Latest news with #ProjectHomeImproved
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Smart stormwater tips for homeowners to keep water sources in good shape
Smart stormwater tips for homeowners to keep water sources in good shape Show Caption Hide Caption Home improvement contest offers $50,000 for renovation from USA TODAY Content creator Jenna Phipps and USA TODAY are partnering on Project Home Improved to offer $50,000 for your home renovation project. Gannett There's no question that everybody wants healthy streams, creeks and green spaces in their community for their family to enjoy safely. Stormwater management – keeping excess runoff from rain and snow and the contaminants that they carry from polluting local water sources – is essential to maintain the health and well being of native fish and wildlife, as well as the quality of water that your family uses every day. Home builders install silt fences and dig retention ponds to control stormwater runoff during construction. But once a community is completed, the way it is maintained makes a big difference to the health of nearby waterways. Consider the following ways that you can help keep your community clean and healthy for the enjoyment of many generations to come. Homeownership costs: Rising cost of homeowners insurance is scaring away millions of Americans Fertilizing When it rains, lawns that are over-fertilized can wash pesticides and herbicides into the storm drains on your street, eventually carrying it to the local water source – possibly the source of your drinking water. According to the Center for Watershed Protection, more than 50 percent of lawn owners fertilize their lawns, but only 10 to 20 percent of those home owners actually perform a soil test to determine the fertilization needs of the lawn. Before you buy your first bag, take time to do the soil test – you may find that you don't even need to fertilize. If you do need to fertilize your lawn: Keep it on the grass, use it sparingly and consider using organic products Hold off if there is a chance of a rain storm shortly after applying it to your lawn When you mow, don't bag the grass. The clippings will naturally fertilize your lawn. But sweep those fertilizer-rich clippings off the sidewalk and roadway so they don't go down the storm drain. Trees Planting a tree is a great way to help keep polluted stormwater from reaching storm drains. The roots help rainwater filter back into the soil, cutting down on excess runoff. As an added benefit, trees can help cut summer cooling costs by providing shade to the home, and in many cases they help the increase the value of your home. Gardens Plants that are native to your region require less water and nutrients to survive and are more resistant to pests and disease — therefore less fertilization is required. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin has a searchable database to help get you started — visit to see what flowers, trees and shrubs work best in your community. Rain barrels Rain barrels collect stormwater runoff from a home's roof via the rain gutters. They hold the water temporarily, cutting down on the amount of water that reaches the sewer system. The water can then be used to water lawns and gardens. Purchase your rain barrel at a local home and garden store or build it yourself — step-by-step instructions are available on the Environmental Protection Agency's website, These are just a few suggestions to help get you started on the road to a cleaner and healthier community. Get involved in your local watershed organization to find out how you can make a difference. Visit and searching for 'surf your watershed.' The BIA is a strong believer and supporter of proper stormwater management. We work closely with the Stark Soil & Water Consevation District to make sure our developers and builders are using correct techniques for building structures. One of our most recent Developers Council meetings featured District Manager Dan Kunz offering suggestions. For more information on stormwater management and other environmental initiatives, contact the BIA of Stark County at or visit the Javan Yoder is 2025 president of the Building Industry Association of Stark & East Central Ohio.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Can an accessory dwelling unit put an end to your housing crisis? Here's where to start.
Can an accessory dwelling unit put an end to your housing crisis? Here's where to start. Show Caption Hide Caption Home improvement contest offers $50,000 for renovation from USA TODAY Content creator Jenna Phipps and USA TODAY are partnering on Project Home Improved to offer $50,000 for your home renovation project. Gannett Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are gaining popularity as backyard additions for various purposes, including housing family members, creating office spaces, or generating rental income. Prefabricated ADU kits offer a streamlined construction process, with companies like Studio Shed delivering pre-built units ready for assembly. The cost of ADUs varies widely, starting from around $40,000 for basic models and reaching upwards of $250,000 for larger, more elaborate designs, with additional expenses for site preparation and utility connections. A mail-order catalog in the late 1800s could easily lead to a home purchase. Sears, Roebuck and Company offered five-bedroom Craftsman-style homes — complete with lumber, siding, windows, doors, shingles, flooring, even the kitchen sink — for $1,945. Supplies were delivered via railroad boxcars. Customers assembled the homes themselves. The concept is alive and well today. Take Catherine MacNeal's Vashon, Wash., studio, for example. MacNeal's 12-by-16-foot retreat, nestled among a half-acre of lavender plants, was ordered from Studio Shed, a Boulder, Colo.-based company that offers eco-friendly prefabricated structures. Sleek and modular with French doors and windows across the front, it has mountain and water views. With a Duxiana bed, kitchenette, bathroom and easy access to boating and kayaking, it has all the trappings of a lovely getaway. Known as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), these tiny buildings are popping up in backyards across the nation as space for in-laws, offices or rental units. MacNeal rents her Betty's Blue studio 10 months out of the year on for $140 to $165 a night, and her total rental income for the studio ranges from $22,000 to $27,000 per year. 'Because it's small and easy to clean, I usually do it myself, so overhead is minimal,' she says. 'And there are only a few amenities and improvements each year.' Manufactured in Studio Shed's factory, MacNeal's ADU was built to local government code and shipped to her as a kit that included drywall, lighting, flooring, paint, appliances, cabinetry, countertops and finish items. A Studio Shed contractor built the foundation, assembled the ADU and trimmed the interior and deck. Local technicians completed the bathroom, electrical wiring and heat panels — all at an extra cost. When Rene Daniella bought her Los Angeles home, it already had an ADU; she rents it to family and friends for $3,000 a month or about $125 a night. 'The rent is a substantial portion of my monthly mortgage, so it's a great investment,' she says. Budgeting for an Accessory Dwelling Unit In 2008, Jeremy Nova, Studio Shed's co-founder, created a storage solution for his mountain bikes. Fast forward to today, and he produces 500 Studio Sheds a year, starting at $39,000 for a 12-by-16-foot studio to a two-bedroom that goes for around $250,000. When mapping out your plans, it's important to remember the additional costs. 'The major expenses outside of our kit are the foundation and the cost to connect utilities to the site,' Nova says. 'Our prices include the plumbing and electrical work inside the building but not the cost of trenching and installation of those utilities to the site.' Nova's not the only one who sees huge potential in this market. Dwell makes ADUs starting at $439,000. So does Cottage, starting at $200,000, and Abodu, starting at nearly $230,000. Even Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia's company Samara is offering a studio ADU starting at $279,000. 'The demand for ADUs increased steadily prior to the (COVID-19) pandemic and continues to grow,' says Gregg Cantor, president and CEO of San Diego-based design and construction firm Murray Lampert. 'Zoning, parking and building regulations are favorable for ADUs here.' With the median price of homes in San Diego upward of $1 million, ADUs are very popular as rental units. What to know before you build your ADU A typical timeframe to build a detached ADU is approximately six to eight months depending on existing conditions, architecture and finishes. 'It is important to get a feasibility study of the property to determine if surveying, soils engineering, utility upgrades or right-away improvements will be required,' Cantor says. Securing permits starts with submitting construction documents to your local municipality. 'In some areas of the country the permit process takes a couple weeks, in others it can take as long as six to nine months,' Nova says. 'Laws governing ADUs are mostly at the local level and all states allow them in some form in some places. It's a pretty regional patchwork of regulations.' Can ADUs add value? The rental income from your ADU depends on where you live, the size of your ADU and how many bedrooms it has. 'In the short term, the added value of an ADU to an existing property is at least equal to the cost of the work,' Cantor says. The fully furnished ADUs his company builds include design, permit fees and construction costs and range from $200,000 to $500,000. 'In San Diego, real estate values have continued to rise and there's a housing shortage,' Cantor says. 'Long term, ADUs add value and passive rental income, making properties worth more in resale.'
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Have a home renovation dream? You can turn it into reality with $50,000 from USA TODAY
Have a home renovation dream? You can turn it into reality with $50,000 from USA TODAY Show Caption Hide Caption Home improvement contest offers $50,000 for renovation from USA TODAY Content creator Jenna Phipps and USA TODAY are partnering on Project Home Improved to offer $50,000 for your home renovation project. Gannett Are you dreaming of a home makeover that brings your vision to life without breaking the bank? The $100,000 Project Home Improved Giveaway is your chance to win a home improvement package that can transform your living space into something extraordinary. Whether it's a kitchen upgrade, bathroom renovation or backyard oasis you've been putting off, this is the perfect opportunity to make it happen — with expert help and no cost to you. One national grand prize winner will take home $50,000 and a free consultation with renovation pros Dave and Jenny Marrs from the HGTV series 'Fixer to Fabulous.' Two national runners-up will each get $25,000 toward their home renovations. How to win $50,000 for your home improvement project Don't miss out on the chance to turn your home dreams into reality — enter now and start imagining what's possible! Have a dream renovation idea? Enter USA Today's Project Home Improved giveaway for a chance to win cash you can put directly toward it.
