Hospital Visit Enlightenment "Again"

this morning  again I am reminded that our needs in life can change in an instant.  As I write I am sitting in a surgical area of the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, watching as my brother begin the rehab and recovery of  a life changing severe car accident.  In an instant with his shattered ankle and broken hip, in his 50's not old, he will probably not recover fully enough to be comfortable to climb stairs all the time or move as well as before.  When we think about physical limitations unusually  our thoughts envision  maybe our parents or grand parents in their 80's or 90's. You know, walkers wheel chairs, but really look around,  limitations are not always that obvious.   It usually is more  a pain issue that is aggravated by frequent use. Not bad enough to need the assistance of a walker or similar devise but severe enough to be painful and limiting.

My brother will go home, eventually, to my parents current home to recover but will have 3 steps to enter the home which will be painful and without assistance will not be able to enter.  If he came to our  home to recover, there are no steps or tight doorways or kitchen appliances that he could not use, a walk-in knockout  stylish ceramic shower spa that make it easy to stay clean and fresh without a great ordeal.  Universal Design or a better word that we can all relate to is Visit-ability.   Anyone who needs to comes to your home regardless of physical limitations can feel at comfortable and not put anyone out to accommodate their needs.


Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS)  are trained to make assessments of your current home or plan a new home to best anticipate your needs.  A professional assessment can be as low as $100.00 to get a handle on what your needs might be.  They will recommend the changes and be able to estimate what the costs might be to achieve the best living arrangements for you.  They can recommend  contractors who are familiar with this process and can best handle any changes you decide are necessary.

This is life it happens.  My wife recently had breast cancer surgery and although that will not limit her in a standard home her range of motion in one arm is limited and due to the Chemo therapy she is doing too tiring for her to go up and down the stairs.  Thankfully in our home she does not need to.  In spite of difficulties she is much more comfortable with her situation and can focus on getting healthy.

Again these decisions need to be made when we are healthy and not at the spur of the moment when staying at home is not a possibility without a major remodel.  Bad enough to have issues but they are best managed both mentally and physically at home in comfortable and stylish all at the same time.

Call us now for an evaluation of your current home situation and see if you can be covered with your home needs in the future what ever life brings, and it nothing else a home that you are proud to call your own, new or remodeled.

Craig Fairbanks
CAPS
Certified Green Builder

319-553-1457
Craig@CraigFairbanksHomes.com

Who will decide where you live in your golden years?

Watching parents and many of our elderly family, I think I maybe close to being considered one soon, have not prepared for being comfortable in their home no matter what comes.  I don't know about you but I would much rather stay in my home until there is not another way to live, than to burden family with my physical limitations.  Being in a home that allows family to come and be comfortable too for those great holiday visits.

Now living in one of our Universal Designed Homes there are no barriers that would prevent me from staying there even alone if need be.  Even if I would come to the point where I would need some outside care that can be hired to come and deal with those needs, visiting nurses, a a far cheaper cost than being in assisted living full time..

Studies have shown that a full 75% of us, boomers and seniors, would prefer to stay in our homes and lead an active lifestyle.  Studies have also shown that those who can do so are both physically and mentally better off than their counter parts who look to assisted living faculties for care and living arrangements.

Whats most important is in the past we did not have a choice, homes were not built to accommodate a lifetime of more limited physical limitations.  Now you have a choice, most homes can be modified to accommodate many of those requirements to live at your current home.  Not all can be retrofitted but most can and in a stylish fashion that is attractive as any new home built today.  We build custom new homes with Universal Design in every home unless a customer chooses not to incorporate those features.

Sometime the cost of a retrofit makes choosing the new home option the best route and cost effective way to go.   If you have been thinking about those needs it is an indication that now would be the time to investigate and make decisions before there are limited options.

Call us for a free no obligation consultation to determine if such a move or renovation may be the right decision for you.

Craig@CraigtheBuilder.com
319-553-1457
www.CraigFairbanksHomes.com

Grab Bars ech!!!

When the term grab bars comes up it creates an image of sterile hospitals, senior centers and an array of super senior images that someone much older than ourselves needs.  Imagine that sterile chrome grab bar that lines the bath room showers, hall ways and various other locations that you would not want your guest to see.

Yes aren't they real attractive?  Don't they make the statement?  No? why not? think of the great uses they have for everyone, something to grab onto in the shower while you are washing your feet.  How about a steady hand while slipping on your shoes.  How about an aid while you are climbing stairs or steps.  No not sexy but sure are a handy way to make our lives a little easier with tasks that used to be simple.  Nothing more embarasing that falling down when we least expect it and nothing there to help prevent that fall.

Now this is anyone's style!!

The simple fact is that grab bars of todays serve a duel function, safety and they are now making a fashion and design  statement at the same time.  Take a look at the shower shown in the picture here on the right.  This is the new age of safety hardware.  Not only is it functional but what a statement this make!!!.  We have access to all sorts of safety features that will make a statement in your bathroom remodel or perhaps a new home construction project that meets all of the access needs that you may need down the road.

This is only one small feature that makes a Universal Designed Home more livable, more functional and more unique.   Form does follow function but not by much anymore.

Think about it now before you absolutely need these  features that we are designing and building for our customers today and using in all the homes we are building.

The time is now while we all have choices and not a need situation.   If we have got you thinking about some of these needs don't delay call us now for a consultation appointment to access your individual needs.

Craig Fairbanks
Craig@CraigFairbanksHomes.com
319-553-1457

Future Home needs.

What will your senior life be like?  Will you be able to stay in your home in its current design and style?  Will physical conditions in the future dictate a move to another home, facility or hamper your  quality of life?

Tough questions,  but most of us will stay in their current home for their retirement years.  Maybe its now  the time to access your current and potential future needs.   How did your parents manage  in their senior years, did they struggle to just live in their current home?  The experience they had is probably a good indication of what issues you may have to address in terms of physical limitations, we all will.

Most homes that have been built or are being built today  do not have any consideration for accessibility built into the  design for you ease of living.   That trend is starting to change but considering our area here in the Cedar Valley where 60% of head of households are over the age of 50 not even close to the needs that most of us have.
Do you have relatives who visit that its a struggle just to get into the home?  There is an abundance of answers available today that did not even exist as little as 5 years ago.    Modifications can be made to make your home more accessible throughout with new product to remodel a bathroom or kitchen to maximize the ease of use and not look like a hospital environment.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a shower that you can get into and out with a hassle and has accessories to help prevent a fall.  A kitchen where you did not have to bend over to the floor to load your dishes in the dishwasher.  Microwave drawers that allow you to set food in like a drawer instead of reaching above the range.  These are just a few remodeling modifications that can be made with in a reasonable budget, providing you do them out side of an emergency project when health issues dictate instead of yourself.

A consultation from a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) can help you find out what can be done to make your home more user friendly.  They have the resources and access to the best products to serve you well and enhance the looks of your home.

Should you have a need for remodeling your home or building in accessibility, call us for that consultation and lets design a plan for modifying your home  to assist you to the lifestyle you choose.

Craig Fairbanks

www.CraigFairbanksHomes.com

Craig@CraigFairbanksHomes.com
CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist)

In home health care less expensive

This link will get you thinking about your planning for the future years of retirement.  You will be surprised at how much more cost effective it is to receive care in home of your choice.  Click below on the link and see how to save as much as 75% in living expenses for seniors.


http://seniorhousingnews.com/2011/08/21/home-health-care-75-cheaper-than-nursing-home-care/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SeniorHousingDaily+%28Senior+Housing+News%29

Spacious Twin home Condos from 160's

Whether you decide to build a new home to suit the exact way you want to enjoy the future or modifiy your current home to meet the requirements you may have, it will certainly be more cost effective and enjoyable than other options available.  You can stay in your home or go to the home,  seems like a clear choice.


Craig@CraigtheBuilder.com
www.CraigFairbanksHomes.com

2011 Parade of Homes

Be sure and attend the Parade of Homes this year.  Our model home at 523 Spruce Hills is the best version yet of the Westchester single condo home.  More spacious, new design features and lots more storage and larger garage.   We are introducing   a new set of built in's that all homes should have to serve the home owner better.  We are consistently making our homes more accessible, (user friendly) thru Universal Design Best Practices, its not just 0 entry homes its more, way more. 

Come out and take a look and make sure to ask about our $3,000. $5,000 $15,000 discount programs.

Craig Fairbanks
Craig@CraigFairbanksHomes.com
319-404-0412

Waterloo Excitement Propety taxes ABATED!!!!

YAHOO!!! Last evening, a process that has taken 23 years to happen, a full property tax abatemnet in was passed by the City Council of Waterloo. The city of Waterloo, Mayor and city council members are to be commended for looking at the big picture of what our city will be facing in a few years if tax base is not built.

If you build a new home in Waterloo any time over the next 3 years you can live PROPERTY TAX FREE for the next 3 years and only pay the lot portion of the tax bill. That is in addition to the 1-1/2 year tax brake that you get normally for building a new home due the normal tax structure in the state of Iowa. You could end up with a full 5 years without the full property tax bill.

There are locations in Waterloo that already had the ability to abate taxes for up to 10 years in an enterprise zone. Many of those locations are now perfect for less expensive housing or condo home ownership. Quick walk to shopping, drug stores, grocery stores, clinics and hospital locations. We have 15 lots in one location ready for you to start today.

Today, being the 1st day, we have already heard of movement of many people that planto start building in the Waterloo area. Most had not planned on building a new home but were ready to jump when this benifit came to fruition.

There are many other great things happening in large because or in conjunction with this tax break. A new school in to be built to replace the existing Orange school is now in motion and a neighborhood will be developed around that location.

There are so many good reasons to build right now that will not be there probably in a few years from now. The tax break is for 3 years only, interest rates in the 4% range, building materials at 15 year lows, sub contractors have been able to reduce costs and suppliers have gotten leaner.

If you are thinking of making a change to a new location you should act now. These benifits are only for a limited time and historically those who have made a move during slower times are the ones who build the most equity when sales time comes.

Plan for the future and call for a free consult on the advantages that can be yours today. WE WILL BE OFFERING SOME OTHER SPECIAL DEALS TO KICK OFF THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY.

Craig the Builder

Craig@CraigFairbankshomes.com

319-404-0412

a better building process

Managed Construction Services is our way for many customers to be very much involved with all the pricing, product selections, an open book relationship. We become your advocate and constant professional advisers helping you with straighten our all the twist and turns and that come with custom home building. In two generations of home building we have seen about all there is to see in building homes.

The process starts by establishing a design and proposed budget and work line item by line item to establish all the goals that you desired. Our fee is listed on a line item just like everything other cost that it takes to build a quality well designed home.

It is actually a great way to work together as a team to achieve the exact result that you had in mind at a price of your choosing. Our role is to provide a service that is massaged to fit your needs and provide you with awesome design, value and quality.

If you would like to learn more please call us (319-553-1457) and set up a time to visit about any of the services that we offer in new home construction and kitchen and bath remodeling. We practice universal design and high green building standards and are up to date on all the latest building methods and process'. 45 minutes of discussion could help you decide what your next step should be and save months of trying to learn to know what you don't know.

Next blog will be ontime and online customer service, job scheduling and selections. This is the best communication tool I have ever seen.

Craig Fairbanks

Custom Builder

a better building process

Our systematic approach to the Home Building Process includes cutting edge technology and tools to facilitate communication and limit confusion. You start by choosing the home building process that fits YOU best not what works for your builder, we feature 3.

We use the standard fixed priced contact, just as it sounds firm pricing, menu priced homes starts with a predetermined ba

se home price and add your options from our predetermined list, our newest format is our Managed Contract Services (MCS) .

This last one is for those who have a desire and need to be more involved in the process. Our role is to help you manage all the moving parts and secure the best quality, craftsmanship, pricing, and subcontractors. We will be working as a team allowing us to get started sooner. With open book pricing we do not need to have all the exact pricing in place. We build a budget for you and work toward those goals based on past projects and your detailed selected products.

No matter which path you choose the goals remain the same, producing the exact product requested and with the quality that our customers have come to expect.

We offer online document and project tracking online for you to always be in the loop and totatlly informed. Any time day or night 24/7. You can view the project schedule, current pricing, selections & opt

ions, approve your change orders and leave notes of concern and questions for our people to address first thing everyday.

There are a lot of moving parts in a home and to do our job right, we’ll be paying attention to every detail, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Our check list process makes sure we are the piece of the complex puzzle are all where they belong.

As you research your new home and interview potential Builders, you will probably encounter a similar sales presentations time and again. If everyone is saying the same thing, how do you differentiate and make the best decision for you and your family?

Do you solicit three bids and pick the lowest one? The middle one? What is the most important factor in choosing a Builder?

Meet with Craig Fairbanks Homes to experience something different. Let us demonstrate our PROCESS and show you the tools we use to define, manage, and deliver not only a great Home but an Outstanding Experience.

We look forward to meeting with you soon. Call us now to lock in your building project and pricing early this year as commitments are filling up. This could be your year to get that new home started that you have been thinking about for many years.

Call us now and get started this spring.

Craig's Cell 404-0412

Craig@CraigFairbanksHomes.com