Category: Real Estate

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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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Basement with bar

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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

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Bad Design Trends

When preparing your home for sale – it’s important to identify home interior ‘trends’ vs. tried and true home interior styling.  And this is easier said than done.  There are so many popular home improvement TV shows on the air currently that ideas – and not always good ones – can circulate quickly.roomsfullofugly

Of course, buyers want to picture themselves in your home.  Highly personal design touches make that more difficult.  Sure, you may love it! But will your taste in home interior style be appreciated by buyers?  That’s the question.

Realtor.com writer Patricia-Ann Tom pens this great article highlighting some of the more risky home trends that can backfire and potentially turn off prospective home buyers.

She outlines bad trends such as boldly painted walls, bold and/or complex wallpaper patterns, lavish or overly flashy light fixtures, the abuse of gold within a  home’s interior, converted bedrooms, carpet and few others.

Her overall theme is to try to remain neutral where it counts in an effort to appeal to the broadest amount of potential buyers.

You can read her complete article at Realtor.com here

If you have any questions about preparing your home for sale, feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466.  I can also be reached by email at sold@ericmckenna.com

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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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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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Showings and Snow!

What a day!  About 8 degrees, snow blizzard and periods of near white out conditions yet my buyers were awesome!  Such troopers!  Luckily the lock boxes opened up quickly as the wind chill was just brutal!  We had such a good time as we viewed  another group of houses and maybe…just maybe, found this wonderful couple the right home! 10994584_10203579709957891_3531700080565923150_n

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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. granite-countertops-in-kitchens-pictures-itkb3sed

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

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The ‘Business’

Life is funny.  During the last 15 years of operating my company, Boogie Street Guitars, I often would tell myself that I could never find a vocation which I would love as much as the guitar business.  Well… I was wrong

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Really Cool Home Remodeling Ideas

I came across this article by written by Peggy Wang on the BuzzFeed Staff and I must admit…its’ really ‘cool!’  She lists 43 unique and ‘Cool’ remodeling ideas.  It’s a great, fun article with quite a few really custom and useful interior and exterior designs.   Some are really ‘out of the box’ thinking compared to traditional remodeling options.

Here are a group Peggy’s ideas I felt were standouts: enhanced-13793-1405531626-1

6.  Display your book collection under the stairs or even add a ‘wine cellar style’ wine cabinet under the stairs

11.  Make space for two dishwashers instead of one

16.  Maximize your space with baseboard drawers

17.  Consider building a hidden room

18.  Make some of your walls magnetic.  

20.  Add a multi-directional steam shower

24.  Put a ‘bar’ rail on your deck for extra outdoor eating room

31.  Add recessed hallway or basement lights along the baseboards

42. Cut out ‘overlooks’ for your second storyenhanced-buzz-15087-1388183167-9

Again, just a really fun read. Some of these ideas left me scratching my head because – they really make sense!  How could we not be doing these?

Here is a link to Peggy’s complete article on BuzzFeed

If you are considering remodeling your home and would like referrals to excellent contractors or if you would like advice on how your remodeling plans may affect the value of your home, please feel free to call or text me at 412-613-4466.  Or email me at sold@ericmckenna.com