Real estate pros often coach their clients on the value of making “curb appeal” improvements to help sell their homes. Outside painting and minor repairs signal that the house has been well cared for. That’s a great marketing tactic, but an even better advantage is offering multiple bathrooms. So if you’re planning to put your house on the market and want to make it stand out, consider going a step further and adding a new bathroom.
With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, why settle for out-of-date features and decor - especially since it is easy to give your kitchen a 180-degree makeover? Try these six simple projects, and in no time at all you’ll have a kitchen where you will want to spend more time.
At first thought, winter might not conjure up words like spicy, bold or sunny. It should, though, at least when it comes to the inside of your home. While it might be gray and dreary outside, infusing color into interior decor is one of the quickest ways to create a cozy, inviting living area. And winter is the ideal time to do it.
Council Bluffs housing ended 2009 on a high note - at least when 2009 is compared to the previous year.
There were 126 permits issued for single-family home construction in 2009, up from 121 the year before, according to year-end totals from the city’s Building Division. These figures are far lower than those during the middle part of the past decade when housing permits were nearly double the number recorded last year, but 2009 was the first year since 2005 that permits exceeded the previous year.
Economists predict the worst of the recession is over, but the housing market still has a way to go to complete recovery. It pays to think positively and improve your home, both to boost its value as the market recovers, and to enhance its livability for your family now.
Scam-artists are trying to cheat Iowans who are caught up in the nationwide foreclosure crisis. Mortgage foreclosure “rescue” schemes ask you to pay hundreds of dollars up-front for so-called assistance or “rescue” from foreclosure – but they just take your money and do little or nothing to help. The scam puts you in a deeper financial hole, does nothing to save your home, and diverts you from getting real help.
When people think of winterizing their homes, most often their heating bills spring to mind - along with insulation and weather stripping. The winter months bring not only high energy bills, but also an increased chance of certain kinds of damage to your home and its contents.
With heavy snow predicted for the Omaha metro this week and the American Red Cross recommends taking a few steps that will help you stay safe despite the winter weather. “Winter storms can knock down power lines, make travel difficult because of icy road conditions, and keep people isolated in their homes for several days,” said Tina Labellarte Price, Heartland Regional Chapter CEO.
The holly boughs on the front porch railing and the evergreen wreath on the door may be visible signs of the holidays, but to really savor the spirit of the season, you need to engage all your senses. Just like a romantic dinner where all your senses are involved – soft music, gentle candlelight, enticing aromas, mouth-watering flavors and the soft touch of holding your sweetheart’s hand – celebrating the holidays also can be a feast for the senses … all season long.
Getting ready for winter often means changing to warmer clothes and taking stock of mittens and hats. But it’s also a good idea to prepare your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for winter, too - especially if you want to keep energy bills down.
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