Monday, July 30, 2012

Planning A Home Improvement Project? Try These Great Tips!


If you or someone you know is getting ready to make improvements in your home, it would not hurt to learn information to make the process more efficient. Use this article to guide you in fixing up your home.

Install peepholes on your doors. You should know who is at your door before you open it! Peepholes are easy to install and are one of the least expensive home improvements you can make. It only takes your time and a drill. A peephole will let you confirm that it really is your brother at the door rather than a home invader.

To save yourself some aggravation, poke holes in your paint can's rim. This helps because it will make less of a mess with the paint when the lid is replaced. Use a nail to create a few holes around the channel's bottom so that this doesn't happen.

Involving your entire family is a great way to accomplish a home improvement project. You can add a garden in front of your home for a unique and elegant appeal.

One great habit for maintaining home improvement work is to keep some money aside for upgrades and repairs. Homeowners who allocate a specific amount of money for such projects will likely be better at maintaining their homes. Any funds left over can be set aside for major projects or unexpected repairs the following year.

When you are getting ready to do a big project, hire someone to help you plan it out. If you or a member of your family do not have professional training in this area, the plans you come up with may not be sound. Professional contractors and designers are able to construct and implement efficient plans that also abide by any restrictions.

You should consider receiving (or formulating) a reliable estimate of the overall cost of your home improvement project to be a vital part of the initial planning process. A common mistake of homeowners is underestimating the amount of money they would be spending. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

Finishing a project involving a basement is a good investment to start. You can increase the total square footage of livable space available to your family by finishing a basement. Purchase the materials needed from the different discount stores in your area. Some say that a finished basement can boost a home's resale value by a third.

Before painting the inside of your houe, take a damp cloth and scrub away excess dust, dirt and oil from your baseboards and walls. This helps the paint adhere better and can save you the costs of needing more paint or several touch-ups.

When thinking of improving your house, think which room is the one you want to improve first. You may find that working on a single room is much easier to manage in terms of funds and scheduling. Planning ahead will allow you to find the best deals on the products you need to do the work. Plan ahead to save the most money when improving your home.

Find a video that will show you how to confidently attack the improvement you're about to do. There is always someone who has gone before you and experienced the same issue, some of them will take the time to video and post the solution. Using videos is a great way to learn from the mistakes and solutions of others.

While wood fireplaces can keep your house toasty warm, consider other heating sources first. They certainly look nice, but they aren't very energy efficient, as the structure of the fireplace ensures high heat loss through the chimney. Even worse, maintaining a fire consumes a great deal of oxygen from the air in your house.

As was shown in the above article, you really need to know what your limits are when you are thinking about taking on home improvements or other repairs. Following the advice provided here can prevent errors that could wind up being costly or even catastrophic. It is better to get help now than regret not asking for help later.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Brighton At Bay Colony - Naples, Florida

A recently purchase unit in the beachfront tower Brighton In Bay Colony is going under extensive renovation. Brighton at Bay Colony is a luxury high-rise tower on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and built in 1994. The current inventory is very limited in Brighton as the marker rebounds. Prices start at $2,499,000. View all available listings in Brighton at Bay Colony
View all listings in Bay Colony...

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Ways To Get The Most Out Of Home Improvement


Home improvements can be an outstanding and fun adventure which can lead to getting the most enjoyment from your home. Do your best to learn as much as possible before you begin. This will help make sure you do it right the first time. This ensures that you'll be satisfied with the efforts you put into your next project!

If you hire a professional for home improvements, check credentials carefully. Even if it takes you a few extra days, verifying credentials and checking references improves your chances of selecting a contractor who will perform work that meets or exceeds your expectations. Take the time to verify the credentials of every contractor before you hire him/her.

Before you perform any major repairs, run your plans by a professional. A little information from a professional can be a great help, especially if it keeps you from wasting valuable money and time. You can make a huge mistake if you don't talk with a professional.

For an economical approach to floor tiling, consider installing vinyl instead of ceramic or stone. Vinyl is easy to install, tough and is cheaper than other tiling options. You can find vinyl flooring as individual tiles or in a complete sheet that will cover an entire room at once.

Beware the contractor who offers significant discounts for customers who pay in cash. This practice is often indicative of underhanded or illegal dealings. You will not be able to prove you paid with cash, so you may not be able to get reimbursed if something goes wrong.

You can overhaul the appearance of your appliances without spending lots of money. Stainless steel is pnpular right now, but that doesn't mean you should replace all of your appliances. A simple spray paint application will allow you to make your appliances look however you want. Your kitchen can be updated in a single day.

Hot glue your hardware to their respective storage containers. Even with the best organization, it can be difficult to find a particular piece of hardware. It is far easier to look at a container and see exactly what it contains by examples on the front, compared to reading labels that look alike.

Don't buy expensive supplies. Instead, shop around and look for the best deals on home improvement materials. For example, new flooring prices can greatly vary. Discount supply stores and bargain stores are both good places to look.

Be creative when it comes to choosing a coffee table. Use an old steamer trunk, blanket chest, or other unusual bin type item as a coffee table that doubles as storage. Place magazines and books on top of your coffee table to give it definition. You may even want to add a tablecloth couple with teacups for a more country look.

When you start your improvement jobs, don't be quick to demolish. Always double check structures behind walls and cabinets before ripping them down. If that wall was hiding electrical wiring, you could end up making a big mess if you were careless.

Make sure you have a plan to dispose of the debris that results from your home improvement projects. You'll find that trying to handle waste disposal on the fly is both frustrating and expensive; you can save yourself money and headaches by making arrangements ahead of time.

While wood fireplaces can keep your house toasty warm, consider other heating sources first. They certainly look nice, but they aren't very energy efficient, as the structure of the fireplace ensures high heat loss through the chimney. Even worse, maintaining a fire consumes a great deal of oxygen from the air in your house.

As you can probably see, whether you, a friend or a family member is taking on home improvement, upfront research before starting always benefits your project. It will help you know you are doing what is best. Use the tips you just read to plan your home improvement projects.

The Preserve At Corkscrew. New Homes Estero Florida

The Preserve at Corkscrew is a new gated community in development on Corkscrew rd in Estero, Florida. Conveniently located close to the airport, Florida Gulf Coast University, shopping malls and a few miles from the beaches. Only single-family homes built by Pulte Homes and Lennar, more than 20 different floor plans to choose from on lots from 50 to 75' wide and preserve or lake views. The amenities will include: a large clubhouse with fitness center, yoga room, catering kitchen and bar, a resort-style pool and spa with cabanas, two tennis courts and a playground. The Preserve at Corkscrew is a gated community. Check all available floor plans and pricing on my website.Call me or email me if you have specific questions about The Preserve At Corkscrew.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Talis Park - Naples Florida

Talis Park - Naples, Florida. 
Formerly known as Tuscany Reserve, Talis Park  will offer soon three new neighborhoods of Mediterranean-styled homes around the beautiful Talis Park (Tuscany Reserve) golf course designed by Norman & Dye in North Naples, Florida.
Started by WCI in 2002 as Tuscany Reserve, Talis Park will feature the Vyne House with a new relaxed but still luxurious ambiance. Talis Park new homes will start in the $700k and go up to several millions. 
Centered around the beautiful Tuscan-inspired scenery golf course, Talis Park will not only offer a prestigious golf experience but also a unique lifestyle.
About Talis Park - Naples...

Friday, July 20, 2012

When to Call a Home Improvement Contractor. Home Improvement Help .

Home Improvement Help

When to Call a Home Improvement Contractor


Home Improvement Help
Home Improvement Help. Do you always find yourself looking around your home and thinking of the numerous things you want to fix and improve? Most home owners have the same yearning, but are at a loss of how to get the work started.

The first question that usually comes to mind is whether the job can be done by yourself, or by a contractor. Many jobs can be handled without help from contractors, thus saving you a lot of money. However, there are scopes of work that are best left to a professional - Home Improvement Contractor.

If you embark upon your home improvements personally, you can get a lot of help from the internet. Countless sites offer home improvement help and tips, but you may get lost with the sites’ various perspectives and approach regarding the methods for solving your home improvement issues. How can you tell if a particular site is any good? One helpful way is to choose sites that would give you step by step guide and photos of do-it-yourself home projects, as well as deliver to you a clear picture of the job to be done. If a site insinuates the need for contractors even for something as simple as changing a light bulb, it merely wants to make money from you. Interior Design 

When browsing for home improvement help online, make sure that the site you are looking at gives you at least a bit of information before reaching into your pocket. Once you have succeeded in doing your first do-it-yourself job by using the methods and principles you have done research on, there is no looking back.

However, if there are some projects that you want to undertake and you are unsure of your do-it-yourself skills, here are some points for you to ponder upon. Sure you better hire Home Improvement Contractor.

Home Improvement Help. Do you have the essential skills to get the job done? Getting into a major home improvement when you don’t have the necessary skills can only get you into trouble and would eventually lead to a great waste of money. In this case, you would have to call on a home improvement contractor.

Are you likely to learn while on the job? If you can, then give it a try. However, you should know when to take the risk. Get in touch with a professional if the improvement you are planning on requires major construction or engineering expertise. A big landscaping job is also something that is best handled by a contractor. I hope you understand what Home Improvement Help can provide to you?

Do you have the time? You may have the skills needed to carry out projects, but completion will not be possible if you don’t have enough time to spend doing the job. Once a project is started, it disrupts your home, so it is crucial for you to finish it in the least amount of time.

Do you have the funds? Even if contractors are not involved, you would still be spending amount on building materials, supplies, and tools. Be sure that you have enough money to see you through the project.

Do you have the tools for the job to be done? If a project requires you to purchase expensive tools that would only be of use to you at one time, then the expenditure will not be worthwhile. It would make more sense to have a contractor complete the project. So know you know more about Home Improvement Help and know when to call Home Improvement Contractor.

Most popular Home Improvement articles:

Tips in Organizing an Apartment. Decorating Ideas for Apartment .

Decorating Ideas for Apartment. Tips in Organizing an Apartment.

Decorating Ideas for Apartment
Decorating Ideas for Apartment, Organizing an Apartment. Are you looking to live on your own? Did you recently transfer to an apartment? If you don’t have a home yet, apartment is definitely the top of your list. If that is so, then you must also be looking for some ways Organizing an Apartment. I am sure that all you see in the house are empty spaces full of boxes. It is very hard to determine where to start arranging your stuff. For people who are very busy with work or business, chances are, they don’t have enough time to fix everything. That is why in this informative article, I have outlined some simple ways to get started. Apartment Design Ideas 

Decorating Ideas - The apartment unit is bare.

Decorating Ideas for Apartment. When the unit is newly built and you are the first one to rent it, it could be bare. It means it doesn’t have any cabinets and at times doesn’t have any fixtures. This kind of unit is hard to manage as you will need to start from scratch. You can ask someone to build built-in cabinets or just buy ready made from a store where you can store all your things. You need to buy one for the kitchen, living room, dining room and a couple for the bed rooms for better Organizing an Apartment. There will be times that because the unit is bare, there are no partitions. You can go on and live in a studio unit or partition it yourself.

Decorating Ideas - The unit is old and.

More Decorating Ideas for Apartment. In contrast with the first type, the apartment unit that you got is too old and very much used by previous tenants. It is possible that units like these are leased significantly lower than the others. It could already have cabinets and other stuff and a couple of brush up is needed to make it appealing. You may opt to design and fix it yourself if you have creative ideas and skills in painting. Otherwise, you can simply contact an interior designer to assist you. Do it yourself option is of course cheaper and you have the personal touch in your home. By allotting like three days off to finish the home would be great. Apart from painting and designing, putting all things in place should be your top priority. This could make the home organized and neat. Living Room Redecorating Ideas.

Decorating Ideas - Units that is fully-furnished.

Decorating Ideas for Apartment. This is so far the best option you can get. Though, it could be the most expensive of all. These units got everything you ever need, from furniture to appliances. Name it, it sure have it. For such, there is no need to build anything. It just needs your patience to put all your things in its proper place. It sure does have all the cabinets that you need. This is the ideal home for people who don’t have any appliances as all.

No matter where you end up living, any apartment always needs your creativity to make it look great. It is not always how expensive your furniture or appliances are. It still depends on how you organize your things to make it seem good. Have you learn more Decorating Ideas for Apartment for Organizing an Apartment?

Most popular Home Improvement articles:

6 Home Improvement & House Remodeling Ideas that Increase Home Value

6 Home Improvement & House Remodeling Ideas that Increase Home Value


House Remodeling Ideas
Home Improvement and  House Remodeling Ideas that Increase Home Value? Since the real estate market has taken a plunge, a lot of home owners have opted to remain in their homes instead of selling. Majority consider this to be a wiser decision, until the economy gets better.

What most home owners have chosen to do instead is embark on home improvement and run a project with House Remodeling Ideas, to make their homes more comfortable and more valuable to the market. However, not all home improvement projects add value to your home. So, if you are planning on the same direction, you must consider the projects you have in mind prudently. Here are some tips on what you should invest in.

    1. Kitchen Remodeling for Home Improvement 

  • House Remodeling Ideas. The kitchen is often the central part of a home. It is often the busiest and the most utilized area in the house; this means that improving and remodeling this room pay off as long as you don’t go overboard. Don’t invest in a deluxe kitchen that would end up not fitting the rest of the house. If you are planning on selling your home someday, keep potential buyers in mind. Not many people would pay for a deluxe kitchen to Increase Home Value.
    .
  • Instead of spending a great deal, revitalize your kitchen by looking at color. A fresh coat of modern colors can amazingly go a long way towards achieving an updated look to your kitchen to Increase Home Value. To be more eco-friendly, consider using low-VOC paint. Home Remodeling Tips

  • 2. An Additional Bathroom for Home Improvement

  •  House Remodeling Ideas. If your house only has one bathroom, allocate a big portion of your home improvement budget for another one. According to HGTV, you can recoup around 80% to 130% of your expenses by adding a new one. The additional bathroom can be built in rooms or spaces in your house that have not been maximized, such as closets or areas underneath staircases. The cost of adding a bathroom would depend on the type of accessories and additions you get.

  • 3. Reinventing a Room for Home Improvement

  • A new room would put in additional square footage to your home to Increase Home Value, but it can be incredibly expensive. Why don’t you reinvent an existing room to save money? You can convert the attic to a bedroom or finish a basement.

  • 4. Adding Energy-Efficient Windows for Home Improvement

  • Not only can installing energy-efficient windows save you a lot of money, it can also increase your home’s market value. Nowadays, buyers are drawn into energy efficient features. This type of windows may also qualify you for credits from your state and your utility company.

  • 5. Adding a Deck for Home Improvement

  • House Remodeling Ideas. Outdoor living spaces make your house more appealing. The cost of building a deck depends largely on the size, design, and the materials you use. A deck construction is not easy, and you may need to hire contractors to do the job. When hiring contractors be sure to shop around for services before hiring one. Get at least three quotes from the contractors you interview.

  • 6. Basic Updates for Home Improvement

  • Increase Home Value by keeping the paint fresh, replacing rotting woods, leaking roofs, and getting rid of molds. Doing these basic updates will keep your home in tip-top shape and away from deterioration. Buyers want a solid and healthy home that has been well cared for. So now you know more about your Home Improvement and House Remodeling Ideas that Increase Home Value

    Most popular Home Improvement articles:

    Apartment Design Ideas, Interior Design Ideas

    Interior Design - Great Apartment Design Ideas Made Possible

    Interior Design
    Interior Design Ideas for your apartment. When we hear the word apartment, we often think of small or studio units. This is the typical description you can hear about apartment for lease. It could be true but not all the time. There are still a lot of for rent units that are spacious enough to accommodate a big household. In California for instance, by looking around you can already locate any kind of apartment size you need. Apart from the size, the Interior Design of the apartment also matters. There are a couple of ways that a tenant can do about apartment design ideas.

    Living Room Design

    The high-rise apartments – these are the ones you see inside a tall building. When you go inside, you will see several doors for each apartment unit. When you live in this kind of apartment, there will be no need to worry about a garden. The exterior of your unit is also not your concern. The only thing that you will need to enhance and beautify is the Interior Design of the unit. It will involve the walls, ceilings, lighting, furniture and appliances.

    Apartment Design Ideas. The low-rise apartments - these are the units that are also inside building, yet only with usually less than 5 floors. Same like the aforementioned, your only concern is the interior design. If you intend to plant some plants, opt to have the ones that can grow indoors. Or, if you have your own terrace, that is where you can put and water your plants.

    If you live in neither a low rise nor high rise unit, then you probably have the typical apartment unit like the typical residence. In which, you have your own garden, patio, garage and so on. If that is the case, it needs your full attention to make the unit a cozy place to live. 

    Apartment Design Ideas. The living room – for this area, you just have to ensure that there is a sofa, couch, cabinets and a table. The cabinet is the place where you can put your entertainment appliances like the TV, radio, magazines and so on. This is the usual place where you entertain the guest, so ensure that it always looks neat and organized.

    The dining room – when the unit is small, it is possible that the living and the dining area is closely connected. If that is so, you can use some partition just to make the area more private. Apartment Design Ideas

    The bedroom – it is quite easy to style the bedroom. Use colors to reflect the owner of the room. If it is the master’s bedroom, red, yellow and blue could be your choices. For the kid’s room, of course pink for girls and blue for boys. You just have to be creative and match the colors with his or her favorite cartoon character.

    Interior Design, Apartment Design Ideas - Designing and improving the looks of your unit is never an easy job. Yet, with the help of your whole family, this challenging task can turn in to a fun and enjoyable bonding. You just have to be clear with your objectives and that is to make the unit a more desirable place to spend time to no matter what time of day it is.

    Most popular Design Ideas improving your house:


    Living Room Design Redecorating Ideas, Interior Design

    Living Room Design Ideas. Redecorating Ideas

    Living Room Design
    Living Room Design ideas. The living room is where the whole family usually gathers. It is also a typical place for entertaining your guests, or where you can spend a quiet time reading a book. You can make your living room a more inviting and pleasing area in your house by redecorating. It is possible to transform it without shelling out a huge amount of money. Just let your ideas and creativity surge freely. Here are a few ideas to help you get started with your Living Room Design.

    Paint it up - Living Room Design, Interior Design

    Painting, Redecorating Ideas and Living Room Design ideas are connected. Breathe new life into your room with a fresh coat of paint. You can even try some great paint techniques that will totally change the look and character of your living room. One thing to remember though is to consider the rest of your living room furniture when choosing a new shade for your walls. Well, if you’re feeling bold, you can give your furniture a new paint job as well. How about bringing a cottage look to your living room? Applying a distressed finish to your furniture, and painting its trimmings with white can bring back its vibrancy. Top it all up with crisp white curtains and bring some balance with bright white accessories.

    Rearrange - Living Room Design

    Redecorating Ideas: Try moving your furniture to new spots to achieve a different look. You can perhaps make the place cozier by placing couches closer together, or repositioning your paintings and wall decors. There may be other furniture or decorative pieces in other areas in your house that can actually look good and jazz up your living room.


    Interior Design - Throw in a new rug

    Great Redecorating Ideas. A new rug is a simple but effective way of pulling off a new look in your living room area. By choosing an appropriate shade and design, it can turn the area into a warm and alluring place. Putting it in the right place, like under the coffee table for example, will give your living room that homey feeling.

    What do you know about Backyard gardens?

    Add new paintings and décor to your living room design

    They don’t have to be the expensive ones. You can check out garage sales or go bargain hunting. A painting with a lot of character or a few remarkable candle holders can make a whole lot of difference to an otherwise boring room. You don’t have to rush and purchase all the décor you want. Instead, buy a piece or two at a time, until you will have an interesting collection.

    Add color with cushions, Great Living Room Design

    Interior Design and Redecorating Ideas. One clever way of achieving a fun and trendy look is by adding cushions that will accentuate the rest of your furniture. Play with different styles and colors for an amazing outcome. This is especially a great idea if you own neutral couches and your home don’t have architectural details. You have to incorporate patterns and colors to enliven it. The most inexpensive way of doing this is with throw pillows. This is a very common item that you can actually use in an untraditional way. Try mixing various geometric prints and patterns, or powerful color combinations to make a statement in your living room.

    Saturday, July 14, 2012

    Colonade At Park Shore - Market Update

    Colonade at Park Shore in Naples Florida is a small gated community of townhomes in Park Shore. Colonade offers a clubhouse with a community swimming-pool and spa. Close to Venetian Village and private access to Park Shore beach.
    In the past 12 months, seven properties have been sold in the Colonade and another property is currently under contract.
    As of today, only four townhomes are listed for sale in The Colonade.
    View properties currently for sale in The Colonade...
    View sold properties in the past 12 months...  (report is only available online for 30 days).

    Naples Restaurants - Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero Restaurants

    The Naples area (Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero) in Florida offers a wide choice of top restaurants.
    From Fifth Avenue south and Third Street South in downtown Naples to Mercato in North Naples or Bonita Springs and Estero...
    View some of the finest restaurants in Naples...

    Thursday, July 12, 2012

    Carolands - A Boater's Community In Bonita Springs, FL

    Carolands in Bonita Springs, Florida is a small subdivision off Hickory Blvd in Bonita Springs, Florida. Carolands is located on Estero Bay, a few steps away from Bonita Beach.
    Carolands has less than 80 properties. There are just a few vacant home sites left. All properties are waterfront with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.
    Inventory is very low in Carolands with only two home sites and two homes for sale.
    View all available properties for sale in Carolands...
    View all beachfront properties for sale on Bonita Beach...

    Tuesday, July 10, 2012

    Why Buy New Construction?


    Buying new construction is a great option when looking for a new home. When you buy new construction you are able to customize the entire house before you move in. You can choose the flooring, colors, cabinets, and much more. You can also choose the design of the house, any bump outs you want to do, and the material on the outside of the house. Another great reason is for the communities. Most the of the new construction in Sussex County are built in new communities with brand new facility’s with swimming pools, club houses, beautiful ponds and great landscaping. Then there is the reason that new homes are superior because of how they are built. New construction homes have better insulation, better windows that will trap in or out heat, and state of the art appliances that will save you monthly on your energy bill. If you are interested in any of these new construction homes you can click here for Rehoboth Beach or here for Lewes. You can also find new construction in Bethany Beach by clicking here. If those cities don’t have what you are looking for then you can click here for new homes in Dewey Beach. Another place for new homes is The Peninsula you can find these by clicking here. To search the entire county click here.

    Tuesday, July 3, 2012

    Naples Real Estate - Market Update - June 2012

    The real estate market continues its upswing in the Naples area, even during the low-season.
    In June, 1,134 properties have closed in the Naples area. 86 properties sold for $1M to over $9M.
    1,024 other properties have been under contract during the same period of time.
    Among June's sales:
    - A house on Port Charles Dr in Port Royal listed $10,499,000 sold for $9,350,000.
    - A house in Bay Colony Shores listed $2,695,000 sold for $2,550,000.
    - A beachfront home on Bonita Beach listed $3,295,000 sold for $2,975,000.
    View properties sold for over $1M in June 2012...
    View properties sold for $500,000 to under $1M in June 2012...
    Search for all residential listings by communities or subdivisions...