Home Maintenance

Getting Your Money's Worth - Home Renovations Paying You Back

Many homeowners look for ways to improve the appearance and value of their properties. While small investments can bring increased value, conversely large investments may not bring the return you expect. Several factors weigh in on these decisions; if you plan to continue to live in First Impressionsthe home, investments should be practical and improve upon daily living. If you plan to sell your home, only go as far as needed to gain a sizable return. It’s smart to focus on the details that buyers focus on; and you don’t want the highest priced home in the neighborhood. If the other homes are set in a certain price bracket, no number of improvements can transcend it by very much. Here are some basic tips to follow when planning home renovations or improvements,...

I want to catch the robber

What started as an unhealthy interest level has quickly turned in to a severe case of what I like to call “voluntary agoraphobia.” For the past month, the Highlands has been the target of a high number of home break ins and burglaries. Living right in the middle of the Highlands, and with several neighbors who fell victim to these home invaders, I have reached ultimate lockdown and survey mode. My lifetime full of love for shows like Dateline NBC and 48 Hours Mystery are fueling my underlying interest in my neighborhoods misfortune and my supreme goal to be the one to “catch the predator.” Being at home with two young boys all day and writing from home gives me the opportunity to be the protecter of my street. I can keep a look out for the newest suspects, write down license plate numbers, and patiently wait for the joker who tries to mess with my house.

All kidding aside, I do find it my responsibility to look out for my neighbors. Innocent people are being...

Now is the Time for Discounted Christmas Decor

The Holiday season is over. Christmas has come and gone and our hangovers from New Year’s have finally subsided. Right around this time, at the beginning of the new year, most folks are huddled in two categories; those that couldn't be happier the Christmas season is behind them and those feeling a bit of yule tide separation anxiety. Depending on which category you fall under, what I am about to propose will either be cringe worthy, or welcomed with delight. Although the holiday season is technically over with, right now is the best time to shop for next year’s Christmas decor. For those of you that are al “Christmas’d out,” just give me a chance to make my point. Most stores discount their Christmas merchandise 50% off and higher this time of year. You don’t even have to take what you purchase out of the bags when you get home, just throw your bags in storage with the rest of your decorations. It will all be worth the extra day surrounded by glitter reindeers...

Louisville Home Owners Save Some Green By Being Green

Is the fridge on the fritz? Or the dishwasher on the skids? Maybe your washing machine is doing anything but? Then it could be time to make a new purchase for your home. The good and bad news is that there are seemingly endless options for how to spend your money in the world of home appliances. It’s easy to think that making environmentally friendly purchases when it comes to the refrigerator or washing machine will be cost-prohibitive, but Louisville home owners have found ways to actually save some green by being green. A few simple tips can help you do the same.

1) Size matters. The simple truth is that large appliances use more energy than smaller ones. So consider how much use your new appliance will get before just purchasing the biggest model. If you eat out a lot, then maybe you don’t need the industrial size dishwasher. If you are on a first name basis with your dry cleaner, then maybe a smaller washing machine and dryer will suffice.

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Three Home Staging Tips for Louisville Home Sellers

Selling a home is so much more than listing it with a good agent and hoping for the best. One of the best things that a Louisville home seller can do to make sure that his house sells fast and for the best price is to “stage” it properly. Once thought of as an unnecessary “extra,” something only interior designers and real estate experts knew much about, home staging is now a must for anyone who wants to make top dollar. Even making a few simple changes—some that cost absolutely nothing—will make a world of difference when it comes time for the open house.

Don’t forget about the outside
Too often, people focus all of their attention inside a home and do nothing to the outside of the house. But when you are selling Louisville real estate a home’s exterior is the first impression that any would-be home buyer will notice. Perhaps the cheapest way to make that first impression a good one is to tackle the weeds. Get rid of all weeds...

Winter Maintenance for Homes in Louisville

Black Friday is now a distant memory, Santa can no longer be found at Mall St. Matthews and all the holiday decorations have been put away for another year. That can only mean one thing – the birth of a new year is upon us.  And that means it’s time once again to make New Year’s resolutions.  We could promise anew actually to use our gym membership this year or we could try yet again to swear off chocolate or ice cream. But perhaps a better pledge for 2012 might be to get our homes in Louisville ready for winter. That’s a resolution that will not only bring us comfort during the coldest months of the year, but it may also be something we can accomplish more successfully than the latest fad diet or strenuous exercise program.

Since Louisville winters usually bring a few snow storms with average temperatures in the 20s during January and February, making sure that your house is ready to keep you warm should be a top priority. January is not too late to make some simple...