Author: Connie - Gadget Girl

Spotlight on Luca Ristorante Enoteca

Luca Ristorante is an authentic Italian restaurant and wine bar located in the heart of Millsboro (303 Main Street in Millsboro). Located in a historic bank, the atmosphere is warm and unique.

Luca Ristorante is an authentic Italian restaurant and wine bar located in the heart of Millsboro (303 Main Street in Millsboro).  Located in a historic bank, the atmosphere is warm and unique.  As members of the Sussex County Farm Fresh Program they proudly serve fresh, locally grown and farmed products.  With a menu including pizza, Italian classics, and more there is sure to be something for everyone.  They offer private dining and daily specials worth trying, like a three-course meal including appetizer, entrée, and dessert for just $22 on Wednesday nights.  Luca is open Tuesday-Thursday from 5pm-9pm and Friday & Saturday from 5pm-10pm, and they do take reservations.

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 Thanksgiving Recipes to Try

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. If you’re looking for some traditional recipes with a twist, try these five that are sure to be crowd pleasers.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  If you’re looking for some traditional recipes with a twist, try these five that are sure to be crowd pleasers.

1.  Northwest Fruit Stuffing – made with cherries, pears, apples, and raisins this sweet twist on a Thanksgiving staple is sure to please.

2.  Spiced Cranberry Jelly – This tart cranberry sauce has less sugar than most, is super easy to make, and can be refrigerated for up to a week.

3.  Harvest Casserole – This casserole is made with veggies and a hint of parmesan cheese.  It is a great dish to accompany turkey or ham.

4.  Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes – This simple to make sweet potato recipe comes from Alton Brown.

5.  Amaretto Pumpkin Pie with Almond Praline – This delicious twist on a crowd favorite is time consuming but delectable.

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: Nov. 16-18

Here are a few local events to keep you busy this weekend:

Here are a few local events to keep you busy this weekend:

Friday, 11/16 – Cooking & Decorating Help
Learn how to make beautiful and edible holiday masterpieces with experts from Williams-Sonoma.  Class is from 6:30pm-8pm at the East Coast Garden Center (30366 Cordrey Rd. in Millsboro).  Cost is $28 and pre-registration is required.  Call 302-945-3489 for more info or to register.

Saturday, 11/17 – Ritz Chamber Players
The Baltimore Sun called the Ritz Chamber Players “one of the most interesting and dynamic ensembles to emerge in recent years.”  Currently in their 11th year of performing the Ritz players have performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and more.  This will be the ensembles first appearance in Lewes.  The concert will take place at Bethel United Methodist Church from 8pm-10pm.  Tickets are $25.  For more information or to buy tickets, check out this website.

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.

Out of the Box Ways to Market Your Home

If you’re trying to sell your home it is in your best interest to market it in several ways. A good realtor will be able to help you this and will offer advice and options for your particular situation, but to get the ideas flowing, think about some of these out of the box ideas.

If you’re trying to sell your home it is in your best interest to market it in several ways.  A good realtor will be able to help you this and will offer advice and options for your particular situation, but to get the ideas flowing, think about some of these out of the box ideas.  One way to get your home international exposure is to post a classified ad on eBay.  You can also put your home up for auction on eBay, but keep in mind that eBay real estate auctions are not legally binding so after bidding closes the parties still need to work out the details of the transaction.  Another idea that certainly isn’t for everyone is home swapping.  There are several online home swapping sites and some of them have the intention of creating matches between buyers and sellers.  Like with eBay, the site does not sell your home, but can be a unique way to generate interest.  A third unique way to generate interest in your home is to throw an open house party.  Open houses are often slow and inefficient in the current market.  By stepping up your open house and offering food, wine, entertainment and door prizes you can market your home through word of mouth and people will see the home in a different light, which can help them picture living there.  You can use a party to showcase your home’s best features too.  Like I said, these are definitely out of the box ways to generate interest on your home, but of course your real estate agent will have advice of their own too, so use their expertise!

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.

Down Payment Advice

It’s always best to put 20% (or more) down on a mortgage when you are buying a home. The main reason for this is so that you can avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments. PMI costs you a percentage of your mortgage depending on how close your down payment was to 20%.

It’s always best to put 20% (or more) down on a mortgage when you are buying a home.  The main reason for this is so that you can avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments.  PMI costs you a percentage of your mortgage depending on how close your down payment was to 20%.  At first glance it might not sound like much, but over the course of a year PMI could cost you between $500-1500 or more depending on the sale price of your home and how much you put down.  In addition to saving on PMI, putting 20% down can help you negotiate better loan terms and rates.  Without putting a sizable down payment into your mortgage you will not be building equity in your home for a long time.  If you can’t save 20%, saving as much as possible is definitely the best route.

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 Dolce in Milford

If you’re looking for a quaint, friendly coffee shop check out Dolce in downtown Milford. Everything is homemade by one of the owners who is also a pastry chef.

If you’re looking for a quaint, friendly coffee shop check out Dolce in downtown Milford.  Everything is homemade by one of the owners who is also a pastry chef.  All the baked goods are made daily on the premises.  The coffee is delicious and they serve ice cream too!  It’s a great place for a delicious breakfast, mid-day snack, coffee break, meeting with friends, or hanging out to use the WiFi.  Check it out!  They are now taking orders for the holidays too.  You can check out their website here.

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 Homemade Cleaning Solutions to Try

Wanting to go green with your cleaning products? Try these well rated solutions:

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.

3 Ways to Clean Up Mold

If you’re got mold issues in your home, consider these tips for cleaning it up.

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.

Weekend Update – November 9-11

Here are a few things to do this weekend in and around Sussex County:

Here are a few things to do this weekend in and around Sussex County:

Now-Sunday, 11/11 – Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival
With well over 100 films being shown in over 50 time slots, you are sure to find something you like.  For a complete listing of all necessary information, check out the online program.  For more information, check out this link.

Friday, 11/9 & Saturday, 11/10 – 7th Annual St. Nicholas Tea & Sleigh Boutique
The Rehoboth Beach Village Improvement Association is holding this annual tea party and banquet on Friday & Saturday at the Rehoboth Beach Fire House.  Seatings are at 11am and 2pm both days.  Cost is $25 for ages 14 and up and $15 for ages 13 and below.  For reservations, call Ann at 302-227-2416.  For more information, check out this link.

Saturday, 11/10 – Annual Christmas Boutique & Book Fair
Get your holiday shopping on!  This event is sponsored by the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park and is held at the Biden Center in the park from 9am-3pm on Saturday.  All proceeds benefit Cape Henlopen State Park, so get shopping!

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.

Go Vote!

If you haven’t already voted, stop reading right now and go do so!

If you haven’t already voted, stop reading right now and go do so!  This election is shaping up to be one of the closest in history, and that’s saying something since the 2000 election was decided by just over 500 votes in the state of Florida!  If you’re still undecided, check out yesterday’s post for some great information on the issues.  If you aren’t sure where you should vote, check out this link and find out.  Whatever you do, go cast your vote!

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.

Prepare to Vote!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I am sure that you realize that tomorrow is election day. Voting for our President is not a task that should be taken lightly, and is definitely something that every American who is old enough should take pride in doing. Whoever is voted into office has the power to effect the trajectory of the real estate market in many ways. For those who are still undecided on their vote, I’ve taken the liberty of finding a couple of comparison charts that are as unbiased as possible to link up today. So, if you’re still undecided, check it out:

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I am sure that you realize that tomorrow is election day.  Voting for our President is not a task that should be taken lightly, and is definitely something that every American who is old enough should take pride in doing.  Whoever is voted into office has the power to effect the trajectory of the real estate market in many ways.  For those who are still undecided on their vote, I’ve taken the liberty of finding a couple of comparison charts that are as unbiased as possible to link up today.  So, if you’re still undecided, check it out:

The first comparison chart considers not only Obama and Romney, but also independent candidates Virgil Goode (Constitution Party), Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), and Jill Stein (Green Party).  The chart is produced by ProCon.org which is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public charity.  It compares the candidates views on 75 issues and provides a link on the left hand side to compare Vice Presidential candidates Biden and Ryan on 30 issues.

The second comparison chart is published by diffen.com which is a socially powered site that compares anything, according to their tagline.  This chart compares only Obama and Romney, but also allows users to comment.

Whatever you do, get out there and vote tomorrow.  By all analysis, this is going to be a close election and every vote counts, so let your voice be heard.

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.

Spotlight on Georgetown Family Restaurant in Georgetown

Georgetown Family Restaurant (115 E. Market Street in Georgetown) is exactly what it advertises. With a delicious food, a warm atmosphere, and great menu variety it is a great place to take the family for any meal. They serve up daily specials and great prices and the service is excellent. A true local favorite, Georgetown Family Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

Georgetown Family Restaurant (115 E. Market Street in Georgetown) is exactly what it advertises.  With a delicious food, a warm atmosphere, and great menu variety it is a great place to take the family for any meal.  They serve up daily specials and great prices and the service is excellent.  A true local favorite, Georgetown Family Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

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.

Post-Storm Insurance Tips

In the wake of hurricane damage many of us are dealing with insurance claims.  Here are five tips to make the process smoother:

1.  Know the difference between your deductible and a hurricane deductible.  Your deductible is the amount that you, as homeowner, must pay for damages before you insurance kicks in.  Usually this is either $500 or $1,000.  Hurricane deductibles are usually much higher and range between 1%-5% of the home’s insured value.  So if your home is insured for $200,000, your hurricane deducible can be anywhere from $2,000-$10,000 depending on your policy.

2.  Know whether or not you have flood coverage.  Standard policies cover wind damage and damage from wind driven rain, but flood-related losses aren’t usually covered unless you’ve got flood insurance.

3.  Tree damage should be covered.  Most standard homeowners policies should cover damages from fallen trees onto fences, garages, homes, sheds, and other property.  However, if a neighbor’s tree damaged your property or your tree damaged a neighbor’s property who’s coverage kicks in depends on the situation.  Typically whoever “owned” the tree is responsible for the damages, but of course there are exceptions to every rule.

4.  Car insurance matters too.  If your car was damaged by flood water or a fallen tree it should be covered if you have comprehensive insurance.  If you only have liability insurance, however, damages to your vehicle will not be covered.

5.  Look into disaster assistance.  If your home is within a federally declared disaster area you may be eligible for government assistance.  This assistance comes in the form of loans and grants and requires the purchase of flood insurance for the life of the loan.

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.

Thursday Three: 3 Tips for Dealing with Hurricane Clean-up

I can’t believe it’s November already! For the many out there now dealing with Hurricane clean-up here are a few tips from people who have been in your shoes:

I can’t believe it’s November already!  For the many out there now dealing with Hurricane clean-up here are a few tips from people who have been in your shoes:

1.  Safety first.  Don’t start clearing debris and downed trees/branches from your yard until you are totally sure that there are no downed power lines nearby.  For large, hanging limbs, cleanup is best left to a professional.  For smaller branches you should cut them back to the trunk or main limb and discard.

2.  Disinfect immediately.  The longer your floors and walls stay moist the more likely it is that mold will grow.  Begin by pumping out all standing water immediately.  You can get a utility pump at most home improvement or hardware stores.  Once the water is gone scrub all surfaces that came into contact with floodwater with bleach.

3.  Protect yourself.  If you’re struggling in Sandy’s aftermath I am sure that you first instinct is to get your life back to normal as quickly as possible, but don’t let your safety be overtaken by your desire for normalcy.  Make sure that you and anyone else involved in cleanup wears a mast and gloves at all times.  Also wear long pants, long sleeves, and boots.

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: Nov. 2nd-4th

Don’t forget about Daylight Savings… this is the weekend we turn our clocks back an hour! If your weekend plans don’t include cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy, there is really only one event worth mentioning this weekend:

Don’t forget about Daylight Savings… this is the weekend we turn our clocks back an hour!  If your weekend plans don’t include cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy, there is really only one event worth mentioning this weekend:

World Championship Punkin Chunkin!

This local favorite has turned into a famous event that even has its own television show!  Punkin Chunkin brings people from all over to Bridgeville, Delaware!  This year’s festival is all weekend with gates opening to the public at 7:30am each morning (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  Tickets are $10 per day and parking is free except for oversized vehicles and/or trailers.  Children under 10 are admitted free.  The festival atmosphere includes vendors of many kinds and is fun for the whole family.  A cooking contest/chili cook-off and Mr. & Mrs. Punkin Chunkin Pageant are also part of the festivities.  For more information and a detailed schedule of events check out this link.  Keep in mind that adjustments may be made because of the storm, but as far as I can tell the event is still on.  Of course, if you miss out, you can always watch the televised version on Thanksgiving Night at 8pm on the Discovery Channel.

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.

Post-Hurricane Update

According to the Sussex County government website, travel is difficult and treacherous throughout the area, as roads are flooded and covered in debris. The travel ban has been reduced to a Level I warning which means that travel is permitted but strongly discouraged. Travel into evacuation zones is still prohibited. Survey teams are out and about canvassing the area to determine the extent of the damage done. There are three shelters in place for anyone who has been displaced. They are Cape Henlopen High School (1250 Kinds Highway in Lewes) and Milford High School (612 Lakeview Ave in Milford) which are both accepting pets, and Indian River High School (29772 Armory Road in Dagsboro) which cannot accept pets. All County government offices and schools are closed, but businesses may reopen without limitations at their own discretion. Whatever you do today, just stay safe!

According to the Sussex County government website, travel is difficult and treacherous throughout the area, as roads are flooded and covered in debris.  The travel ban has been reduced to a Level I warning which means that travel is permitted but strongly discouraged.  Travel into evacuation zones is still prohibited.  Survey teams are out and about canvassing the area to determine the extent of the damage done.  There are three shelters in place for anyone who has been displaced.  They are Cape Henlopen High School (1250 Kinds Highway in Lewes) and Milford High School (612 Lakeview Ave in Milford) which are both accepting pets, and Indian River High School (29772 Armory Road in Dagsboro) which cannot accept pets.  All County government offices and schools are closed, but businesses may reopen without limitations at their own discretion.  Whatever you do today, just stay safe!

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.

Are You Ready For An Emergency?

With Hurricane Sandy in our midst I just wanted to take a moment to link up some great sites for emergency preparedness. All families should have an emergency plan in place, including a disaster kit for each family member. It’s too late to go out now, but check out these ideas and put together what you can using things you have lying around. Do it now before the worst of the storm gets here!

With Hurricane Sandy in our midst I just wanted to take a moment to link up some great sites for emergency preparedness.  All families should have an emergency plan in place, including a disaster kit for each family member.  It’s too late to go out now, but check out these ideas and put together what you can using things you have lying around.  Do it now before the worst of the storm gets here!

Be Read Cross Ready – a list of the minimum basic supplies you should have put together by the American Red Cross.  This site includes links on the left hand side to help you navigate through a wealth of information on emergency preparedness, including special sections on children, people with disabilities, seniors, and pets.

Basic Disaster Supplies – This list is put together by FEMA, which is the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  There are a lot of helpful tips too.

Survival Checklist – This printable checklist published by Popular Mechanics is 107 emergency supplies everyone should have divided up by what should be kept in your home, your car, and a backpack ready to-go at any time.

And finally, this link will take you directly to FEMA’s Hurricane Safety information.  As we weather this storm we just want to remind you to stay safe!

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 Just Hooked in Fenwick Island

Just Hooked is a restaurant serving fresh, locally sourced foods that is built on the premise of “farm-ocean-table.” Located at 1500 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island, they have daily dinner specials, including $2 fish tacos on Mondays, 50% off ladies checks on Wednesday, and a 3 pre-selected 3 course meal on Sundays. In addition to delicious food, Just Hooked also serves a full bar and has drink specials as well.

Just Hooked is a restaurant serving fresh, locally sourced foods that is built on the premise of “farm-ocean-table.”  Located at 1500 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island, they have daily dinner specials, including $2 fish tacos on Mondays, 50% off ladies checks on Wednesday, and a 3 pre-selected 3 course meal on Sundays.  In addition to delicious food, Just Hooked also serves a full bar and has drink specials as well.

Just Hooked gets nothing but rave reviews.  The atmosphere is welcoming, service is great, and the food is some of the best in the area.  Definitely try the roasted red pepper soup… it is to die for!  To be honest, you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

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 Firewood Tips

It’s the time of year when lots of people have fires burning in their fireplaces, so here are five tips for dealing with firewood:

It’s the time of year when lots of people have fires burning in their fireplaces, so here are five tips for dealing with firewood:

1.  Know what a cord looks like.  A cord should be 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long.  If you purchase your firewood by the cord, do your best to make sure that you are getting everything you pay for.

2.  Know the difference between “seasoned” and “green.”  Seasoned wood is dry and has been out in the open air for a while after its been cut.  Green wood still has a lot of moisture content so it burns cooler and is therefore not as efficient.

3.  Consider long term storage.  You should never store firewood against your house, but it should be kept in an area where it can be kept dry but still have access to the wind and sun.  The best option is a shed with open sides for air circulation but a roof and raised floor to protect the wood from absorbing rain and snow.

4.  Think about indoor storage.  Keeping a small amount of wood indoors makes it more convenient, especially if you are using your fireplace as an alternate heat source.  It is best to store about a weeks’ worth of wood indoors, if possible.  The basement or garage is an excellent option for indoor storage.  Just be sure that wherever you store your wood it is far from the fireplace or anywhere else where it could combust.

5.  Keep safe.  Of course you will want to store a very small amount of wood directly at your fireplace.  There are many options for storing this wood (some more attractive than others!), so you just have to find one that fits your style and needs.  However, do be sure to keep the wood far enough away that it won’t catch fire if sparks fly.  And never, ever, ever store kindling or other combustible materials near your fireplace.  Although it may be convenient it is not safe.  A home with a fireplace is lovely.  A home that catches fire because of the fireplace is just unsafe.

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.

3 Ways to Cut the Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance

3 Ways to Cut the Cost of 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.