November 2012 – Page 2 – Cooper Realty Associates

Weekend Update: Nov. 16-18

Here are a few local events to keep you busy this weekend:

Friday, 11/16 – Cooking & Decorating Help
Learn how to make beautiful and edible holiday masterpieces with experts from Williams-Sonoma. Class is from 6:30pm-8pm at the East Coast Garden Center (30366 Cordrey Rd. in Millsboro). Cost is $28 and pre-registration is required. Call 302-945-3489 for more info or to register.

Saturday, 11/17 – Ritz Chamber Players
The Baltimore Sun called the Ritz Chamber Players “one of the most interesting and dynamic ensembles to emerge in recent years.” Currently in their 11^th year of performing the Ritz players have performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and more. This will be the ensembles first appearance in Lewes. The concert will take place at Bethel United Methodist Church from 8pm-10pm. Tickets are $25. For more information or to buy tickets, check out this website.

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 – 302-856-6434.

Out of the Box Ways to Market Your Home

If you’re trying to sell your home it is in your best interest to market it in several ways. A good realtor will be able to help you this and will offer advice and options for your particular situation, but to get the ideas flowing, think about some of these out of the box ideas. One way to get your home international exposure is to post a classified ad on eBay. You can also put your home up for auction on eBay, but keep in mind that eBay real estate auctions are not legally binding so after bidding closes the parties still need to work out the details of the transaction. Another idea that certainly isn’t for everyone is home swapping. There are several online home swapping sites and some of them have the intention of creating matches between buyers and sellers. Like with eBay, the site does not sell your home, but can be a unique way to generate interest. A third unique way to generate interest in your home is to throw an open house party. Open houses are often slow and inefficient in the current market. By stepping up your open house and offering food, wine, entertainment and door prizes you can market your home through word of mouth and people will see the home in a different light, which can help them picture living there. You can use a party to showcase your home’s best features too. Like I said, these are definitely out of the box ways to generate interest on your home, but of course your real estate agent will have advice of their own too, so use their expertise!

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.

Down Payment Advice

It’s always best to put 20% (or more) down on a mortgage when you are buying a home. The main reason for this is so that you can avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments. PMI costs you a percentage of your mortgage depending on how close your down payment was to 20%. At first glance it might not sound like much, but over the course of a year PMI could cost you between $500-1500 or more depending on the sale price of your home and how much you put down. In addition to saving on PMI, putting 20% down can help you negotiate better loan terms and rates. Without putting a sizable down payment into your mortgage you will not be building equity in your home for a long time. If you can’t save 20%, saving as much as possible is definitely the best route.

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.

November 12, 2012

“A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” Mark Twain “The love of reading should be taught to all children if at all possible.”

(Fred)

Today we celebrate Veterans Day. The day became a Holiday after WWI, as Germany surrendered on November 11, 1918. It was “The War To End All Wars.” We all know it was not to be. So today we celebrate all those who have served to keep this country Free, from the Revolutionary War to Afghanistan. To all those who Served—We Salute You!

Spotlight on Dolce in Milford

If you’re looking for a quaint, friendly coffee shop check out Dolce in downtown Milford. Everything is homemade by one of the owners who is also a pastry chef.

If you’re looking for a quaint, friendly coffee shop check out Dolce in downtown Milford. Everything is homemade by one of the owners who is also a pastry chef. All the baked goods are made daily on the premises. The coffee is delicious and they serve ice cream too! It’s a great place for a delicious breakfast, mid-day snack, coffee break, meeting with friends, or hanging out to use the WiFi. Check it out! They are now taking orders for the holidays too. You can check out their website 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 – 302-644-2266.

5 Homemade Cleaning Solutions to Try

Wanting to go green with your cleaning products? Try these well rated solutions:

1. All Purpose Cleaner. With gloves on, mix 1 tsp. washing soda, 2 tsp. borax, 2 Tbsp. white vinegar, 2 ½ cups hot water, 5 drops lavender essential oil & 7 drops of lemon essential oil in a 32-oz spray bottle. Shake well, add ¼ cup liquid castile soap & shake again. Once mixed, use as you would any multi-purpose pray.

2. Glass Cleaner. With gloves on, mix 3 cups water, 2 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol, and ¼ cup white vinegar into a 32-oz spray bottle and shake well. Add ½ Tbsp. liquid castile soap and shake again. Spray onto windows and wipe clean with newspaper.

3. Furniture Polish. With gloves on, mix 2 Tbsp. olive oil, ¼ cup white vinegar, and ¼ tsp lemon oil or fresh lemon juice in an 8-oz squirt bottle and shake well. Make sure it is very well mixed. Squirt polish onto a microfiber cloth and polish wood furniture with the grain. Remove excess polish with a clean microfiber cloth.

4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Pour ½ cup baking soda into the toilet bowl. Follow with 10 drops of tea-tree essential oil. Follow oil with ½ cup white vinegar. Let sit and bubble for 10 minutes then scrub with a toilet brush and flush.

5. Laundry Soap. With gloves on, mix ½ cup washing soda, ½ cup borax, and 1 bar of lavender castile soap (grated), ¼ cup baking soda, and 15 drops of lemon essential oil in a tightly lidded 24-oz plastic container. Cover, shake well, and use 3 Tbsp detergent per load. This detergent is HE friendly, but don’t use too much.

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.

November 9, 2012

“The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” Martin Luther “Brevity is usually the better course of action.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 598005-$112,500. A great starter or retirement home in Laurel, DE, this home has 3 BR, 1 BA, 1350 sq. ft. with a new furnace and appliances. Please call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

3 Ways to Clean Up Mold

If you’re got mold issues in your home, consider these tips for cleaning it up.

1. Use soap & water. If mold only occupies a small area of the home you can clean it up with soapy water and a lot of elbow grease. Allow the area to dry completely and repeat if necessary. Once the area is completely dry, repaint the area. This strategy is only recommended for mold that covers an area less than 10 square feet.
2. If you don’t feel that soap is strong enough, try mixing 1 cup of bleach into a 1 gallon of warm water and scrubbing with that. Just know that although bleach kills mold, dead mold spores can still be dangerous. Again, this method is only recommended if the mold covers an area less than 10 square feet.

3. Hire a professional. If mold occupies large areas in your home it is best to have it removed by someone with experience so that it can be truly taken care of so that it doesn’t recur.

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.

Weekend Update – November 9-11

Here are a few things to do this weekend in and around Sussex County:

Now-Sunday, 11/11 – Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival
With well over 100 films being shown in over 50 time slots, you are sure to find something you like. For a complete listing of all necessary information, check out the online program. For more information, check out this link.

Friday, 11/9 & Saturday, 11/10 – 7^th Annual St. Nicholas Tea & Sleigh Boutique
The Rehoboth Beach Village Improvement Association is holding this annual tea party and banquet on Friday & Saturday at the Rehoboth Beach Fire House. Seatings are at 11am and 2pm both days. Cost is $25 for ages 14 and up and $15 for ages 13 and below. For reservations, call Ann at 302-227-2416. For more information, check out this link.

Saturday, 11/10 – Annual Christmas Boutique & Book Fair
Get your holiday shopping on! This event is sponsored by the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park and is held at the Biden Center in the park from 9am-3pm on Saturday. All proceeds benefit Cape Henlopen State Park, so get shopping!

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.

November 7, 2012

“A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.” Mencius “I am sure that this true in certain circumstances, but not in the government we just elected. (Fred)

Fred’s pick of the Day is MLS # 596287-$330,000. Here is nice home in White Pine Harbor, Millville, DE on a double lot. The home has 3 BR, 2BA a fireplace and wood burning stove all in 2000 sq. ft. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

Go Vote!

If you haven’t already voted, stop reading right now and go do so!

If you haven’t already voted, stop reading right now and go do so! This election is shaping up to be one of the closest in history, and that’s saying something since the 2000 election was decided by just over 500 votes in the state of Florida! If you’re still undecided, check out yesterday’s post for some great information on the issues. If you aren’t sure where you should vote, check out this link and find out. Whatever you do, go cast your vote!

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 — 302-856-6434.

November 6, 2012

In politics… never retreat, never retract… never admit a mistake.” Napoleon Bonaparte “It is unfortunate that our Congress has this emblazoned in their creed.” (Fred)

Today is Election Day. This is a very important election. Your duty as a citizen is to VOTE–many lives were given so that you can VOTE. Only if you VOTE can you complain about the outcome. On a Partisan note—vote the incumbents out—they have done nothing for us and think only of themselves, it is time to start anew!

Prepare to Vote!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I am sure that you realize that tomorrow is election day. Voting for our President is not a task that should be taken lightly, and is definitely something that every American who is old enough should take pride in doing. Whoever is voted into office has the power to effect the trajectory of the real estate market in many ways. For those who are still undecided on their vote, I’ve taken the liberty of finding a couple of comparison charts that are as unbiased as possible to link up today. So, if you’re still undecided, check it out:

The first comparison chart considers not only Obama and Romney, but also independent candidates Virgil Goode (Constitution Party), Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), and Jill Stein (Green Party). The chart is produced by ProCon.org which is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public charity. It compares the candidates views on 75 issues and provides a link on the left hand side to compare Vice Presidential candidates Biden and Ryan on 30 issues.

The second comparison chart is published by diffen.com which is a socially powered site that compares anything, according to their tagline. This chart compares only Obama and Romney, but also allows users to comment.

Whatever you do, get out there and vote tomorrow. By all analysis, this is going to be a close election and every vote counts, so let your voice be heard.

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.

November 5, 2012

“Drink moderately, for drunkenness neither keeps a secret, nor observes a promise.” Miguel de Cervantes “Nothing in excess, is for the ages.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 599167-$289,000. A 3657 sq. ft. Cape Cod on .98 acre in Prestigious Rivers End, Seaford, DE, the home boasts 3 master suites, a 4 car garage with HVAC and a workshop. Call me @ 302 258-6093 to see this home.

November 3, 2012

“Don’t speak evil of someone if you don’t know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?” Johann Kaspar Lavater “I am not for protecting criminals, but slander has no place in our society.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 593017-$39,900. Here is an Estate sale of a 2 BR, 1 BA bungalow that is priced to sell, in Laurel, DE. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

Spotlight on Georgetown Family Restaurant in Georgetown

Georgetown Family Restaurant (115 E. Market Street in Georgetown) is exactly what it advertises. With a delicious food, a warm atmosphere, and great menu variety it is a great place to take the family for any meal. They serve up daily specials and great prices and the service is excellent. A true local favorite, Georgetown Family Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

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.

Post-Storm Insurance Tips

In the wake of hurricane damage many of us are dealing with insurance claims. Here are five tips to make the process smoother:

1. Know the difference between your deductible and a hurricane deductible. Your deductible is the amount that you, as homeowner, must pay for damages before you insurance kicks in. Usually this is either $500 or $1,000. Hurricane deductibles are usually much higher and range between 1%-5% of the home’s insured value. So if your home is insured for $200,000, your hurricane deducible can be anywhere from $2,000-$10,000 depending on your policy.

2. Know whether or not you have flood coverage. Standard policies cover wind damage and damage from wind driven rain, but flood-related losses aren’t usually covered unless you’ve got flood insurance.

3. Tree damage should be covered. Most standard homeowners policies should cover damages from fallen trees onto fences, garages, homes, sheds, and other property. However, if a neighbor’s tree damaged your property or your tree damaged a neighbor’s property who’s coverage kicks in depends on the situation. Typically whoever “owned” the tree is responsible for the damages, but of course there are exceptions to every rule.

4. Car insurance matters too. If your car was damaged by flood water or a fallen tree it should be covered if you have comprehensive insurance. If you only have liability insurance, however, damages to your vehicle will not be covered.

5. Look into disaster assistance. If your home is within a federally declared disaster area you may be eligible for government assistance. This assistance comes in the form of loans and grants and requires the purchase of flood insurance for the life of the loan.

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 – 302-856-6434.

November 2, 2012

“I quote others only in order to better express myself.” Michel de Montaigne “There is nothing new under the sun, only things expressed better or waiting to be discovered.” (Fred)

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 598475-$629,900. This 5 year old Grand Estate in Selbyville, DE has 4 BR, 3.5 BA in 3961 sq. ft. The home backs up to the i8th green of the Jack Nicklaus Golf Course at Bayside. Call me @ 302 258-6983 to see this home.

Thursday Three: 3 Tips for Dealing with Hurricane Clean-up

I can’t believe it’s November already! For the many out there now dealing with Hurricane clean-up here are a few tips from people who have been in your shoes:

1. Safety first. Don’t start clearing debris and downed trees/branches from your yard until you are totally sure that there are no downed power lines nearby. For large, hanging limbs, cleanup is best left to a professional. For smaller branches you should cut them back to the trunk or main limb and discard.

2. Disinfect immediately. The longer your floors and walls stay moist the more likely it is that mold will grow. Begin by pumping out all standing water immediately. You can get a utility pump at most home improvement or hardware stores. Once the water is gone scrub all surfaces that came into contact with floodwater with bleach.

3. Protect yourself. If you’re struggling in Sandy’s aftermath I am sure that you first instinct is to get your life back to normal as quickly as possible, but don’t let your safety be overtaken by your desire for normalcy. Make sure that you and anyone else involved in cleanup wears a mast and gloves at all times. Also wear long pants, long sleeves, and boots.

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.