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Displaying blog entries 251-260 of 562

3380 Kennesaw

Thursday, March 12, 2009
by crussell
Sale and commission subject to bank approval, 16x8 deck, upper level condo, sold "as is", make an offer! Pre approval with offer. Liquidation Sale!!! Priced under appraised value!! This newly constructed upper level condominium offers stress free living at it best! Three nice bedrooms and two full baths are great for families. Outdoor entertaining in a breeze on the deck or move indoors to 1355 square feet of living space. A seperate living room and dining room keeps things moving! You'll love your spacious kitchen with ceramic tile floors. All new appliances are ready for use including a washer and dryer! You won't find deals like this often so grab it soon!!

2204 Robinhood

Thursday, March 12, 2009
by crussell
Beautiful flowing plan with abundance of windows overlooking gorgeous wooded-fenced lot, columns seperating dining room and living room, daylight basement with 14x13 workshop, brick paver patio, pre-approval with offer. Stop! Imagine yourself living in an exquisite home on a gorgeous wooded, fenced lot in a beautiful Sherwood forest. A flowing floor plan, 1st floor master suite and abundance of windows create an air of majesty in this four bedroom, 3.5 bath walk out ranch. This home has special places for everyone-family fun galore in the daylight basement's game room, wet bar and family room. You'll love entertaining on the brick paver patio or using the screened-in porch. Indulge a hobby in the workshop, read quietly in the den or relax by one of three fireplaces. If you've dreamed of a magical home on a beautiful lot in a wonderful neighborhood, complete with a home warranty protection plan, you've found it!

When Viewing A Home, Always Be On The Lookout For These Things Even Before You Hire An Inspector

Thursday, March 12, 2009
by lheraty
Home IconMore and more people are considering purchasing houses that are being sold due to foreclosure or at auction. Many of these homes may have had lapses in maintenance or other issues that home buyers must be wary of. Never purchase a home without hiring an inspector to look it over first. Here are some of the problems that you can be on the look out for during the viewing stage, which can cause a buyer significant and costly problems:
  • Too many homes for sale on the street. Are any boarded up? Always keep an eye on the other houses near the one that you may purchase. They will tell you a lot about your possible future investment.
  • Outdoor maintenance is often very telling of what is going on “underneath”. If the home you are looking at has straggly foundation plants or broken gutters, what else could be wrong?
  • Foundation damage is always a major consideration. Check for proper grading and cracks bigger than 1/3 of an inch. Many times this can mean major structural issues.
  • Strong odors outside and inside almost always indicate something “bad”. Investigate further.
  • Be on the lookout for flickering lights and always check face plates for heat. This could mean faulty wiring.
  • Windows with fog or water in between double-paned windows can signify trouble lurking.
  • Stains and/or saggy walls usually indicate water damage, mildew or mold. An inspector must check for leaks and mold.
  • Keep your eyes peeled during your tour for pests and rodents. Seeing evidence at this early stage is never a positive sign.

Key Points Of Interest On Obama’s Foreclosure-Prevention Plan

Monday, March 9, 2009
by lheraty
Chesky Krumlov Some key points on Obama’s foreclosure-prevention plan:
  • Loan terms may be modified by reducing payments for distressed borrowers
  • Refinancing for those current on payments, but have little or no equity in their home
  • Plan starts right away and is strictly for primary residences that are not vacant or condemned
  • Call your loan servicer for help to see if you qualify
  • There are no fees for this type of loan modification
  • To be eligible, your loan must be owned or guaranteed by a government-backed mortgage company such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
  • Modification plan ends on December 31st of 2012
  • Loans can be modified one time only
More information is available at financialstability.gov

Homeowners With Pets: How To Keep Your House Pet-Friendly…Not Pet-Dirty

Friday, March 6, 2009
by lheraty
Dog Any homeowner who lives with a pet knows that when you share your house with one of these beloved creatures, you give up the word “spotless” as a way to describe your home…forever. Here are some tips to keep your house as clean and fresh-smelling as possible despite your pet’s, let’s just say, “untidiness”.
  • Pet hair has an aroma. Usually, it’s not a good one. Vacuum regularly, even if the pet hair in question matches your furniture and you cannot see it. I promise you, your guests can smell it. Dyson makes a vacuum especially for picking up animal hair.
  • This is obvious, but a regularly bathed pet makes for a clean house. Think of how happy they are when it’s all over! Keeping pet’s nails trimmed also cuts down on scratched floors and fabrics.
  • Look into Crypton. It’s a stain-resistant fabric that includes suedes and twills. As always, leather and Ultrasuede are great choices for pet owners.
  • If you can, nix the wall-to-wall carpeting. It absorbs odors, traps pet hair and soaks up stains.
  • Stick to rubber toys if you have a mad chewer. Pig’s ears and rawhide bones are not only terrible for your pet’s health, but if they make it inside your home, they will stain your floor and furniture.
To learn about more interesting things for your home with pets go to www.everydaystudio.com and www.animalhousestyle.com.

Cleaning Your Deck Is So Easy, You Can Do It Yourself With These Tips

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
by lheraty
Wood background Many homes have decks that are wonderful for enjoying the great outdoors, whether you are entertaining a crowd or just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine with a good book. Unfortunately, decks require maintenance to keep them looking fresh, clean and splinter free. If you are thinking about embarking upon a useful spring cleaning project, cleaning your deck is a great place to start. Proper maintenance is essential to extending the life of your deck. First, look over your deck carefully for any sections that may need repair. Next, thoroughly sweep it off. After that, you must arm yourself with a power-washer. These can be rented if you do not own one. There are a variety of deck cleaners available, but the best choice is an oxalic acid-based one. These clean your wood nicely, prevent rust, kill mildew and are even plant-friendly. If you have tough mildew stains, you will need to use oxygen bleach to remove the stains. Next you must coat it to keep it looking beautiful.

Bamboo Is An Amazing Material; Especially For Flooring

Thursday, February 26, 2009
by lheraty
Bamboo fenceNot only is bamboo beautiful to look at, but it is one of the most sustainable materials out there. Other harvested hardwoods are clear-cut and then need another thirty years before harvesting again. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass and is used for so many things that when the last part of a stand of bamboo is harvested, it’s very likely that the first part has already recovered. In other words, it is almost impossible to deplete bamboo’s availability. When bamboo is used for flooring it is sliced, pressed, molded and then carbonized. Carbonization is when the bamboo is exposed to heat so that it will harden. Bamboo flooring comes in traditional plank styles and is installed similarly to traditional hardwood flooring. It is made with a tongue and groove, an underlayment is set down and then the fitted pieces are tacked down with a nail gun. Bamboo flooring maintenance is almost identical to other hardwood flooring, except that water should be removed as quickly as possible as bamboo’s fibers will expand more easily. Simple sweeping and mopping with a gentle cleanser will be enough to keep it looking clean and beautiful. Avoid getting gashes in the wood as bamboo is more difficult to buff or fill in than hardwood flooring.

Updating Your Kitchen Is A Whole Lot Of Fun And Way More Cost-Effective Than An Entire Kitchen Renovation

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
by lheraty
Vegetables on kitchen counter Most kitchens can benefit from even just one or two small changes, simply to make it look fresh again. Here are some ways that you can do this in a very cost-effective manner:
  • Update Small Appliances - Keep all of your counter top appliances such as your coffeemaker, toaster and blender all in the same finish. Coordinating these very visible things really makes a big difference in the orderliness of your kitchen’s look.
  • Window treatments - Don’t forget to add or update the treatments on your kitchen’s windows as they really can pull the whole design of your kitchen together, as well as add shade or privacy when needed.
  • Lighting Fixtures - Get rid of that tired old 1980’s ceiling fixture in exchange for a pretty chandelier or a row of chic pendants, and try not to smile every time you enter your “new” kitchen!
  • New Counter tops - Instead of an entire renovation, consider replacing just one thing. Your counter tops. You will be amazed at the variety of what is available now and at the incredible range of prices too. Counter tops remain one of the few things that will actually help sell a home.
  • Paint - Whether you really need to or not, who doesn’t love the look of freshly painted walls in a new color?
  • Under-Cabinet Lights - Easy to install puck lights are the way to go on this one.
  • Sink Faucet - So many beautiful models to choose from and most of the new models can save you money on water and energy costs to boot.
  • Cabinet Hardware - Changing cabinet hardware just so happens to be the easiest way to update your kitchen. Imagine simple nickel cabinet pulls in place of the dated ceramic ones you currently have. See what I mean?

A Few More Ways To Save On That Energy Bill…Part II

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
by lheraty
Building Doorway with Lanterns Most people purchase window treatments, such as heavy drapes, blinds or shutters to complete the look they want to establish on the inside of their home. But curtains, drapes, blinds and shutters are also a wonderful investment that will help keep energy costs down, whether you are heating or cooling your home. Attic insulation is also one of the best ways a homeowner can reduce the amount of energy they are paying for in their home, whether it is for heating or cooling. Without proper insulation it will escape via the roof. Expect to pay between $500 and $700 to insulate a 2,000-square foot home. According to experts, insulation can save you up to 25% on heating and cooling costs. Don’t forget to seal air leaks in your home. By simply filling in gaps around your windows and doors and sealing ducts, you can save up to 20% on your heating and cooling bill. Last but not least, always replace or clean your air filters. By doing this small task each season you can save 7% in electricity costs per year.

So Many Ways To Save Money On Your Energy Bills…Here Are A Few

Monday, February 23, 2009
by lheraty
Hand at the CalculatorInstalling low-flow shower heads and faucets not only reduces the amount of money you will spend on water, but they also reduce the amount of money that you will spend on the electricity or gas that heats your water. Most faucet aerators will cost you about two dollars, and most low-flow shower heads cost around thirty dollars. By using these devices you will be able to re-coup these costs within one year of use. Plus, many utility companies offer their customers rebates for using these devices. Since a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) will last six to twelve times longer and use up to 75% less energy than a regular bulb will, experts calculate that the purchase of one three dollar CFL will be re-payed in energy costs within three months of use. In less than one year, you can recover the cost of purchasing a lighting motion sensor. They cost about fifty dollars and one year is how long it will take to pay back the cost in energy bills in a very expensive state like New York, and as little as five months in a less expensive state, such as Nebraska.

Displaying blog entries 251-260 of 562

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Photo of Cathy Russell Real Estate
Cathy Russell
The Russell Company
2522 Covington St.
West Lafayette IN 47906
(765) 426-7000
(765) 335-5588
Fax: (765) 497-1003
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