Sussex County Real Estate Matters – Affecting Seaford, Georgetown, Lauel, Milton, Delmar, Bridgevil
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND IT’S SNOWING AGAIN!!!
Today’s food for thought is from Epictetus: “Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.” (Fred) “As we go through life ALWAYS have a Plan B and Plan C etc.”
Today’s Bargain from fredsporch.com is MLS # 610099-From $184,900 to $169,900. A Seaford DE Cape with 4 BR, 3 BA in 2800 sq. ft. is a Fannie Mae Home and is being sold AS IS. Please call me to see this opportunity at 302 258-6983.
If you’re thinking of doing any projects or renovations in your home, here are three things to consider before you begin:
1. Budget. This is probably the most important aspect to decide on before you begin. Setting a budget will help you make decisions about everything else from whether to do it yourself or hire a contractor to what materials to choose.
2. Time Frame. Once you have a budget in mind, do research so that you can come up with a time frame within which you’d like to see different steps of the project completed. Keep in mind that the more custom your job is, the longer it will take. This is especially important if you are renovating a kitchen or an only bathroom, as you will need to make alternate arrangements for day-to-day activities such as cooking/eating and showering.
3. Work Sequence. If you’re doing the project yourself, think about the job as a whole and come up with a specific work sequence for your projects. Sticking to a specific order can save a lot of headaches, cleanup and mistakes. Always start at the top and work your way down. Ceiling, walls, and finally floors to prevent damage to newly renovated areas.
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.
*image by taxcredits.net
Whether you’re putting your home on the market or just looking to enjoy your home’s curb appeal yourself, there is more to it than just landscaping your property and maintaining your lawn. To really up your curb appeal be sure to maintain your home’s paint and siding by periodically checking for damage, mold growth, or peeling paint and fixing it. In addition, you should regularly check your roof and gutters for damage and debris as well. Keep windows and doors clean and fix any broken screens and shutters to prevent eyesores. Finally, clean up your driveway and sidewalks by weeding the cracks, sealing any cracks, and keeping them clean. By maintaining your home’s curb appeal you will cut down on the possibility of any of these problems becoming more dangerous or expensive to fix later on down the road, which is well worth the time and effort now.
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.
If you’re hanging curtains try these three tips:
1. Hang high. Hang your curtain rods at the ceiling and add floor length drapes, even if your windows aren’t floor length. This draws the eye up and gives the impression of enlarging the room.
2. Go full. Using full height window treatments on small windows give the illusion of a larger window.
3. Utilize Architecture. Use curtain rods and other window treatment hardware with some architectural interest to add some drama to the room.
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.
Today’s food for thought is unknown: “Of all the animals in creation, man is the only one who ears without being hungry, drinks without being thirsty, and talks without something to say.” (Fred) “Man is the most curious of critters.”
Today’s Bargain from fredsporch.com is MLS #610528-From $270,000 to $259,500. A Milton DE Contemporary (former model home) with 3 BR, 3 BA, in 2555 sq. ft. on .27 acre has an open floor plan, HW floors, and a large 30’ x 14’ deck. Call me to see this gem at 302 258-6983.
1. Know the Safety Standards and Zoning Codes
Make sure all access points meet safety standards – do the stairs from the inside of the house meet building codes? Are there any exterior entrances or does there need to be? Is the ceiling high enough? Will any structural support be altered? Is there enough airflow? Have you gotten any permits that you need for the work you’re planning to do? And if you’re planning to refinish your basement as a rental unit, you will need to check with your local municipality to be sure that rentals are allowed in your neighborhood.
2. Make Sure It’s Dry
Lots of basements flood. If you want to finish your basement, you need to make sure the exterior of your house has good drainage. If you have an older house, this is especially important. If you’ve recently purchased your house, consider living in it for a year before making any plans to finish the basement. See what it’s like in all seasons, so that you know what kind of moisture issues you are dealing with. If your basement has moisture issues, take care of them before you do any finishing work. Whether you need to install a drain, re-landscape for better drainage, reroute your gutters, install a sump pump, or waterproof the exterior of your house, not taking care of the issue before you finish your basement is like throwing time and money down the drain.
3. Decide What It Will Be Used For
Finishing a basement just to have it finished is a bad idea. Decide beforehand how the space is going to be used. Will it be a family room? An office? Converted into bedrooms? A media room? A game room? Your plans for the room will factor into your design and ultimately the amount of time and money it takes to do the work. For example, a game room might just need some walls, flooring, and paint. But more extensive projects will require you to think about electrical wiring, plumbing, and ventilation well in advance of starting the project.
4. Decide How You’ll Weather-proof
There is no sense in refinishing an area that is too cold to use in the winter and too hot to use in the summer. There are many different methods of insulating, and you should research them to decide what type will work best for your house. In addition to insulation you want to make sure you have the proper heating and/or air conditioning installed in the space as well. This might mean rerouting or adding duct work to your home, installing small wall units, or even upgrading your home’s existing system if it is not equipped to handle heating or cooling the extra space. Again, you will want to do all of this research before you start any work so that you don’t end up with any big, unexpected costs, or worse, a lovely finished basement that can only be used for a few weeks out of the year due to climate control issues.
5. Decide on the Finishing Touches
There are so many options for finishing the ceilings, walls, and floors of your newly improved space that you will want to do some research ahead of time. A lot of these choices will depend on what you plan on using the space for (see #3), and I’m not suggesting you have every last detail down to your paint colors chosen before you start any work. It is in your best interest, however, to do some research and narrow down your decisions ahead of time. Putting this thought in before any work begins will prevent your costs from skyrocketing at the very end of the project.
Basements are versatile rooms that add useful living space to any home, but refinishing them poorly is not only a waste of money, but can also detract from the value of your home. Spending time planning, researching, and fixing any existing issues before you begin work will save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run!
Are you looking for a new home? (Perhaps one with a basement that is already finished?) We’d love to help you find your dream home. Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates – 302-644-2266 and put us to work for you!
Today’s food for thought is from Epictetus: “Men are disturbed not by things, but the view which they take of them.” (Fred) “Perception is everything-try to find the silver lining.”
Today’s Bargain from fredsporch.com is MLS #605506-From $599,900 to $575,900. A Lewes DE Contemporary with 4 BR, 3BA, 2 half baths, in 3528 sq. ft. on .48 acre. The home boasts HW floors, sunroom, Jacuzzi, electronic awning on patio, granite throughout, and a garden with a pond and waterfall. Call me to tour this mini-estate at 302 258-6983.
According to several surveys updating a tired bathroom is the single best project to undertake before selling your home. But all updates are not considered equal… some updates have a better return on investment than others. If you can’t afford an entire room make-over you definitely want to replace the sink and faucet. This sets the tone for the rest of the room, and although it can be costly, it also returns the entire investment plus some upon sale. After the sink and faucet, changing out the counters and vanity for something function but stylish and replacing the flooring both offer a good return on investment. If you still have some room in the budget, replacing your current toilet with a water saving model and replacing a worn tub/shower with something is also a good idea, but if you can’t do it all these are the two areas you will want to skip for sure. It is often said that buyers make offers based on the kitchen and bathrooms, so if you have the budget for a project, making your bathroom a buyer’s dream before you sell is well worth it!
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.
If you need to freshen your floor in a relatively quick and easy way, try one of these three options:
1. Carpet Tiles. Carpet tiles are relatively easy to install and can define an area or add color to a room instantly.
2. Area Rugs. If you have an open floor plan, using different area rugs will define separate areas quickly without too much trouble.
3. Laminate Flooring. In hard to maintain areas like a mudroom, bathroom, or laundry room, consider light-colored laminate flooring. It is easy to install and even easier to maintain.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Epictetus: “Make the best use of what you can and roll with the punches for the rest.” (Fred) “But always control in a positive way, negativity does not produce the best results.”
Today’s Bargain from fredsporch.com is MLS #610024-From $575,000 to $550,000. A “On the Lake” Millsboro DE Rancher with 3 BR, 2 BA in 2258 sq. ft. on .46 acre offers high ceilings, a wonderful kitchen with cherry cabinets and siltstone CT, a luxurious master suite with lake views. Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983.
Today’s food for thought is from Epictetus: Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.” (Fred) “Yes know yourself, but I would keep my own council.”
Today’s Bargain from Fredsporch.com is MLS #609583-From $196,000 to $175,000. Here is a Millsboro DE Contemporary with 3 BR, 2 BA home on .88 wooded acre. The home has a first floor Master Suite, a game room with a wood burning FP, an office, and a bonus room. This is a SHORT SALE! Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983.
There are many reasons to downsize. Maybe your kids are all grown and out of the house, maybe you are retiring, maybe you hate keeping up with the yard and housework, maybe you’re tired of spending so much money to heat and light rooms that you rarely use. Whatever the reason, downsizing is typically a part of everyone’s life at some point. When you’re ready to downsize the first thing you should do is evaluate your finances and your credit to see what you can afford. After that you should make a “wish list” for your new home. Ask yourself all the same questions you asked yourself when you bought your previous home and prioritize the things you want and need in your new home. Finally, begin to tour homes. Homes with less than 1200 square feet and condos are the best bets for those looking to downsize. Of course, with downsizing the real estate adage of “location, location, location” still holds true. And when it comes to school district, remember that even if it doesn’t matter to you, it may matter when it comes time for you to sell. Finally, when it comes time to move remember that you are going to have to get rid of both furniture and stuff. Downsizing can be difficult, especially if you have a lot of “things” that you are attached too. A good rule of thumb is to sell, donate, or pass on anything that you haven’t used in the past year. If your kids are still storing things at your home give them a time frame to remove their goods before they get donated. And don’t forget about scale of your items too. If your furniture is oversized, you will want to sell it and buy new, smaller pieces for downsizing. In a large home, oversize furniture is cozy, but in a small home it is cramped at best and at worse doesn’t even fit. Downsizing can be stressful, but when it is all said and done it is so much nicer to have less to take care of, and the lower utility bills that generally come with downsizing are a nice perk 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 – 302-644-2266.
A lot of times when people are remodeling, they look to cut costs wherever they can. However, a penny saved is not always necessarily worth it. Cutting corners on the finishes of your home such as paint, plaster, the floors, the ceiling, the roof, or anything else that you notice on a daily basis can leave you with a sloppy looking house. If you are remodeling, the best option is to put aside a set portion of your budget for the finishes before the project even begins. Otherwise, you may begin running out of money just as the job is wrapping up, which will tempt you to cut corners on all of the visible portion of your job. The better way to cut costs is to look for bargains on items such as lumber, piping, wires, etc. As long as the unseen portions of your job are safe, sufficient, and up to code nobody will notice if you cut corners, but when it comes to flooring, roofing, painting, and so on you should definitely make sure it’s done well, even if it means not getting a bargain, otherwise it won’t matter how much you spent on the remodel because what you look at daily will seem cheap.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Real Estate Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.
Today’s food for thought is from Epictetus: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” (Fred) “How you deal with adversity defines your character.”
Today’ Bargain from Fredsporch.com is MLS # 609611-From 224,900 to $199,900. A Millville DE Townhome with 3 BR, 2.5 BA in 2294 sq. ft. is now available. This is a Fannie Mae property that is sold AS IS. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this Townhome.
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.
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.
Today’s food for thought is from Epictetus: “If you wish to be a writer, write.” (Fred) “If you wish to do or be something, just do it. If you fail try again or change directions but do something.”
Today’s Bargain from Fredsporch.com is MLS # 608132-From $475,000 to $460,000. A Lewes DE Contemporary with 4 BR, 3.5 BA in 3160 sq. ft. on .22 acre, that has a first floor Master Suite with luxury bath, a stone fireplace, a large deck and an irrigation system. Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this home.
If you’re looking to save money, try these tips to cut the cost of your homeowner’s insurance:
1. Raise Your Deductible
Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay before insurance kicks in to cover any claim. Raising your deductible from $100 to $1,000 can save you up to 25% on your insurance premium.
2. Bundle Your Policies
By combining your homeowners insurance with your auto insurance policy you can qualify for a discount of up to 10%.
3. Get Rid of Coverage You Don’t Need
If you don’t live in an earthquake zone, then earthquake coverage is just costing you more money. Same thing goes for flood insurance, jewelry policies, and more. Comb over your coverage and dump the unnecessary parts to lower your premium.
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.
It’ only 18 degrees this morning.
Today’s Thoughts are from Epictetus: If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” (Fred) “I am not sure that being thought foolish and stupid is great for your self-esteem.”
Today’s Bargain from Fredsporch.com is MLS # 605801-From $369,900 to $359,900. A Seaford DE rancher with 3 BR, 1.5 BA in 2008 sq. ft. on 3.63 acres is available. A second 3 BR, 1BA Home is included for this price. This could be an in-law home. Call me to see this home @ 258-6983.
Many people don’t realize that the term “first time homebuyer” is not necessarily a literal one. If you are interested in taking part in a state or local program for a first-time homebuyer, you should research the true definition according to the individual program. Some programs define a first-time home buyer as someone who has never owned a home in that specific area or who hasn’t owned a home in that area within the past three years. Most of the time this means if you owned a home more than three years ago in the same area or even if you currently own a home outside the area covered by the program you can still be considered a first time home buyer. There can be many other obstacles to qualifying for first-time home buyer assistance, but understanding that you could possibly qualify is the first step.
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.