Cobb Real Estate Blog

One of the things that I have decided to do to enrich my every day life, is to live a “little more green”. You know what I am talking about. I want to conserve electricity, lower my energy bills and just simply help the environment in any way I can.

In the beginning portion of my research I came across a blog called, Living Green. The author, Aaron Doyle, is a fellow realtor and an EcoBroker. Her blog introduced me to 16 Ways To Green Your Home. The link is to a .pdf at the U.S. Green Building Council, which takes a more in-depth look at the 16 ways to lower the impact of everyday living. Check that out as well as hop on over and read the Living Green blog.

1. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
2. Program Your Thermostat
3. Plug Air Leaks
4. Tune Up Your Heating and Cooling (HVAC) System
5. Choose ENERGY STAR® Appliances
6. Reduce Water Use
7. Switch to Green Power
8. Buy Local
9. Use Low-VOC Products
10. Use Wood Alternatives or FSC-certifi ed Wood Products
11. Use Rapidly Renewable Flooring Materials
12. Plant Trees to Provide Shade and Wind Protection for Your House
13. Use Native Plantings
14. Use Nontoxic Gardening Techniques
15. Carpool, Use Public Transportation, Walk or Bike When Possible
16. Buy a High-efficiency Car

• The New Mudroom: Matching Lifestyles with Innovation [Homes 101]
• Another Way to Tackle Lead-based Paint [Homes 101]
• Joining the Chainsaw Gang: Powering Up Do-It-Yourselfers [Real Estate Journal]
• Remodel Boom Seen Continuing [Homes 101]
• Shopping for a Furnace Leave You Cold? [Homes 101]

• Recovering the Cost of Home Remodeling Projects [About]
• Out with the cold, in with the new windows [RealEstateMate]
• Refinishing hardwood floors perfect for do-it-yourselfer [RealEstateMate]
• Maximizing a home remodel [RealEstateMate]
• Decorating in Small Spaces [Homes101]
• What’s “In” With Homebuyers in 2006 [Northern Michigan Real Estate Blog]
• What’s “Out” With Homebuyers in 2006 [Northern Michigan Real Estate Blog]
• Bathrooms As Home Offices
  For Type-A Workaholics [RealEstateJournal.com]
• Garages Go Upscale: More Space
  For Storage and Maybe Your Cars [RealEstateJournal.com]
• Renovations - Return on Investment [Rain City Guide]

• Before You Buy a Gas Log Fireplace [About]
• Kitchen remodeling requires new floor [RealEstateMate]
• Cabinet re-facing offers advantages, drawbacks [RealEstateMate]
• Cost vs Value - to remodel or not? [The Real Estate Blog]
• Remodeling: Cost vs. Value 2005 [Urban Trekker Blog]

• How to Measure and Calculate Residential Square Footage [About]
• Tips on how to sand, re-stain your home’s front portal [RealEstateMate.com]
• Should You Remodel Or Move? [Homes101]
• Remodeling Replacing Custom Homes [Homes101]
• Hacking Your Dream Home [Seattle’s Rain City Guide]

If you have any questions about how home improvements affect the sale of your home please use the contact form to find multiple ways to get in touch with me.

One of the rooms that’s closest to the top of the list with people searching for a new home is the kitchen. The kitchen needs to wow the prospective buyer or at the least not be a detractor. This being said, when most sellers decide to spruce their place up or do some renovations, the kitchen is one of the main places to hit. The Remodeling Online figures from their 2004 Cost Versus Value Report show that doing a minor kitchen remodel will recoup 92.9% of the cost put into the project. If you choose to perform a major upscale kitchen remodel you’ll recoup 80.3% of the cost and with a major mid range kitchen remodel you’ll get back 79.4% of the money you put into the project. These numbers lead me to believe that if you’re remodeling to sell quickly, go with minor kitchen remodel due to the higher value added percentage. However, if you plan on staying in the house and enjoying your upgrades for awhile, go ahead and do the major remodeling project.

Here are a few other sources of information regarding kitchen remodeling:

The Kitchen Sells Your Home [Realty Baron]
Trade show reveals latest in kitchen design [RealEstateMate.com]
Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Remodeling Kitchens: Getting Started [Hometime]

I know it’s hard to start thinking about winter, we’re still in shorts and t-shirts during the day. However, in other parts of the country the time is now for winterizing. Jane Bustad is a real estate agent in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and she has already posted winterizing tips for her readers. I thought that we Cobb County residents would appreciate these and get a head start on winter.

• Window Cleaning Made Easy [Realty Times]
• Overlooked Energy Conservation Tips [Realty Times]
• Water Ponds: Intro To A Water Garden [doityourself.com]
• Replacing Broken Window Panes [Hometime.com]

If you have any questions about how home improvements affect the sale of your home please use the contact form to find multiple ways to get in touch with me.

I’ve found a few links regarding home improvement.

• Soundproofing House Walls [RealEstateMate.com]
• Websites To Help You Track Energy Use [RealEstateJournal.com]
• Tips For Sprucing Up Your Driveway [RealEstateMate.com]
• Learn How To Measure Residential Square Footage [About]

If you have any questions about how home improvements affect the sale of your home please use the contact form to find multiple ways to get in touch with me.

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, do it yourself projects or even small renovations are probably in order. If you can’t fit a trip to a Home Depot class into your schedule, maybe you should try to find the answers online. Houseblogs.net is a hub of DIY’ers sharing information, lessons and even stories about their home projects. There are hundreds of houseblogs listed here and a number of ways to gather ideas or help with your project.