Archive for the ‘Construction/Maintenance’ Category
Saturday, April 28th, 2012
Did you remember to handle the most basic safety precaution for your new home?
When people buy homes , there’s a tendency to think “Big Picture” on home improvements. Flooring, painting and furniture are common “just-moved-in” purchases, as are cable television and utilities packages.
The most important move-in purchase, though, may also be the least expensive — deadbolts for your doors. Every home has at least one — and sometimes up to dozen — keyed points of entry. And, until you change those locks, there’s no telling just how many people may have access to your home.
For example, your home’s prior owners may have shared house keys with any/all of the following people :
- Real estate agents
- Neighbors and friends
- Parents, brothers and sisters
- Home cleaning service
- Dog walkers and pet sitters
This is a preview of What’s The First Thing You Should Do After A Home Purchase? . Read the full post »
Tags: Deadbolt, home improvement, Home Safety, Locksmith Posted in Around The Home, Buying A Home, Construction/Maintenance, Moving, Residential Real Estate | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
Benjamin Franklin said, “A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” In his time, fire was the only cooking option and heated debates were conducted in the heart of the home. Kitchens have evolved from the days of wood burning stoves, but there’s no mistaking the home’s heart is in the kitchen. Hearty winter soup, sweet chocolate cookies, and the morning aromas fill our hearts through our noses. Kitchen is for family, friends and neighbors. It is around the table where we learn about others and share ourselves as we pass the potatoes. Also, recall that the kitchen is where potential homebuyers find the pulse of possibility.
As you prepare your home for sale, the kitchen is a worthwhile investment. Consider these small updating ideas:
Update Hardware With a plethora of choices, cabinet knobs, handles, and pulls can tie the kitchen together while giving it a newer look — even splurging on the best is still affordable.
This is a preview of Kitchen is Heart . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, Colorado Real Estate, Four Seasons Property Inspections, home improvement, kitchen remodeling Posted in Construction/Maintenance | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
Wooden decks serve dual purposes. They function as an extension of your home allowing for comfortable outdoor living, while beautifully complementing a home’s character. Decks are inviting and welcoming, but do need attention to maintain their health. To preserve the beauty and stability of your wooden deck, consider the following:
· Use sealant every one to two years. Weather resistant coatings are best and can be found with polyurethane or oil based stains.
· Check the deck to house connection (also called the ledger board.) A collapsed deck is dangerous and difficult if not impossible to repair. Nails used to be the norm, but lag screws and bolts are far more effective. Current trends encourage building a free-standing deck, which uses supports both near and away from the house. No weight is stressing the deck/house connection.
This is a preview of Deck Safety . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, Colorado Real Estate Posted in Construction/Maintenance | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
The spatial decadence of newly built homes in the past ten years is coming to a close. Home buyer tastes for grand homes have waned for a host of reasons. Buyers seem to be feeling a renewed interest in ranch style homes. One of the main reasons for this trend is that baby boomers have expressed a desire to age more gracefully and safely without the need to contend with stairs. Moreover, present economic indicators have given buyers a reality check when purchasing homes. What are builders doing differently than in years past to meet this new demand?
It’s all about convenience. Buyers now look for smaller, newer homes with the same convenient features found in the 3,000 ft2 homes, i.e., a kitchen that utilizes every nook and cranny for more storage and pantry areas; a bedroom that can serve as both a sleeping room and an office; a patio that allows for all-season entertaining; a laundry room that uses less space while allowing for storage and organizing. Builders have stepped up to meet these interests while using an average of 880 fewer square feet than in times past.
This is a preview of Large Convenience, Smaller Home . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, Colorado Real Estate, Four Seasons Property Inspections, home improvement Posted in Construction/Maintenance | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
The science of home insulation is ever evolving. Homes built in 2004 may already be out-of-date and Energy Star construction ups the ante even more. So how do you know if your home needs more insulation?
A simple method to check insulation for newer homes is to check with the builder. Many keep records and can provide documentation. Older homes can benefit from manual inspection. The most effective determination for insulation needs is through a home energy audit. The auditor checks insulation as part of the whole house assessment and determines where air sealing needs to be done. Even new homes can benefit from this level of complete inspection. If your home needs more insulation, be sure to check the R-value, which is a measure of thermal resistance and will inform you of how much heat loss is actually occurring.
This is a preview of More Insulation? . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, Colorado Real Estate, energy efficient, energy saving, Four Seasons Property Inspections, green real estate, Phil Tatro, real estate Posted in Construction/Maintenance, Home Owner Energy Tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Potential buyers make judgments about their next home at the walkway. Why not roll out the red carpet upon their first visit? Your home’s walkway sets the tone for what’s to come. Give every buyer an invitation to purchase your home by designing a pathway that welcomes, eases and excites them to fall in love with all your home has to offer.
Creating paved pathways add an extra touch of panache to your curb appeal, but takes planning and research. Considering the function, established landscape, and safety factors will help solidify your vision. Will this walkway serve multiple transportation routes? Are there young trees that need more room to grow? Will children or elderly frequently walk this path? Once these and similar questions are answered, begin researching the best materials for your walkway. You should also research which types of materials best match your needs. There are many options, such as concrete – stamped, engraved, or stained; wood including wood chips, planks, low boardwalks, and rollouts; mulch; stones, such as flagstone, polished rocks, and paving stones; and repurposed materials, such as broken ceramic, tile, brick, glass, and breeze. Generally, you’ll look at materials used both on top of the surface and beneath. Optimize materials that allow for water run-off to prevent poor drainage that could lead to pooling. Sloping your walkway is a good idea as well as using sand or crushed rock.
This is a preview of Invitation to Sell . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, buyer, Colorado Real Estate, Four Seasons Property Inspections, green home, green real estate, home buyer, home improvement, real estate Posted in Construction/Maintenance | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
One of the greatest improvements that will also add to the overall value to your home is a kitchen and or bathroom remodel. We as Realtors often say that both of these rooms really sell your home, or in the very least make one of the biggest impressions which may lead to the Sell.
While it is difficult to generalize how much you get back out of every Dollar you spend in the eventual sale of your home, in any case a nicer kitchen than that of your neighbor’s will at least make your home more marketable. And in this environment any advantage for Sellers is welcomed.
While certainly a complete remodel and update of your kitchen or bath may be the most desirable, this option may be neither financially feasible nor advisable to you. Keep in mind that stainless appliances and granite countertops on a sixty thousand dollar condo may be over the top, these options are most like expected in homes in the upper price bracket. You should in any case talk to our Realtor how much or how little improvement makes sense in your individual case.
This is a preview of Added Value To Your Home: Improve Your Space . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, Colorado Real Estate, home improvement, increase value of home, real estate, real estate pricing Posted in Construction/Maintenance, Selling a Home | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
Drywall was introduced as a viable building material in the early 1900’s. It gained popularity in the 40’s and 50’s as an alternative to plaster walls due to its easy installation, additional fire resistance and noise deterrent. Drywall, also known as plaster board or gypsum board, is made from gypsum ore finely ground into powder, then front and back faced with paper. Mold resistant drywall is created from fiberglass rather than paper products.
Drywall manufacturing was one of the first industries to begin to use recycled paper. Today, nearly 100% of the paper used in the manufacturing of drywall comes from newsprint and post consumer paper products. With an estimated 80% of a home’s interior covered with drywall, the building industry began to look for less expensive products during the early 2000’s to combat rising materials costs. Chinese drywall entered the market place as a perceived less expensive product. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received over 4000 complaints from those who believe the new material is harmful to our health and reported corrosion to metal components within the walls of their home. When making a decision to remodel your home, ask your contractor about the materials being used.
This is a preview of What is Drywall? . Read the full post »
Tags: Alaris Properties, Buy home, buyer, Colorado Real Estate, drywall, Four Seasons Property Inspections, green home, green real estate, green Realtor, home buyer, home improvement, Phil Teatro, real estate, sell home, seller Posted in Construction/Maintenance | No Comments »
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