A recent national survey about home improvement projects indicates that more people will be renovating or establishing home working spaces and play rooms this fall and winter. So I tapped a couple of experts on the subject, who will convey some important tips and ideas in the next two columns.

The team at Lars Remodeling & Design (larsremodel.com) in La Mesa, CA suggest homeowners begin their home work space installation or renovation by deciding on the main purpose of the space and who will be using it.

If there’s more than one person involved, the space can be divided by wall or enclosures. There should be plenty of room for a desk, seating for meetings and perhaps a lounge area.

Then decide what special items are important for a comfortable and functional workspace. You might need items such as a drafting table, separate computer workstations, countertop and table space, special machinery or a large screen for videoconferencing or webinars - and don’t forget space for storage and files.

Man’s best friend enjoys many of the benefits of his master’s home besides food and shelter and a comfortable place to live and play. In return, dog owners expect companionship and possibly, protection; after all, even a small dog can bark to signal intruders.

Few people doubt that most dog owners love their pets and treat them well. The costs associated with having a dog can include medical and dental that rivals human expenses, premium food, toys, grooming and license fees. However, one of the expenses not anticipated by pet owners is a higher homeowner’s insurance premium.

There are almost five million dog bites a year with children being the main victims.

“Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowner’s insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2012, which amounted to more than $489 million,” said Peter Robertson, representing the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, testifying against the bill at a hearing of the Committee on Financial Services. He said, “The total cost of dog bite claims increased by more than 51 percent between 2003 and 2012.” It is now estimated that dog bites cause losses of over one billion dollars a year.

Housing is an important source of economic growth. As of the second quarter of 2013, housing’s share of gross domestic product (GDP) was 15.6 percent, with home building yielding 3.1 percentage points of that total.

Housing-related activities contribute to GDP in two basic ways.

The first is through residential fixed investment (RFI). RFI is effectively the measure of the home building and remodeling contribution to GDP. It includes construction of new single-family and multifamily structures, residential remodeling, production of manufactured homes and brokers’ fees. For the second quarter, RFI was 3.1 percent of the economy.

Over the last two years, the pace of RFI has grown by $108 billion while GDP has grown by $668 billion (as measured in 2009 dollars). Thus, home building growth has been equal to more than 16 percent of GDP growth. Over just the last year, the figure is even larger: 25 percent of GDP growth. It should be noted that GDP is a measure which includes both positive and negative contributions, but these numbers nonetheless indicate the role that housing can play in expanding growth.

With home prices and household formations rising and household balance sheets healing, the ongoing housing recovery is expected to gain momentum next year even as several challenges remain, according to economists who participated in a recent National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Fall 2013 Construction Forecast Webinar.

“The cards are in play for a decent and fairly strong recovery in 2014 and particularly in 2015,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “From the standpoint of GDP growth, housing has been a plus, growing at two, three and four times the rate of the rest of the economy in recent quarters.”

Helping to spur the housing rebound was a double-digit increase in home prices over the past year, driven in part by tight inventories of new and existing homes for sale and gradual gains in employment.

“We expect to see price increases moderate in the next few years as we see additional inventory on the market and investors back away as the bargains disappear,” said Crowe.

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates falling for the third consecutive week amid declining consumer confidence and the onset of the federal government shutdown. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage is at its lowest level since the week ending June 20, 2013.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.22 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 3, 2013, down from last week when it averaged 4.32 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.36 percent.

The survey showed that the 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.29 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.37 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.69 percent.

"With the onset of the federal government shutdown and declining consumer confidence, fixed mortgage rates fell for the third consecutive week,” says Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac. “Consumer sentiment fell for the second month in a row in September to its lowest reading since April, according to the University of Michigan. Moreover, a recent Bloomberg survey of professional forecasters suggests that a partial federal shutdown lasting one week would shave 0.1 percentage points off of GDP growth in the fourth quarter and even more if the shutdown lasts longer."

Lived in your home for years? Love your neighborhood? The thought of moving away from your home's comfort, warmth and memories can be unsettling. Instead of moving out, consider updating and remodeling your home to accommodate your future needs.

Eight-nine percent of Americans 55 and older have embraced this aging-in-place trend, and hope to remain in their own homes for the long-term, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

"As Americans strive to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes longer, many take on home improvements projects to reduce maintenance while improving accessibility and energy efficiency," says Pella Windows & Doors spokesperson Kathy Krafka Harkema. "As they stretch budgets and prepare for retirement, today's savvy homeowners plan home renovation projects with comfort, convenience and ease of maintenance in mind."

Consider remodeling projects to help enjoy your home longer, more safely and efficiently as you age.

Home improvement for the long-term

Most homeowners realize the importance of upkeep and maintenance. A leaky window or drafty door wastes energy and can drive up utility costs.

You’ve seen lists telling buyers what to do to find the right home but knowing what not to do can be just as important. After finding the right home, negotiating a contract, making a loan application and inspections, buyers, understandably, start making plans to move and put their personal touches on the home.

In today’s tenuous lending environment, little things can derail the process which isn’t over until the papers are signed at settlement and funds distributed to the seller. Verifications are made by a lender at the beginning of the loan process to determine if the buyer qualifies for the mortgage. The verifications are usually done again just prior to the closing to determine if there have been any material changes to the borrower’s credit or income that might disqualify them.

Simply stated:

1. Don’t make any new major purchases that could affect your debt-to-income ratio
2. Don’t apply, co-sign or add any new credit
3. Don’t quit your job or change jobs
4. Don’t change banks
5. Don’t open new credit accounts

Remodeling a home can be expensive and exhausting. But you can breathe new life into tired rooms with just a small budget, a little sweat equity, and a healthy imagination.

California decorating consultant Gina Fulton suggests eight quick fixes to freshen the look and increase the functionality of an old, drab bathroom:

New paint – Choose a color that brightens the space and shines with personality. Paint one wall in a bold shade. Or wallpaper one – or all four walls – in a whimsical or elegant design that says something about you.

Vanity – Choose a new one if you can afford it – or paint the existing vanity in a bold or pastel color that offsets or complements the color of the walls.

Drawer pulls and towel racks – The bathroom is a small space, so you may want to splurge on unique hardware that adds a touch of class.

Sinks or faucets – If it’s been a while since you’ve perused the hardware aisle, you may be amazed at the wide variety of affordable sinks and faucets. Consider an art-glass basin or a high-arcing faucet that adds fresh perspective to the bath.

Let's get into a few important installation tips for homeowners ready to "hit the wall" with a DIY wallpaper project this fall.

The folks at Seabrook Wallpaper publish a very easy-to-follow, but lengthy installation guide at their website, and another great resource - wallpaperdirect.com - provides video and illustrations can be found here.

If you really want to get creative with wallpaper, you can check out these cool ideas from a recent item from Home-Dzine:

Wallpaper staircase - If you are looking for ways to add interest to a plain staircase, here's an easy way to customize a staircase and make it a feature in the home.

Cover the vertical board of each stair with wallpaper. Follow the instructions on the wallpaper paste package to ensure the paper is well stuck down.

Wallpaper tabletop - It's so easy to dress up a table top, sideboard, coffee table or cabinet with pieces of wallpaper. Using wallpaper is an affordable way to add design that can be changed to suit the occasion.  Simply cut the paper to size and lay it across the top of the table. If you plan to change it regularly, do not stick it down. Place a sheet of glass over the top in order to protect the paper and table.

Going without home insurance is risky, so most of us bite the bullet and pay the premium. But
there are ways to save on what you pay.

Forbes business experts suggest ten ways to ensure you have optimal coverage with the right
risk/cost balance:

●Increase deductibles – Insurance isn't meant to cover the small stuff. Set deductibles
as high as you can afford. For example, a $150,000 house could have a $1,500 or 1
percent deductible.
●Make improvements - Install a backup generator, a whole house surge protector, and
smoke/CO2 detectors. Refit roof trusses with strapping.
●Opt for hip roofs - Hip roofs offer the most slippery shape in high-wind settings or
storms. You don't want roof areas that can catch the wind and are prone to damage.
●Locate intelligently – Stay away from flood-prone areas. In high wind areas, look for
brick or stone houses. In quake-prone areas, look for wooden frame houses. Locate in
communities with professional fire departments. Have your home inspected before you
purchase.