Four Remodel Projects that Will Pay Off the Most

Are you looking to remodel your home but don’t know which project to tackle first?  The four main areas of a home where you will get the biggest bang for your buck are the bathroom, the kitchen, the exterior siding and the attic.  The bathroom is a great place to start.  Small bathrooms can look bigger by adding pedestal sinks and glass shelving for a more “open” look.  Take out the tub and add a tiled shower with glass doors.  Simply replacing an old sink or toilet with a new one can make a big difference without breaking the bank.  Updating what you already have is usually a better investment than adding a completely new bathroom onto your home.

The kitchen is another smart place to spend your remodeling dollars.  If the cabinets are in good shape, replace the hardware.  Put in new appliances: a stainless steel dishwasher, stove/oven, refrigerator, etc.  Replace outdated flooring and countertops.  You don’t have to put in a $50,000 kitchen to sell your home, especially if you aren’t in an upscale neighborhood.  Simply updating your current arrangement and adding a fresh coat of paint will bring a great return on your investment.

One of the most neglected parts of a house is the exterior.  Replacing old, worn out siding with brand new can give your home an instant facelift.  While vinyl siding is the easiest and most cost-effective material, fiber-cement siding can be made to look like stucco, wood or even cedar shingles.  Fiber-cement can cost about 30% more to add to your home, but you do get a higher return on your investment as well.

Don’t forget about the attic!  If you are in an older neighborhood where most of the homes are pressed for square footage, remodeling attic space into a beautiful master suite with a bathroom can create form and function out of previously unused space.  It will also create a draw for buyers in a neighborhood where only smaller homes are to be found.  Remodeling the attic is also alot less expensive than adding square footage on to the lower floor for a new master suite addition.

Remodeling your home is a great way to create additional value.  Just make sure not to go overboard and you will see a great return on your investment.

Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival

Considered by many to be THE premier cultural event in the area, the 2008 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival will be held September 4-21.  This event not only showcases spectacular pieces from local artisans, but also draws international artists to beautiful Jackson Hole, WY.  Throughout this 18 day event, you will experience visual, culinary, contemporary, Native American, wildlife and landscape arts.  In addition to the art exhibits, you will be able to enjoy music, food, drinks and even cowboy poetry.  There will also be dozens of workshops, receptions for some of the artists featured at the festival, gallery walks and so much more.  One of the main showcases at the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is the “Taste of the Tetons”, where visitors get to experience the best of Jackson’s food, wine and desserts.  The QuickDraw Art Sale and Auction pits 30 artists against each other in a drawing duel while spectators watch them create original works of art right before their eyes.  There is even a special Western Design Conference that exhibits the latest in western furniture, accessories and clothing.  With more than 50 events being held throughout the festival, you are sure to find something that fits your tastes.  For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce’s calendar of events.

Wyoming: The Windy State

With Americans’ interest in finding cleaner energy sources on the rise, many investors as well as voters are eyeing wind power.  Wyoming is one of the places that sits towards the top of the list of possible wind energy sources.  In fact, Wyoming’s wind is considered the most viable for places as far away as Utah, Colorado, Nevada and California.  Many landowners are looking to cash in by leasing their land to set up the giant wind turbines necessary to capture the energy created by the wind.  The only stumbling block at this time is setting up transmission lines to transport the energy to the end user.  While landowners are happy with setting up the turbines on their land because they don’t interfere with cattle grazing and are a great opportunity for financial gain, many people don’t like the idea of transmission lines going through their property.  The multiple states that the transmission lines have to go through mean multiple governmental agencies, various restrictions and lots of red tape.  This has bogged down the export of wind power outside of the state so far.  But, proponents believe that it is only a matter of time before everything is sorted through.  Then, step back because the dam will be broken and Wyoming will be flooded with energy requests from all over the western United States.  Wyoming is standing on the precipice of helping America with a cleaner source of energy and less dependence on foreign soil.

The Grass is Blue in Jackson Hole

Come to Jackson Hole this weekend (August 8-10) to enjoy the 21st Annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival.  There will be music, food, arts and crafts, games and festivities for the whole family.  Some of the headliners for this year include Tim O’Brien, Spring Creek, The Infamous Stringdusters, Tony Trischka and his Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular band, Darrell Scott, the Sam Bush Band, Blue Highway, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet and Jeff Austin & Friends from the Yonder Mountain String Band.  Dancing among the aspens is, of course, encouraged.  Kids will love Grand Targhee’s Kidzone, where puppet shows and craft classes are held.  And, on Saturday, the Banana Slug String Band will perform their unique blend of science, conservation techniques, music and humor for the kids.

Grand Targhee encourages recycling.  Special receptacles are provided for glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, cardboard and steel.  Bring your own water bottles to reduce the use of disposable cups at the festival.  Also, Grand Targhee urges attendees to utilize the free shuttle service from Teton Valley.  There is only a $5 fee per car for all day parking.  To find out how to help out decrease your impact on Mother Nature, visit the Sustainability Booth.  We hope to see you kickin’ up your boots at the Bluegrass Festival this weekend!