Atlanta Housing Source

Specialty rooms and spaces are becoming more and more popular. If you have an extra room or unused corner in your home, think about turning it into one of the following areas. Here are some ideas for planning that special space:

* Media Area: Enjoy audio, video, and other media and store the equipment.
* Wine Cellar: A cool, dark place is best for wine storage.
* Library: Set up elaborate or simple shelving, a comfortable chair, and a reading lamp.
* Sewing Room: Arrange a work table, ironing board, shelves, and storage.
* Meditation Room: Retreat from noise and other distractions.
* Hobby Room: Plan plenty of work space for crafts, scrapbooking, painting, and the like.
* Mini-Gym: Make working out fun with a stationary bike, weights, treadmill, and a TV!
* Playroom: Set aside space for children or grandchildren to play and store toys.
* Extra Closets: Make a great place to store out-of-season clothes.

With a little imagination and planning, you can use every corner, area, or room of your home efficiently. Feel free to call or email me if I can help you, a friend, or a family member with any of your real estate needs.

Why do some homes sell quickly for top dollar while others sit on the market for a long time? The answer is “curb appeal”!

Homes that invoke an emotional response in prospective buyers when they first drive up to the property have what is called curb appeal. Whether you own a town home in the city or a suburban house complete with a lawn, trees, and flowers, you can apply these tips to help you add curb appeal and create a positive emotional response to your home:

* Wash and dry windows until they sparkle.
* Clean the front porch or entryway of all debris.
* Paint your front door, railings, and other parts that need touch-up.
* Open curtains and shutters and turn on the lights.
* Revitalize flower beds with fresh, blooming flowers or plants.
* Keep the garage doors closed, storing bicycles and toys out of sight.
* Confine your pets to keep them safe and out of the way of people who may be afraid of or allergic to animals.

A potential buyer’s first impression is extremely important and can set the tone for the entire showing of your home. When a house has plenty of emotional appeal, it generally sells more quickly and for a higher price.

Please feel free to call or email me if you’d like more information about preparing your home for the market or if you have any real estate questions.

Two days ago two men equipped with a bunch of equipment and computer came to my home and did an audit. Unlike the IRS type of audit, this one can put money into your pocket. Four hours later they gave me a 14 page report, improvement recommendations with a budget and a ‘BTU per square foot per degree day’ rating of 4.7. The lower is better and their goal is to achieve at least 5.0 for their customers.
They had infrared cameras, smoke sticks, fans to attach to the door and computers with great software to tell you what to do to increase energy efficiency and comfort. I was looking for cost savings and my wife for the comfort angle. Either way, knowing what to do to improve your home can be beneficial.
We found out that we have a pretty good home as it pertains to energy efficiency. We did find out the things to do to add comport and savings and will implement those before winter truly sets in.
The neatest thing was when they did the blower door test. They put a big fan over the front door, turned off all heating and cooling equipment to find where air leaks were. Using a smoke stick they could show me by the movement of a puff of smoke where the leaks were ands just how bad the air was leaking.
To my surprise my windows that I had considered changing due to my perceived belief that they had big air leaks, had little air coming in around the frames. Being nearly twenty years old the single pane windows that I thought needed replacing, in fact didn’t leak like I thought.
We already added 15 SER / 95% Efficient HVAC equipment a year ago. Two years ago we added 12″ of ceiling insulation and sealed off the pull down stairs with a 8″ thick Styrofoam frame and door in the attic above the pull down unit. We had covered the attic fan and insulated on top of it.
What the audit found was we needed to glue down the attic stair Styrofoam and better seal the attic fan canopy. We need to seal the vents where they transition into the ceiling from the attic to deliver heated and cooled air to the upper story.
We found the gas heater and water heater in our basement do not put out carbon monoxide near allowable limits, which is good news. We do have a carbon monoxide detector just in case. When the water heater goes out we are going back with the tank less style.
The biggest issue is where part of the home is on crawl space. The rooms above the crawl space have always been cold in the winter and they discovered why. We have inadequate insulation on the floors and outside walls.
To remedy the known issues we are sealing and encapsulating the crawl space with closed cell high density foam insulation, gluing the hatch and resealing the fan. We are also sealing the duct work. If done by the end of the year the energy tax credit will apply and my local utility has rebates also.
Cumulatively all my work to save energy and be comfortable is paying off. By Thanksgiving the kitchen above he crawl space will be a warmer place to be and my utility bill will go down. This has been a three year project that has been great on my wallet and on my comfort.
Be sure to get an audit done and take the steps recommended. You have until December 31. 2010 to qualify for the rebates. There is still time.  My home energy audit team is available to assit you. Contact me for more details.

Do you save everything? Are you sentimental about the ill-fitting sweater your aunt knitted five years ago, or your ragged alma mater sweatshirt? If so, your closets may be very full.

Fall is an ideal time to clean out your home. Cleaning out your closets regularly will save you time and energy and keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the task later on. Plus, if your closet is packed with old clothes that you don’t or can’t wear anymore, you may hesitate to update your wardrobe.

Here are some tips to help you organize and unclutter your closet:

Get rid of the clothes you haven’t worn in over a year.
Store out-of-season clothes in a different location.
Try on the clothes you can’t seem to get rid of—it will help you make a decision.
Buy good hangers: wire hangers don’t give good support and leave marks on your clothes.
Hang clothes according to style (i.e., shirts, suits, pants) or color.
If space permits, add a bar for shirts and pants.
When you clean your closets on a regular basis, you may find you don’t need some of the clothing you thought you did. And you’ll actually wear and enjoy the clothes you do have.

What’s more, cleaning out your closets is a small but important step towards clearing the way to move into your next home. If you’d like more information on getting rid of clutter in your home, please don’t hesitate to email or call.

As autumn is quickly approaching, here are some areas of your home to inspect and repair now so you can relax and enjoy a safe and cozy fall season:

Pests
Mice are excellent climbers and only need an opening the width of a pencil (¼ inch) to sneak inside your home to search for food. Protect yourself by sealing all cracks and other openings into your home and blocking off ventilation ducts with heavy-gauge wire mesh.

Fire protection
Open your fireplace damper and inspect the chimney flue for any nesting birds or animals. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that all chimneys, fireplaces and vents be inspected every year to reduce the danger of house fires caused by excessive creosote build-up.

Nooks and Crannies
Replace worn or missing caulking and weather stripping to keep energy costs down.

Windows
If you use storm windows to protect against the cold weather, make sure they are clean and free of cracks before installing.

Air Circulation
Clean and adjust ceiling fans so that air circulates more efficiently. This allows fans to gently mix warmer air (which naturally rises) back into the room.

Gutters
Whether you do it yourself or hire a handyman, have your all dead leaves and debris removed from rain gutters.

These are just the basics—but they’re important. And while you’re at it, take care of two more items on your home maintenance to-do list: Clean in and around dryer lint vents and replace all smoke alarm batteries. Enjoy the upcoming cooler weather!

Over the past month I have put up multiple videos blogs on what to do to make your home more sellable. I offered many tips fron the outside to the inside from the prospect of a buyer. The article below from RISMEDIA restates many of my tips and offers some new. Check out the article and check out my video blogs on Selling Your Home.

For Your Clients: 10 Low-Cost Tips to Improve Your Home’s Appeal
By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, August 10, 2010–When selling your home, the goal is to sell it quickly for the highest price while investing as little as possible in renovations. With a limited budget and a little effort, you can greatly increase your home’s appeal by focusing on what prospective buyers can see on their first visit. The experts at BuyOwner.com offer the following recommendations for preparing a house for sale and staging it for showings.

Tip #1: Refresh the exterior
First impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Most buyers won’t even leave their car if they don’t find the exterior appealing. The best ways to improve your home’s exterior include:
-Repairing and/or replacing trims, shutters, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens, walkways and the driveway.
-Painting siding, trim and shutters and lamp and mailbox posts.
-Pressure washing vinyl siding, roofs, walkways and the driveway.
-Washing windows.

Tip #2: Spruce up the lawn and landscape
Home buyers associate the condition of your lawn and landscaping with the condition of your home’s interior. By improving the outside, you affect buyers’ impression of the entire property. The best ways to enhance the yard include:
-Mowing and edging the lawn.
-Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn.
-Keeping up with regular lawn maintenance by frequent watering.
-Trimming and/or removing overgrown trees, shrubs and hedges.
-Weeding and mulching plant beds.
-Planting colorful seasonal flowers in existing plant beds.
-Removing trash, especially along fences and underneath hedges.
-Sweeping and weeding the street curb along your property.

Tip #3: Create an inviting entrance
The front door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your entry include:
-Painting the front door in a glossy, cheerful color that complements the exterior.
-Cleaning, polishing and/or replacing the door knocker, locks and handles.
-Repairing and/or replacing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers.
-Placing a new welcome mat and a group of seasonal potted plants and flowers by the entry.

Tip #4: Reduce clutter and furniture
A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to keep. The best ways to declutter your home include:
-Holding a garage sale to prepare for your move, getting rid of unnecessary items.
-Removing clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets, the garage and basements.
-Storing out-of-season clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier.
-Removing any visibly damaged furniture.
-Organizing bookshelves, closets, cabinets and pantries. Buyers will inspect everything.
-Putting away your personal photographs, unless they showcase the home. Let buyers see themselves in your home.
-De-personalize rooms as much as you can.

Tip #5: Clean, clean, clean
The cleanliness of your home also influences a buyer’s perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a buyer’s decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best ways to improve these areas include:
-Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances.
-Cleaning carpets, area rugs and draperies.
-Cleaning inside the refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets.
-Removing stains from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout.
-Eliminating house odors, especially if you have pets.
-Considering air fresheners or potpourri.

Tip #6: Make minor repairs
The small stuff does count, especially with first-time home buyers. Without dismissing the importance of repairing major items such as a leaky roof or plumbing, you do not need to spend money on replacing these items. Instead, focus on the minor repairs that will make your home visually appealing. The best ways to improve your home include:
-Repairing ceilings and wall cracks.
-Repairing faucets, banisters, handrails, cabinets, drawers, doors, floors and tile.
-Caulking and grouting tubs, showers, sinks and tile.
-Adding fresh paint to ceilings, walls, trim, doors and cabinets.
-Tightening door handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates.
-Lubricating door hinges and locks.

Tip #7: Showcase the kitchen
The heart of any home is the kitchen. If you are going to spend any money on renovations, this is the one area where you will see the greatest return. Even with a modest budget, focusing on a few key areas can make a great difference in getting the asking price for your property. The best ways to showcase the kitchen include:
-Replacing cabinet doors and hardware.
-Installing under-cabinet lighting.
-Replacing light fixtures.
-Replacing outdated shelving with pantry and cabinet organizers to maximize space.
-Baking cookies or cupcakes for a showing, to create a homey smell.

Tip #8: Stage furniture
Furniture placement can enhance the space of your home while giving buyers an idea of how to best utilize the space with their own belongings. Take some time to rethink how different areas in your house could be used. Some ideas to think about include:
-Moving couches and chairs away from walls in your sitting and family rooms to create cozy conversational groups.
-Creating a reading corner in the master bedroom.
-Clearing an empty room to set up a reading space.
-Turning an awkward space into a home office.
-Setting the dining room table with your best china.
-Set wine glasses in front of the fireplace or next to a Jacuzzi tub.

Tip #9: Light up the house
Create a sense of openness and cheerfulness in your home through its lighting. To improve the lighting try:
-Opening shades and drapes to let the sunshine warm and brighten rooms.
-Installing brighter light bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.
-Adding additional lamps for ambient lighting.
-Turning on all the lights for a showing.

Tip #10: Add fresh touches
You can easily add color and style to your home by adding fresh touches throughout. Some ideas to consider include:
-Placing fresh floral arrangements in the entry and master bedroom.
-Placing bowls of bright-colored fruit in the family room and the kitchen.
-Filling an empty corner with a potted leafy plant.
-Setting new hand soap in the bathrooms.
-Displaying fresh towels near sinks.

Whether you live in a condominium or a single-family house, landscaping can certainly make your home easier to sell. But will attractive landscaping add value? It depends.

Potted plants, freshly edged green lawn, and weed-free garden areas will make your home more attractive and appealing. The more appealing the home or condo, the more marketable it is and the faster it will sell.

Well-manicured landscaping helps frame other elements of curb appeal. It is considered a value-added feature because it helps create a positive first impression. Most buyers, however, will not pay extra for trees and lawn, flowers and shrubs.

But you can almost always get a return on your investment in decks and patios. As decks have become more desirable, their resale value has continued to increase.

In the yard and garden of your single-family home or in pots on your condo deck or patio, use plants, trees, and other landscaping elements freely to make your home more appealing and help you sell it more quickly when the time is right.

If you have any real estate–related questions, please call or email me. I am always happy to help.