State and National News:

• 2011’s foreclosures lowest in four years   Read more…
• Mortgage relief to unemployed   Read more…
• Fla. No. 5 nationally as ‘best for business’   Read more…
• Jobs outlook brightens as confidence begins to rally    Read more…
• Federal judge OKs Chinese drywall deal   Read more….
• Amendment 4   Read more…
• Rate on 30-year mortgage drops to record 3.89%   Read more…
• FL ranks high among states in lowering unemployment   Read more…
• Housing outlook is more upbeat   Read more…
• Avoid foreclosure with help from HUD-approved agencies   Read more…
• About 1 million homeowners may get mortgage write-downs   Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• 5 insurance mistakes consumers make   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cities With the Highest Rising Home Prices   Read more…
• HUD homes: $100 downpayment in Florida   Read more…
• Developer buyer out Sandoval   Read more…
• Fewer foreclosure homes returned for resale   Read more…
• Army center contract awarded   Read more…
• Lee County building permits held steady in 2011   Read more…
• Cape Coral utilities plans, pans renewed   Read more…
• North Fort Myers’ Marinatown flourishing   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 9 tips to help you save on home staging   Read more…
• 10 ways to improve curb appeal   Read more…

Outdoors:

• Interior Department bans snake import   Read more… 
• Low-income housing goes green   Read more….

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my FACEBOOK page for regular up-to-date reports:

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..

you can own a Spacious home with boating access to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond for just $374,900

BIG! BIG! BIG! and READY TO SELL!! Spacious Gulf Access home!! almost 2700 sf of living space. Heated pool with waterfall and jetted seat. Home features 4 bedrooms, formal living and dining rooms, family room, 3.5 baths. An addition in 2002 is where you’ll find a den/office with a closet, a 2nd family/media/exercise room and 1/2 bath which could be used as an in-law area. This addition features its own air conditioning/heating system. Located in fabulous unit 74 on an oversized lot. Includes a dock and 7,500 pound boat lift at the end of a finger canal. Main a/c system new in 2008. Roof new in 2006. Kitchen remodeled in 2006-2007 and bathrooms recently upgraded, new tile, carpet, paint, etc throughout. Pool and large screened lanai built 2002. Beautifully landscaped with fruit and palm trees. Circular drive allows for ample parking.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here}

______________________________________________________________________

Refacing Your Kitchen Cabinets: The Options and Costs

By: Jan Soults Walker

Published: January 3, 2012

Want to reface your kitchen cabinets? Smart decision. It’s more cost-effective and takes less time than a full remodel. Here are options and costs.

Kitchen cabinet refacing pros

• It’s about half the cost of a total cabinet replacement. You’ll also save the time, cost, and hassle of tearing out your old cabinets.

• It’s a green kitchen remodeling solution because old cabinets stay out of the landfill.

• You can continue to use your kitchen during refacing.

• You’ll give your kitchen a new look in a week or less.

Kitchen cabinet refacing cons

• Pricey options, such as expensive replacement hardware and exotic veneers, can drive up the cost of refacing and reduce savings.

• Refacing materials can’t fix an inefficient layout.

What are your refacing options?

Your choices for the finished look of your cabinets is virtually limitless. Veneers are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, grains, and more, which you can mix or match to get a relatively low-cost kitchen facelift.

• Rigid thermofoil (RTF) doors, which feature a durable plastic coating over fiberboard, are an affordable alternative to wood or laminate doors.

• Plastic laminates come in hundreds of colors and patterns, are durable and moisture-resistant, and are reasonably priced. You can pick matching or contrasting laminates for your doors and drawer fronts.

• Real wood veneers include many standard species, such as oak, cherry, and maple, and you also can choose from an array of stain colors. Wood veneers are the most expensive option. Wood must be carefully sealed to protect against moisture.

Further customize and update the look of your cabinets with new kitchen cabinet hardware.

What does refacing cost?

A professional cabinet refacing for a typical 10-by-12-foot kitchen starts at around $1,000 to $3,000 for laminate. Expect to pay $2,500 to $6,000 for real wood veneer. Costs can rise to $7,000 to $9,000 or more for a large project with high-quality wood veneer.

Finishing the project with new hardware (pulls, knobs, hinges) runs $2 to $4 per piece, up to $20 to $50 each for high-end hardware.

In comparison, completely replacing old kitchen cabinets with new cabinets starts at $4,000 to $5,000 and up for stock cabinets; $8,000 to $10,000 for semi-custom cabinets; $16,000 to $20,000 and up for custom-made cabinetry.

Can my cabinets be refaced?

Refacing is feasible if your existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and in good condition. Cabinets with water damage, warping, and broken frames are poor candidates. Particleboard cabinetry sometimes requires fasteners, in addition to adhesives, to ensure that the veneer is secure.

What’s involved

A professional installer will come to your house to measure your cabinets and determine the amount of veneer required, the correct sizes and quantities for door and drawer fronts, and how much hardware is needed. Newly ordered doors and drawer fronts may take 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.

When all the materials are in hand, your installer removes old cabinet door and drawer fronts, and prepares the surface of the cabinet boxes by washing the exteriors with a degreaser and lightly sanding the finish. Any significant flaws in the surface are repaired or filled to ensure a smooth, secure fit for the new veneer.

The installer applies veneer to the cabinet faces and any exposed cabinet ends, then mounts the new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. The process typically takes 2 to 4 days.

Can I do kitchen cabinet refacing myself?

Detailed instructions and adhesive-backed veneers make cabinet refacing a feasible do-it-yourself project.

If you have extra time, patience, the necessary veneering tools, and a knack for precision, you can save money by tackling kitchen cabinet refacing on your own.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• Florida Housing Market bouncing back   Read more…
• Interactive map shows population changes   Read more….
• Feds outlook turns a little healthier   Read more…
• Settlement reached in Drywall cases   Read more…
• FL ranks high among states in lowering unemployment   Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• How to Homestead you Lee County property   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral’s Iwo Jima statue restored   Read more…
• Planning & Zoning changes to Tarpon Point   Read more…
• Downtown Fort Myers thrives   Read more…
• Builder purchases remaining homesites in Sandoval   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Before and After make overs   Read more…
• Green Living   Read more…
• Improve and Repair   Read more…

Outdoors:

• Interactive map: Florida Panther deaths   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my FACEBOOK page for up-to-date reports:

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  you can own a beautiful buildable homesite with saltwater waterfront and QUICK direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond for just $79,900

DEAL of the Century!!!! Location! Location! Location!!! WATERFRONT Direct Gulf Access lot means NO BRIDGE or other obstacles. This GREAT home site is located in Unit 58…and the SEAWALL is already in!!!! Fantastic Western Exposure will give you the sunsets that you desire… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to anywhere in the world.. Now that’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere in the world. You’ll also love the fact that this lot is close to an 18-hole Championship Golf Course, shopping, restaurants, etc. Come take advantage of the deals while there are still available….

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here}

______________________________________________________________________

7 Tips for Staging Your Home

By: G. M. Filisko

Published: March 19, 2010

Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process.

1. Start with a clean slate

Before you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings.

2. Stow away your clutter

It’s harder for buyers to picture themselves in your home when they’re looking at your family photos, collectibles, and knickknacks. Pack up all your personal decorations. However, don’t make spaces like mantles and coffee and end tables barren. Leave three items of varying heights on each surface, suggests Barb Schwarz of www.StagedHomes.com in Concord, Pa. For example, place a lamp, a small plant, and a book on an end table.

3. Scale back on your furniture

When a room is packed with furniture, it looks smaller, which will make buyers think your home is less valuable than it is. Make sure buyers appreciate the size of each room by removing one or two pieces of furniture. If you have an eat-in dining area, using a small table and chair set makes the area seem bigger.

4. Rethink your furniture placement

Highlight the flow of your rooms by arranging the furniture to guide buyers from one room to another. In each room, create a focal point on the farthest wall from the doorway and arrange the other pieces of furniture in a triangle around the focal point, advises Schwarz. In the bedroom, the bed should be the focal point. In the living room, it may be the fireplace, and your couch and sofa can form the triangle in front of it.

5. Add color to brighten your rooms

Brush on a fresh coat of warm, neutral-color paint in each room. Ask your real estate agent for help choosing the right shade. Then accessorize. Adding a vibrant afghan, throw, or accent pillows for the couch will jazz up a muted living room, as will a healthy plant or a bright vase on your mantle. High-wattage bulbs in your light fixtures will also brighten up rooms and basements.

6. Set the scene

Lay logs in the fireplace, and set your dining room table with dishes and a centerpiece of fresh fruit or flowers. Create other vignettes throughout the home—such as a chess game in progress—to help buyers envision living there. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.

Make your bathrooms feel luxurious by adding a new shower curtain, towels, and fancy guest soaps (after you put all your personal toiletry items are out of sight). Judiciously add subtle potpourri, scented candles, or boil water with a bit of vanilla mixed in. If you have pets, clean bedding frequently and spray an odor remover before each showing.

7. Make the entrance grand

Mow your lawn and trim your hedges, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before showings to make your lawn sparkle. If flowers or plants don’t surround your home’s entrance, add a pot of bright flowers. Top it all off by buying a new doormat and adding a seasonal wreath to your front door.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who occasionally rearranges her furniture to find the best placement—and keep her dog on his toes. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• National Home Market sees a sliver of good news   Read more….
• Settlement reached in Chinese Drywall case   Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• How to Homestead you Lee County property   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral RE-BOUNDING   READ MORE !!!!!!….
• New utility fees voted down   Read more…
• New Council members sworn in   Read more…
• Redistricting for Lee County   Read more…
• Update on Veterans Investment Zone   Read more…
• Resort at Marina Village sold   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Cleaning problems solved   Read more…
• Doable Decorating   Read more…

Outdoors:

• Cape Coral’s Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my FACEBOOK page for up-to-date reports:

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  you can own a beautiful buildable homesite with saltwater waterfront and access to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond for just $68,900

DIRECT ACCESS GULF ACCESS LOT!–NO BRIDGE!!! Location! Location! Location! WEST of Old Burnt Store Rd….BIG WIDE CANAL!!…….FANTASTIC southern exposure keeps the sun on your pool all day…This GREAT home site is located in Unit 82… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to anywhere in the world. Now that’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere in the world. You’ll also love the fact that this lot is less than 2 miles away from an 18-hole Championship Golf Course.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here}

______________________________________________________________________

 What is it like living in Cape Coral?……..

 

 

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• Appliances Energy Star Program   Read more….
• Rental Market is heating up   Read more…
• Feds release final guide for toxic Chinese Drywall  Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• Cape Coral budget approved   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• The inventory of homes for sale has decreased by 39.4%   Read more…
• Cape Coral listed as one of the best places to retire   Read more…
• Cape Coral ranked 2nd safest city in Florida to drive in   Read more…
• Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Fall Guide   Read more…
• Lee County Home Permits rise   Read more…
• Building permits up   Read more…
• What experts say about Lee County housing market   Read more…
• The Iwo Jima Monument in Cape Coral   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• De-clutter the kid’s room   Read more…
• Accent your walls   Read more…
• Secret places to store things   Read more…

Outdoors:

• Anglers reporting mixed results   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my FACEBOOK page for up-to-date reports:

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $24,900  (PRICE REDUCED)

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Cleaning House: Secrets of a Truly Deep Clean

By: Jane Hoback

Published: January 14, 2011

Deep clean your house and you’ll brighten rooms and help maintain your home’s value.

De-bug the light fixtures

See that bug burial ground within your overhead fixtures? Turn off the lights and carefully remove fixture covers, dump out flies and wash with hot soapy water. While you’re up there, dust bulbs. Dry everything thoroughly before replacing the cover.

Vacuum heat vents and registers

Dirt and dust build up in heat vents and along register blades. Vents also are great receptacles for coins and missing buttons. Unscrew vent covers from walls or pluck them from floors, remove foreign objects, and vacuum inside the vent. Clean grates with a damp cloth and screw back tightly.

Polish hardware

To deep clean brass door hinges, handles, and cabinet knobs, thoroughly wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, then polish with Wright’s or Weiman brass cleaner ($4). Dish soap shines up glass or stainless steel knobs. Use a Q-tip to detail the ornamental filigree on knobs and handles.

Replace grungy switch plates

Any amateur can wipe a few fingerprints off cover plates that hide light switches, electric outlets, phone jacks, and cable outlets. But only deep cleaners happily remove plates to vacuum and swipe the gunk behind. (OK, we’re a little OCD when it comes to dirt!) Make sure cover plates are straight when you replace them. And pitch plates that are beyond the help of even deep cleaning. New ones cost less than $2 each.

Neaten weather stripping

Peeling, drooping weather stripping on doors and windows makes rooms look old. If the strip still has some life, nail or glue it back. If it’s hopeless, cut out and replace sections, or just pull the whole thing off and start new. A 10-ft. roll of foam weather stripping costs $8; 16-ft. vinyl costs about $15.

Replace stove drip pans

Some drip pans are beyond the scrub brush. Replacing them costs about $3 each and instantly freshens your stove.

Jane Hoback is a veteran business writer who has written for the Rocky Mountain News, Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, and ColoradoBIZ Magazine.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• Fewer homes for sale, inventories fall sharply   Read more….
• Offshore Investors snapping up Fla real estate   Read more…
• State forecasts property value increases   Read more…
• ForSaleByOwner.com Founder uses Agent to sell home   Read more…
• Fewer foreclosure warnings in July   Read more…
• Good thing with shorter mortgages   Read more…
• Number of short sales on the rise   Read more…
• South Florida’s condo market recovering   Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• Federal Health Insurance available online   Read more…
• Paws for Patriots   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Average Floridan getting younger   Read more…
• Cape’s Convention Center dream gaining popular traction   Read more…
• South Cape business boom   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 10 major Mortgage mistakes to avoid   Read more…
• Biggest decorating mistakes   Read more…
• Tips for small spaces   Read more…

Green News:

• Cape Coral Nature Trails   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $29,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Do-It-Yourself Home Security: Windows May Leave You Vulnerable

By: Joseph D’Agnese

Published: November 12, 2010

Protecting your home from break-ins starts with a do-it-yourself home security check to indicate whether your windows are an open invitation to criminals.

Check ground-floor and basement windows

Ground-floor and basement windows are more likely to be targeted than those on the second floor, and deserve the most attention. The exception is those second-floor windows that can be easily accessed by a deck or other elevated structure outside the home.

Start your home security check by looking at your ground-floor windows from afar. Are they blocked by high shrubbery? Bushes give ideal cover for someone planning to break or force open a window; cut greenery back so that front windows are fully visible from the street.

Keep locks locked

Make sure all windows can be opened, closed, and locked with relative ease—and then remember to keep them locked whenever you’re not around. The biggest problem that occurs with windows is when home owners exit their home and leave windows wide open—and vulnerable.

In spring and fall, when daytime temperatures swing and windows are frequently opened and closed, get in the habit of locking windows as you shut them.

Install simple security devices

Add blocking devices to the most easily accessed windows so they can’t be opened from outside.

• Wooden dowels placed in the track block windows that slide horizontally, and require no installation.

• Steel locking pins (about $7 each), inserted in small holes that must be drilled through the frames, prevent vertically-sliding windows from being opened.

If you install a home security system later, the pros will install glass-break sensors on your most vulnerable windows.

Check garage windows

Garage windows are often forgotten—give them a home security check to make sure they’re securely locked. Install curtains or apply translucent security film on garage windows so that valuables aren’t readily visible. Thieves are more likely to attempt a break-in if they see items worth stealing.

Joseph D’Agnese is a journalist and book author who has written numerous articles on home improvement. He lives in North Carolina.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• Free advice to help owners keep their homes   Read more….
• Florida consumer confidence up   Read more…
• Government in talks to rent out foreclosures   Read more…
• Foreclosure activity down   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Some Cape Coral residents may see decrease in taxes   Read more…
• Florida Insurance cost comparison made easy   Read more…
• Tax exemption for military now available   Read more…
• Tax break on gas prices   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Tax rate to remain the same in proposed budget   Read more…
• Violent Crimes down in Cape Coral   Read more…
• Cape’s first ‘Net Zero’ house   Read more…
• Cape gets dredging permit   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Turned down for a loan?  Find out why   Read more…
• Hurricane Preparation Guide   Read more…
• Family Emergency Plan   Read more…
• 7 smart fertilizer tips   Read more…

Green News:

• Off the beaten track – Cayo Costa and Cabbage Key   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $29,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

7 Hot Home Improvement Trends that Make Your Home Work for You

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon Published: May 13, 2011

Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space.

Trend #1: Maintenance-free siding

We continue to choose maintenance-free siding that lives as long as we do, but with a lot less upkeep. But more and more we’re opting for fiber-cement siding, one of the fastest-growing segments of the siding market. It’s a combination of cement, sand, and cellulosic fibers that looks like wood but won’t rot, combust, or succumb to termites and other wood-boring insects.
At $5 to $9 per sq. ft., installed, fiber-cement siding is more expensive than paint-grade wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding. It returns 80% of investment, the highest return of any upscale project on Remodeling magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value Report.
Maintenance is limited to a cleaning and some caulking each spring. Repaint every 7 to 15 years. Wood requires repainting every 4 to 7 years.

Trend #2: Convertible spaces

Forget “museum rooms” we use twice a year (dining rooms and living rooms) and embrace convertible spaces that change with our whims.
Foldaway walls turn a private study into an easy-flow party space. Walls can consist of fancy, glass panels ($600 to $1,600 per linear ft., depending on the system); or they can be simple vinyl-covered accordions  ($1,230 for 7 ft. by 10 ft.). PortablePartions.com sells walls on wheels ($775 for approximately 7 ft. by 7 ft.).
A Murphy bed pulls down from an armoire-looking wall unit and turns any room into a guest room. Prices, including installation and cabinetry, range from $2,000 (twin with main cabinet) to more than $5,000 (California king with main and side units). Just search online for sellers.
And don’t forget area rugs that easily define, and redefine, open spaces.

Trend #3: A laundry room of your own

Humankind advanced when the laundry room arose from the basement to a louvered closet on the second floor where clothes live. Now, we’re taking another step forward by granting washday a room of its own.
If you’re thinking of remodeling, turn a mudroom or extra bedroom into a dedicated laundry room big enough to house the washer and dryer, hang hand-washables, and store bulk boxes of detergent.
Look for spaces that already have plumbing hookups or are adjacent to rooms with running water to save on plumbing costs.

Trend #4: Souped-up kitchens

Although houses are trending smaller, kitchens are getting bigger, according to the American Institute of Architects’ Home Design Trends Survey.
Kitchen remodels open the space, perhaps incorporating lonely dining rooms, and feature recycling centers, large pantries, and recharging stations.
Oversized and high-priced commercial appliances—did we ever fire up six burners at once?—are yielding to family-sized, mid-range models that recover at least one cabinet for storage.
Since the entire family now helps prepare dinner (in your dreams), double prep sinks have evolved into dual-prep islands with lots of counter space and pull-out drawers.

Trend #5: Energy diets

We’re wrestling with an energy disorder: We’re binging on electronics—cell phones, iPads, Blackberries, laptops–then crash dieting by installing LED fixtures and turning the thermostat to 68 degrees.
Are we ahead of the energy game? Only the energy monitors and meters know for sure.
These new tracking devices can gauge electricity usage of individual electronics ($20 to $30) or monitor whole house energy ($100 to $250). The TED 5000 Energy Monitor ($240) supplies real-time feedback that you can view remotely and graph by the second, minute, hour, day, and month.

Trend #6: Love that storage

As we bow to the new god of declutter, storage has become the holy grail.We’re not talking about more baskets we can trip over in the night; we’re imagining and discovering built-in storage in unlikely spaces–under stairs, over doors, beneath floors.
Under-appreciated nooks that once displayed antique desks are growing into built-ins for books and collections. Slap on some doors, and you can hide office supplies and buckets of Legos.
Giant master suites, with floor space to land a 747, are being divided to conquer clutter with more walk-in closets.

Trend #7: Home offices come out of the closet

Flexible work schedules, mobile communications, and entrepreneurial zeal are relocating us from the office downtown to home.
Laptops and wireless connections let us telecommute from anywhere in the house, but we still want a dedicated space (preferably with a door) for files, supplies, and printers.
Spare bedrooms are becoming home offices and family room niches are morphing into working nooks. After a weekend of de-cluttering, basements and attics are reborn as work centers.

Lisa Kaplan Gordon is a HouseLogic contributor and homebuilder.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, plea

State and National News:

• 75% of Americans support homeownership   Read more….
• Couple tells bank:  ‘We’ll Foreclose on you’   Read more…
• Demand for rentals increases   Read more…
• Property as a Graduation Gift, Investment   Read more…
• Decline in South Florida homes for sale giving Sellers an edge   Read more…
• All-Cash Buyers scooping up homes   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• If disaster strikes, will your insurance come through?   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral top pick for International Buyers   Read more…
• 7 Cities where home prices are rising   Read more…
• Cape Canal hearing rejected   Read more…
• DEP dismisses Lee County’s petition for hearing on North Spreader Canal  Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Sell your home with aromatherapy   Read more…
• 10 Earth-Friendly kitchen counters   Read more…

Green News:

• Turtles hurry here   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $29,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

State and National News:

• Fixed mortgage rates touch new low for 2011   Read more….
• Seven Deadly Credit Score Sins   Read more…
• More Americans flock to the South, West   Read more…
• Rising Rents   Read more…
• Survey: Americans still optimistic about houseing   Read more…
• 7 Great Places to retire   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Property Tax Break for Active Duty Military   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral 2nd safest city in Florida   Read more…
• 5 markets ripe for appreciation  Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 30 quick fixes and tips for everyday home problems   Read more…
• Lessons from a Home Inspector   Read more…
• May home-maintenance checklist   Read more…

Green News:

• Beaches   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $39,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

State and National News:

• Fixed mortgage rates touch new low for 2011   Read more….
• Seven Deadly Credit Score Sins   Read more…
• More Americans flock to the South, West   Read more…
• Rising Rents   Read more…
• Survey: Americans still optimistic about houseing   Read more…
• 7 Great Places to retire   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Property Tax Break for Active Duty Military   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral 2nd safest city in Florida   Read more…
• 5 markets ripe for appreciation  Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 30 quick fixes and tips for everyday home problems   Read more…
• Lessons from a Home Inspector   Read more…
• May home-maintenance checklist   Read more…

Green News:

• Beaches   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $39,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

State and National News:

• Buying a Short Sale   Read more….
• Housing Affordability Reaches 20 year high   Read more…
• Banks want higher down payments   Read more…
• Florida’s real estate outlook perks up   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Home Ownership offers plenty of Tax Benefits   Read more…
• Some procedures changing for taxpayers this season   Read more….

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Sneak peek at Burnt Store Road widening project   (Drop me an email at deb@CapeDeb.com and I will forward plan to you)
• Residential Permits are up   Read more…
• Red Sox’s Spring Training Dreams   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Showing tips for Sellers   Read more…
• Get a jump on Spring Cleaning   Read more…
• 24 Cleaning Problems – Solved   Read more…
• How to fix cracks in concrete   Read more…

Green News:

• State Senator wants to get rid of Florida Fishing Licenses   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..

BACK ON THE MAREKT….HOT PROPERTY!!!  only $239,000

3 bedroom/3  Bath Pool WATERFRONT home with over 1900 sq feet of living area…

Fabulous Basin View, Access to the Gulf of Mexico,   and much more!!!

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

1. Will remodeling make your home better than everyone else’s?  To make the right move-or-remodel decision, you have to know: 

• Your home’s value. Easy. Just ask a REALTOR® to estimate it and tell you how it compares with the value of the other homes in your immediate neighborhood. Ask her what she thinks your house will be worth after the improvements, too.

• Your neighbors’ home value. Hit some open houses. Seeing the inside of area homes will inspire you; help you make good choices about finishes, room sizes, and how much to spend; and, admit it, entertain you.

• Your remodeling costs. Once you’ve got your renovation vision, get a quote from a home improvement contractor or, if you’re remodeling it yourself, tally the costs of the items on your supplies shopping list.

Then add the remodeling costs to the value of your home. If the number you get is more than 10% above the average value of homes in your neighborhood, you’re over-improving and probably won’t be able to sell for what you put into the remodel.

Here’s why: No one wants to buy the most expensive home on the block (your home) if they can spend the same money to get a similar home on a block of higher-priced homes. Would you pay $200,000 to live on a block where all the other homes are valued at $100,000? We hope not.

Make home improvements that are typical for the neighborhood. Don’t put granite countertops in a trailer, and don’t put laminate countertops in a Trump Tower condo. Your tour of open houses gives you a chance to verify that your planned remodel isn’t an over- or under-improvement for the neighborhood.

2. Do you love where you live?

Want to keep your kids in the same school district, but can’t find or afford a bigger, better house? Love the neighbors? Have an easy commute to work? Stay put. If you’ve soured on the traffic, the neighborhood’s crime rate, or the nosy neighbors, move on.

3. Do you have room to expand?

If your remodeling plans include increasing the overall size of your home, the size of your lot may be the deciding factor in whether to move or remodel. If you live in a 1,500 sq. ft. ranch on a 3,000 sq. ft. lot, you might be able to add a second story to turn it into a 3,000 sq. ft. two-story, but you’re not likely to add 1,500 sq. ft. at ground level. And if you have a septic tank and well, the location of those will limit how and where you add onto your home (or cost you a bundle to move).4. Can you afford to move?

Consider these moving costs: sale costs for your existing home, shipping your household goods, buying window treatments and possibly furniture for the new house, costs to fix up your existing home before sale, higher utility costs (if your next house is bigger), insurance cost differences, and property taxes.

  
More from HouseLogic
Q&A: Author Sarah Susanka Talks Budget-Smart Remodeling
Should You Move or Improve?
Other web resources
Find your local remodelers 
Average project cost 
Dona DeZube, HouseLogic’s news editor, moved across the same street twice when she remodeled two houses in Columbia, Maryland,
before she moved to a house in Clarksville, Maryland.

She remodeled that house and then moved back to the same street in Columbia.
She despises moving, but her husband loves remodeling.

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click

State and National News:

• Default? Banks can go after other assets   Read more….
• Septic Inspections unofficially on hold   Read more…
• ‘Secret’ way to lower mortgage payments   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• ‘Save our Homes’ Recapture Rule   Read more…
• Low-tax States lure new residents   Read more….

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• History of the NW Spreader Barrier (Boatlift)   Boatlift Barrier History
• NW Spreader Electronic Petition    Read more…
• NW Spreader Boatlift and the Ecosystem    Read more…
• file for your HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION before March 1st!!!!   Read more…
• Stronger housing market seen in 2011  Read more…
• Cape housing market thriving   Read more…
• Crime dipped 10% in 2010   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Showing tips for Sellers   Read more…
• Three budget-friendly decorating tips   Read more…
• Six landscaping tips that Wow Buyers   Read more…
• Cost vs. Value of remodeling projects   Read more…

Green News:

• Easiest ways to green your home   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

3 bedroom/2 Bath Pool Home with BIG pool deck

WATERFRONT, Fabulous Basin View, Access to the Gulf of Mexico,   and much more!!!

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Published: August 28, 2009

Your home is probably your biggest investment. To manage it, create a financial plan that takes into account repairs, upgrades, mortgages, insurance, and taxes.

• Mortgage
• Taxes
• Home insurance, including liability
• Repairs and maintenance, such as new furnace, roof, painting
• Voluntary upgrades, such as a swimming pool, a premium range, a new powder room

What will you learn from this home financial plan weekend exercise?

• How much you have to spend
• How much you need to allot in the short- and long-term for necessary maintenance and voluntary improvements

With this newfound grip on your home’s expenses, you can create a home financial plan that’ll help you there for years with maximum enjoyment and minimum anxiety.

The mortgage: Pay it—and then some

Run the numbers yourself for your home financial plan.

Advantages of an early payoff, says Alan D. Kahn, a financial planner in Syosset, N.Y.:

• Less debt means more money to spend later.
• It feels darn good to own your house outright as soon as possible.
• Minimal tax loss. Toward the tail end of the life of a loan most of your payment goes to the principal, not the interest, so you’re getting only a small tax break anyway.

• A retirement plan
• An account for the inevitable home repairs
• An account for discretionary improvements, which can raise your home’s value

Insurance: Protect your property

Your vegetable garden is pointless without a fence to keep out rabbits; likewise, your home financial plan will come to nothing without an insurance “fence”:

Homeowner’s insurance. Basic coverage for your home and everything in it. The average cost is $636 per year but this varies widely by state. Liability coverage. Protects you from a lawsuit if someone gets hurt on your property, for example. Your best bet: An umbrella policy.  For about $300 a year you can by a typical $1 million policy. Various disaster insurance policies. Optional policies cover flood, earthquake, and hurricane damage. As part of your home financial plan, you have to research to see what disaster coverage, if any, you need in your area, and what your standard policy already covers. For $540 a year you can buy flood insurance, for example.

Don’t under- or overbuy insurance

For your basic policy, get homeowners insurance with full replacement coverage in case your house burns to the ground.

That sounds simple, but heads up on calculation. Remember that you own a house as well as the land on which it sits. So even though you bought your home for $300,000, it may cost only $100,000 to rebuild it. Your policy limits should reflect this. This difference will vary widely by region.

Another heads up: Don’t make the common and potentially disastrous mistake of thinking that because your home has fallen in value you need less insurance. If you bought a $1.2 million townhouse in Florida during the boom, it’s true it now may only sell for $600,000. But the replacement cost of the townhouse hasn’t changed much, so you can’t improve your home financial plan by cutting insurance costs that way.

Other ways to cut your insurance budget:

• If you make structural improvements, such as adding storm shutters, your insurer may give you a break.
• If you belong to certain groups, such as AARP or veterans’ organizations, your premiums may be lower.

Repairs and renovations: By choice or necessity

To help you budget:

Start with the inspection report you received when you bought the house. Did the inspector indicate that you would need a new roof in five years? A new furnace in 10?

Keep a log of your major appliances’ age so you can estimate when they’ll need replacing. Some estimated life spans:

• Roof: 20-25 years
• Heating systems: 15-20 years
• Range/ovens: 11-15 years
• Water heaters: 8- 13 years

Then get estimates on what replacements will cost and start saving.

Consider ongoing non-emergency maintenance, too. Do you live in New England? Price a snow blower and get bids from plow services.

Resist the siren call of the home equity loan to take care of everything. That just defeats your efforts to pay off the mortgage early.

Separate out what you want from what you need. A $50,000 kitchen remodel is nice, but you’ll recoup only 76% of the project cost your home’s resale, according to Remodeling magazine.

If you can afford to redo, go for it. Just don’t confuse your necessary repairs (new oil furnace—about $4,000) with your discretionary upgrades (Viking range—$6,000 and up).

Taxes: (Almost) no way around them

Or if your lender handles escrow and you haven’t saved your bills, ask for an accounting. The median annual property tax payment is $2,198, but that hides the enormous range in medians from state to state:

• New Jersey: $6,320
• New York: $3,622
• California: $2,829
• Alabama: $383
• Louisiana: $188

You can generally deduct property taxes on your federal return. A tax pro can tell you how much of a tax break you’ll get, to help you fine tune your home financial plan.

You may be able to reduce your tax burden by getting a reassessment. Do your homework first: Are comparable houses taxed less than yours? Ask the local assessor what formula is used to set tax rates. You can challenge the assessed value and get yourself a rollback.

If you’re in a special group, you might get some help from state or local programs. Check around to see what’s available in your area. New York State, for example, has its Star Program for giving senior citizens some relief from school-related property taxes.

Richard J. Koreto is a managing editor of finance, taxes, and insurance at HouseLogic. He has been editor of several professional financial magazines and is the author of “Run It Like a Business,” a practice management book for financial planners. He and his wife own a pre-Civil War house in Rockland County, N.Y.

——————————————————————————————————————————————– 

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click

State and National News:

• Mortgage rates fall to fresh low   Read more….
• Florida job growth expected to rise next year   Read more…
• Promising signs that growth will continue   Read more…
• Lee County looks at cutting fees   Read more…
• Florida condo sales up   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Florida Tax Guide   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Christmas in Florida   Read more….
• Gateway project makes comeback   Read more…
• Downtown Fort Myers’ project launced again   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Christmas Decorations Dos   Read more…
• Tips for hanging Christmas lights   Read more…
• Getting your house ready for Winter   Read more…

Green News:

• First Fruits sprout   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Own a piece of Paradise…..

This WATERFRONT Homesite offers boating access to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond for only $49,900…..

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Published: August 24, 2010

When your house no longer suits you, you can move or remodel. Find out which big change is the right investment of your housing dollars. Just about everything else—remodeling costs, the hassle of living in a construction zone, or the ability to live happily without one more bathroom–is a personal preference. After all, your home isn’t just your largest investment; it’s also the place where your family lives.

1. Will remodeling make your home better than everyone else’s?

To make the right move-or-remodel decision, you have to know:

• Your home’s value. Easy. Just ask a REALTOR® to estimate it and tell you how it compares with the value of the other homes in your immediate neighborhood. Ask her what she thinks your house will be worth after the improvements, too.

• Your neighbors’ home value. Hit some open houses. Seeing the inside of area homes will inspire you; help you make good choices about finishes, room sizes, and how much to spend; and, admit it, entertain you.

• Your remodeling costs. Once you’ve got your renovation vision, get a quote from a home improvement contractor or, if you’re remodeling it yourself, tally the costs of the items on your supplies shopping list.

Then add the remodeling costs to the value of your home. If the number you get is more than 10% above the average value of homes in your neighborhood, you’re over-improving and probably won’t be able to sell for what you put into the remodel.

Here’s why: No one wants to buy the most expensive home on the block (your home) if they can spend the same money to get a similar home on a block of higher-priced homes. Would you pay $200,000 to live on a block where all the other homes are valued at $100,000? We hope not.

Make home improvements that are typical for the neighborhood. Don’t put granite countertops in a trailer, and don’t put laminate countertops in a Trump Tower condo. Your tour of open houses gives you a chance to verify that your planned remodel isn’t an over- or under-improvement for the neighborhood.

2. Do you love where you live?

Want to keep your kids in the same school district, but can’t find or afford a bigger, better house? Love the neighbors? Have an easy commute to work? Stay put. If you’ve soured on the traffic, the neighborhood’s crime rate, or the nosy neighbors, move on.

3. Do you have room to expand?

If your remodeling plans include increasing the overall size of your home, the size of your lot may be the deciding factor in whether to move or remodel. If you live in a 1,500 sq. ft. ranch on a 3,000 sq. ft. lot, you might be able to add a second story to turn it into a 3,000 sq. ft. two-story, but you’re not likely to add 1,500 sq. ft. at ground level. And if you have a septic tank and well, the location of those will limit how and where you add onto your home (or cost you a bundle to move).

4. Can you afford to move?

Consider these moving costs: sale costs for your existing home, shipping your household goods, buying window treatments and possibly furniture for the new house, costs to fix up your existing home before sale, higher utility costs (if your next house is bigger), insurance cost differences, and property taxes.

——————————————————————————————————————————————– 

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click

State and National News:

• Where do people want to live   Read more….
• Major settlement in Drywall Litigation   Read more…
• Banks resume foreclosures   Read more…
• 5 Traits of today’s Home Buyer’s   Read more…
• Smaller homes to remain popular   Read more…
• States with the highest and lowest Property taxes   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• National Flood Insurance extended to 2011   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Fall 2010 Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Guide   Read more…
• Lee County foreclosures down   Read more…
• Classes enlighten local homebuyers   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Dos and Don’ts for Sellers and Buyers   Read more…
• 10 Reason to Buy a Home   Read more…
• Budget makeover ideas   Read more…
• How to organize your linen closet   Read more…

Green News:

• Fighting Conchs stump scientists   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Beautiful Affordable home in Paradise!!!!!!  PRICED AT $52,000

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

5 Tips for buying a Foreclosure

Published: March 29, 2010

Get prequalified for a loan and set aside funds, and you’ll be ready to purchase a foreclosed home.

1. Choose a foreclosure sale expert. Lenders rarely sell their own foreclosures directly to consumers. They list them with real estate brokers. You can work with a real estate agent who sells foreclosed homes for lenders, or have a buyer’s agent find foreclosure properties for you. To locate a foreclosure sales specialist, call local brokers and ask if they are the listing agent for any banks.

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

State and National News:

• Facing foreclosure? Find options   Read more….
• Air Conditioner Rebate starts 8/30   Read more…
• U.S. Census Bureau releases info on nation’s housing  Read more…
• Economic confidence ticks up   Read more…
• Florida population grows again   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Amendment 3 off November Ballot   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• New ideas for downtown Cape Coral   Read more…
• New playground hinges on grant   Read more…
• Cape to consider Spreader pact   Read more…
• Cape Coral may be an Army Reserve Center   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Hurdles for home financing   Read more…
• What will it cost to maintain that home?   Read more…
• Makeovers - Before and After   Read more…
• Kitchen Offices   Read more…

Green News:

• Florida Panther   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Gulf Access Lot….PRICED at $99,000!!!!!!

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

The Value of Home Maintenance

By: John Riha Published: March 9, 2010

Regular home maintenance is key to preserving the value of your house and property.
If you think home maintenance is an unavoidable series of weekend-eating chores, remember the age-old advice of Benjamin Franklin: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The fact is, proactive maintenance is essential to preserving the value of your home—without it, your home could lose 10% of its value. Regular, routine maintenance enhances curb appeal, ensures safety, and prevents neglected upkeep from turning into costly major repairs.

“It’s the little things that tend to trip up people,” says Frank Lesh, former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors and owner of Home Sweet Home Inspection Co. in Chicago. “Some cracked caulk around the windows, or maybe a furnace filter that hasn’t been changed in awhile. It may not seem like much, but behind that caulk, water could get into your sheathing, causing mold and rot. Before you know it, you’re looking at a $5,000 repair that could have been prevented by a $4 tube of caulk and a half hour of your time.”

Maintenance affects property value

Outright damage to your house is just one of the consequences of neglected maintenance. Without regular upkeep, overall property values are affected.

“If a house is in worn condition and shows a lack of preventative maintenance, the property could easily lose 10% of its appraised value,” says Mack Strickland, a professional appraiser and real estate agent in Chester, Va. “That could translate into a $15,000 or $20,000 adjustment.”

In addition, a house with chipped, fading paint, sagging gutters, and worn carpeting faces an uphill battle when it comes time to sell. Not only is it at a disadvantage in comparison with other similar homes that might be for sale in the neighborhood, but a shaggy appearance is bound to turn off prospective buyers and depress the selling price.

“It’s simple marketing principles,” says Strickland. “First impressions mean a lot to price support.”

Prolonging economic age

To a professional appraiser, diligent maintenance doesn’t translate into higher property valuations the way that improvements, upgrades, and appreciation all increase a home’s worth. But good maintenance does affect an appraiser’s estimate of a property’s economic age—the number of years that a house is expected to survive.

Economic age is a key factor in helping appraisers determine depreciation—the rate at which a house is losing value. A well-maintained house with a long, healthy economic age depreciates at a much slower rate than a poorly maintained house, helping to preserve value.

Estimating the value of maintenance

Although professional appraisers don’t assign a positive value to home maintenance, there are indications that maintenance is not just about preventing little problems from becoming larger. A study by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University suggests that maintenance actually increases the value of a house by about 1% each year, meaning that getting off the couch and heading outside with a caulking gun is more than simply a chore—it actually makes money.

“It’s like going to the gym,” says Dr. John P. Harding, Professor of Finance & Real Estate at UConn’s School of Business and an author of the study. “You have to put in the effort to see the results. In that respect, people and houses are somewhat similar—the older (they are), the more work is needed.”

Harding notes that the 1% gain in valuation usually is offset by the ongoing cost of maintenance. “Simply put,” he says, “maintenance costs money, so it’s probably best to say that the net effect of regular maintenance is to slow the rate of depreciation.”

How much does maintenance cost?

How much money is required for annual maintenance varies. Some years, routine tasks, such as cleaning gutters and changing furnace filters, are all that’s needed, and your total expenditures may be a few hundred dollars. Other years may include major replacements, such as a new roof, at a cost of $10,000 or more.

Over time, annual maintenance costs average more than $3,300, according to data from the U.S. Census. Various lending institutions, such as Directors Credit Union and LendingTree.com, agree, placing maintenance costs at 1% to 3% of initial house price. That means owners of a $200,000 house should plan to budget $2,000 to $6,000 per year for ongoing upkeep and replacements.

Proactive maintenance strategies

Knowing these average costs can help homeowners be prepared, says Melanie McLane, a professional appraiser and real estate agent in Williamsport, Pa. “It’s called reserve for replacements,” says McLane. “Commercial real estate investors use it to make sure they have enough cash on hand for replacing systems and materials.”

McLane suggests a similar strategy for homeowners, setting aside a cash reserve that’s used strictly for home repair and maintenance. That way, routine upkeep is a snap and any significant replacements won’t blindside the family budget. McLane’s other strategies include:

Play offense, not defense. Proactive maintenance is key to preventing small problems from becoming big issues. Take the initiative with regular inspections. Create and faithfully follow a maintenance schedule. If you’re unsure of what needs to be done, a $200 to $300 visit from a professional inspector can be invaluable in pointing out quick fixes and potential problems.

Plan a room-per-year redo.“Pick a different room every year and go through it, fixing and improving as you go,” says McLane. “That helps keep maintenance fun and interesting.”

Keep track.“Having a notebook of all your maintenance and upgrades, along with receipts, is a powerful tool when it comes to sell your home,” advises McLane. “It gets rid of any doubts for the buyer, and it says you are a meticulous, caring homeowner.” A maintenance record also proves repairs and replacements for systems, such as wiring and plumbing, which might not be readily apparent.

John Riha has written six books on home improvement and hundreds of articles on home-related topics. He’s been a residential builder, the editorial director of the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library, and the executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. His standard 1968 suburban house has been an ongoing source of maintenance experience.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/value-home-maintenance/#ixzz0zKQBI6vHVisit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

 

State and National News:

• Mortgage rates hit another record low, 4.44%   Read more….
• The worst is over, come conclude   Read more…
• Economic forecast paints brighter picture   Read more…
• Florida homes and condo sales up   Read more…
• Capping of well brightens economic outlook for Florida   Read more…
• Canadians told it’s time to buy a US home   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Vacant Homes–Insurance coverage changes   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral Parks and Recreations Fall Guide   Read more…
• New Trash bin distribution   Read more…
• For South Florida market, a hopeful sign   Read more…
• Pine Island Road widening comes down to money   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 5 surprise reasons to buy a home now   Read more…
• Tips on how to grow grass   Read more…
• Garbage Disposal troubleshooting   Read more…
• Inspecting Roof condition   Read more…

Green News:

• Cape Coral nature trails   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

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This month’s feature…..

Gulf Access….Basin View!…..PRICED at $239,000!!!!!!

(click picture for more info)

-Pool Home

-Two Master Suites and more….

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home

State and National News:

• Mortgage rates drop to another low, 4.58%   Read more….
• Big changes to condo laws take effect    Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Tax credit extension passes   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• 1st Quator 2010 Local Market Report   Read more…
• New model: SWFL has less than one percent chance of getting oil   Read more…
• City issues more single-family home permits   Read more…
• Lee County Community Gardens   Read more…
• 2010 Summer Cape Coral Parks and Recreations Guide   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Beach style for your home   Read more…
• Organize your Garage   Read more…
• 4 cheap cleaners that work   Read more…
• Before and After Basements   Read more…
• What to look for in an outdoor kitchen   Read more…

Green News:

• Frequently asked questions in Cape Coral  Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Rose Garden Villa Condo….

(click picture for more info)

-High ceilings, Bright Corner Unit

-one of Cape Coral’s best kept secrets

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

10 Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen…..

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Douglas Trattner

Published: August 28, 2009

Spending less money on utility bills doesn’t mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances—up to about $120 annually—without sacrificing convenience.

Refrigerator/freezer

Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that definitely includes the fridge. Because it cycles on and off all day, every day, the refrigerator consumes more electricity than nearly every appliance in the home save for the HVAC systems. The average refrigerator costs about $90 per year to operate, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The good news is that a few simple adjustments can trim roughly $38 to $45 off those utility bills.

1. Adjust the thermostat. By setting the thermostat colder than it needs to be, you might increase your fridge’s energy consumption by as much as 25% on average. Adjust the refrigerator so that it stays in the 37-40 degrees F range. For the freezer, shoot for between 0-5 degrees F. You could save up to $22 per year. If your model doesn’t display the current temps, invest in two appliance thermometers (one for the fridge, one for the freezer). They cost roughly $3-$20 apiece at online retailers.

2. Clean the coils. As dust accumulates on the condenser coils on the rear or bottom of the fridge, it restricts cool-air flow and forces the unit to work harder and longer than necessary. Every six months, vacuum away the dust that accumulates on the mechanism. Also, check to see that there is at least a 3-inch clearance at the rear of the fridge for proper ventilation. This routine maintenance can trim up to 5% off the unit’s operating cost, says energy savings expert Michael Bluejay, saving you about $4.50 a year.

3. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers are a nice convenience, to be sure, but it turns out the mechanisms are energy hogs. An automatic ice maker can increase a refrigerator’s energy consumption by 14% to 20%, according to Energy Star. By switching off the ice maker and using trays, you can save about $12 to $18 off your annual electricity bill. Most units require little more than a lift of the sensor arm to switch them off. To reclaim the space remove the entire unit, a simple DIY job on many models.

4. Unplug the “beer fridge.” Many homes have an extra fridge that runs year round even though it’s used sparingly. Worse, these fridges tend to be older, more inefficient models. By consolidating the contents to the main fridge and unplugging the additional unit, you eliminate the entire operating cost of a fridge. The second-best solution is to make sure the extra fridge remains three-quarters full at all times. The mass helps maintain steady internal temps and lets the fridge recover more quickly after the door is opened and closed, according to the California Energy Commission.

Ovens and ranges

“Green” cooking all comes down to proper time and space management. By using gas and electric stoves more effectively, you can painlessly save a few dollars a year.

5. Cut the power early. As anybody who’s ever bumped a burner on an electric stove can attest, those heating elements stay hot long after they’ve been switched off. Put that residual heat to work by shutting off the burner several minutes before the end of the cook time. The same technique can be applied to the oven. The savings can add up to a couple bucks every month.

6. Match the burner to pan. When a small pan is placed on a big burner you can practically see the money disappearing into thin air. By matching the burner to the pan, electricity won’t be squandered heating the kitchen rather than the food. The reverse is true, too. A small burner will take considerably longer to heat a large pan than would an appropriately sized burner. For gas stoves, don’t let the flames lick the sides of the pot. Follow these tips and watch the utility bills shrink by a few dollars a month.

7. Do away with preheating. You can save about $2 a month by not preheating your oven (20 cents per hour to operate electric oven; eliminate 20 30-minute preheats a month). Many cooks agree that the practice is wholly unnecessary for all but a few recipes, namely baking breads and cakes. This approach may add a few minutes to the overall cooking time, but it eliminates all that wait time on the front end.

Dishwasher

As with washing machines, most of a dishwasher’s energy needs go to heating the water. Still, says Lane Burt, an energy policy analyst with The Natural Resources Defense Council, a 10-year-old dishwasher can be made nearly as efficient as a newer model simply by knowing when and how to run it. Follow a few simple tips, and you can reduce your annual utility costs by roughly $35-$54.

8. Manage the load. Most dishwashers use the same amount of water and energy whether they’re run full or half-full. You can cut your operating costs by one-third or one-half by running the machine only when it’s full. It costs about $54 to run a pre-2000 model dishwasher per year, based on government data. Proper load management can save up to $27 each year.

9. Activate energy-saving features. A dishwasher’s heated dry cycle can add 15% to 50% to the appliance’s operating cost. Most machines allow the feature to be switched off (or not turned on), which can save $8-$27 per year, assuming an operating cost of $54 annually. If your dishwasher doesn’t have that flexibility, simply turn the appliance off after the final rinse and open the door.

10.  Use the machine. Many homeowners believe they can save water and energy by hand washing dishes. The truth is that a dishwasher requires less than one-third the water it would take to do those same dishes in the sink. By running the machine (when full), you can cut down the operating time of the hot water heater, your home’s largest energy hog. Not only will you save a buck per month, you won’t have to do the dishes.

Douglas Trattner has covered household appliances and home improvement for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During the 10-year stewardship of his 1925 Colonial, he’s upgraded almost every household appliance. After lengthy deliberation, he recently replaced an aging top-load washing machine with an energy-efficient front-load unit

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

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State and National News:

• Foreclosures down from last year   Read more….
• CPSC identifies manufacturers of problem drywall   Read more…
• Mortgage rates sink to lowest level this year   Read more…
• America’s Top Places for 2010   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Tax credit extended for Armed Forces   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• New Production Plant in Cape Coral begins pumping water   Read more…
• Median Home Prices raise in Lee County   Read more…
• Cape Coral nixes San Souci Bay project   Read more…
• Cape Coral BMX   Read more…
• Incentives help Cape Coral commercial real estate   Read more…
• Cape Coral owners responsible for foreclosures   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Outdoor Room Design ideas   Read more…
• Hottest new paint colors   Read more…
• Quick Fixes   Read more…
• How to fix a screen   Read more…

Green News:

• Free mulch   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Waterfront Pool Home! $199,000

(click picture for more info)

-High ceilings and French doors

-one of Cape Coral’s most extensive freshwater canal-ways

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

LAWN MAINTENACE CALENDAR…..

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Douglas Trattner
Published: February 04, 2010

Regular lawn maintenance gives your home maximum curb appeal and preserves the value of your property.

A healthy, well-maintained lawn is more than just good-looking-it’s a key to preserving the value of your home. Regular lawn maintenance enhances curb appeal, making your home-and neighborhood-attractive to passersby and potential buyers.

According to Su Chi Straka-Phillis, a residential real estate appraiser with Central Appraisal Services of Parma, Ohio, a well-kept lawn preserves a home’s value.

Put off routine maintenance, and you risk devaluing your home. In fact, an unkempt lawn can be a warning sign to buyers of other potential home maintenance issues, explains Cecilia Sherrard, a real estate agent in Rocky River, Ohio. “The outside of the home is the first thing people see, and if it’s not properly maintained, many will not be interested in scheduling a showing to see the inside.”

Know your grass type

There are two main types of lawn grass: cool-season and warm-season. Homeowners living in the Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest should grow cool-season grasses. As depicted on the Plant Heat-Zone Map (http://www.ahs.org/publications/heat_zone_map.htm) provided by the American Horticultural Society, the regions for cool-season grasses are approximately zones 1 through 7.

Cool-season grasses do most of their growing in spring and fall, often going dormant in the summer. Cool-season grasses include bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and St. Augustine grass.

Those living in the Southeast and Southwest (zones 8 through 12) will generally have warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses thrive from late spring to early fall and go dormant in the winter. Varieties include tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass.

If you’re unsure which zone applies to you, check your state extension service (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/).

Mowing

Grass type: All
Maintenance schedule: Spring to fall

“The taller the grass, the deeper the roots, the fewer the weeds, and the more moisture the soil holds between watering,” explains Richard Hentschel of the University of Illinois Extension (http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/index.html). Hentschel recommends the mower blade height be permanently set to 3 inches.

In prime growing season (spring and fall for cool-season; summer for warm), homeowners should mow frequently enough so they’re removing no more than one-third of the grass blade. If possible, resist the urge to mow the grass when wet, as the practice can spread diseases that affect lawns.

Mower blades should be sharpened monthly to ensure clean, sharp cuts. A dull blade tears the grass, leaving jagged edges that discolor the lawn and invite pathogens. Consider spending about $20 for a backup blade so that a sharp one is always on hand.

Watering

Grass type: All
Maintenance schedule: Spring to fall

Deep and infrequent watering is better for lawns than frequent sprinkles, which promote shallow root growth, says Hentschel. In general, lawns need about one inch of water per week to maintain green color and active growth.

Lawns that receive less than that will likely go into dormancy. To stay alive, dormant lawns should still receive at least 1 inch of water per month.

To check the output of a sprinkler, scatter some pie tins around the yard to see how much water collects in a specific length of time. Having a rain gauge ($5 to $20) will help you keep track of how much water the lawn receives naturally. Allowing a cool-season lawn to go dormant in the summer can save hundreds of gallons of water, depending on the size of your lawn.

Feeding

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Early fall

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Late spring

“It used to be common to fertilize a lawn three or four times per year,” says Hentschel. “Now we suggest just once a year when it will do the most good.” For cool-season grasses, that time is early fall, so the grass enters winter dormancy in a much healthier state.

For warm-season grasses, the best time to fertilize is late spring, just as the grass begins its most active growth. For best results, closely follow the application directions on the product. Cost is around $50 to $75 per application.

People interested in organic fertilizers have never had an easier time finding them at local garden centers. Homeowners who mow regularly with mulching mowers are encouraged to leave the clippings on the ground, where they’ll decompose and recycle nutrients into the soil.

Weed-control herbicide application

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Fall

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Late winter

Homeowners should embrace the idea that an occasional weed is OK, says Hentschel. For minor weed invasions, removal by hand of the entire plant and roots is recommended. When the situation becomes impossible to contain by hand, it might be necessary to apply an herbicide.

For cool-season grasses, the best time to apply a weed killer is in fall, when both old and new weeds can be eliminated before winter. Warm-season grasses often benefit from a late-winter application of a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds from growing.

In place of weed and feed products, which are spread over the entire lawn, Hentschel prefers liquid-based herbicides that are applied only where needed. It’s imperative to read and follow all directions on herbicide labels. Cost is around $15 to $45 per application.

Grub control

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Early summer

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Late summer

Grub worms, the larval stage of June, Japanese, and other beetles, feed on the tender root systems of lawns. Affected lawns exhibit browning and wilting patches.

To be certain that the culprits are grubs, Hentschel suggests that homeowners pull back the sod and look for white, C-shaped grubs. If they’re present at a rate exceeding 10 per square foot, they should be treated with a chemical pesticide.

Milky spore is an environmentally friendly way to control some species of grubs. When using insecticides, read and follow all label directions and water the product into the soil immediately. Cost is around $50 to $75 per application.

Patching

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Early fall

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Early summer

The best time to patch bare or thin spots in a lawn is at the start of the grass’s most favorable growing period. For cool-season grasses that means waiting until the hot, dry days of summer have given way to cooler fall temps.

Warm-season grasses thrive in summer, so it’s best to sow seeds at the start of that season. Hentschel says to buy only high quality disease-resistant seed with good germination rates, which by law have to be listed on the label. Cost is anywhere from $20 to $75, depending on the size of the areas to be patched.

Cleanup

Grass type: All
Maintenance schedule: Spring to fall

Although small particles of grass are fine to leave on the lawn, large piles that exit a side-discharge mower should be removed. Fallen leaves, twigs, and debris should be raked up regularly. In climates where it snows, it’s best to remove fall leaves before winter. A thick layer of wet leaves can smother a lawn if not immediately removed in early spring.

Download our free PDF worksheet for an easy-to-use seasonal maintenance task chart.

Douglas Trattner has covered home maintenance and improvement topics for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During the 10-year stewardship of his 1925 Colonial, he’s upgraded the furnace, added insulation, replaced most appliances, and mowed his lawn every time but once.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

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State and National News:

• New Federal Short Sale Program   Read more….
• Fed: Homes with Chinese Drywall must be gutted   Read more…
• Home Sales show healthy gain   Read more…
• Federal Foreclosure Program announced   Read more…
• Condo Lending   Read more…
• The Recession is over, but not officially   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• IRS info on Tax Credits   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• San Souci Bay gets mixed reactions   Read more…
• New Life for River Hall   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Is your house in a Flood Zone?   Read more…
• Simple Spring Decorating Tips   Read more…
• Gardening Ideas   Read more…
• 8 Things to get rid off   Read more…

Green News:

• Manatee rescued in North Fort Myers   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

______________________________________________________________________

7 Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

Article From HouseLogic.com By: Oliver Marks
Published: March 15, 2010

Novice gardeners can get their landscapes off to a healthy start by heeding some tried-and-true tips from the pros.

Gardening is just about the simplest do-it-yourself home improvement work there is. If you can dig a hole, turn on a spigot, and snip a dead flower off a vine, you’ve got the basic skills down. Still, you do have to make some judgment calls, so it helps to know the ground rules, so to speak, that can help you avoid making some rookie mistakes.

Mistake #1: Making changes too soon

Take the excitement of buying a home, add a nice stretch of spring weather, and you get a lot of enthusiasm for doing yard work. That’s great; seize the day, but don’t jump into wholesale landscape changes, like pulling out plants or reorganizing the layout quite yet.

“That weed that you want to yank out in the spring might turn out to be a gorgeous fall-blooming vine,” says Gary Blondell, owner of Gary’s Gardens, a nursery in Severna Park, Md. Plus, it takes time to learn the landscape and figure out exactly what changes make sense.

Avoid this by: Living with the landscape for a full year, so you can observe it in all seasons.

Mistake #2: Planting too close together

You buy a wheelbarrow full of young shrubs and perennials and plant them in a pleasing arrangement. But if they look properly spaced now, they’re actually way too close together.

Unless you’re creating an evergreen hedge, when the idea is packing things tightly together, the immature plantings will grow into each other in a few years and struggle to compete for sun, water, and soil nutrients. You’ll either have to dig them up and transplant them-or possibly throw them away.

Avoid this by: Following the spacing requirements on the plant label-even though the results will look absurdly sparse at first.

Mistake #3: Planting without a plan

Putting in new garden beds without a long-term landscape plan is like tiling, painting, and wallpapering your house before you figure out your future remodeling plans: There’s a good chance you’ll have to undo your efforts in the near future.

Avoid this by: Drawing a simple, bird’s eye view sketch of your yard, and figuring out the rough location of any future construction-additions, patios, outbuildings, pools-so you can plant around them.

A good local nursery or home improvement store can help you with your design. Or you can hire a landscape designer to create a starter plan for as little as $250 to $500. Find a professional at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (http://www.apld.com) or the American Society of Landscape Architects (http://www.asla.org).

Mistake #4: Neglecting the root ball

Even the hardiest plants need a little help getting their roots established in their new locations. But just turning on the sprinkler every day to douse the foliage isn’t enough to ensure that they get the nutrients and hydration they need. You have to get the water to a plant’s nerve center–the root ball below ground–or it’s going to be stunted or short-lived.

Avoid this by:Placing the hose near the root ball and setting the water to a trickle for about 20 to 30 minutes. Do this twice a week-more during hot, dry spells-for the first four to 12 weeks. Choosing the right irrigation system can help with this task while saving water (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/water-saving-irrigation-strategies/).

Mistake #5: Ignoring your yard’s sun conditions

Too many nursery shoppers pick plants based only on looks-not the growing conditions they need, which are almost always indicated on a label wrapped around the trunk or a marker pressed into the soil. “They put a sun-loving perennial under a dense tree or something that wants partial shade out in full-day sunshine,” says Blondell. “It looks great for about a week, and then it begins to die.”

Avoid this by: Watching the spot where you’re going to put the plant and estimating the amount of sun it gets over the course of the day during the growing season. To translate that to the language on plant labels, use this key:

Full Sun 6 hours a day or more Part Sun/Part Shade 3 to 5 hours Shade Less than 3 hours

Mistake #6: Misusing irrigation systems

An automatic irrigation system is a luxury that allows you to keep your landscape hydrated throughout the growing season with almost no effort. Unfortunately, with the wrong settings, it can also bring disease, root rot, and an untimely death to the plants in your landscape.

“People tend to set their systems to come on for 15 or 20 minutes each morning,” says Blondell. “That provides a nice saturation of the surface, but not a deep penetrating soak to reach the roots of large shrubs and trees.” And a deeper soak is better for the lawn, too, because it promotes deep root systems.

Avoid this by: Watering for longer intervals-say, 40 to 60 minutes-only two to three times a week. Check with the company that maintains your irrigation system for local recommendations.

Mistake #7: Not budgeting for landscaping during construction projects

Whether you’re building a house or an addition, the bulldozers that excavate the job and the pickups that park on the lawn will damage the grass, trees, and shrubs. And the new building configuration will call for new landscape plantings.

Unfortunately, homeowners don’t often include money in their budgets for this work. So you wind up with a beautiful new family room, screened porch, or solarium, with a few azaleas thrown in around the foundation as an afterthought.

Avoid this by:Allocating 10 to 20 percent of your construction budget to the landscape-both hardscaping and plants-or at least making plans to spend that money as soon as possible after the construction job is complete.

A former carpenter and newspaper reporter, Oliver Marks has been writing about home improvements for 16 years. He’s entering his second summer at his house and has big plans for upgrading its scraggly foundation plantings.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

______________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

State and National News:

• Short Sale Incentives start April 5th   Read more….
• New Foreclosure Prevention Plan Announced   Read more…
• Experts says Real Estate is Recovering   Read more…
• Financial help for homeowners with defective drywall   Read more…
• Government unveils plan to shrink some home loans   Read more…
• Health Care Reform Bill passes   Read more…
• Investors are buying houses again   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Redrawn FEMA maps   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral Sewer summit   Read more…
• Cape Coral Realtors strive  Read more…
• Celebrate New Bedford day   Read more…
• Development excites Cape Coral   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Get your house ready for Spring   Read more…
• Landscape Design Courses   Read more…
• Bathroom Storage ideas   Read more…
• How to hang artwork   Read more…

Green News:

• Cape Coral plans to cut consumption   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

______________________________________________________________________

The Pros and Cons of Condos…….

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy.

1. Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings.
2. Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually smaller in condos, so if you like to garden or entertain outdoors, this may not be a good fit. However, if you hate yard work, this may be the perfect option for you.
3. Amenities. Many condo properties have swimming pools, fitness centers, and other facilities that would be very expensive in a single-family home.
4. Maintenance. Many condos have onsite maintenance personnel to care for common areas, do repairs in your unit, and let in workers when you’re not home.
5. Security. Many condos have keyed entries and or even door attendants. Plus, you’ll be closer to other people in case of an emergency.
6. Reserve funds and association fees. Although fees generally help pay for amenities and provide savings for future repairs, you will have to pay the fees agreed to by the condo board, whether or not you’re interested in the amenity or not.
7. Resale. The ease of selling your unit is more dependent on what else is for sale in your building, since units are usually fairly similar. Single-family homes usually are more individual.
8. Freedom. Although you have a vote, the rules of the condo association can affect your ability to use your property. For example, some condos prohibit home-based businesses. Others prohibit pets. Read the covenants, restrictions, and bylaws of the condo carefully before you make an offer.
9. Proximity. You’re much closer to your neighbors in a condo or townhome. If possible, try to meet your closest prospective neighbors before making a decision.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.                        www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

______________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

State and National News:

• Interest Rates to remain low   Read more….
• Foreclosure bargains getting harder to find   Read more…
• Should buyers try to beat the tax credit?   Read more…
• 10 Cities with climbing home prices   Read more…
• Bankers: the end of the foreclosure crisis is near   Read more…
• Vacant lots become hot property   Read more…
• Company out of drywall trial   Read more…
• 4 Reasons to Sell Now   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• What’s need to claim tax credit?   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral at top of the list for affordable housing   Read more…
• Lee County looking up, but a long way to go   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• The kitchen is still king   Read more…
• Top 7 credit score mistakes   Read more…
• Conquering Sentimental Clutter   Read more…
• 10 Home features buyers want   Read more…

Green News:

• Manatee  in Cape Coral   Watch video….

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

______________________________________________________________________

10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable…….

1.      Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2.      Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.      Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4.      Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.      Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6.      Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.      Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8.      Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.      Clean your gutters.

10.  Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.                        www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

______________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here