February 2013 – Cooper Realty Associates

Three Quick Ways To Add Color To Your Home

Looking for ways to add a quick pop of color? Check out these ideas:

1. Choose your favorite. Take a look around and choose your favorite fabric of pattern already in the room. Find the dominate color in that pattern and then add 5-10 accents in the same color around the room. The amount depends on the size of the room and the accents you choose. Keeping all of your accents in the same color scheme will add a pop to the room while still keeping a cohesive feel.

2. Make seasonal changes. Adding collections of seasonal decorations is a great way to add color. Keep them simple and bright and don’t forget to change them out regularly!

3. Remember the rule. Designers recommend using the 60-30-10 formula as a guide for adding color to a room. The rule is that 60% of your room should be the predominate (usually neutral) color, 30% of the room should be your secondary color – typically found in floor and window coverings, and the final 10% should be your accent color.

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: March 1st-3rd

This weekend is one of the most delicious weekends in town! Plus there are some other events going on as well…

Saturday, March 2^nd: The Jasper String Quartet
The Jasper String Quartet performs as part of the Coastal Concert Series this Saturday at Bethel United Methodist Church (129 W. Fourth Street) in Lewes. This critically acclaimed group is the winner of various awards and will be concentrating on the works of Bartok and Schubert. For more information or to purchase tickets, check out this link.

Saturday, March 2^nd: 23^rd Annual Chocolate Festival
Chocolate lovers will unite at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center from 11:30am-3:30pm on Saturday for a day of decadent desserts and family fun! Admission is only $2 (free for children under 5) and tastes are 50 cents each. Delicious!

Of course the heart of the chocolate festival is the baking contest, which is open to anyone who wishes to enter. The categories are restaurants, bakery, professional/chef, amateur, showpiece, children under 12 & showpiece for children under 12. Each category has the 7 subcategories of cookies, cheesecake, brownies, candy, pies, cake, and most unusual. There are prizes and it’s not too late to enter. All you have to do is bring your entry or entries and this entry form to the Convention Hall between 7am-8:30am the day of the contest.

Have fun and enjoy the amazing treats!

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.

February 27, 2013

Today’s Food for thought is from Giuseppe Mazzini: “Slumber not in the tents of your fathers. The world is advancing.” (Fred) “The future is never the same as the past; they just look alike to the next generation.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 600786-$179,900. A spacious Cape Cod in Bridgeville, DE with 3 BR, 2 BA, in 2050 sq. ft. on .20 acre, and has a wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors, and a 2 car garage. Call me @ 302 258-6983 to see this home.

Aesthetic Issues That Affect A Sale

When you are selling a home there are a lot of details to pay attention to. Buyers can be picky and many complain about a lot. But there are several simple aesthetic fixes that can stop buyers from being turned-off from your home. The first is overgrown and/or dead landscaping. Pruning and raking only cost a bit of time and can add some serious curb appeal. The next thing that you can easily fix to appeal to a wider variety of buyers is paint. Painting is a relatively inexpensive and simple fix to make. Ugly wallpaper and paneling can also turn-off buyers. Although it’s more difficult to take care of, replacing unattractive wallpaper with paint will make a huge difference. If you have options to remove your paneling and paint those walls too, you should take it, although removing paneling can be very tricky, so be sure to consult an expert before you begin any projects. Although there are many more buyer turn-offs that sellers can easily take care of, the final one I am going to mention are doors. Make sure all of your doors are on, hung straight, moving freely, and working properly before you begin showing your home.

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.

February 26, 2013

Today’s Food for thought is from George Washington: “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.” (Fred) “Intimacy is best kept to those very few you would die for.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 600655-$419,900. A Millsboro, DE Contemporary with 4 BR, 3.5 BA in 3500 sq. ft. on .5 acre which is on the 11^th Fairway of a Golf Club and has a Stone Fireplace, an eat-in Kitchen with Granite, a Theater Room with 6 reclining seats, Geothermal Heat and Tankless Hot Water. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this lovely home. www.fredsporch.com

All About Staging

Staging your home is one of the best ways to help it sell. Staging is about creating a mood giving the illusion that your home is brighter, warmer, and sometimes even larger than it might otherwise seem. Done correctly, staging helps create an environment that makes potential buyers want to bite the bullet. Staging is the final stage in prepping your home for sale. It should follow de-cluttering, cleaning, painting, and making any necessary repairs. To dress a room you can use a variety of items. Some popular ones are mirrors, lamps, flowers and plants, area rugs, pillows, throw blankets, baskets, etc. Most stager recommend using sparse furniture and accenting to make the room’s purpose apparent. For example, in your kitchen you can rub orange oil into dry cabinets to revive them and make them shine and put out large bowls of bright, polished fruit such as apples and oranges. It helps your bathroom to add spa baskets with towels tied with ribbon, scented soaps and lotions, etc. Stagers also recommend that you stage your yard too. Add plants and flowers as necessary, and remember that potted plants work too. You can also dress any patio furniture that you have with a fun tablecloth or other bright solution.

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.

February 25, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from George Washington: “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” (Fred) “Excuses can be tiresome and cause rolling of the eyes.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 598039-$209,000. A Modular Home in Millsboro, DE has 3 BR, 2 BA in 1344 sq. ft. on 3.19 acres with a covered rear deck, fenced area for children or pets, a double carport and 2 large outbuildings. Call me @ 302 258-6983 to see this home. www.fredsporch.com

Three Garage Update Ideas

If you have a garage that is tired and in desperate need of an update. Try one of these ideas:

1. Cover the floor. Paint an epoxy garage floor covering over dirty, old concrete floors.

2. More Storage. Add an overhead storage system to add a lot of usefulness to space that would otherwise remain empty.

3. Keep things handy. Utilize pegboard for covering at least one full wall so that well-loved tools and equipment can be easily reached and well organized.

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.

Spotlight on El Dorado Restaurant in Rehoboth

El Dorado Restaurant (18766 John J Williams Hwy) in Rehoboth specializes in fresh, made-to-order, Baja style fish tacos. They are open from 11am-9pm Monday-Saturday and receive rave reviews for both their food and service. The atmosphere is super casual, but you can’t beat the freshness! Everything is made to order and you can fix up your choices exactly how you’d like with the complimentary salsa bar. Although they’re famous for their fish tacos, all other varieties are delicious too, as are the burritos! If Mexican food is your thing, definitely check out El Dorado!

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.

Five Bathroom Fixes On A Budget

If you’re looking to add value to your bathroom without doing a total remodel, consider some (or all!) of these ideas:

1. A new sink. A new sink is a great way to add both form and function to your bathroom. Sinks can be stylish, whimsical, luxurious, and more. And there are plenty of affordable options. Be sure to pay attention to the faucets and handles too… not only do they update your look, those details add value.

2. Light it up. Updating your lighting can give your room a whole new feel. For the bathroom there are many options including task lighting, recessed lighting, and track lighting. Be sure to consider the function and ambiance that you’re going for.

3. Update the floor. Porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone tiles add both value and design to your bathroom. Using simple designs instead of detailed ones to save even more money.

4. Shower yourself. Installing a luxurious shower head will add instant value to your room. A rain head is a simple update that buyers love.

5. Give your cabinets some love. If it’s not in your budget to replace your cabinets, refacing them by replacing just the doors and drawers can give your room a whole new look and a lot of value. Of course, if that’s not in your budget either, giving your cabinets some TLC in the way of cleaning and a facelift can work wonders 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 – 302-856-6434.

February 22, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from George Washington: “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” (Fred) “When is enough, enough?”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 596516-$189,900. Here is a 2011 Rancher in Deep Creek, Seaford, DE which has 3 BR, 2 BA, in 1552 sq. ft. on .50 acre with a shed. Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com

February 21, 2013

Today’s Food for thought is from George Washington: “To err is natural; to rectify is glory.” (Fred) “Act, and if wrong amended your action but act.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 601493-$85,000. Here is a HUD Rancher in the town limits of Seaford, DE which has 3 BR, 1.5 BA in 1428 sq. ft. with a metal roof and replacement windows. Sold AS IS for appraised value. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com

Weekend Update: Feb. 22nd-24th

Here are a few events going on in and around Sussex County this weekend:

Friday, Feb 22^nd – Rehoboth Beach Film Society presents Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts
The film society will present the five Academy Award contenders for Best Live Action Short Film in the upstairs screening room at the Movies at Midway at 7pm Friday night. Admission is $4 for Society members and $6 for non-members. Tickets are sold first-come, first-serve. For more information, including a description of the films, check out this link.

Saturday, Feb. 23^rd – Big Fish Grill Cooking Class
Learn how to cook with the experts! Class is from 10am-1pm, with doors opening at 9:45am. Participants must be pre-registered. Cost is $75 per person. Hands-on participation is expected! Class includes coffee & breakfast, meeting the chef, question and answer session, wine & cheese tasting, and cooking instruction including three courses, plus more.

Saturday, Feb. 23^rd – Nanticoke Health Fair
The Nanticoke Health Fair takes place at Laurel High School (1133 S. Central Ave in Laurel) from 7:30am-2pm Saturday. This community event is for all ages and includes health screenings, demonstrations, and activities for the whole family. Health screenings include cholesterol, glucose, body mass, blood pressure, and more.

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.

Financial Tips

When you are in the market for a new home you are prepared to spend a huge chunk of money, but just because the bank offers you a $400,000 mortgage doesn’t mean that it is wise for you to take the full amount. Generally speaking, you should take at least 20% less than the bank offers you in order to protect your financial security. By purchasing a home at the very top of your budget, you risk being in a tight financial position for very many years in the future if anything should go wrong. Additionally, unless you are willing to take a risk, you should always go with a fixed-rate mortgage for a set period of time. A traditional 15 or 30 year mortgage will protect you against a jump in your monthly payment in the future. Finally, don’t get caught off guard by unexpected costs. In addition to the down payment and closing costs be prepared to pay appraisal fees, broker fees, loan application fees, inspection fees, plus ongoing costs like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, homeowner’s association or condo fees, and hazard/flood insurance in addition to your monthly mortgage payment. To be best prepared for all of these costs, be sure that you keep a significant portion of cash available rather than using it all toward your down-payment. This will help insure better financial security for your family and your future.

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.

February 19, 2013

Today’s Food for thought is from George Washington: “If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” (Fred) “Another problem is when the press is led to the slaughter by their blind following of left or right addenda; we do not get the facts today-just the ones to prove a point of view. What happened to reporting the facts and letting us decide the truth for ourselves?”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 600357-$599,900. An Ocean View, DE Waterfront Contemporary with 4 BR, 2.5 BA, a sunroom, numerous upgrades and a floating boat dock on Whites Creek (tidal wetlands). Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

Things You Should Know Before You Buy A Home

Whether you’re in the market for your first home or your fifth, there are several lessons you can learn from homebuyers before you to help make the process smoother. For one thing, choose your neighbors carefully. Just because you’ve had good luck with neighbors in the past, doesn’t mean you always will. Before you buy a home try to meet the neighbors. Ask around to see if anybody has animals that cause issues, loud parties, or constant traffic. The neighbors can be an excellent source of information about the home, history, and most importantly each other and habits of the neighborhood. Secondly, do not underestimate the unexpected costs of homeownership that creep up. Spending all of your cash on a down-payment can seem like a good plan, but depleting your emergency fund before you even move in is a terrible mistake, especially since upkeep and maintenance costs never stop. The best way to prepare for those costs is to keep a reasonable amount of money stowed away in your emergency fund while using the rest for your down-payment.

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.

February 18, 2013

Happy President’s Day

Today’s Food for thought is from George Washington: Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.” (Fred) “Do drone strikes and surveillance come to mind?”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 599030-$569,000. A Dagsboro, DE Contemporary with 3 BR, 2.5 BA on .71 acres, a stunning kitchen, 2 fireplaces, a multi-level Patio, and backs up to Vines Creek (tidal wetlands) with great views of local wildlife. Call me @ 302 258-6893 to see this home.

Spotlight on Crabby Dick’s in Rehoboth

Crabby Dick’s offers up casual dining with great service along Route 1 in Rehoboth (18831 Coastal Highway). The cuisine is classic American, including steaks, burgers and salads along side pasta and seafood dishes. There are specials for under $6 several nights a week. Crabby Dick’s is a great bet for a good meal in Rehoboth both in season and out. Whether you are a local or just visiting it’s a must try.

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

5 Off Season Activities to Enjoy

Off season at the beach can be very relaxing. If you’re looking for something to do in the Lewes/Rehoboth Beach area, check out the following activities:

1. See a movie. Check out Movies at Midway for a popular feature film, or check out rehobothfilm.com for a more artsy choice and schedule of events.

2. Visit an Art Gallery. Lewes and Rehoboth are both brimming with art galleries and many of them are open during the off season. They are definitely worth a look.

3. Visit Cape Henlopen State Park. I know I keep going on and on about Cape Henlopen, but it’s seriously worth a visit! Visit my previous post for more info.

4. Shopping. Route 1 through Rehoboth Beach is brimming with outlets that are much more pleasant to shop at when they aren’t filled with beach-going tourists.

5. Walk on the beach or boardwalk. Walking on the beach in the winter, when it is all yours to enjoy alone, is a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. If walking on the sand doesn’t thrill you, you can stroll the Rehoboth Boardwalk instead. The view is equally lovely.

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.

February 15, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Remy de Gourmont: “Women still remember the first kiss after men have forgotten the last.” (Fred) “Once the moment is savored, move on for that next moment.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 590233-$186,000. A duplex in the Village of Cinderberry (55 +) Georgetown, DE has 2 BR, 2 BA in 1425 sq. ft. a formal model with lots of upgrades, a 1 car garage, Florida Room and patio. Call me @ 302 358-6983 to see this home.