Curb appeal is key online where buyers start their search for a home. First impressions are critical so make sure there are plenty of  photos to attract prospective buyers. For outdoor photos, photos should be updated each season to give that right first impression.

Driving up to your home also requires great curb appeal. Too often buyers who do not like the appearance of a property from the street will refuse to take the time to look inside. Here’s what you can do to motivate all potential buyers to step inside. READ MORE

You love how the wood siding looks on your home but the cost to keep painting the house is getting out of control. Some of your neighbors have replaced their siding with vinyl but you’re still not sure what the best solution is for you … and your house.

For more than 20 years, Remodeling Magazine has surveyed the cost of various remodeling projects compared to the projected value (higher price) when the home is sold. For more than 5 years, vinyl siding has been among the top 10 projects. In the Cost vs Value Remodeling Report 2008-2009, the projected value for installing replacement siding was: READ MORE

Most homeowners are familiar with the home inspection process, a traditional step in the home buying process. The goal is to determine the home’s condition, from the roof to the foundation and all the systems in between like electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling. Ideally you are buying a home that is well maintained and only has a few outstanding problems that require attention. READ MORE

Emergencies happen. Severe weather may damage our homes, and some problems are more critical than others. Water emergencies should be dealt with immediately, whether the water is coming in from outside, or there’s a plumbing leak inside your home. Why?

Water or high levels of moisture may continue causing damage, often hidden damage, which increases the risk of mold along with higher repair costs. By the time you see a small stain on your ceiling, the water leak that probably caused it may be days or weeks old with more damage hidden between the ceiling and the walls or floors above. A small problem, might be small … or it might be a lot bigger once you start repairs and are able to see what’s hidden inside the ceiling/walls. READ MORE

For more than 20 years, Remodeling Magazine has surveyed the cost of various remodeling projects compared to the projected value (higher price) when the home is sold. For more than 5 years, vinyl siding has appeared among the top 10 projects and this year was no exception. In the Cost vs Value Remodeling Report 2008-2009, the projected value for installing replacement siding was:

• Cost of vinyl siding $10,256 expected to recover 80.7%
• Foam backed siding $12,528 and should recover 80.4% READ MORE

Bathrooms are really small. They’re the smallest rooms in the house and we try to stuff an incredible amount of “stuff” into our bathrooms.  The problem with too much stuff … is you can’t find what you want, when you want or need it. If you’ve had this problem, you’ll want to explore with us, how you can find and/or create more storage in your bathroom.

Adding hooks to the back of your door is a perfect solution for storing extra towels. Most of the time, the door is open and noone will even see what’s hanging behind the door unless you’re in the bathroom. Depending on your door style, you can install hooks on the top and bottom of your door which is very helpful with young children. Hooks are available as singles, doubles or there is quite a selection of multiple hook fixtures such as the one shown here (purchased at Lowes). READ MORE

Why are there so many different types of lightbulbs? We all know what light bulbs look like don’t we? Not really as the traditional, incandescent light bulb pictured on the left wastes 90% of the energy generated because it’s  as heat while only 10% of the energy actually produces light.

We’re Wasting Too Much Energy

As people have been slow to adopt the new CFL (compact florescent lightbulbs) and now there are LED (light emitting diode) bulbs, the government is taking our traditional lightbulbs off the shelf! READ MORE

What are popcorn ceilings? Most people equate popcorn with going to the movies and munching on the fluffy white stuff while sitting back and relaxing at the movie theater or at home. What does popcorn have to do with our homes?

Many home owners remember when they had a popcorn ceiling and wanted to get rid of  the bumpy texture. People feel it dates a house, that it’s difficult to paint and almost impossible to match texture after making repairs to the ceiling. Here is information to help you decide what to do with your popcorn ceilings. READ MORE

Often removing a popcorn ceiling becomes part of a ceiling repair.It is a very messy job but many home owners feel it is worth the expense in time and/or money to get a smooth or textured ceiling more to their liking.

The most common type of ceiling repair follows a water leak, from the roof or more often, from plumbing problems in an upstairs bathroom.  Covering water stains with a stain block can solve small problems, but there are many occasions when drywall (also called sheetrock) in the ceiling has to be replaced. With a popcorn ceiling, not only do you have to apply popcorn to the new sheetrock. You also need to remove the popcorn back far enough to properly mud the seams connecting the new drywall to the old ceiling. READ MORE

Remodeling is a great alternative to moving. It’s a lot of work but when you think about getting your home ready to sell, the actual selling process plus packing, moving and unpacking is even more work. Coupled with the current housing marketing, many homeowners are deciding to remodel, i.e. create an extra bedroom or their dream family room, to avoid selling and moving.

Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs Value Remodeling Report, 2008-2009 represents 4,000 buyers (may also be sellers) completing the survey. New in this year’s report was a trend graph comparing the last 7 years (2003 to 2009). Given the ups and downs of the economy and the housing market, people were pleased to see a drop in the average cost of remodeling projects while the resulting value held steady. READ MORE