You say you’re getting tired of the same old look in your home, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on redecorating? Instead of buying new furniture, think about some easy updates that will renew your home and endure for years.

• New light fixtures. Dress up any room with new light fixtures. The possibilities are endless, from ceiling-embedded can lights to elaborate chandeliers.
• Ceiling fans. When you replace old light fixtures, you may want to consider ceiling fans with light fixtures attached. This not only gives your room a new look, but improves air circulation. In winter, a ceiling fan can be set to pull cool air up, displacing warm air at the ceiling to even out indoor temperatures. In summer, reverse the spin to push air down and create a nice breeze.
• New window treatments. A room can really be transformed by dressing windows in new ‘clothes.’ Whether you go with conventional drapes in a new color, or explore the various types of shades available, don’t miss the chance to improve your home’s energy efficiency by investing in insulated window treatments. They will make your home more comfortable and save money too. Read the rest of this entry »

With a new year beginning, it’s time for you to get rid of last year’s baggage and concentrate on making 2012 the best it can be. So if you had a home for sale in 2011 and it’s still on the market, then you only need to have one New Year’s resolution: do whatever it takes to sell that house!

This economy has made it challenging to get acceptable offers from prospective buyers. While this is extremely discouraging, the lack of offers might mean it’s time to bite the bullet and lower the price on your real estate. Then you might be able to sell quickly and start a new lease on life.

Below are reasons you should lower your price now to sell fast and start anew:

• It costs time and money to keep a house on the market. Maintaining a house and waiting for the right offer is a full-time job. There is constant cleaning, upkeep and improvements that can cost you time and money — which you could be investing into your new house. Read the rest of this entry »

The data from the 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers is now available. Here are the significant changes you need to know that will help you market your real estate and get it sold:

1. Most buyers are married: 64 percent of all buyers are married couples (up five percent from 2010), 18 percent are single women, 10 percent single men and 7 percent unmarried couples.
2. Your property is competing against 12 other homes: Buyers searched a median of 12 weeks and visited 12 homes, both unchanged from 2010.
3. Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are preferred: The typical home had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Read the rest of this entry »

If you need to replace flooring, countertops or a backsplash in your home, consider ceramic tile. Here are some of the great attributes of ceramic tile:

• Natural, renewable and very green. The production of ceramic tile is non-polluting and energy efficient.
• Durable. It can last the lifetime of your home.
• Non-flammable. Great around the fireplace, woodstove and kitchen stove.
• Wide variety to choose from. Ceramic tile is available in a multitude of textures and colors. You can also create tile patterns to add interest to any décor. Read the rest of this entry »

During the holidays, it’s hard to ensure your home is ready for impromptu parties and visiting family. With all the extra decorations and presents that appear, there never seems to be enough room to keep your house organized and uncluttered. This year, you might consider asking the big man in red for the gift of orderliness.

Instead of asking Santa for the usual new clothing, sports gear or electronics, maybe you should ask him to splurge on even one of the space-expanding strategies below. It might take a bit of an investment, but you’ll add value to your home, its interior rooms will appear larger and it will be bought up quickly when the time comes to sell.

• Build a front porch. Extending your entrance out under eaves will improve curb appeal, add charm and create more of an entry space to place coats, boots and umbrellas — which means they’re not lying around your kitchen.
• Order a counter-depth fridge. By purchasing a fridge that aligns with your counters, you’ll keep your kitchen looking sleek and avoid running a hip into an appliance that juts out into the walkway. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re closing up your summer vacation home to head for warmer climates or leaving your home in for an extended period, follow these tips to safeguard your home from harsh weather, pests and vandalism:

1. Trim bushes, shrubs and hedges. This isn’t to make your yard prettier. It’s to improve your home’s security by providing an unobstructed view of your doors and windows.
2. Prune tree limbs and branches. You don’t want any branches hanging over your house. They provide easy access to rodents and robbers and could fall during storms, damaging your home in .
3. Bring in outdoor furniture and decorations. Don’t chance having your outdoor chairs, tables or decorations destroyed during winter storms.
4. Securely store valuable property. ATVs, bicycles, canoes and riding lawn mowers are easy targets for thieves. Make them harder to steal by locking them up in a shed or garage. Read the rest of this entry »

As a seller preparing to sell your home, you may be busily emptying closets and painting walls, but don’t forget about the outside of your house. Home buying is emotional and, like many emotional reactions, it can be heavily impacted by first impressions.

Here are some suggestions on how to encourage love at first sight by increasing the curb appeal of your home:

• Tidy up – You may be so used to seeing the crumbling stack of firewood by the garbage cans and the old paint cans by the shed that they fade into the landscape, but potential homeowners see the mess.  As you look at the outside of your house, think about what you can throw away or put out of sight. The broken swing on the tree actually takes away from the grandeur of that old oak.  An extra hint: Not everyone will enjoy the garden gnome collection as much as you do.
• Trim Everything – If the hedges under the front windows of your home are so unruly that they cover the windows, it’s past time to find the clippers.
• Repair the Front Walk – If you have crumbling cement or stepping stones that slide deeper into the mud with every raindrop, check into updating the front walk so that it is inviting, safe, and weed-free.
• Power-wash decks so they look fresh. Read the rest of this entry »

If you notice a musty or dusty smell when you turn on the furnace, you should look into having your air ducts cleaned. People with allergies or respiratory issues are especially vulnerable to the circulation of dirt and mold spores that accumulate in the HVAC system.

To help you determine if it’s time to clean the air ducts in your home, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

• Why should I have my ducts cleaned? Particulates in the air ducts become airborne throughout your  home whenever the blower goes on. In addition, contaminant buildup can reduce the efficiency of the heating system.
• How often should my ducts be cleaned? Even if your heating system has a good, effective filter, some experts believe your air ducts still need to be cleaned every five to seven years. Read the rest of this entry »

In this computer age where everyone relies on the Internet for information, it’s unfortunate that some online real estate information can be misleading. With the vast amount of time you have to spend house hunting to find a home you love, you don’t want to waste any of it on properties that aren’t what they seem.

Beware of the following inaccuracies when house hunting online:

• Misleading descriptions – When you visit a property, double-check that what attracted you to it online is portrayed accurately. Ensure that a “fully finished basement” isn’t just concrete floors and drywall or that the “spacious backyard” isn’t as narrow as a dog run.
• Errors – It’s impossible for nationwide real estate websites to manage and fact check all of the information posted to their pages, so inaccuracies often happen — such as wrong price points or incorrect home descriptions. Follow up with a real estate agent, if you’re seriously interested. Read the rest of this entry »

According to AARP, seniors overwhelmingly want to stay in their homes as long as possible.  With innovations in home design, it’s possible for more and more seniors to achieve this dream.

Remodelers trained as Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) can help homeowners adapt their homes for easier accessibility and improved functionality. CAPS remodelers learn about aging-in-place home design and how to help customers create a more comfortable home. Read the rest of this entry »