Archive for the ‘Home Improvements’ Category
Rent A Goat and Forget the Mower.
Being raised in rural Missouri, the concept of using goats (goating out a property) to clear and maintain land is not a new one. But, for many people, the idea of using goats, instead of noisy mowers, to help with the chores is an option they never considered.
Goats, What’s Not to Love? In addition to being very cute and smart, goats are great at clearing brush and weeds without using gasoline, polluting the air or disturbing the peace. Mowing by goat means less work for busy people, it is chemical free and the little darlings automatically fertilize as they work.
Even Silicon Valley and other metro area’s are looking to the environmentally, friendly goat as a non-tech means of maintaining their grounds and property. Google “hired” 200 goats to maintain the grounds at its Mt. View, CA headquarters. Yahoo, located just a stones throw away, must have loved the idea because they also rented goats to cut their grass. Even cities are joining in the goat movement. Mesa, AZ has used goats to maintain the land around their water reclaimation plant for quite some time.
All “Kidding” Aside…. If Rent-A-Goat appeals to your lazy and green side, renting one is as easy as locating your nearest goat farm. Or, you can visit GoatFinder.com, which has a directory for goat rentals for 10 states. But beware before you rent, using goats has risks, like a deep attachment. Goats are so cute and friendly, it can be very hard to say Goodbye when the work is done.
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Creative Craftsmanship Equals Sweet Little Pad
Creative real estate or housing anyone??? A friend sent me an email with pictures of a very sweet little pad. I love this and wanted to share it.
Entry Way and Stair Case
Kitchen and Living Room
Master Bedroom
Master Bath with Walk in Shower
Doesn’t this home seem very modern? Perhaps, something you would see in a swanky highrise condo in a big city????
SURPRISE: HERE’S THE INCREDIBLE PART I LOVE
The one bedroom, one bath loft apartment was built inside a 1940’s grain silo.
The old grain silo was recycled into this upscale apartment, after it was purchased and relocated to the grounds of the Homestead Inn, located in New Braunfels, TX in 2007.
If this isn’t an example of creative craftmanship, I don’t know what is. Love those Texan’s!!!
Thank you, Pat for forwarding this wonderful property information to me. Hopefully, it will encourage others to think “out of the box” when it comes to creating affordable housing and perserving our resources.
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How to Improve Your Winter Curb Appeal
Winter can be a challenging season for those trying to sell their home. The cold weather keeps many buyer’s away and the landscape is anything but exciting. That is why it is very important to maintain good curb appeal during winter, if you want to draw home shoppers inside.
The first thing seller’s can do to improve the curb appeal of their home during winter is to start with the home itself. A fresh coat of paint always makes a huge impact, but it really stands out in the grayness of winter. When repainting, don’t forget the front door, garage doors and trim around the windows. Seller’s should also take a close look at their roof and guttering. If these systems need to be repaired or replaced, winter is a great time to do so. If the gutters are dirty or stained, wipe them clean, or repaint.
One area of your home that needs special attention is the front porch and sidewalk leading to the front door. Make your entrance welcoming by updating the lighting or add two wall sconces to frame your door. Buy a fresh, new welcome mat. Try adding planters or urns on each side of the door to draw the buyer inside the home. Make sure your house number is attractive and easy to see from the street. A colorful, seasonal wreath can also add interest. Be sure to repair any cracks in the sidewalk and keep the path to your home clear of snow and ice.
Another factor in curb appeal is your Landscape. Buyer’s understand that your lawn isn’t going to be green and lush during winter, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look good. Clean up toys, trash or debris from your lawn and hide the trash cans. Make sure all bushes and limbs are neatly trimmed away from the house to allow light in. Evergreen plants like pines, holly, spruce and yews add a lot of interest during the bleaker cold months. Bird feeders can also add interest and attract life to your home during winter.
Curb appeal is the first impression your home makes when a guest arrives. It is crucial to your marketing efforts because Buyer’s will certainly draw conclusions about your home, based upon what they see on the outside. Remember that all your upgrades and special features won’t matter, if you can’t get the buyer interested enough to look inside.
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Carbon Monoxide is a Silent Killer.
It is very important that everyone understands that carbon monoxide is a deadly, silent killer.
So, what is it? Where does it come from? How can you protect yourself and your family?
What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. The gas is created when fuels containing carbon are burned. The most common fuels containing carbon are coal, wood, oil and gas. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and extremely harmful to all humans and animals.
Where is Carbon Monoxide Found? It can be found wherever fuel is burned. Sources of carbon fuels are wood, coal, charcoal, oil, propane, natural gas, fuel oil and kerosene. Most applicances, fireplaces and machines burn carbon fuels, as do lawn mowers, grills, bbq’s, generator’s, heaters and cars.
How can I Protect Myself? Carbon monoxide is not usually harmful or deadly, if an area is properly vented. Carbon monoxide detectors are inexpensive and can be easily installed in area’s of the home prone to leaks or problems.
What are the Signs of a Problem? People complain of nausea, headaches and extreme fatigue. Often, people think they have a flu or bug and do not seek medical treatment until it is too late. If unexplainable symptom’s present themselves, immediately get outdoors into fresh air. If you find yourself feeling better, call a professional inspector and stay out of the house.
Wintertime = High Alert. Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for numerous deaths and severe illnesses each year. Obviously, winter is a time of heightened risk, as heating systems and fireplaces are in use, and windows and doors are closed.
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Bug Off — Plants that Naturally Repel Pesky Insects Away
Another unforeseen problem buzzing around foreclosures and the bad economy is the dramatic increase in the mosquito and garden pest population.
Many entire neighborhoods now feel the sting, as millions of vacant properties, along with those owned by cash strapped homeowners, have turned overgrown lawns, swimming pools, hot tubs, water gardens and koi ponds into insect breeding grounds.
Before you light the citronella candles or coat yourself in insect repellent, consider heading to your local garden center for relief. Some plants are natural insect repellents and keep summer bugs away, while improving the curb appeal of your home.
NATURAL “BUG OFF” PLANTS
Marigolds–Marigolds don’t have the greatest smell, but mosquito’s and other pests literally hate it. The bright, inexpensive and easy to grow annual is a proven workhorse in deterring pests around patio’s porches and vegetable gardens.
Catnip– In addition to being a favorite of your beloved feline, catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET when it comes to repelling the universally hated and dangerous mosquito. The annual plant grows easily in a sunny, dry location like the one found around most patio area’s.
Lemon Thyme– Smells and Tastes Great to Humans. Its lemon scent is a wonderful to smell as you walk or brush by and its lemon flavored leaves can be used in salads or recipes calling for lemon or lemon zest. This perennial grows great in most climate zones, requires little to no watering and thrives with a little sunshine.
Lemon Basil– Is another plant that smells great to people and is delicious to eat with summer tomato’s. Lemon Basil is a tender annual that needs watering. It is does self sow, but buy starter plants versus sowing seed packets for the best results with this yummy option to a pest problem.
To learn more about natural insect deterrents and repellents click here.
Cocoa Based Mulch Kills Cats and Dogs
I have recently addressed the benefits of landscaping and a fresh coat of mulch as it applies to curb appeal and home sales. In doing my research for the blog, I received a warning about the potential danger of a mulch, made from shredded cocoa shells, that poses a lethal threat to our four-legged friends and I felt compeled to pass the info along to all well meaning homeowners.
Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot and other garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called “Theobromine”. Theobromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate, especially dark or bakers chocolate, all of which are highly toxic to dogs.
Cocoa Mulch is known for its fine texture and sweet smell, which makes it an attractive choice for landscape. Sadly, the ingredient that provides the nice chocolate smell also attracts pets.
Cocoa beans contain stimulants that may cause gastrointestinal upset, increased heart rate, restlessness, seizures and DEATH. Puppies are curious by nature and are especially at risk.
Word of Caution: Check what you are using in your gardens and be aware what your gardener is using around your pets. If you smell Chocolate Pop Tarts, remove the mulch and reapply with a safe, bark or synthetic mulch.
Selling Homes: Psychology of Landscaping
Most home buyers believe they focus on the interior features of houses more than the landscape, but the truth is, that buyers will not get out of their car if the front landscape lacks interest and upkeep. The landscape should arouse the buyer’s interest and lure them inside to view the interior.
To get the highest return on your landscape dollar, utilize the principles found in Landscape Design Psychology. Landscape Psychology is based upon scientific research into the effects that the landscape has on home buyers. These proven idea’s will help your home sell faster, and for more money, by working on buyer emotions and senses.
The Power of Color
Coordinate the colors of your flowering foliage. Consider your selling season and plant flowers that perform well during that period. Use plants that support your atmosphere and climate. Also, use no more than 3 colors to give continuity and form to your landscape.
Colors also have psychological power. Green suggests freshness, coolness and vitality. White shows up at night and conjures feelings of cleanliness. Yellow is the first color our eye processes, so a spot of yellow by the front door will draw the eye to your entrance. Red, yellow and Orange are all Hot colors, which excite and pick up the mood of any weary house hunter.
About.com: Landscape is a great website for the average homeowner. The site provides idea’s and advice from professionals including a plant selector, great photographs, color scheme screener, DIY tutorials and helpful tips about hedges, fences, sidewalks, lawns and more.
Another great resource for help in creating an outdoor paradise can be found at HGTV.
The Power of Smell
Realtors advise sellers to bake cookies or burn vanilla candles before showings or Open Houses because a comforting and pleasant aroma has the power to influence minds and moods.
In addition to color psychology, smart home owners give thought to the use of scents when planting a landscape. They take advantage of the power of smell, especially near pathways and entry doors, that provoke a desired emotional response.
A few inexpensive and easy to grow suggestions that add a touch of scent to any landscape include lemon scented geraniums, jasmine, rosemary, lavender, basil, roses, hostas, honey suckle, gardenia or heliotrope. In addition to providing months of enjoyment, many of these plants perform in a vareity of places such window boxes, planters, planting beds, hanging baskets or pathways.
When it comes to selling homes, a smart psychology landscape design can give you a huge advantage over your competition. If buyers feel good while they look at your home, you will sell it quickly and for top dollar.
6 Home Improvements that Pay Back
Home sellers or rehabbers who are considering a move should focus their efforts on the home exterior for the highest pay back.
Remodeling Magazine, in cooperation with Realtors in 65 markets, issue their 20th Annual report of “Cost versus Value”. The report named 6 home improvements that return greater than 80% of the cost, and of the 6, only one featured an interior upgrade.
The 6 improvements with the greatest returns are:
- Siding Replacements using fiber cement materials returned 88.1% of the cost.
- Wood Deck Addition returned 85.4% of the cost.
- Midrange Vinyl Siding Replacement 83.2%.
- Minor Kitchen Remodel return 83%.
- Midrange Wood Window replacement 81.2%.
- Upscale Vinyl Siding 81%.
Projects at the bottom of the cost recovery scale included home offices (57%), back up power generator (58%) and adding a mid-range sunroom (59.1%).
The remodeling report results verifies our belief that curb appeal is a crucial element for sales success in today’s real estate market.
In a highly competitive environment, home sellers should take an objective look at their house from the street to determine if the look is one that welcomes or turns buyers off.
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