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All of us at Sidekick Homes are pleased to announce that we had a successful house placement at our Quitman site on November 6th. Starting at 10:30 AM a large crane lifted the first of two modules comprising the first floor of the home and effortlessly flew it through the air from the truck it arrived on and deftly placed it on the previously prepared foundation. Each of the three remaining modules followed the first above the spectators and easily found their place in the puzzle. In less than four hours the entire home was assembled and the crane headed home.

The modular process was a definite fit for this site. A narrow parcel on a developed street leant itself to the quick set up and short timeframe that workers spent on the site. Having the final home in place in one day meant the smallest amount of disturbance possible for the neighbors and the owners’ family in the existing small home on the property.

We had a fine turnout to see the house placed though the day was cold. The sun helped warmed about 75 people that came to see the action. We particularly enjoyed chatting with the neighbors and hearing their reactions. People seemed to take the street closure with good humor.

Sidekick was created with the intention to build small homes behind bigger homes to house our aging parents or adult children. Though in this case the process was reversed since the small home was in place and we added the main house. Even then the new home is small as well at 1300 Square feet plus the basement. We plan to follow soon with a small home in a backyard.

Owners: Katie Goff and Hal Scott

Architect: Kirk Stathes

Developer: Sidekick Homes and Kephart Living, Mike Kephart, Renee Babkiewich, and Janet Kephart

Builder: Milestone Construction and Eco-Infill, John Cianci

We are thrilled to be able to announce our first installation. The Marion model is scheduled to be placed on site on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at approximately 9:00. Five modular pieces will be lifted into place and fitted together in a few hours.

Our first home is a departure from our initial concept. The Marion will be the dominant structure on the property connected to an existing unit. Here’s how Mike Kephart describes it. “I had decided that model was too big and we were going to discontinue it, and suddenly someone wanted it. Essentially the ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) is already there. There was a little alley house, and we’ve connected the Marion to it. I am learning to every day by getting inquiries from people about what they want and don’t want. We’re going to change and evolve as we go along in the process of the business, and we’re looking forward to it.”

The young couple currently living in the existing smaller house will move into the new Sidekick Home on the front of the property and their parents will either rent or sell the little house. Eventually the entire family may move into the two houses to bring everyone together in one location.

Anyone in the Denver area on that day is invited to stop by for coffee. We will be at 4200 Quitman Street from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on October 21st. We’d love to meet you!

When considering adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your property, or any home addition, one question which should be addressed early is where does the money come from? There are several potential answers to this question.

• Construction Loans - First, consider your primary banking relationship, the place where you keep your checking and savings accounts. You have a trust level built in with this institution and they know you as well. Ask your bank if they do construction loans or home equity lines of credit. This is a great place to start exploring your loan options. Ask your bank for their list of requirements for starting the loan process. Keep in mind that many lenders require a set of plans for a construction loan which will often mean an upfront investment from you to your builder or architect to create these plans.
• Retirement Plan Loans - Another attractive option is any investment funds you have contributed to over the years, a 401(k) plan or IRA. Often you can make a loan from these funds to yourself. The benefits include a ready source of funds, a reasonable interest rate, and the fact that you may be paying yourself over time in interest.
• Refinancing - If you have substantial equity in your home, you can also consider refinancing your first mortgage. In today’s credit climate, refinancing may be an easy way to access the equity that is in your home at a fixed interest rate. There is a possibility that Fannie Mae could raise the amount of conforming loans, which come at a lower interest rate, from the $417,000 loan limit to as much as $625,000 in November of 2008. This may also open a door for accessing your equity.
• Your Relative’s Home - If you are building your Sidekick for an aging relative, their current house may be a source of funding for your project, whether through its sale or tapping into its equity.

When you are looking at possible financing for your secondary home, it is important to consider your options as a first step toward completion of your project.

[ encyclopedia definition:
“Quality of life is the degree of well-being felt by an individual or group of people. Unlike standard of living, quality of life is not a tangible concept, and therefore cannot be measured directly.”]

We make many decisions to improve or maintain our quality of life. We exercise, eat right and go to the doctor to stay healthy. We do crossword puzzles, have spirited conversations, and expose ourselves to beauty in nature and art to stay sharp. We strengthen our connections to family and friends, give back to our communities, and do the things we love to stay engaged.

Another decision many older adults make to maintain their quality of life, sometimes with fierce determinations, is to stay in the family home. Having our own personal space gives us freedom and control over the basics of day-to-day life - when we eat, when we sleep, what we do. One of the hardest conversations a caregiver may every have to have with an older adult might revolve around needing more help than living in that home can afford.

With some creativity, however, changes in living arrangements can add to quality of life. Staying on the property in another more suitable residence in the rear could suffice for some. For others, having family members move in with them after renovating the home to be more age-friendly could be an answer. A move to an adult child‘s home if they have their own living quarters might work for some. This again could be a small cottage in the garden. As long as freedom, independence and control over one‘s life are respected, a move from a beloved home can be seen as a change for the good!

At Sidekick Homes all of our models are designed following the principals of Universal Design. That means:

• designing homes that are easier to live in and more comfortable to use for all people regardless of physical stature, strength, age, or physical mobility;
• gently sloping walks or ramps, free of steps, lead up to the entry door;
• there are no steps within a home, except for stairs to a second floor;
• elevators are provided in all two-story homes;
• doors and hallways are wide, and there is room to move freely throughout the home;
• lever door handles, on all doors, are easier to use than knobs;
• bathrooms are large to allow the full use by those who require a wheelchair or other mobility aid;
• at least two windows in each home open with an easy to use casement crank or are power operated;
• light switches and electrical outlets are in easier to reach location;
• kitchens have: easy to access lower storage cabinets, few or no high wall cabinets, and pantries where space allows.

Why do we believe this is important? Because no matter who lives in our homes, we want them to feel comfortable and competent in their home. We want them to be able to use the kitchens and bathrooms with ease, to be able to move easily from room to room, and for light switches and outlets never to be out of reach. We want our homes to be places where people feel they are in control of their surrounds and not the other way around.

Toyota’s “Prius” and Honda’s “Insight” hybrid vehicles have distinct looks—you can’t help but notice when they drive by. Why do some automakers ignore the special qualities their hybrids offer and camouflage them within an old familiar skin? Is this what buyers want—new technology presented in the same old wrapper? Look at Apple’s “I-Pod”. Or Whirlpool’s new energy star “Duet” washers and dryers in cool metallic grey, mounted on a pedestal for ease of access. These new technologically advanced gadgets have a distinct look that is different from their older counterparts. Can homes express their energy efficiency, comfort and durability in beautiful packages too or are they destined to look like every other house in the neighborhood?

While green design is heavily related to technological advancements, there are natural modifications that can be made. NAHB has included many of these in their newly released Green Building Guidelines. Having windows face south, for example, makes a big difference in keeping a house warm during the winter. The low winter sun angle is available, but since many windows are facing the wrong side they are unable to reap its benefits. Planning the orientation of homes on lots could be done in a more efficient manner; many neighborhood plans and home designs fail to consider the characteristics of the environment in their region. Instead, “traditional” styles continue to dominate in today’s new home market in spite of their lack of adaptability to solar orientations, window locations, shading, prevailing winds, views, yearly rainfall and landscaping.

With the invention of Freon refrigeration, home air conditioning opened up the housing market in places that people once avoided, like Arizona. Up until now, these air conditioning systems were heavy energy users, but in the near future photovoltaic collectors built into homes will be cheap enough to use the sun to generate electricity to run them. All of this is done in defiance of Mother Nature telling us that it is way too hot to live in Phoenix in the summer. Because of technological advancements, however, we can live just about anywhere we want. In fact, Phoenix continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

Let’s put an end to the square box two story houses with windows scattered indiscriminately around the four compass points ignoring the path of the sun and providing no shade for windows in the summer. Longer rectangle-shaped houses with most windows arranged along the long south elevation will do a better job of collecting the sun’s heat in winter. Shading the windows in the summer will keep the heat out better than high performance glass alone. We need new land planning lot patterns that will facilitate the ability of builders to orient their new homes to the sun. With a little planning and creativity, green homes can be designed to be beautiful, efficient and smart.

Active Adults is a term commonly used to describe people over 55 who have lots of living left to have numerous experiences and accomplishments. They are healthy, productive and energetic, and their children have embarked on their own lives. The couple is now alone in a house bigger than needed and demanding time and maintenance than they want to spend.

During this moment of reflection and questioning, the idea of retirement is considered. Where to retire is paramount in people’s minds and the choices are unlimited. Historically, as many as 50% of people move to a new home sometime in retirement. The desire to stay near the familiar is powerful, but is eventually outweighed by the promise of adventure, new relationships, the fun of retirement and an easier, relaxed lifestyle.

Active Adult Communities are specifically designed to offer the fun, adventure and the new relationships with like-minded people that young retirees want. Sun City in Arizona, created in the 1960’s, continues to attract thousands of active adults in communities around the country. An active adult community typically has at least one 18-hole golf course, tennis, bocce ball courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ballrooms, fitness center, wellness programs, walking and bike trails, and a variety of special interest clubs and meeting spaces. Many of the amenities are assembled in a grand community center that serves as a focus of the community.

Small towns can offer all of this in a more authentic package. The people are friendly and they include children and young adults, as well as others our own age. Most of us at this age enjoy the spirit of young people and the inspiration they give us to enjoy each day as the start of a new life.