Looking Back at Cincinnati Windstorm 9-14-08

It's the one year anniversary of the Cincinnati windstorm. September 14, 2008 was a day exactly like today---crisp blue sky, bright sunshine, temperature perfect. We heard a "high winds possible" warning on the radio on our way to the Bengals game. As we walked down Elm Street toward the stadium, it felt like a wind tunnel, but everyone was caught up in game-day excitement and no one was concerned. As the game went on, the winds increased, but the sun continued to shine and it just seemed like a windy day. Hot dog wrappers blew around the field and a few paper cups even flew out of spectators hands, but it still didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.

A few minutes before the game ended, our daughter called to say roads were closed due to fallen trees and she'd have to take a detour home from work. A few minutes after that, she called back to tell us she was afraid to drive and stopping at a friend's house until the wind died down.

As we started home from the game, we began to see the seriousness of the windstorm. Trees and branches were down everywhere, and stoplights were out along our route. As we approached home, our neighbors called to tell us the driveway was blocked with a big tree. As we pulled in, we realized the severity of the situation. A huge ash tree (probably 100 ft. tall) was on our roof. We could see the drywall of our bathroom and bedroom ceilings through the opening. Hundreds of other branches and sticks were scattered around our yard. We had a huge mess that you can see in this video http://tinyurl.com/pgtyks.

I remember entering the house behind Barry. We walked carefully into the bedroom and stood gaping at the branches and leaves that were in our bathroom and closet. Somehow the tree had come to rest on the walls of the house so that nothing was actually crushed. The windows weren't broken; the shower was still intact; the vanity and sink were still there. Yet, the bathroom and closet seemed more like a forest than a house.

It wasn't long until the cleanup was set in motion. Several neighbors appeared out of nowhere to start pitching in. First, a few branches were cut away so that a tarp could be applied over the entire roof. The sun was still shining, but if any rain would have begun, we would have doubled our troubles. Luckily, Mother Nature cooperated for the next 2 weeks as not a drop of rain fell during that initial cleanup time.

For the first 3 days, we didn't have electricity. The only sounds you could hear around the neighborhood were the whirls of chainsaws and circular saws. We quickly discovered that the biggest problem for us was that the tree was balancing on the walls of our house...with no way to get a crane to the area and no way to remove it other than foot by foot. Precise calculations were made each time a cut was made. Take too much off one end, and the whole tree would end up in the house. So after 6 days of cutting and calculating, the tree was finally rolled inch by inch off the house using a spud bar for leverage and chains for safety. http://tinyurl.com/oexgr6

It took 6 more weeks to get everything back to what I would call "normal." Rebuilding was a project no different than any other remodeling project. Once materials arrived, roofers and carpenters followed, plumbing and wiring were completed, drywall followed, and ceramic tile and paint completed the finishing touches.

When I look back a year later, it's amazing what was accomplished in a short amount of time to put our house back together again. I never really worried that we had "lost everything" or that things couldn't be repaired. After 21 years in the building business, we knew plenty of contractors and suppliers who could help us when called. The best thing, however, was how we got so much help from friends, relatives, and neighbors.

It truly was a time to appreciate that a home is much more than a house.

The Ideal Kitchen

How would you design your kitchen if you were starting from scratch? Everyone always mentions more cabinet space, but it's important that you can actually REACH the added cabinets. So often we see kitchens with cabinets and shelves to the ceiling...not very practical unless you always keep your ladder at hand. I think I'd prefer an island or peninsula with more cabinet space underneath. It would also be nice to have some open shelving for cookbooks and recipe boxes.
I'd definitely want an eat-in area. Everyone always congregates in the kitchen, and it's great to pull up a stool to watch the chef cook or to read a magazine while waiting for the water to boil. If you have kids, the kitchen counter will be where they do homework, play games, or grab a bite to eat before soccer practice.
I'd want a nice, oversized sink with a gooseneck faucet to fill and clean those big pots and pans. I'd also make sure my sink, oven/range, and refrigerator were in the traditional triangle within a few steps of each other.
I would want lots of lighting including undercabinet lighting where possible. I'd go with hardwood flooring because I've found it's easy to clean and easy on the feet and legs when working in the kitchen. And, of course, I'd include a wine rack!
As I move beyond the kitchen basics, I'd include a small desk with several drawers. Even though I rarely sit at the desk in my kitchen, the phone is on the desk, and this area serves as a perfect clutter-keeper for mail, business cards, phone books, prescriptions, and post-it notes. Pens, pencils, scissors, tape, batteries, nail clippers, and coupons are stashed in the desk drawers. Another nearby drawer stores a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, and odd screws and nails.
In or near the kitchen, I'd want a pantry. Cleaning supplies, paper products, oversized bowls and baskets, garbage bags, and buckets need to be nearby. Ideally, the pantry would be between the garage and the kitchen as a convenient drop-off point as you come into the house.

Flat dollar discount or percentage?

I'm wondering which is more likely to catch your eye? A flyer offering a flat $100 off or a coupon offering 10% off. We're looking forward to the "Sold on Springfield Township" event on September 20 as a way to market our building and remodeling services, and I'm preparing some marketing material. This event is an all-day house-hunting affair sponsored by Springfield Township. It starts with an overview of the community, and then folks will fan out to visit open houses throughout the township. There will be prizes and free food, and each participant receives a "goodie bag." Our Building Images flyer will be in the "goodie bag." Since the main focus of the event for Building Images will be our remodeling services, I'm planning to include the coupon. I'm picturing the recipient as either a homeowner who needs to fix-up a home to sell, or someone looking to buy an existing home that may need some renovations to fit their needs. Which would you prefer? $100 off or 10% off?

Why Live in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati is a great place to live. As a major city in a convenient location, it has the big-time atmosphere provided by professional sports, world-class arts and entertainment, great hospitals, unique restaurants and shopping, and excellent universities. It's also the headquarters of ten Fortune 500 companies. Add in the low cost of living and the ease of getting around town, and you have a terrific place to call home.
Yet, it's the small town values and sense of community that really make Cincinnati so special. I think that stems from the German heritage that is such an important part of Cincinnati history. In the next few weeks, you have an opportunity to get a great snapshot of Cincinnati, its culture, and its people. It's almost Oktoberfest time! We really like the huge downtown Oktoberfest Zinzinnati that takes over the area around Fountain Square on September 19-20. But to get a real sense of Cincinnati values and community, you must visit one of the smaller festivals held by the German societies. Stop by Germania on August 28-30. We love to sit at a shady picnic table and sip the Warsteiner while listening to the German music and watching the folks in their lederhosen. We fill up on sauerkraut balls, sausages, pretzels, and homemade strudel.
Another festival we enjoy is at Donauschwaben on October 2-4. These folks always entertain us with their opening parade and dancing. It's fun to see the kids dressed in the traditional German clothes---and no one thinks they're "dorky." Chances are you'll strike up a conversation with some of the locals, and before you know it, you'll be raising a mug with your new Cincinnati friends. Prost!

Remodel or Move?

If you've decided your home no longer fits your needs, you might be thinking about moving. Maybe you need more space for the kids or a home office. Maybe you've outgrown your closets. Maybe the baths are just plain "dated." You're probably tempted by all the "For Sale" signs and all the indicators that it's a buyer's market. It's true that you might find a great deal on a house that fits your needs. Then again, it may take months of house-hunting to find the perfect match. Once you find the house and agree upon the price, you have to find the right lender that offers the right mortgage option for you. In the meantime, you have to sell your existing house...and you know that can take months. Then once you take possession of the new house, you will probably decide to do a few things to it...painting, new carpet, etc. And then you have to pack! All that "stuff" that has to be moved...And don't forget the psychological strain of leaving your neighbors, school, or familiar community. All of this while time passes...It wouldn't be unusual for 4-6 months to go by before you can actually close on both houses and move.

On the other hand, think of remodeling your existing house. You could have a room addition, new baths, new kitchen cabinets, or flooring upgrades, and you wouldn't have to uproot the family. You wouldn't have to pack! And often, you can use an existing home equity line of credit to finance the remodeling so no complicated loan applications or appraisals are necessary. In many cases, it can be quicker and easier to make changes to your existing house. Consider not only money, but also time and effort when deciding whether to remodel or move.

Why Build a New Home?

Everyone knows it's a buyer's market these days. Find the neighborhood you like and you're likely to find at least one home for sale. If you find more than one, you'll probably be in the driver's seat when it comes to making an offer. So why would you want to build a new home rather than buy an existing home? We tell our prospective clients that building a custom home allows them to have the home that THEY want rather than the home that another owner or even the builder wanted to build. You can look and look at existing houses, but you'll probably never find a house that fits ALL of your needs perfectly.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati offers these reasons to build:

1. When you buy a new home you get exactly what you want. You won't have to replace old carpet, countertops or aging appliances or roofs. You select the floor plan, appliances, window treatment and flooring.
2. New homes carry better warranties.
3. Today's new homes can be wired to take full advantage of the latest communication, security, home office and entertainment technologies.
4. New homes often sell at higher resale values than older homes.
5. Builders today are subject to more stringent disclosure standards than existing home sellers.
6. New Homes are safer than older homes. They have the most up to date wiring and electrical components and have been constructed to meet today's stringent building codes.
7. New homes are healthier because asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials are no longer used in new home building.
8. New homes are more energy efficient. Newer window technology, increased efficiency in heating & cooling systems, better insulation and better control of air infiltration are just a few of the things that make new homes far superior in energy efficiency than existing homes. New homes are twice as energy efficient as homes built prior to 1980.
9. Existing and or older homes are more expensive to maintain and require additional maintenance and upkeep vs a brand new home or condominium.
10. New homes offer more updated floor plans, typically featuring more storage, larger rooms and modern features.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom Home?

People often underestimate the time it takes to build a custom home. Once you make the decision to hire someone to build your dream home, you will probably spend as much time in the pre-building stage of the process as it will take to actually construct the house. You'll probably agree that an investment of such proportion deserves careful planning and professional advice, but some folks just don't understand the time and effort needed by both the homeowner and the builder before the first load of dirt is moved.
We pride ourselves at Building Images with truly getting to know our clients. Barry spends several hours at the initial meeting listening to the needs, wants, and wishes of the homeowners. The initial meeting is usually followed by a series of meetings in which the clients share drawings, sketches, magazine pictures, and photos of ideas to incorporate into the home. Barry does all his own design work so the clients meet directly with him rather than with an outside architect or a third-party designer. This expedites the building process and eliminates communication issues between designer and builder. The first meetings with Barry result in rough drawings followed by more meetings to refine the ideas. At Building Images, computer-generated drawings help with visualization, but sometimes table-sized 3-D models are also needed. Barry's rough estimates of cost allow dreams to mesh with reality so that the finished design stays well within budget. You should expect the entire design process when building a custom home to take several months.
Once the design is finalized, Barry completes the plans and specifications and figures the final contract amount. At this point, most clients take the contract, plans, and specs to several financial institutions to compare mortgage options. Expect another few weeks to pass before getting approval.
When the financing is approved, we order a survey and site plan of the property, and we submit applications for building permits. Again another few weeks may pass before the permit is issued. Once the permit is received, the actual construction can begin.
The entire pre-building process generally takes at least 6 months. However, if you are building a home to last a lifetime, those 6 months are probably the most important part of the process.

How to Convince Your Spouse You Need to Remodel

Here are some great lines to use to convince your spouse you need to remodel:

1. We can get a federal tax credit at 30% of the cost up to $1500 for windows and doors, insulation, a new roof, upgraded HVAC, or a new water heater...and think of the savings on our monthly utility bills!

2. The kids are getting older and need a place to hang out with their friends. I'd rather refinish the basement and have them stay here than have them running around "who-knows-where".

3. It's so dark in this house. Wouldn't it be nice to have more natural light in here? I wish we could bring the outside in.

4. I really don't think Grandma should live alone. Let's think about moving her in with us.

5. Someone could trip and fall on this broken concrete. Why don't we replace the patio with a wood deck?

6. Now that we cook at home more often, I feel like we need to upgrade our appliances.

7. I know you want the flat-screen tv, but where are we going to put it?

8. No one is going to buy this house with these outdated cabinets and worn carpet.

9. If you're going to telecommute, you're going to have to have a home office.

10. Now that the kids have moved out, wouldn't it be nice to have a first-floor master bedroom suite with our own bath?

And if you need more supporting evidence of the value of remodeling, check out this remodeling cost vs. value report from Remodeling Magazine.