If you watch the news, most of the economic outlooks always mention the state of the housing market. Residential construction has a positive, direct impact on the United States economy. For each new single-family that is built, three jobs are created. Jobs are created in the lumber and concrete industry. Lighting and heating industries and… Continue Reading
As the leaves turn and fall to the ground, it’s time to start thinking about “buttoning up” your home for winter to keep you and your family healthy and comfortable, your belongings safe and high energy costs at bay. Heating accounts for 34 percent of all annual utility usage, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency… Continue Reading
A recent visit to the Academy of Home Staging (theacademyofhomestaging.com) revealed some of the latest home-staging trends and how they could translate into selling your home faster. The academy blog about design trends reveals a couple of key points about color and accessories. According to the site, interior design trends regarding furnishings favor seating that… Continue Reading
Rising home values have brought homeowner equity to its highest level since the third quarter of 2008 and helped lift 1.3 million families above water. Homeowner equity jumped $406 billion, or 5.9 percent, to $7,275 billion in the second quarter of 2012, according to the Obama Administration’s September Housing Scorecard. After a sharp first quarter… Continue Reading
If you’re in the process of getting your home ready for sale, you know that in order to get the biggest bang for your buck, you have to be willing to put in the time to ensure that your home looks its best. While it’s crucial that you pay attention to both the interior and… Continue Reading
Once the creep of autumn makes it a little too cool for your pool, it’s time to think about buttoning up your little oasis of aquatic pleasure until next spring. So for a raft of advice that really holds water, I turned to Ann Janowicz, general manager of Kasper’s Pool Supplies and Spas in Easton,… Continue Reading
With trees dressed in fall finery and homes adorned in holiday hues of silver, gold and red, fall and winter are colorful times. This year, why not “green” your holiday by adopting some eco-friendly traditions? From making holiday meals with organic ingredients to wrapping gifts in recycled paper, it’s easy to find ways to celebrate… Continue Reading
You need not spend a lot on granite counters or tile flooring to give your kitchen a fresh, new look. So says stylist Rebekah Zaveloff, owner of design studio KitchenLab. “So many people thing kitchen remodeling is an all-or-nothing proposition,” Zaveloff noted. “The truth is, you can brighten and lighten your kitchen with a few… Continue Reading
Your roof is your home’s biggest protector, so it’s no wonder that people want the best possible material for their roof. One choice that is becoming increasingly popular is metal roofing. Hailstorms, hurricanes, heavy snow and wildfires can all cause extensive damage to a home. In the U.S., approximately 10 percent of homeowners now choose… Continue Reading
The national housing market is slowly crawling back from historic lows. Does this iffy environment change the basic “must-dos” for prepping, staging, and showing a house for sale? Much of the same rules still apply: Cut clutter and depersonalize, scrub surfaces, replace burned-out light bulbs, plant flowers. But as the market improves, edging out the… Continue Reading