HOME SELLERS: KEEP KITCHEN COUNTERS CLUTTER-FREE

HOME SELLERS: KEEP KITCHEN COUNTERS CLUTTER-FREE

Written by 

Today’s kitchens are filled with all kinds of gastronomical gadgets, from coffee bean grinders to indoor rotisseries, yet design trends are leaning toward minimalism. That means you can show off your white marble countertops, commercial range and custom backsplash, but only if you put away the blender, toaster, chop-pow, phone charger, and well… you get the idea. Why not also check out here the benefits of a small wine cooler when added into your kitchen!

Here are a few ideas to help you keep your kitchen attractive yet functional.

Remove junk and clutter

As the social center of the house, kitchens are catch-alls for school books, correspondence, and other items that have nothing to do with cooking. Make a place in your mudroom or entry for kids to dump their coats and backpacks. Make a habit of putting mail in the office.

Store rarely used equipment

Which appliances do you use the most? Chances are it’s not the ice cream maker, breadmaker or heavy mixer. Pare down what you tend to use least, and store those appliances somewhere else, such as a butler’s pantry, food pantry or garage.

Build an appliance garage

Many cabinet makers offer an appliance garage that can be closed when not in use. You can also customize an appliance garage to extend the length of the counter.

Consolidate your beverage area

The at-home coffee bar in the breakfast room is a great way to get coffee, tea, grinders away from the food preparation areas. Sugar, creamer, and lemons can be stored nearby in a refrigerator drawer.

Update your equipment

Make new appliances do double duty like washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and others. Need help to repair your dishwasher at home? You can take advice from an expert similar to the ones at Appliance Hunter. If you have to buy a microwave, get one that’s also a convection oven. The new commercial-grade mixers also make pasta and knead bread. You can visit The Appliance Guys appliance online store to start looking for new appliances.

Mount what you can

Under cabinet mounting is easy to do and frees up counter-tops near the sink. Paper towel racks, electric can openers, and task lighting can all be mounted under the cabinets to free up space. Dishrags, sponges and other odor attractions should be housed in caddies attached to the door under the sink for easy access.

Invest in organizers

Deep cabinets are difficult to find items all the way in the back, but a rolling tray makes them accessible. Corners also can be better utilized with swing out organizers. Most carpenters, handymen, or do-it-yourselfers can easily install after-market organizers such as spice racks from Lowe’s, the Container Store and other places.

Keeping your countertops clutter-free doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Let the kitchen’s function inspire your décor. Hanging containers of vegetables, mounted pot racks, and bowls of fruit certainly cut down on clutter, but they also provide a lot of color and function.

Read entire article here

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

Search all Boulder homes for sale 

Do Your Part: It Won’t Cost you a Penny

Do Your Part: It Won’t Cost you a Penny

penny_piggy_bank Many times when we talk about “going green” we think about how much green it will cost us. However, there are many ways to live a healthier life and be gentler on the environment without spending a single penny. Here are five simple ways to Do Your Part and not only are they all free — some solutions will also save you money.

Stop Buying Water

Ditching plastic bottles of water and using reusable containers will save big bucks in the long run. But there are other situations where we pay for water without realizing it. Opting to buy concentrated juices is a cheaper alternative to buying many jugs of juice. You’ll save about a nickel on ounce. And, instead of using expensive irrigation systems in your yard, rain barrels or other collection devices will do the work for free.

Sell the Small Stuff

Got gadgets and other electronics collecting dust around your home? They are valuable even if they don’t work. Many major retailers now accept old electronics and will give you a store gift card in return. And, many online sites will pay to have you ship them your stuff and you’ll get a check after they receive it. These items get resold or recycled for metal. Check DoYourPart.com/Columns for a list of resources. Also, consider taking gently worn clothing, sporting equipment, and even children’s gear to consignment shops to earn a few dollars.

Refuse to Waste Gas

No one likes what it costs to fill up our cars at the gas station. To maximize your fuel efficiency and lower toxic emissions, make sure to keep your tires properly inflated, avoid aggressive driving where you accelerate and brake frequently, use cruise control on flat terrain, avoid driving around with extra weight, and keep up with routine maintenance. Another smart idea is to turn the engine off when you’ll be idling for more than 30 seconds in places such as carpool lines.

Put an End to Paper Towels

What’s worse than throwing out barely used paper towels? Spending all that money on them. The cheapest paper towels on the market are about a dollar per roll. If you go through two rolls a week, that’s more than $200 a year! Save that money and keep dish towels and rags handy. It’s much more eco-friendly to launder them than it is to keep buying one-use paper towels.

Lighten Your Laundry Load

Get this, up to 85 percent of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating up the water. When you switch to cold water you’ll see instant energy savings and your clothes will still get clean.

Visit DoYourPart.com/Columns for more everyday living solutions to have you saving even more green.

Terri Bennett is a veteran TV meteorologist, eco-expert and author of “Do Your Part: A practical guide for everyday green living” available at DoYourPart.com. Send questions to terri@doyourpart.com .

Distributed by MCT Information Services

 

 

John Marcotte

www.boulderhomes4u.com

720-771-9401

Exterior Replacement Projects Provide Biggest Return on Investment for Homeowners, Say REALTORS®

Exterior Replacement Projects Provide Biggest Return on Investment for Homeowners, Say REALTORS®

exterior_remodeling_roof Homeowners looking for the most return on their investment when it comes to remodeling should consider exterior replacement projects. According to the 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® rated exterior projects among the most valuable home improvement projects.

“REALTORS® know that curb appeal projects offer great bang for your buck, because a home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see,” says National Association of REALTORS® President Gary Thomas. “Projects such as siding, window and door replacements can recoup more than 70 percent of their cost at resale. REALTORS® know what home features are important to buyers in your area and can provide helpful insights when considering remodeling projects.” Most of them would suggest why not check here to opt with your concerns.

Results of the report are summarized on NAR’s consumer website HouseLogic.com, which provides information on dozens of remodeling projects, from kitchens and baths to siding replacements, including the recouped value of the project based on a national average. According to the Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® judged a steel entry door replacement as the project expected to return the most money, with an estimated 85.6 percent of costs recouped upon resale. The steel entry door replacement is the least expensive project in the report, costing little more than $1,100 on average. A majority of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects; all of these are estimated to recoup more than 71 percent of costs.

Three different siding replacement projects landed in the top 10, including fiber cement siding, expected to return 79.3 percent of costs, vinyl siding, expected to return 72.9 percent of costs, and foam backed vinyl, expected to return 71.8 percent of costs. Two additional door replacements were also among the top exterior replacement projects. The midrange and upscale garage door replacement were both expected to return more than 75 percent of costs.

According to the report, two interior remodeling projects in particular can recoup substantial value at resale. A minor kitchen remodel is ranked fifth and is expected to return 75.4 percent of costs. Nationally, the average cost for the project is just under $19,000.

The second interior remodeling project in the top 10 is the attic bedroom, which landed at number eight and tied with the vinyl siding replacement with 72.9 percent of costs recouped. With an average national cost of just under $48,000, the attic project adds a bedroom and bathroom within a home’s existing footprint. The improvement project projected to return the least is the home office remodel, estimated to recoup less than 44 percent.

The 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 81 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 15th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with NAR.

REALTORS® provided their insights into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets. The 2013 national average cost-to-value ratio rose to 60.6 percent, ending a six-year decline. The ratio represents nearly a three-point improvement over 2011-2012. Lower construction costs are the principal factor in the upturn, especially when measured against stabilizing house values. In addition, the cost-to-value ratio improved nationally for every project in this year’s report and is higher than it was two years ago for both remodeling and replacement projects.

“A REALTOR® is the best resource for helping homeowners decide what improvement projects will provide the most upon resale in their market,” says Thomas. “Each neighborhood is different, and the desirability and resale value of a particular remodeling project varies depending on where you live. When making a home remodeling decision, resale value is just one factor that homeowners should take into consideration. Consult a Realtor® to make sure you are making the best decision.”

Most regions followed the national trends; however the Pacific region, consisting of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, once again led the nation with an average cost-value ratio of 71.2 percent, due mainly to strong resale values. The next best performing regions were West South Central, South Atlantic, and East South Central. These regions attribute their high ranking to construction costs that were lowest in the country. While still remaining below the national average, most remaining regions showed strong improvement over last year. These are Mountain, New England, East North Central, Middle Atlantic, and West North Central.

To read the full project descriptions and access national and regional project data, visit www.costvsvalue.com “Cost vs. Value” is a registered trademark of Hanley Wood, LLC.

For more information, visit www.realtor.org

John Marcotte

www.boulderhomes4u.com

720-771-9401