Home Improvements, Home Life 
There are currently 16 blog entries related to this category.
Six Kitchen Redesign Trends for 2011
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 5:33pm. 4582 Views, 0 Comments.
A kitchen is still the place reserved for cooking, however, it also serves as the epicenter to many homes. Today, more than ever, professional designers acknowledge its role and their design trends reflect it as a fulcrum point.
From relatively small investments of a few hundred dollars (trendy new counter-top appliances) to big-time overhauls (Bamboo cabinets anyone?), following are six kitchen redesign trends from top designers who know where kitchen trends are today.
1. Wicked Wine Refrigeration
Have a killer wine collection (or want one?) then upgrading to a state-of-the-art wine refrigerator should be on the top of your kitchen redesign wish list. The latest designs include freestanding models that secure well over 100 bottles to smaller built-in units…
Unintended but Harmless Neighbors ...and then there is Crazy
Monday, March 28th, 2011 at 3:23pm. 5094 Views, 1 Comments.
I have crazy neighbors.
To my left is a single mom breeding Pit bulls in her back yard. To my right is a lady who lets her big, black Lab do the #2 on our yard.
Across the street is the house that never sleeps. People are constantly coming and going, day and night. Cars and trucks parked facing the wrong direction, every day, all day. And the children, who roam the 'hood with air-soft pellet guns.
We find pellets and doggie deposits littering the front yard, much to my husband's dismay when he's mowing.
Speaking of mowing, we get letters from our Homeowner's Association (HOA) if we don't edge.
But nobody seems to care about Pit bulls, BB guns, dog doody, and cars parked willy-nilly.
Yep, I have crazy neighbors.
But some people have unintended neighbors.
It…
March Madness Means Lawn Mower Maintenance
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 at 12:27am. 2816 Views, 0 Comments.
Five Home Improvement Tasks You Should Do Before Spring - and One You Should Not
Just like our cars, certain things around our house need regular maintenance. Of course, it’s tempting to put off with Spring break within sights, the Sweet Sixteen and the Final Four around the corner, and with the lovely spring weather the park beckons. But, just as not replacing a belt in your car’s engine can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs, not doing the regular maintenance around the house can cost you big in the long run. So buckle down and spend a Saturday or two giving your home a little TLC. And then you can head to the park with a clear conscience.
Service the lawn mower
Before your first cutting of the season, take an afternoon to dust off the lawn mower…
Spiffy Home Office Decor on a Budget
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 at 3:36pm. 5002 Views, 1 Comments.
A home office can be considered the heart of many homes, these days. With the economy as it is, as many people as possible are trying to save money on commuting costs, and with the every-increasing popularity of the Internet and the work and income being generated from it, home offices are coming to the forefront. Gone are the days when a notepad, pencil, typewriter and perhaps a few old milk crates would serve as a home office.
We're in the 21st century now and need computers, printers, faxes and other E gadgets to even function in the professional world. Doing it all on a budget may be considered daunting by some, but it doesn't have to be. Our home offices may be a simple desk in the corner of a room, an armoire made into an all-in-one office, or an…
Sharing is Nice, Saving Money is Better: Start a Neighborhood Tool Library
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 at 11:08pm. 3550 Views, 2 Comments.
It’s a lesson we were all taught early on: share. Share your toys. Share your snack. Bring enough to share with the class. That simple wisdom is showing up in a new way in communities across the country - tool sharing. It takes a lot of stuff to keep our homes in working order and looking spiffy - power tools, drain snakes, pressure washers, weed eaters - and that stuff costs a lot, not to mention takes up tons of space. How many of us park our cars on the street so we can keep all of that stuff in the garage? And how many times a year does that 20-foot ladder or fertilizer spreader actually see the light of day?
Tool sharing to the rescue! Tool libraries or co-ops have been popular for decades on the West Coast, where they started mainly as an…
Ways to Combat Crime in Your Neighborhood
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 at 5:29pm. 4317 Views, 2 Comments.
When real estate agents help homebuyers find a perfect home, the homebuyer provides a list of what they want. One thing an agent is not going to hear is “I’m looking for a two bedroom, two story home in the most crime ridden neighborhood you can find, please.”
Most likely, safety is going to be one of their top priorities, even for those looking to buy in a “transitional” neighborhood. No matter what area, in a large city like Houston, crime is unavoidable. Even the best neighborhoods on the outskirts of town will fall prey to a burglar from time to time.
Burglary ranks as the second most common crime reported in Houston, just underneath theft incidents, according to the Houston Police Department. Each month there are over 2000 burglaries reported within…
Remodeling Advice to Raise Your Listing Price
Saturday, December 4th, 2010 at 5:46pm. 1882 Views, 2 Comments.
What is the first question that sellers typically ask when they decide to put their house up for sale?
“How much is my house worth?”
The answer to this question is determined by a number of variables, one of them being the home’s “newness” factor. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out an older home that has never been updated will generally receive a lower listing price than a similar one with new appointments. In fact, just by remodeling the kitchen and master bathroom alone, you can raise the listing price and its marketability considerably, not to mention your enjoyment of the home!
Fred Spaulding, owner of Quality Home Improvements, gave a good example of how a little remodeling can make a huge difference. He said, “A few years ago, there…
Make Cost-Effective Home Improvements
Thursday, November 25th, 2010 at 11:59am. 2412 Views, 1 Comments.
It's easy to put off home repairs. Often the reason is because it is felt that costs will add up quickly, but there are some types of home improvements that can be done without breaking the bank. Home repairs can not only add to the aesthetic value of your home and increase your property value, but make it attractive to home buyers if you are planning to sell your home.
The Do's And Don'ts Of Painting
Painting is the easiest type of home repair to do. If you haven't been to the paint store in awhile you may be surprised by the choices you have. Some paints come with the primer in them, cutting down on the tedious process. A paint job is a simply way to freshen up a room. 
Choosing lighter colors will brighten a space. This is ideal for a kitchen. A weekend…
Tips for Home Sellers
Monday, November 22nd, 2010 at 11:03pm. 1573 Views, 1 Comments.
To Repair or Not To Repair - That is the Question
How would buyers view your house?
As a homeowner, we may think our home looks great as it is with few changes or upgrades necessary to appeal to buyers. Some flaws or imperfections that we see every day may slip under our radar and we may accept them because we are so used to seeing them.
An impersonal approach to viewing the appearance of your home will help point out changes that might be necessary. Take several pictures of the house from the front and sides. Keep in mind the importance of curb appeal so that you will see what visitors driving by to check out your home and the neighborhood see as well as those coming to your front door.
Spread these pictures out on your dining room table (after you have…
Tore Up From the Floor Up
Friday, October 15th, 2010 at 11:56am. 2000 Views, 1 Comments.
Is your Realtor a visionary?
If not, and you're not either, you might be losing out on some great deals in older homes or foreclosures.
The Jones Team Realtor Jackie Jones thinks "tore up from the floor up" is a fantastic way to house hunt.
"You can get some really good deals if you take the time to look beyond the trash," Jones said. "It doesn't matter how nasty a house is. To me, it's a clean slate. With your taste and vision, the house becomes your home."
The problem is that some people don't have what Jones indeed calls "The Vision."
Donna Labbe of Realty Associates helps by pointing out the things in a house that can be changed, and the things that can't, at least not very easily.
"Do we like the layout? Do we like the fact the master bedroom is…
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