Home & Garden Article Directory
Recent Articles
Your Guide to Buying Quality Garden Products
“You get what you pay for.” We’ve all heard that saying before and it applies to a lot of things. What it means, of course, is that buying cheap may save money at the time of purchase but you’ll pay for it in the long run. More…
Don’t Treat Soil Like Dirt
In the daily lives of most of us, soil is treated like dirt. Soil gets no respect. More…
Meditation is not what you think
Meditation is way less than you think. More…
Cost effectiveness of concrete grinding
Many business and home owners are aware of the problem but know of only 2 methods: first, is to fill the joint with mortar or cement, second, is to remove and replace the concrete. More…
Concrete grinding to remove trip hazards.
Most business and home owners are aware of the problem. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) defines a trip hazard as 1/4″ vertical difference in elevations. More…
Chinese Shar Pei
Chinese Shar Pei are the most unique breed of dogs in the world. DNA has proven them to be one of three breeds most closely related to wolves although you would never know it by looking at them. More…
Selling You Home In Todays Market
Why do you need a professional Real Estate Agent to help you sell your home? Good Question! More…
Importance of treating trees
So many homeowners have no clue what to do when there tree starts dying. More…
Family Owned vs Big Box
The carpet and flooring industry has never been more competitive and consumers have more choices than ever for actual products and stores to purchase from. More…
Goldendoodles
There are many questions a family who is thinking about adopting a new puppy or adult Goldendoodle should ask about the kennel and the puppies produced at the kennel. More…
Crate Training - How to teach your puppy to love their kennel.
All of our dogs are crate trained. We are all the happier for it too! More…
A Frugal Halloween
Growing up, Halloween was one of the most exciting days of the year. In the weeks rolling up to Halloween we would have a grand time planning out our fabulous costumes. More…
How to Save a Bundle on School Supplies
It’s back to school time again! Let the mad rush for school shopping begin. More…
To improve or not to improve in a declining housing market -
Many homeowners are faced with tough choices in today’s economy, is it worth investing in your household when your home is worth much less than when you bought it? More…
What you must know about Granite
What you must know about Granite: More…
Starting Tomatoes From Seed
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to grow the varieties of tomatoes that YOU want and not just the ones that your local nursery has to offer-usually only tow or three different kinds. More…
Home Generator 101
We have written home generator guidelines before but have been requested to write a basic guideline for those of you with limited knowledge on the subject.
We are concerning ourselves here primarily, with Florida where the high loads of air conditioning affect the generator requirements. You might consider that to correctly choose a generator size, would be the simple matter of matching it to the amount of electricity used by your home. Unfortunately few things in life are ever that simple and this is one of them.
First off, the maximum requirement (Peak Demand) for electricity, measured in watts, will need to be allowed for, and secondly the type of connected load will need to be considered, as this directly affects the size of generator required. Finally the quality of the generated electricity will need to be adequate to supply delicate equipment such as computers and televisions.
Many smaller Florida homes might be able to make do with an 11KW generator provided it is of good quality, and as a very rough rule of thumb you could consider 1 KW per 100 square feet to be a good approximation. However to be confident that all factors have been taken into consideration it is best to get a professional electrical contractor experienced in generator installations to calculate the size you will require.
For example if you have one air conditioning unit for your home this will require a larger generator than if you have 2 units totaling the same size as the one larger one. No matter what the amount of electricity these units require when running, 3 times more will typically need to be allowed for in order to ensure they start and do not burn out.
Also unless you have a quality generator which carefully monitors and stabilizes the output to a very high degree, you will have serious problems with sensitive electronic equipment.
Should you over-estimate and choose a generator too large then you will experience the following problems.
- Excessive initial cost.
- Reduced life span of the generator
- Excessive fuel costs.
Conversely if you under-estimate, the following problems will arise.
- Burned out Air conditioning units
- Burned out fridge/freezers.
- Brown outs and black outs from the generator.
The type of generator you choose will also greatly affect the final size required, low cost generators of the same KW rating may not actually be the most suitable for your needs. You can read more about these choices at our webpage.
All in all the best way is to roughly estimate the load yourself then call a generator expert for a free in home survey.
Electrical points to check for when viewing a potential home purchase.
The electrical installation in any home you are considering purchasing is an important factor. We have given some tips here to help you decide if it is worth calling a professional to check it out, and if so who to call. More…
Home Staging - Who would list without?
In this tough real estate market, there is no question home sellers must do all
they can to get their homes sold. Competition is stronger than ever with the current inventory of listings and the influx of short sales cutting home values. Two main factors determine the
success of a home sale. Accurately pricing the home is the first critical
component. This should be left to an expert such as the listing
agent or a professional appraiser. The second critical factor to the
success of the home sale is the home’s appearance. Gone are the
days were doing a little “spring” cleaning and adding a carpet
allowance to the listing put the home in show ready condition. Today’s
buyers are scrutinizing and expect to see move-in ready show homes. This
is why professional stagers have become a vital resource for sellers and real
estate professionals alike.
What is Home Staging?
HOME STAGING is the process of preparing a home for the best possible sale
using powerful proven, market savvy techniques that accentuate the home’s best
features, minimize the negative and create an appeal that reaches a broader
range of buyers. Staging considers the entire home - exterior and
interior and evaluates all rooms using “buyer’s eyes”. Vacant
or occupied and regardless of price, size or location ANY home will benefit
from home staging.
Can a homeowner do their own Home Staging?
Home staging is an art form in and of itself that utilizes color, furniture
placement, space, scale, flow and light properties in a way that maximizes each
room’s selling feature. Even the most creative home seller
will not have the tools and expertise of a professionally trained home stager.
Most importantly, it is virtually impossible for a home seller to see their own
home through the eyes of a scrutinizing buyer. The emotional attachments
and practical aspects of living in the home can skew the perspective of a home
seller - making it virtually impossible to be objective. The way we live
in our homes and the way we market our homes are two different things.
Professional home stagers are highly trained in the principals of maximizing
the home’s selling features, making them well worth the investment.
Does Home Staging Really Work? According to statistics shown on www.stagedhomes.com 93% of staged homes staged by an ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) sell in one month or less. And more reasons to stage include:
Staged homes appeal to a broader range of buyer and are more likely to appraise at full value.
Staged homes allow a buyer to easily visualize living in the home.
The investment of staging a home is typically less than a home price reduction.
Staged homes photograph better. Over 90% of buyers will view a home online
such as on the web or on MLS making beautiful internet ready photographs a must.
When interviewing potential stagers keep in mind that not all home
stagers are alike. They can vary in services and price ranging from those
that provide consultations on occupied homes to those that can fully furnish
and accessorize a vacant home. Every home is unique and careful consideration to existing architectural details and overall home styling should reflect in the staging.
TIPS FOR CHOOSING A HOME STAGER:
* Work with a skilled and trained professional stager. There are several accreditations for staging. Check creditials to be sure you are not trusting your largest investment to a “stager” who has not been trained in the techniques. Then take it a step farther…
* Ask to view their work and make sure the portfolio they provide is actual
pictures of homes they have staged. This is most important. Each stager will have their unique style and abilities so be sure the one you select is able to produce results for your home.
* Ask for references. A good home stager should be able to readily
provide several references for you to contact.
* If you are staging a vacant home with furniture and accessories, obtain
several bids and be sure you are comparing costs accurately. Staging
companies may differ in their pricing structure and how monthly rents are
collected, if at all. Some may charge larger “up front” fees and some may be more reasonable in initial fees but charge larger monthly rental fees. Determine how long you estimate the home will be staged (talk to a real estate professional about how quickly staged listings are selling in your area) and be sure to total all costs for the estimated term before making your selection.
One last caution - once your home is staged be prepared to have “sellers remorse”. Staging done right can make a seller wonder why they are selling their home in the first place!
Happy Home Staging!
Wood vs. Laminate Flooring
I am often asked which is better, wood or laminate flooring. More…