March 27, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Francis Bacon:  “Hope is a good breakfast, but is a bad supper.”  (Fred)  “If you hope for a good dinner and it is dinnertime, your hope is in vain, replace hope with action and maybe the outcome will be a good dinner.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 590683-$198,500.  A new home in Seaford DE, has 3 BR, 2 BA, in 1620 sq. ft. on .68 acre that boasts an open/split floor plan with vaulted ceilings.  Call me at 302 258-6983 to see this home.March 27, 2013

Make Your Entrance Grand

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Whether you believe it or not, the front door of your home is a powerful tool to help you sell.  Your front door provides the first impression for everyone who comes to your home and helps them form an opinion of your home before they ever even come inside.  To help give your home the grand entrance that architecturally appealing homes have, first you need to be sure that your entrance is apparent from the street.  This doesn’t mean it has to be magnificent, just that any old person passing by needs to be able to identify it.  Some ways to do this are add a pediment, trim it out, or place it under a roofed porch.  An unsheltered front door should never be flush with the house – that will give it the look of a side door.  At the very least the front door should be recessed or projected from the house a noticeable bit.  For the most welcoming atmosphere, provide a separate path for walking to your front door and keep electric meters and other utilities, garbage cans, or other unfortunate outdoor storage areas out of the path and vision of your entrance area.  Remember, a great front entrance means a better first impression, which can mean an easier sale!

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.

January 15, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Buddha:  “He is able who thinks he is able.”  (Fred)  “I suspect this could be in error for some people.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 593465-$499,900.  A to be built home in the Peninsula, Long Neck, DE, this large home has 4BR, 3.5 BA on .24 acre.  The community has Golf, Beach and Pier on the Bay, outdoor wave and indoor pool, tennis, trails and much more.  Call me to make this home yours at 302 258-6983.

 

January 15, 2013

January 14, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Benjamin Franklin:  “The doors of wisdom are never shut.”  (Fred)  “Wisdom is the sum of your successes and your failures with the correct interpretation.”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 598242-$149,900.  A home in Beaver Dam Heights, Seaford, DE has 3 BR, 1 BA, in 1500 sq. ft. on a .38 acre wooded lot.  An updated rancher with a screened rear porch and taxes are only $684/yr.  Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983.

January 14, 2013

January 8, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Abraham Lincoln:  “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”  (Fred)  “Good advice”

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 587110-$199,900.  Here is a large well maintained Split-Level in Devonshire Woods, Seaford, DE, which has 3 BR, 2.5 BA on .35 acre.  The landscaping is well done and the home has a new roof.  Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983.January 8, 2013

November 7, 2012

“A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.”  Mencius  “I am sure that this true in certain circumstances, but not in the government we just elected.  (Fred)

 

Fred’s pick of the Day is MLS # 596287-$330,000.  Here is nice home in White Pine Harbor, Millville, DE on a double lot.  The home has 3 BR, 2BA a fireplace and wood burning stove all in 2000 sq. ft.  Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.

October 31, 2012

“Enjoy your own life without comparing it to one of another.”  Marquis de Condorcet  “Envy should not enter into your life, make it what you will.”  (Fred)

 

Happy Halloween!  I talked to my son last night in Marlton, NJ, and when I asked if the grandkids would be out trick or treating tonight.   He said that the Marlton Police Dept. cancelled Halloween until Friday 11/02/2012.  I did not know that the Marlton Police Dept. had the power to cancel Halloween!  I guess that Hurricane Sandy had something to do with it.  Anyway have fun and be safe to the rest of the country tonight.

Sandy Update, 3 PM, 10/30/12.

October 29, 2012-9AM

Good will is the only asset that the competition cannot undersell or destroy.”  Marshall Field  “Good will is like your reputation, only you can build or destroy it.”

(Fred)

 

Fred’s Pick today is Sandy.  Today most of us sit home and watch the storm as it nears.  The picture attached is the stream behind our home.  It is up about 9” from the start of the rain on Sunday picture taken at 9AM.  We will take another look later.

October 22, 2012

“Without doubt, machinery has greatly increased the number of well-to-do idlers.”  Karl Marx “Technology has increase spare time therefore, we need to be entertained.”  (Fred)

 

Fred’s Pick of the Day is MLS # 579899-$999,000.  This is an Ocean Front townhome in Fenwick Island, DE, with 4 BR, 4 BA, in 2046 sq. ft. that has been recently renovated.  Call me to see this gem at 302 258-6983.

5 Ways To Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Yesterday I talked about how to update your home’s entry way to increase your curb appeal. Here are five more ways to increase your home’s curb appeal:

Yesterday I talked about how to update your home’s entry way to increase your curb appeal.  Here are five more ways to increase your home’s curb appeal:

1.  Use container planting to create an instant garden and add color to your home’s exterior.
2.  Pave an entry walkway with stone or brick.
3.  Add shutters or trim around windows and doors – paint it in an accent color for even more appeal.
4.  Replace your garage door with more a more visually interesting model.
5.  Trim any plants and trees that block views of your front door and make sure all walkways are clear 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 – 302-629-6693.

Thursday Three: 3 Ways To Update Your Entryway

These suggestions will spruce up your entry way and add instant curb appeal to your home:

These suggestions will spruce up your entry way and add instant curb appeal to your home:

1.  Replace the light in your entry way with a fixture that has visual or historic appeal.
2.  Paint your front door a stand out color… bright red is the most appealing choice!
3.  Replace the hardware on your door with an attractive and modern set for a great, updated look.

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.

Preventing Tree Damage

Believe it or not, trees can add considerable value to your home. In fact a well placed tree could be contributing up to 10% of your property value. But whether your property has many trees or just a few, the concern that a major storm could send a branch crashing down onto your roof is a legitimate concern.

 

Believe it or not, trees can add considerable value to your home.  In fact a well placed tree could be contributing up to 10% of your property value.  But whether your property has many trees or just a few, the concern that a major storm could send a branch crashing down onto your roof is a legitimate concern.  Tree damage can be an especially big concern heading into winter, with ice and snow weighting down branches and causing problems.  Now is the perfect time to take preventative action.  If you are worried about any of your trees, you can have them inspected by a local tree service.  This is usually a free service that tree companies offer.  An inspection like this can tell you if you have any weak branches that need to be removed or if any limbs need to be tethered to protect against high winds.  Usually, if this work does need to be done it can all be taken care of for under $500 and can save you many headaches down the road.  It is wise to have your trees inspected every 3-5 years so that you can stay on top of preventative maintenance which is the best way to avoid problems!

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.

 

Prepping Your Home To Sell

When you’re prepping your home for sale there are a few things you can do to give yourself a “leg-up” in this market. Things such as improving your landscaping, cleaning your gutters, pressure washing your siding and driveway, and keeping your lawn manicured all add to your home’s curb appeal and can ultimately help improve its chances at selling.

When you’re prepping your home for sale there are a few things you can do to give yourself a “leg-up” in this market.  Things such as improving your landscaping, cleaning your gutters, pressure washing your siding and driveway, and keeping your lawn manicured all add to your home’s curb appeal and can ultimately help improve its chances at selling.  Painting your door with a fresh coat of paint that contrasts with your home’s exterior color and replacing worn house numbers with new, easy to see alternatives will also help increase your home’s appeal.  You should also consider making necessary repairs such as changing broken windows, fixing a leaking roof, or replacing cracked flooring.  You want your home to make its best first impression, and to do that you need to maintain it so that buyers will be interested in a second look.  When staging your home, be sure to remove all unnecessary clutter.  Removing at least one piece of furniture from each room and clearing out clutter will not only simplify your life, it will help your home sell.  While you’re decluttering, you should also remember to clean out closets and drawers.  When your closets and drawers are stuffed to the brim or disorganized it makes your home appear as if it is short on storage space, which doesn’t work in your favor when trying to sell.

To give your home the best chance in today’s market, you should definitely consider these and other staging and sprucing tips.  The difference between homes that sell and homes that don’t are often in the small details.

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

Landscaping For A Great First Impression

If you’re trying to sell your home (or thinking about it), then you want to brush up your home’s curb appeal to make a great first impression on your potential buyers. Here are a few landscaping tips that don’t require too much cash to make happen.

If you’re trying to sell your home (or thinking about it), then you want to brush up your home’s curb appeal to make a great first impression on your potential buyers.  Here are a few landscaping tips that don’t require too much cash to make happen.

First, plan for some low maintenance landscaping.  Adding some greenery and bright plants to your yard will bump up the curb appeal of your home, but for a low-cost, low-maintenance fix be sure to purchase plants that are native to our region.  Water-conserving plants that are drought-tolerant are also a good bet for a low-maintenance fix.  Another good idea is to plant a shade tree.  Although a tree won’t mature quickly, if you’re thinking ahead, planting one now will be planning for the future of your home.  Again, stick to native vegetation.  Planting a tree helps with curb appeal, offers shade, and can even cut cooling costs if properly placed.  Be careful about placement though because you don’t want to plant any trees too close to your house.  My last tip is to curate your lawn.  Overgrown grass, lawns with patches of dead grass or dirt, or lawns that are overrun by weeds all make a negative first impression on potential home buyers.  Luckily, these issues are easy to fix.  Consider hiring a landscaping company to clean up your yard, shape hedges, trim trees, etc.  Spending a couple hundred dollars fixing up your home’s curb appeal is worth it to attract home buyers that might otherwise be unimpressed.

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.

Quick Updates To Sell Your Home

If you’re in the process of selling your home (or thinking about it), you might be thinking about what kind of remodeling you should do to put your home in the best light. As a rule, you should never undertake any big remodeling projects before putting your home up for sale, but there are a few things you can do with just a little bit of money to make your house more appealing on the market.

If you’re in the process of selling your home (or thinking about it), you might be thinking about what kind of remodeling you should do to put your home in the best light.  As a rule, you should never undertake any big remodeling projects before putting your home up for sale, but there are a few things you can do with just a little bit of money to make your house more appealing on the market.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, one of the least expensive ways to increase your property value is to paint the walls!  Neutrals are key, but don’t just buy a bucket of white and paint everything… that’s boring!  Browns/beiges, grays, and even some shades of blue and green can be considered neutral.  The idea is to get rid of any extremely personal colors in the house – you might love your red living room, but chances are most of your potential buyers won’t.  Another relatively easy fix that will attract buyers is nice flooring.  If you’re lucky enough to have hardwood under your carpeting, rip it up and have the floors refinished.  If hardwood isn’t an option, consider replacing your carpeting for a fresh look that will attract buyers.  To save money, go for a mid-range carpet, but put the best padding you can afford underneath… this cushiony layer really affects the look and feel of the carpet.  Updating your light fixtures can also really improve your home’s salability.  Replace any dated fixtures with something more classic for an instant pick-me-up.  Pay special attention to the lighting in your kitchen, bathrooms, and hallway.  You want your home to be well lit so that buyers can see it, don’t’ you?  And while we’re discussing fixtures, if your bathroom or kitchen seem dated, changing out the hardware for something new can make a big impact for not much cash.  If you can swing it, switching your old faucets with something newer can give new life to a room.  My final budget suggestion is another one I’ve mentioned several times before… check your curb appeal!  Most potential buyers will judge your house on their first impression, which is the outside!  So be sure your home is putting its best foot forward by trimming any hedges/bushes and trees in the yard, mowing the grass, trimming any weeds, and edging your driveway and sidewalks.  Power washing your side walks can make a surprisingly big impact too.  Finally, invest a little cash by painting the front door and placing some potted flowers by it.  For maximum impact, change out the hardware on your door with something new and think about getting a new mailbox.  Finally, be sure that your house number is visible.  If it isn’t, buy some new numbers and hang them immediately!

Since none of these projects cost all that much, the best part about them is that you’re pretty much guaranteed to recoup your cash when your home sells, which will probably be a whole lot sooner than if you hadn’t made the changes in the first place!

Looking for an agent who can help you with more great tips?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Projects You Should Do Right Now

There is a small window of time when the weather is beautiful and it’s not unbearably hot, and we are currently in it! So, it’s the perfect time to get some of those outdoor projects done. Here’s a quick rundown of a few projects you should do now!

There is a small window of time when the weather is beautiful and it’s not unbearably hot, and we are currently in it!  So, it’s the perfect time to get some of those outdoor projects done.  Here’s a quick rundown of a few projects you should do now!

Prep Your Mower – If you do your own yard work, chances are you’ve already been out mowing this year, but if you haven’t already, you should sharpen those blades before you cut any more grass!  Also check to make sure your other lawn & garden tools are in good operating condition.
Gutters and Downspouts – Check them out carefully to be sure none have gotten loose over the past year and clean out leaves and other debris.  Also check for sags and water stains that may indicate a problem.
Fans & Air Conditioners — Dust them, wash them, remove any debris or building, and clean or replace the filters.  If you don’t have central air and need to install window units, now’s the time.  Make sure to seal the area around them well!  While you’re at it, change the filter to your furnace, especially if you use the fan year round.
Roof Inspection – If your roof is older or you think there might be an issue now’s the time to get up there (or hire someone to do it for you!) and check it out.  Be on the look-out for missing shingles or shingles that may be loose.  Pay careful attention to the areas around chimneys, pipes, vents, skylights, and other such areas.  While you’re up there take a good look around and become aware of anything that might be a potential problem if there’s a nasty storm (such as nearby tree limbs, etc.)
Foundation Vents– Check your vent blocks and remove or open the covers to let some air circulate.  Clean them out if dirt has built up around them over the winter, and check to make sure the soil hasn’t shifted in a way that is allowing groundwater to drain into your basement or crawl space.
Outdoor Faucets – If they’ve been covered, uncover them and turn on the water supply if you shut it off over the winter.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and let us work for you — 302-629-6693!

5 Perfect Plants For Your Garden

It’s almost May… if you haven’t already started thinking about your garden, now’s the time to get started. Here are five plants that grow well in Sussex County… with the proper care of course!

It’s almost May… if you haven’t already started thinking about your garden, now’s the time to get started.  Here are five plants that grow well in Sussex County… with the proper care of course!

Astilbe
This dense, colorful plant blooms in shades of pink, red, white, and lavender.  This plant grows best in shaded areas and needs plenty of water. (pictured above)

Bee Balm
If you love wildflowers, this is the plant for you.  Flowering in red, pink, violet, and white varieties this plant grows best in moist, sunny areas.  This beautiful plant also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds while deterring most pests with its minty scent.

Lily-of-the-Valley
This ground cover plant is well recognizable with its bell-shaped flowers that small oh-so-sweet.  This plant grows well in moist, shaded areas.  Although it doesn’t flower all season, the deep green leaves are lovely all season long.

Soapwort
This beautiful plant features clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers and is super easy to grow as long as you plant it in full sun and don’t overwater.  This plant can grow up to two feet tall and wide and blooms all summer and fall.

Trillium
This gorgeous plant blooms in shades of white, yellow, and maroon.  Trillium’s distinguishing three-petal bloom grows best in moist, shaded areas.  Just be sure to grow it along with other flowering plants, because Trillium goes dormant in midsummer.

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!