Buy! Sell! Improve!

Indiana County
AT HOME
Buy. Sell. Improve. Finance.
First-Nest
Reality Check
POPULAR
PROJECTS
WITH HIGH
PAYBACKS
Is Your Home
a Little Less than
(Curb) Appealing?
Supplement to
April 21, 2011
2 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
How to sell your home faster
By NICOLE ROSER
[email protected]
SMALL
CHANGES
can make
a big
difference
when
trying to
sell your
home.
Metro Creative Graphic
Come on in!
PAGE 6
■ So you know you need to boost your curb appeal, but how do you
do it? We’ll tell you where to start.
PAGE 8
■ Options abound for making porches and patios into an outdoor
oasis. Find out how to make them work for years to come.
PAGE 11
■ Don’t get rid of those hardwood floors yet. Sanding and staining —
or even painting — can give them a whole new look.
PAGE 14
■ Ready for the big move? We’ll tell you the best and safest ways to
transport your belongings.
PAGE 16
■ See how a couple turned an old farmhouse into their dream home.
PAGE 18
■ Follow a 70-year-old man as he builds his own home from the
ground up.
Want a faster closing, fewer complications and
money in your wallet?
With the peak season for real estate already under
way, knowing how to make a home more marketable
could make a major difference in both time and
money.
According to Frank Previte, broker and owner of
Previte Realty, the first step to make a home more appealing is “curb appeal.” In order to get the outside of
your house dressed to impress, he suggests having the
lawn clean and mowed, the house painted and shrubs
manicured.
Once you get the potential buyer inside, he said, the
house shouldn’t be cluttered, and walls should be
painted, preferably in a neutral color.
“A little bit of paint goes a long way,” Previte said.
To tidy up the clutter, Wally Putt, broker and owner
of Putt Real Estate, suggests organizing the mess in a
garage — typically a place where buyers aren’t going
to be as critical.
He also said if you can’t afford to have the carpet redone, getting the carpet professionally cleaned could
make a difference, especially if pets live inside the
home.
“It is better to do as much as you can financially for
getting your home ready to sell,” Putt said.
He suggests having a home inspection done prior to
selling, because it gives an idea on what needs to be
done when preparing to get your house ready to show
buyers. He said people expect the electricity to work, a
roof that doesn’t leak, a basement without water
flooding and plumbing free of issues.
“You have to get it done,” he said. “It helps the home
to sell better or quicker.”
Dawn Wilson, a Realtor at Northwood Realty Services, said kitchens and bathrooms are what sell the
home, so the best thing to do is have both of those
rooms updated.
“I don’t think that somebody should totally redo a
house to sell, because somebody is going to come in
with their own ideas.” she said. “Don’t put your taste
into a house.”
Also to add value to your home, Steve White, broker
and appraiser and owner of Norma White Realty, said
if renovations have to be made, they should be done
to the above-grade square footage — meaning the living area in the dwelling.
For example, he said adding a game room in the
basement won’t be as beneficial, because that is
below-grade square footage, which may only add a
small amount of value.
After the home is cleaned and painted and proper
renovations have been made, White said, it is important to not overprice your home, because higherpriced homes aren’t selling as well. He suggested trying to price your home below market value if you
want to sell the house faster.
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 3
Is that renovation project really worth it?
Maybe you’ve watched one too many
home improvement shows.
Perhaps you’re still stinging from that
holiday guest’s comment about how
your kitchen countertop has seen better
days.
Or maybe you’re just really tired of
looking at the same old, same old every
day.
Whatever the reason the remodeling
itch has settled into your brain, before
you bring in a contractor — or pick up a
hammer — you should consider two important questions: How will you fund
your project? And will it be worth it in
the end?
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to evaluate
the potential resale value of any home
project.
In terms of resale value, here are some
popular projects with high paybacks, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 20092010 Cost versus Value Report:
■ Adding an attic bedroom: 83.1
percent
■ Adding a wooden deck: 80.6 percent
■ Minor kitchen remodel: 78.3 percent
■ Major kitchen remodel: 72.1 percent
■ Basement remodel: 75.4 percent
■ Bathroom remodel: 71 percent
Keep in mind that smaller remodels,
while costing less than major jobs, can
still have a major impact on how your
home looks and feels. For example, simply replacing that old front door with a
steel version can cost around $1,000 but
offers a return on investment of nearly
129 percent, according to the report.
Another factor to consider when
weighing the value of any remodeling
project is how it will affect your quality of
life in terms of financial security. It’s important to be sure the cost of the project
won’t be a financial burden that detracts
from your enjoyment of the results.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
Beautifying Homes Since 1984
Affordable Interiors
1515 PHILADELPHIA STREET
724.349.8821 • www.affordable-interiors.com
BEFORE
STARTING
a DIY
project,
see what
the
changes
will really
be worth.
ARAcontent
Complete Professional
Design & Installation for
Kitchen, Bath & Flooring
“OUR PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”
We have affordable CUSTOM
GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, too!
FLOORCOVERINGS
Residential & Commercial
CORK & BAMBOO
FLOORING AVAILABLE
NOW
FEATURING
KARNDEAN
#1 Quality
& Value
Indiana Area’s Only
ONE
Dealer
Mannington Laminate Tile • Hardwood
• Stylish Flooring
• Realistic
• Warm & Quiet
HIGH QUALITY,
HIGH PERFORMANCE
CARPETING
50%OFF KABINART ALL WOOD CABINETRY
ONLY 3-4 WEEKS DELIVERY TIME
PA050830
4 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
How to make a deck an outdoor living room
Nothing beats relaxing in the
shade or entertaining a group of
guests on your own private deck.
When you take the time to plan
your deck for the way you live, the
result can be a versatile living
space and a value-boosting addition to your home.
Trent Boozer, publisher of Extreme How-To magazine, notes his
readers have made it clear that
decks are one of the top projects
they love to design and build. The
Internet is full of deck plans and
planning tools — and with the
range of decking products and accessories on the market, every
deck can take on a personality of
its own, he says.
Personalization is what makes
the deck an extension of the home,
says Rick Preble of Deckorators,
the leading deck accessory brand
ARAcontent
ADDING STONE to wood is becoming a popular trend in deck design.
that embraces the concept of deck
personalization.
“The idea of an outdoor living
room has really materialized as
people have reattached to their existing homes,” says Preble. A cost-
PA 053918
H2O Restoration, Inc.
Authorized Independent Kinetico Dealer
724-354-3222 • 866-304-3222
www.h2orestoration.net
provides access to more than 1,750
different building products companies.
Homeowners who want to build
or who are renovating an existing
deck will find new trends for 2011.
One material making its move
onto decks is stone.
“Stone or simulated stone on a
deck has become possible with
new products, and it’s another example of interior design trends
and the mixing of various elements making their way to outdoor living areas,” Preble says.
Experts agree that putting the
time into planning your deck up
front and knowing what your
product options are is the best way
to ensure you end up with a space
your family will embrace as a true
outdoor living room.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
Compare Our Quality & Prices
WATER
PROBLEMS?
Join the
thousands
of satisfied
customers.
Call us for an
honest, no
hassle, whole
house water
analysis by one
of our certified
specialists.
effective way to add square footage
and upgrade your lifestyle without
moving is with a deck. With all the
deck products and accessories
available today, homeowners can
customize their outdoor rooms.”
The North American Deck and
Railing
Association
website
(nadra.org) is another good place
for consumers to start when gathering information for a deck build.
The organization has a large
gallery of photographs of decks
that have received national awards
for design or construction.
Michael Beaudry, executive vice
president of NADRA, says consumers are definitely hungry for
deck design ideas and information
on new products. NADRA offers
resources to help consumers with
deck and rail design and deck safety. The organization’s website also
FREE
DELIVERY
WITHIN
30 MILES
Smith’s Furniture
of New Germany, Inc.
Rt. 422 W., Indiana, PA
724-349-6921
M-W-F 9am-9pm • T-Th-Sat 9am-5pm
• Living Rooms • Dining Rooms
• Recliners • Mattresses • Curios
• Entertainment Centers
• Rockers • Cedar Chests
129 Tower Road, Summerhill, PA
800-288-1510
It’s Spring ... Jump out of your shoes in your Dream Home!
Call us at (724) 349-3661 for a Private Tour Today.*
www.BastianCustomHomes.com
Astor Rober
ts
Bastian
B
H Homes
Heritage
Elizabeth
Avery
Edgewater
*Private tours may be given during the construction phases.
60 HAMILL ROAD INDIANA, PA
Mon.-Thurs. 10-6; Fri. 9-5; Sat. 9-12
PA007674
or Call for an Appointment
Building
Quality Homes
In PA For
Over 35 Years
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 5
Think outside the box to improve value
and magazines for inspiration and
practical tips.
Some of the top-ranked garden
attributes for improving home
value included:
■ A well-maintained lawn
■ An inviting social area
■ Stone paths and walkways
■ Decorative trees, bushes and
shrubs
■ Well-kept hedges
■ Nicely designed flower beds
Gardening season and the high
real estate season coincide for a
reason: Houses look their best surrounded by growing plants and
blooming flowers. As the warmer
months progress, remember that
not only can investing in your garden give you a good return, it
could also be the deciding factor in
drawing a buyer to your property.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARMED WITH
the right tools,
most
homeowners
are capable
of improving
their own
lawns.
ARAcontent
➾
ProTech Design Group
➾
➾
➾
➾
➾➾
➾
For years, the conversation
about strengthening your home’s
value has revolved around interior
projects.
However, by keeping the focus
inside, you might be ignoring one
of the most effective ways to bring
your property value up: the garden.
When discussing home value,
“garden” means more than just
flower beds. It includes your lawn,
gathering spaces on your property,
paths and walkways, in addition to
the trees, shrubs and flowers that
decorate the space. In a housing
market where it’s still difficult to
stand out, turning your attention
and efforts to these areas might be
just the thing that will attract buyers.
It’s a simple concept: A more attractive house is a more valuable
house.
And since your yard and garden
are often what buyers see first, it’s
your best opportunity to set the
tone as they consider your property and what they’re willing to pay
for it.
In fact, well-designed landscaping was shown to raise perceived
residential property value by as
much as 18 percent, in a study recently released by Swedish power
tool maker Husqvarna.
In terms of return on investment, maintaining an attractive
lawn and garden was shown to return $1.80 per dollar spent. For
those who want to improve their
home’s value but can’t afford to
hire contractors for major interior
repairs, garden improvements can
be an affordable alternative.
Armed with the right tools, most
homeowners are capable of tackling garden projects that can improve their property value, and at a
relatively low cost. To get a better
understanding of what lawn and
landscaping equipment would be
most beneficial to your yard, visit
an outdoor power manufacturer
website like www.husqvarna.com.
Simply edging your yard with a
string trimmer helps create a
clean, finished look outdoors and
can be achieved for less than $200.
While many Americans are reluctant to spend much on their
yards — some 65 percent of people
spent less than $400 on it annually
— keeping return on investment in
mind can help you make better
smarter decisions. If you want to
call in the pros, consider projects
that are highly sought-after, like
in-ground irrigation systems.
Those not sure where to start can
look to the wide variety of gardening websites, television programs
Remodels/Additions
J. Christian Haller
2166 Davis Road • Home, PA 15747
724.397.9652
SIDING
WINDOWS
DRYWALL
[email protected]
Your Industry Source
• Central Vacuum Systems • GPS Tracking Devices • Computers & Hardware
• Home Theatre Products • Full Range of Flat Screen Televisions
• Home & Business Security Systems & Cameras
• Cordless Telephones - Extended Warranties
KITCHEN
BATH
ROOFING
New Construction
FLOORING
CERAMIC TILE
DECKS
GARAGES
TRIM WORK
SOFFIT/FASCIA
Call today to interview us ... We’ll exceed your expectations!
AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIR
CALL JACK: 724-840-8769 • HOMER CITY
20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE • INSURED • FREE ESTIMATES • PA 041984
Keeping Homes Safe Since 1978
A
nderson’s
Chimney Service
& FIREPLACE SHOP
Largest selection of
Japanese Maples
Shop Hours Tues. - Fri. 11:00-5:00 - Appointments Welcome
GAS LOGS - FIREPLACES
WOODSTOVES - PELLET STOVES
EDEN PURE
ELECTRIC HEATERS
953 N. Ben Franklin Road, Indiana
(exactly 2 miles from the YMCA)
PA 022215
• CLEANING
• REPAIRS
• RELINING
• CHIMNEY
CAPS
• DUCT
CLEANING
(724) 349-5768
Hundreds of varieties of shade,
ornamental, and specialty
trees & shrubs
M-F 8 am-7 pm
Sat 9 am-5 pm
Sun 12 pm-4 pm
3135 Airport Rd . Indiana . 724.463.7634 . www.twolickvalleynursery.com
6 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
Cost-effective ways to boost curb appeal
Anyone who’s ever bought, sold
or even just looked at a house can
tell you first impressions matter. A
house can be filled to the rafters
with luxury touches, but if it lacks
curb appeal, few potential buyers
will never step in the door to see
what’s inside. With real estate sales
still sluggish across the country,
curb appeal is taking on a new
meaning for many homeowners.
While an attractive home exterior
can still boost potential resale
value, homeowners are also looking at curb appeal as a way to enhance the enjoyment of their
homes. Giving the exterior of their
home a facelift not only makes the
house stand out on the street, it
also allows homeowners to “move
up” without the expense of remodeling or moving. Fortunately,
many curb appeal-enhancing
projects can be cost-effective too,
yielding significant improvements
for a modest investment.
“Projects can be inexpensive and
simple while adding tremendous
value and curb appeal,” says Mark
Clement, HGTVPro.com how-to
expert and host of “MyFixIt
UpLife.”
If you’re looking for low-cost,
high-impact ways to create or improve curb appeal, consider these
ideas:
■ Make small improvements
that have a big impact. Simple
touches like repainting the front
door, window trim and shutters,
planting flowers, and switching
outdated light fixtures can create a
whole new look. Plus, these simple
improvements have the advantage
of being scalable. Instead of re-siding the entire house, you can fresh-
CEC
en the facade by tackling smaller
portions, such as a porch or
garage. Later, if you want to continue the improvement, you can
re-side other areas of the facade.
■ Choose materials that are
durable and stylish. Skimping on
materials may seem like a great
way to save money, but you could
end up spending more in the long
run if you have to redo a job that
was first done with lower quality
materials. Purchase the best quality materials you can afford — not
only will they look better than
cheaper goods, they’ll last longer
and provide more enjoyment and
value.
■ Dress up the exterior with accents. Adding touches like accents
to gables, posts and beams, drain
chains in place of downspouts or
Continued on Page 7
CUTTING EDGE
COUNTERTOPS
Buy Direct From The Manufacturer
10064 Rt. 119 N., Marion Center, PA
724.397.8605 • TOLL FREE 888.816.8575
Hours: Monday - Friday 8-5 • Saturday 9-12 • Evenings By Appointment
www.cutting-edge-countertops.com
Because You Deserve It!
Dutch Acres
50 + Active Community
Indian Springs Road
Indiana, PA 15701
724-388-1335
Dutch Acres is a 50+ active adult community with three
different individual single story homes. Each home
features 2-3 bedrooms, fire place and full basement!
Kitchen & baths are designed with your choice of
high-quality finishings. With a homeowners association,
no need to worry about snow removal, lawn care and a
home security system. Conveniently located near
shopping, hospital, golf course and the Hoodlebug Trail.
Don’t Wait Any Longer!
Now Is The Time To Get
What You Deserve.
ARAcontent
FIRST IMPRESSIONS matter in real estate and are what get potential
buyers in the door.
ZADRAVEC
CONTRACTING
1170-C Wayne Ave., Indiana
Spring Sale!
ON
ON INTERIOR
INTERIOR && EXTERIOR
EXTERIOR REMODELING
REMODELING
Sign a contract with us now,
and we’ll remodel your home
when the weather is suitable.
You must have a contract with
us by May 31 for this sale price.
724-465-7511
PA004151
WHY
Major Credit Cards Accepted
RENT OWN?
WHEN YOU
CAN
• First Time Home Buyer Program
• ZERO Money Down = 100% Financing
• ALL Closing Costs Can Be Included In The Loan
(based on appraised value)
• No Mortgage Insurance
• Min. 620 Credit Score
on Purchases
American Dream Mortgage
• FHA Financing
Available (As Low As
164 Philadelphia Street
580 Credit)
Office: 724-464-2274
• Refinancing
Cell: 724-422-3668
• Investment Property
Email: [email protected]
Licensed by PA Department of Banking
• FREE
NMLS# 131182
Pre-Qualification
Call Ron Markle at American Dream Mortgage
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 7
Cost-effective ways
to boost curb appeal
Continued from Page 6
planter boxes made with beautiful,
sustainable materials like red
cedar is a great way to improve
curb appeal while stretching your
budget. Quality materials retain
their beauty over time better than
cheaper materials.
■ Illuminate. Light is a powerful
accent, and, thanks to the availability of easy-to-install solar
lights, you don’t need to pay a professional to light your landscape.
Solar lights — readily available in
home improvement stores — provide decorative illumination to
driveways, walkways and gardens.
■ Introduce shade. Arbors and
trellises adorned with flowering
vines are not only beautiful in
warm months; they’re a great way
to add areas of shade to your landscape. They can even be used to
block the scorching heat from the
afternoon sun from parts of your
home’s interior. Building an arbor
or trellis is well within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers. For
free ideas and plans, visit
www.wrcla.org.
■ Add a splash of color to your
landscape with low-maintenance
plantings that require little attention. As an added “green” step,
consider plants that require less
water, too. Your local home extension office can help you identify
what types of plants will grow best
in your region.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
Enhance your home’s look
By SARAH WELCH
and ALICIA ROCKMORE
getbuttonedup.com
We’re all told not to judge a book
by its cover. But, like it or not, your
house definitely doesn’t get the
same break. Everyone, from neighbors to friends, dinner-party
guests and especially visitors to
your open house, will form an impression before setting one foot inside. How, you ask? Things like unkempt flower beds, weeds in the
driveway cracks and peeling paint
on the front door might not seem
like much, but fix them up, and
you’ll go a long way toward making
your home seem more welcoming
and inviting.
Spring is one of the most popular
times in the real-estate market for
a reason, so whether or not you’re
planting a “For Sale” sign in your
front yard, use this time to rework
your entrance. You’ll start hearing
that treasured phrase — curb appeal — directed your way.
your property and make a list of
things that need repair. Pay particular attention to outside lights as
well as yard accessories, like wind
chimes and birdbaths.
WINTER MESS: If you thought
rakes were just for the fall, think
again. Spring is a great time to
bring them out again to clean up
messy beds and grassy areas that
have lingering winter debris, like
small branches.
A CAN OF PAINT: Now it’s time to
tackle that tired outdoor furniture.
Just because a piece looks a little
long in the tooth, your first instinct
shouldn’t be to replace it, but to repaint it. There’s almost nothing,
short of total rot, that a coat or two
of fresh paint can’t help. The same
goes for fences.
MULCH: This doesn’t take a lot of
time but makes a huge improvement. Mulch makes everything
look neater and cleaner. It even
hides some of those dreaded
weeds, which translates to less
maintenance over time.
GRAB A NOTEPAD: Walk around
LANDSCAPING: Just like mulch or
a fresh coat of paint, nothing
makes a house more inviting than
a few blooming plants.
They will brighten up your front
yard considerably.
Scripps Howard News Service
Hardscape and Waterfeature Specialists
For All Your
Needs!
• TOPSOIL • MULCH
• COMPOST
• GRAVEL
• SAND
• DECORATIVE
STONE
Give your home new life
with a home improvement
loan from MC Bank
Marion Center Bank
Your Friendly,
Independent
Community Bank
(Toll-Free): 1-800-556-6262
WE DELIVER!
WWW.KREVELSUPPLY.COM
Member F.D.I.C.
Dayton: 814-257-8213
Clymer: 724-254-4315
Big Run: 814-427-2051
Willow Springs: 724-465-7921
Marion Center: 724-397-5582
Punxsutawney: 814-938-0271
8 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
Create a stylish and durable porch
By MELISSA RAYWORTH
For The Associated Press
Associated Press
USING paint on floors is an easy
way to bring color and pattern.
It’s been a long, hard winter in
much of the country. Towering
snowdrifts, icy roads, freak hailstorms. For many of us, spring
can’t come fast enough, and with it
the chance to enjoy our porches,
patios and sunrooms.
Options abound for making
these indoor/outdoor spaces look
stylish. But can we have all that
gorgeous style while using
durable, easy-to-care-for items
that will stay looking good all season? The experts say yes — if you
choose carefully.
“When it comes to materials,
now more than ever the gap has
been bridged between indoor and
outdoor. There are a ton of pieces
that look fit for your actual living
We Sell Your Furniture
An upscale furniture
consignment store
room, but they’re meant to be outdoors,” says designer and decordemon.com founder Brian Patrick
Flynn. “A lot of people are beginning to find that perfect outdoor
sofa and bring it into their sunroom.”
Here, Flynn and two other experts — Los Angeles-based interior designer Betsy Burnham and
decorator and design blogger Nick
Olsen — offer advice on creating
beautiful sunrooms and porches
that you can enjoy effortlessly.
THE OLDEST OBJECTS
“Something that’s been through
a lot already is going to be able to
put up with even more,” Burnham
says. She suggests using vintage
furniture and accessories that
have already withstood the elements to give porches and sun-
rooms a dose of personality.
Search flea markets for items
made of worn wood and metal. If
they become further scuffed, it
only adds to the beauty.
If you prefer a fresh sheen on
vintage items, metal pieces such as
old wrought-iron furniture can be
sprayed with automotive paint at
an auto-body shop. This creates a
glossy, colorful surface impervious
to the elements.
a good option.
“Thom Felicia has a line you can
get on overstock.com right now
that’s super-affordable,” Flynn
says.
Olsen also visits overstock.com
for outdoor rugs, which he says are
very durable. “The dog can chew it
up and nothing happens. ... But if
worst comes to worst and it’s damaged, you don’t feel guilty, because
it was no major investment.”
THE EASIEST FLOORS
THE STURDIEST ACCESSORIES
Flynn suggests using porch paint
on wood or cement floors to bring
color and pattern without a rug.
Spill some food or drink? It wipes
up easily. And if the painted floor
gets worn as the summer wears
on, no problem. A faded patina
adds to the charm.
Rugs in outdoor fabrics are also
Like outdoor fabrics, plastic dinnerware has come a long way in
recent years. Burnham has found
chic Suzani-print plates that are
“fabulous. You’d never imagine
they were plastic.”
For durable seating, Burnham
says L.L. Bean’s basic rocking
chairs have a classic style and are
built to last.
For planters, “instead of going
crazy with really nice pottery” that
can be expensive and fragile, Flynn
suggests buying an inexpensive
aluminum trash bin (think Oscar
the Grouch), remove the label and
add casters to the bottom. Fill the
entire thing with used two-liter
plastic soda bottles, which weigh
very little.
Then pour in potting soil, packing it tightly at the top.
“Put in a combination of plants
that drape over the side, plants
that grow really tall like grasses,
mossy things that are short and
then flowering things,” Flynn says.
“You’re using nature as art, and
you’re containing the plants with
something used out of context”
that is durable.
For more fragile accessories, it’s
all about location: Olsen says a
large framed mirror brings indoor
glamour to any porch, and should
be safe if it’s hung properly in an
area away from the flow of foot
traffic. Ditto for table lamps.
Powering Homes & Businesses
with professional services & reasonable rates
HEINLE
ELECTRIC
Phone 724-465-5212
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.heinleelectric.com
Commercial • Residential • Bucket Truck Service
New Construction Existing Buildings
Repair-Maintenance Remodeling
PA#38624
PA #045220
THE SOFTEST LIGHTING
CHECK
WITH US BEFORE
YOU BUY ANYTHING NEW!
1225 Scalp Avenue Johnstown, PA 15904
Richland Plaza Phone: 814.254.4464
Hours: Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun Closed
www.wesellyourfurniture.com
-Roofing -Additions
-Kitchens -Basements
-Bathrooms -Decks
-Custom Carpentry
Call for a FREE estimate
on PA’s most energy efficient
replacement windows!
Brent Amon • 814-592-6141
[email protected]
In the evening, you can raise the
style quotient of your porch or
sunroom by using warm, flattering
light.
“Hanging lighting is a very interesting way to dress up your porch,”
Burnham says, “and there are certain kinds of fixtures that you can
use safely outside.” Look for ones
that are “wet-rated,” meaning
they’re safe even in rain.
And for the simplest, easiest
dash of beauty, Flynn says, “you’d
be surprised how far those inexpensive paper lanterns will go.”
Hang one over a bare light bulb
and it instantly “adds a beautiful
soft glow.”
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 9
Make your home attractive to potential buyers
First impressions are important
and the same holds true when you
are showcasing your home for a
potential sale. While larger home
improvement projects are often
necessary to catch the eye of
someone in the market for a new
home, they require a great deal of
time and money. Sometimes simple cleaning and organization is all
that is needed for your home to
become more appealing to potential buyers. Home staging expert
and TLC host Lisa Lynch says giving the perception of clean home
is of utmost importance for people
looking to sell or rent their homes.
“Presenting a sparkling clean
property gives the impression that
it was well maintained,” says
Lynch. “This gives potential buyers
and renters a feeling of security.
Often they will pay a premium for
a place that has been well-maintained and has a clean appearance.”
Lynch offers these tips to impress your guests and convince
potential buyers that you took outstanding care of your home:
SIMPLIFY
Begin by de-cluttering your
home. By removing personal items
that might distract prospective
buyers, you’ll help them focus on
how they think the home might
look when they move in. You don’t
want buyers to focus on possessions that you’ll be taking with you
when you move.
NEUTRALIZE
When showing your home to
others, it’s best to set your personal
Continued on Page 10
✓Mortgage Protection
❑
❑ Business Insurance
❑ Roth IRA
❑ Disability Income*
❑ Educational Funding/
529 Plan**
❑ Estate Conservation
❑ Mutual Funds**
FIRST IMPRESSIONS are what
often get a home sold.
I would like information about…
❑ 401(k) Rollovers
❑ Retirement Income
❑ Long-Term Income*
❑ Personal Financial
Checkup
❑ Tax Deferred Income
❑ Other
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
ZIP CODE
DATE OF BIRTH
TELEPHONE
Clip and mail this today. Call one of our professional
advisors, or call our main office at 724-465-6471.
*Offered through Marketing Agreements. **Securities offered through Ameritas Investment
Corp. Member FINRA/SIPC. AIC and Ameritas Financial Services of WPA are not affiliated.
Steven Tunink
Managing Partner
Inner Circle
Indiana Office
724-465-6471
Frank Kinter, Jr., CLU,
ChFC
Leader’s Court
MDRT
Indiana Office
724-463-5933
Ronald LoPresti, LUTCF
Leaders Court
Monroeville Office
412-374-9461
Joseph Mauro, LUTCF
MDRT
Indiana Office
724-465-1000
Nathanael Arthurs
Indiana Office
724-465-6471
Jim Mentch
President’s Club
UNIFI New Associate Award
Indiana Office
724-465-6471
David Myers
MDRT
Indiana Office
724-465-4398
John Antalis
Indiana Office
724-465-6471
William Simmons, III
MDRT
Indiana Office
724-463-7337
Tricia Momyer
Indiana Office
724-465-1000
Karen Duhala
Indiana Office
724-465-6471
10 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
Make your home
attractive to buyers
Continued from Page 9
tastes aside by decorating in a way
that will appeal to a broad range of
people.
Think about replacing strong
patterns with solid colors on items
like bedding, carpets and drapes. It
might also be a good call to store
that dramatic piece of art somewhere out of sight. You can show it
off again when you move into your
new house.
A PHOTOGENIC HOME
WELCOME TO OUR HOME:
stbank.com/homecenter
Many potential buyers will make
decisions on which homes they
would like to look at by looking at
photos posted online. Do whatever you can to make your home
sparkle in the images you and your
real estate agent select for your
listing. Focus on glass and metal
surfaces that will add shine to your
photos. For other bathroom surfaces, a bath scrubber should be
used to remove easy-to-spot and
unappealing grime and scum from
bathtubs and showers. Thoroughly
cleaning these surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens can make
your home look fresher and newer.
AREAS THAT MUST SPARKLE
Shopping for a vacation home? Building your dream kitchen? It’s all here.
Visit the S&T Bank HOME Center for home buying and borrowing made easy.
Whether you’re buying, building or
UHÀQDQFLQJ67KDVWKHPRUWJDJHSODQWR
KHOS\RXJHWWKHPRVWRXWRI\RXUKRPH
$QVZHUDIHZVLPSOHTXHVWLRQVRQOLQHWR
DSSO\IRUDQ67ORDQULJKWIURP\RXU
FRPSXWHU$QG\RXFDQDOZD\VUHO\RQKHOS
IURPRXUPRUWJDJHSURIHVVLRQDOV
While it’s important to keep the
entire home spotless, there are two
rooms in particular that require
special attention: the kitchen and
the bathroom. In a recent survey,
the Mr. Clean company asked consumers which room they would
By DWIGHT BARNETT
,QIRUPDWLYHYLGHRVDQGKHOSIXOFDOFXODWRUV
67SURYLGHV\RXZLWKDOORIWKHUHVRXUFHV
\RXQHHGWRPDNHWKHULJKWGHFLVLRQIRU
\RXUIDPLO\
%$1.‡VWEDQNFRPKRPHFHQWHU
MEMBER FDIC
SCENT
Whether they know it or not,
people entering your home will
notice more than just appearances. Attractive scents can create
good feelings. Candles, diffusers,
potpourri and cookies all offer
inviting and familiar aromas. Use a
cleaner with a pleasant scent to
keep your home smelling fresh.
DETAILS MATTER
Eliminate any small imperfections that might cause uneasiness
with potential buyers by replacing
broken light bulbs, fixing loose
doorknobs or getting your closet
door moving smoothly on it tracks.
Even something as minor as a little
mess in the microwave could turn
off a prospective renter or buyer,
so make sure every place you can
think of is squeaky clean.
Since first impressions are so important, having your home properly cleaned and staged will help
you make a sale or rental more
quickly and net the price you deserve.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
Keep an eye on radon levels
Scripps Howard News Service
8QORFNWKHHTXLW\LQ\RXUKRPHZLWKDORDQRU
OLQHRIFUHGLWIURP67*HWORZORZUDWHV
DQGGHGXFWLEOHLQWHUHVW
clean first if moving into a new
home. Of the more than 1,000 participants, 41 percent responded
the kitchen and 38 percent said the
bathroom. When selling your
home, it is always important to
make the extra effort in these two
rooms; you’ll never know if it will
be a make or break a deal.
Question: Our daughter’s family
(with a 2-year-old and a 10-dayold) just rented a home in Tacoma,
Wash., that was built in 1920. It
was recently remodeled, except
the basement. The basement is
dry, but the kids play there. Should
they be concerned about radon?
Answer: We should all be concerned about radon gas in our
homes, and all homes should be
checked. Radon is a colorless,
odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas, the result of the
decay of radium in the soils. Radon
is a known health hazard, estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the
United States, responsible for
20,000 deaths each year.
Radon gas is always with us,
whether we are outdoors or inside
our homes or offices. Radon can
accumulate to unhealthy levels in
any home, but now that we have
been encouraged to make our
homes more energy-efficient, we
may be sealing in the radon with
the air we breathe. Sealing and insulating just might provide an environment in which radon gas can
accumulate to higher levels than
what is normally found outside the
homes. For that reason, the EPA
recommends that all homes in the
United States be tested for radon.
In my area of southern Indiana, I
have found that a normal outside
level of 1.0 to 1.5 picocuries is norContinued on Page 13
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 11
Rethink and refinish old hardwood floors
Don’t look down on your hardwood floors just because they’re
old and you want a new look underfoot. Your existing hardwoods
can be the foundation, literally, of
a fresh new decorating scheme
anywhere in your home. In addition to saving time and money,
you’re also sparing Mother Earth
when you don’t choke landfills
with wood that’s still perfectly
good and usable.
“Hardwood floors are so naturally durable and wear-resistant they
can go on looking beautiful for
years,” says Linda Jovanovich of
the American Hardwood Information Center. “But when you’re
ready for a ‘fresh’ look, remember
that there’s a new decorative role
for that ‘old’ hardwood flooring.”
In Redondo Beach, Calif., designer Jackie Balint has customized old wood floors with floral
patterns hand-painted to match
the homeowner’s favorite plates.
In Lexington, Ky., kitchen designer
Laura Dalzell used contrasting
stain colors to create checkerboards and borders on traditional
hardwood floors. New York designer John Buscarello swears by fauxpainted finishes like checkerboards and pretend parquet. And
Arizona designer Karen Wirrig uses
a unique glazing process that wins
a floor prize for special effects.
To revitalize old oak floors in a
client’s California home, Wirrig
worked with a master cabinet contractor who repurposed his custom cabinet-glazing techniques
from furniture to the floors.
“I have to admit I was skeptical,”
Wirrig says. But when the glaze
was applied over the sanded and
stained floor, the grain was enhanced and the “old” floors looked
seamless. “The individual planks
receded visually, giving the floor a
much more continuous look,” she
reports. “It’s a rich and elegantly
rustic look, just what the homeowner had in mind.”
Manhattan designer Buscarello
believes in bypassing the demolition crew in favor of a decorative
painter. For him, it’s all about cherishing the old wood and the patina
it develops over time.
“Designers really covet old
floors,” said Buscarello. “Old wood
is different; it has a beauty that’s
hard to replicate. Unless it’s really
too worn to refinish — and that
rarely happens — there’s no point
in tearing out an old floor.”
Buscarello likes to refresh old
floors instead, sometimes with just
a gentle cleaning process called
“screening” that merely lifts the
dirt and old wax from the surface
of the wood. It doesn’t change the
color of the wood itself, which can
then be re-waxed or coated with
polyurethane to look like new.
When he wants a more dramatic
transformation, Buscarello calls
for painted designs, classic floor
treatments that “will never go out
of fashion,” he says.
This approach applies not only
in casual country-style rooms but
also in sophisticated contemporary settings.
Buscarello remembers the time
his work crew pulled up 20-yearold linoleum in a Manhattan
apartment foyer, revealing splendid hardwood flooring underneath. Buscarello had a decorative
artist paint a crisp black-andwhite checkerboard on the floor,
instantly brightening the entry, delighting the homeowner and leav-
ing enough in the budget for extra
decorating projects.
Even Park Avenue-posh clients
appreciate the classic good looks
(and budget-loving price tag) of
faux-painted floors. Buscarello
made a grand Park Avenue apartment “even grander” with faux
painting on the half-century-old
floors — a pattern that looks like
warm Old World parquet running
diagonally throughout all the elegant upfront rooms. “Everyone has
a budget,” the designer points out.
“You can save thousands by refurbishing existing hardwood.”
Drama is what New York designer Darren Henault has in mind
when he sets out to renew a worn
wood floor.
Over the top and ultra-bold,
Henault loves pattern on wood
floors, a message visitors got
twice-over at the most recent Kips
Bay Decorator Show House in
Manhattan.
Henault floored adjoining sitting
rooms — “His ‘n Hers” — with intricate entwined patterns lifted
from an adjacent carpet and stencil-painted on the maple floors.
“His” was darker and touched with
ebony; “Hers,” the reverse, painted
in milky white and lavender to
match the walls.
“Every surface is an opportunity
to do something dramatic,” the designer believes. “Especially a hardwood floor.”
Design pros across the U.S.
agree. Don’t show your hardwood
floor the door.
Simply refresh, renew and redecorate to make hardwood floors
look new and stylish again.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARAcontent
PAINT works well to bring life back
to old hardwood flooring.
IN STOCK SALE
SAVE 25-65%
TEX
PLUSH
NO WAX
VINYL
Carpet Installed
Reg. Price
SAVE UP TO
2 48 65
sq.
ft.
%
sq. ft.
Moving Across Town or Across The Country
www.puttre.com
119sq.ft.
¢
$ 00
WE CAN HELP!
724-465-5606
$
VINYL &
CARPET
REMNANTS
While Supplies Last!
BLAIRSVILLE FLOOR
Serving
the
area for
54
years.
Free Parking
Behind Store
C OV E R I N G
26 W. Market St., Blairsville •
724-459-9350
Mon 9-7; Tues, Thurs & Fri 9-5; Wed & Sat 9-1
PATRONS’ MUTUAL
FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Providing the public with personal service
and affordable costs for property and
casualty insurance needs.
Fire • Homeowners • Liability • Theft & Vandalism
724 Philadelphia St.,
Downtown Indiana
724-465-2101
647 Phila. Street • 724-465-4922
12 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
Getting a first-nest reality check
By MIMI ANDELMAN
St. Petersburg Times
With mortgage rates so low,
some brave first-time homebuyers
are checking their bank accounts,
ready to go shopping. The perfect
home calls to them. And once the
monthly payments are set — the
principal, interest, taxes and insurance — they’re ready for the closing, the keys and a whole new life.
But when the excitement subsides, they begin to understand
that there’s more to ownership
than the monthly mortgage payment.
“I’m in favor of sustainable
homeownership, buying a home
that you can afford, and not just
the payments, but also the maintenance,” said Jillayne Schlicke, CEO
and founder of the National Asso-
ciation of Mortgage Fiduciaries
(mortgagefiduciaries.com).
First-timers usually don’t budget
for regular maintenance, the routine stuff that’s going to cost them
money in the next six months, next
year or beyond.
“I personally recommend a
buyer to budget at least $200 a
month that they would put aside
in a special bank account to use for
only maintaining a home,” said
Schlicke, 46, who describes herself
as a mortgage educator, teaching
real-estate agents nationwide
about the ins and outs of sales and
homebuyer finances. “You might
want to up your monthly account
deposit to $300” for an older or
bigger home, she said.
Whereas renters call the owner
or rental office for repairs, you as
homeowner have to plan for —
and pay for — those inevitable repairs and replacements. The refrigerator or water heater that has
18 months left. The garage door
that’s going to jam up. The tree that
fell over after a storm and landed
on your pool cage. And, oh, the
plumbing. Maybe not now, but in
six months, or a year, you’ll be asking friends for the number of a
good plumber.
The best heads-up on potential
repair and replacement costs,
large and small, is from a professional home inspection, which
you’ll need before a final contract
is made.
“Most inspectors encourage the
buyer to tag along, to take the time
to educate them about the house,”
said David N. Tamny, 52, president
of the American Society of Home
Inspectors (ashi.org), in Colum-
Experience the Cub Cadet Difference
Cub Cadet 2011 Garden Tractor
• Legendary powerful direct
shaft drive
• Electronic Power Steering
(EPS) on select models
• 20 hp* - 23 hp* professionalgrade V-Twin OHV engines
• Variety of mowing decks from
42” - 54,” sold separately
GT 2000
Cub Cadet 2011 Zero-Turn
Heavy-Duty Rider
• Easy-to-use steering wheel with
four-wheel steering
• Revolutionary Synchro Steer™
technology gives total control on
all terrain
• 46” heavy-duty triple-blade
sloped nose fabricated deck
• 20 hp* Kohler® V-Twin OHV
Dual EZT
Z-Force® S 46
2000 Series Starting At Only
3,599
$
Cub Cadet 2011 Utility Vehicle
• On-demand 4x4 drive system
• Fully independent suspension
with 8” of wheel travel
• Top-rated, 1400 lb. towing and
payload capacity
• 624cc* Kohler® Command®
V-Twin engine
Volunteer™
4x4 - Green
Sale Price Only
8,499
$
Sale Price Only
3,599
bus, Ohio. Here’s where you begin
to make your homeowner’s budget. Foremost, experienced inspectors zero in on the big-ticket items:
the electrical system, the plumbing, air-conditioning and the roof.
They also note many other areas
where problems may surface.
Tamny describes those as latent
problems, “something that may be
unsafe that hasn’t turned into an
issue yet, but it certainly may.”
Electrical issues, for example, are
a safety concern. If a house was
built more than 30 years ago,
Tamny said, “especially with
homeowner modifications, or an
ungrounded system,” the buyer
needs to take note.
The first-time buyer may expect
that it’s the seller’s responsibility to
make repairs large and small. “A
seller isn’t going to make an old
house new,” Tamny said.
That’s never more true than in
the current foreclosure market.
“Homes that have been vacant for
a long time, with utilities not restored,” Tamny said, are a new
problem. “There’s no disclosure,
no upkeep, as the house has been
shut down. A potential buyer may
think, ‘Wow, here’s a house that
sold for $300,000 that I’m now getting for $200,000,’ but the house
needs major repairs.”
First love is a wonderful thing.
But when the right house catches
your eye, stop and take a deep
breath.
As Schlicke said of the first-timer,
“In their minds, they’re already
moving their furniture in.”
Make sure you’ve got a realistic
financial cushion to fall back on.
Continued on Page 13
The perfect loan for
that perfect home.
□
Residential
Home
Mortgages
□
Home
Equity
Loans
□
Home
Equity
Lines of Credit
$
Cub Cadet 2011 Sub-Compact
Tractor
•
•
•
•
Shift-On-The-Go®
Curved boom attachments
24 hp* diesel engine
5 year limited warranty
Everything Shown Including A
FREE
Front Loader!
SC 2450
Cash Price Only
17,999
$
And many other loans for
your everyday needs!
Service. Knowledge. Selection. Financing. Delivery.
DEBNAR’S Pools & Spas, Lawn & Garden
1429 Rt. 22 Hwy West
Blairsville
(724) 459-7460
2030 Shelley Drive
Indiana
(724) 465-9965
* As rated by engine manufacturer. Taxes, freight, set-up and handling charges may be additional and may vary. Models subject to limited availability.
Elderton State Bank
143 North Main Street
ELDERTON
www.eldertonbank.com
Member
FDIC
724-354-2111
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 13
Savvy ways to make smartest home upgrades
If you’re looking to sell your
home or upgrade your current
space, you need to know which
home improvement projects will
pay off in the long run and which
ones will end up costing you.
The best home improvements
will increase your resale value,
positively affect utility bills, or reduce the cost of maintenance.
■ Seek out safety: How sturdy
are your stairs? Are your walkways free from tripping hazards,
such as cracked concrete or uneven paving? How secure are
your doors and windows? Are
your entrances and pathways
well lit? Upgrading these areas
will make your home safer for
your family and help alleviate
concerns for any potential buyFamily Features
ers.
RE-SIDING is one of the best investments.
■ Get energy efficient: Making
energy-efficient additions and repairs helps reduce the home’s operational costs. Improvements,
such as added insulation and upgraded HVAC systems, could reduce cooling costs by up to 30
percent, according to the U.S.
Department of Energy. Home appliances account for about 20
percent of your utility bills, so efficient choices can cut your costs
while helping the environment.
When planning an improvement project, consider the longterm benefits of high-quality materials. Using low-grade products
to save money now can actually
cause more headaches — and
potentially cost you more money
— later. Cheaper materials usually don’t hold up as well over time
and often require more maintenance.
When upgrading building materials, look for options that require little maintenance and
have a high perceived value.
Fiber cement siding is a great example of this concept because it
can recoup as much as 84 percent of the cost upon resale. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report, re-siding with fiber cement
is one of the best home improvement investments, providing
more of a return on investment
than kitchen and bathroom remodels.
Additional benefits, like termite
and fire resistance, add to the
savings in the overall cost of
maintenance. For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com.
What home improvements are
not worth the money?
■ Room additions can be costly
and risky, especially if the space
added is customized, such as a
sauna or wine cellar, which may
not appeal to future buyers.
■ Marble countertops may
look nice in the beginning, but
the porous stone needs constant
maintenance. Marble can be
damaged by water, burned by hot
pans and eroded by cleaning
products. Unless extreme care is
used, it is possible that marble
countertops will need to be replaced at the time of sale.
■ High-tech systems for the Internet or sound are a nice luxury,
but because technology is continuously improving, updates
will become outdated rather
quickly.
— courtesy of Family Features
and James Hardie
24 Years of Quality Personal Service
Remember to keep an eye on radon levels
Continued from Page 10
mal (1/10,000th of a curie of radiation). With our soil conditions,
many of the homes tested in this
area are above 4.0 picocuries. The
EPA recommends that any home
found to have a reading of 4.0 picocuries or higher be mitigated to
reduce the dangers of radon exposure.
Depending on the design of the
home, proper mitigation techniques can range in cost from
$1,000 to more than $2,000. By
checking the EPA’s national radon
map at www.epa.gov/radon/zone
map.html, I found that your
daughter’s home is in an area
First nest
Continued from Page 12
But wait, there’s more,
Renters are used to paying for
rent and phone, electric, Internet
service and cable. But consider
these new-to-you costs, some
weekly, some monthly. If you’re the
handy sort, some tasks will cost
you only time. Others can’t be
avoided:
Utilities: water, sewer and trash
collection.
Homeowners association dues
(if applicable).
Landscape maintenance.
Professional tree trimming.
Pool cleaning.
Pest control, indoors and out.
Scripps Howard News Service
where most indoor readings are
less than 2.0 picocuries per
deciliter of air. Mike Brennan at
the Washington State Health Department explained that the glacial soil conditions in your area
generally do not lead to elevated
levels of radon contamination;
however, they do find homes with
radon levels above 4.0 picocuries,
and he suggested having the home
tested either professionally or by
using a DIY radon test kit.
Radon test kits can be procured
online, or you can contact your
state’s health department for ordering information. Radon test kits
are also available at home stores
such as Home Depot and Lowe’s.
The total cost for the kit and the associated lab fees should be less
than $50. Professional testing will
cost more, but the results should
be more accurate.
You should not attempt to ventilate the air from inside the home
yourself, as this can lead to elevated levels of radon gas inside the
home. Radon gas comes from the
soils under the home, so as air is
ventilated from the home, fresh air
enters from all points, including
the basement foundation. Test
first, then mitigate if the readings
are high.
Scripps Howard News Service
Storewide Special
Pricing on
❀LIVING
ROOMS &
RECLINERS
CARPETING & FLOORING
❀
•Carpet •Laminate •Hardwood •Vinyl •Ceramic
LAMPS & OCCASIONAL TABLES
❀
Operated
Family Owned &
❀ ALL BEDDINGf
50% of
SIXTH STREET, CLYMER
724-254-2400
Mon.-Thurs.
9am-5pm
Fri. 9am-8pm
Sat. 9am-1pm
Joy Realty
A FULL SERVICE OFFICE
Residential and Commercial Property
• Listing & Sales
• Appraising & Relocation
• Property Management
Thinking of downsizing your present home or buying your first home,
WE CAN HELP YOU!
Joyce M. Overdorff
Broker, Realtor, Appraiser
724-349-6900
[email protected]
724-349-6900
UNIVERSITY SQUARE, STE. 104, 1163 GRANT STREET, INDIANA, PA 15701
Log on to our website for our
property listings: www.joyrealty.com
33 Years Of Paving A More Beautiful Indiana County
EXCAVATING & BLACKTOPPING
• Asphalt Driveways • Parking Lots
• Bonded Road Repairs
FREE ESTIMATES
724-354-3232
• Commercial • Residential
• Industrial
Proud Member of the
Indiana-Armstrong Builders
PA006111
SHARP PAVING
RT. 422, SHELOCTA
14 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
Packing, transporting tips for DIY movers
The economy is moving again
— and so are Americans. About
38 million people moved to new
locations, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. Warm weather
locales seem to be top-of-mind
these days.
If you’re planning a move to
any state this year, Penske, who
has been renting out moving
trucks to do-it-yourselfers for
more than 40 years, offers some
advice:
■ For long-distance moves, a
moving truck is a must. But
even if you’re just moving across
town, renting a moving truck
makes sense. Making multiple
trips can be exhausting — not to
mention the gas you’ll use. ReAssociated Press serve your truck at least two
weeks in advance of moving
LOAD HEAVY items into the truck first.
day. A 12- or 16-foot truck
works for moving a few large
items or the contents of a small
condo or apartment.
■ Pack in increments. Start
early to avoid the stress of lastminute rushing. It’s OK to leave
a box open in case you need
something you’ve packed inside
it; it’s much easier to tape a box
shut on moving day than it is to
pack at the last moment.
■ Buy sturdy boxes in a variety of sizes, along with foam
and bubble wrap to protect
fragile items. You’ll also need a
good supply of packing tape
and markers for sealing boxes.
■ Make sure you have moving
blankets and hand trucks on
moving day to make the process
easier.
■ Purge before packing. It’s
much easier to throw away, donate, sell or give away items that
you don’t need than it is to pack
them and move them. As a rule
of thumb, if you haven’t used
something in the past 12
months — or it’s still packed in a
box from the last time you
moved — you can probably get
rid of it.
■ Label boxes as you pack.
First, list the room that the contents belong in, and, if necessary, a few details such as
“glass,” “fragile” or “dishes.” As
you load the truck, try to keep
boxes from each room grouped
together.
■ Load the heaviest items
onto the truck first to create a
sturdy base, then start stacking
on top.
■ Moving trucks are taller,
wider and heavier than the passenger vehicles you are used to
driving. They require more distance to stop. Be extra careful
driving your moving truck, especially after it’s loaded. Be
aware of low-hanging tree
branches and building overhangs, and use caution when
cornering. Park only in well-lit
areas and keep the rear door
padlocked and the passenger
compartment doors locked.
■ Finally, create a travel bag
for moving day and keep important paperwork, credit cards,
identification, a change of
clothes, beverages and snacks
close at hand.
— Courtesy of ARAcontent
The Difference Between ...
A House
&
A Home
Rt. 119, 6 Miles North
of Indiana
email:
[email protected]
Phone: 724-465-5684 • Fax: 724-465-9893
Building Your
Dream Home?
Ottelia Estates, located in White
Township, Indiana School District,
is a residential community with
restrictive covenants on which to
build your home. Close to shopping.
golfing, the Hoodlebug Trail & more!
OTTELIA
ESTATES
Lots starting at $52,000
CALL TODAY...
WE CAN BUILD
YOUR DREAMS
TOGETHER.
INDIAN SPRINGS ROAD
INDIANA,PA 15701 • 724-388-1335
ALUMINUM
• Glass Enclosure
• Screen Rooms
• Florida Rooms
• Door Hoods
• Patio Covers
• Awnings
Call Us Today
For A FREE
Estimate!
Custom
Made!
CANVAS
• Backlite
• Retractable
• Awnings
• Patio Covers
• Many Colors
Available
PA007383
Commercial & Residential
“Serving Your Area For 60 Years”
814-236-7450 or 1-800-611-3908
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 15
Used materials a hit among home improvers
By MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON
For The Associated Press
It took Brian Koehl about a year
to buy the materials to build a
backyard greenhouse.
Koehl, a master gardener from
Waller, Texas, bought secondhand
windows and doors to construct
the building that houses his roses
and vegetables. Using old materials saved him money, and added
interest to the structure.
“I really liked the look of using
old windows,” he said. “It met all of
my needs.”
Many homeowners these days
are considering using secondhand
items for home-improvement
projects.
“The interest keeps growing,”
said Justin Green, program direc-
tor for Build It Green NYC, in New
York City. “The No. 1 driver is you
can save a lot of money. The No. 2
is people are interested in being
green.”
Used building supplies can cost
50 percent to 90 percent less than
new, said Shane Endicott, executive director of the Rebuilding
Center in Portland, Ore.
“It’s a huge motivator for people
to reuse,” he said.
Lots of large cities, including
Seattle, Los Angeles and Austin,
Texas, now have stores that sell
used building materials, such as
lumber, kitchen cabinets, lighting
fixtures and sinks. Many of the
stores are operated by Habitat for
Humanity, which sells donated
goods to raise money to build
houses (using new materials) for
low-income families.
Some of the resale shops also operate deconstruction businesses
that tear down old buildings to salvage as much material as possible.
“Our goal is to be competitive
with the wrecking ball,” said Tom
Longstreth, executive director of
ReSOURCE, a nonprofit that offers
deconstruction services and sells
used building materials in Burlington, Vt. “It really is a win-win.
There’s a huge volume we are able
to keep out of landfills.”
Karen and Bradford “Skip” Hardy
routinely find quality materials
they could not normally afford at
ReSOURCE. Past purchases have
included bathroom faucets and
windows.
“We seem to get lucky. We get
there at the right time,” Bradford
Over 200 Years of Combined Experience Working For You!
Bending Over Backwards For YOU!
Hardy said. “On a bad year, we
probably spend 2,000 bucks there.
In a good year, we spend eight to
$10,000.”
The store also allows the couple
to indulge their creative sides. He
recently found large wooden pipes
from an old organ, and intends to
use them for giant garden wind
chimes. She has turned old tile
pieces into coasters.
Pam Kueber of Retrorenova
tion.com hears from lots of secondhand-goods shoppers who
have found creative uses for old
building materials and household
products.
“This is something you do out of
joy and creativity as much as utility
and frugality,” said Kueber, who
lives in a 1951 Colonial-ranch
house in Lenox, Mass.
The growth in the number of
stores around the country has
made it possible for more people
to consider used materials, she
said. In the past, she added, it was
mostly people restoring old homes
and looking for items from a specific era who were drawn to used
items.
Bart Niswonger has shopped at
the ReStore Home Improvement
Center in Springfield, Mass., for
period pieces and bargains. “We’ve
bought a whole bunch of stuff
from them,” said Niswonger, of
Worthington, Mass.
He has purchased light fixtures,
sinks and doors, including some
items for a 1920s house he restored. A furniture maker, he also
used items from the store while
creating his workshop.
Always Affordable Water
Treatment Products
For over 60 years Culligan is #1 in
Service, Value, Warranty & Price!
Don’t spend $3,000+ on a non electric
system before getting the real facts
(and don’t settle for generic replacements)
Steve White
GRI, CRS, CREA
Broker/Appraiser
Realtor
Marsha Delaney
Associate Broker/
Realtor
Mary Jane Bracken
Realtor
Karen Conrad
GRI, Realtor
Patty Gahagan
Realtor/Appraiser
ZERO
INTEREST
FO
R 12
MONTHS
Bonnie Houck
Realtor
Rich Gallo
Realtor
Rusty, hard or smelly water?
RENT OR OWN
Jimmy James
Realtor
Janice Kennedy
Realtor
Lynn M. Knapko
Realtor
Jaime Kunselman
Realtor
Kathy Rearick
Realtor
Marion Sadler
Realtor
Wanda Slade
Realtor
• State-of-the-art technology regenerates
only when needed
• Uses 2/3 less salt & water
• Lifetime tank and resin warranty
• No expensive pre-filters required
• Soft water 24/7
$
We Take Trade Ins
Save up to
9.95
Jessica Stonebraker
Realtor
DeeDee Snyder
Sales Associate
Mike Vidovich
Sales Associate
Gloria Blankenship
Property
Management
Kari DeStafano
Property
Management
Amy Provias
Property
Management
Norma White Realty
200 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, INDIANA
724-349-1501 • www.nw-realty.net • [email protected]
“Everyone Should Live In A White House”
PA #4182
/mo.*
Try before you buy. Rent a Culligan
water treatment system for
3 months with an option to buy.
Expires 5/14/11 • Call For Details
®
$
200
On a Culligan® Total Home Water
Treatment system
Expires 5/14/11 • Call For Details
FREE WATER TESTING!
724.465.5611
16 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
HOUSE
Need a •’Ĵ•e space?
Scripps Howard News Service
THE GREENES were attracted to the home because of the site and
stonework pillars.
LIMITED TIME ONLY
3.89
%
APR
SPECIAL FIXED RATE
’‘ȱŠȱę¡ŽȬ›ŠŽȱ•˜Š—ǰȱ¢˜žȱŒŠ—ȱŠȱ˜—ȱŠœȱ–žŒ‘ȱŠœȱ
¢˜žȱ—ŽŽǯȱ—ȱ‘Ž›ŽȂœȱŠȱ
˜–Žȱšž’¢ȱ’—Žȱ˜ȱ›Ž’ȱ
‘Šȱ¢˜žȱŒŠ—ȱ‹ž’•ȱŠ›˜ž—ǰȱ˜˜ǯȱŽȂœȱŠ•”ȱ˜Š¢ǯȱȱ
fcbanking.com
800.711.BANK (2265)
Rejuvenating an
old farmhouse
By LYNN UNDERWOOD
Minneapolis Star Tribune
THE HOUSE
An early-1900s farmhouse on
nearly 2 acres in Minnetonka,
Minn.
THE CHALLENGE
Owners Karla and Jerry Greene,
who bought the property in 1988,
were attracted to the farmhouse
because of its site, charming
stonework pillars and the old
stone well. But inside, the house
was a hodgepodge of substandard
remodeling projects. “It felt like it
was pieced together when we
bought it,” Karla said.
The Greenes undertook an initial
remodeling, building a Frenchchateau-style master suite on the
back of the house and adding a
large screened porch. But the
front, with its low ceilings and
small, chopped-up rooms, still felt
dark and claustrophobic. The
kitchen and den were dreary and
dated and the family rarely sat in
the drafty, cold living room. “The
front foyer was so cold that wet
gloves would freeze,” said Karla.
GO ALL THE WAY
FCB Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The Greenes hired Tim Oskey of
Woodstone Renovation in St. Louis
Park, Minn., to determine how
they could make the front of the
house more appealing and roomy
enough to entertain their large ex-
tended family. After assessing the
home, Oskey told them it wouldn’t
be cost-effective or practical to
piece things together. “So we decided to just tear it off and start all
over,” Karla said.
THE SOLUTION
On the main floor, Oskey, with
the help of Alexander Design
Group in Wayzata, Minn., demolished the front section of the home
and rebuilt it, adding 12 feet to the
footprint in the front and 6 feet on
the side.
That additional space allowed
him to create a great room, an eating area off the kitchen and a front
entryway.
To give the main floor a more cohesive look, he also remodeled the
existing den, dining room and
kitchen.
On the second floor, Oskey tore
off a bedroom to raise the ceiling
on the main floor. Then, he built a
new bedroom in what had been
the attic and updated the existing
second-floor rooms. “We kept the
charm of the original farmhouse,”
said Oskey. “We just moved it out
and up.”
STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES
Before he built the new section,
Oskey had to install proper footings and steel beams. “After 100
years of one mistake built on another, we needed to stabilize the
structure,” he said.
Continued on Page 17
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 17
Rejuvenating an old farmhouse
“YOU GET used to workers
and commotion every day.
But when it was done, it felt
good to be home alone.”
Tips
■ Do your homework
regarding materials, fixtures
and finishes and bring your
ideas to the design meetings.
■ “Start with a big wish list
and then tweak it to what’s
really important,” Karla said.
■ If you can, take a vacation
during the construction to get
a break from the mess.
■ Choose a contractor you
feel comfortable working with.
“He’ll be your new best friend
for six months,” Karla said.
Karla Greene,
homeowner
Continued from Page 16
FARMHOUSE FLAVOR
To give the new addition an oldhouse aesthetic, Oskey incorporated rich wood trim, coffered ceilings and a massive river-rock fireplace in the new great room. In a
nod to the home’s century-old
roots, the Greenes display one of
the home’s original wood doors by
the front entry.
BIGGEST SPLURGE
Reclaimed barn-wood beams,
which were nailed across the ceiling of the new eating area and the
remodeled kitchen, “give it that
French-farmhouse feel,” Karla
said.
NEW OLD WORLD KITCHEN
Karla designed the Europeanstyle kitchen with textural limestone atop a large center island,
which was built to look like an old
piece of furniture.
“It was one of the hardest decisions because we loved the look of
limestone but were warned about
the maintenance,” she said.
THE GREENES opted for a gas fireplace instead of a traditional wood-burning option.
CONVENIENCE OVER
CRACKLING LOGS
The Greenes are glad they put in
gas, rather than wood-burning,
fireplaces, in the den and great
room. “We’re not that strict on the
whole farmhouse thing,” Karla
said.
LIFE DURING REMODELING
The family lived in the basement
with a makeshift kitchen for six
months.
“You get used to workers and
commotion every day,” said Karla.
“But when it was done, it felt good
to be home alone.”
BEST PART
“Every room is comfortable and
warm, and I can go barefoot in the
winter,” Karla said.
Scripps Howard News Service
Lane and
England Dealer
INDIANA’S ORIGINAL SUPPLY YARD
DELIVERING QUALITY & SERVICE FOR OVER 33 YEARS
DON’T Send Your Dollars Out Of Town! We have
Close to Home Prices that are Close to Budget!
•
•
•
•
Living Room
Dining Room
Bedroom
Entertainment &
Computer Centers
• Lamps
• Occasional Tables
Keep Your Dollars HERE!
• BARK MULCHES (INCLUDING RED HEMLOCK)
• MUSHROOM MANURE • TOP SOIL
• SEED• LIME • FERTILIZER
• SAND & GRAVEL • DECORATIVE STONE
PRICE
TALKS!
LITTLE ITALY
The remodeled den features new
windows and an energy-efficient
gas fireplace dressed up with an
Italian-look stone surround.
Scripps Howard
News Service
Scripps Howard News Service
PA064336
BRUNNER
Landscaping & Supply
OPEN: Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. ‘til ?
1 Mi. N. of the YMCA on Ben Franklin Rd. N
724-463-7980
We Deliver
Yes you can!
BUY YOUR
DREAM HOME NOW!
•Cheaper than Renting
•Call for Information on
Mortgage Rates!
Fine Furniture
Friendly
Salespeople
Faithful Service
Delivery Available*
*See Store For Details
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
Visit one of our offices or check online at
www.northwood.com or call
Indiana Office: 724-349-8040
Blairsville Office: 724-459-6770
4115 Crawford Avenue, Rt 219 • Northern Cambria
CREDIT … FREE Interest For One Year!
814-948-6251 Store Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9-5, Friday Evenings til 7
18 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011
70-year-old man builds his own home
By MARK S. KRZOS
The News-Press
VICTOR
CAMP is
nearly
finished
building his
home, which
he has been
working on
for the past
three years.
Associated Press
SPRING WINDOW
& DOOR SPECIAL!
OUR ALREADY
LOW FACTORY
DIRECT PRICES!
Special applies to all windows
and patio doors with Low-E glass.
• DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOWS
• SLIDING WINDOWS
• CASEMENT WINDOWS
• PICTURE WINDOWS
• GARDEN WINDOWS
• AWNING WINDOWS
• PATIO DOORS
• BOW & BAY WINDOWS
H U R RY !
OFFER ENDS SOON!
Gorell Windows &
Doors—2004 to 2010
ENERGY STAR® Partner
of the Year. 2006 to 2010
Sustained Excellence
Award winner.
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM
1380 Wayne Avenue
Indiana, PA 15701
724-465-1843 or
877-946-7355
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7am-6pm
Sat. 9am-3pm
www.gorelloutlet.com
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Victor
Camp has refused to take his retirement in Southwest Florida
lying down.
The 70-year-old Bonita Springs
resident is nearing the completion
of a three-year project and a lifelong dream.
He’s building his own house.
Sure, he’s had help here and
there with duties that are difficult
or impossible for just one person
— laying the foundation and putting up the roof trusses and tie
beams, for example — but almost
everything else is of his own doing,
a true labor of love.
That includes the hauling, lifting,
nailing, finishing as well as the
plumbing and electrical work.
“I decided to build my own
home because I could,” said
Camp, who graduated from a trade
school in Chicago and spent some
of his 20s building high rises, including the John Hancock Center,
before embarking on a career in
zoology in St. Paul, Minn.
“I liked building things, but not
as a profession,” he said.
He bought a lot in Bonita Shores
in 2004.
He then began to design and
construct a three-bedroom/
three-bathroom home with Spanish-style architecture, 13 arches
over doorways, high ceilings, custom-made cabinetry, extra-wide
hallways and gas-powered appliances including a stove and hot
water heater.
“We just loved this area and
neighborhood,” he said. “My wife,
Carolyn, and I used to vacation
with the kids on Fort Myers Beach
and while we really liked it there, I
didn’t want to live in a stilt house,
and it’s just too busy there during
season.”
The quiet neighborhood west of
U.S. 41 and in the section of Bonita
in Collier County seemed like the
perfect place.
So after budgeting $275,000 for
the 2,400-square-foot construction, securing all the required permits, paying $34,000 in impact fees
and hiring and later firing an architect who refused to meet
Camp’s design demands, Camp
broke ground in early 2008.
Getting to the point of breaking
ground, however, proved to be tedious.
“There was a lot of paperwork for
the permitting,” Camp said.
“I did it all myself and it took almost a month. If I were to do it all
over again, it would take me about
half that time. If you know exactly
what you need and where to go
and what line to get into, it’s a lot
easier.”
The construction permit covers
most of it — plumbing, electrical,
concrete blocks, roof and trusses,
he said.
“I carry that as the builder,” he
said.
“I found out later I needed separate permits for the propane and
gas lines and the outdoor sprinkler
system.”
When neighbors found out
about Camp’s building plan, they
thought he was crazy, he said.
Neighbor and retired building
contractor Ty Thelin, 81, said
Camp’s accomplishment is reContinued on Page 19
Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011 — 19
70-year-old man builds his own home
Continued from Page 18
markable.
“It takes a long time for someone
to do that,” he said. “I wouldn’t
want to do it. I give him an awful
lot of credit.”
Everything in the home is designed for Camp and his wife.
Terra cotta surrounds outdoor
windows and French doors lead
directly into one of the guest bedrooms.
“If we have guests, they can go
right into their room without having to come in to the main house,”
he said.
The kitchen, which was designed
by Camp’s daughter, Lindsey
Schultz — an interior architectural
designer — is the centerpiece of
the home.
Granite countertops and top-ofthe-line appliances complement
the Amish cabinetry.
Each shelf was designed specifically for different uses, Camp
said.
“I love it. My daughter won the
2007 National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen of the Year,” he
said.
Friend Chris Shippen said Camp
and her late husband often talked
about building their own boat
back in high school.
“I think in the back of his mind,
he always wanted to build something,” she said.
“I just don’t think that he ever
thought it (would) take this long to
do it.”
Camp has worked eight hours a
day, Monday through Friday, since
February 2008.
“I lost a lot of weight working
through the summers,” he said.
trusted.
respected.
“But you wouldn’t know it if you
had just met him. He is built solid,
like a linebacker, and his strong,
meaty hands suggest that, even
though he may have spent most of
his life working with animals, a
hammer and nails were never far
away.
He was busy this past week installing his cabinets. It’s usually
one step at a time — making sure
there’s a line drawn on the wall and
then using a laser to ensure each
cabinet is installed evenly.
“I celebrated a little bit yesterday
because I laid all the sod just before it started raining,” he said last
week. “But I never say, ‘I’ve got to
get this done today.’ It’s not a matter of getting it done. It’s a matter
of getting it right. I think that’s why
this whole thing has taken so
long.”
s3ERVING7ESTERN0!SINCE
s,OCALLONGDISTANCEINTERNATIONALMOVES
s$ETAILEDFREEESTIMATESNOOBLIGATION
McNaughton Moving & Storage
!N)NTERSTATE!GENTFOR!LLIED6AN,INES
724-463-3571
140 Old Route 119 Hwy. South, Indiana, PA
Ê!LLIED6AN,INES)NC53$/4.O
0!05#!
WWWMCNAUGHTONALLIEDCOM
Hugill
Sanitation,
Inc.
U CALL, WE HAUL!!
779 Front Street, Mahaffey, PA
Family Owned and Operated For Over 43 Years!
RESIDENTIAL - INDUSTRIAL - COMMERCIAL DEMOLITIONS - CONSTRUCTION
CALL FOR PRICING
814-277-6050 OR TOLL FREE 877-363-6050
Now servicing commercial accounts in Indiana Borough and surrounding area.
Residential service available outside of Indiana Borough
1-8 yard
rear-load
containers
available
Providing
ROLL-OFF
SERVICE
10-20-30 Yd.
Roll-Offs
Available
Associated Press
THE KITCHEN was designed by Camp’s daughter, an interior architectural
designer.
20 — Indiana Gazette “Your Home” Supplement, Thursday, April 21, 2011