home imporovements – Page 23

March 5, 2015March 5, 2015

A Work Space

According to many leading home designers and home builders, a home office is becoming one of a home’s ‘must have’ features. As people do more work away from the office and kids do more work outside of the library, the home office is growing in importance.

Personally, I’ve had an office in my various apartments and homes for over 30 years. But since the proliferation of the internet in the late 90’s, many jobs now have a more ‘mobile’ nature to them and thus people are working more and more from home.

There’s also some evidence that home offices can make a home more attractive to buyers.

Here is a great article by Amy Hoak of MarketWatch.com where she details the surveys and facts behind the reasons for the growing number of home sellers and home buyers who are incorporating home offices into their living spaces.

So now that we have established the near necessity of incorporating a home office space, the next question is – what could it look like! I’ll share with you today a great article full of photos and ideas of some great home office spaces. This article is comes to us from OneKindDesign.com and you can see it here.

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If you are considering adding a home office space to your home and you are curious what this addition may mean to the value of your home, please feel free to call or text me at 412.613.4466 or email me at sold@ericmckenna.com

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March 4, 2015

Man Caves in the 60’s & 70’s

Yesterday I wrote about some incredible Man Caves. Today, with the help of Benjamin Cooper of Airows.com we take a hilarious look back at Man Caves from the 60’s and 70’s.

A bit funny, a bit scary and a whole lot of RETRO in these photos! Here we have a little James Bond. A little Mod Squad. A little Jovan Musk. Well, you get the picture.

Needless to say – we have come a LONG way. Or have we? Well, I’ll leave that up to you.

You can see Benjamin’s full article here.

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March 3, 2015March 3, 2015

A+ Man Caves

Man Caves. The ‘en vogue’ term for what once was a ‘finished game room’. But there is no doubt that recent trends have brought the Man Cave into the lexicon of modern day home selling and home buying.

I have buyers who are looking for finished Man Caves in their potential home purchases or they are looking for appropriate spaces to convert to a Man Cave once the home is purchased. zcave2

Personally, I have a few friends who have created tremendous and unique Man Caves in their homes. Comfortable spaces that are also full of conversation pieces. And yet as amazing as these rooms are, there are truly some top tier projects out there. Man Caves that take the concept to a whole other level.

From games rooms to themed-rooms to incredible media rooms, the basement in many homes is a space that adds fun and function as well as unique, personal style.

Check out this great article with photos from about 50 truly amazing Man Caves. This article comes to us from HomeStratosphere.com This article will certainly show how far we have come from the wood paneling and shag carpet finished basements.

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Considering a finished basement remodeling project or a full blown Man Cave? Do you need a referral to a great contractor? Or would you just like to know how a finished basement or Man Cave can help increase your home’s value, feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466. I can be reached by email as well as sold@ericmckenna.com

March 1, 2015March 2, 2015

Oynx Countertops

Onyx. Not the first material one thinks of for countertops. But this stone is wonderfully beautiful. Wonderfully rare. And wonderfully unique. Onyx makes a statement. In a way most other materials can’t. And match onyx up with some tasteful backlighting – and you have a look and an effect you simply can’t match.

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However before you choose Onyx – there are a few things you need to know.

Onyx is fragile. Onyx countertops typically include a fiberglass backing compound to strengthen the slab and keep it together. Onyx is not extracted in slabs from the ground like other countertop stone materials. Onyx slabs are much smaller in size thus…

Onyx is soft. This can be a ‘wear’ problem. It scratches easily. Also another danger is acidic liquid. Meaning, if you spill vinegar, red wine or lemon juice on onyx you can dull or scratch the surface.

Maintenance is required. Onyx needs to be sealed properly and then cleaned with a special stone cleaner at frequent intervals to make it less-prone to scratching and staining.

Onyx is expensive. Actually, onyx is THE most expensive countertop material currently available. kitchen-classic-white-tuscan-italian-kitchen-decor-with-black-granite-countertop-also-white-light-bulb-faux-bronze-chandelier-in-black-onyx-tuscan-italian-kitchen-decor-610x457

So… after all these negatives, you ask why would one bother with onyx. Well, there is no denying the sheer beauty of the stone. It comes in a variety of colors and the “veining” adds contrasting colors to make these slabs look like works of art.

The light hits it and instantly brightens up the room. For even more appeal, try backlit onyx, which has a wonderful glow that you can’t get any other way.

If you want a standout kitchen or bathroom – onyx countertops will give you exactly that.

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If you are considering new countertops in onyx or any other stone material and would like referrals to excellent contractors or if you have questions as to how upgrading your countertops may increase the value of your home, feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466. Or email me at sold@ericmckenna.com

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February 25, 2015February 25, 2015

Beautiful Fireplaces

Since I was young, I’ve always loved fireplaces. When I would visit my grandparents, they had this wonderful home with very rich wood decor and an atmosphere of cozy warmth. In the Fall and Winter months, my grandfather would light a fire in the large fireplace in the living room and my family would gather there to talk and enjoy each others company. I can remember enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and the calming nature of the flames. I was always amazed how that fireplace could make an already cozy spot even that much better. B41XT-B-610x340

Today, as I’m showing homes, there is no question that many of my buying clients are looking for fireplaces in their next home. And while occasionally a buyer will seek a wood burning fireplace, most are seeking the convenience and style of gas fireplaces.

One of the great things about gas fireplaces is that if a home does not have one, it can be added without a lot of difficulty.

The good folks at Heat & Glow published this article outlining 10 really great reasons to add a gas fireplace to your home.

These reasons include improving the value of the home, providing additional heating and warmth to a room or even a whole floor, the fuel efficiency of the new gas fireplaces, the beauty of modern fireplace design including the ‘art’ of flame articulation and much more.

You can read the entire article at the Heat & Glow website here

If you are considering adding a gas fireplace to your home and need a referral to a professional installer or you just have questions on how a gas fireplace may improve the value of your home, please feel free contact me. As always, I’m here to help! Call or text me at 412-613-4466. I can also be reached by email at sold@ericmckenna.com

Or feel free to simply fill out this short contact form below:

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February 19, 2015March 2, 2015

First Impressions

It goes without saying that it’s very wise for a home seller to give serious thought to what kind of first impression their home gives potential buyers.

As the sayings goes, “you only get one chance to make a first impression.” With that reoccurring thought in mind, I’m always looking for great articles on the ‘art’ of home selling. Articles on steps homeowners can take to improve the look and feel their homes gives off to prospective buyers.

And often the best advice is straight forward, simple and easy to accomplish. And that is what we have with Ann Miller’s article at Realtor.com entitled “12 ways to make a fantastic first impression on buyers.” You can’t get any more straightforward than that! workingyard

Ann touches on ideas such as:

– Lawn care, bush pruning and generally making your yard ‘neat’ and uncluttered. And of course – well ‘groomed’.

– Professionally clean carpets. One of the worst impressions for a buyer to get past is a dirty carpet.

– Make sure all light switches work. Every one.

– Putting new caulk around sinks and tubs.

– Cleaning out your medicine cabinets.

– Replacing old light bulbs and using the brightest bulbs each fixture will take. Great illumination is a must.

– If you have a pet, make sure you make arrangements for the pet to out of the property during showings.

For additional ideas and further detail, you can read Ann’s entire article on Realtor.com here

If you are considering listing your home for sale and have any questions about preparing your home for a great first impression or you have questions about any other matter related to effectively selling your home, I’m here to help! Please feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466. In addition, I can be reached quickly via email at sold@ericmckenna.com

You can also reach me via the contact form below:

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February 16, 2015February 16, 2015

Budget Your Remodel

Ah yes…the dreaded home remodeling project. It really does not need to be a journey launched into the great unknown! Here is a great, short read by Oliver Marks of Houselogic.com in which Oliver lays out 4 simple steps to follow before you jump in and do that home remodeling project.

Oliver presents the idea that most homeowners have no problem figuring out what they want. The trouble lies in not figuring out – up front – what they can afford. He suggest this four step plan: contractor3

1. Ballpark the costs. Oliver suggests ‘Remodeling’ magazine’s 2015 ‘Costs vs. Value Report’ as a reference point for homeowners. This report gives national cost averages for 36 common projects and can provide a basis for starting to add up project costs.

2. Do you have the money? If you can pay cash – Great! If you need to borrow, you need to assess how much a bank will lend you for the project and what that loan means in additional monthly expense for the household. In the article, Oliver goes into various home equity loan options available for home owners and the details of each.

3. Get multiple contractor quotes. Oliver suggests getting solid quotes from at least 3 contractors. And about those contractors… they should come from recommendations from family, friends and tradesmen you trust. Provide each contractor a detailed project description and product list and request an itemized quote from each. Take the winning bid and then add 15% for cost overruns and changes.

4. Buy materials and appliances yourself. Oliver suggests that by educating yourself on item costs and then purchasing these items before your contractor begins your project, you can avoid contractor mark ups. However – before you buy, it’s imperative that you coordinate with your contractor to ensure you are purchasing the correct items for your project.

Click here to read Oliver’s complete article at Houselogic.com.

And if you are considering a home improvement project and you need contractor referrals or you have questions on how this improvement project may increase the value of your home, don’t hesitate to call or text me at 412-613-4466. I can also be reached by email at sold@ericmckenna.com

Or feel free to fill out the contact for below.

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February 13, 2015

20 Kitchen Countertop Materials

Do you think you know all your kitchen countertop options? I’d be willing bet you may not!

Since we are on a kitchen theme recently at EricMcKenna.com, how about some different options for kitchen countertop materials?

Lee Wallender at About.com presents this great article outlining 20 different materials that can be cut and used for kitchen countertops.

Of course there are the most thought of materials including granite, slate, quartz, tile and laminate, but Lee outlines other options including concrete, stainless steel, soapstone, recycled glass, paper composite, recycled aluminum, reclaimed wood, zinc and even bamboo.

Lee provides photos of each example as well as some of the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ associated with each. While not every material is practical for every kind of use or family lifestyle, there certainly are some beautiful finishes available by simply thinking outside of the box. And if one’s goal is to add a unique touch to a kitchen project, a different countertop material may be just the thing.

You can read Lee’s complete article at About.com right here

If you are considering a complete new kitchen project or a simple kitchen ‘redo’ and you have questions about how this project can improve the value of your home, feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466. I can also be reached by email at sold@ericmckenna.com

February 11, 2015February 11, 2015

About That Kitchen

Depending who you ask, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. Especially when selling your home.

Opinions. We all have them. Yet when it comes to selling your home, many real estate professionals consider your kitchen as the most important room in the house. Knock the buyer out with a fantastic kitchen and it often means the difference in your home being purchased – or another.

In this day and age, the options for kitchen layout, color schemes and themes are quite vast. And while ‘trends’ come and go, there remains so many viable design directions to consider. I found this great article by Jaymi Naciri of Realty Times who takes a moment to offer bold suggestions to get your kitchen possibly headed in a whole new direction. Her overall message in this article is to avoid the bland and make your kitchen a standout – if not even a bit festive.

Her ideas include vibrant shades of cabinets as opposed to traditional white, greys and muted tones.

Another idea is to go black. Described as ‘soothing’ and even ‘sleek and bold’, the use of black can be very modern and striking if designed correctly.

The article also suggests that wallpaper is making a comeback for kitchens with the desire for many to make their kitchen walls more colorful or to add a striking, contrast pattern.

The industrial and rustic trends in home decor continue to be sought after by homeowners and now these trends are making their way into kitchens.

It’s also suggested that something as simple as a lively backsplash can make an impressive change to a kitchen decor. Patterned backsplashes with texture draw the eye in and create visual interest. Sometimes just enough to add that needed touch to an already great kitchen.

You can read Jaymi’s complete article here.

If you are thinking of selling your home or have questions as to what kind of kitchen remodeling you could do to better prepare your home for market, please feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466. You may also email me at sold@ericmckenna.com

February 6, 2015February 7, 2015

Landscaping Tips for Home Sellers

Quick ideas to increase your home’s curb appeal

While it may be hard to believe, a well maintained and attractive landscape can add up to 10 percent to the value of your home. It’s just that simple. Never underestimate curb appeal!

Power-wash dirty surfaces. Clean the grunge and grime off paved surfaces as well as fences, vinyl siding and brick areas.

Repair an outdoor leaky faucet. A leaking faucet suggests that there may be other problems elsewhere in the plumbing, and that can be an instant turn-off to buyers.

Touch up the mulch. A fresh layer of mulch to all garden beds spruces up your yard like little else. The color enhances everything around it and makes plants and flowers ‘pop’.

Shape unsightly or overgrown trees and shrubs. Nothing says neglect like overgrown trees and shrubs. Not to mention dead branches.

Plant some instant color. Create a splach of several colors or a more monochromatic scheme, whatever fits in with the look of your home by planting annuals.

Find more great tips at this article at hgtv.

If you are considering selling your home now or in the near future and would like additional landscape and/or home staging ideas or home selling information, feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466. You can also contact me by email at sold@ericmckenna.com