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January 2007

Remodel or move?

It's that time of year.  Well, if we're going to put the house on the market and move we better start getting it ready, you're thinking.  Many folks are trying to make that same decision, and some are deciding to remodel instead of moving.

An updated remodeling survey of 5,000 homeowners was conducted in the fall of 2006, showing a continuing trend toward large remodels and with an increasing concern for the cost of the remodel.

All participants in the survey were considering remodeling their existing home or moving to a different one. Participants had lived in their current home (an average home value of $422,000) for an average of 8.5 years.

Survey respondents stated that they expect to stay in their home for 17 years after their remodel is complete. (The 2005 year respondents averaged 18 years).

Some of the findings in the survey:

- Do-It-Yourself is on the rise for remodelers;

- 32% said they plan to be their own remodeling contractors (up from 2005's 25%).

- 65% will do at least a portion of the remodeling work (up from 60% last year).

- 50% who plan to remodel will spend 30% of their home's current value on the project (up from 33% last year of those who plan to remodel who will spend 30% of their homes value).

- 50% of the respondents want more rooms, such as dens and bedrooms. 57% are planning to add one or more bathrooms.

- 15% described their choice of materials for their remodel as expensive, 10% as economy and 75% want materials, cabinets and trim to be average for the type of home they live in.

- 47% of the respondents want to remodel their bathrooms, and 55% want to remodel their kitchens.

- 55% of those considering remodeling are excited about the idea; 10% are dreading the process.

Dan Fritschen, the author of the study, says the trend towards remodeling is deepening with an increasing cost consciousness.

"With housing prices falling and interest rates higher than they were a few years ago homeowners are still remodeling, but with an emphasis on managing costs."

"Just a year ago with high home prices many homeowners were influenced by the wealth effect and were remodeling with a blank check attitude. What the survey shows is that homeowners are planning to spend about the same amount but are expecting to get more for their money and not hiring a general contractor and doing some of the work themselves is one way homeowners think they can reduce the cost."

Fritschen continues, "coincidently the home improvement industry is helping homeowners in their quest to get more for less by a continuing drop in construction material costs and a work force that is more available to help in remodeling. The slow down in new home construction has left many laborers and tradespeople who were building new homes looking toward homeowners for work remodeling instead.

1:44 PM - Jan. 30, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

How to keep your home in shape to sell this winter

Is your home on the market this winter?  Here in Denver we've had blizzards and seemingly continuous snowfall since before Christmas.  Still, homes are being shown and sold.  A home that is prepared for the weather will attract more buyers and sell faster. The cooler temperatures and shorter days keep many buyers at homeduring the winter months so you’ll want to make your home as warm and inviting as possible for the buyers who do come.  Our friends at Lowe's have a few tips to keep your home in winter showing condition.

Check the Heating System

1. Replace furnace filters
2. Fill oil or propane tanks
3. Vacuum around registers and air ducts
4. Check for proper venting of furnace, water heater and fireplace
5. Arrange for a chimney inspection

Block Drafts

1. Caulk around windows and pipes that exit the house
2. Add or replace weather stripping around doors
3. Install storm doors and windows if you have them
4. Seal foundation holes

Stop Leaks

1. Check and clean the gutters
2. Inspect and fix loose roof shingles or leaks

Insulate

1. Add attic insulation if needed
2. Place an insulation blanket around the water heater
3. Install heat tape on pipes if necessary

Clean Up the Yard

1. Put away outdoor furniture and grills
2. Drain and put away garden hoses
3. Close and cover the swimming pool
4. Shut off the outside water

 Keep Up With the Weather

1.  Clear snow, mud and puddles from walkways and driveways
2. Place evergreen boughs or seasonal flowers in pots near the entrance
3. Light up a specimen tree with a spotlight
4. Show off decks, patios, gardens and walkways with accent lights
5. Install timers or light sensors to turn indoor and outdoor lights on and off automatically

 Create A Warm Interior

1.  Instead of plastic window coverings, add heavier drapes or insulated shades to block drafts
2. Set the temperature at a comfortable level during showings Insert warm accent colors such as red or gold throws and pillows to cozy up any room
3. Turn on lamps and overhead lights
4.  Add can lights in the corners to brighten up those dark days

1:32 PM - Jan. 28, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Thinking about replacing windows?

1). Using windows with double-pane glass once was a good first step toward adding insulation value. But with the escalating energy costs over the last couple of years it is proven that triple pane glass is almost a necessity.

2). Select glass that is coated to reflect unwanted heat or cold. Reflectivity is measured in terms of "Low-E"-the lower the better. Most window replacement companies offer a Low-E coat on a single pane within a double glass unit. One company, Bristol Windows, adds multiple Low-E layers to two panes of their triple glass configurations. The use of a soft coating, as opposed to hard, improves the reflectivity even more so.

3). High-tech continuous thermal spacer systems should be placed between each piece of glass. If not, unwanted heat or cold can radiate inside.

4). To improve insulation properties even further, an inert gas can be placed in between the panes of gas. This gas does a better job of slowing down heat transfer.

5). While aluminum window frames are still made, they are known to radiate excess heat. For this reason many companies have turned to vinyl, which stops the heat. However, vinyl can loose its shape on a hot day, causing the frames to warp and not close properly. Vinyl replacement windows that use a combination of both vinyl and aluminum. The aluminum is totally concealed and thermally separated so as to prevent transfer of unwanted heat or cold to the inside.

6). If considering vinyl replacement windows, make sure they are not hollow. Vinyl needs to have chambers designed into the extrusions to provide sufficient wall strength.

7). The frame-to-wall interface must seal tightly, otherwise air can pour through. Look for a company that uses gaskets and weather stripping at crucial areas of the window and sash members.

8). Replacing windows correctly can be complicated. It is best to leave this job to the professionals.

9). When evaluating a window replacement company, be sure to consider the warranties. Longer is better.

10). Remember that you get what you pay for. You can spend less, but the windows will save you less. Some companies, on the high end of initial costs, claim to cut energy use almost in half. Over time, such replacement windows may provide the best bang for your buck.

1:23 PM - Jan. 26, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Get ready for the tax man

It's that time again...time to start gathering all of that dreaded documentation for your tax preparer to send to good old Uncle Sam! And even though this may seem like a very painful process, taking just a few simple steps right now will make your tax planning far less painful than you think.

STEP ONE: Start by reviewing a copy of last year's tax return, and make a quick list of all the documents or statements that were needed to complete the return. Examples would be W2 forms from employers, 1099 forms for income earned but with no withholding for taxes, 1098 forms documenting all interest paid on a mortgage, interest and dividend income from banks and other financial institutions, a statement for stocks and bonds that were sold during the year, donations that were made to charities, and property tax statements. Many tax accountants will provide a checklist for you, but if you do not have access to one, simply hit this hotlink: TAX PREP CHECKLIST and use this generic checklist as a guide.

STEP TWO: In the coming weeks, you'll be receiving tax documents in the mail. Some will be easy to identify, as many institutions use envelopes marked "Important Tax Document", but others do not - so check all your incoming mail very carefully. When a tax document arrives, grab your checklist, mark the item as received, and keep it all in one place like a file or large envelope marked "2006 TAXES". That way, when it is time to meet with your accountant, all documents will be stored in one location.

NOTE: the IRS rules require that most tax documentation like W2's be mailed out to you by January 31st. If you do not receive all needed tax documentation by February 15th, contact the company that was supposed to send it out, and request the documentation be mailed immediately. If the company fails to comply, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for help. Additionally, if a statement is received and the amount reported appears to be incorrect, contact the company who sent it to you right away, and ask that the form be corrected. Within a few days a new form should be mailed, and when received it will be marked "Corrected".

With the tax laws constantly changing and the complexity of filing taxes increasing every day...having a great tax accountant will save you time and money. In fact, most tax accountants find enough missed deductions or changes to more than cover their nominal fees. And, working with a professional can help ensure that your return is as accurate as possible, and may help avoid a painful audit. During 2006, audits for individuals increased by 6% across the board. Business owners need to be on their toes too, as audits for Partnerships increased by 15%, and S-Corporations by 34%!

1:51 PM - Jan. 24, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Consider listing in February

Yes, real estate. Mid-February, specifically those weeks following the Super Bowl, is the optimum time to put homes on the market. That's the time when buyers are warming up for the spring home-buying season. Plus, listing inventory is low because of the winter and holiday slowdown. The number of buyers beginning to look at homes is disproportionately larger than the number of homes being advertised for sale, giving sellers a competitive advantage.

"There is a prime market of home buyers beginning their search for a home around this time. Put your home on the market now, and you've got a good chance of scoring a real estate touchdown," says Ernie Blood, executive vice president of Dominion Homes Media.

The logic is simple. The Super Bowl signifies the start of this prime time to sell because it falls at a major transition period for many prospective home buyers. Those who had been thinking about purchasing a new home before the holidays are probably ready to kick the process into gear around this time. The holiday season gives people a chance to meet with family and friends, and now that the madness of the holidays is over, they are ready to begin the process. Forbes.com agrees that this is an opportune time to put homes on the market, as to avoid the significantly larger amount of competition in the spring, which makes it more difficult to sell.

The National Association of Realtors explains that the slowest months of the year for home sales are typically January and February, due to fewer deals being made over the holidays. The higher number of sales in the spring may be due to the fact that many people want to move in between school years.

"Now is the time when buyers and sellers are going to start looking. They are going to take notice of yard signs, surf the Internet, and pick up real estate magazines as they browse their local market. In fact, our data from HitBox - WebSideStory already shows a significant trend upward in visitors to HarmonHomes.com from the end of 2005 to now," says Blood.

"If you're planning to sell your house during the spring months, you'd be well advised to catch buyers' eyes now in these critical early stages. Beat your competition to the market now and you'll have more eyes looking at your home later," he says.

According to Blood, conventional wisdom tells home sellers to sell when they are ready. When the exterior of the house is perfect. When the inside is in tip-top shape. After they have gotten around to getting everything in line. But realistically, will there ever really be a "perfect time"?

"My advice? Forget conventional wisdom," he says. "Be ready to sell and get your listing out there when buyers are ready, before your competition is there. Do what it takes to get yourself positioned early, and you'll have a far greater selling advantage than those who waited."

1:20 PM - Jan. 24, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Who needs doors?

We had an amazing thing happen to one of our listings the other day.  We do lots of REO listings (REO stands for Real Estate Owned and are homes owned by lending institutions after foreclosure).  We have one where the home was just deeded to the bank last week.  But we had been talking to the former owner and letting him know what was going on.

In driving by the house we knew he was in the process of moving out and, on the day the bank took title, we investigated the house and it was vacant.  So we called our locksmith to meet us there the next day to get the house re-keyed so we could take possession and secure the premises.  That process was completed about 4 pm or so and we returned home. 

The next afternoon we got a call from the neighbor across the street.  Seems the former owner had returned, broken into the house, and had removed the exterior doors!  They STOLE THE DOORS.  Now, admittedly, the front door was a very nice wood door with an oval glass insert and the storm door was all glass to show off that nice front door.  They, at least, installed other doors they took from the garage so the house wasn't left open.  But we now had to get the locksmith back out to pick the new locks (they had conveniently locked the doors when they left) so we could again secure the premises.

We got the locksmith back out the next morning and changed the locks on both sets of doors.  While there, the neighbor across the street came over and drained the boiler because the house has hot water heat and he is a heating and air conditioning contractor.  But we think that in all this confusion, some pipes may have frozen because it has been below zero for several days.

It gets worse.  That very night, the former owner came back to break in again.  What is left?  A very old, ugly stove and a clothes dryer with a kicked in door and lots and lots of trash.  Luckily, the neighbor across the street saw them and called us.  We immediately called the police.  By the time the police arrived the former owners were gone - hopefully never to return.

And people think this is an easy job....

12:16 PM - Jan. 22, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Run for your life!

1:58 PM - Jan. 20, 2007 - comments {3} - post comment

Top 10 Resolutions for Improving Your Home

1:52 PM - Jan. 18, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Beware of Phishing and Pharming

1:49 PM - Jan. 16, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Thinking of joining a gym?

Our friends at Money Central have lots of good tips and cautions before plunking down your hard earned money.

1. "If you're still here in April, it'll be a miracle."

The fitness craze is going gangbusters, with gym attendance up 23% since 2001, to 41.3 million, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).

Most new recruits sign up in January, the busiest month for fitness clubs. That's when well-intentioned souls trying to stick to their New Year's resolutions flood their local gyms, often resulting in long lines at the treadmills, overtaxed gym staffs and towel shortages in the locker rooms.

But it's not long before the throngs thin; most people who make those resolutions trip up in the first 90 days, says Alan Marlatt, the director of the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington. Indeed, that's what clubs expect. "They bet on it," says Meg Jordan, the editor of American Fitness magazine, adding that most gyms count on a 20% to 30% dropout rate.

In the meantime, there are ways to avoid the January crowds and make it past the 90-day hump. When selecting a gym, visit the facility during the time of day you're most likely to attend. If it's crowded, check to see whether waiting lists and time limits on machines are enforced or whether it's a free-for-all.

2. "Don't touch anything — this place is crawling with bacteria."

About 80% of all infectious diseases are transmitted by both direct and indirect contact, says Philip Tierno, the director of clinical microbiology at New York University Medical Center and the author of "The Secret Life of Germs." That makes the gym, with its sweaty bodies in close proximity, a highly conducive environment for catching everything from athlete's foot to the flu.

In swabs of medicine balls, for example, Tierno found samples of community-acquired MRSA, a strain of staph resistant to some antibiotics. "You take your chances," Tierno says. "Any time you touch a medicine ball or machine, you have to know that your hands are contaminated and should be washed."

What about those spray bottles that some gyms provide for wiping down equipment? They may help, Tierno says, but he recommends additional measures, such as wearing long sleeves and pants while working out. Also, bring your own towels because there's no guarantee that your gym's linens have been bleached or rinsed in clean water. While in the locker room, make sure you wear flip-flops, and avoid sitting nude on any exposed surface.

3. "We're not equipped to handle health emergencies."

Almost one-third of sudden cardiac arrests outside homes and hospitals occur in fitness clubs or sports facilities, says Mary Fran Hazinski, a registered nurse and senior science editor for the American Heart Association.

Yet most health clubs aren't fully prepared for such crises. That was the case at a 24 Hour Fitness in California, where Nick Pombra, 43, collapsed after running on a treadmill in July 2004. The gym staff tried CPR, but by the time paramedics arrived, it was too late, says Mike Danko, a lawyer for Pombra's family. The fitness company declined to comment.

Though effective CPR can buy time, it won't reset a heart after cardiac arrest. That's where automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, come in. Chances for revival drop as much as 10% each minute that passes without proper CPR and defibrillation. But even in states such as New York that require gyms to have CPR equipment, as well as AEDs and trained personnel in clubs with more than 500 members, two-thirds surveyed by the attorney general's office in 2005 weren't in compliance. Find out if your club has the right equipment and, equally important, a staff trained to use it.

4. "Our trainers don't know what they're doing."

If you work out at a gym, chances are an on-site personal trainer will try to sell you his or her expertise. And with their Colgate smiles and buff bodies, they must be able to teach you a thing or two about getting into shape, right? Not necessarily. Trainers need no standard certification, and the credentials that some flash require only a quick online course or a fee, says Neal Pire, a fitness-industry consultant and former trainer.

Jonathan Jacobson, a marketing executive with a degenerative disk disease in his lower back, sought out a trainer to design a routine appropriate for his condition. But after a boxing regimen the trainer recommended, he was left in pain. When his doctor told Jacobson, 35, to stop, the trainer suggested Pilates, which only further aggravated the problem, leading to a slew of medical procedures.

"He had certificates and tons of plaques on the wall," Jacobson says. "It's taken about a year to not be in pain every day."

You should seek trainers with credentials from respected institutions such as the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength Conditioning Association, preferably with some training in sports medicine or physical education.

5. "We won't let you quit."

If you think giving up the Ben & Jerry's is tough, try quitting your gym. Trouble canceling membership is one of the top complaints against fitness clubs logged with the Better Business Bureau and states' attorneys general.

Before Chris Hinkle and his wife moved to North Carolina, they met with the manager at their Gold's Gym in Austin, Texas, to cancel their prepaid membership. They were told a refund check would be in the mail. That was March. After months of unreturned calls, Hinkle contacted the Better Business Bureau, which also got no answer from Gold's and gave it an unsatisfactory rating.

"I was an ecstatic booster of Gold's," Hinkle says. "Now I tell people to never go there." A Gold's spokesperson says the club sends a refund in such cases once it receives proof of a move — documentation Hinkle says the Austin manager didn't ask for in March.

For those paying monthly, calls from collectors or a battered credit score may be the first clue a membership was never terminated, says Todd Mark of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta. Follow contract terms to the letter, providing proof of a move or a doctor's note. Create a paper trail, and alert credit agencies about any dispute.

6. "Be sure to read the fine print on our contract."

The devil is in the details, and it's never truer than when it comes to fitness-club contracts. Fast-talking reps may offer you a deal you can't refuse, but often that's exactly what you should do.

"Sometimes you end up with salespeople trying to make quotas that engage in pressure," says Helen Durkin, the head of public policy at IHRSA, the health-club association.

Occasionally, this can lead to a glossing over of details. One Bally offer that has elicited complaints on Consumer Affairs' Web site is a 30-day trial membership with a catch: You must visit the club a minimum of 12 times during the first month to cancel without penalty; otherwise, you're locked into a multiyear membership. Some consumers complain that they did attend the required number of times but that when they decided to cancel, the club had no record of the visits. A Bally spokesperson says the company's policy is to check all members entering the club and record their usage.

Your best defense: Read every word of the contract. Never rely on a suave salesperson's "word" no matter what authority they profess, and don't let anyone pressure you into signing before you're ready. Take the contract home and read it overnight.

7. "Our equipment can be downright dangerous."

Unlike many businesses, fitness clubs do not need a special license to operate. Furthermore, although the American College of Sports Medicine and other groups publish guidelines for the industry, they don't have the teeth of the law.

"In most cases, (the gym) is not a safe place to go because there is little standardization," says Marc Rabinoff, a forensic expert and professor of human performance and sport at the Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Take equipment maintenance, for example. Although manufacturers must include instructions with exercise machines, nothing forces gyms to follow them, Rabinoff says.

Injuries can result from poorly or improperly maintained equipment, says Cedric Bryant, the chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise. Harold Leon Bostick knows that all too well. Because of a design defect in a machine he was using, a stack of weights came crashing down while the law student was doing squats at a California gym in 2001, severing his spinal cord.

Bryant recommends asking to see maintenance and cleaning logs — hallmarks of a good club. Gold's Gym, for one, says it follows manufacturers' maintenance guidance to the letter and replaces equipment every five to seven years. Avoid machines that stick or don't move smoothly.

8. "Everything is negotiable."

Balloons and freebies often signal promotion time at your local gym — most frequently before the holidays and at the start of summer.

Already a member? Jot down these specials and ask for one of them when it comes time to renew your membership. Some gyms will honor the rate months after the posters come down, says Mark, of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.

If you're looking into a new membership, remember that the cheapest deals will likely be those that lock you in for a long time. For example, Bally's flexible plans, including month-to-month memberships, typically cost $5 to $10 a month more than its popular long-term plan. As for trainers, you might be able to get a break if you decide to share sessions with a friend or two, says Carol Espel, Equinox's national group-fitness director.

9. "If your wallet gets lifted, it's not our problem."

In 2003, the FBI put out a bulletin about a group of burglars stealing credit cards from lockers of health-club members on the East Coast. Since then, there's been no similar FBI bulletin, but that doesn't mean your valuables are safe at the gym. You never know who's lurking around the locker room while you're sweating away on the elliptical machine.

"For so many people, the health club is like a community," says IHRSA spokesperson Brooke Correia. "You feel very comfortable, but there are situations where potential thieves will break into the club and take advantage of that safe atmosphere."

Ben Osbun tried to end 2004 on a healthy note by working out at his local YMCA on New Year's Eve. But the day quickly soured. When the Chicago real estate agent returned to his locker, he found that the padlock had been cut and his cell phone, keys and wallet were missing. Only his jacket was left behind; the thieves showed him some mercy since it was December, Osbun says. He adds that the gym staff wasn't particularly surprised by the incident because petty theft is common in health clubs. Osbun learned his lesson; he now brings very little with him to the gym.

If you do intend to store items in a locker while you're working out, IHRSA recommends using a padlock with a key, which is harder to pick than a combination lock. That wouldn't have helped Osbun any, of course.

10. "Go ahead and sue; you'll never win."

Fitness clubs know how to watch their backs, legally speaking. It's nearly impossible to visit a fitness center without signing a waiver that absolves the club of liability — involving everything from malfunctioning machines that cause injury to improper instruction by staff members.

In Michael Stokes' case, it was a defect in the basketball court's floor at his Kent, Wash., gym that caused ruptured tendons in his knee and shoulder. Though a judge found that Stokes may not have known what he was signing, a subsequent appellate-court ruling upheld the waiver and dismissed the case, says Mark Davis, a lawyer who represented Stokes.

That's how it usually goes because the majority of states' courts tend to side with the gyms on the matter of liability waivers, while only a handful, including those in New York and Virginia, are likely to rule against them. Occasionally, a judge will rule in behalf of plaintiffs in instances of gross negligence, but that bar is set pretty high in some states, such as Washington, Davis says.

Bottom line: Understand that you're taking your health in your own hands when you go to the gym, so you need to watch your own back-literally.

10:09 AM - Jan. 14, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Can the jars and other kitchen organization tips

An article in the January 4th Denver Post hit us where we live.  We love to cook but our kitchen needs a little, shall we say, CLEANING AND ORGANIZATION.  Here are the tips th Post recommends:

Toss the live stuff - like baking soda, baking powder, self-rising flour and yeast.  These all lose their power after a few months and have probably been sitting around in your cupboard for much longer than that.  Throw them out and get new.

Arm & Hammer the fridge - Arm & Hammer now makes a box of soda specifically designed to be placed in the refrigerator.  Remember to change it every 6 months.

Can the jars - Get rid of all those jars and plastic containers that lurk in the back of your cabinets "in case you might need them sometime."  If sometime hasn't happened yet, it probably isn't going to happen any time soon.

Cull your cookbooks - If you haven't cooked from one of your cookbooks in the past year, you probably aren't going to.  Donate them to the local library.

Organize your loose recipes -  Buy a three ring binder and put blank sheets of paper in it.  Trim out all those sheets of newspaper and magazines that have the desired recipe in the middle of the page so only the recipe remains.  Tape them onto a blank page. Voila!  Your very own cookbook.

Get rid of glasses - if you don't have a set of four that match put them in the Goodwill box.

Clean out the utensil drawer - Remove the drawer and take everything out.  Now dump that mysterious grainy stuff that collects in the corners into the trash.  Wipe it down with the cleanser of your choice.  Toss the melted spatulas.  Donate the gadgets you never use.  Consider splurging on new organizing trays.

Wash the walls - Give all the walls a good wipe down to cut the greasy haze.  And don't forget your hood filters.

Get on your knees - and give thanks for the good meals you had in the past year and the ones yet to come.  And while you're down there, grab a scrub brush and clean the baseboards.

Fight fire - Maybe most important, keep a small fire extinguisher within easy reach, just in case.

2:02 PM - Jan. 12, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Countertops galore

We all want to do a kitchen makeover.  The glossy photos in the magazines look so delicious.  You know that wonderful meals will flow from the kitchen if your kitchen looked like that.

A big part of any redo is new counters.  Today, there are so many styles and surfaces to choose from and you can walk  yourself to death comparing substances and prices.  Here's a quick synoposis.

Granite - either natural granite or engineered stone will run about $100 - $200 per square foot installed.  Probably the most popular surface today, it is elegant, heatproof and waterproof, but it can be hard on breakables.

Engineered stone - also called quartz surface it is non-porous and made with 90% or more quartz.  It costs about the same as natural granite but doesn't require sealing.  The best known brands are CesarStone, Silestone and Zodiaq.

Granite Transformations - is an engineered stone from Italy that is assembled as a cap to fit over existing countertops.  Priced about the same as natural granite the advantage is that the existing countertop does not have to be removed before installation of this product.

Marble and limestone - from $70 - $200 per square foot, acidic foods can stain them and they must be treated with a sealant.

Natural soapstone - is $75 to $150 per square foot it is soft, stain-resistant material that could crack or chip more easily than other natural materials.

Metal is unusual and distinctive but may not be to everyone's taste.  Stainless steel runs $75 to $150 per square foot while copper can run $100 - $160 per square foot.

Concrete is trendy and industrial looking and runs $75 - $200 per square foot. 

Butcherblock is a class material costing $75 - $200 per square foot.  It can burn if hot pots and pans are placed on it.

Formica is a generic name for laminates.  They run $50 - $100 per square foot and are affordable and practical.

Acrylic - $90 - $120 per square foot.  Known as Corian, Swanstone and EarthStone they will show wear and can be scratched.

A few websites to do more research include:

Corian - www.corian.com

Formica - www.formica.com

Silestone - www.stilestoneusa.com

Swanstone - www.theswancorp.com

Wilsonart - www.wilsonart.com

Zodiaq - www.zodiaq.com

3:51 PM - Jan. 10, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

You're thinking about WHAT color?

It's a new year.  It's time to change that fuscia colored wall in the dining room.  So what is the "in" color this year?

The paint experts plan two years ahead.  They base their color selections on museum collections, the entertainment world, social issues, the diet and health industries.  If they relied on my diet all paint colors would be some shade of chocolate or some shade of red wine - but  I digress.

So this year the new neutral is.....green.  The experts say green is symbolic of a lifestyle - green tea, environmental issues.  Brown is always popular, but not UPS brown, coffee shop browns.  Picture espresso, cafe au lait or latte on your walls.  And there is the Hollywood influence - metallics, rich textures and glass.  The neutral pallette is skin tones like pink pearl or deco blush.

But accent walls are out.  Instead paint the entire room the same color and use pillows or throws as accents.  Other accents can be achieved through use of:

• Accessories like lamps, vases and candle holders
• Flowering plants or floral arrangements
• Table linens
• Art work

The look you're trying to achieve should be the look the room is used for.  How do you want the room to feel and what colors will help you achieve that?

1:38 PM - Jan. 8, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

What's out with Homebuyers 2007

Nationally syndicated real estate columnist and real estate broker, Mark Nash, compiled this list of things that are "OUT" with buyers this year:

• "As is" in home sale marketing. Anything went in the boom market, but if you're planning to use "as is" in 2007, forget it. The two letter-two word kiss of death, buyers see it as a red flag about the home and you the seller. You have too much competition to be chasing buyers away.
• Buyer incentives. Free cars don't sell houses, realistic pricing does. Gimmicks only confuse and distract buyers. Cut to the chase and deduct the cost of your free-with-purchase from your current price and send the signal to buyers that you're selling real property not personal property.
• Endless Open Houses. The open house pendulum has swung from " the house sold in the first day" to "we need to have our house open every Sunday". Desperation is when your home is open every Sunday. Buyers know and track it. Plan on every three weeks to have a public open house.
• Over-full-price offers. It was a strategy in the boom market to under-price a home and let the market set the selling price. Not today, one thing that won't change in 2007 is that every buyer will want a deal, and walk from one if they don't get one.
• Bedrooms not large enough for a bed. In the boom, rehabbers and developers learned the fastest way to profit was to increase the room count of a home of an existing home.  Bedrooms shrunk to walk-in closet size when a four-room one-bedroom was gut-rehabbed into a four-room two-bedroom. Or, the doorways and windows eliminate required wall space. Savvy agents kept asking, can you fit a queen-size bed in either room? And the answer was usually, no.
• Loads of glass upper kitchen cabinet doors. Buyers say it looks great, but many who specified and experienced it, firsthand don't have the time to keep their kitchen cabinets organized. Plus if you hate washing the windows, having more glass in a greasy room like a kitchen is high-maintenance.
• Bowl-shaped above-counter bathroom sinks. The splashing and over-all up-keep have earned these the reputation of nice to look at, but don't want one.
• Any shiny metal finish. Brushed nickels and pewter's are in and antiqued and polished brass is out.
• Stainless-steel refrigerators and dishwashers are a fading trend. The cold look and higher maintenance of steel is shifting buyers to specify warmer colors in kitchen appliances.
• Spiral staircases. Once the rage for mid-seventies make over's, now death to a home seller. The boomers have aged, their kids don't like them, unfriendly to pets and young children. Take yours out and put in a standard staircase (inside or out) before you sell.

On the way out.

• Bamboo floors. The first reviews are in on this popular eco-friendly flooring, and they're not pretty. Easily dented and scratched, and prone to warping from variations in our climate and humidity levels.
• Hardwood laminate floors. The word is out that these noisy poor relatives of solid hardwood that don't stand up to multiple sanding's to change color or to remove stains.
• Home sellers who smoke in their home while it is being marketed. Buyers hate second-hand and stale smoke odors. Marketing your home is not the same as living in it. If you have to smoke go outside.

9:14 AM - Jan. 6, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

What's In with Homebuyers 2007

Mark Nash, nationally syndicated real estate columnist and real estate broker, has come up with the following list of what's IN with Buyer's in 2007.  They include:

Homes that are priced right. It isn't the boom market of 2005, look at only the sold comparable's from the last six months. Forget the cocktail party chit-chat when all you heard was record prices in the shortest market times in U.S. real estate history.

Online home valuation sites ( Zillow.com). Mainly those that utilize up-to-date and reliable home sale data. Technology is great when it works, but tread carefully with online valuation web sites. Ask yourself how long does it take your recorder of deeds and real estate transactions to record them? If up-to-the-minute, okay, otherwise plan the lead time into the online valuation to spew out accurate information.

Market timing. Many buyers and sellers were on their own timelines in 2006 and they missed opportunities that were created by not recognizing the real estate markets ebb and flow. Spring is high market, the most demand by the largest number of buyers. Summer is a good market, fall is fair, and winter is the remnant market, the left-over buyers and sellers from the high, good, and fair markets.

Savvy buyers. With interest rates historically low and bent-up demand from a soft year in 2006, the deals and lack of frenzy won't last long. "Deferred demand" from 2006 could ignite a mini-frenzy in some markets.

Third places or officetels. Home offices are on the rise, though those who work from one, need more than a coffee shop or hotel lobby for business meetings. Look for alternative work spaces that bridge the home office with hourly rentals of conference room-type spaces that offer technology and privacy.

Upscale garages. It's no longer the out-of-sight-out-of-mind dumping ground. Today's garage owners want them decked out with cabinet and storage systems, mini-refrigerators, insulation, heating and air conditioning and durable but residential-looking flooring.

Caving. Man caves and Mom caves are coming out of the closet. Personal dedicated space for one person in a household can go and work on projects or "chill" without being disturbed and if so only in an emergency.

Two home offices. Rising gas prices and commuting times have created more two-work-at-home families. Size matters, make sure each is at least ten-by-ten feet.

Rejuvenation rooms. A one-stop space for exercising, meditation, yoga, sauna and fancy steam showers. Showers are going upscale too. Waterfall fixtures, programmable temperature and water flow are the next trend for "showerers".

Heated patios, walkways and driveways. Northern baby-boomers are tired of shoveling and are looking for ways to decrease winter maintenance, plus many have discovered how also heating the patio can add an extra couple of weeks enjoyment in spring and fall.

Snoring rooms. Offered as options in new homes, adjacent, second bedrooms to the master, offer relief from the "buzz saw" and an alternative to the couch. A godsend for millions of relationships nationwide.

Modular Housing. Many think of the out-dated double wide as the typical modular, but modular options and quality have exploded from the top end 11,000 square foot home, with every whistle and bell, complex finishing details, to the bread and butter 1200 square foot starter home. Low-cost, factory-built construction and quick conception to foundation times, make this the affordable wave of the future.

Sustainable Design. Sustainable design is based on three areas; energy conservation, indoor air quality, and resource conservation. Viewed as new-age in construction circles, sustainable design looks at homes holistically, and not just a group of unrelated systems thrown together. Natural forms of energy, such as wind, solar, and geo-thermal if available on-site, are maximized.

Structured wiring. Right up there with all the buzz about green homes is structured wiring, now entering the main stream must-have for technology based home buyers.  Coaxial TV cable (RG-6), Category 5E voice and data lines, distributed radio, remote camera security are wired through out a home into multi-outlet boxes called in the trade, home network centers.

Mixing finishes on kitchen base and wall cabinets. Matchy-matchy is out in kitchen design. The new look is to have stained-wood  bases and painted wood upper cabinets. The old-europe-look rules, but with today's appliances

9:07 AM - Jan. 4, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Have you checked your dryer vent lately?

OK, we know you have more things to do than you can possibly get done, but this could be important.  It may even be a fire hazard!

Our friends, Chris and Lu Thomas, will come out and check and clean your dryer vent lines.  Their company, Dryer Vent Wizard, was formed specifically to relieve you of this task.  They say you might need to have your dryer vent lines checked if:

• there is lint behind the dryer (the connection may not be good)
• it takes more than 1 cycle to dry clothes
• there is weak air flow on the outside dryer vent (there might be a clogged line)

There are other services they provide as well.  You can contact them at 1-866-498-SAFE or on the web site.

2:44 PM - Jan. 2, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

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