July 2013 – Page 2 – Cooper Realty Associates

July 16, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Herbert Spencer: “How often misused words generate misleading thoughts.” (Fred) “Keep ones lack of vocabulary from embarrassing oneself, or keep ones foot out of one’s mouth.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #601454-From $359,000 to $339,000. A beautiful Colonial in Seaford DE which has 5 BR, 2.5 BA, in 3800 sq. ft. on .75 acre that boasts a first floor Master Bedroom, office, and fitness room, and great landscaping. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this home. wwwfredsporch.com

Best Tips for Painting

Everyone knows that a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to improving just about any surface, but a fresh coat of paint and a good coat of paint are two entirely different things. Here are some great painting tips to help you make the most of a coat of paint!

Buy Good Quality: You might try to save a couple bucks by buying the cheapest gallon of paint you can, but if you put out the cash for high quality paint and it will go on smoother, cover more, splatter less, and will be less likely to fade. Trust me, it’s worth the extra money!

Choose Your Gloss Wisely: Remember that the flatter the finish, the harder the paint is to clean. Flat paint is a good choice for ceilings, but be sure to use an eggshell for walls and semigloss in rooms that are cleaned more often.

Test It: The pros know that testing a paint out on a wide surface of wall is key to choosing the ride shade. The best way to do this is to buy sample sizes (or quarts if they aren’t available) of a few different colors and paint several chunks of wall. Make sure you leave the paint there for a few days so you can see it in all different lighting and then make your final choice.

Work Your Way Down: Begin painting at the ceiling and work down the wall for the smoothest results.

Mix It Together: If you’re using more than one gallon of the same color paint, mix all the gallons together in a bucket to guarantee a uniform color throughout the whole room.

Wrap Up Brushes: If you’re going to take a break wrap any brushes and rollers in plastic bags. Be sure there is no air in the bag and close it with a rubber band or twist tie. If you’re planning on taking a long break, like overnight, seal all the tools up and store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

With tips like these, you can turn any paint project into a success story!

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!

July 15, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from George Washington: “Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.” (Fred) “Borrow wisely and you worries will be small.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #596895-From $269,000 to $239,000. A Contemporary in a 55+ Community in Bridgeville, DE which has 2 BR, 2 BA, with a Gourmet Kitchen, Sunroom and is on the Golf course. Call me @ 302 258-6983 to see this home. wwwfredsporch.com

Spotlight on Zogg’s Raw Bar & Grill in Rehoboth

Zogg’s Raw Bar and Grill (1 Wilmington Ave) in Rehoboth is a Key West inspired restaurant serving up delicious fish tacos, a variety of other seafood dishes, standards such as burgers, wings, and chicken sandwiches, and classic southern fare such as fried gator, breaded frog legs and po’ boys. Their famous homemade mac & cheese comes in six flavors, including duck confit & brie and crab & cheddar. They have happy hour specials at the bar Monday-Friday from 4pm-7pm, a wide variety of worldwide brews on tap and over 250 kinds of rum at the bar. Zogg’s is definitely worth checking out if you want a variety of delicious options in a laid back atmosphere.

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

July 12, 2013

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 prices of things, and the prices are always subject to change.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #604323-From $590,000 to $579,000. An Ocean View Condo in Bethany Beach DE with 3 BR, 2 BA, in 1275 sq. ft. and is sold furnished. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

5 Ways To Provide Easy Access For Showings

Selling a home is not necessarily a convenient prospect. The best sellers keep their homes neat, clean, organized and smelling fresh and are also willing to vacate the property at a moment’s notice. Here are some tips to help you, as a seller, be a dream to work with:

1. Keep off hours. Remember that most potential buyers have to work, so if your home is only available to show during “business hours” you are cutting out a lot of potential buyers. Consider extending your hours until 8pm or so at least a couple of times a week.

2. Allow a lock box. If you insist that your home not have a lock box, many agents will forgo your home altogether to show more convenient homes to their clients.

3. Consider the details. The details count. For example, if you live on a road where street parking is difficult, make sure your driveway is clear so that potential buyers and their agents can park there. You don’t want potential buyers to be thinking of the downsides of purchasing your home before they even walk in the door.

4. Don’t be too restrictive. It’s a pain when buyers want to see your home on short notice, and it is within your rights as the seller to say no or ask to reschedule, but keep in mind that some of the most motivated buyers are moving from out of town and may not have too much flexibility. Try to accommodate potential buyers as often as possible.

5. Take care of your pets. Just because you love your pets doesn’t mean a prospective buyer will. In fact there’s a good chance a prospective buyer might be allergic, so having your furry friend roaming free is not going to help the home appeal to them. If at all possible, make arrangements for your pets to leave your home during showings too. If that’s simply not feasible ask your agent for suggestions. Chances are they’ve shown lots of pet friendly homes in their career, so they can give you more tips.

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: July 12th-14th

If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, check out these local events:

Friday, July 12^th-Saturday, July 13^th: Nanticoke Riverfest
Head to downtown Seaford for the annual Nanticoke Riverfest with the theme “Rollin’ on the Nanticoke.” Events start with opening ceremonies at 5pm on Friday and the fun continues on Saturday with registration for the Float-in starting at 8am. The weekend includes lots of fun and festivities. For more information, including a full schedule of events check out this link.

Saturday, July 13^th: Milton House & Garden Tour
The annual Milton House & Garden Tour runs from 9am-3pm on Saturday. For tickets or more information, call the Milton Garden Club at 302-684-3804.

Saturday, July 13^th: Lewes Historical Society’s Summer Craft Fair
The annual Summer Craft Fair runs from 9am-4pm at the Historical Complex at Second & Shipcarpenter Streets in downtown Lewes. Admission is $5 per person and children under 12 are free.

Sunday, July 14^th: Sheryl Crow in Concert
Head to the Freeman Stage at Bayside for concert by nine-Grammy winner Sheryl Crowe. Unlike most events at the Freeman Stage, this is an assigned seating event. For more information or to purchase tickets call 302-436-3015.

All Weekend: Free Concerts at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand
Enjoy the modern country sounds of Michael Christopher on Friday. The Regal Beagles will perform their yacht rock set on Saturday, and Nate Myers & the Aces will perform Americana/Blues style music on Sunday. All concerts are free and begin at 8pm.

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.

July 10, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Edward Coke: One threatens the innocent who spares the guilty. (Fred) “Can the guilty be truly reformed?”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #601875-From $349,000 to $339,000. A Bay View End Unit Condo in Ocean View DE with 4 BR, 3 BA, in 1780 sq. ft. that boasts an upgraded kitchen, tile floors, new heat pumps and Hurricane windows. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com

What To Do If Your House Won’t Sell

Typically, Wednesday is our Weekend Update, but this week we’re doing something a little bit different and will post the weekend update tomorrow. For today, here are some tips if your home has been on the market for awhile:

Assuming that your home is in saleable condition, if your home is still on the market, it is most likely priced too high for the area. Luckily for you, of the three basic elements that sell a home (location, condition & price), price is the one you, as a seller, can control!

So, how do you know if you need to lower the price of your home? Ask your real estate agent what the average time is for houses to be on the market in your area. If your house has been on the market for longer than that, then you should consider lowering your price. Another indicator that you may need to lower the price is if your house has been on the market for several months with low to no interest. In many areas, home prices are continuing to fall, so even if your home was pried well when you first listed it, if it’s been sitting on the market for awhile, you may need to adjust it.

Once you decide that you need to lower the price of your home, you need to decide how low to go. That decision should be based on local market research. Again, to make the best decision you need to have a real estate agent that you trust and seek out their advice. Ask your agent for a new comparative market analysis (comps), and be sure that the comps are recent. If you put your home on the market without having it appraised, having it done now could help you even more.

Trying to sell your home? Looking for an agent you can trust? Give us a call at Cooper Realty and let us help you sell your home – 302-856-6434.

July 9, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Edward Coke: “Those who consent to the act and those who do it shall be equally punished.” (Fred) “If we let our government do immoral deeds are we not equally guilty?”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #593176-From $869,000 to $849,000. A Canal front condo in Rehoboth Beach DE-1 long block to the Ocean, with 3 BR, 3.5 BA, in 1478 sq. ft. that has Hardi-Plank siding, a new heat pump and new deck. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this home. www.fredsporch.com

Home Features That Always Catch A Buyer’s Attention

There are a few features that will almost always catch a buyer’s attention. Of course, your home may not have all of these, but a few of them are easy to “fake” and others are affordable to update! So go on, catch the attention of your potential buyers!

A Nice Entryway – fake it with a fresh coat of paint on the front door and clever furniture placement. A table or chest of drawers added near the front door can create the illusion of an entryway in a home that doesn’t necessarily have one.

Hardwood Floors – there really isn’t an easy way to fake this, but an affordable wood laminate can still make a big difference in selling your home if your carpet has been a turn-off to buyers.

Nice Countertops – It doesn’t have to be granite, but if your kitchen currently has tile or laminate counter tops, consider replacing them if you’d like to appeal to more buyers. Any kind of slab countertop is appealing to buyers, but of course granite is the favorite! Other options are butcher block, marble, Corian, concrete, and many other stone slabs.

Organized Closets/Cabinets – Spaces that are pre-organized suggest to the buyer that they too will be nicely organized if they moved into this home. If you have closet organizers, be sure they aren’t dated.

Landscaping – Simple, clean landscaping with nice open lawn space is universally appealing. Remember, massive landscaping projects might look beautiful, but when buyers see that they see maintenance. If your yard space is a lot of dirt, growing some grass will help a lot!

Of course, other features like lovely bathrooms, and gorgeous kitchen appliances always catch a buyer’s attention too, but it is difficult to “fake” or cheaply upgrade those. Of course, if you can figure out a way to do it, it will help your house sell all the more!

Looking to buy or sell a house in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and let us help you make your dream a reality – 302-644-2266.

July 8, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from George Washington: “To err is natural; to rectify is glory.” (Fred) “A mistake that is corrected shows real courage and character.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #602846-From $899,900 to $849,999. A Lewes DE Unique Contemporary with 4 BR, 3.5 BA, on .87 acre which has Cherry Hardwood Floors and Cabinets, Geo-thermal HVAC, tank-less WH, a gas fireplace, a 3 car garage, a rear screened porch, and a patio. Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com

Update Your Bathroom On A Budget

Everyone spends time in the bathroom every day, so shouldn’t it be a room that you enjoy? If you’ve been dreaming of updating your bathroom, but you don’t have a huge budget, consider these tips.

Go white to save green! Sticking to traditional white features such as sinks, tubs, and toilets will save you a ton of money because they are more readily available than their colorful counterparts.

Change out your hardware. If you don’t have the budget to replace cabinets, give them a low-cost face lift with new hardware. For a more dramatic impact you can paint or otherwise refinish cabinetry and then replace the hardware!

Organize your cabinets. Adding pullout shelves to cabinets will maximize your storage space and ease the frustration you feel when you can’t find what you’re looking for!

Go for style. Keep most of what already exists, but change out a few key pieces to add style and drama to your space. For example, replace your faucets and/or showerhead with a lovely new piece or switch out existing lighting for a dramatic chandelier.

Change the color. Painting is a fairly inexpensive weekend project. Follow-up by replacing hand towels and adding colorful accents such as vases, candles, and soaps.

Save on tile. If you love a specific tile that is far too expensive for you to afford, consider using a more affordable alternative (or keeping your existing tile!) and using the tile you love for a border or randomly placing a few here and there to create an interesting pattern.

Pinpoint your complaint. Sometimes changing just one aspect of a room will make you feel like you’re in a whole new space, so determine what it is that really bothers you about your space. For example, if your sink is in good condition, but the vanity bothers you, would replacing just the counter do the trick? Could you keep all of your features and just replace the floor? Keep the tub but replace the shower head and faucet? Specifically identifying problems and addressing them individually will save you a ton of cash!

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!

Spotlight on Fishkiller’s Lobster Shack

Fishkiller’s Lobster Shack (32805 Vines Creek Road) in Dagsboro is truly a hidden gem. Literally just a food trailer on the side of the road, the family that owns this business fishes for three days at the beginning of the week and sells their catch from the Lobster Shack on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11am-8pm or until the catch runs out. Open June 13^th-Agusut 31^st, the sell a variety of fresh seafood as well as burgers, but their specialty is the fresh, caught local lobsters that come from their boats out of Indian River and Ocean City. So take a ride to Dagsboro, pull up a lawn chair and enjoy the Fishkiller’s raved about dishes!

If you’re 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.

July 5, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from George Washington: “Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.” (Fred) “The right to own arms is guaranteed, the right to use them should be governed, except in one’s home.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS #603324-From $309,900 to $290,000. A Harbeson DE Rancher with 3 BR, 2.5 BA, on .79 acre which has a basement, a 2 car garage, hardwood floors and a screened rear porch. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this home. www.fredsporch.com

5 Ways To Use Up Fourth of July Leftovers

If you enjoyed your fourth of July, but aren’t quite sure what to do with all your leftovers, this is the post for you…

1. Watermelon Cake. If you have lots of fresh watermelon leftover, cube it up, remove the seeds and mix it up with some white cake mix and other ingredients for this scrumptious summer dessert. Just watch out! It will become a favorite. Click here for the recipe.

2. Bread Pudding. If you have a lot of leftover hamburger and/or hotdog buns, cube them up and use them in place of the bread in your favorite bread pudding recipe. For a delicious recipe option that uses only ingredients you most likely already have on hand, click here.

3. Hamburgers. If you fear you’ll be eating hamburgers for the next week or so, crumble up your leftover patties and use them in place of ground beef in your favorite chili recipe. Then you can freeze the chili in gallon freezer bags and pull them out when you need a quick and tasty meal! For a simple and delicious chili recipe, click here.

4. Coleslaw. Take your leftover coleslaw and turn it into a star ingredient in your next meal with recipes like Easy Moo Shu Veggie Wraps, Asian Style Lettuce Wraps, or Chicken BBQ Sandwiches.

5. Cupcakes. Patriotic cupcakes are all super popular, so if you find that you miraculously have some leftover, use them in place of pound cake in any trifle recipe, like this delicious blueberry trifle option.

If you’re 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.

Happy Independence Day!

From everybody here at Cooper Realty Associates, we wish everyone a safe and celebratory Fourth of July Weekend. Enjoy!

Weekend Update: Friday, July 5th-Sunday, July 7th

Most of the local events going on this weekend, start tomorrow with the 4^th of July. I’ve highlighted a bunch of Independence Day events the past couple of days. You can read up on them here and here. But if you’re still looking for something different this weekend, check out these local events:

Friday, July 5^th: The Official Blues Brothers Revue
Head to the Freeman Stage at Bayside for this live concert integrating humor and songs from the original Blues Brothers film and albums. The Official Blues Brothers Revue “strikes the right balance of humor, music and mayhem.” The concert begins at 7pm. Tickets are $20 plus a handling fee. Don’t forget a lawn chair!

Friday, July 5^th: History Happy Hour
This week’s topic is “A Century of Service – The Navy at Cape Henlopen 1898-1996.” This talk takes place at The Cannonball House in Lewes at 4pm with a question and answer period following the 30 minute presentation. Wine is offered following the event.

Friday, July 5^th: Fenwick Island Town Bonfire
Head to the beach at Dagsboro Street for a free, Friday night bonfire on the beach from 6pm-11pm.

Saturday, July 6^th: Milkshake: A Concert for the Whole Family
Milkshake is a pop-rock style band that has been featured on many children’s series. This Grammy nominated band is entertaining for the whole family. The concert starts at 10am and is free for all, just bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Saturday, July 6^th: St. Peter’s Art Show
Saint Peter’s Church on 2^nd and Mulberry Streets in Lewes will host their annual art show from 9am-4pm with over 140 fine artsits on display. The day also includes a silent auction and luncheon.

All Weekend: Concerts at the Bandstand in Rehoboth
Local favorite, classic rock band The Funsters will perform on Thursday, July 4^th. Elvis tribute artist Jesse Garron will perform on Friday, July 5^th. Big Band performers, the Tim Laushey Orchestra will take the stage on Saturday, July 6^th and rounding out the long weekend on Sudnay, July 7^th is big band performers The Rad Trads. All concerts are free and begin at 8pm.

If you’re 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.

July 3, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from George Washington: “Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.” (Fred) “After looking up licentiousness (Loose and lawless behavior), I believe that Congress in its wisdom to delicate its power to the bureaucracy without a review creates arbitrary power.

Fred’s pick of the Day is MLS # 603856-From $240,000 to $225,000. A Colonial Duplex in Milton, DE with 3 BR, 3.5 BA, in 3000 sq. ft. which has hardwood floors, a fenced in patio area and a detached 2 car garage. Call me to see this home 302 258-6983. www.fredsporch.com

More Ideas for Celebrating Independence Day

Yesterday I highlighted a few great ideas for celebrating July 4^th in Sussex County. Here are a few more:

Bethany in Bloom: The festivities begin in Bethany Beach at noon on the 4^th with the theme “Wish You Were Here for Bethany in Bloom.” The parade steps off at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Garfield at noon. There will also a be a horseshoe throwing contest and live band with fireworks commencing at dusk.

Tradition at Rehoboth: More than 100,000 people gathered on the boardwalk in Rehoboth and this year is shaping up to be just as great! Head to downtown Rehoboth for the fireworks show at dusk. Local favorite, The Funsters will be performing on the bandstand as well.

Fun in Ocean City: If you want to head out of Sussex, Ocean City for a free concert at 8pm followed by fireworks at 9:30pm downtown on the beach at North Division Street or uptown at 125^th Street and Northside Park. For more information call 800-626-2326.

Whatever you choose to do this fourth of July, be safe and have fun!

If you’re 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.