We enjoy being a part of the HBA Home Shows because it’s a great way to connect with our current and former clients as well as meet new people. It is also an opportunity to listen to the dreams and concerns of Greater St. Louis homeowners and help them achieve long-lasting solutions.

Four days of conversation revealed that the economy is top of mind, and quality is essential. In the current economic climate, homeowners value the confidence they feel when going with a reputable, trusted company that really understands the root problem and knows how to fix it right the first time. We were happy to be there for them.

What were the Top 3 homeowner requests?

#1. Updating kitchens and bathrooms.

Remodeling these areas of the home continue to bring the greatest return on investment while enhancing quality of life. This reflects our current needs of smart projects that nurture the spirit and create great benefits.

Many Home Show attendees told us they are conserving by cooking more at home and they need their kitchens to be highly functional, aesthetically pleasing and a comfortable place to spend time.

#2. Energy Efficiency

Improving insulation, ventilation and windows can result in lower utility bills and increased comfort. More consumers are looking for ways to stop the waste in their homes. This reflects a return to the sensible way of living our grandparents practiced: living comfortably within our means and using only what we need.

#3. Protecting Investments

Concrete, masonry, mortar, tile and grout (as well as glass block mortar) can be sealed to prolong their performance. New siding and roofing can have a huge impact on curb appeal, which boosts the worth of a home. This reflects our desire to take care of what we already have in a manner responsible to us and our community.

Home Show guests came to us for help, and in the coming weeks, Mosby Consultants will visit with dozens of homeowners to take care of their most pressing wants and needs. We are honored to be a part of the solutions that improve their quality of life.

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Other Gift Suggestions
A Mosby Home Energy Audit makes a nice “housewarming” gift.

Know someone with a new home and lots of ideas? Give a Mosby Home Consultation for expert guidance.

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To wrap up a gift of enduring value, have Mosby help with your holiday shopping list. Call us at 314.909.1800 or contact us through this link.

A South St. Louis City homeowner recently had us out for an energy audit, and was kind enough to let us photograph the process so we could share the details of some of the testing that can happen during an audit.

The home was built in 1939, and is in great shape for its age, but the owners had a few concerns when it came to energy efficiency. A partial list of their issues included:

● Vinyl replacement windows were installed in the early 1990s, and they seem to work fine, but cold drafts pour in during the winter
● Are there other air leaks in the house?
● Is the water heater still working right or is it time for a new one?
● The gas oven is old but still does a good job; can it stay or should it be upgraded?

A blower door test measures air tightness, calculating how much air is lost based on square footage of the house.

Eric, a Mosby energy technician, came to their house, and after measuring the house and reviewing utility bills with them, set up the blower door test in the front entry door. This tool measures air tightness and calculates how much air leaks out based on the home’s square footage. This test confirmed what the owner suspected: the windows themselves are still good, but cold air is coming in through leaks around the frame. The blower door also showed major leaks around the back and basement door frames, as well.

An infrared thermal camera takes images that show surface temperature differences. This helps pinpoint exactly where air leaks compromise efficiency.

An infrared thermal camera, which takes snapshots showing temperatures as colors, is used to pinpoint exactly where air leaks. Turns out the dining room and living room window frames are compromised, and the basement door frame, according to the homeowner looking at the thermal images, “leaks like a sieve!” In all cases, the windows and doors themselves are good. It is a case of sealing up and weatherproofing the frames around them, and the client put that on the list of items for Mosby to repair for them.

In the kitchen, the gas oven was turned on and tested for carbon monoxide. When the carbon monoxide levels leveled off, Eric indicated that it was producing unsafe levels, and should be checked out by a service technician or replaced with a new Energy Star model.

A Mosby energy auditor checks a gas water heater for carbon monoxide levels. The heater is safe, but working past its life expectancy.

In the basement, there were no carbon monoxide problems at all, and all tests confirmed the water heater was perfectly safe, but it is working several years past its normal life expectancy. Now would be the time to consider replacing it with a new sealed combustion or tankless version to increase energy efficiency.

A combustible gas leak detector is used to check the safety of a home's gas lines.

Using a combustible gas leak detector, Eric found 5 areas around connector joints leaking minor levels of gas. These leaks aren’t large or dangerous, but they are wasteful, and that adds up on the gas bill!

With the testing done, Eric gave the homeowners a brief written summary of the energy audit. Within two weeks, they will get a detailed report on the findings and, most importantly, a list of recommendations on how to improve the safety and efficiency of their home.

This energy audit confirmed a few things the owners already suspected, highlighted what they do right, and revealed a lot that was unknown. The follow-up report and recommendations will give a clearer understanding of which repairs should be done immediately and what to plan for in the near future. For instance, they will begin shopping for new Energy Star appliances, and asked us to take care of sealing air and gas leaks. They told Eric that one of the reasons they chose Mosby Building Arts for their energy audit was because they like dealing with only one company that they trust to take care of it all, from research to repair.

Click here to see more pictures of a Mosby Energy Audit.

Scott Mosby (left) and Mosby Building Arts Home Consultant Rich Layton during the live KMOX remote at the 2008 Fall Home Show.

At the Fall 2008 Home Show, Scott Mosby gave a very powerful presentation, “Preparing For Better Times: Your Home in an Unsure Economy.” As a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch headline declared, “Fear Rushes In,” and many homeowners have had a few moments of concern in the last couple of weeks. Scott applied sound logic and historical comparisons to assure us that a homeowner’s position is not as dire as the media indicates.

Scott is uniquely qualified to address this important topic. As the KMOX Home Answer Man he hears the most pressing concerns of homeowners. As a respected home remodeler he knows which projects increase equity, which maintenance projects are crucial for retaining value and how to gauge if you should remodel your current home or buy another one. His Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Real Estate – coupled with over 30 years of construction and remodeling experience – gives him keen insights into how long a downturn typically last and how to survive it while waiting for indicators of a forthcoming upswing.

His talk covered the following important points:

WHO IS AFFECTED

Those with Adjust Rate Mortgages (ARM) and falling equity, and those trying to sell their house are feeling the effects of the unsure economy.

It is important to have clear information on foreclosures. Even in a strong economy, there are 250,000 – 500,000 foreclosures annually. For 2008, 1.5 million Americans face foreclosure, which is half of a percentage point of total mortgages, and that 1/3 of those foreclosures are for investment properties – not homeowners.

WHO IS NOT AFFECTED

Homeowners with fixed rate mortgages on houses bought before the price appreciation that have substantial equity are doing well. If you plan on staying in your home, you are not affected at all.

During the home sales boom years, the St. Louis metropolitan area seldom experienced dramatic house value inflation, so our values remain relatively stable at this time. Indicators show only a temporary drop of 2%-5% in our house values, which actually brings prices more in line with market-place reality. When compared with other regions of the country, our bi-state region is in good shape.

WHAT TO DO UNTIL THINGS IMPROVE

If you don’t have to move, hold onto your biggest asset by staying put. Protect your investment by maintaining and improving it. Remember that a good home in a good neighborhood always holds its value.

Mortgage interest rates are low, so you can finance remodeling projects at historically low rates rates, and when house prices begin to rise again (and they always do), the percentage of return on investment for the project rises along with your home’s value.

Remember the classic saying: Buy Low – Sell High. The inventory of For Sale homes is very high at this time, making it a Buyer’s Market. Now is the time for first-time buyers and those wanting to accumulate investment property to get good deals; buy low and hold ‘em.

For those not immediately affected by the current economy and contemplating buying a new house because the prices are good, factor in that moving cost adds 10% – 15% to the purchase price, and that the rule of Buy Low – Sell High alerts you to hold onto your biggest asset until it returns to a Seller’s Market.

Your home is your biggest asset, so protect it while the turbulent market corrects itself.

PROTECTING YOUR ASSET

While interest rates are low, there are 6 remodeling projects that benefit you now and strengthen the value of your home in the future:

● Protection & Repair – Maintain what you already have and repair the obvious problems that affect both home value and your comfort.

● Energy Efficiency – reduce energy bills and increase comfort with energy-conscious HVAC systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and air-tight ducts, windows and door jambs.

● Mobility & Comfort – A flexible home that accommodates people of all ages and abilities elevates your daily life and makes the home valuable to a future buyer.

● Exterior Renovation – The outside of your house is the first impression. Renovation improvements to siding, roofing and landscaping set the tone of house value.

● Kitchens & Baths – These are the rooms we use the most and that future buyers care about the most. Improvements and upgrades to these areas bring the highest return on investment.

● Outdoor Living – creating “outdoor rooms” effectively adds square footage to your home that can be used 6 – 8 months out of the year.

ECONOMICALLY, THE TIME IS NOW

The convergence of low interest and high supply creates many opportunities for both buyers (low prices and ample choice) and homeowners staying put (improvements will strengthen your asset). Whichever path you choose, be sure to choose wisely which companies will provide you the most security and value.