Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors

Mount Snow and Brattleboro, Vermont Real Estate

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Home Improvement Projects You Can (and Should) Do Yourself

July 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

Quick, Easy, and Affordable Projects to Tackle as a Homeowner

Making changes inside or outside your home can seem intimidating. Often these projects require a great deal of planning and skill, and even small mistakes along the way can lead to a much greater financial setback than anticipated. Due to such risks, there are certain projects that are better left to the professionals, or at least to those individuals with years of DIY experience under their belts. On the other hand, there are many projects that are much easier to complete than they look. For that reason, not to mention how impressed your guests will be, consider the following projects that are well worth tackling on your own.

-Outdoor Fire Pits-

Whether you love to entertain or just enjoy unwinding out in the backyard after a long day, having a small fire pit can really add ambience to your outdoor space. Building them takes a bit of hard work and perhaps some heavy lifting, but the cost will be quite low and the final product will be well worth the effort. It’s usually easy to find the materials needed to build a fire pit on Craigslist or even by asking around, as it’s more than likely that someone needs to get rid of patio bricks, rocks from landscaping, or other items that are well-suited to being formed into a fire pit.

-Platform Decks-

Speaking of spending time in the backyard, another great outdoor addition is a small or medium-sized platform deck. A platform deck can be a perfect place to grill or place tables and chairs outside, without having the added worry of being on a sloped or uneven lawn. Also, having the deck just several inches from the ground eliminates the need for a railing or small staircase. Many hardware stores and websites offer platform decks made from either wood or composite materials that essentially come as kits, but if you feel comfortable and would like an added carpentry challenge, using reclaimed lumber in the construction of your deck is a great eco-friendly option.

-Stylish Shelving-

If you find that your walls feel a bit bare or you just need another place to put your books besides having them strewn across the coffee table, putting in new shelves is a quick fix that also happens to be one of the easiest tasks to complete on your own. One nice option for saving as much space as possible is installing floating shelves mounted to the wall, as this type of shelving would not require anything around it or a base on the floor. Of course, there are as many choices and styles of shelves as there are styles of home, so it should not be hard to find something that matches both your taste and budget.

-Light Fixtures-

Although they aren’t necessarily the first thing people notice when they walk into a room, light fixtures do play a role in determining the aesthetic feel of whatever space they occupy. Yet many homeowners are content to keep the same plain-looking light fixtures in their homes for years, even if they often make improvements in other areas of the house. As with other small DIY projects, making new light fixtures can be fast, low-cost, and not at all difficult. For instance, you can easily make a hanging light fixture from artificial capiz shells for under twenty dollars. Or, to spruce up your back patio, try putting string Christmas lights into the decorative wicker balls that are usually used for table centerpieces. Again, the options are nearly endless, so don’t be afraid to get creative.

 

Filed Under: DIY, Real Estate News Tagged With: DIY, Home Advice, HOme Improvement, Real Estate Help

Common Myths, Mistakes, and Misconceptions for Homeowners

July 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

How to Identify and Avoid Commonplace Errors in Caring for Your Home

If you own a home, you have to make important decisions nearly every year regarding its upkeep and any changes or improvement. Unfortunately, some of these choices can be quite difficult, as there are many factors to consider, such as finances, changes in aesthetics, and of course your own living experience. Though there are rarely clear-cut answers when it comes to caring properly for your home, there are certain pitfalls that all homeowners should be aware of. Strive to avoid these all-too-common mistakes:

-Painting Over Anything (With Any Kind of Paint)-

If you feel that the exterior of your home is in need of a new look or is simply beginning to appear a bit shabbier than you’d like, repainting with a new color is usually not a bad idea. However, if you have brick on the outside of your home, applying anything besides brick stain can prevent the brick from breathing properly. Over time, this can cause serious structural damage.

On the inside of your home, be similarly careful if you choose to paint over wallpaper. Water-based paints can break down the glue from the paper and it can start to come away from the wall. If you don’t feel like stripping the wallpaper, opt for latex paints rather than water-based paints.

-Tossing the Bathtub-

You may never have the desire to take a bath, and if the bathtub is separate from your shower, you might feel that it takes up far too much space in the bathroom. But even if you never use it, don’t be so quick to kick a bathtub to the curb, especially if it’s the only one in the house. For prospective buyers, a bathtub is often an important, if not essential, part of the bathroom. Unless you are never going to sell your home, be wary of making changes that buyers will find disappointing.

-Overly Pricey Kitchen Remodels and Changes-

Making updates in the kitchen is often a good idea, and there is nothing wrong with switching to more efficient appliances, creating open floor plans, or installing more durable and stylish countertops or floors. But price points can differ significantly when it comes to making changes in the kitchen, and many of the more expensive options are not necessarily worth it. For example, high-gloss lacquer on cabinets may look attractive, but purchasing them comes with a high cost up front and fixing any damage done to them is also quite expensive.

-Poor Landscaping Decisions-

The upkeep and changes you make to the outside of your home are nearly as important as what goes on inside it. And with any work you do around the house, it’s necessary to be at least somewhat knowledgeable about what it is you’re trying to accomplish. With that in mind, be sure to do your research when it comes to landscaping, gardening, and yard work. After all, you don’t want to end up with a tree’s roots damaging underground pipes or the foundation because it was planted too close to the house or having a dry, unhealthy lawn because it’s being mown too short. Even if you are doing most or all of the work yourself, it’s usually a good idea to at least consult a landscaping professional or a trustworthy online source to avoid making any errors.

-Throwing Anything Down the Drain-

Even if you aren’t constantly finding yourself with clogged sinks or showers, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are treating your drains as well as you should. Few people realize, for instance, that there are certain foods that should be kept away from the garbage disposal, including rice, pasta, and other foods with high starch contents. When you do end up with backed up drains, dumping drain cleaners or bleach in to clear them up can actually cause a fair amount of damage and the eventual repair costs will certainly not be worth the trouble.

 

Filed Under: DIY, Real Estate News Tagged With: Home Advice, HOme Improvement, Homeownership, mistakes

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Our real estate offices are located in Southern Vermont in Brattleboro and the Mount Snow ski area. Since 1965, Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors has been the area’s leading independent full service real estate company serving Windham County in Southern Vermont and Cheshire County in Southern New Hampshire.

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Brattleboro, VT Office

119 Western Ave.
Brattleboro, VT 05301
1-800-388-5454
O. 802-254-6400
F. 802-254-6403
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Mt. Snow/Stratton Office

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1090
West Dover, VT 05356
Office Location:
118 Route 100, West Dover, VT
1-800-666-1911
O. 802-464-8900
F. 802-464-8903
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