Waukesha County Home

but other areas of the home — inside and out — can also play a key role in increas- ing home value. "The exterior is the first thing a poten- tial buyer sees," said Jeff Fortin, senior planner for the city of Waukesha. "If it's in bad shape, buyers may not even look at the inside, or require these items be fixed as a condition of the sale." Inside the home, updating heating and cooling systems, water heaters, and plumbing fixtures increase the home's value when it comes time to sell, but they also keep more money in the homeowners' pockets while they are still living in the home. Homeowners gain from upgrades "By upgrading to more efficient fur- naces, air conditioners and water heaters, homeowners can drastically cut their util- ity bills," Fortin said. "Newer toilets and shower fixtures use less water than older versions, which can equate to savings on their water bills." The Waukesha Home Improvement Workshop not only helps homeowners identify issues that affect the value of their home, but provides them with the right resources within the community to make any necessary improvements. "Since the adoption of our Central City Master Plan, we have been focused on improving the neighborhoods surround- ing our downtown," Fortin explained. "This will be a great way to get all the groups doing work in these neighborhoods together so residents and landlords can learn about programs in one spot." Some of the organizations participating include the Dunbar Oaks Neighborhood Association, First Weber Realtors, Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County, Hous- ing Resources, Inc., Tower Hill Neighbor- hood Association, Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners, Waukesha County Parks and Land Use, Waukesha State Bank, and Waukesha Water Utility. Atten- dees can meet directly with each agency representative to learn about available programs and resources on an informa- tion-only basis. Topics include home improvement loan product eligibility, housing code compli- ance, neighborhood safety and desirabili- ty, garden and landscape resources, and incentives and ways to reduce water costs. Many of these programs can also offer homeowners some financial assistance toward their improvements, including some grant programs. "We do have a grant program for any landmark or Historic District home that provides a matching grant for exterior improvements such as roofing, painting or exterior repairs," Fortin said. Rehab for renters, landlords Another program attendees can get information on is the Rental Rehab Loan Program. "(This) is where landlords can take advantage of low-interest, deferred-pay- ment loans for work on homes in our Cen- tral City Neighborhoods and on gateway streets," Fortin said. "Participants in the program must agree to rent to and affir- matively market to households at or below 80 percent of the Waukesha County medi- an income level." These loans can be used for exterior repairs and improvements, but Fortin pointed out they can also be used for inte- rior work to bring older homes up to cur- rent codes. That's important because even a few neglected properties can have a negative impact on an entire neighborhood. "The impact of home improvements extends beyond the property lines," Fortin said. "A neighborhood where all the homes are well-maintained would likely see high- er home values." (For more information about the Wauke- sha Home Improvement Workshop visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/uwex/crd/.) HOMES PLUS APRIL 2017 2 Callen…Your Fiberglass Window Expert Get the leading fiberglass replacement window with the best installation from Callen. Plus you'll find a price you can afford with new FlexPay financing from Marvin ® . Beautiful in Design Durable Stainable Ultrex fiberglass is 8x stronger than vinyl and won't absorb moisture or decay over time like wood. Get a houseful of windows for as low as $120 a month!* CallCallen.com 414-529-5509 *Not to be combined with any other offer. Does not apply to previous purchases. Ask your representative for details. Muskego | Brookfield Distributed by: ©2017 by Conley Media Waukesha County Homes Plus is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Homes Plus Volume 6 ■ Number 4 ■ April 2017 Home improvement:Workshop to cover loans, codes, resources Continued from Page 1

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