Our goal for the REMODELING Home for Life virtual tour is to shed light on what baby boomers and remodelers will need to consider to adapt homes for the retirement years. -- Sal Alfano, Editorial Director, REMODELING
Washington, DC (PRWEB) August 12, 2013
REMODELING magazine announces today the launch of Home for Life 2013, a virtual home tour that showcases how to remodel a home to save money and live well throughout the retirement years.
The first of the 80 million baby boomers turned 65 years old in January 2010—which means nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population is now entering their retirement years. A recent survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) revealed that 84 percent of boomers would like to stay in their current homes during retirement, but only 16 percent have taken any steps to adapt their home for retirement.
The photo-realistic online virtual tour is now open at http://www.homeforlife2013.com and shows before-and-after photos and changes for the most-cost effective remodeling projects including the kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom, front entrance and more. The virtual tour shows homeowners and remodelers how to:
- Adapt a home for aging in place
- Incorporate universal design into any renovation
- Lower a home’s heating and cooling costs for years through energy-efficient home improvements, products and replacements
- Save money and hassle over time through choosing low-maintenance materials and products with long lifecycles
The Home for Life virtual home tour debuted last year and over 7,000 consumers, pros and real estate professionals registered to take the virtual tour. This year’s project features many enhancements including narrated audio tour for select rooms/areas of the project; introduction narration as attendees enter the site; additional room views including a panning function which allows users to toggle around rooms/spaces to see additional context for given areas; zoom functionality in some areas; and integration of the virtual tour into the REMODELING website.
“Our goal for the REMODELING Home for Life virtual tour is to shed light on what baby boomers and remodelers will need to consider to adapt homes for the retirement years, including universal design strategies, lowered operating costs, and durable, low-maintenance products and systems,” said Sal Alfano, editorial director of REMODELING. “We have brought together experts in remodeling design, active adult lifestyle, energy and resource efficiency, and universal design to create Home for Life.”
Also new for 2013, AARP launched a “Great Places” blog which features guest bloggers related to the Home for Life project. This blog reaches AARP’s consumer audience and provides them with information on the project, as well as directs them to the Home for Life site.
“The baby boomer generation is not slowing down. They are living longer and expecting more out of their lives – even in retirement,” said Amy Levner, Livable Communities Lead, Education and Outreach at AARP. “We at AARP are working to ensure that their homes and communities are able to keep up with them. Tools such as Home for Life demonstrate how—with a few modifications—you can enhance your home’s comfort and safety to maintain your independence as your lifestyle and needs change.”
Home for Life project team members include:
Case Design/Remodeling, Inc., Bethesda, MD
Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. is the Washington DC metropolitan area’s largest full-service residential remodeling organization. With a focus on excellence for over 50 years, Case has more certified remodelers, certified kitchen and bath designers and certified lead carpenters on staff than any other remodeling organization. Case has been honored with more than 70 awards for design and craftsmanship, and was recently named “Remodeler of the Year” by a major industry publication. To learn more about Case, please visit CaseDesign.com or 800-513-2250.
AARP, Washington, DC
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people age 50 and over have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole, ways that help people 50 and over improve their lives. Since 1958, AARP has been leading a revolution in the way people view and live life. Our work reaches deep into members' communities through support from staffed offices in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at http://www.aarp.com or call 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277).
Carl Seville, Seville Consulting, Decatur, GA
Seville Consulting provides professional training, green building certification and sustainability consulting services for residential single and multifamily buildings and light commercial construction. We certify buildings through the LEED for Homes, EarthCraft House, National Green Building Standard, and Enterprise Green Communities programs. We provide energy audits, energy modeling, HERS ratings and BPI testing services. Our clients include builders, developers, remodelers, architects, homeowners, for profit, and non-profit organizations. Learn more at http://www.sevilleconsulting.com or 404-597-7782.
Richard (Dick) Duncan, The RL Mace Universal Design Institute, Chapel Hill, NC
Dick Duncan is the executive director of the RL Mace Universal Design Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting the concept and practice of accessibility and universal design. The Institute’s work manifests the belief that all new environments and products, to the greatest extent possible, should and can be usable by everyone regardless of age, ability, or circumstance. The Institute advances the concept of universal design in all design disciplines, including housing, public-use buildings, outdoor and urban environments, and related products. Learn more at http://www.udinstitute.org or call 919-960-6734.
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building America program has been a source of innovations in residential building energy performance, durability, quality, affordability, and comfort for more than 15 years. This world-class research program partners with industry (including many of the top U.S. home builders) to bring cutting-edge innovations and resources to market. Learn more at http://www.buildingamerica.gov
Home for Life Sponsors
Platinum sponsors include: Lumber Liquidators (flooring); Marvin Windows and Doors (windows); Sterling Plumbing (plumbing fixtures, faucets and bath accessories); and Waypoint Living Spaces (cabinets and built-ins).
Gold sponsors include: Behr (paints & primers); Dupont (building envelope systems); Eldorado Stone (stone and brick veneer); The Foundry (exterior siding); Kleer Trimboard (exterior trim); Owens Corning (roofing); Panasonic Advanced Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Solutions (ventilation); ProVia (entry doors); and Warmboard (radiant heating).
Bronze sponsors include: Gutter Helmet (gutter protection); Harmar (residential elevators); Kleer Decking (decking); and Sunesta (retractable awnings, screens and shelters).
About REMODELING
REMODELING magazine, published by Hanley Wood, LLC, is the leading publication in the home improvement industry. Designed to address the specific concerns of residential remodeling pros, the magazine is both a business tool and an industry leader for a market that reached $304 billion in 2012. REMODELING’s annual Cost vs. Value Report (costvsvalue.com) compares construction cost with resale value for 35 popular home improvement projects in 80 U.S. markets. Follow more remodeling trends at http://www.remodelingmag.com
About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC is the premier media, event, information and strategic marketing services company serving the residential, commercial design and construction industries. Through its operating platforms, the company produces award-winning digital and print publications, Newsletters, websites, marquee trade shows and events, Market Intelligence data and strategic marketing solutions. The company also is North America's leading publisher of home plans.