Sumner Real Estate April.indd

APRIL
real estate
2014
SHOWCASE
OF SUMNER COUNT Y
quick fixes
for big improvements around your home
inside
make sure your new
home is ready for
tornado season
relocate your stress...
hire a professional
interior designer
inside
2
Real Estate Showcase of Sumner County
what happened in the housing market last month...
and why
By MELISSA
LUMANPHILLIPS
Last month’s economic reports showed a mixed bag
of news. In the housing market, Existing Home Sales in
February fell from January and came in 7.1 percent below
last February. The National Association of REALTORS®
cited the unusually harsh winter weather, tightening of
credit and higher home prices as the cause behind the
stagnant sales data.
The harsh weather was also blamed for the weak
Housing Starts reading for February, which declined for
the third straight month. In addition, the National
Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index
came in at 47 for March. Readings below 50 indicate that
more builders view conditions as poor, rather than good.
On a positive note, Building Permits, which are a sign
of future construction, surged by 7.5 percent. It will be
important to see if readings improve once the weather
becomes milder around the nation.
In other positive news, research firm CoreLogic reported that home prices in January rose compared to last
January and marked the twenty-third consecutive month
of year-over-year price gains.
After falling for two months, Retail Sales rose above
expectations in February, as consumers purchased a
variety of goods despite the harsh winter weather. This is
important because Retail Sales make up about one-third
of consumer spending, which is the main driver behind
economic growth. If consumer spending can continue to
expand, economic growth could go beyond the recent 2
percent levels we have seen the past few years. This will be
good news for our economy.
Finally, the Consumer Confidence Index rose in
March to come in well above expectations and at the
highest level since January 2008. Americans surveyed
were more positive on future job prospects.
After all the reports, the bottom line is that now
remains a great time to consider a home purchase or
refinance, as home loan rates remain attractive compared
to historical levels. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you.
What do political tensions have to do with Bonds and
home loan rates?
We live in a global economy. That means bonds and
home loan rates aren’t only impacted by financial news
on the home front, but also by news from across the
pond.
What’s happening? Last month, tensions in Ukraine
heated up after the U.S. intensified sanctions against
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle in an ef-
fort to pressure his government to back off annexing the
country. The U.S. sanctions ban certain individuals from
entering the U.S., freeze any personal assets they may
have in the U.S., and bar them from doing business with
any U.S. company or financial institution.
Why does it matter? Negative news and uncertainty
often benefit Bonds – and, therefore, home loan rates.
Here’s why: Whenever we have positive economic
news, investors tend to put more money into Stocks.
That’s because Stocks are more risky, but they generally
offer higher returns. To do this, however, investors must
remove some of their money from less-risky Bonds. This
includes Mortgage Bonds, the type of Bonds on which
home loan rates are based. This decreased demand in
Bonds causes Bond prices to worsen, which causes home
loan rates to rise.
Inversely, when the economy is sluggish or when
there’s uncertainty in the world, money managers tend
to remove money from higher-risk Stocks and put it into
less-risky Bonds. When that happens, the demand for
Bonds increase – which means Bond pricing and home
loan rates improve.
What does this mean? If tensions escalate, we
could see Bonds push higher, meaning home loan rates
improve. Exactly how Bonds react may be tempered by
other economic news stories.
I will continue to watch global developments to see
how they impact Bonds and home loan rates.
Melissa Luman-Phillips is a senior mortgage loan originator at Reliant Bank Mortgage Services and can be reached
at 711 East Main St, Ste. 105, Hendersonville, TN 37075.
Direct: 615-590-6407; Fax: 615-537-3302; Cell: 615476-6099. Reliant Bank NMLS# 430177; Personal NMLS#
171023. www.ReliantBankMortgage.com
“The WBT Guarantee”
9
Loan Decisions in 3 Days
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No Surprises
Member FDIC
Conventional • FHA • VA • THDA
Construction • Rural Development
March 2014
3
Make sure your new
Hendersonville
home is ready
FOR TORNADO SEASON
By STEVE ERNST
Now that spring is well under way in
Middle Tennessee, we’re starting to see
warmer weather, blooming flowers, and
the allergies that come along with them.
Those aren’t the only hallmarks of spring in
the South, though – homeowners are also
starting to brace themselves, hoping there
won’t be a wave of tornadoes and severe
storms that could cause major damage to
their homes, lead to big insurance claims, or
injure their loved ones. We’ve had our fair
share of storms in recent years, including
deadly tornadoes and historic flooding in
the Nashville area.
When you’re picking a place for your
family to live, you’re no doubt concerned
not only about having a comfortable place
to enjoy now and years into the future – but
also having a home that will keep everyone
safe and secure in the event of such dangerous storms.
Peak tornado season in the South is
generally from March through May, so we
are right in the heart of it now, and as we all
know from years past, severe weather could
wreak havoc at any time. But if you take
some steps now – whether you already live
in your new home or are in the process of
building – you can be sure that your home is
as safe as it can be in the event of a tornado,
flooding, or other severe weather.
1. Consider a generator: You can get a
small portable generator, fairly inexpensively, that can be used to keep some basic
necessities running during severe weather.
However, if you’re willing to spend a few
thousand dollars on your generator, you
can install an automatic standby generator
that will kick on when the power goes out. It
must be connected by a licensed electrician,
but will prevent food from spoiling, keep a
sump pump from flooding your home, and
keep air circulating to avoid mold growth.
Installing such a generator may also save you
money on your homeowners’ insurance.
2. If you are building or buying, make
sure your home is constructed with the
proper fasteners that meet the current
building codes. If you are in the process of
remodeling, take the opportunity to have
areas reinforced with proper fasteners to
strengthen your home. Although you may
not need to comply with the current code
requirements on the rest of your house, this
would be a good time to do so.
3. Select quality windows: some newer
glass is even impact-resistant, making it
much less likely to shatter in a severe storm.
Go for the strongest windows you can find
when building a new custom home, or consider updating your existing windows.
4. Plan trees very carefully: On the one
hand, tall trees around your property create
a natural windbreak if high winds come up
and threaten your home. On the other hand,
they can create another hazard if they’re not
properly maintained. Consider removing
trees that are close enough to fall on your
house in the event of strong winds. Be sure
to trim trees and remove broken branches
when the weather is calm, and clean your
gutters so that they’re not weighed down by
leaves if they have to handle a lot of rain.
5. Choose the right insurance: Most
homeowners’ insurance doesn’t automatically cover flooding or sewage backup, but
you can add these to your policy. Plan for
both when you apply for insurance for your
new home. Flood insurance takes some time
to kick in, so planning ahead could save
you a headache in the event of a flood right
after you move in. Be sure you also create
an emergency fund to pay for anything your
insurance doesn’t cover, or to help pay your
deductible. And don’t forget to keep an
updated inventory with photos of everything in your house in case you need to file
a claim. You can keep it in an email folder
or a cloud-based server for easy access from
anywhere, so you don’t have to worry about
filing paperwork or keeping a computer safe.
6. Consider a storm shelter: Many families in Tennessee are now opting to install
a storm shelter in their home, rather than
relying on an interior room or closet for
protection. You can have an underground
shelter installed in your backyard, or add a
fortified closet, known as an “in-residence
shelter,” to the interior of the home.
There are extra precautions you can take
inside the home as well. Put together an
emergency kit with a battery-operated radio,
flashlight, and extra batteries. Prepare for
storms with extra groceries, especially nonperishables, and bottled water. Look into
purchasing a NOAA Weather Alert Radio
or signing up for alert services such as The
Weather Channel’s at weather.com/notify.
Learn how to turn off the electricity, gas and
water to your house and do so before leaving
the house in a storm. Remove loose items
like gardening tools in your yard, and don’t
store flammable or hazardous materials
under the house.
Whether you’re buying an existing home
or building a new, custom house, taking
steps to protect it from the day you move
in will ensure that your home stays a safe
haven for a lifetime.
Steve Ernst is the owner and
president of The Ernst Group,
LLC, doing business as Arthur
Rutenberg Homes Nashville,
an award-winning custom
homebuilding company offering more than 80 home
designs in luxury communities
or on owner lots. For more
information, visit arthurrutenberghomes.com/nashville or
call 615-822-1727.
4
Real Estate Showcase of Sumner County
1. Gradually introduce the concept of moving. Moving is a decision to be discussed with the
whole family, even with young children who may not fully understand the process. Kids who are involved in looking at new homes or voicing opinions about which amenities they desire in a new neighborhood will feel empowered and in control.
2. Research potential new neighborhoods carefully. Finding a new residence is not entirely
about buying a home that fits the family and its needs. It also is about finding a desirable neighborhood
and community. A good school district is an important factor, as is proximity to recreation, local culture
and transportation. Drive around a neighborhood during different times of the day to gauge how active
it is. Investigating businesses in the area can also help gauge the personality of a given neighborhood.
3. Work with an experienced agent. A real estate agent who is familiar with a variety of communities is a great asset. A buyer’s agent will find homes and negotiate on the part of the buyer, having your best interests in mind. Because the agent will be paid a commission on a portion of the sale
price, which doesn’t come out of your pocket, it is in the real estate agent’s best interest to help you
find a home you can call your own. In addition, the agent will handle many of the tasks that may be
overwhelming if you were doing them on your own, such as scouring available listings, waiting for inspections or filling out pertinent paperwork. With a real estate agent handling these tasks, families can
remove some of the stress from the moving process.
4. Pack children’s rooms last. Young children who see favorite items disappearing into bubble
wrapping and boxes may start to feel anxious. It’s not uncommon for preschoolers to act out or experience nightmares during the moving process. Maintain a sense of normalcy in the home as long as
possible. Begin by packing nonessential items, only packing kids’ items when your moving date is right
around the corner. Let children say good-bye to familiar haunts and even to their old home.
5. Plan a school orientation. Take advantage of any programs schools offer to acclimate kids to
their new environment. Kids often leave friends behind when moving to a new home. The faster they
get back to a normal routine, the better it will be for them. Schools are where children will make new
friends and participate in social occasions, so tour their new schools before the school year begins, and
meet with a few residents and current students to learn about special programs that may make a move
less stressful for youngsters.
March 2014
5
Relocate your stress
hire a
professional
designer
By VANESSA MCPEAK
B
uying and selling a home can be
an exciting time for many people. Often, we look forward to
the experience ahead, the thrill
of new surroundings, and to
change and growth. But, unfortunately the relocation process can also
be fraught with stress and anxiety.
Because we are busier than ever, it
comes as no surprise that preparing a
home for resale, and the subsequent
move, can throw many into a tailspin.
Days are filled with long work hours,
social obligations, endless errands, and
homework and after school activities,
leaving little time for anything else. Hiring a Professional Organizer to handle
relocation can help the process to flow
in a smooth and efficient manner, thus
minimizing stress and overwork for the
homeowner.
A professional organizer can help in
two distinct areas when it comes to relocation. On the front end a PO can assist
with preparing a house for the market.
On the back end PO’s are enlisted for
the moving process and to fully settle
you in to your new home. A PO can step
in where needed, or manage your entire
project.
Real estate agents often advise that
a listing has only one chance to make
a positive first impression. Critical to
your sale is for a buyer to envision his
life in your home. By working with a
PO through the de-cluttering and stag-
ing process you can achieve a tastefully
minimalized atmosphere, allowing the
beauty and potential of your rooms to
shine thru.
The de-cluttering process removes
the distraction of extraneous possessions and allows you to reap some financial rewards as well. It is quite common to
have unopened boxes from prior moves
tucked away in an attic or basement.
There is a high cost associated with packing, transporting and storing items that
no longer have a place in your life. This
cost can be so high that corporate relocation budgets often include hiring a PO
to assist their employees with the discard
and donate process. An organizer will
help you determine what is important to
keep and what is no longer conducive to
your lifestyle.
On the back end a PO can be extremely beneficial by being on site to handle
all the logistics of a move. Working with
crews to set up your new home, we ensure
that furniture is placed to the owners’
specification, beds are made, kitchen is
fully functional and ready for use, shirts
are hung in the appropriate closet; every
thing has a place and you can find it.
If relocation involves downsizing or
transitioning a loved one to a senior facility, organizers can assist with consigning, donating and removal of unwanted
possessions. Our resources include affiliations with estate dealers and antique
appraisers. We can aid with the breaking
down and prioritizing of a lifetime of ac-
cumulated possessions and memorabilia,
which can be extremely difficult for family members. By letting a PO handle this
work the family is available to assist in getting loved ones settled in to their new life.
Occasionally, timing requires a stay
in temporary housing. This can add another layer of stress and chaos. PO’s can
arrange furniture rental and help determine which items are essential to move
immediately. For items that will be held
for a later date, PO’s can secure a storage unit and then coordinate the transfer
into your new home.
There is great value in adding a Professional Organizer to your team. We can
be as engaged as the client wishes, from
handling a single facet of a move to facilitating a turnkey operation. Hiring a PO
to handle your relocation needs not only
reduces your stress but it frees up your
valuable time, which is better spent exploring your new community.
Vanessa McPeak, Industry
Member, NAPO and NAPO
Nashville, is a professional
organizer and the owner of
Effective Organizing Solutions,
615-504-5693; [email protected] ; organizingtn.com.
6
Real Estate Showcase of Sumner County
SUMNER PROPERY TRANSFERS April 3 through April 9, 2014
Bethpage
Ronnie Inman and Teresa
West to Geoffrey Howlett
and Kimberly Odom, 556
Womack Road, Bethpage,
$155,000.
Melanie Branham to
James Oldham. 1125 Rogana
Road, Bethpage, $87,246.93.
The Estate of Eugene
Sadler to Jacob Scheid,
1025 Reese Road, Bethpage,
$85,180.
Castalian Springs
Robert and April Ballachino to William and Misti Cook,
549 C Governor Hall Road,
Castalian Springs, $165,000.
US Bank National Assn.
to Joseph Smith, 1014 Lynndale Drive, Castalian Springs,
$89,900.
Dale and Kristen Hix to
Derek and Laci Boze, 1022
Meridian Drive, Castalian
Springs, $130,500.
Robert Helson to Timmy
and Kelly Burkhart, 1217 Littleton Ranch Road, Castalian
Springs, $79,900.
Cottontown
Raymond and Patricia
Hoover to Kenneth Barcus
and Ginger Lam, 101 Ben
Albert Road, Cottontown,
$169,900.
Gallatin
Jean and Virginia Murphy
to Irva Byrd, 320 East Franklin Street Condominum #13,
Gallatin, $162,000.
Ole South Properties,
Inc. to Michael Sullivan,
1016 East Sagewood Drive,
Gallatin, $217,990.
United States Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development to Nathan Wall,
131 Lynn Drive, Gallatin,
$95,750.
Samuel
Grinder
to
Mark and Sheila Scull, 1032
Harness Circle, Gallatin,
$256,000.
Barry Shead to Charles
and Kinsley Smith, 1015 Cabriolet Ct., Gallatin, $285,500.
John and Brandi Pettis
to Stephen Valente, 1562
Boardwalk Place, Gallatin,
$875,000.
Ole South Properties, Inc.
to Keith and Diane Thomas,
814 Bauman Court, Gallatin,
$285,000.
Jim Sweeney Construction, Inc. to Velvet and Avery Vaughn, 962 Westbrook
Drive, Gallatin, $270,000.
Christopher and Jacque-
lyn Poarch to Marcelo and
Elisangela Defreitas, 164 Lori
Lee Drive, Gallatin, $193,500.
Goodall Inc. Builders to
Jimmy and Thais Smith, 1035
Prestwick Lane, Gallatin,
$268,330.
The Guy Family Trust
to Christopher and Jacquelyn Poarch, 2706 Cages Bend
Road, Gallatin, $264,450.
Thomas Cummins to Robert Seahorn, 1026 Monticello
Place, Gallatin, $169,000.
The Estate of Thomas
Lloyd Scruggs to Chad Lawson and Johnny Williams,
158 West Hite Street, Gallatin,
$40,000.
James and Melissa Compton to Jon and Amy Kemp,
1158 Potter Lane, Gallatin,
$740,000.
Robert and Patricia Kirby
to Brenda Howard, 825 S.
Browns Lane #1401, Gallatin,
$192,000.
Goodall Inc. Builders to
Timothy and Gail Yarbrough,
1067 Campbell Avenue,
Gallatin, $192,900.
Goodall Inc. Builders to
Hollice Mangrum, 395 Devon
Chase Hill #5101, Gallatin,
$199,650.
Goodall Inc. Builders to
Richard Smith, 395 Devon
Chase Hill #5104, Gallatin
$183,965.
Danny and Jennifer Johnson to Miller Properties, 1084
Pine Hurst Drive, Gallatin,
$165,000.
Ole South Properties, Inc.
to Justin and Maritza Armistead, 1025 East Sagewood
Drive, Gallatin, $210,155.
Enrique
and
Megan
Morales to Michael Oher,
1105 Thora Court, Gallatin,
$513,000.
Goodlettsville
Brian Moore and Allan
Thomas to Jimmy, Virginia
and Amanda Moore, 1098
Williamson Road, Goodlettsville, $168,000.
Clifford and Linda Jaebker
to Scott and Kristen Stevermer, 128 Joshuas Run, Goodlettsville, $415,000 .
Vishal Banker to Anish
and Bhavika Banker and Janki Patel, 1014 Calebs Walk,
Goodlettsville, $485,000.
Goodall Inc. Builders to
Judith Dickens, 100 Placid
Grove Lane Unit 1605, Goodlettsville, $230,425.
Gerald and Carolyn Davis
to Melvin and Jennifer Brown,
106 Braxton Park Lane, Goodlettsville, $205,000.
Hendersonville
Fountain Brooke, LLC to
Drees Premier Homes, Inc.,
112 Fountain Brooke Drive,
Hendersonville, $57,500.
Hazel Path Partnership
to SSI Hazel Path, LLC, Bonita Parkway, Hendersonville,
$100,433.49.
Centex Homes to Jim
and Sue Claiborne, 1024 Lacebark Lane, Hendersonville,
$261,728.
Donnie and Shelia Reed
to Steven Whitlow, 121 Hills
Dale Drive, Hendersonville,
$147,900.
Steven
and
Becky
McLaughlin to Mark and Andrea Pitt, 155 Bay Shore Drive,
Hendersonville, $650,000.
Angelo and Cynthia Bruno
to Anna Smith, 102 Winding Way, Hendersonville,
$134,000.
Deborah Cross to Elizabeth Thor, 250 Donna Drive
#7-C,
Hendersonville,
$55,000.
Robert and Harriet Rees
to Donna Whitsell, 103 Melanie Drive, Hendersonville,
$175,000.
Summit
Investments,
LLC to Florina and Mihai
Sferle, 132 Captains Circle,
Hendersonville, $215,900.
Casey Sasser to Michal
and Kelly Collins, 102 Blue
Ridge Place, Hendersonville,
$373,000
Bradley and Kathryn
Wear to Paul and Kristen La
Scola, 103 Indian Lake Court,
Hendersonville, $850,000.
Jack and Linda Mencer
to Dongyu Wang and Lingli
Ni, 353 Bonita Parkway,
Hendersonville, $113,500.
Drees Premier Homes,
Inc. to Grover and Genela
Hardin, 200 Carly Close E.,
Hendersonville, $405,000.
Burnett Builders, Inc.
to Lilibeth King, 116 Laurel Lane, Hendersonville,
$184,400.
Randy Frase to Chase and
M. Chloe Clapper, 116 Cloverdale Court, Hendersonville,
$198,900.
DB Investments, LLC to
Christopher Janes and Tricia
Savage-Janes, 1038 Tower
Hill Lane, Hendersonville,
$322,612.07.
DB Investments, LLC
to Dorthy Ruby, 116 Shadowhaven
Way
North,
Hendersonville, $241,408.
Maury and Amanda Dugger to Suzan Starkey, 139
East Drive, Hendersonville,
$190,000.
Meadows of Indian Lake
LP to Richard and Heather Alexander, 109 Clarendon Place,
Hendersonville, $52,500.
Kevin and Marilee Dunn
to Kenneth and Judith Jackson, 106 Stonehollow Way,
Hendersonville, $241,900.
Larry Cox to Stone
Peak, LLC, 171 Maple Drive,
Hendersonville, $141,250.
Daniel Dunn to Brian
Hulse, 113 Hazelwood Drive,
Hendersonville, $105,000.
David and Kimberyn McCollough to Kevin and Kara
Capps, 210 Vintage Circle,
Hendersonville, $230,000.
Jess and Rachel Rainer
to Richard and Shandie Robertson, 207 Vintage Circle,
Hendersonville, $214,000.
Summit
Investments,
LLC to Abel and Stephanie
Moreno, 136 McKain Crossing,
Hendersonville, $239,300.
Joey and Karrie Keen to
Tiffany George, 129 Walton
Village Drive, Hendersonville,
$140,000.
Glenn and Sara Wade
to Daryl and Leilah Hayman, 152 Glenn Hill Drive,
Hendersonville, $235,000.
JP Morgan Chase Bank
National Assn. to Vintage
Properties and Development,
LLC, 1002 Smoke Rise Lane,
Hendersonville, $180,000.
Shane Kville to Jeremy and
Jennifer Wheeler, 116 Redbud Drive, Hendersonville,
$185,000.
Magnolia Tree Investments,
Inc. to Glenn and Sara Wade,
118 Lake Terrace Drive,
Hendersonville, $359,900.
The Oscar and Mary Flem-
ing Revocable Trust to David
and Sherrie Seay, 115 Laurens Way N., Hendersonville,
$200,000.
Portland
Patrick Suttle Construction to Charles and Alexis
Moore, 117 Elise Lane, Portland, $178,802.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Daniel Cole, 113
Timberwood Drive, Portland,
$97,500.
Nancy Webster to Michael
Jones, 310 Fowler Ford Road,
Portland, $20,000.
Floyd and Lindy Birdwell
to Matthew Shirley, 149 April
Circle, Portland, $99,900.
21st Mortgage Corp. to Susan and Aubrey Kiningham,
133 Breedder Road, Portland,
$81,775.
Charlotte Parks to Terry
Taylor, 109 Golfers Circle,
Portland, $205,000.
JP Morgan Chase Bank to
Betty Miller, 113 April Circle,
Portland, $65,000.
Leslie Will to Dennis
and Chantal Hardison, 114
Buena Vista Drive, Portland,
$154,000.
Carrie Stark to Harvey and
Rebecca Epps, 111 High Street,
Portland, $94,800.
Westmoreland
Irene Holmes to Daniel
and Chandra Wilkerson, 245
City Park Road, Westmoreland,
$157,000.
Thomas Poruchny to
Kendon Duggin and Ashley
Birchfield, 204 W. Garretts
Creek Road, Westmoreland,
$114,000.
Le Maria Creasy to Joseph
and Kirsty Powell, 3401 B Old
Hwy. 31-E, Westmoreland,
$122,500.
White House
Andrew and Heather
Robertson to Chadwick and
Hannah Hamsley, 105 Hunterwood Court, White House,
$203,000.
Roger and Sandra Richardson to Duston and Anita Watts,
765 McCurdy Road, White
House, $225,000.
Robert Brewer to Christopher and Tiffany White, 115
Chapman Drive, White House,
$235,000.
The Estate of Mary L.
Smith to Kenneth and Edna
Pulley, 301 Valley View Drive,
White House, $120,000.
Chase and Patricia Lyle to
John Towe and Melissa Martin, 472 Fern Valley Road,
White House, $189,900.
The Estate of Mary L.
Smith to Kenneth and Edna
Pulley, 301 Valley View Drive,
White House, $120,000.
Chase and Patricia Lyle to
John Towe and Melissa Martin, 472 Fern Valley Road,
White House, $189,900.
March 2014
7
5 quick fixes
for big improvements around your home
W
hen it comes to home improvement, you
don’t need to do a complete overhaul to
make a big impact. A “less is more” approach may serve you better, say experts.
“Sometimes quick fixes are the ones
you need most,” says Lou Manfredini, host of “HouseSmarts TV” and home improvement contributor on
NBC’s “The Today Show.”
According to Manfredini, there are five small projects you can do yourself that can make a huge difference in your home:
Clean the Disposal:
Your kitchen sink and
disposal work hard, but sometimes they can stink. Every few months, eliminate odor and freshen things up
by pouring half a cup of general purpose disinfectant
cleaner down the drain.
Using a small nylon pipe cleaning brush or clean
toilet brush, reach in between the sink drain assembly and scrub the sidewalls of the pipe below it, paying
special attention to the underside of the rubber flap
on the disposal. Patch in a Snap:
Unsightly holes in walls can
ruin the look of a room. Luckily, patching those holes
doesn’t have to be time-intensive.
For holes smaller than a dime, apply wall spackle
with a putty knife. For larger holes, you may need to
use a self-stick metal patch to cover it, and then apply
spackle to smooth it out. “Achieving professional looking results quickly and
on-budget requires the right products,” says Manfredini.
Use a high-quality wall patch like 3M Patch plus
primer spackle and primer in one, now available in a kit
for holes up to three inches wide. It applies smoothly
and has a built in primer, so once the wall is dry and
sanded, you can paint immediately, cutting
the repair time in half. More information
can be found at www.3MDIY.com/patch.
Peace and Quiet:
Plagued by squeaky wood
flooring? Try pouring baby powder over the noisy
area. Then, wrap a block of wood in a dish rag and tap
the boards down with a hammer to drive the powder
between the tongue and groove of the flooring and
tighten the nails holding it in place.
“It may not work in all instances but I’ve had great
success with this process,” says Manfredini. Accent with Paint:
To update a room without investing much time or money, paint one wall an
accent color. Half of all paint sold in the US is white, so
why not add bold color to your home like blue, red or
even tangerine? Prep by lightly sanding the entire surface. Patch
any holes and then paint using a paint and primer in
one. Two coats will give you the depth of color you
want and should take only an afternoon. Light it up:
To save money and help the
environment, switch to LED light bulbs. With
all the improvements in color, they can now
mimic the warm lighting associated with incandescent bulbs, using two-thirds less electricity.
You don’t have to spend lots of time or
money to spruce up your home this spring.
Small projects can go a long way towards
make it look great.
Article contributed by StatePoint
8
Real Estate Showcase of Sumner County
Home improvement
projects recouping
more at resale
In its annual Cost vs. Value Report that compares the cost for 35 popular
remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale, Remodeling
magazine found that the overall average cost-value ratio has improved for the first
time in six years. Cost-recouped percentages increased for all 35 projects examined
for the 2013 survey, a remarkable turnaround from just a year earlier, when only
three of the 35 projects saw an increase in cost-recouped percentage.
Replacement projects proved especially beneficial for homeowners, who likely
also benefitted from a real estate market that finally started to stabilize after an
extended period of economic uncertainty that heavily influenced both buyers and
sellers.
While an economy on the rebound no doubt benefitted homeowners looking to
recoup as much of their home improvement investment at resale as possible, other
factors likely contributed as well. For example, homeowners surveyed for the 2013
report who added a backup power generator recouped more of their investment
than in previous years. That’s likely because heavily publicized storms, such as Superstorm Sandy in late 2012, have forced homeowners and prospective homeowners to place a greater emphasis on being prepared for such storms.
Among the upscale projects surveyed, none recouped more of a homeowner’s
investment than replacing existing siding with fiber-cement siding. Homeowners
who financed such a project recouped 79.3 percent of the project’s cost, placing it
just ahead of a garage door replacement, which recouped an average of 75.2 percent
of its cost.
After years of many home improvement projects recouping little of their initial
costs at resale, the tide finally seems to be turning for homeowners. More information about the 2013 Cost vs. Value Report is available at www.remodeling.hw.net.