Getting The (omnia) Most From Replacement Windows

By Admin on March 29th, 2008

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Your Window Options

There are a number of different types of glass on the market, thanks to the new glass technologies that are entering the market. Simply put, glass is not just glass anymore, it has become an aspect to your house that can considerably improve your living environment.
 
Getting The Most From Replacement Windows

Developments in the glass industry mean that now you can get replacement windows that offer features such as:

Self-Cleaning – Glass that

Preparing Your Home For Sale by Installing Exterior Vinyl Shutters
Preparing Your Home For Sale by Installing Exterior Vinyl Shutters

A common mistake people make is to assume that their house is "ready for sale" just because it is a livable, functional place that is not in need of repair. This mistake can not only make your home take longer to sell, but can also mean you will be accepting thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars less for the home than the amount you can get with a few smartly done improvements.

As the old saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impressi

Emtek Porcelain Cabinet Knobs - 8600

Emtek Porcelain Cabinet Knobs - 8600

EMTEK CABINET HARDWARE - PORCELAIN STYLE CABINET KNOBS SIZE 1-3/8 in Diameter Available in six finishes Choose finish for knob base

Retail: $ 0.00    Your Price: $5.75   Buy/More Info

Fences

It seems there are as many kinds of fences as there are
people building them. Around here fences denote a full time
job in themselves. If I am looking for something to do, which
is seldom, all I have to do is look at the fences. Barbed
wire, woven wire, wood plank, hog panel, cattle panel and
electric. You name it weve got it and most could use a little
attention.

Actually there are just two kinds of fences, physical
barriers and mental barriers. A barbed wire fence is a
physical barrier while an electric fence is a mental barrier.
A well built barbed wire fence will turn a cow because it
looks imposing to the cow, not to mention all those little
stickers. An electric fence, on the other hand must be tested
by the curious cow and suffice it to say they learn quickly
that the one little strand of unimposing smooth wire packs
a pretty good kick.

I like to think these two fences also work raising kids. No
I am not stretching barbed wire across the front door or
hooking their doorknobs to an electric fence box but I think
we all as parents lay down both mental and physical barriers
to help control, (raise) our kids.

I personally like the electric fence concept best, were
the cows, I mean kids, know how far they can push before they
touch the hot wire. Most kids and cows will test the fence at
least once but they soon learn there are limitations.

My oldest and only daughter, a college junior to be, said
it best, growing up around here, there really werent a lot
of hard set rules, but there were expectations, and when they
werent met everyone knew it. Thats what I would call an
electric fence.

Actually this young lady has been well trained. I dont
remember her ever even testing the fence and she always seems
to want to stay in.

Our oldest son, two years her junior, on the other
hand is more like a young beef calf. Fence are more like
a challenge to him, pushing through, knocking down, shorting
out and pretty much testing both physical and mental barriers
but he always comes back in the fence to check with momma.

Our second son, entering his first year of high school, is
a mystery to me as far as fencing goes. I guess the only way
to keep this one in would be one of those concrete pits and ten
foot fences you see the lions and tigers in at the zoo. Mental
barriers are only a reason to turn on the charm and physical
barriers are just a bump in the road.

Last but of course not least, our third son. I think one of
those invisible dog fences would do the trick. Just throw up
a few of those little white flags and this soon to be sixth
grader will come running back with a three hour tale of what
and I mean exactly what happened, to the word.

Yes Grace, my wife, and I have four kids, all very different
with different fencing needs. I will admit though that they are
all great kids most of the time.

If I can ever get them raised, and sometimes I think this
will never come to pass, fencing for cows and calves should
be a breeze.

Just a thought.
Stuart Mattingly

About the author:
Stuart Mattingly runs a fifth generation family dairy farm in Central Kentucky. You can visit his
farm on the web at http://www.10acresbackyard.com.

Fixer-Uppers: What To Fix

You’ve bought a house, a fixer-upper you can make some money on. What improvements and repairs should you make? First of all, you need to know this before you buy, as I explained in another article. Before and after you buy, though, you need to have some simple rules with which to start analyzing possible fixes.

Return On Investment

A young couple was very disappointed when I told them there house was worth $110,000. “We just put $40,000 into remodeling the kitchen!” they told me. I looked at the kitchen. It was nice. They had added $10,000 in value to the house by spending $40,000. This is a classic example of a bad return on investment.

With fixer-uppers, you have do things which give the most “bang for the buck.” Aim for a three-to-one return on improvements. If you’re going to resurface the driveway for $1000, it better raise the value of the home by $3,000. Even when you’re just guessing, keep this three-to-one formula in your head, if you want to invest safely.

How To Fix A Fixer-Upper

With things like new curtains, you can’t really estimate the increase in value. What you can do, though, is group together the many small repairs and improvements you are considering, and imagine how the house will look when you are done. Then you can estimate whether you will have increased the value enough to justify the cost.

It often is in the small details that you’ll get the best return on investment, so look at these first. A new mailbox, flowers on the porch, a raked yard and trimmed trees - $30 total if you do the work yourself - can make a big difference in the first impression potential buyers have. First impressions are important.

Other small investments that pay big include shiny new switch covers (less than $1 each), shelves, a birdhouse, new doorknobs, new light fixtures, curtains, new rocks or wood chips on outdoor paths, new faucets, new woodstain on decks, and general cleaning. Stand in front of the house and imagine what it might look like with various small improvements (flowers, wood-rail fence, birdbath, etc.).

The Big Fixes

Obviously, there are things that just have to be repaired. The basic systems must function. Improvements, though, should be subject to the three-to-one rule. You may have to get creative here. An investor friend of mine once had a wall put up, and for less than $1000 created a new bedroom, probably raising the value of the house by $8,000. Now that’s a good return on investment.

Bathrooms and kitchens are important. A $1000 updating of a bathroom can add $4000 in value to a home. Spend $2000 wisely in the kitchen (New fridge, re-finish the cupboards, add a garbage disposal, etc.), and you can add $8000 to the sales price of the house. Look for changes which are most universally valued (don’t paint the kitchen pink because YOU like that color), and be sure you get a decent return on investment.

Depending on the fixer-upper, there are many potential improvements that can be worth doing. These include adding a carport, new doors, fences, gazebos, sheds, painting, carpet, benches, a new closet, a new toilet, a new stove, a shower/tub surround, and trees or bushes. The bottom line is the bottom line: be sure anything you do returns more than you spend, preferably three times as much.

About the Author:

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com