Author: Connie - Gadget Girl

Five Signs You Should Step Back Before Making An Offer

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When you find a home that seems perfect for you, be sure to look carefully for potential problems before you put in an offer.  Here are a few red flags to look for:

1.  Lack of Maintenance.  If you can tell that a home hasn’t been well maintained just by looking at it, think hard about whether or not you are up for the challenge.  Chances are that in a situation like this there will be more to fix than just the cosmetic.

2.  Foundation Issues.  Comb the foundation for damage.  Look for noticeable cracks, bulges, and grading issues in the yard which could mean that water has run down the foundation.

3.  Old Wiring.  If there are outlets or switches in the home that do not function, or if the outlets are double pronged instead of triple, if any lights flicker or circuits don’t work that is all a sign that there may be wiring issues.

4.  Funky Smells.  If you smell bad smells inside or out it could be a sign that there are bigger issues.  Additionally, if you smell strong overlying scents like potpourri, candles, etc. then just keep in mind that it may be masking other not-so-nice smells.

5.  Limited Fresh Paint.  New paint is the number one way for sellers to spruce up their homes before selling, but if you only see new paint in certain areas, look for deeper issues which may be hiding under the paint, such as mildew or mold.

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.

Three Quick Floor Updates

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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.

Weekend Update: March 22nd-24th

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Saturday, March 23rd: Children’s Easter Party
The American Legion Post 17 in Lewes is hosting an Easter Party for all children 10 and younger.  There will be eggs, games, and refreshments from noon until 2pm.

Saturday, March 23rd: Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert
The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will perform at Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church (81 Central Ave at the corner of Rt 26) in Ocean View.  For more information call 888-846-8600.

Saturday, March 23rd:  Battery 519 Lantern Tour
Tour the gun battery in Cape Henlopen State Park by lantern light and learn how soldiers defended the Atlantic coast during World War II.  Tour begins at 5:30 and is for ages 10 and above only.  $5 per person.  For more information contact Cape Henlopen State Park.

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.

Tips for Viewing Houses

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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.

Advice for Downsizing

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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.

Spotlight on Crystal Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach

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If breakfast is your thing, then you definitely need to check out Crystal Restaurant (37300 Rehoboth Ave.) in Rehoboth if you haven’t already.  Crystal Restaurant is a cozy, no-frills, family establishment that serves their renowned breakfast for unbeatable prices all day long.  Their make your own omelet station is a cornucopia of choices, including filet mignon, feta cheese, shrimp, veggies, a variety of cheeses, gyro meat and more.  They also have breakfast sandwiches, three kinds of Eggs Benedict, and pancakes that are to die for!  In addition to all the breakfast basics they also serve some great sides like home fries, scrapple, and grits as well as delicious mimosas and Bloody Marys.  Crystal Restaurant serves lunch and dinner too, with some delicious options, but breakfast – served all day – is definitely the shining star!

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.

Five Reasons a Fixer Upper May Be For You

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Yesterday we talked about reasons you may want to forgo a fixer-upper for a finished home, but fixer uppers can be a great option for many people.  Today, here are five options that you may want to consider a fixer-upper for your next home:

1.  You are looking for a home in a specific neighborhood.  If you’re looking for a home in a very specific area and there just aren’t very many available considering a fixer-upper may help you settle into your ideal location.

2.  You live for do-it-yourself projects.  Turning a fixer-upper into a dream home requires a lot of time and money.  The ideal situation is to do as much work as possible yourself.  So if you don’t mind giving up your free time for the foreseeable future to get your hands dirty, or if you even enjoy hands-on work then a fixer-upper may be just what you’re looking for!

3.  You have financing in order.  If you are prepared for the cost of your fixer-upper to be much more than the cost at settlement and you have financing in order to cover the cost of renovations either through cash-on-hand, a renovation loan, or other lines of credit then you are probably ready to consider a fixer-upper.

4.  You have extensive repair knowledge.  If you don’t have the extensive knowledge base necessary to successfully bring a fixer-upper into dream-home territory you at least need the willingness to learn and the time and money to “practice” with since there is a large margin for error when you are leaning these things.

5.  You can see your dream house potential.  If you can walk into a home and envision it just as you’d like, then you probably have the vision to walk through the remodel a step at a time.  Just remember that fixer-uppers take time to renovate.  If you’re willing to wait months, or even years for your dream home then go ahead and offer on that fixer-upper in the perfect location!

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.

Three Reasons To Skip The Fixer Upper

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Buying an fixer upper can be a great way to move into your ideal neighborhood or buy more home than you could otherwise afford, but it’s definitely not for everyone.  Here are three reasons you may want to skip the fixer upper and put an offer on something that needs less work:

1.  The home needs significant structural improvements.  Replacing or repairing major things such as plumbing and electrical systems, foundation upgrades, etc. are expensive, time consuming, and rarely ever offer a return on investment that actually increases the value of the home enough to make it worth it.

2.  You shy away from getting your hands dirty.  The most cost-effective way to turn a fixer-upper into a dream home is to do as much of the work as you can yourself.  You don’t have to do everything yourself, of course, but the more you contract out the more time and money you will spend turning your home around.  If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer you may want to skip it.

3.  You aren’t prepared to spend money.  Sure, the price on a fixer-upper seems like a steal, but once you add in the (often extensive) costs of renovation the total cost of your home goes way up.  If you’re not prepared for that bottom line going in, you should probably walk away.

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: March 15th-17th

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Here are some great events in and around Sussex County this weekend.  Definitely check some of them out!

Friday, March 15th – Lewes & Milton: A Shared Heritage
The Lewes Historical Society presents this special discussion from 7:30pm-9pm on Friday night.  This event will take place at the Lewes Presbyterian Church Hall (133 Kings Highway).  Admission is free and reservations are not required.  This discussion led by former State Archivist Russ McCabe will delve into the shared agricultural, shipbuilding, and historic heritage of these two towns and their cultures.

Saturday, March 16th – Merchants’ Attic II
Delaware’s largest indoor garage sale is back this Saturday!  This event takes place at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Hall (229 Rehoboth Ave.) and doors open promptly at 9:30am.  There is no admission, but donations to benefit the Chamber Event Fund are welcome.  The sale is open until 1:30pm.  For more information, call the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Chamber of Commerce at 302-227-2233 x11.

Saturday, March 16th – Savory Sussex
This week’s Savory Sussex will feature Honey Bee Lake Apiary from Franford, DE.  The program runs from 2pm-3pm at the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes.

Saturday, March 16th – Bayhealth’s Annual Family Wellness Expo & Baby Fair
This event takes place from 10am-1pm at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington.  Over 40 Bayhealth departments, non-profit community groups, and other exhibitors will share information on healthy living options for families, seniors, and children.  Screens for cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, skin cancer, balance, posture and sleep disorders will be available alongside raffles, entertainment, giveaways and other fun activities for the entire family.  The 17th Annual Bayhealth Baby Fair will be going on simultaneously, and new and expectant parents can find a wealth of information on a wide range of childcare topics.  For more information see www.bayhealth.org.

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.

Technology For Your Home

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Pretty much everybody has a television, computer, and cell phone in their home, but technology in your home does not have to be limited to only the most popular of devices.  Integrating technology into other aspects of your home can make your life easier and your home more valuable.  One such project is adding a security system, which adds value and ensures safety.  A sound system can be a great way to step-up your entertainment area.  Wireless lighting allows you to control appliances and lighting by remote and adds energy efficiency and a sense of security.  Another big technological project for your home that adds value with minimal effort is automation.  Connecting all of your home technology like lighting, sound, home theater, and more to one main port which can be controlled remotely is adds great advantage in both value and security for your home.  These technological improvements vary in price, but each add some return on investment and create a more secure living 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 – 302-856-6434.

Energy Efficient Projects For Your Home

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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.

Spotlight on Eden in Rehoboth Beach

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If you’re looking for a great fine dining experience, look no further than Eden (23 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth.  Eden served dinner Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 5:30pm.  Delaware Today has voted Eden “most romantic atmosphere” multiple times.  Self-proclaimed as “bold American food,” Eden serves up all-American favorites with a twist.  During the off season all classic dishes are half-price on Fridays and Wednesdays features half-price bottles of wine and a $30 prix fixe menu.  If you’re looking for an elegant dinner or a place to celebrate a special occasion, Eden is definitely the place to try!

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.

Five Chores You Should Do Daily

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Chores are not fun… that’s one of the reasons they are called chores!  To keep yours manageable, try doing these five daily.  It will make everything else easier!

1.  Make the beds.  This doesn’t take very long and makes every bedroom in the house look a thousand times better automatically!

2  Dishes.  Do the dishes every evening.  If you’re lucky enough to have a dishwasher, unload and reload it each time a cycle is finished.  Trust me… when there are no dirty dishes cluttering the area, the kitchen automatically seems clean!

3.  Wipe the bathroom.  A quick wipe down of the sink and toilet each day make a deep clean of the bathroom a cinch when the time comes!

4.  Laundry.  Throw in a load each morning (or evening, or whenever is convenient) and fold it while you’re watching television before bed.  By doing a load a day your laundry will never pile up and take days to catch up on!

5.  Declutter.  At the end of each day put everything away in its place!  This will magically make your home appear loads cleaner than if you let your clutter accumulate until its overwhelming.

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.

Three Suggestions for Small Spaces

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If you’ve got a small living space, try some of these suggestions to make your room feel cozy and not cramped:

1.  Go neutral.  Stick to neutral walls and curtains to make a small space appear larger.  Keep patterns neutral and use accent pieces to bring in color.

2.  Utilize multi-use.  In a small room an ottoman should double as storage, built in bookshelves provide unity, and any multi-function furniture you can utilize helps create space!

3.  Scale down.  Rather than a full-size sofa, consider a large love seat or scaled down couch.  Forgo the coffee table, keep end tables narrow, and play with layout until you find the best use of your space.

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.

Weekend Update: March 8th-10th

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Check out this list of local events for something fun to do this weekend!

Friday, March 8th – Lewes Lunch & Learn
Lewes Lunch & Learns are hosted by the Lewes Historical Society at the Midway School House #178 on the Lewes Historic Complex (110 Shipcarpenter Street) at noon for 20-30 minutes, followed by a question and answer period.  The second event is this Friday from 12pm-1pm.  Carl Hunt will present “Five Centuries of Information Technology, The First Town of the First State at the Cutting Edge.”  Audience members are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch, and the Lewes Historical Society will provide soft drinks.  For more information call 302-645-7670.

Friday, March 8th – Mid-Atlantic Wine & Food Festival
The Mid-Atlantic Wine & Food Festival is taking place all weekend (it started today, actually!) all over the state.  There are 44 events in all, supporting the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and eight other arts organizations throughout Delaware.  One, local event is Bourbon + Bacon: South from 5pm-7pm on Friday at local favorite, Nage (19730 Coastal Highway) in Rehoboth Beach.  To purchase tickets to this or any other of the festival events and support the Rehoboth Beach Film Society check out this link.

Saturday, March 9th – Big Fish Grill Cooking Class
Cooking classes at this local favorite include hands-on participation, a meet & greet with the chef, wine and cheese tasting, wine pairing, and several courses of instruction.  Doors open at 9:45 and classes are from 10am-1pm.  Pre-registration is required.  For more information or to register check out this link.

Saturday, March 9th – Rehoboth Art League Young at Art Exhibition
The Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane) will display artwork from students in both public and private local schools.  The opening reception is from 10am-1pm this Saturday and the show runs through March 23rd.  Support young, local artists and check it out!

Sunday, March 10th – St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Irish Eyes Pub & Bar will host the Annual Milton St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Sunday in downtown Milton.  The parade kicks off at 2pm.  This year there is also a Lucky Leprechaun 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Milton Chamber prior to the race.  Registration begins at 11am and the race starts at noon.  For more information call 302-684-8889.

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.

Eat at Bethany Blues, Support the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park

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If you read this blog at all it is no secret that I am a fan of Cape Henlopen State Park!  The Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park is a private, non-profit organization that supports many activities of the park including the Borrow-A-Bike program, monthly trail days, park beautification, playground equipment, and the osprey camera just to name a few.  Support the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park by eating at Bethany Blues TONIGHT!!!  Print this coupon, take it to Bethany Blues (18385 Coastal Highway in Lewes) tonight, enjoy dinner, and a percentage of your total will be donated to the Friends of Cape Henlopen.

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.

Online Listing Advice

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When you are working with your agent to write the listing for your home you should put more than a few moments of thought into it.  Your online listing is your advertisement to potential buyers.  If you want buyers to come and look then you will need to pique their interest.  The first and most important thing you should do is include a handful of pictures.  The second thing you need to do is write the description.  To help you, begin by avoiding general “filler” words.  Examples of such words are things like fantastic, gorgeous, spacious, charming, great, etc.  In addition to avoiding those types of filler terms, you should also avoid overly-common “code language” such as “cozy” and “up and coming.”  Buyers in today’s market know that those terms just mean “small” and “not a great neighborhood,” so it’s better to just avoid them entirely.  So, what should you say?  Think of your description as the best way to shine a light on the very best that your home has to offer.  If your home is in a desirable neighborhood, name it specifically.  If your home has top-notch finishes (marble, granite, etc.) name them specifically.  If your home has any largely desirable built-ins or custom work such as cabinets, bookshelves, etc. you should list them.  You should also take the time to list any little luxuries that your home includes that appeal to a wide range of buyers.  These types of luxuries include gourmet kitchens, spa-like showers, breakfast nooks, walk-in closets, etc.  If your home is in a walkable neighborhood, list nearby “walkable” places.  Really take the time to paint a picture of your home’s ideal location.  Additionally you will want to list anything that separates your home from the rest of the competition.  Use your listing to make potential buyers come to your home instead of the home next door, across the street, or around the block!  Lastly, no matter what you say in your description, make sure to prove it with pictures!  Whatever you do, be sure that your written description and your photos match.  Do not give potential buyers any reason to doubt your honesty or question your description.  Make them come check it out in person!

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.

Spotlight on the Lewes Tulip Festival

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The popular Lewes Tulip Festival will be held Thursday, April 11th-Saturday, April 13th this year.  Photos for the official photo contest are currently being accepted at the Fisher-Martin House (120 Kings Hwy) in Lewes from 10am-4pm weekdays until March 25th.  Categories for this year’s contest are Lewes architecture, Lewes landscapes, Quintessential Lewes, Tulips, Lewes Food, and Lewes Pets.  The cost is $5 per submission and there is a maximum of 5 submissions per photographer.  A grand prize of $100 will be awarded at the close of the festival.  For more information check out this full list of rules and details.  Be sure to get your entries in, and stay tuned for more information on the Tulip Festival as it approaches!

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.

5 Tips for Clearing Out Clutter

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If you live in your home and have virtually any amount of stuff, chances are clutter can become an issue in the blink of an eye.  Here are five suggestions to help you control the clutter and keep it from taking over.

1.  Maximize Your Cabinets.  By installing lazy Susans, pullout drawers, wire shelves, and other cabinet organization tools, you will maximize the space, creating more room for your stuff.

2.  Utilize Open Shelving.  Open shelves are difficult to keep neat.  Purchasing baskets, metal bins, or other organizational containers for the shelves you can keep your clutter controlled and out of sight.

3.  Control Your Closets.  There are many ready-made storage solutions for closets.  Find the type of shelving unit that best fits your needs and install it.

4.  Build Beautiful Built-Ins.  Surround a wall of windows, a set of doors, or other architectural feature of your home with simple built-in shelving to add an enormous amount of storage and structural interest to your home.

5.  Choose Double-Duty Pieces.  Utilize pieces of furniture that double as storage.  For example a coffee table chest, storage bench, or storage ottoman.

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.

Three Quick Ways To Add Color To Your Home

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Looking for ways to add a quick pop of color?  Check out these ideas:

1.  Choose your favorite.  Take a look around and choose your favorite fabric of pattern already in the room.  Find the dominate color in that pattern and then add 5-10 accents in the same color around the room.  The amount depends on the size of the room and the accents you choose.  Keeping all of your accents in the same color scheme will add a pop to the room while still keeping a cohesive feel.

2.  Make seasonal changes.  Adding collections of seasonal decorations is a great way to add color.  Keep them simple and bright and don’t forget to change them out regularly!

3.  Remember the rule.  Designers recommend using the 60-30-10 formula as a guide for adding color to a room.  The rule is that 60% of your room should be the predominate (usually neutral) color, 30% of the room should be your secondary color – typically found in floor and window coverings, and the final 10% should be your accent color.

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.