Lisa Gash’s Blog

Hello and welcome back to my Blog.  I ran across this interesting article and thought I’d pass  it on to all those Sellers who are trying to set their home apart from all the other homes currently on the market. 

In a Down Market, Just Add Color

(ARA) – When it comes to your home’s exterior, color is currency. With millions of homes across the country currently on the market, smart homeowners are differentiating their houses and wowing potential buyers with color - from the roof all the way down to the landscaping.

“Fortunately, you don’t have to resort to beige siding and basic black shingles to play it safe when it comes to exterior color,” says Leslie Segrete, co-host of the Money Pit home improvement radio show. “Contrast can be tastefully done with the home’s enduring architectural elements, while bold or trendy can be reserved for elements that are more easily changed, like landscaping.”

Whether you’re planning to sell your home in this highly competitive market, or just create a classic look you’ll enjoy for years to come, here are some things to keep in mind when adding color to create curb appeal.

From the Top Down
Homeowners might not think of their roof as a part of the overall aesthetic of their home, but it is one of the first things a prospective buyer sees. A roof can account for as much as half of your home’s exterior, yet is an often-overlooked design opportunity. “A new roof is certainly a selling point for a house, but an interesting new roof – one that makes a statement with color or design – can really help pump up curb appeal and enjoyment,” Segrete says.

Color choices in asphalt shingles have been expanding in recent years, and it’s no longer necessary to resort to costly exotic materials – like tile or slate – to create a character-filled look. You can add elegance or whimsy by creating patterns with splashes of color outlined in a contrasting color against a conservative background. Owens Corning, America’s number one brand of roofing shingles, offers a wide selection of shingle colors that can be used in contrasting colors to create eye-catching designs in your roof shingles.
You can see examples of a diamond motif and download information from the Owens Corning website, www.owenscorning.com/ibs2008.

Color Cues
Color can help sell a house, real estate experts agree, and a poor color choice can alienate your neighbors; not only will it be an eyesore but it can devalue your home and others around it.

According to Segrete classic, clean and elegant, white consistently shows up on the top of the list in surveys of Americans’ most popular color choices for homes. Earth tones of beige, green, brown or tan usually follow closely in terms of preference. While, historically, the more conservative colors have been popular to Americans, times are changing and homeowners are becoming more adventurous with color. Blues and grays are slightly less popular, but still considered within the range of what’s acceptable. Reds and pinks are the least popular, unless, of course, your home has a brick façade or is in a tropical or historic neighborhood.

Whatever color you choose, don’t forget that complementary colors and shades can be used to highlight the architectural style of your home. Darker color blends provide contrast while lighter colors simplify a home’s lines and angles and can make the home appear larger. For example, you may be able to get away with lavender on a gingerbread-style Victorian, but the color would be far less appropriate on many of today’s modern homes.

Liberty to Landscape
Landscaping is the area where homeowners can have the most versatility – and fun – with color. Because plants are not permanent, it’s possible to take risks or make bold statements with color choices. If you don’t care for something or your real estate agent advises you to tone down the color scheme, it’s relatively easy to redo small landscaping elements.

While you have more wiggle room choosing plant and floral colors, do keep in mind positioning and location, especially for large elements like trees or shrubs. Generally, you want colors near the home that will contrast or complement the color of the house itself, and remember to avoid one of the worst landscaping faux pas – obscuring windows or the front door with large trees or shrubs.

With a little know how, homeowners can easily differentiate their home from the neighbors, and in a down market that can make other sellers green with envy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Well we have made it through January!  Spring is just around the corner but with the big thaw also comes warm weather maintenance.  I’d like to share a few maintenance tips for those of us that live in the colder climates (actually these are good ideas no matter which part of the country you may live in).  First, start by looking at your roof.  After all of the snow and ice has melted you may notice some loose shingles or flashings.  If these items are not taken care of the rain and wind will find a way to enter your home and can cause even greater damage.  Also, be sure to check around your chimney for any crumbling brick or loose flashing.  It might be best to have a professional come out and take a look if you have any questions.  It could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. 

Don’t forget to clean out your gutters.  With Spring also comes heavy rains that could cause problems if your gutters are clogged. 

Check your siding on your house for any popped nails or cracked stucco.  Then get the garden hose or power washer out and give your house a bath (don’t forget the windows too). 

 The next big item is the yard.  Your once lush green yard will need some attention.  Clear out any remaining leaves from the fall and cut the yard down low.  Then apply a fertilizer to help it spring back to life.  Your local hardware store can help you pick the best fertilizer for your yard.  Cut back any dead tree branches and also any flowers and plants that will be starting to bloom in the warmer weather.

Then lastly, enjoy the warm weather and put away the snow shovel! Remember home maintenance is never ending but it’s well worth it.

For additional tips please click on the link below.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_home_ext_maintenance/article/0,1797,HGTV_3735_5386974,00.html

Until next time. 

Lisa

Hello and welcome back!  The 2007 Cost vs. Value Report is just out.  This report shows you what your percentage of return might be on home improvement projects when you sell your home.  According to Remodeling magazine, exterior and replacement projects bring the biggest return. 

Home office remodels rank at or near the bottom of the national averages,  However, minor kitchen remodels rank among the highest value projects.  You should also consider whether  a remodeled space reduces the number of rooms or available square footage. An example of gaining square footage would be by adding a bathroom under a stairwell.  This had previously been unused space.   

In the Kansas Ctiy area adding a wood deck with a job cost of $10,546 you can expect to  recoup approximately 75.2% of the cost.  Adding siding (fiber-cement) at a job cost of $12,578 you will see a recoup of approximately 82.1%.   A minor kitchen remodel with a job cost of $21,672 will recoup approximately 74.2%. 

So if you are thinking of starting a home improvement project during this coming season click on the link below for a complete copy of the article.  Good luck on your project.

 http://www.costvsvalue.com/ 

Lisa

Hello and welcome to my Blog! 

Well tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I hope as you are reading my blog that you are able to give thanks for all the gifts in your life no matter how small they may seem.  If one listens to the daily news it seems that there is absolutely nothing we have to be thankful for.  All we seem to hear about is the credit crisis and the housing woes.  Oh, and let’s not forget about the rising oil prices.  We must remember that these are simply market corrections and the current state of affairs will not last.  Does anyone remember the gas lines of the 1970’s and the insane mortgage rates of the early 1980’s? 

Those times were far worse than what we are going through now and we did survive those times.  In fact this is one of the best times to buy a home.  Interest rates are declining and with the huge inventory it couldn’t be a better time especially for first time home buyers who are thinking about jumping into the home-buying arena.  It’s also a great time for investors who are looking for investment property.

If you have ever thought about buying investment property now is the time to get out there and see the deals that await. 

As you are enjoying  your turkey and pumpkin pie tomorrow give thanks for what you have in your life instead of what you don’t have.  Until next time.

Lisa 

Welcome to Lisa Gash’s Blog! This blog will provide you with valuable information, tips, and general insight into the real estate market in Lee’s Summit.