Month: May 2014

Today I take the time to reflect on the service that my family gave for this Great Nation. They all came back safely but a great many did not. Let us honor them all!

My family served this Country in the Civil War (my Great, Great, Great Grandfather-John P Sutton), WW1 (my Grandfather-Ralph W Sponseller), WW2 (my father-Ralph W Sponseller Jr.), the Vietnam Era (Myself and my Wife-Fredrick and Donna Sponseller) and Today (our Son is on Active Duty-Hugh Sponseller.

When you’re on vacation and having a great time it’s natural to want to come back.  If you’re ready to pull the trigger on purchasing a summer home here are a few tips:

1. Know what you can afford.  Use a mortgage calculator and/or talk with a lender and really figure out what your bottom line is.  You do not want to spend more on a vacation home than you can afford.
2. Find a knowledgeable agent.  It’s always important to work with a knowledgeable agent, but if your only experience with an area is vacation time, this tip is especially important.  Ask around, interview agents, and find one that you trust to work with you through the entire process.
3. Find out about all twelve months.  You might know what to expect from your new home’s area in the summer, but what about the rest of the year?  Do your research before you buy.  Know what to expect.
4. Location, location, location.  If you’re looking to make your new home an investment and not simply a place that you visit a few weeks each year, be sure to prioritize location.  Make sure that both the home and the location make your home a desirable rental, should you decide to go that route.

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

Spring and summer tend to be the busiest season for the real estate market.  And living near the beach, that is especially true in our area – when tourists come for a week and often decide to stay!  If you’re looking to sell your home and want to make the most of the busy market, consider these tips:

Maintain an immaculate lawn.  Keep your lawn mowed, bushes and trees trimmed, gardens weeded, and sidewalks edged and clear.

Plant some flowers.  Choose some seasonal blooms and plant them to brighten up your yard.  Another option is to plant some in containers near your home’s entrance and change them out with the seasons.

Check your lighting.  Make sure all of the light bulbs both inside and outside your home are working properly and replace any that are burnt out.

Give easy access.  Home showings are inconvenient for sure, especially if you’re living in your home, but if you’re super restrictive about when your home can be shown, chances are you won’t have showings.

De-clutter.  Go through each room of your house and box up anything that is super personal then put it in storage.  Also declutter – get rid of as much as you can so that your home appears spacious and more inviting to people thinking of living there.

This is a great time of year to sell your home.  I hope you will take advantage of some of these tips to help you.

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 to keep your summer bug free naturally, here are a few options you might want to try:

Natural Bug Repellant.  Using essential oils, mix the following – 4 drops thyme, 4 drops lavender, 4 drops peppermint and 8 drops lemongrass.  Mix 5 drops of the blend with 1 tablespoon witch hazel and 5 tablespoons of water – mix well and apply to skin.

Natural Indoor Spray.  If you’ve got an indoor pest problem whether it be spiders, ants, rodents, or something else, try this recipe for a natural, indoor spray.  Mix 20 drops of peppermint essential oil, 1 tablespoon of vegetable glycerin and 2 ½ ounces of water.  Mix well and then spray around doorways, windows, cracks and anywhere else that pests might enter your home.

Natural Mosquito Repellant.  Several plants act as natural mosquito repellants.  Try planting them around your yard, in containers near your doors and around your outdoor living spaces to keep mosquitoes away.  Plants that work include: catnip, rosemary, basil, citronella, lemongrass, and marigolds.

Garlic Supplements.  Garlic is a natural bug repellant.  Taking a no odor garlic supplement along with your regular diet can help ward off pests, as can rubbing raw cloves on your skin.  Although one will smell admittedly worse than the other!

I hope that some of these tips help you have a bug free summer!

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 – 302-629-6693.

Jolly Trolley Tours begin again for the season tomorrow.  The tours leave from the Anna Hazard Museum (17 Christian Street) in Rehoboth at 9am sharp.  You must reserve a space by calling ahead of time.  Cost is $10 and only cash is accepted.  This season’s tours will be May 15^th, June 5^th, June 19^th, August 21^st, September 4^th, September 18^th, and October 24^th.  These tours are enjoyable and a fascinating way to learn about the history of Rehoboth Beach.  Be sure to call and reserve your spot today.

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 in a home with any sort of outdoor space, chances are you’re under-utilizing it’s potential.  Here are some tips to make the most of your outdoor space:

1. Make it cozy.  If your patio or porch is just a blank canvas, consider hanging a porch swing and adding some decorative indoor/outdoor throw pillows to cozy it up.
2. Add finishing touches.  Add some great finishing touches such as some brightly potted plants, a nice indoor/outdoor carpet, vintage lighting fixtures or other unique touches.
3. Create an illusion.  Hang a large mirror from an exterior wall or fence to create the illusion of another room, larger space and more light.
4. Take advantage of the green.  Add a pergola and grow climbing vines such as grape or ivy to provide extra protection from the elements and add a sense of sophistication to your space.
5. Engage the senses.  Adding details such as a fire pit or fire bowl creates a sense of warmth.  Adding a fountain or water feature adds soothing sound to your space.  Planting pots of great smelling herbs such as lavender or mint engage the senses as well.

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.

Now that the weather is nice it’s time to do all of outdoor repairs that you kept putting off over the winter.  Enjoy the weather and up your curb appeal all at the same time!

1. Clean your windows.  Make your windows sparkle by cleaning them both inside and outside.  You’d be surprised what a pick me up the extra sunlight will do for your home!
2. Clean your gutters.   Make sure your gutters are clean and functioning at their highest capacity.  This will keep them looking good and doing their job so that your home doesn’t suffer damage when the rains and snow come.
3. Rent a power washer.  Clean up your home’s exterior with a power washer and brighten it up immediately.
4. Spruce up the front door.  If your front door needs fixing or painting, now’s the time to do it.  If it just needs a little sprucing try adding some potted flowers near the entry, updating the house number, and switching out the hardware for something fresh.

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 haven’t decided yet where to take your mother for Mother’s Day, here are a few last minute options that might fit the bill for tomorrow:

Baywood Greens
Baywood Greens in Millsboro is a great place to take your mother for Mother’s Day.  Reservations are required – 302-947-9225.

Nage
The Rehoboth Beach location of Nage is known amongst the locals as the place to enjoy a scrumptious dining experience.  Their Sunday Brunch is affordable and immensely popular, and I’m sure Mother’s Day will be no different!  302-226-2037

Blue Moon
Blue Moon has been a Rehoboth Beach staple for over 30 years.  Sunday brunch is served from 10:30am-2pm and given this reputation I am sure the Mother’s Day selections will be delicious!  302-227-6515

The Summer House
If your mom is the type who likes something a little more low-key then brunch at Rehoboth Beach staple, The Summer House is the place to go.  With lots of great a la carte options there is something for everyone.  302-227-3895

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.