Sussex County Real Estate Matters – Affecting Seaford, Georgetown, Lauel, Milton, Delmar, Bridgevil
Today’s food for thought is from Elbert Hubbard: “The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.” (Fred) “We all have too few real friends.”
Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #586119-$165,000 to 135,000. Here is a mid- century ranch in Seaford, DE on a large lot that has 3 BR, 1.5 BA on a 235’ x 180’ lot and has a River view, a brick fireplace, crown molding, and wainscoting. Call me to see this home at (302) 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com
Today is tax day. If you haven’t already taken advantage of the freebies that many businesses offer today, here are a few you can still get your hands on…
Arby’s – free value-sized curly fries or small potato cakes with this coupon.
Cinnabon – two free Cinnabon bites between 6pm-8pm (not all locations are participating, so you may want to check with your local chain first)
Sonic – enjoy their “happy hour” deal all day long… half-price drinks and slushes all day long
Chili’s – print a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert from the chain’s Facebook page and enjoy a freebie with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Office Depot – you can get 25 free black and white, single-sided copies and up to 5 pounds of free paper shredding through May 1st.
7-Eleven – enjoy a free medium Slurpee between now and the end of the month when you text “Slurp7” to 711711.
AMC Theaters – enjoy a free small popcorn when you take in a movie tonight.
Pinkberry – enjoy a free Pinkberrygreek yogurt every Wednesday from 11am-2pm through the 24th.
And of course, don’t forget to postmark or e-file your taxes today if you haven’t already.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Elbert Hubbard: “A man is not paid for having a head and hands, but for using them.” (Fred) “Who would have thought this is true in our, you owe me society.”
Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #595005-$299,950 to $259,900. Here is a large Colonial in Bridgeville, DE with 4 BR, 2 BA, in 2920 sq. ft. on 2 48 acres that boasts a huge master (12’ x 29’), a 3 bay detached garage (40’x 60’) and a brick fireplace. Call me to see this gem at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com
April 12, 2013.
I think it is time to weigh in on same sex marriage.
I am against the minority changing the definition of a word that has meant the same thing for centuries. I took out my trusty Webster’s New Students Dictionary circa 1974, and the definition of marriage is as follows: 1a : the state of being married b : the mutual relationship of husband and wife : WEDLOCK c : the institution whereby a man and a woman are joined in a special social and legal relationship for the purposes of making a home and raising a family 2: an act of marrying; esp : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities 3 : an intimate or close union.
However, Gay Advocates are God’s creatures and deserve the same legal rights that married couples have. A Civil Union which seems to be the term of choice, is all right by me. It just seems that the rush to establish this type of legal relationship will have many unintended consequences.
We have had several centuries of case law on marriages and divorces. We have little or none for same sex unions and the dissolution of the same. Will same sex couples have the right to adopt children? There will be instances where children will be involved from a previous relationship. Who gets custody in the event of dissolution of the union? Who has to pay child support? Who is the mother or father? Can a father have a union with his son? Can a mother have a union with her daughter?
I believe that to rush into a Civil Union or whatever term is chosen (anything except marriage) until some of these questions are answered by legislation is foolish. Let us not create huge problems because we are in haste or because the minority sees an opening for their agenda.
Fred Sponseller
If you’re heading into Lewes for the Tulip Festival this weekend, or if you’re just out and about one day, be sure to stop by these Lewes favorites!
1. The Lewes Bake Shoppe. With yummy treats and coffee roasted on site the Lewes Bake Shoppe (124 Second Street) is definitely worth a visit.
2. Striper Bites. For a full meal, head over to nautical themed, Striper Bites (107 Savannah Road) offers award-winning lunch and dinner options. Mondays is half-price burger night from 5pm-9pm and Wednesday is steak and lobster night!
3. Abraxas Studio of Art. This gallery, located at 123c 2nd Street, features oil paintings and local landscapes. It’s open from 11am-6pm daily and even features a section of adventure gear.
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.
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, check out these events:
Thursday, April 11th-Saturday, April 13th: The Lewes Tulip Festival
This annual event celebrating the Dutch heritage of Lewes takes place all day beginning on Thursday. There will be Trolley Tours for $10 each day at 11:15am and 12:45pm. Additional tours will also be held at 2:45pm on Friday and Saturday. Reservations for the Tulips Trolley Tour can be made by calling the Lewes Chamber of Commerce (302-645-8073). There is also a Tip Toe To The Tulips Map and tickets that will be distributed, and you can enter to win prizes based on your participation. In addition to the tulips there will be several exhibits in and around historic Lewes all weekend long.
Friday, April 12th: “An American Tapestry” by the Delaware Choral Society
The Delaware Choral Society under the direction of Dr. James Wilson will present a concert featuring music from 20th Century America, including songs by Leonard Bernstein, Samual Barber, Randall Thompson, and more. The concert will be held at the Holy Cross Catholic Church (631 South State Street) in Dover. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors 65+ and military, and free to anyone under the age of 21. For reservations or information call 302-245-0449.
Saturday, April 13th: Antiques and Plant Sale
The Lewes Historical Society will host their annual Tulip Festival sale from 10am-4pm at the Rabbit’s Ferry House in the Historical Center Complex (110 Shipcarpenter Street). The sale will feature antiques, collectibles, and local plants and all proceeds will benefit the Lewes Historical Society. For more information call 302-645-7670.
Saturday, April 13th: Flea Market
The Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park are holding a flea market in the parking lot of the Seaside Nature Center from 9am-3pm on Saturday. In case of rain, the event will be held indoors in the auditorium. If you have items that you would like to donate you can bring them to the auditorium in the Nature Center from 10am-1pm on Friday. Items must be clean and in good condition.
Saturday, April 13th: Rummage Sale
The Lewes Senior Center will hold their annual spring rummage sale on Saturday from 8am-1pm at the Senior Center (32083 Janice Road) in Lewes. For more information, 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.
Today’s food for thought is from Edmund Barton: “It is the duty of the State to educate, and the right of the people to demand education.” (Fred) “Today the State provides a lousy education, therefore we the people must demand more, and it is not only money, the whole system is in crisis.”
Fred’s Pick of the day is MLS #596753-$329,000. A Milton DE home with 4 BR, 3.5 BA, in 2400 sq. ft. has many upgrades including; SS appliances, granite, a screened porch, and a paver patio. Please call me to see this gem at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com
Selling your home can be a stressful experience, but you can make it easier on yourself with a few easy improvements to make your home stand out in the market. The first thing to do is to up your curb appeal. Curb appeal is the first impression potential buyers get of your home, so make it the best impression possible by improving your landscaping. Keep the lawn mowed, prune your bushes and trees, weed the garden, and plant flowers. In addition to landscaping, pressure wash your home’s exterior, clean the gutters and shutters and clean up any clutter in your yard as well. To really help your home’s curb appeal pop, give your front door a fresh coat of paint in a color that contrasts with your home and add new house numbers that are easily visible. Finally, add a new welcome mat to send the subliminal message that your home is open and inviting and that they are welcome.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Edmond About: “Marriage, in life, is like a dual in the midst of a battle.” (Fred) “I am not sure dual is the correct word, maybe a collaboration.”
Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #602199-$216,900. A Selbyville DE interior Townhome in Bayside that has 4 BR, 3.5 BA in 1980 sq. ft. that boasts first and second floor covered porches, and open floor plan and a gas fireplace. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com
If your driveway is in need of a little TLC, now that the weather is warming up, it’s a perfect time to patch it up. You definitely want to patch driveway cracks because it will slow deterioration and keep moisture out. When moisture gets into your driveway it can cause expansion and contraction that works away at the concrete, further damaging it. Patching the cracks before they become a huge problem will give your driveway many more years of usefulness and will save you the time and money of a massive driveway overhaul. When you are getting ready to patch your driveway you should begin by finding and eliminating the origin of the problem. The most common causes of driveway cracks are roots and water. Once you are able to find and eliminate the source problem, it is time to prep the cracks. If there is grass or weeds growing up between the cracks in your driveway you should kill them with a strong herbicide and give them time to die. Make sure to kill them at the roots. Afterward, or if you don’t have plants, chisel off any loose pieces of concrete and use a wire brush to loosen debris. What you need to do is create a clean, solid surface so that the patching material will bind well. Once you’ve chiseled and brushed, use compressed air or a shop vac to clean all the dust, stones, etc. out of the crack. If your cracks are small, about a half inch in width or less, there are several easy options for sealing them, including concrete sealer, pourable concrete, and textured caulk. Just make sure you choose a product that will flex with the movement of the driveway, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions completely. For cracks that are wider than a ½ inch you need to chisel out a piece of the driveway under the crack so that the bottom portion of the crack is wider than the surface crack. This will keep the patching material stable so that it will stay fixed even with the expansion and contraction that concrete undergoes. Whatever option you use to seal the cracks, again, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and be sure to work in multiple steps of about ¼ inch of depth at a time to ensure that proper drying and shrinkage takes place so that the seal will hold tight. When you are finished patching your cracks be sure to blend the sealer with the surrounding area with a brush or broom to form a good seal.
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.
The focus at Hobos (56 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth Beach is on locally grown produce and global-fusion cuisine. The food is Mexican, European, and Mediterranean. With lunch and dinner options, Hobos also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Hobos isn’t for everyone, but if you like a laid-back restaurant atmosphere and eco-friendly food, you should definitely give it a try.
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.
In keeping with this week’s theme of landscaping, one great way to up the quality of landscaping in your home is to add some color with flowers. Here are five options you can plant now:
1. Petunias. Petunias come in a wide range of sizes and colors, so they work in many situations. They are fast growing and will grow just as well in a pot as they will in a garden. For best growth, plant petunias in full sun to part shade areas. Petunias are annuals, meaning that you will only get one growing season from them.
2. Impatiens. These impactful flowers come in hues of reds, pinks, oranges, and white. They can survive with limited watering. These flowers do need some shade and also do well in areas that are fully shaded. Like Petunias, Impatiens are also annuals.
3. Carnations. Always popular, carnations are a fragrant flower that grow naturally in pinks, whites, and yellows. Carnations need full sun and are a perennial, meaning that they will grow back each year.
4. Geraniums. These flowers are hearty and colorful. Once you plant them they will bloom until frost, which gives them a nice, long season. Geraniums do best in areas that are partially or fully shaded and are a perennial bloom.
5. Phlox. This vertical flower is a great choice for adding multiple levels of interest to your garden. It comes in shades of pinks, blues, purples, and whites. Planted behind ground level blooms, Phlox makes a brilliant and colorful backdrop. Phlox is a perennial bloom that does best in areas of part to full shade.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Edward Coke: “Things are worth what they will fetch at a sale.” (Fred) “The market always sets the price and the market is always in perpetual motion.”
Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 602200-$349,000. A charming Ocean Block Condo in Dewey Beach, DE which has 2 BR, 1 BA and has Ocean Views. Call me to see this beach house at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com
This week I wrote a couple of posts about how to have a lush lawn. With landscaping on the brain, here are three great options if you’re looking to add a bit of shade to your yard:
1. Plant a tree. Obviously… trees are good for the environment, fantastic for the local ecosystem, and provide shade to boot. But not all trees are created equal. You have a lot of options, everything from evergreens to deciduous trees, from trees that fruit or flower to trees that only leaf. What you plant should depend on your budget, taste, and of course climate. The downside is that trees may take several years to provide the kind of shade you’re looking for, and they require care and clean-up throughout the year.
2. Add a pergola. A pergola can be a great option for adding both shade and style to a lawn. You can build a pergola to any kind of specification that you want top it with beams with an outdoor material woven through. Another option is to top it with lattice and vining plants intertwined with the lattice.
3. Consider a cover. A patio cover, that is. A patio cover can be as simple as a sloped roof that is either attached to your home at one end with beams supporting the other, or with beams supporting all four sides. Depending on your budget you can have a patio cover shingled to match your roof so it looks like a cohesive structure. Patio covers can be expensive to build, but they offer solid shade and year round protection from the elements, which can be a benefit to some people.
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.
If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, check out these local events:
Saturday, April 6th – Family Gathering Annual Spring Concert
The Rainbow Chorale will play their annual Spring Concert at the Epworth United Methodist Church (19285 Holland Glade Road) in Rehoboth Beach from 4pm-7pm this weekend. This year will feature music from Elton John, Sister Sledge, Bobby McFerrin, Randy Newman, & Billy Joel. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door and children 12 and under are free.
Saturday, April 6th-Sunday, April 7th – Commemoration of the War of 1812
Join the Lewes Historical Society in commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 with events all weekend long. Events begin Saturday at 12:30 with the Guns of Fort McHenry at Cape Henlopen State Park until 2:30, also from 12:30-5pm there will be special War of 1812 presentations at St. Peter’s Church Hall on Mulberry Street in Lewes. Additionally, the travling exhibit “War of 1812: A Nation Forged By War” will be at the Ellegood House at the Lewes Historical Society Complex (110 Shipcarpenter Street in Lewes) all weekend and through Labor Day. On Sunday, from 10am-3pm the Fort McHenry Guard will be at the Lewes Historical Society Complex (110 Shipcarpenter Street) in Lewes, demonstrating musket drill. Their Fife & Drum Corps will perform as well. There will be events for the whole family at this time, and events will continue throughout the afternoon. All of these events are free and open to the public. For more information check out this link.
Sunday, April 7th – Beach Bridal Show
If you or someone you know is planning a wedding, head to the Nassau Valley Vineyards (32165 Winery Way) in Lewes for the annual Beach Bridal Show co-hosted by Delaware Today and Delaware Bride Magazine. The show runs from noon-3:30pm and features live entertainment, a wedding trends fashion show, delicious hors d’oeuvres, top of the line wedding professionals, and awesome door prizes. Cost is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Contact 302-504-1364 for more information or to purchase advance tickets.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Edward Gibbon: “Our work is the presentation of our capabilities.” (Fred) “This is true except when the Peter Principle is reached.”
Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 573662-$1,800,000. A just reduced Waterfront Mansion in Lewes, DE which has 6 BR, 3 BA, 2 ½ BA, in 5500 sq. ft. on .74 acre which includes a 100’ pier with a 30’ “T” at the end and a boat lift, a 20×40 heated pool, 4 fireplaces, a 12 zone irrigation system, a Wolf range and a Sub-Zero refrig. Plus all floors are oak or tile. Call me to see this elegant home at 302 258-6982. www.fredsporch.com
Yesterday I wrote about how landscaping and a healthy lawn can actually bring up the value of your property. But how do you get that money-making, weed-free lawn? Whether you do it yourself or pay a professional, the best thing to do is start by removing any weeds. If your lawn is primarily covered in weeds, you may want to use an herbicide or other weed-removal product that you can pick up at your local home improvement store. Otherwise, you can remove the weeds yourself manually. Just be sure to remove the weeds by the root; using a handheld weeder or hoe (there are several types of each) is your best bet. After you remove the weeds you should detatch your lawn. Dethatching is loosening the matted debris that settles under the grass, stealing nutrients from the grass. You can detatch your lawn with a thatching rake or power dethatcher. Be aware that after detatching you will wonder if your lawn will ever look good again, but it will heal in a month or so. After dethatching you should check a section of your lawn to check on the roots. You want the roots of your lawn to extend 2 or more inches below the surface. If that’s not the case, you should water your lawn and aerate it a day or two later. Finally, find out what type of grass you have and overseed to cover any any bare spots, but be sure to evenly spread seed over the whole lawn. If you have a cool-season grass you should seed in early spring or early fall. If you have a warm-season grass you should seed in early summer. Whenever you seed, be sure to water immediately to help set the seed. Of course, once you go through all the trouble of establishing a healthy lawn you need to be sure to mow, water, and feed consistently and appropriately.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Edward Gibbon: “I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes.” (Fred) “Mr. Gibbon knows what is enough, a most enviable position.”
Fred’s Pick of the day is MLS # 600470-$449,900. A stately waterfront Colonial in Seaford, DE which has 4BR, 3.5 BA, in 4100 sq. ft. on 1.65 acres, which includes these goodies, a 4KW solar electric array, a heated salt water pool and a screened back porch. Please call me to see this gem at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com 
Now that it’s Spring and hopefully Spring weather will be on the way soon, it’s time to start thinking about landscaping projects. Landscaping is a great way to add both curb appeal and value to your home. All good landscaping starts with a lush lawn. An ugly yard brings down your home’s value, while a lovely lawn creates an excellent first impression and actually raises the value of your property. To bring up the value of your lawn on your own start by removing any trash, clutter, dead plants and weeds from the area. Spread seed or sod in areas that are just dirt patches and follow up by watering and mowing your lawn consistently. Look for lawn maintenance products such as fertilizers, etc. at your local home improvement store and use them for maximum impact. If you have the money, consider hiring a lawn professional who can treat your lawn for pests and fertilize it. Just keep in mind that proper watering and consistent maintenance is the key to a healthy lawn.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Florence Nightingale: “I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse.” (Fred) “It is always best to lead by example and hold others to your standards.”
Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 653003-$13,300. Here is a great top level townhome trailer that features awesome views of the city landfill, 1 BR, and outside BA, a great kitchen with a new Coleman Stove, and a college refrigerator. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this gem! April Fools
