Better Bathroom Basics . . . Even on a Budget!

So often it seems to be the relatively little things that finally make or break a deal.

"A dreary, outdated bathroom can be a home sale deal breaker. Remodeling magazine says the average price of a mid-range bathroom remodel in 2007 was $14,445. But $500 worth of nips and tucks can upgrade the room, says Lytel Young, host of HGTV’s 'Save My Bath.'

'There are three important things in a bathroom,' Young says. 'Clean, simple, and orderly. That's the key for every budget, whether it's $500 or $40,000.' He recommends these inexpensive steps to sellers whose baths need a facelift:

• Rip out the dated medicine cabinet and replace it with a big mirror.
• Replace the lighting with new sconces on both sides of the mirror plus a new overhead fixture on a dimmer.
• Re-caulk the tub and shower.
• Repaint with a neutral color, but decorate with big, fluffy colorful towels.
• Hang some framed art."

For the full article Washington Post article at Realtor magazine online: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008042505?OpenDocument

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Unfortunately the answer to the title question seems to be a simple, unqualified, "NO." Even here in Charleston the "Most Mannerly City" in the U.S. for 12 years running, we don't always agree with our neighbors. Here are some things to keep in mind when the inevitable difficulties arise.

"Conflicts with neighbors are a universal problem. Differences in lifestyles and values trigger disagreements wherever people live. Here are some of the top problems, along with suggestions for resolving them.

Too noisy. Barking dogs and rattling air conditioners are among the excessive noise complaints that most rankle neighbors. Solution: Try talking with neighbor about bothersome noise. There may be an easy solution - extra carpeting, piano practice limited to certain hours, outdoor parties moved inside after 11 p.m. If not, the noise-sensitive might be happiest living somewhere with large yards.

My view is ruined! We're not just talking about new construction that blocks your view of the water. The case of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Michael Palermo is expected to be heard in the Lowell Superior Court next month. The case deals with Palermo and his neighbor, a single mother of two young children. Local police charged Palermo with a string of misdemeanor and felonies because he stood naked in front of a window. Tyngsborough Deputy Police Chief Richard Burrows says, 'The window he was using for exposing faced the street. Not just the victim could see him, but potentially anybody on or near the street could see this going on.' Solution: Before buying, check zoning of nearby land and look into neighborhood construction plans. If all else fails, keep the drapes drawn.

That house is ugly. One side of the house is painted bright yellow; the other is a dark green. MIT professor Richard de Neufville, who lives on the yellow side, says the answer is peaceful coexistence. Before a difference in taste escalated into a much larger issue, de Neufville and his neighbor determined color coordination wasn't worth a fight. 'This is life in the big city. I'm not against, in principle, having the same color, but I don't think I have to make a special effort,' says de Neufville. Solution: Talk it out with neighbors rather than let resentment build, but pick your fights carefully. Is it really worth an argument?"

For the full Boston Globe article from Realtor magazine online: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008040901?OpenDocument

Smaller Floor Plans in Big Demand

It's true – bigger isn't always better, and sometimes less is more! Helping clients find the home that will best suit their family's needs, perhaps considering alternatives that had not occurred to them before and how those might really work to their advantage – that's a big part of what I love about my job!

"American’s appetite for big homes and over-sized furniture appears to be shrinking. New-home buyers began asking builder KB Home for smaller floor plans right after the collapse in subprime lending last year, says CEO Jeffrey Mezger. The demand for a huge, high-ceilinged great room is giving way to the desire for special-purpose rooms, including media rooms and home offices, says a spokesman for luxury specialist Pulte Homes.

In three of its four new sofa collections, Younger Furniture is offering 'apartment size' sofas, which are about 10 inches shorter than full-sized ones. Citing a trend toward smaller homes, Rowe Fine Furniture says it expects its Mini Mod line will account for a quarter of its collection this fall.

'They're finally getting it,' says Jodi FitzGerald, owner of Door Store Furniture, an 11-store retail chain in metropolitan New York that specializes in small-scale furniture. She estimates the number of smaller offerings has grown by about a third over the past year."

For the full Wall Street Journal article from Realtor magazine online: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008041503?OpenDocument