Donating Your Whole House: Is it Too Good to be True?

Please visit our NEW WEBSITES:

Decon-Network.org

ReuseNetwork.org

Posted by Nicole Tai, N. California Development Director for DRN:

Lately, we've been encountering property owners who are not doing all their homework when it comes to their selection of appraisers and deconstruction contractors. Many think our organization adds an extra layer into the mix, but in fact we are providing you a GUARANTEED donation. Only a few other organizations can say that in California. I love making deconstruction happen, but our industry needs to maintain certain standards to remain effective and true to the goals of reuse. In this blog post, I outline the differences between non-profit and for-profit contractors and appraisers. As you read on, keep in mind the old saying, "If it is too good to be true, it usually is" because it is perfectly applicable to this industry.

The 2004 Non-profit Integrity Act requires for-profits to register as fundraisers for non-profits, and this means that if a company is offering a tax deduction for deconstruction, it needs to have a written agreement with a non-profit. Unfortunately, most of the outfits in the San Francisco Bay Area are not in compliance with this act and are not registered. They are operating independent of the non-profits they are soliciting donations for, many of which aren't even aware of these "deconstruction contractors" and appraisers. These companies may not see it as a fraudulent act, but in reality they are no different from used car dealers who "solicit" car donations from unsuspecting donors.

At Deconstruction & ReUse Network (DRN), we may seem "picky" because we are maximizing reuse potential through local and legitimate markets. We work with both for-profit and non-profit reuse groups to ensure that materials are either reused in projects, or resold to the general public -both of which keep valuable items out of the landfill. We make sure that materials are removed well to insure that they actually will and can be reused.

We aren't going to tell you we can reuse that 1960's furnace when in reality it will be recycled for the copper and metals. It is important to note that recycling does not constitute a donation. Why not? Without getting into boring details, recycled materials only yield a fraction of the value when compared to reusable items. In the deconstruction industry, contractors will generally calculate the value of recyclable metals to help offset their cost to the client and this number is NOT factored into the donation.

If you are planning a home demolition and are approached by a for-profit Deconstruction Contractor or Appraiser for a house donation, we encourage you to do your due diligence by asking the following questions:

• Does the non-profit your materials will be donated to actually exist?
•  Is the non-profit’s mission relevant to reusing building materials?
• Ask to see a copy of the agreement with the non-profit, or their filing with the state attorney general as a fundraiser.
• Will someone from the non-profit be on site (required) to conduct the inventory, as well as provide you with both a copy of that inventory and documentation of the process?

Failure to acknowledge these important issues may result in you forfeiting the fair market value of your donation to resale value. The worst-case scenario is an IRS audit FOR YOU.

Alternatively, you can choose to go with tried and true, reputable organizations like us - Deconstruction and Reuse Network. If you have more questions on this topic, feel free to comment below or email me, and I would be more than happy to answer them.

Related Posts:

If Huge Tax Breaks for Your Donation Sounds Too Good To Be True - It Is

Ross Homeowners Choose Deconstruction

Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscience Not Stimulus Money

ReUse with Re-Wine!

ReUse is so important to us at DRN and when we come across neat products that incorporate ReUse, we definitely like to bring attention to them.  There is a clever new product that just came out called Re-Wine, which is designed to keep waste out of our landfills and ReUses wine bottles in innovative ways.  According to Re-Wine's website, the wine cases are made of "100% Recycled Materials" that consist of rice farming by-products and post-consumer thermoplastics that are combined together to form a new material called Polliber.

Re-Wine's wine bottle cases have many uses, including a non-breakable wine carrier, an energy efficient lamp, and customizable furniture.  The energy efficient lamp is so cool because you can use it on top of a desk or you can turn it into a stand alone chandelier.  The wine carrier option would make a great gift, while the customizable furniture gives limitless possibilities and is like a building block set for adults! 

Photo Credits: MINIWIZ Sustainable Energy Development LTD

When it Comes to Home Demolition & Remodeling, Why Not Choose To ReUse?

Please visit our NEW WEBSITES:

Decon-Network.org

ReuseNetwork.org

At DRN, we often come across articles that discuss where materials end up once a house or building is demolished.  More often than not, those materials end up in our landfills and never get any chance at a second life.  Last week, Forbes came out with an article that discusses how many materials could be recycled from demolition sites and suggests that recycling may be the best option for bettering our environment.  There is no doubt that recycling is extremely important and should be utilized when necessary, but I ask, “What about ReUse?”  ReUsing materials from demolition sites can have astounding results that not only keep our landfills less jammed, but also creates more jobs than recycling. 

Here is an example of the jobs created:

If you take 10,000 tons of materials and:

• Incinerate it = 1 job
• Landfill it = 6 jobs
• Recycle it = 36 jobs
• Reuse it= 28-296 jobs 

Sources: US EPA, and Institute of Local Self Reliance

When I brought up this topic with our team we discussed how more knowledge of ReUse is greatly needed. DRN team member, Paula Wise, posted this comment on the article:

“Recycling is great, but I hope this Forbes series will discuss reuse. As a nation, we have done a really good job getting people to recycle. Now it's time to take it to the next level and increase reuse awareness. There is a reason the phrase is ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. So many items can be reused in their original state. It's a shame to see these items ground up and recycled and not be reused.”

I feel more people need to know why ReUse is an excellent option for building materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill.  It is estimated that 34,000,000,000 tons of construction waste end up in our landfills and that is scary!  If more people looked into deconstruction, where materials would be ReUsed, that number would be so much less.  For instance, deconstructing one 2,500 sq. ft. ranch style home can divert 25 tons of construction waste.  Could you imagine if more people got on board with choosing deconstruction over demolition and ReUse over recycling?  

Related Post:

Could One Man's Trash be Another Mans House?

From Skateboards to Sunglasses: Innovative ReUse

Why Deconstruction Will Not Only Improve the Enviroment but Also Lives

Talking ReUse with ReStore Partner Dave McKechnie

Guest Blogger: Dave McKechnie of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles ReStores

Working for Habitat for Humanity has its advantages.

When you first tell someone that you work for Habitat for Humanity, they smile. It’s one of the only jobs I’ve ever had where people say “what a great job that must be” or “that must be an incredible place to work.”

Normally they have a general idea of what we do here at Habitat in regards to the homebuilding and volunteer side of our business, but when we tell them the particulars about our ReStores we always get the same two responses.

1. What a great idea, I didn’t know Habitat for Humanity had stores!
2. Where are they and where do you get donations?

Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles operates two ReStores here in the Los Angeles area. They are “Home Improvement Thrift Stores” that sell new and gently used home improvement items; items such as Furniture, Windows, Doors, Appliances, Light Fixtures, Sinks, Vanities, Tile, Flooring, Carpet, House wares and Home Décor items and much, much more.

Inevitably the 3rd question is “So where do you get all of the items that you sell? The short answer is “it’s donated.” The whole answer is a little more complex than what you might think. We get donations from all kinds of donors. Individuals remodeling their homes; businesses that are moving, downsizing, or just cleaning out old space; and we get a great deal of material from deconstruction. Here at Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles we have partnered with Deconstruction & Reuse Network (DRN) to assist us in the world of deconstruction.

Even in this tougher economy there are still building projects going on. In many instances in order to build something new, something old has to be removed. The conventional thought used to be, just tear it down and throw it away…but what a waste of perfectly good stuff!!! So somewhere along the line someone got the brilliant idea of taking those buildings apart and reusing the materials again. The deconstruction process is just exactly what it sounds like. Any structure can be deconstructed and so many of the materials can be reused.

DRN is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ number one partner-supplier of deconstructed material. DRN has contributed more than a million pounds of donated material to us, which in turn has been sold to our consumers, which helps to fund all of our programs here at Habitat for Humanity.

Related Posts:
Several Eras of Treasures to get New Life through ReUse
Recycled Rolling Hills Home will help Build Nearly 6 Affordable Homes
Before you Recycle Anything, Consider if it can be ReUsed First