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Fencing Styles and Materials to Increase Property Value
If you want to increase and maintain the value of your home while creating curb appeal, fencing may become your new best friend.
A fence, like a border or frame on a photograph, can make your yard seem "finished." In addition to being functional, a fence can be considered an important part of your landscaping.
Your fence should match the ambiance of your property so it seems a part of the grander plan and not an after thought.
Before you hit the hardware store, ask yourself these questions:
1. There are many reasons for wanting a fence. Define your purpose. Are you looking for privacy? Are you trying to keep animals in (or out)? Do you want to create and emphasize interesting lines on your property? Is the fence for decorative purposes only? Perhaps you're out to protect children or a garden. Your reasons for wanting a fence may be many fold. For example, you might need a beautiful fence to keep the animals out of your garden and emphasize the beautiful lines of your property while providing you with some element of privacy.
2. Where do I want a fence? Draw a diagram of your yard. It's a good idea to measure your yard and plot it out on a piece of graph paper. Each square could represent one foot, for example. You may want to use different types of fencing for different areas. For example, you might want a 6-foot flat privacy fence to separate your back yard from the neighbors, but a shorter, more inviting type of fencing in the front yard so your home won't seem quite so much like a compound.
3. Following are basic fence types as defined by www.doityourself.com:
4. Some of the most popular fencing materials used today are:
Each material is best suited to a specific type of fencing. When you are deciding what kind of material used, consider what features are most important to you including:
It pays to maintain and protect your property!
If you are looking for a home, or need advice on how to sell your home for the best possible current market price, contact us today. We're here to help.
Supply and Demand Helps Stabilize Home Market
On Feb. 2 the National Association of Realtors' Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, said home sale statistics are skewed by the federal home buyer tax credit that sent some shoppers scrambling for a closing in 2009, and others racing to get in on a 2010 expanded and extended version of the federal break.
In fact, Yun said, pending home sales have stabilized and are up from those reported last year. The First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit threatened to sunset at the end of November in 2009. That caused an upswing in the number of homes sold. Then, the tax credit program was extended and expanded. The April 30 deadline for the extension is looming and home sales are again on the rise. The swings can be confusing.
In an NAR press release, Yun said, "These swings are masking the underlying trend, which is a broad improvement over year-ago levels. December activity was the fifth highest monthly tally in two years."
According to NAR, the Pending Housing Sales Index (PHSI) is a good market indicator. Following is a brief look at its recent performance.
Yun projects the extended and expanded tax credit will encourage 2.4 million households to take the credit in 2010. He expects new home sales to remain low, but existing home sales should rise to about 5.6 million this year. In 2009 there were 5.16 million existing-home sales. The increase in sales could help stabilize the market overall. It's simply a matter of supply and demand.
It seems the world is on fire.
Many states including California and Utah are ablaze with life-threatening, home-threatening flames. It's a common scenario for the season. Unless, those fires are hitting close to your home.
Protecting a home from the perils of fire is a very hot topic today.
The first three recommendations I would like to make are these:
On the morning news I watched a man interviewed by probing reporters as he stood in the midst of his once beautiful 20-acre paradise. His charred home was a pile of rubble and the trees surrounding him grim silhouettes still smoldering in the grey morning chill. He didn't have any homeowner's insurance. He was mad. He was very, very angry that the fire had been allowed to consume his home. "They told me that it would never happen. It happened," he said shaking his head. He appeared to be in a mild state of shock.
Sometimes despite best efforts by safety experts, fires get out of control.
Homeowner's insurance will protect you and your lifetime investment in the unlikely event of a fire. Check your policy for fire coverage. Make sure your personal belongings are included in the policy. Purchase "replacement value" insurance to assure your insurance company will pay to replace your home (and not just pay what is owed on it).
You might never cash in on the cost of homeowner's insurance premiums. Consider including the premiums in your entertainment budget because knowing you have insurance will help you relax more and more often than any vacation ever will!
Do Your Part to Protect Your Home from Fire
It is important to consider fire safety at every stage of buying or building a home. When choosing a building lot, be completely aware of the surroundings. Wooded lots are lovely, but they do pose an increased risk of fire due to the fuel that surrounds them. Look for other safety considerations and make a plan for how you will physically protect your home and property.
When building a home, take into consideration the many fire-retardant materials available on the building market today. Build fire safety into your plans with plenty of accessible exits, and recommended windows to allow easy escape. Contact your local fire station for other recommendations specific to your area.
In an existing home, double-check smoke detectors and change the batteries regularly. Create a family escape plan. Avoid heavy build up of newspapers and trash in and around the home. Never store flammable liquids near the home. Make a sweep through your garage at least once a week to check for potentially dangerous chemicals.
Keep trees, shrubs and other vegetation surrounding your home trimmed. Yard debris should be removed as soon as possible including dry leaves and pine needles.
There are many, many ways to protect your home from a potentially devastating fire. Fires throughout the nation are great reminders to consider fire safety and review the precautions you have taken to protect yourself.
Fire happens. Don't let it happen to you.
Go Green and Let the Sun Shine In!Solar Homes are Lighter on the Pocketbook
There's a huge push in America today to conserve energy and cut related costs. Homes with energy-saving features are likely to be much more marketable today and in the future. Whether you're building a new home or remodeling a home, let the sun shine in to heat and (get this) cool your home.
President Barak Obama's Administration is taking clean air and energy solutions to the extreme with an historic and controversial bill spearheaded by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.). The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the bill on June 26, 2009. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) slipped through by a very narrow margin.
The Senate may debate on the same bill or on companion legislation. In order to become law, The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 must be signed by the President. The bill is intended to "create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy." You can track this legislation at www.Govtrak.us. This website merely reports on legislation and does not editorialize.
Whether or not the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law, the clean energy and resources issue is on the table and Congress is dining in style. Expect some form of government control and possibly incentives for those who strive for greener personal and commercial environments.
Homeowners can start today by designing homes that take advantage of the earth's natural and renewable energy resources. Solar homes meet the basic criteria for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Passive Solar Homes Save Energy, Money
Passive solar homes use heat from the sun to heat and cool homes. A home might be entirely or partially warmed by the sun depending on the home's design and the stage at which solar design is incorporated.
Large windows serve as heat collectors. Heat absorption is maximized with the perfect angle. An absorber in an indoor wall, or on the floor in direct sunlight collects and stores the sun's energy. The energy is moved through the home via a distribution system that relies on radiation, conduction and convection alone. It is possible to eliminate a heating bill with solar energy. Passive solar energy incorporates many natural elements including wind and trees. Design elements like landscape features, overhangs, and careful landscaping also come into play.
An active solar system uses fans and blowers to help distribute the heat. This usually requires photovoltaic panels to collect solar energy. The energy is then turned into electricity.
It might seem like an oxymoron to suggest you cool your home with the sun, but there is a wide variety of systems available to cool homes including, but certainly not limited to the use of a coolant that absorbs and actually dissipates heat from a structure.
Even if you're not building a new home and don't want to remodel a home entirely, you can take advantage of easy-to-install features to conserve energy including trees, insulation and window dressings that allow you to let the sun shine in when you seek warmth and block it out when you're trying to cool you home.
If you're looking for an energy efficient home, contact us today. If you have a green home you're ready to sell, let us guide you through the selling process.
Make Sure Your Deck is an Asset, Not an Eyesore
It's the little extras in a home that really seem to seal the deal. A garden tub, a spa, and a beautiful deck are sometimes just enough to persuade a home buyer to select a certain property. For that reason, it's a good idea to protect your own investment in real estate by adding extras and maintaining them to make your property more saleable.
Unfortunately, extras that are poorly installed or constructed can actually become eyesores and detract from a property's value. Today we'll focus on adding a deck to your new or existing home with materials that are attractive, easy to work with and long lasting.
There are many, many types of wood with which you can construct your deck. Before you decide, consider the pros and cons of several different types of materials. Be sure to take into consideration:
Below is a quick-reference table to help you narrow your materials selections down to a few.
|
Material |
Pros |
Cons |
|
Cedar |
Popular, available, durable, light, easy to handle, decay resistant |
Lower strength, high maintenance (requires annual coating) |
|
Mahogany |
Elegant, color-rich, durable, splinter-resistant |
More expensive than Cedar, still very reasonable |
|
Cypress |
Rot-resistant, easy to work with, visually unique, durable |
Not as readily available as Cedar and Mahogany |
|
Pine |
Classic, lightweight, easy to handle, easy to paint or finish, inexpensive compared to other types of wood, moderately strong |
High maintenance, not as durable as many other types of wood |
|
Redwood |
Visually appealing with red hue, decay resistant, easy to work with, paintable |
More expensive than many other traditional woods, high maintenance, lower strength than some woods like Cypress and Pine |
|
Exotic (Ipe, Meranti) |
Unusual, extremely strong, fire resistant, insect resistant |
Expensive, must be special ordered, can be hard to handle, controversy surrounding harvest of exotic hardwoods |
|
Pressure-treated Fir |
Fairly strong, easy to use, inexpensive, easy to find, rot-resistant |
Color can be a problem with green and brown tints, contains toxin troublesome to the environment |
|
Composite lumber |
Looks like wood, fairly inexpensive, readily available, durable, easy to work with |
High maintenance, not as visually appealing as other products, shows wear and tear quicker |
|
Synthetics (recycled rubber, vinyl, plastic) |
Very durable, fade resistant, insect resistant, various colors available, easy to work with |
Limited parts available for projects outside of decks, can crack and dry with improper maintenance, a little harder to work with than traditional woods |
|
Concrete |
Extremely durable, almost maintenance free, inexpensive, easy to find |
Harder to work with than traditional wood, nearly impossible to remove, requires advanced skills for installation |
Any improvement you make to your home should be done with added value in mind! Build improvements to be visually appealing, lasting, functional and low maintenance.
Design Your Home to Conserve Water
Go Green. Save Green (and Water)!
Water is one of the world's most precious commodities. Whether you're building a new home, have purchased an older home, or are simply trying to cut down on utility bills, there are many measures you can take to conserve water.
1. Drip, drip, drip. You know that annoying little drip in the bathroom sink? Did you know it can send up to 20 gallons of water down the drain every single day? If the drip has become a steady little stream, you can multiply that amount by many times.
If you're building a home, use high quality fixtures that won't leak. Proper installation is critical. Don't overlook even the smallest of leaks. Take a "Do-It-Yourself" course from a local building supply or plumbing store so you know how to identify problem pipes and fixtures and feel confident in repairing them. (Just think of the money you'll save!)
2. That toilet is sure noisy. If you suspect the toilet is leaking, try this tip. Remove the lid from the toilet tank and put three or four drops of food coloring in the water there. Wait 30 minutes (don't flush the toilet). If you see color in the bowl, that is an indication that your toilet is loosing water and replacing it with water from the tank. Find out where the water is going! Replace any parts that need to be replaced and repeat the test.
You can reduce the volume of water required to stop the flow into the toilet tank by inserting a commercial space taker in the tank away. To save even more money, simply use jars or jugs that are weighted down and will sink to the bottom of the tank. Be sure to keep room in the tank for at least three gallons of water.
When building your home, purchase toilets specifically designed to minimize the amount of water they use. Be sure to write down all of the water-saving measures you take in case you decide to sell your home. Conservation efforts will make your home more valuable and easier to sell.
3. Where is it all going? Play "Water Detective." Water leaks can be sneaky. You might be using excessive water and not even know it. Turn off all of the water in your house and yard. Record the numbers on your water meter. Wait two hours. The meter should display the same numbers as when you started. If not? You're losing water to a sneaky leak somewhere. Find the culprit and put an end to the waste.
4. Slow the flow. If you're building a new home, make it a point to use low-flow faucets and shower heads. If you're trying to make an older home more efficient, install flow restrictors. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
Aerators are readily available for faucets. Aerators allow you to adjust the spray volume you need for the task at hand. Aerators may feature a valve to easily reduce the flow of water without turning of the taps or readjusting them. Discuss the concept of water conservation with others living in your home. Carefully review water bills for water usage and plan a reward for significantly reducing the amount of water used each month. Encourage people to take shorter showers, avoid leaving water running needlessly, turn of the water while brushing teeth, etc.
5. The heat is on. Properly adjust your hot water heater and insulate pipes so hot water in the pipes stays hot and is readily available on demand. This will prevent you from having to run the water for an extended period of time to get water from the heater to the faucet.
6. Cool it down. Keep fresh, cold water in the refrigerator. That way, there will be no need to run water for an extended period of time to get it good and cold.
7. Fill it up. Purchase conservation conscious appliances. Even if you don't purchase new appliances, you can save water by making sure you only start appliances with a full load. Use the proper settings for the load you are washing. For example, if you're washing a regular load of dishes, don't use the "Pots and Pans" cycle of your dishwasher.
Set your clothes washer to a cycle that requires the fewest rinses.
8. Recycle. Garbage disposals require the use of running water to rinse food waste down the drain. You can recycle and save water by starting a compost pile. Instead of washing food waste down the drain, turn it into a valuable resource for your garden.
Personalize Your New Yard or Garden with Unique Stepping Stones
Buying your first home can be one of life's most exciting adventures. Most people begin immediately to personalize their newly-purchased home. Gardens and yards are great fun to landscape and decorate. You can create your own garden stepping stones for a unique walkway or random yard art. These are even great for small patios and balconies. They even look great in indoor gardens.
If you plan to upgrade to another new home some day, simply take the stepping stones with you and build on your collection through the years.
These personalized stepping stones also make great gifts for friends and family members year round. They are long lasting, homemade, and will remind recipients of your kindness when they tour their own yards and gardens.
Gather Supplies
Plan Your Design
There are many different ways to design your stepping stones and you are only limited by your own creativity.
Here are some other embellishment ideas:
Using Photographs
Laminate photographs before you firmly press them into wet cement that has dried for 30 to 60 minutes after pouring. Push rocks in around the edges.
You can also sandwich a photo between two pieces of glass. Wrap the edges with copper tape (this is available where stained glass supplies are sold). Set the photograph in concrete and gently roll wet concrete around the edges to make it stay.
My Favorite Tip
A professional stepping stone-maker commented on eHow.com about how to create designs. He recommended cutting out a piece of contact paper the same size as the bottom of the pan. Peel off the backing. Press embellishments onto the sticky side of the contact paper. Place the embellished paper in the bottom of the pan and spray it with oil such as WD-40. Cover all sides of the pan. Gently scoop concrete over the design. The contact paper holds it in place and you can easily peel it away when the stone is dry!
A Different Way to Add Handprints and Footprints
Fill a container with heavy, moist sand. Press your hand very firmly in the sand. Brush the inside gently to smooth the indentation. Mix concrete and spoon it into the indentation. Allow 24 hours to dry. Pull the creation out. Create your stepping stone and add the handprint or footprint after wet cement has dried for 30 to 60 minutes.
Making Your Stepping Stones
For a very unique and personal walkway, pour square or rectangular stones and fit them together.
If you're ready to purchase your first home, contact us today! Time is running out to claim your $8,000 federal First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. Many local and state government entities are also offering attractive incentives to homebuyers.
Call us today!
NAR Bucks for More Housing Bucks from FedsThe National Association of Realtors® is encouraged by the increase in home sales bolstered by an historic federal $8,000 homebuyer tax credit and is seeking an extension of the program. The program is s
cheduled to expire Nov. 30 and NAR told Congress this week, that's too soon.
NAR® Regional Vice President Joseph L. Canfora testified this week of the program's success and urged a Congressional panel to continue offering the monetary encouragement through 2010.
Canfora, a broker-owner with Century 21 Selmar Realty in East Islip, N.Y., also told the panel during a U.S. House Small Business Committee hearing that new appraisal processes in the Home Valuation Code of Conduct has caused delays that could prevent some would-be participants from meeting the looming tax-credit deadline.
In an NAR® press release issued this week, Canfora spells out the success of the tax-credit program in hard numbers. "The credit is working," Canfora said. He pointed out that the 355,000 to 400,000 transactions directly attributable to the credit made a significant dent in the housing inventory and will help to stabilize home prices. He said the credit has provided a huge indirect benefit to local governments, shoring up property tax bases in particularly hard-hit areas.
According to NAR®, $63,000 is shot into the economy every time a home is purchased. Canfora warns the country's housing market is not out of the woods. Reset mortgage rates, unemployment, and quick sale of properties dumped on the market by lenders wanting to take advantage of a more stable economy could curb the economic upswing.
Canfora told committee members, "The more robust the credit and the greater its duration, the greater the chance that the housing market can perform its traditional role of helping the economy move out of a recession." He said the new HVCC standards have caused the loss of home sales throughout the nation.
NAR is encouraging the public to contact their legislative representatives and impress upon them the importance of extending the tax-credit deadline.
Go Green: Trees Can Add 15% to Your Property Value ...... and Much More to Your Environment
Healthy trees are a great asset to real estate and to the environment in general. If you are building a new home, be sure to include plenty of trees in your landscape plans. Not only will you beautify your property, you will realize real savings in water, heating and cooling bills. You will also be contributing to clean air and a healthy environment.
It's never too late to plant a tree. Research tree varieties before you plant. Make a list of the qualities you are looking for in a tree and visit your local nursery. Determine which trees are best suited to your environment. Decide exactly what you want from your new tree or trees including:
Also consider:
Author Arthur Plotnik sings the praises of trees in, The Urban Tree Book; An Uncommon Guide for City and Town.
In his book, Plotnik details eight really great reasons to plant, grow, nurse, and maintain trees. This book explores history, folklore, aesthetics, and the necessity of trees. Following are Plotnik's eight arguments favor of the almighty tree as published by Steve Nix at About.com:
While it's true that mortgage lenders are tightening the purse strings, home loans are still out there and readily available to those who qualify. The only way you will know if you do qualify is to seek a mortgage pre-approval.
A mortgage pre-approval will help:
Your loan application information will be the basis for your mortgage pre-approval. Lenders will also weigh heavily three credit reports and income verification. Before you shop for a mortgage pre-approval, review your own credit history. Determine what you can comfortably afford to pay for housing including taxes and insurance.
Before you visit a lender, or fill out a loan application, check your credit report for potential problems. Your credit score will help determine whether or not you get a loan, the terms of the loan and the interest rate you will pay.
Federal law entitles you to one free credit report in a 12-month period from each major credit reporting agency. Get a free report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Check the report for errors and resolve errors before you apply for a loan. You can also call the three major nationwide consumer credit reporting companies for your free report:
Mortgage Pre-approval vs. Mortgage Pre-Qualification
A mortgage pre-approval is not the same as a mortgage pre-qualification. Many people confuse the two terms. A mortgage pre-qualification is the first step to getting a mortgage pre-approval.
During the mortgage pre-qualification process, a mortgage lender will evaluate your financial status based on information you give over the telephone or internet. It does not usually require an application fee or require you to substantiate income and expense claims. The lender will determine how much you are likely to be able to afford for housing. It is important to be completely honest with your lender and yourself during this process.
A mortgage pre-approval is more formal. It will require fees including an application fee and a credit report fee. You will be asked to provide documents to verify employment or other forms of income. The mortgage lender working on the mortgage pre-approval will pull your credit reports and review your credit history. Mortgage pre-approval is a better guarantee of your eligibility than a mortgage pre-qualification.
Mortgage Pre-Approval Gives You Bargaining Power
Home shoppers are often disappointed when they are turned down for a loan. Home sellers suffer too when their intended buyer is not able to secure a loan. Sellers are wary of buyers who may not qualify for a home loan. A mortgage pre-approval will give you bargaining power.
Our company has a vast network of lenders and other real estate transaction support services. Contact us today for help getting pre-approved for a home loan.
