Home Projects – Page 4 – Cooper Realty Associates

Five Bathroom Fixes On A Budget

If you’re looking to add value to your bathroom without doing a total remodel, consider some (or all!) of these ideas:

1. A new sink. A new sink is a great way to add both form and function to your bathroom. Sinks can be stylish, whimsical, luxurious, and more. And there are plenty of affordable options. Be sure to pay attention to the faucets and handles too… not only do they update your look, those details add value.

2. Light it up. Updating your lighting can give your room a whole new feel. For the bathroom there are many options including task lighting, recessed lighting, and track lighting. Be sure to consider the function and ambiance that you’re going for.

3. Update the floor. Porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone tiles add both value and design to your bathroom. Using simple designs instead of detailed ones to save even more money.

4. Shower yourself. Installing a luxurious shower head will add instant value to your room. A rain head is a simple update that buyers love.

5. Give your cabinets some love. If it’s not in your budget to replace your cabinets, refacing them by replacing just the doors and drawers can give your room a whole new look and a lot of value. Of course, if that’s not in your budget either, giving your cabinets some TLC in the way of cleaning and a facelift can work wonders 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 – 302-856-6434.

5 Ways To Improve Your Basement

If you have a finished basement that just isn’t very appealing, try these five relatively easy ways to finish off the space…

1. Install flooring – a floating, engineered-wood floor can be installed directly over concrete and will change the entire look of the space in amazing ways.

2. Paint – make the space feel warmer by choosing a warm, neutral color to cover the walls.

3. Camouflage – Keep the entire room bathed in the same warm, neutral tone to make the space seem more open and to downplay any unappealing aspects of the architecture.

4. Add light – If your basement does not allow in any natural light, consider installing a false-lighted window to add some light and warmth to the space.

5. Add interest – Take an area of your basement that is underutilized and add some interest – a great example would be to build a wine cellar under the basement stairs.

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.

Easy Home Improvements

Improving your home is helpful if you’re trying to sell, but it’s also beneficial for you and your family if you intent to stay in your home for the long term. An improved home helps you feel more organized and just all-around better. If you’re looking for relatively easy and inexpensive ways then start by going around your home and fixing everything that’s broken. Repair the broken leg of your coffee table, clean out your showerhead so that you get a complete flow, reseal windows and doors that are drafty, take your broken toaster to the repair shop (or throw it away!), etc. Spend a week taking care of all the little things in your home that need some TLC and throw out what you don’t need anymore. After you’ve done that, take it a little further and purge your home of the items you no longer need, want, or use. By getting rid of all the excess in your home you will remove stress and create space that will improve your quality of life in your home. If you’re not sure where to start, begin by donating clothes that no longer fit or you no longer wear, get rid of books that you’ve already read and movies that you’ve already watched, and move on from there. Finally, as I’ve said a thousand times before, a good paint job really can improve the quality of your home. There are studies that show that certain paint colors in certain rooms actually make people happier. Do a little research and spend some time painting your home. Begin with the two or three rooms you spend the most time in and see what a difference it makes!

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.

3 Questions to Ask Contractors

If you’re hiring a contractor to do work around your home, ask these questions first:

1. What is your schedule like? The best contractors might be in demand, so don’t waste your time or theirs before assuring that your time frame and their match up.

2. Do you have referrals? Ask for the names and phone numbers of past clients. If they refuse for any reason find someone else. Follow up with the referrals and get feedback from the homeowners. If the referrals are willing, go check out the contractor’s work in person.

3. What is your name and license number? Get the full legal name of the contractor’s business as well as all contact information and the license number. Follow up by calling around and verifying the status of the contractor and their insurance policies.

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.

Saving Energy At Home

Aside from your mortgage, utility costs generally account for the largest portion of the monthly bills you pay thanks to your home. However, there are several things you can do to lessen the blow a bit. The first is to take advantage of energy-efficient light bulbs. Yes, they cost a bit more up front, but you can save a significant amount of money over the course of a year by replacing just one incandescent bulb, so imagine how much you can save if you swap out all of your bulbs! Additionally, if any of your faucets, pipes, or toilets are leaking, fix it and save yourself a bundle. Often times these types of leaks are an easy fix such as swapping out a washer, replacing a flapper, or tightening a valve. Sometimes they require more extensive work, but even then it is best to do the work, even if you have to call in a professional for help. Changing out your shower heads for low-flow counterparts can help save water too. Changing and/or cleaning your furnace filters will also save energy in your home. Lastly, don’t forget to be sure all of your doors and windows are well-sealed and your home is well-insulated.

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.

Organize Your Junk Drawer

January is not yet over, which means that plenty of people are probably still working on their New Year’s Resolutions to get more organized. I know one project you can tackle today that will make you feel a whole lot better… your junk drawer! Nearly everyone has one, and although we say it’s filled with “junk” it is more likely filled with plenty of things we actually use if we could find it when we needed it! If you want to have that great feeling of productivity then start cleaning out your junk drawer by dumping everything on a table, counter, or floor so you can spread it out and see it. Once you can see it, sort it into piles… one pile for things to be thrown away, another for recycling, and another pile for things you need (or want) to keep. Don’t save everything just because you feel you have to. You don’t really need to keep the business cards of everyone you’ve ever met… chances are the important numbers are in your phone anyway. If something broken has been sitting there for months (or years!) waiting to be fixed, toss it. If you haven’t missed it enough to fix it already chances are you never will. Test all your pens/markers, etc. if they don’t write, toss them. (This is an excellent way to get children involved if they’re bugging you!) After you’ve purged, look at everything in your “keep” pile and decide where it’s permanent home should be. For example, receipts, old bills, appliance manuals, etc. should be filed away. Loose change should be put in your wallet or a piggy bank, paper clips/rubber bands/thumb tacks/etc. should be moved to your office, and so on. Once you’ve decluttered take everything that is left and organize it. Ice cube trays make excellent organizers for small items, and empty margarine tubs or Tupperware containers are great for everything else. Silverware drawer inserts are also a great way to organize without spending too much. Finally, keep it all organized by adding a quick cleaning of the junk drawer to your monthly to-do list.

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.

Fix Air Leaks For A Warmer Winter

If your home is losing heat there could be many reasons: poor insulation, drafty windows, improperly sealed doors, and more. These energy losses can add up to huge energy bills and a cold family! In the meantime, check these offending areas of your home and fix any leaks for greater efficiency and less expensive heating bills.

The biggest areas of heat loss in your home are in the doors and windows. Heat should not be escaping from your doors when they are closed. If you are losing heat from your doors you can easily replace ripped, worn, or otherwise improper seals on your own by purchasing new seals and weather stripping at a home-improvement store. When it comes to windows, heat can escape through both the glass and the trim. Double-paned windows are better at keeping heat in than single-paned windows are. Insulated blinds or curtains can also help slow heat loss. If you do have single-paned windows consider replacing them with storm windows or thermal windows.

In addition to your windows and doors, if you have a fireplace it can be a huge source of heat loss in your home. Be sure to keep your damper closed unless a fire is going. If you leave the damper open when you’re not burning a fire you can increase your heating bill by up to 25%. If it doesn’t close tight, consider having it repaired.

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 Projects To Do This Month

Put these items on your January “to do” list:

1. Put away the holidays. It’s no fun packing up the holiday decorations, but it has to be done, so if you haven’t already gotten to it, it’s about time to do it now!

2. Prepare for snow. Be sure that you have snow shovels, ice scrapers, and salt ready to go. Fire up your snow blower, change the oil, make any necessary repairs and make sure it’s gassed up.

3. Prepare your home for snow. Check the roof for leaks or weak patches, clear gutters if you need to, and purchase a roof rake if necessary.

4. Purchase firewood. If you haven’t already fired up your fireplace, now is the time to purchase properly seasoned wood. Make sure you store it correctly too!

5. Stay warm. Save energy and stay warm by taking a bit of time to seal up any air leaks around your home’s doors and windows.

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

5 Reasons to Have Your Fireplace Inspected

It’s the most wonderful time of year….. for fires crackling in the fireplace that is. But before you use your fireplace too often – you might consider having it inspected by a good chimney sweep. Here are five reasons why:

1. If your chimney isn’t capped properly you can suffer leaks from both rain and snow as well as have problems with birds, rodents, or other critters building nests and/or making their way into your house uninvited.

2. If your flue liner has excessive buildup they can clean it. Excessive build up in the flue is the number one cause of house fires from fireplaces, so it’s definitely important.

3. They can ensure that the gaskets around any openings can be replaced if necessary to ensure proper operation and prevent damage.

4. They can clean the blower if your fireplace has one. This will help extend the life of your blower and prevent it from becoming a fire hazard.

5. An inspection can reveal broken, cracked, or hazardous bricks both in the lining and outer fireplace and chimney. Fixing or replacing broken bricks or mortar is important to ensure the safety and longevity of your fireplace.

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 – 302-856-6434.

Restoring the Northeast: What Homeowners Need to Know After Sandy

This article is written by Erik Braunitzer, a writer for Douglas Elliman, brokers for NYC, Long Island and Hamptons Real Estate.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware continue to experience devastating consequences of Sandy as a new nor’easter closely followed the hurricane. Homeowners have filed millions of claims, and the estimated damage is somewhere in the billions. Despite these two storms, homeowners must rebuild, but many look at their flooded and broken homes as impossible scenes of destruction. Getting started is just half the battle.

This article is written by Erik Braunitzer, a writer for Douglas Elliman, brokers for NYC, Long Island and Hamptons Real Estate.

Where to Begin
Once allowed to return to a dwelling, homeowners need to check that it is safe to inhabit the structure. The damage must be assessed right away. Debris, flood waters and other wreckage may have left your home unstable. With down power lines, fallen trees and uprooted trees, homes can still suffer other forms of destruction weeks later after a storm. Only a home inspection can determine whether or not your home is truly safe to inhabit. In addition, inspectors let you know what kind of damage your home has suffered and what parts of your home need to be immediately restored, which will allow a homeowner to file a substantial claim.

Talking to Insurance Companies
The next step is to file the claim. If you were unable to get a copy of your claim before the storm, you should be able to request a copy over the phone or talk about your coverage options. In addition, take pictures of all damage and debris with detailed notes. These come in handy when insurance companies send out appraisers to estimate the cost of repairs. With pictures and evidence, you can often get a bigger amount from the insurance companies to help repair your home.

Avoid Scavenging Contractors
It’s a sad but true fact that contractors come to life in the aftermath of destructive storms. Many repair companies swoop in offering all kinds of deals and promising much more to homeowners who just need help. If you need substantial work on your home, you still want to check out references and really get to know contractors before signing any contract for work. You also need to obtain formal quotes with written materials and labor costs. Contractors should be licensed, bonded and insured to work on your property.

Getting the Money
After the appraiser estimates the damage, you need to provide proof of physical loss with photo documentation as well. Once you provide all the evidence to the insurance company, you pay a deductible and the insurance provider sends a payment to replace damaged property. This process can take up to 3 weeks or more, depending on whether you accept the initial appraisal, so filing early is recommended. In addition, if the deductible is too high, pay for the repairs on your own instead of going through the insurance company.

Pay Attention to Time
Cleanup is never easy after a storm, but mold and further damage can follow quickly if you don’t take necessary precautions to protect your home. In addition, filing a claim, particularly on flooding, has a time limit, so it’s best to get documentation early and start the process. Some insurance companies do extend time following a destructive event, but you should never wait to take photos and start documenting the damage to your property.

Prepare for the Next Storm
If you don’t already have a plan formulated, you need to write an emergency plan right away and start restocking your supplies to survive subsequent storms. Many families following Sandy were not prepared for the winter storm. Stocking up on water, non-perishable food items, clothes, blankets and batteries can seriously help when another storm arrives. In addition, remember important documents and place these somewhere safe, such as a deposit box.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Real Estate Associates and put us to work for you — 302-629-6693.

The Importance of Finishes in Your Home

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.

3 Ways to Clean Up Mold

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.

5 Steps You Should Take To Winterize Your Home

Fall is upon us and winter is quickly approaching, so if you haven’t taken steps to winterize your home already now would be a great time to do so. Here are five steps every homeowner should take:

1. Change your furnace filters. This maximizes your home’s efficiency in one easy and inexpensive step.

2. Check the roof. Examine your roof for leaks and replace shingles as needed. Heavy snow and ice can cause minor leaks to become major leaks in a hurry which is not only dangerous, but also much more expensive.

3. Check weatherstripping. Check the areas around your doors and windows to be sure that you are keeping your heat in and drafts out. Replacing and adjusting weatherstripping as necessary creates a seal and keeps warm air in and cold air out, which effectively saves you money.

4. Care for your yard. Rake and bag leaves, put away all loose outdoor tools and furniture, and consider fertilizing your lawn with a winter fertilizer. This will keep your yard safe when winter winds blow and set you up for having a gorgeous lawn in the spring.

5. Close foundation vents. Foundation vents should be open during the spring and summer to let moisture escape from your crawl space and closed during the fall and winter to protect against freezing. Now’s the time to close them up!

Looking to buy or sell 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 Things To Consider When Upgrading an Electrical System

If you fall in love with an older home, chances are you will need to update the electrical system at some point. Here are three things to keep in mind.

1. Electrical needs have changed significantly since your home was built. One hundred years ago and even fifty years ago, home just didn’t have the large number of electricity sucking appliances that we have now. In order to run your home’s electrical system safely and efficiently the average home needs a 200-amp panel at minimum.

2. Dedicate circuits. Remember that devices that such a lot of electricity such as stoves, air conditioners, microwaves, and clothes dryers will need their own dedicated circuits. It is okay for most lights and outlets to share a circuit.

3. Protect yourself. Be sure that any outlets and switches near water sources (including sinks, toilets, hose nozzles, etc.) need to be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter. A GFCI shuts off the circuit as soon as water is present. This safety precaution can prevent shock and even death. All of the outlets outdoors as well basements, garages, and bathrooms are also required to have this protection.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

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:

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:

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. 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.

Five Ways To Conserve Energy In Your Home

1. Install a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters quickly heat water as it runs through a heating element as opposed to storing gallons of hot water and waiting until you use it. On average they are twenty-two percent more efficient than storage-tank water heaters.

2. Update your appliances. The appliances in your home account for a large percentage of your monthly utility bills, so by replacing older models with energy efficient appliances (especially those with the energy star label) you can conserve a ton of energy.

3. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs use about 75% less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. If you switch out all the bulbs in your home you can seriously cut your cooling costs too since they emit only a quarter of the heat that traditional bulbs do.

4. Check your water heater temperature. If your water heater is set to anything about 120 degrees F you are wasting energy. Lowering the temperature even further can save even more energy, but setting it to 120 can reduce costs by 6 to 10 percent or more.

5. Install a digital thermostat. By replacing an older thermostat with a new digital, programmable thermostat you can regulate your home’s temperature constantly and save both energy & money.

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.

3 Ways To Update Your Fireplace

With fall upon us, those of us with fireplaces will probably think about using them soon. Before fireplace season begins, consider updating your home by updating your fireplace. Here are three updates to consider:

1. Change your Mantel. Changing your mantel can work wonders, especially if you never have before. A mantel with enough depth to display photos and anything else you’d like to showcase is a necessity. Between style, material, and color, there are so many options that you can really personalize this detail of your home to your exact taste.

2. Make it More Efficient. Adding a gas or wood burning insert to an existing fireplace can make your home more energy efficient without tearing apart your home. Just be sure to research it first!

3. Makeover the Face. If you have an older fireplace that seems dingy and/or falling apart, consider installing a stone or other face over the existing wall. Often, this can be done on a tight budget, but you can also be as extravagant as you’d like!

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 – 302-856-6434.

5 Home Improvements for Under $1000

Yesterday I looked at three updates you could make to your home for under $200, but today we’re going to open that budget up a bit. Here are five for under $1,000:

1. Replace worn carpeting. Nothing makes a home look grungier than yucky carpeting. If you’ve got worn or stained carpeting, or other floor issues in your home, consider replacing the flooring. If your budget prevents you from redoing all the floors, start in the rooms that have the most wear.

2. Get a new water heater. A tankless water heater is more environmentally friendly than older models and saves energy and money by heating only the water you use, as you use it. This update will pay for itself in the long run, and will give your home added value if you put it on the market.

3. Update the bathroom. Bathrooms add value to a home, and you can easily do a minor remodel for under $1000. Simple updates like replacing old plumbing, updating light fixtures, replacing tile, or switching out a vanity will update the whole room without a huge price tag.

4. Update the kitchen. Obviously you can’t do a whole kitchen remodel for under $1,000, but you can swap out one old appliance for a shiny, new, energy efficient model. Another kitchen update to consider for under $1,000 would be replacing the flooring or updating the backsplash. Any kitchen update adds value to your home. You don’t necessarily have to redo the entire room to update it.

5. Add curb appeal. Lush, green grass sells homes! Depending on the size of your yard, about $1,000 and some hard work will allow you to replace a weedy, patchy, or dead lawn with lovely, thick, green sod. Just remember that landscaping requires follow-up commitment to get the full value!

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.