October 2012 – Page 2 – Cooper Realty Associates

Spotlight On: My Favorite Restaurants

If you’re looking for a great place to eat this weekend, check out some of my favorite places that I’ve previously spotlighted.

1. Blue Water Grill in Millsboro
This is by far, my favorite restaurant in the area. It is DEEE-LICIOUS! Check out my review here.

2. Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth Beach
This seafood joint is a local favorite and definitely worth a visit. Check out my review here.

3. Georgia House in Various Locations
This family restaurant is a well loved tradition. The main location is in Millsboro, but there are also locations in Selbyville, Milford and Laurel. The home style favorites served here are crowd pleasers. Check out my review here.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 734-644-2266!

5 Steps You Should Take To Winterize Your Home

Fall is upon us and winter is quickly approaching, so if you haven’t taken steps to winterize your home already now would be a great time to do so. Here are five steps every homeowner should take:

1. Change your furnace filters. This maximizes your home’s efficiency in one easy and inexpensive step.

2. Check the roof. Examine your roof for leaks and replace shingles as needed. Heavy snow and ice can cause minor leaks to become major leaks in a hurry which is not only dangerous, but also much more expensive.

3. Check weatherstripping. Check the areas around your doors and windows to be sure that you are keeping your heat in and drafts out. Replacing and adjusting weatherstripping as necessary creates a seal and keeps warm air in and cold air out, which effectively saves you money.

4. Care for your yard. Rake and bag leaves, put away all loose outdoor tools and furniture, and consider fertilizing your lawn with a winter fertilizer. This will keep your yard safe when winter winds blow and set you up for having a gorgeous lawn in the spring.

5. Close foundation vents. Foundation vents should be open during the spring and summer to let moisture escape from your crawl space and closed during the fall and winter to protect against freezing. Now’s the time to close them up!

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

October 19, 2012

“I am confirmed in my division of human energies. Ambitious people climb, but faithful people build.” Julia Ward Howe “Would you rather be on the ladder of ambition or the solid footing of a built platform. Thank goodness for diversity.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 597086-$229,000. A large cape cod with 4 BR, 3 BA, granite countertops, hardwood floors and 2 Master Suites one on the first floor and one on the second floor, all in 2486 sq. ft. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

Thursday Three: 3 Things To Consider When Upgrading an Electrical System

If you fall in love with an older home, chances are you will need to update the electrical system at some point. Here are three things to keep in mind.

1. Electrical needs have changed significantly since your home was built. One hundred years ago and even fifty years ago, home just didn’t have the large number of electricity sucking appliances that we have now. In order to run your home’s electrical system safely and efficiently the average home needs a 200-amp panel at minimum.

2. Dedicate circuits. Remember that devices that such a lot of electricity such as stoves, air conditioners, microwaves, and clothes dryers will need their own dedicated circuits. It is okay for most lights and outlets to share a circuit.

3. Protect yourself. Be sure that any outlets and switches near water sources (including sinks, toilets, hose nozzles, etc.) need to be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter. A GFCI shuts off the circuit as soon as water is present. This safety precaution can prevent shock and even death. All of the outlets outdoors as well basements, garages, and bathrooms are also required to have this protection.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

October 17, 2012

“I never could be a partisan leader – a man of one idea.” Joshua Chamberlain “Partisan politics often become focused on only one idea; this is bad for the art of compromise, or God forbid a totally new idea.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 597760-$154,900. Here is a modular home on .75 acres, with 3 BR, 2 BA, a garage and a screened porch. Taxes are only $972.00. Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983.

Weekend Update: October 19th-21st

If wine and beer is your thing, than this is definitely the weekend you’ve been waiting for! Check out these events in and around Sussex County:

Saturday, October 20^th — Wine, Cheese & Beer Tasting
The Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park are hosting their 7^th annual Wine, Cheese, and Beer Tasting from 4pm-6pm on Saturday. Admission is $20 in advance or $24 at the door and of course you must have proper identification. Your ticket also covers your park entrance free. This event takes place at the Officer’s Club in Cape Henlopen State Park and all proceeds go to benefit the park. For more information check out this link.

Sunday, October 21^st – Delaware Wine & Beer Festival
This annual festival takes place in Felton, DE. Local brews from locations around the state will be featured and tours of the Pizzadili Vineyard and Winery are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, check out this link.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

October 16, 2012

“Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.” Josh Billings “Flattery can serve too many purposes to be taken as the gospel.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 597970. This home in the Glade, Rehoboth Beach, DE, boasts 3 BR, 2.5 BA, hardwood floors, new kitchen with granite countertops, A Florida Room, 2^nd floor Master Suite and an inverted floor plan. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

The Biggest Mistakes Home Buyers Make

Buying a home can be stressful and time consuming. The right agent can make your home search less painful, but it can still be quite a process. There are a few common mistakes that many home buyers make that can make the process more painful than it has to be. The first, extremely common mistake that buyers make is failing to see the potential in the homes they view. While it is important for buyers to see both the positive and negative aspects of each home they visit, passing on a home that is otherwise perfect just because the walls are an ugly color or the carpets are dated is a common mistake that can be avoided.

Another common mistake is getting so caught up in the moment or in the charm of a particular home or location that buyers forget that they need three bedrooms instead of two or need more need an eat-in kitchen versus a dining room. Compromise is a natural part of the home search, but compromising on a “deal breaker” because a buyer is caught up in the moment is a huge mistake. To that end, I located this awesome home buyer’s chart put out by HUD that can help buyers rate each home they see and keep the important things organized in several different categories.

Of course, having a great agent makes these mistakes and others much less common, so give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates if you’re in the market for a home in Sussex County. We look forward to working for you – 302-644-2266.

October 15, 2012

“The blind must not only be fed and housed and cared for; they must learn to make their lives useful to the community.” Julia Ward Howe “All members of society must make themselves useful to the community if able, otherwise the community will eventually cease to function. (Fred)

Why Fall is a Great Time to House Hunt

Between the amount of homes on the market and record low interest rates available to many buyers, fall could be the perfect time to find your dream home at a dream price.

Between the amount of homes on the market and record low interest rates available to many buyers, fall could be the perfect time to find your dream home at a dream price. Fall is a great time to go hunting for bargains in the real estate market. According to the National Association of Realtors in many markets, including our market of the Northeast, home prices drop by an average of $7,000-$10,000 once summer turns to fall. Fall is also a great time to get clues about the upkeep and maintenance of the homes you’re looking at. With leaves falling and weather changing, you should be able to get a good feel for the gutters, yard upkeep, drainage, and more better than you can during the warmer, dryer summer period. Finally, fall is a time when business slows down for many contractors, so if your dream home might need a little work, you are more likely to get a deal on the work now than if you purchase your home at any other time. Especially considering the rock bottom mortgage rates that are available currently, now is the time to get out there and find yourself a bargain!

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Spotlight on JD’s Filling Station in Lewes

JD’s Filling Station in Lewes is an all-American diner at its best! Located in what was once an actual filling station & bait and tackle shop, both the environment and food at JD’s are worth coming in for! They serve a popular breakfast special beginning at 8am during the week and 7:30am on weekends. Lunch and dinner are classic, all-American favorites, and brunch is served all day! JD’s is closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays, but opens at 8am Monday, Thursday & Friday and 7:30am on Saturday and Sunday.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty and put us to work for you — 302-644-2266!

October 12, 2012

“The best time for you to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust.” Josh Billings “Spontaneous discourse without thought can cause all manner of difficulties, most unintended.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 598732-$234,900. Here is the Highland home (to be built) in Georgetown, DE. The home has 3 BR, 2 BA, master bath with whirlpool tub and separate shower all on 1.26 acres. Please call me for more information at 302 258-6983.

5 Ways To Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Yesterday I talked about how to update your home’s entry way to increase your curb appeal. Here are five more ways to increase your home’s curb appeal:

1. Use container planting to create an instant garden and add color to your home’s exterior.
2. Pave an entry walkway with stone or brick.
3. Add shutters or trim around windows and doors – paint it in an accent color for even more appeal.
4. Replace your garage door with more a more visually interesting model.
5. Trim any plants and trees that block views of your front door and make sure all walkways are clear too.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Thursday Three: 3 Ways To Update Your Entryway

These suggestions will spruce up your entry way and add instant curb appeal to your home:

1. Replace the light in your entry way with a fixture that has visual or historic appeal.
2. Paint your front door a stand out color… bright red is the most appealing choice!
3. Replace the hardware on your door with an attractive and modern set for a great, updated look.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Weekend Update October 12-14

There are a couple big events going on in the area this weekend. Check it out:

Thursday, October 11^th-Sunday, October 14^th – Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
This major, annual event kicks off tomorrow and goes through the weekend. With many great artists and a full schedule, there’s sure to be something for everyone! This year features multiple stages and tickets are available at the door. For more information and a full schedule events check out this link.

Friday, October 12^th-Saturday, October 13^th – Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival
This annual food festival is one of the top in the nation! There will be food and drinks, live entertainment, children’s activities, carnival rides, craft vendors, and of course Delaware’s original scrapple! The festival opens at 4pm Friday and continues from 9am-10pm on Saturday. For more information and a complete schedule of events, check out this link.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

October 10, 2012

“It is necessary to make virtue fashionable.” Jose Marti “Fashionable suggests changing perceptions, we need to keep virtue a constant.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 595920-$111,999. A Contemporary home in Selbyville, DE, with 3 BR, 2.5 BA, on almost an acre, in a waterfront community, this home is sold AS IS. Call me @ 302 258-6983 to see this home.

Preventing Tree Damage

Believe it or not, trees can add considerable value to your home. In fact a well placed tree could be contributing up to 10% of your property value. But whether your property has many trees or just a few, the concern that a major storm could send a branch crashing down onto your roof is a legitimate concern. Tree damage can be an especially big concern heading into winter, with ice and snow weighting down branches and causing problems. Now is the perfect time to take preventative action. If you are worried about any of your trees, you can have them inspected by a local tree service. This is usually a free service that tree companies offer. An inspection like this can tell you if you have any weak branches that need to be removed or if any limbs need to be tethered to protect against high winds. Usually, if this work does need to be done it can all be taken care of for under $500 and can save you many headaches down the road. It is wise to have your trees inspected every 3-5 years so that you can stay on top of preventative maintenance which is the best way to avoid problems!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

October 10, 2012

“To forget one’s purpose is the commonest form of stupidity.” Friedrich Nietzsche “One’s purpose is one of life’s most difficult discoveries on the par with finding the right mate.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 596059-$207,000. There is a Rancher in Milton, DE, on 1.25 acres, with 3 BR, 2 BA, a swimming pool, hot tub, a deck and a large shed. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

Buyers’ Biggest Turn-offs

If you are trying to sell your home then you definitely don’t want to turn off potential buyers as soon as they walk into your home. In order for your home to show as well as it possibly can, there are several things you should clean up and put out of sight (out of the house, if possible!) to help your home show off its best features. According to a survey of house hunters and their agents, pet stuff and toys/baby stuff top the list of things that buyers don’t want to see (or smell!) when they walk in your house. When it comes to pets, they really shouldn’t even know that you have one. Potential buyers with allergies may not even give your home a fair shot if they know about your animals. Even though it’s inconvenient to make arrangements for your pets and their things every time there is a showing, it really is important if you want to get your home sold. When it comes to the baby stuff, you should have a dedicated area for storing your children’s things, such as a large toy chest or two. Then, when you have a showing you can just shove everything in, close the lid, and be done! Clear baby clutter such as bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, etc. off counters and tables and put it out of sight!

Speaking of clutter… that’s another big turn off. I know I’ve said it before, but it really is important to clear clutter off the kitchen counter, including any small appliances, wash and put away dirty dishes, and put away personal items. It is equally important to clear clutter and stow personal items in the bathroom. And when it comes to the bathroom, keep the sink and toilet cleaned at all times, and keep the toilet seat and lid down! Nobody wants to see a dirty toilet when they are imagining their dream home!

Of course, its difficult and sometimes impossible to keep your house in tip-top shape when you’re trying to sell, but it really is worth the time and effort invested to get the best offer on your home and quickly as possible!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!

October 8, 2012

“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought. Jonathan Swift “It is amazing what the human mind can derive from the same stimuli.” (Fred)

Today we celebrate Columbus Day. After years of effort Columbus finally sailed from the Canary Islands on September 6, 1492. After 29 days of sailing west they finally sighted land at 2 AM on October 12, 1492. The land was one of the Bahamas Islands that Columbus named San Salvador. And the rest is History.