Category: Uncategorized

Going green is trendy and good for the environment, but it can also be overwhelming.  There are many projects you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly, starting with your insulation.  Installing energy-efficient insulation will help maintain a uniform and comfortable temperature in your home, lowering your utility bills.  Installing a high-efficiency water means using 10-50% less energy than a standard water heater.  If your appliances need replacing, choosing Energy Star rated versions will conserve both water and electricity.  Replacing windows and doors with energy efficient versions will prevent air leaks and improve insulation, saving energy and lowering your bills.  Adding solar panels to your home is, perhaps, the greenest choice in the long run, but with the most up-front cost.  All of these improvements mean more green in your wallet and in the environment.

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 the past, I’ve listed “red flag” issues that should give you pause as a buyer.  Here are some more:

1.  Locked Doors.  If there are any areas of a home that are off limits during your tours, be sure that you arrange to see them at some point before you put any kind of offer on the house.

2.  Missing Walls.  If there has been any major remodeling to the home keep in mind that moving walls can shift the weight of the house around, which will cause issues if load bearing walls were not properly cared for.  Be sure to check for signs that there aren’t any structural issues.

3.  Window Issues.  Check out all the windows, make sure they work and don’t stick, check to make sure that there isn’t water damage between window panes.

4.  Pests.  Check for signs of unwelcome pests – roaches, mice, termites, etc. do not make good house guests!  Look for traps, scat, and other tell tale signs that pests might be an issue.

5.  A Questionable Area.  If a home you are interested is in an area where there are lots of boarded up homes or businesses or if it’s in a neighborhood where there are many other homes for sale, ask around and find out what’s up.  If there’s a reason that so many people are leaving the area then you will want to know about it before you buy.

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 house hunting the last thing you want to do is waste your time looking at a bunch of properties that are wrong for you.  To make the most of your time and effort, start by working with a realtor.  Find someone you trust, but also someone you like since you may be spending a lot of time with them!  Once you have a realtor and they have your wish list you can start touring homes.  If at all possible drive with your realtor when you go on tours.  This gives you time between homes to discuss and debrief so that your realtor can help you narrow your search, and insures that nobody will get lost or separated.  When you go on a buyer’s tour make sure you have plenty of time free.  If you have to rush back to work or on to your next plans you won’t be able to spend time truly exploring homes that you actually like.  And while we’re talking about exploring, if you don’t like a place a cursory once-over is plenty of time to spend, but if you really like a place open every cabinet, drawer, and door in the place.  After you’ve looked at a home, be sure to discuss all the details with your realtor.  Voicing any concerns and criticisms that you have can help your realtor narrow down your home search so that you can use your time and effort much more efficiently.  And finally, if you want to make your life easier wear shoes that you can slip on and off.  Often homes with new carpet also have signs that ask you to remove your shoes, and being able to slip your shoes on and off will make the whole process much faster!  Happy house hunting.

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 like most of the people I know, you probably love your home but hate cleaning it!  More and more people are hiring maid services to help them out – some people hire help with the day-to-day cleaning and others hire help to come in once a month, or even less frequently.  And with Spring cleaning around the corner, this is the perfect time to hire someone.  The truth is, no matter who you are, hiring a maid service can give you a little extra time to spend on more enjoyable things!  If you’ve been thinking of hiring a maid service, here are a few things to keep in mind…

Insurance & Bonding
Make sure the company you hire is insured.  Your homeowners insurance may or may not cover an accident that occurs while I maid is working for you – for example if she slips and falls while mopping the floor, so the company you hire should have coverage that protects both the company and employees, but also your home.  Bonding is different than insurance – be sure that the company protects you and not just themselves in case of a problem like theft.

Hiring & References
Make sure the employees references and criminal background have been checked.  Find out if the maids are employees or subcontractors – generally speaking, you want a company that has employees.  If the workers are subcontractors be sure they are trained and insured.  Find out how long the company has been in business and ask for a list of references.  Call references and ask how long they’ve used the company, if they’ve ever had complaints and how they’ve been handled, and how highly they would recommend the service.

Customer Satisfaction
When calling references, find out how satisfied they are as customers.  Also ask if the company has any measures of customer satisfaction (but be sure to find out how they collected the data – it doesn’t mean much if the only customers they report are the ones that have given glowing testimonials!).  If the company cares about customer satisfaction and goes out of their way to measure it, they are probably the kind of company that will care about you.   While you’re at it, you should also find out how the company measures quality of service and how they assure that quality is maintained.  You want to make sure that whoever is working for you is working up to the standards you expect.  In the case of complaints, you will want to know if there is some kind of guarantee.  Make sure any guarantees are in writing and whether or not there are limitations.  Find out before you hire a maid or a service how complaints are handled and how long issues usually take to be resolved.

Products & Equipment
Find out who is responsible for providing products & equipment.  Some services provide their own supplies, while others expect you to provide everything.  If products are provided by the company keep in mind that many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals and/or poisons.  Be sure that everything the company uses is safe for pets and kids.  Even if you don’t have pets or children running around your house, as a rule you should avoid unsafe products for yourself too!  If the company uses environmentally friendly products, be sure they will still be effective for cleaning and disinfecting purposes.  Find out exactly what equipment the company expects you to provide (mop? vacuum? broom? rags? buckets? – and the list continues) and make sure you have it.  If the service provides their own equipment find out their policy for keeping things clean and up to date.  For example, if they use a vacuum with a dirty filter it isn’t going to do much good.  Similarly, you don’t want them using dirty rags that have only been rinsed clean to wipe down your kitchen counters.  If the company provides products and equipment, but you would rather provide your own, make sure that there is a policy in place for you to do so.

Legality
When you hire a cleaning service you want to be sure that everything is above board.  Know both the federal and state tax laws for your situation and follow them.  You should also be sure that you are hiring legally documented workers.  Finally, know the ins and outs of any contract that you sign.  Understand your rights as a consumer and the recourse that you have if you are unhappy with the service that is provided.

And if you are not one of the people who love your home, give us a call at Cooper Realty and let us help you find a new home – 302-644-2266.

With spring in the air, spring cleaning is on the mind.  Whether you’re selling your home and trying to keep it as clean as possible, or just desire a cleaner home, here are some chores you can do in 5 minutes or less:

• Swiffer/sweep/vacuum the floor in any room
• Make the bed
• Fold laundry
• Clean the toilet bowl & wipe down the bathroom sink
• Dust the television and wipe off the screen
• Open the refrigerator or freezer and throw away everything that needs to be tossed
• Choose a room and dust all surfaces with a once-over
• Wipe down kitchen counters
• Clean out the kitchen sink
• Load or unload the dishwasher
• Wipe down door knobs and/or cabinet handles and/or light switches with disinfectant
• Open a drawer and clean it out
• Clean out the medicine cabinet
• Recycle old magazines and newspapers
• Wipe down sofa or other upholstery and fluff pillows
• Choose a room and clean any spots on the wall with a magic eraser
• Sort laundry and start a load
• Enjoy your cleaner home!

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.

Happy Spring everyone!  Here’s hoping that the weather gets springier from here on out.

Thinking of buying or selling a home this Spring?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you — 302-644-2266.

 

Yesterday I talked about kitchen makeovers, but the thing about totally redoing a kitchen is that it can be very pricey.  If you’re wanting to give your kitchen a face lift in a more budget-friendly way, consider some of the following suggestions.

Stick to the Ws.  Window and walls that is.  There are basically endless options for wall coverings that can be easily cleaned.  A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a room!  Changing up the window treatments can also give the room a whole different feel.

Keep what you have.  Installing new cabinets can be expensive, but your whole kitchen can feel like new if you refinish your existing cabinets.  Just make sure you do your research and use high-quality prep products.

Repurpose other pieces.  Consider using an armoire as a pantry or a unique table as an island.  Repurposing individual pieces of furniture can save you money and add interest to an otherwise neutral room.

Appliances only.  If you have some money to work with, but not enough for a full makeover, consider replacing only your appliances.  Especially if they are showing signs of wear and tear.  And remember that appliances can be expensive if you get all the fancy gadgets, but basic appliances that will fit your requirements can be just as nice if you are on a budget.

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.

 

It is no secret that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, but they are also the centerpieces of family life too.  A kitchen makeover can give your home a whole different feel.  Whether you want a kitchen update to help sell your home faster or just to enjoy yourself, here are some helpful tips for design planning.

Plan for space.  Kitchen design pros recommend walkways of at least 36 inches in all kitchen areas with 42 inch pathways in cooking areas and more if there is more than one cook.

Plan for traffic.  Place the refrigerator accessible to anyone wandering in looking for a drink, but still convenient to cooking and cleanup areas.

Plan your corners.  Keep all cabinets and appliances fully functional by planning space for the doors clearance and swing.  Keep appliances away from corners and make sure doors won’t bang into each other if they are open at the same time.

Plan your landings.  Landing space is work space for cooking.  There should be a minimum of 15 inches of counter space on each side of the refrigerator and stove top as well as 15 inches near the microwave.

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 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.