Greetings!
Welcome to the August edition of Venture Builder's E-News! This issue focuses on changes you can make to your home so it is more accessible for everyone. And you can learn more about the tax credit for first-time home buyers. Venture Builders offers free consultations if you, or someone you know, is considering purchasing a home that needs some remodel work.
As we head into the last months of summer look for Home Updates, our quarterly newsletter, for information about preparing your home for the coming fall and winter.
Trisha Blosser
Office & Marketing Manager
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Inter-generational Living & Safety
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As your family members or loved ones
age, so do their homes. It is good practice to step back occasionally and
examine the homes to see how well the living arrangement supports your loved
ones' daily needs and activities.
These changes benefit everyone, from toddlers to young parents to mature adults.
It's important that
you or a contractor properly install all the updates, so give us a call if you need assistance: 434-7927.
No-Cost Changes
- Remove scatter & throw rugs, which can cause
falls.
- Open blinds and curtains, and raise shades during
daylight hours to increase natural light.
- Place electrical, phone, and computer cords along
walls where they will not trip anyone. To avoid the risk of fire, do not
run the wires under carpeting.
- Remove clutter from the staircases and hallways.
- Set the hot-water heater to 120 degrees to prevent scalding and to reduce energy
consumption.
Low-Cost
Changes
Here are some low-cost changes that
run between $35 and $75 and will make a home even safer:
- Increase lighting by using the highest-watt
bulbs possible for fixtures or lamps.
- Place double-sided tape or carpet mesh under area rugs
to prevent slipping.
- Install offset hinges on all doors to add 2
inches of width for easier access.
- Replace traditional light switches with easy-to-use,
rocker-style switches.
- Install night-lights in hallways to bathrooms.
- Replace knobs on cabinets and drawers with easy-to-grip,
D-shaped handles.
- Add anti-slip strips in the bathtubs and showers.
- Mount grab-bars in the bathtubs, showers, and place a sturdy waterproof seat
in the shower.
- Install a hand-held adjustable shower head for easier
bathing.
- Install handrails on both sides of each stairway.
Extensive Changes
Since your loved ones likely want to
live at home as long as possible, consider more extensive changes to the home
to meet loved ones' daily living needs.
AARP and the National Association of Home Builders have collaborated to
develop a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist program.
There is
currently one certified professional in the Shenandoah Valley, Jim Maust of Venture
Builders.
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Deadline approaches for first-time home buyers to receive tax credit.
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 With the clock running down on the $8,000 tax credit for first-time
home buyers and less than four months to go, qualified prospective buyers should start the sales process long before the
Nov. 30 deadline.
First-time buyers should anticipate tighter lending standards
that generally don't allow 100% financing, making buyers responsible
for coming up with enough money prior to their purchase to meet
required downpayment and closing costs.
Virginia is one of sixteen states that offers assistance to first-time home buyers with the down payment. If you know someone who can take advantage of this opportunity, now is the time to do so. Home buyer s may purchase a home that is not quite their dream home, but with savings incentives like the tax rebate, remodeling may be just the answer.
Visit vhda.com for more details.
Home buyers who need more information can find answers to frequently asked questions about the tax credit at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.
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