Power wash the outside of your home. Heat and humidity can cause mold to grow on your home’s exterior. Inspect your deck for rotten boards that need replacement. Also check if the deck need to be restained. Do not “paint.” It will peel off. Upgrade old windows and doors. Replace/repair damaged screens. Check the sealant around the indoor and outdoor windows with vinegar,water and lint-free cloths. Check your roof and the home’s exterior and make repairs. Add new additions to your garden. Prune flowers, bushes and trees. Consider adding mulch for a clean appearance and to reduce weeds. Check hoses… Read More

Move in ready houses and condos bring top dollar Hardwoof flooring which is cleaner than wall-to-wall carpet Builtin bookcases are good gor display and storage Warmer pallettes like beige, cream and green

The Christian celebration of Easter Sunday… with it’s family get-together dinners and childrens’ hyperactivities are all wondeful ocassions to refresh shared family values and harvest another year of building “family memories.” For many it will be a recommitment to they religious faith and their need for spiritual guidance – as the long-awaited spring actually seems to have arrived. But I find that as I grow older, I additionally need to reflect on my personal inner spiritual health… not so much in a “religious way” but in terms of adjusting my compass for take me closer to achieving the goals that I would like to make… Read More

Define your needs. Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! Before you go house hunting, it’s a good idea to define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs – make a wish list. Share this list with me. The finer the details, the more effective your home search will be. To further define your needs, you may want to divide your lists into negotiable and non-negotiable items, so I can operate with some flexibility when scouting for homes on your behalf. Get prequalified or preapproved. Now that you know what you want… Read More

Have you found yourself longingly peering into the yard next door to check out their new water feature only to start drawing up the blueprints for your own a week later? If you answered yes, turns out you’re just one of the many who experience jealousy—and a little competitive drive—over others’ home improvement projects. In fact, a recent survey from The Home Depot conducted by Wakefield Research not only revealed what home improvement projects are most popular, but the motivation behind the projects, as well. Here are some of the findings: More than half of respondents feel the urge to… Read More

  Setting the list price for your home involves evaluating various market conditions and financial factors. During this phase of the home selling process, I will help you set your list price based on: pricing considerations comparable sales market conditions offering incentives estimated net proceeds Pricing Considerations – Find a Balance Between Too High and Too Low When setting a list price for your home, you should be aware of a buyer’s frame of mind. Consider the following pricing factors: If you set the price too high, your house won’t be picked for viewing, even though it may be much nicer… Read More

How to Inspect Windows, Doors to Stop Air and Water Leaks Big picture inspection: A home air pressure test , available from businesses like Eco-Analysts, Inc (207-386-0450) in Woolwich, Me,  sucks air into the house to reveal air leaks that increase your energy bills. To inspect windows and other openings: Seal the house by locking all doors, windows, skylights, and shutting all vents. Close all dampers and vents. Turn on all kitchen and bath exhaust fans. Pass a burning incense stick along all openings–windows, doors, fireplaces, outlets–to pinpoint air rushing in from the outside. Windows and the outside world: Air and… Read More

<img class=”aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-327″ Homes are selling; they just aren’t selling for significantly higher prices!  Many buyers have realistically and shrewdly invested in today’s market conditions. They are betting on the future of real estate and I believe that they will do quite well.  However, I do not believe that real estate, over time will bail one out of even a lousy real estate investment. But the key word here is “time”. Surely, there will be a time in the future when buyers will again be paying at 9-11% interest rate and will refuse to believe you when you tell them that… Read More

  With memories of snow and cold fading (especially here in Maine), it’s time for home owners to take stock of important work to be done for themselves and potential buyers down the road. Keeping on track with seasonal maintenance will lower costs and raise property value. Besides cleaning closets, planting flowers and cool-weather vegetables, spring should involve scrutinizing the condition of your house following the rough winter that we just had. Repairs and replacements won’t just help you enjoy your home more; they’ll also keep energy costs down as hot weather rolls in and attract more buyers – many… Read More