel, launching from the end of Cleveland Street. The 350-yard children’s race starts at 9:50 a.m. The 10K race begins at 10 a.m. The 5K race starts at 10:05 a.m. The PaddleBrew begins at 11:45 a.m.
The after-party and awards ceremony start at noon at the brewery. Proceeds benefit the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation. For more information, go to paddleguru.com/races/pareidolicanchallenge.
The Gifford Dock Road Cleanup from Keep Indian River Beautiful and Walking Tree Brewery is 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the end of 45th Street.
Volunteers remove litter from the Indian River Lagoon and get a Great American Cleanup shirt. For more information, go to keepindianriverbeautiful.org.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie’s Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.
More than 4,800 households per year are moving from Broward and Palm Beach counties to the Treasure Coast, according to IRS data.
New home buyers from Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties are turning to the Treasure Coast in increasing numbers to get more home for the money, avoid congestion and enjoy more peaceful neighborhoods.
Year over year data from the IRS reveals a 60 percent annual increase in families moving from the three South Florida counties to Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties. In 2015, just over 3,000 households moved to the Treasure Coast from Palm Beach, Broward and Dade. That number increased substantially in 2016, jumping to 4,800. Conservative estimates suggest as many as 6,000 to 10,000 households could make the transition annually in the coming years.
Those who have already made the move have noted affordable housing prices, safer neighborhoods and less traffic congestion as positive motivators. With home buyers looking for good deals, Port St. Lucie — in the heart of the Treasure Coast — offers some ideal options to Florida households.
For instance, it only costs an average of $1,600 per month to purchase a brand new and beautifully designed three-bedroom home in the county. And that estimate includes taxes, insurance and homeowner’s fees as well as an idyllic resort-style environment, with a pool, a gym and a playground for the little ones. Comparatively, just to rent a three-bedroom apartment in Broward County costs significantly more, averaging about $2,400 to $2,600 per month.
Beyond the affordable living costs, those looking for a relaxed pace of life welcome the less-congested and calmer reality of the Treasure Coast. Additionally, safe neighborhoods are an important factor. According to SafeHome.org, the coastal city of Port St. Lucie is among the safest in the entire country. As of last year, the city was also ranked as the third safest in the state of Florida.
The gated community of Vizcaya Falls features a lakefront clubhouse, boat launch, beach and fitness trail and kids splash zone, among other amenities.
Depending on where individuals work, relocating to Martin, St. Lucie or Indian River may only add a few minutes to their daily commute. Even if it’s a more substantial amount of time, the comfort and affordable prices are a worthwhile trade off to many.
Home buyers, particularly young families, often recognize a positive opportunity for their finances and a better environment for their children. Instead of paying high prices to rent, they can purchase their own home and give their children access to great recreational facilities, private pools and more play space to enjoy. At the same time, they can sleep easier with low crime rates and avoid the stress of more congested cities.
However, young families aren’t the only demographic noting the appeal of the Treasure Coast. In 2014, Forbes ranked Port St. Lucie as one of the 25 best places for Americans to retire. The publication cited the area’s “warm coastal climate, above average air quality, [and a] cost of living five percent below [the] national average.”
Home builder Kolter Homes has launched the Vizcaya Falls development in the city to accommodate the needs of young families and retirees alike. With three-bedroom town homes starting under $200,000, the American dream of owning a picturesque home in an idyllic location is within reach.
The city also features 21-miles of incredible — and award-winning — white sandy beaches, world-class golf facilities and of course, the tropical breezes that make every day feel like vacation. With the trend clearly showing homeowners have recognized the many benefits of relocating to the Treasure Coast, there’s no better time to look at the options available. Those considering purchasing a home, however, should move fast before the market shifts.
As the trend of South Floridians moving northward grows, some real estate professionals predict that both home prices and interest rates will increase in 2019. They advise that if you are considering a move, now is the time so you don’t miss the opportunity to find the perfect home for you and your family.
