yanni raz asked:


?In today’s market it is very important good realtor to represent you.N a marketplace overflowing with opportunity, Tax benefits and variable values, proven experience, integrity, market awareness and outstanding communication skills are essential. No one can ignore qualities like that.. Home Purchases and sales are too important to place in the charge of inexperienced, unverified realtors.

Whether dealing with a commercial or residential Real estate transaction, the client should verify that the realtor is a associate in good standing with the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This membership assures the client of the realtor’s responsibility to educational programs and compliance with principles of ethical conduct and cooperation. The National Association of Realtors has been instrumental in increasing and implementing important ethical principles of conduct throughout the industry.

In addition to enrollment with the NAR, the realtor that can best locate and list for sale either residential or commercial Real estate will be a An associate of a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is a regional marketplace that is designed to assure clients of highest exposure to existing Real estate and the cooperation of many other real estate Agencies. Whether buying or selling, clients must persist that the realtor be a member of the Realtor board.

It is essential to recognize that the term realtor refers to the agency itself. Realtors, or real estate brokers, keep agents that list, sell and lease real estate, on behalf of the realtor. However, the realtor is liable for the activity and conduct of its agents, the Firm’s marketing campaign and the interaction with other cooperating Firms. Selecting a proven and trustworthy realtor can maximize the sale of a real estate property and assure the buyer of making an informed choice.

Real estate marketing has changed dramatically in the past few years. The industry has been impacted by the advent of enhanced MLS services that have made properties obtainable for review on the internet. A recent survey showed that almost 70% of residential Real estate investors began their search Online. In today’s Market, the greatest realtors have fine-tuned internet strategies, marketing plans and communication programs that keep their agents, their listings and their clients abreast of activity as it occurs.

Programs such as virtual tours and digital photography can do much to enhance the visibility of listings and can be Changed with the availability of aerial photographs, tax documents and copies of deeds and disclosure statements. Good realtors are capitalizing on the public’s Needs for internet access by creating web logs for listings, agents and related projects.

As eminent as the internet is to overall real estate marketing, it is imperative to choose a realtor with outstanding communication capabilities. There is no reason for a realtor to ignore a call or be oblivious of market activity as it happens. The finest Real estate agents understand the importance of being on top of the market at all times and are always accessible to their Buyers and sellers. With the cellphones systems, Clients will benefit from a relationship with a Real estate agent who is always at the Prepered.

Traditional real estate marketing activities, like signs, brochures, flyers, business cards and even Open Houses still have value in the marketplace. Skilled realtors incorporate these principles with Buidling websites and advertising online to increase exposure and facilitate the purchase and sale process.

Realtors need to know the current mortgage market as well.. Many of the finest Real estate agents have direct lines of access to Mortgage companies and programs. In today’s marketplace, clients should examine the realtor’s understanding and contacts to the financing arm of the industry. A realtor’s ability to connect Home purchasers and home sellers to suitable financing can have a big influence on a property’s marketability and can help bring transactions together easily.

Nina Seidl asked:




According to a 2007 news story by the CBC, Ottawa’s apartment tenants throw out an astonishing 81 per cent of all materials that could be recycled!

While the routine behind garbage and recycling collection can certainly be different when you’re living in an apartment (compared to living in single-family house), just because you’re in a high-rise doesn’t mean you’re above recycling.

What You Can Recycle

Although the bins might be different sizes and different colours than the ones in single-family homes, the same types of materials can still be recycled when you’re living in an apartment building:

·        Plastic containers with a recycling triangle on the bottom, including all bottles, pails, tubs and jugs

·        Aluminum drink cans

·        Tin food cans

·        Milk and juice cartons

·        Juice boxes

·        Glass jars and bottles (clear and coloured)

·        Newspapers and inserts, flyers and junk mail

·        Magazines, phone books, household paper, shredded paper and envelopes

·        Cardboard egg cartons and paper tubes

·        Flattened cardboard (e.g., cereal, cracker, tissue, laundry, shoe and packing boxes)

All apartment buildings should have onsite recycling containers (and some even have dedicated recycling rooms on each floor, for maximum tenant convenience). If you’re not sure where the recycling bins in your building are located, check with your building manager.

For proper disposal of special waste such as paint, construction materials, appliances, tires, or old mattresses and furniture, talk to the building manager or superintendent of your building – don’t just mindlessly throw it away!

Avoid Recycling Bin Contamination

With so many things capable of being recycled, why then is so much of it thrown away? A leading factor in the amount of recyclables that are tossed out with the trash is the contamination of apartment recycling bins – and it’s an issue that apartment tenants can prevent with just a little bit of effort.

When materials are placed in the wrong recycling bin, nothing can be recycled! The bin is either left behind or the contents must be collected as garbage, as it is too costly and time-consuming to sort through. To avoid this:

·        Don’t put your recyclables in plastic bags. These bags cannot be recycled, and as a result, anything placed inside plastic bags cannot be recycled either. As well, don’t tie your materials together, as processing facilities cannot remove string or wires.

·        Remember, glass, metal and plastic go into one bin. Paper and cardboard go into the other. Don’t put your material into the first recycling bin you see, and don’t toss any sort of garbage into the recycling bin!

·        Not everything is recyclable. Items such as hard plastics (cups and dishes), styrofoam packaging, motor oil bottles, aerosol cans, chip bags and candy wrappers, etc. should not be put in the recycling bins.

Get Paid to Recycle

If, for whatever reason, you need a bigger incentive to recycle than helping the environment, how’s this – recycling can save you money, too! Instead of placing them in your apartment building’s bins, you can always return your empty wine, beer, and spirit container to The Beer Store for a full deposit refund. This includes glass bottles, bag-in-box, Tetra Pak containers, plastic bottles, and aluminum and steel containers on which deposits have been charged.

It’s clear that as apartment tenants, we need to work extra hard to make sure we recycle everything we can. To this end, the City of Ottawa has made a Recycling and Disposal Guide available to all Ottawa residents living in apartment buildings. It can be downloaded at: http://www.ottawa.ca/city_services/recycling_garbage/apartment/index_en.html.

terry gelber asked:




How To Get A Hack License In New York City

A New York City Taxi Drivers License is called a “Hack License”. The “Hack” license allows the holder / driver to operate a Yellow Medallion Taxicab in New York City. Only Yellow Taxicabs are allowed to pick up passengers hailing from the street. The Hack license, issued through The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission, is the only license for operating a Yellow Taxicab.

There are other licenses issued by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission for car service and limousines but they can not be used to operate the Yellow Taxicab. The Hack license however can be used to operate a limousine or car service vehicle. This fact makes the Hack License the most valuable of NYC T&LC issued operator licenses, as well as the most prestigious.

There are approximately 44,000 drivers carrying a Hack License in New York City today.

HOW TO GET A HACK LICENSE IN NYC

The Process and Requirements

• All applicants for a New York City Taxi Hack License must be no less than nineteen (19) Years of age

• Applicants are required to have, a Class A, B, C, or E N.Y. State Drivers License, or a license from New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania of a similar class.

• Most licenses in New York State are Class D.

• To change a license from a class D to a class E one must go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and pay an upgrade fee.

• There will be no test.

• The fee will be approximately fifty dollars.

An applicant may not have outstanding parking, or traffic summonses. Money owed to the New York City for parking or traffic violations must be paid, or a documented settlement agreement with the appropriate agency must be presented to the NYC T&LC licensing division at the time of application.

Applicants for a New York City Taxi Hack License must be citizens, or legal residents of the United States.

All applicants for a “Hack License” are required to attend a New York State certified, six-hour Defensive Driving Course.

• This defensive driving class must be attended within six months of the date of application to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission for the Hack License.

• The number one provider of defensive driving courses for New York City Taxi Drivers is the Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. Mastercabbie.com. Classes are available six days per week. The price ( On 10/29/07) is $45. or $39. with online registration.

Applicants are required to complete Form B of the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission Taxi Drivers Application. This must be completed by a certified Medical Doctor.

• The application must be submitted in person to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission at either 32-02 Queens Blvd. Long Island City N.Y. 11101 Monday through Friday 9AM to 4PM.

• A secondary location for submission is in Staten Island. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays at 1893 Richmond Terrace Staten Island NY 10302.

• No walk-ins are permitted at the Staten Island Location.

• For an appointment call: 212-227-6324.

• At the time of application the applicant will be required to pay a sixty dollar application fee by money order made payable to the NYC TLC.

• At the time of application the applicant is also required to pay a seventy-five dollar fingerprinting fee by money order made payable to N.Y.S.D.C.J.S.

Applicants for a Hack License are required to be tested for illegal drugs. A Hack License will not be issued to any person not completing the test.

• The only pre-licensing approved drug testing center is at 31-00 47th Ave. Long Island City NY 11101.

• It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

• Payment must be by money order made payable to Lab Corp. Inc.

• Failing the drug test will result in a licensing standards hearing conducted by the NYC T&LC. The application for the Hack License may be denied a license may not be issued in this case.

NYC requires mandatory pre-license training for all New York City taxi drivers. The training is conducted by approved training institutions. The minimum training requirement is a twenty-four hour program. A three day course, consisting of three eight hour components. Geography/Map Reading, Rules and Regulations / Defensive Driving and Customer Service are some of the topics of study.

There is a separate course consisting of Eighty Hours of classroom study requiring nine eight hour days of classroom training, and one day of testing. The Eighty-hour Program is the program on which the New York City Taxi driver test is based.

Other programs, for how to get a hack license which have no time constraints are also available. The most prominent program is conducted by Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. The programs are unlimited in length, so long as the student maintains a regular schedule at the school.

Other unlimited programs include all for the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission application process. Persons utilizing credit cards make use of this option to have Master Cabbie Taxi Academy make the fee’s available when the student is ready for each phase of the Hack licensing process. This removes the need to purchase money orders for which only cash can be used.

The taxi driver test for how to get a hack license in New York City consists of two parts. It is administered by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission each week at the Master Cabbie Taxi Academy.

• The Hack License applicant must successfully complete an English Proficiency as part of the exam. It is a low level ESL exam for basic, English proficiency, consisting of four parts. There are thirty questions, fifteen of which are fill-ins, and fifteen of which are multiple choice. An applicant must score twenty-one correctly to pass the exam. Applicants failing the exam are allowed to sit for a second exam on another date. Applicants failing the exam for a second time must submit a new application to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission if they wish to continue the process of obtaining a New York City Hack License.

• The final step in the process of How To Get A Hack License in NYC is, The New York City Taxi Operators exam. The Taxi Operators exam consists of two parts. One part is open book and the other is closed book. Part One consists of ten questions. The applicant is allowed to use a Five (5) Borough New York City Atlas and a Street address locator during this portion of the exam. For this portion of the exam forty-five minutes is allowed.

• Part Two of the New York City Taxi Operators exam allows the applicant seventy-five minutes and consists of forty questions. Approximately twelve questions will pertain to rules and regulations and defensive driving questions. The remaining twenty-eight questions will pertain to geography, landmarks, highways, air, bus and train terminals, etc. Applicants must answer thirty-five questions correctly, scoring seventy percent, or better, to pass the exam. Applicants failing the exam are allowed to sit for a second exam on another date. Applicants failing the exam for a second time must submit a new application to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission if they wish to continue the process.

Taxi drivers in New York City earn as much as one thousand dollars per week and more.

If you wish to apply for a New York City Hack License you should contact Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. At: 718-472-1699 or 1-800-955-TAXI.

© Terry Gelber October 2007

Terry Gelber has a NYC Hack License.

DB Wilson asked:




When you interview REALTORS® to find your buyer’s agent, you should have a list of questions to ask them to ascertain whether you and the agent will be a good fit. While you and your agent may not always see eye to eye, you need to be able to communicate with each other and work together.

Your agent should be a qualified REALTOR®, which means that he or she is bound by the rules and ethical direction of the National Board of REALTORS. A full time agent is best, as they will be devoting their time to you and the real estate market in your area. A part-time agent will always be dividing their working hours between real estate and some other job, while a full-time REALTOR® has their entire attention on the real estate market.

How well does this person know the area you are interested in purchasing in? Someone who has bought and sold in the area for several years is preferable to someone who doesn’t have as much knowledge of the area. Home prices depend a lot on ‘location, location, location!’ and a REALTOR® who knows your target location well will be able to tell you how much homes in this area generally go for.

Communication is a hugely important part of the client-agent relationship. How is your agent going to contact you and how do they prefer that you contact them? If you’re permanently attached to your BlackBerry, you are probably going to prefer an agent who has similar connections to fast technology. If you prefer email over the phone, ensure that your agent doesn’t mind doing the bulk of communication in cyberspace.

The experience of the agent that you are interviewing is an important thing to consider. An agent experienced in the area and in the price range of homes that you are buying in will probably be able to negotiate a better deal for you. Ask what continuing education the agent is engaging in; an agent who is regularly taking classes and keeping themselves informed about their area is someone who is interested in both their profession and their area.

Choosing a buyer’s agent doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Make sure that the person you choose is someone who you can relate to and feel free to ask questions of. Your ability to communicate comfortably should be high on your list of priorities.

Flynna Sarah asked:




Using strong and effective marketing techniques is just a smart way of doing business. You must remember that the property you are bound to sell is just like any other product in the market that should attract and respond to the desires of potential buyers. For a seller, good marketing can bring the bargaining price up. Though it won’t be able to sell your house immediately, it will surely keep buyers coming.

Here are some tips on how to effectively market your house:

1. Photograph the Front

You should remember that buyers emphasize on visuals. Good photos of your house’s façade will surely help them decide whether to buy the property or not. In the photos, remember to crop out sidewalks and streets. Remove images of the driveway and always take up-close photos. Clear away all things that obstruct the beautiful scenery.

2. Take Appealing Exterior Photographs

It is best to emphasize space. Buyers tend to be attracted to size. Shoot long portraits of the house. Mow the lawn, trim bushes and make sure your patio looks inviting. Put away other personal items such as children’s toys. Also, don’t include your pets in the photos.

3. Take Appealing Interior Photographs as Well

Take photos of all rooms in the house. Don’t be afraid that some rooms won’t photograph well. You just might be amazed by the results. Remember to open drapes and blinds. Turn on all the lights and allow as much light or sunshine to enter the rooms. This would give an illusion of warmth and comfort. Focus on important and interesting details. Remove clutter and things such as trash bins and garbage. Use flowers as well.

4. Virtual Tours

Buyers tend to love virtual tours. A good virtual tour should be able to take the buyer from one room to another through a 360-degree view. You may even add sound, music or other professionally written work on a presentation. You could also put photos available for download and print.

5. Prepare Signage

The more signs you put out, the more people you will attract. Try talking to a neighbor whose home is located at the corner of a busy street. Politely ask for permission to put a sign on that yard with an arrow pointing toward yours. You must also take note that some home owner associations prohibit putting signs anywhere so you have to be careful where you place your signage.

6. Print Advertising

Besides the option of advertising online, you should reach buyers who read the paper every day. You should take note that major newspapers pull most readerships on Sundays. With local newspapers, you can also run a larger ad for less money that will more closely target those looking in your area. Remember to add pictures on your advertisement. Descriptive text is hardly enough.   

7. Use Direct Mail

List brokers usually offer mailing lists, especially if you’re an unrepresented seller. If you have an agent, inquire about a direct mailing program.

Remember to give mail to neighbors. Everyone has friends or relatives who might want to live nearby.

Also, send direct mail to real estate agents who are employed by buyers interested in buying property in the neighborhood.

8. Open Houses

Place open house signs near the area to attract buyers. You can advertise on newspapers or websites. You can also invite neighbors, friends and family. These people may help you advertise the house as well.

9. Host Agent Tours

Most buyers nowadays are usually represented by agents and employed brokers. Therefore, it is important to also draw these people as you would your buyers. Allow agents to stay longer in the house because they will be able to retain a lot more detail. You might also want to entice them by preparing food, which do not have to be very expensive.

10. Send E-Flyers

Take advantage of the advances made by technology. E-mails tend to make advertising easier. Plus, they are not very costly and would only take a minimal ounce of preparation on your part. Send e-flyers or e-brochures to real estate agents who sell near your area, friends, family members, co-workers and other brokers who represent buyers nearby. 

 

Kevin Carden asked:




You have spent dozens of hours combing through websites like houseplancentral.com to find that exact plan for your future dream home. It has everything. The bedrooms are the right size; the kitchen is perfect; the layout superb; and the garage is….well, you would like to modify the garage a little. This is what happens with many house plan buyers. It is difficult to find that exact plan even with such a large selection to choose from. On most house plan websites, you can request a quote for a modification, but the process is typically a little obtuse. Houseplancentral.com has introduced a new tool that allows you to easily communicate your modification request as well as get feedback and pricing from the architect. This is the most cost-effective and professional way of modifying your ideal house plan. Many buyers do not know that it is illegal to take ideas from a plan you find online to an architect to have them create a plan, but it is very illegal.

Now that you have found your dream plan and have had it modified to fit your exact needs, you need to order blueprints. 99% of builders will require at least 5 sets of prints when they are building a plan. If you purchase only one print, chances are you will have to come back and purchase more. The incremental cost to purchase 5 or 8 sets is not substantial, so I recommend at least purchasing 5. There are other options as well. You can buy reproducible sets or CAD files. When you purchase a finite number of plans, you will not be able to reprint those. They are clearly stamped Do Not Copy. Kinkos or other printing stores will not print from these. If you buy reproducible or CAD files, you are able to print from those. Houseplancentral.com also offers PDF files on some of the plans that we carry. This is a new option that provides additional flexibility.

After you checkout and buy your plan, you can then take it to a builder to get building cost estimates. I recommend that you take the plan to at least 3 builders to get cost estimates.

Kevin Carden

HousePlanCentral.com

Jessy Kang asked:




Many people confuse and thought Feng Shui for Apartments are different than houses and apartments are normally has bad Feng Shui. Are these true or just a misunderstanding?

Before we dig for the answer, let see what the major differences between landed properties and apartments are. Basically apartments have no land or outside environment to remedy or control. Apartments often have less than ideal entrances and darker as it is coming from the building’s interior hallway and very common, the first thing you see when entering an apartment is kitchen.

In fact, the principles of Feng Shui are the same applying for both apartments and houses. But, because the design and structure of apartment that does not have land or outside environment to remedy for health and prosperity, the Feng Shui for apartment is mainly focus with the interiors.

Due to most apartments’ kitchen is near to the entrance, many people are misunderstanding that apartments normally has bad Feng Shui than houses. In actual fact, it is not all true. Apartments can have just as good or better Feng Shui than a house, depending on other compensating features. Among the features include:

* What floor is your apartment located in a multi-level building? Feng Shui numerology suggests that you should always pick a floor that matches your personal Trigram; a personal trigram is calculated based on your birth date. The rule of thumb, your apartment should always be as far away as possible from the garage entry gate or the building’s trash dumpster.

* The dark entrance can affect your apartment Feng Shui. When you are living in an apartment building, there are two things to consider: The entrance to the building; and the entrance to the individual apartment. Because these types of apartments are all enclosed in one building, the entrance is very important. The rule of thumb, if your apartment has is not bright enough, it is better to install a skylight, it will help to improve the environment in general and remedy Feng Shui in specific.

* If you are living at the middle floor and there is other apartments close to your apartment. These building blocks will block sunshine entering your apartment causing your apartment have dark environment during the day time when you did not turn on the light (which normally people will light off in day time).

This dark environment can be improved with the installation of bright lights just inside and outside the front door and left them on during the dark hours. Good lighting also helps stimulate the general flow of energy and is one of the best accessories for promoting balance and harmony within the home.

* Most of average size apartments have limitation of the space. When arranging dining room furniture, make sure that chairs do not restrict doorways. There should be ample space for people to walk around the table without having to maneuver around chairs or other furniture.

Summary

Same Feng Shui principle is applying for both apartments and houses but because of the limitation of building structures and design of apartment, the Feng Shui remedies are slightly different than houses.

Heather Seitz asked:




Thinking about investing in commercial real estate? Why not consider buying an apartment building? An apartment building can be an ideal way to invest in the real estate market today. An apartment building in a good location can earn you a high yield on your real estate investment.

Location is the most important aspect when buying an apartment building. Buying an apartment building in a destroyed area is not a good idea as the renters that you will get may not be able to pay the rent on time, if at all. Apartment rentals are one of the easiest ways to invest in commercial real estate but it can also be very risky.

When buying an apartment building, check out the area and make sure that it has amenities that make it a desirable place in which to live. You also need to make sure the apartment building is structurally sound. An inspection of the property by a qualified real estate inspector is essential. If there are any repairs to be done on the property, it is best to know what and how much it will cost prior to purchase.

You also have to decide who is going to make the repairs on the apartment building. Some investors offer a discounted rental rate to someone who is willing to maintain the building. Most of the problems that are encountered by renters are easily solved with a bit of home maintenance knowledge.

To really save money when buying an apartment building, live in one of the units yourself and rent the others out. This way, you can end up paying off the mortgage on the building as well as having a place to live. Shelter is something we all need and there is no better way to invest in commercial real estate than by living in your investment while paying it off, therefore killing two birds with one stone.

Prior to buying an apartment building you should be well aware of the lease laws in the state in which the property is located. Lease laws vary from state to state but some federal laws regarding fair housing pertain to all states. You cannot discriminate against a renter on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference or family situation. There are certain stipulations to renting to families with children in retirement communities, however. Make sure that you understand the lease laws before buying an apartment building.

Another way to get a real bargain when buying an apartment building is to find one that needs repairs. Because the residential real estate market is so slow, many contractors are looking for work and you can get some bargain rates on general contracting work. As long as the apartment building is located in a desirable location, it can be well worth it to make improvements and add to the value of the home.

Buying an apartment building can be a good way to get started in commercial real estate investing. Be sure to study the location of the building, get a good inspection of the property, examine the existing leases, consider maintenance and be well aware of lease laws prior to investing in rental real estate.

kerri asked:




If you’re in the market for a home in the Northwest, you’re probably aware of the many great reasons to live, work, and play in Portland, Oregon. For decades, Portland has been one of the most desirable destinations and addresses on the West Coast. Why? Simple. Portland boasts an enticing combination of big-city culture, small-town warmth, and beautiful scenery. Portland remains one of the few cities in America where residents can maintain access to the great jobs and entertainment that come with living in a large city right alongside access to natural beauty and outdoor activities.

The market of Portland OR Homes for Sale, then, is as varied as Portland’s current and eventual residents. If you’re a young, single professional, you’re sure to find an appealing loft, condominium, or townhome near the city center, where you can have easy access to restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and Portland’s famous tax-free shopping. If you’ve got a family, the market of Portland OR Homes for Sale includes plenty of spacious single-family dwellings close to great schools and including amenities such as yards and garages.

One of the best ways to find an appropriate home in Portland, Oregon is to use Portland Oregon Real Estate Agents. Why? Simple. Buying a home is a long, arduous, and expensive proposition – and the timeline can dramatically increase when you’re trying to do things on your own. Simply open the paper on Sunday mornings and you’ll be awash in real estate listings: scanning through these listings can take hours, and you’re likely to head out on a large number of showings for properties that turn out to be a far cry from what you want and need. With the help of a Portland Oregon Real Estate Agent, you’ll be able to, quite literally, cut right to the chase: a fully trained real estate agent will listen to what you want and need in a home (four bedrooms, a new kitchen, and a two-car garage) and do the research for you. This means you’ll only be visiting homes that have been pre-screened for features and price by someone who has your best interests in mind. Plus, when it comes time to make an offer and start signing contracts, Portland Oregon Real Estate Agents can help ensure that all your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed – meaning you won’t have to waste time with inaccurate paperwork.

Purchasing a home in Portland, Oregon, then, is well worth the effort. This stunning American city offers everything a homebuyer could want in a spectacular natural setting. Whether you’re looking for a sleek new condo or a vintage single-family home with plenty of character, the city of Portland is sure to have what you need.

jeannene edwards asked:




Demographics matter! Statistics have shown us that in North America alone there are approximately 85 million, (yes, MILLION), Baby Boomers! By sheer number alone, they have become a force to be reckoned with. They are telling you what they are looking for in a home, but are you listening?

As a licensed interior designer in Orlando, Florida, I often work with clients who are wanting to build a new home, remodel the home they’re presently living in, or look for an existing home to buy. One of the very first things we do is sit down together to determine their design goals, and identify any special needs they may have which would need to be addressed in the initial planning stages of the project. Their job is to communicate their needs . . . my job is to listen. And what I’m hearing from my fellow Baby Boomer clientele, (those born between 1946 to 1966) is consistent. Very simply, they do not want to be put in a situation where they are forced to move out of their home because it is not an age-free environment.

Functionality and flexibility of the home is one of the primary concerns of this generation. Boomers are forward thinking when it comes to making design decisions based not only on what their immediate needs are, but in determining what their future needs might be as well. Here are some of the things they are looking for in a home . . .



wider hallways and doorways which could be wheel chair accessible if necessary

open living space and furniture lay-out which would allow them to move about more freely

easy “accessibility”, particularly at entrances and bathrooms

barrier-free bathrooms and kitchens equipped with the comfort height fixtures

excellent lighting throughout

easily rampable steps if necessary

levered handles instead of knobs for doors which will suit all users

roll out shelves for all base cabinetry in both kitchens and baths

one-floor plans, or in-home elevators which are fast becoming “must haves” for ease and accessibility in multi leveled homes – a feature to improve the quality of living at any age

flex areas such as home offices, media centers and workout areas, designed to support the varied demands and daily activities of this generation . . . who are technology minded, health conscious, retired, semi retired “Un-retireds”!

The definition of “HOME” for many of us is no longer merely the place where we house our belongings. It has become the headquarters for our lives! It is a refuge where we want to bring touches of the outside in, and vice versa. Many of us want to blend technology, the internet and wireless communications with the comfort and tranquility of a simpler, slower paced, more graceful moment in time . . . and call this HOME. It’s about having choices. With a collective voice the Baby Boomer generation is finding new ways for us to design spaces to fit not only their lifestyle, but meet the challenges of the changing stages of their life as well. We need to listen!