Cy-Fair Edition | July 2022

GUIDE

Local businesses oer home improvement tips

2022 REAL ESTATE EDITION

COMPILED BY MIKAH BOYD, JISHNU NAIR & LAURA ROBB HOME IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

ASK AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

Berkeley Holley has been designing spaces for hotels, restaurants, bars and homes for over 10 years. Her full-service interior design business oers renovation, construction and furnishing services to clients looking to revamp their spaces.

base elements that can’t or won’t be altered, such as the color of the ooring, window frames, replace, exposed brickwork or any other permanent features. Choose colors that sit beside each other on the color wheel to create a harmoniously coordinated palette, and complementary colors for a bolder dramatic approach without clashing. Always anchor your bolder pops of color with neutrals that work with your color choices. Color and design trends are fun to follow, and we always want the next best thing, but they change too often to keep up with. For a more timeless approach, choose a neutral palette for your main pieces and the higher-priced items, and add pops of color with an accent wall, throw pillows or accessory pieces that can be swapped out when you tire of them without breaking the budget. DO YOU HAVE STAGING TIPS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO SELL? When selling a home, you want potential buyers to be able to visualize themselves in the space. Declutter each area, remove personal photos and minimize the furniture allowing for easy ow. Most importantly, deep clean, from the baseboards to the fans and blinds. Replace old faucets or xtures, and apply a fresh coat of paint to cabinets and/or walls for a fresh, clean look.

WHAT ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS TO UPDATE OR MODERNIZE A HOME ON A BUDGET? The most eective and simplest way to transform a space is paint. Paint can revive anything, whether it’s a new color for the walls, cabinets, a piece of furniture or even ooring. Exterior to interior, paint is your friend. Some additional budget-friendly ways to update your home is to add visual interest with pops of color such as new art, throw pillows and rugs, add or remove architectural details such as moldings, and upgrade your lighting and hardware. Lighting and hardware are the details that represent the jewelry of your home—let it make a statement and create that wow factor. WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH TO CHOOSING COLOR PALETTES IN PAINT, DECOR AND FURNITURE? There is no doubt that decorating with color is a powerful tool and very personal task. ... You always want to factor in the

ASK A SOLAR ENERGY SPECIALIST

Gage Mueller, a solar energy specialist at ADT Solar, has experience in the solar industry as both a customer and a service provider. HOW DO SOLAR PANELS AFFECT THE

chimney, things of that nature—where it’s causing shading? The sun has to be able to hit those panels in order for it to do its job. Is the roof less than 5 years old? Does it have roof penetrations? Those elements can complicate installations. When I talk to homeowners that are building their houses, I tell them to have the conversation with the builder about putting any roof penetrations—vents, roof jacks, or anything that’s penetrating the roof—up toward the ridge of the roof or on the north side of the roof. You don’t want any pitches or gables. People like fancy roof lines, but those are not really conducive for solar. WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE DO SOLAR PANELS REQUIRE? None. Any good solar company is going to tell you that God is going to take care of maintenance for you. There are no moving parts really in solar. Sometimes the panels do need to be cleaned—but when it rains, that will take care of it for you. … The only maintenance is cleaning the panels because everything else is all electronic.

VALUE OF A HOUSE, IF THEY DO? It depends on the market that you’re in. There are plenty of studies that say solar typically increases the value of the home by about 4%. I’ve actually been through the process of putting solar on my own house as well as selling it. In my experience, solar actually helped me sell my house. WHAT VARIABLES CAN AFFECT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOLAR PANELS? It can depend on a lot of things. You need to ask yourself: How does your house sit? Do you have a good, southern-facing roof? It doesn’t have to face south, but it helps. Are there obstructions—such as trees, another house, a satellite dish or

Berkeley Holley Interior designer Holley & Co. Interior Design 832-564-7588 www.holley interiors.com

Gage Mueller Solar energy

specialist ADT Solar 713-742-2020 www.goadtsolar.com

WEATHERREADY AT HOME In addition to preparing for disasters by stockpiling food and water, homeowners can prepare themselves and their homes for severe weather events through home maintenance and repairs.

EMPHASIZING ENERGY EFFICIENCY While the U.S. Department of Energy recommends a professional assessment of a home’s energy eciency, it is also possible for homeowners to perform one on their own. Here is a list of areas to check when assessing a home’s energy usage.

Renovations: while updating appliances, ooring, walls and windows

Construction: during

Now: immediately and are renter-friendly

Measures that can be taken:

AIR LEAKS

the design phase of a new home or addition

Air leaks can save up to 20% on energy per year if addressed. In addition to leaking windows and doors, check for leaks on baseboards or where dierent building materials meet. Leaks can be sealed or plugged with caulk or weather stripping.

Windows & doors

R C Plants Trees can protect

Walls & oors

Roofs

N R C

R C

N R C

Weather stripping can protect doors and windows from rain and external moisture.

Insulating pipes with foam sleeves can protect them from extreme temperatures.

Overhanging roofs can shade windows from the sun while still allowing indirect light in.

LIGHTING

When replacing bulbs, residents can consider LEDs as well as energy-saving incandescent bulbs. Electric utilities may oer rebates for purchasing energy-ecient lamps.

sunny sides of buildings. Native trees are best adapted to the home’s climate.

R C

N R C

INSULATION

Using mold- resistant insulation can improve air quality, especially in homes that are humid or prone to ooding.

Solar panel installation can be paired with a smart inverter

Thermal curtains can protect against both extreme heat and cold while conserving energy.

Depending on building ages, insulation may not be up to standard. Checking attics and walls near outlets can ensure heat losses are kept to a minimum. Wall insulation may require a thermographic evaluation.

for optimal energy use.

APPLIANCES

Energy use for appliances can be estimated using the energy guide label on the appliance itself or by using an electricity usage monitor. Unplugging appliances in between uses can keep them from drawing unused electricity.

HEATING AND COOLING

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends upgrading systems older than 15 years. Checking ductwork for dirt streaks can reveal air leaks, which can be sealed.

SOURCES: HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER, TEXAS STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

CYFAIR EDITION • JULY 2022