BACKYARD SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS

Now that summer is well underway, it is a great time to enjoy your backyard. Here are some great ways to entertain guests and have fun too!

When it comes to entertaining outdoors, there's no place quite like your very own backyard.  Many families enjoy the warm summer weather by spending as much time outside as possible, and one way of doing that is by making it a fun place to be.

Get Out Your Grill

The smell of a freshly grilled hot dog or hamburger… the unmistakable taste of a meal that's been prepared outdoors… the excitement of getting together with family and friends for a barbecue… these are all things that you are sure to enjoy and, if you really want to get things cooking, you will get out your grill and cook up something that your entire family will love.

A cookout is a fantastic idea for summer entertainment, which means it is perfect for both small and large groups.  Whether you prefer a quiet dinner with your family or you want to make your outdoor grilling adventure into a party by inviting your friends from the neighborhood, outdoor grilling is a fun way to make use of the summer heat.

Host A Pool Party

If you have a pool in your backyard, there's no better time than summer to put it to use.  When the sun comes out and the temperature heats up, a pool party is the perfect way to spend the day cooling down.  Before you start picking out your swimsuit, make sure that the pool is properly cleaned and ready for guests.  In addition, make sure that there are flotation units for those who need a little help in the water and towels for everyone to dry off when they step out.

Hosting a pool party also means having something to eat and drink for your guests.  Whether you've planned lunch or just a light snack for everyone, make sure that you have something on hand to curb those cravings.  If you're inviting children over for a pool party for the youngsters, make sure that you have their parents' permission beforehand.

Sports Fun

Believe it or not, many homeowners enjoy setting up a backyard sporting event and inviting everyone to join in.  Whether it's volleyball, horseshoes or just a friendly game of basketball, there's no better court than home court.  If you plan to create a sporty atmosphere, make sure that you have plenty of water on hand for everyone to drink.  It's also important to refrain from playing when the sun is at its peak, which is typically in the early to mid-afternoon hours.  Instead, wait until it cools down before heating up your backyard with some friendly sporting competition. 

XERISCAPES: WATER SAVING LANDSCAPING

All across America, communities have been faced with increased demands on existing water supplies. In Canada and other countries, we too have faced increased demands on water supplies.

Consequently, there is a greater focus on water conservation, not just in times of drought, but in anticipation of future population growth. 

Water can no longer be considered a limitless resource. 

A philosophy of conservation of water through creative landscaping has created the new term, xeriscape.

The term xeriscape is derived from the Greek word xeros meaning dry, combined with landscaping, thus xeriscaping. The term was coined by the Front Range Xeriscape Task Force of the Denver Water Department in 1981.

The goal of a xeriscape is to create a visually attractive landscape that uses plants selected for their water efficiency. Properly maintained, a xeriscape can easily use less than onehalf the water of a traditional landscape. Once established, a xeriscape should require less maintenance than turf landscape.

The eight fundamentals of waterwise landscaping illustrate the concepts and principles of Xeriscape landscaping and other waterefficient approaches.

- Group plants according to their water needs. Use native and low water use plants.

- Limit turf areas to those needed for practical uses.

- Use efficient irrigation systems.

- Schedule irrigation wisely.

- Make sure soil is healthy.

- Remember to mulch.

- Provide regular maintenance.

Water efficient landscaping offers many economic and environmental benefits, including:

• Lower water bills from reduced use.
• Conservation of natural resources and preservation of habitat for plants and wildlife.
• Decreased energy use because less pumping and treatment of water is required.
• Reduced home or office heating and cooling costs through the careful placement of trees and plants.
• Reduced run off of storm water and irrigation water that carries top soils, fertilizers, and pesticides into lakes, rivers and streams.
• Fewer yard trimmings to be managed or landfilled.
• Reduced landscaping labor and maintenance costs.
• Extended life for water resources infrastructure, thus reduced taxpayer costs.

In short, plan and maintain your landscape with these principles of water efficiency in mind and it will continue to conserve water, as well as be attractive.

DO'S & DON'TS ON WATERING YOUR LAWN

One of the joys of owning your own home is getting to sit back and admire that lovely emerald green stretch of lawn in your front yard.  Of course, before you sit back and admire you have to bend over and use a little elbow grease.

Some people work harder than they have to in order to have a beautiful lawn.  Grass is pretty tough.  If you give it the right growing conditions your grass will defend itself from most weeds and diseases.  One of the main mistakes people make is in when and how to water the lawn.  Here are some watering tips that will help your lawn be strong and healthy.

DO water every five to six days during the warm season.

DO water early in the morning.

DO set sprinkler water spray close to the ground, not in high arcs.

DO soak the area for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

DON'T water during the heat of the day (you lose ⅓ of the water to evaporation).

DON'T over-water, as you will lose nutrients and encourage rot and disease.

DON'T water too frequently, as it encourages shallow roots and weak grass.

DON'T water at night, as it encourages disease. 

For more home and garden tips, contact me today.

valerie@valeriemcconville.com

BEWARE THE HOME OFFICE REMODEL

While some home upgrades can add value to your home, others don’t fare nearly so well. One of the worst offenders? The home office remodel.

Many home remodeling projects do wonders for the value of the home. 

Certain upgrades and renovations pay dividends when it comes time to sell, and you often can recoup the money you’ve invested in the upgrade.

There are exceptions, however. And one stands head and shoulders above the rest (or should I say below) when it comes to return on investment:

The home office.

Surprised? It may seem like a home office would be a boon for your home at sale time, especially considering the number of people who telecommute and work online. But the fact of the matter is, a home office seldom recoups more than 45% of the money invested in the remodel.

Why? A couple of main factors.

First, even people who work at home often don’t work at home. When was the last time you walked into a coffee shop and didn’t see a laptop open? Many people still find space outside the home to work.

Second, a full-on home office renovation often takes up a bedroom which new owners might want to be able to convert back into a bedroom. If you’ve spent the time and money having built-in furniture added, media wiring, and other “office like” details installed, it represents a cost to restore or lost-usage for the new owners.

Of course, if you need a home office and want to have the home office of your dreams, it might be worth it to you to put the return on investment aside. But don’t undertake the project thinking it will pay off down the line.

Curious which home remodeling projects pay off at the sale? Let’s talk about what you’re considering: valeriemcconville@realtyexecutives.com

MEET THE NEIGHBORS, MAKE A FEW BUCKS

Sure, you probably had a garage sale before the big move from your old neighborhood, but have you ever thought of having one after you’ve relocated? It’s a great way to meet the neighborhood.

It’s common sense to have a garage sale before your big move. There’s no reason to pay movers to load boxes of items you can do without. 

Plus, who needs the clutter in their new home?

But have you ever considered a garage sale after you’ve moved into your new house?

It’s actually a great idea for a number of reasons:

Why did I save this stuff? When you unpack items in you new home, you’re likely to come across a lot of stuff you find you can live without. What seemed essential in the old place just loses its luster in your new space.

But I thought this love seat would fit in here! Despite our best plans, old furniture can turn out to be a poor fit in new spaces. You don’t necessarily have to live with the mistake. Prep it for sale.

Who are these people, anyway? A garage sale will bring out the neighbors. Despite the bargain seeking and good-natured haggling, garage sales are great low-pressure social situations. People are free to browse without the pressure of making conversation. Small talk arises more naturally. People can come and go without obligation.

Who just bought this place, anyway? It’s an opportunity to be a good neighbor. Put out some snacks and drinks. Be easy about your prices and even throw in a few things for free if someone’s buying. Use the event as an ice breaker rather than a profit maker. A lot of first impressions can be made here... why not make good ones?

If you’ve still got stuff to bring to the curb, put the post-move garage sale on your to-do list for the move.

Did you know de-cluttering is also one of the key steps to prepare a home for sale? I have lots of tips if you’re considering listing soon. 

Please get in touch! valerie@valeriemcconville.com

HOW TO HANDLE A MOTIVATED SELLER

Often ads for homes on the market include the phrase “motivated seller,” and while this sounds as if it may be to your benefit as a home buyer, what does it actually mean?  

If a seller is truly motivated you can benefit from a number of potential perks they may be willing to throw in to get their home sold, or they may even be willing to accept a lower offer than the asking price.  

Here are a few tips on how to find motivated sellers, and how to get the best deal possible.

Is The Seller Really Motivated?

Believe it or not, all “motivated sellers” are not really motivated.  The phrase is often used by sellers and real estate agents to get a response from potential buyers.  From the perspective of agents, if a seller is fairly insistent that they want a particular price for their home, which the agent feels is above the market value, they may use this phrase to encourage bids below the asking price.  Sellers, on the other hand, may request this phrase be used whether they are motivated or not, in order to encourage a bidding war.  Whether the seller is actually motivated or not may not always be apparent, but the best way to gauge the situation is by contacting the agent and making a low offer if you are interested.

So The Seller Is Really Motivated!  Now What?

If you have put in a below asking price offer and it has been accepted, or a counter offer has been given, then you may really be dealing with a motivated seller. 

So what should you do to make the most of this situation while protecting your own interests?  The first thing you should always do is be sure you are clear about why the homeowner is so motivated to sell.  Is there something wrong with the house or the property?  Getting a qualified home inspector to carefully check the property before signing anything is very important to protecting your investment.  If all goes well with the home inspection, you may have the opportunity to negotiate other bonuses as well, including the appliances, financing options, or a renovation budget.

Whatever the situation, it is always a good idea to have an agent represent you through the home buying process.  They are your insider in getting the most out of the situation, and can help you wade through all the jargon of the home purchasing experience.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU BUDGET FOR HOME MAINTENANCE?

If you own a car, you know there’s more to the cost-of-ownership than just finance payments and gas. You also need to budget for maintenance and repairs. If your car is older, those costs are going to be higher. That’s just common sense.

The same is true of your home. It’s wise to budget for anticipated repairs and maintenance. 

Otherwise, you might be caught by surprise when you find that your furnace stops working and needs to be replaced. That can easily be a four-figure expense.

Experts recommend that you set aside 1% of the value of your home for repairs and maintenance. For a $500,000 property, for example, that would be $5,000. That is, of course, merely a rule of thumb. If your home is older, you may need to budget more.

Another recommended method is to budget $1 a square foot. If you have a 2,500 square foot home, that would be a budget of $2,500. Again, that number would need to be higher for older properties.

When budgeting, consider things that are getting old and will likely need to be replaced within the next three years. Examples include roof shingles, furnace, A/C unit, deck, fence, plumbing, and windows. Depending on the size and model, a new A/C unit will cost at least $5,000. Anticipating that expense will help you plan accordingly and avoid the shock of an unpleasant and costly surprise.

Keep in mind that budgeting $2,000 for repairs and maintenance doesn't mean you'll actually spend that money this year. But, if needed, the budget will be there, and that's peace of mind.

HOW TO "READ A NEIGHBORHOOD"

Neighborhoods are always on the rise and on the decline. A variety of factors can influence property values and neighborhood quality. 

Do you know how to read the signs? 

Find out in this short article.

Like most things in real estate, neighborhoods are constantly changing in value. In some cases they can improve rapidly and decline gradually, but more often than not they change slowly, over time.

Ideally, you want to buy property in neighborhoods as they’re appreciating. You certainly don’t want to pay top dollar in a neighborhood which is in decline. So how can you tell which direction things are heading?

Home values over time are one way to tell, but they tend to lag behind the trends. Values reflect what the current situation is… they don’t predict the future.

While you definitely want to observe a neighborhood first-hand at different times of day and night, here are some other indicators of neighborhood value trends:

Positive indicators:

         - Homes are receiving multiple offers

         - Schools are well-rated and in demand

         - Young families and creative types are moving to the neighborhood

         - Older couples choose to remain in the neighborhood as they age

         - Commercial properties are quickly redeveloped and leased

Negative indicators:

         - The number of homes converted into rentals has increased

         - Homes remain on the market longer

         - Companies are relocating away or shutting down offices

         - Commercial spaces are vacant for long stretches

Sometimes you can spot the potential in a bad neighborhood, but it often means you have to put up with the bad neighborhood for a long time before reaping the rewards. It’s a good idea to evaluate neighborhoods with these indicators in mind. Neighborhoods you have traditionally regarded as “good” or “bad” may have (or be under) significant change.

I am more than happy to help you with neighborhood research! Contact me today to begin your hunt: valerie@valeriemcconville.com

THE DEFINITION OF A GREAT NATION

America celebrated its 239th birthday on July 4, 2015..

It was on that day in 1776 that America’s founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence marking the birth of the United States.

As my American friends celebrate, I wanted to share this quote with you, from Erma Louise Bombeck, who was a talented American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper column that described suburban home life from the mid-1960s until the late 1990s. I think she captured one of the great truths about this great country called the United States of America:

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”

May my American friends have much joy and happiness this Independence Day

All my best,

Valerie McConville