5 Bedrooms Homes for Sale Madera Parc Estate Gilbert 85233 (MLS 5020063)

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5 Bedrooms Homes for Sale in Madera Parc Estates Gilbert 85233 Real Estate
932 W Mesquite St Gilbert AZ 85233 MLS 5020063

MLS: 5020063
Community: Madera Parc Estates
Bedrooms : 5
Bathrooms : 3
Square Foot : 3,025
Lot Size : 8,599 sq.ft
Home Year Built : 1994

5 Bedrooms Homes for Sale in Madera Parc Estates Gilbert 85233. Move in fresh & ready! Large & flashy w 2013 luxury Scottsdale style renovation with extra room to play & room to grow. 3027 sf, dive pool, 3 Baths, 5 Bedrooms plus small loft. 5th bedroom is downstairs with full bath, *huge* master suite with new granite, 3 car garage with new epoxy floor, fireplace, big covered patio, party sized 2013 kitchen makeover with granite slabs, upgraded cabs with royal crown trim & exotic stone backsplash, new stainless appliances, fresh int & exterior paint, new large tile floors, new carpet, big trees, grassy backyard, shed, quiet interior north/south lot near us 60, health care, lake parks, dining, movies & famous schools & more. Listed by Jeanne B. Welnick of Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living.

Click here to view 5 Bedrooms Homes for Sale in Gilbert 85233
Click here to view Homes for Sale in Gilbert 85233

Click here to view 5 Bedrooms Homes for Sale in Gilbert
Click here to view Homes for Sale in Gilbert

* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this page creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please CALL or TXT 480-788-6408 to check on its current availability.

Swee Ng, Realtor/Owner for Swee Phoenix Homes with Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living Ahwatukee specialty in Residential Resale, First Time Home Buyer and Investment Homes.
4621 E. Chandler Blvd #160, Phoenix AZ 85048
Direct: 480-721-6253
http://www.sweephoenixhomes.com/

Ready to Sell or Buy? Contact me today for FREE & NO OBLIGATION Consultation

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The Best Affordable for Countertops

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When you’re remodeling a kitchen on a budget, laminate is the best affordable option for countertops.

Nowadays this tried-and-true material comes in a wider array of designs than ever before, from beautiful solid colors to interesting wood looks with embedded texture to lovely stone patterns with a variety of finish options.

Before selecting laminate as a countertop material, it’s helpful to know the plusses and minuses. We asked Kent Brasloff, principal of New York-based design firm Ask Kent and Co., and vice president of programs for the New York chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, to share his insights on buying laminate countertops. Here’s what he had to say:

What is laminate?
A combination of plastic and paper—interestingly, though, generally not recycled—and sometimes board. These materials are formed into a thin layer and colored or manufactured with naturalistic or textured designs. This layer is then laminated to particleboard or chip board.

What makes laminate a good choice for countertops? 
It's flexible and can be used in a variety of ways and in a variety of spaces: a kitchen, bath, work room or laundry room. Laminate can also be used on a shop table or as a furniture surface. Available in a multitude of colors and textures, it's easy to work with and can be cut into any shape, including forms with sharp corner points or with a smooth radius. It's quite durable.

What is the difference between a low-cost laminate and an expensive one? 
The key difference between high- and low-end laminates is generally the finish of the material. Higher-end products offer greater variety in luster or sheen and texture. They also come in a broader range of colors. The cost of the laminate will be affected by whether or not there is a built-in backsplash and how high or low the backsplash may be.

What are the maintenance requirements for laminate countertops? 
To clean the surface, use a damp cloth or sponge and a mild soap or detergent. To remove difficult stains from coffee or tea, use a mild household cleaner and baking soda mixed into a paste, scrubbing with a stiff nylon bristle brush and being careful not to mar the surface finish.

Stubborn stains may call for gently rubbing the spot with a cotton ball that has been saturated with undiluted household bleach or nail polish remover. Prolonged exposure of the laminate surface to bleach will cause discoloration, so always rinse thoroughly with warm warm water and wipe dry. Do not use steel wool and other abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, such as a rust remover. Also, avoid placing hot pots and pans on the surface, as its level of heat resistance is limited.

What are the pros for choosing laminate? 
Its durability, range of color and design options, flexibility to accommodate unique shapes, and ease of installation.

Its cons? 
On the downside, laminate shows scratches, which usually be cannot filled or repaired. And to some people it can look "cheap" or "papery". It hasn't been popular for quite some time in the US, but it is stilled used extensively in Europe, often in high-end contexts. Also, it gets brittle and chips with age.

How much does it cost? 
A fair range would be between $35 and $40 per linear foot at retail. Of course cost may be affected by the intricacy of the design and whether the counter will have a "self" or "beveled" edge. Cost will also be impacted by countertops with a lot of corners, a wide radius, or a built-in backsplash. Laminates with standard finishes are more affordable than those with upgraded finishes.

What are its installation requirements? 
After the contractor installs your cabinets (or support structure), the countertop area will be templated and made to fit for installation by a professional.

via yahoo homes

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Replace or Reface Kitchen Cabinets?

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Mary Saunder disliked the cabinets in her kitchen from the moment she moved into her Bowie, Maryland, home. "They were metal, the color of bronze," Saunder says, "but my husband's motto was 'If it ain't broke don't fix it.'" When her husband passed away last February, Mary decided it was time to act. "I couldn't stand it any more," she says. But rather than spend the $25,000 or $30,000 redoing the kitchen with new cabinets would have cost her, she settled on a simpler, cheaper and far less intrusive solution.

Motivated by a newspaper ad for Sears' kitchen-cabinet-refacing service, she scheduled an appointment and signed up. After two visits to take measurements and show her the new finish and hardware options she could choose from, Sears moved in. Two days and 29 cabinets later, Mary's kitchen was transformed. "I'm 100 percent satisfied," she says. Total cost: $9,100.

Mary Saunder is fairly typical of thousands of U.S. homeowners who make the decision each year to reface rather than replace their cabinets. "The truth is," says Gerald Baldner, founder and president of Kitchen Solvers, a refacing franchising firm in La Crosse, Wisconsin, "some of the cabinets built 20 and 30 years ago are more solidly constructed than most modular, prebuilt cabinets today. So when it's time to redo the kitchen, it often doesn't make sense to start from scratch."

The basic refacing project consists of installing new cabinet door and drawer fronts and covering the exposed face frames of the cabinets with a matching wood or plastic veneer. Most jobs take two to four days, depending on kitchen size and extras like replacing counters or adding an extra cabinet.

The work itself is a standardized progression of tasks, generally handled by one or two craftsmen. They begin by removing doors and drawer fronts from cabinets and roughing up the old finish on face frames and side panels to prepare them for the new covering. They then glue and sometimes nail the new finish over the old, the nail holes filled and the seams and edges trimmed to make them unobtrusive.

New panels or molding are used to trim out the exposed undersides of the upper cabinets to give them a finished look, and the base cabinet toekick is replaced. Finally, new cabinet doors and drawer fronts are attached, and new hardware is mounted on each of them.

There generally are three finish options: plastic laminates, rigid thermofoils (RTF) and wood veneer. Refacing laminates come in a wide variety of solid colors and wood-grain looks. Slightly more expensive than RTF, laminates nevertheless lack malleability, which means they're limited to plain cabinet door styles when compared with RTF. RTF can be shaped and molded in a range of styles, including arched and cathedral doors, raised panel and eyebrow raised panels.

When Refacing Doesn't Make Sense
Refacing isn't for every kitchen. Most important, it doesn't address the issue of a poor kitchen layout. "If you go to the expense of refacing and still end up with a nonfunctional kitchen, you've wasted your money," says Cyndi Cantley, of Cantley & Co., a certified kitchen designer in Birmingham, Alabama.

Other conditions that rule out refacing include existing cabinets that are beginning to fall apart or aren't well built to begin with; metal cabinets that are rusting; and larger structural issues, like floors that have settled and left cabinets out of kilter. If you have any of these problems, you shouldn't consider refacing.

What Refacing Costs
How much you pay for refacing depends on the size of your kitchen, the materials you choose and how many options you elect to include. "Our typical refacing job runs $4,000 to $5,000," says Gerald Baldner of Kitchen Solvers, which has 105 refacing franchises in 30 states. "And that includes countertop, trim, molding, valences, new toekick, shelf and drawer liner, as well as accessories and tax."

According to Carl Hyman, owner of Alure Kitchen Refacing in East Meadow, New York, which serves an upscale clientele and refaces about 150 kitchens a year, his company's average job runs about $8,500 (including countertops). The average refacing job by Sears, which operates its refacing business through its own employees in some states and through licensees in others, costs $4,000 to $6,000. As with any remodeling project, your best bet is to get a number of different quotes.

The bottom line is that it comes down to personal taste. "You can take the same kitchen and do the plain-Jane refacing for $3,000 or, for $8,000 or $9,000, do it with wood, Corian countertops, a new sink and some bells and whistles," says Brian Titus, of Cabinetpak Kitchens, which operates refacing companies in Washington, D.C., and Ohio. Whatever you pay, it's bound to be significantly less than the cost of a new kitchen.

Companies like Alure, Kitchen Tune-Up and Kitchen Solvers, which offer both refacing and full-remodeling services, maintain a complete remodel runs on average twice as much as a high-end refacing job. Kitchen Solvers' Baldner cautions customers who have been told at home centers and other retailers that they can have new cabinets installed for about the same price to calculate carefully. "There are a lot of costs added on that most people don't think about when considering kitchen remodeling," he says. "If you get a quote on new cabinets, make sure it includes handles, molding, installation, sales tax, delivery charges, refinishing your walls if the new cabinets don't line up with the old, any required plumbing or electrical work."

And then there's the prolonged disruption and mess that come with a full-scale remodeling job. "We're selling convenience as much as we are cost savings," says Murray Gross, president and chief executive officer of Dallas-based U.S. Remodelers Inc., the refacing licensee for Century 21.

via yahoo homes

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Top 5 Ways To Give Your Bathroom A Makeover

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You spend a lot of your time in your bathroom. Invest in making it somewhere you actually want to be with these top five tips.

Your bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home, but it's often the most neglected, too.

In fact, "Nine times out of 10, the bathroom isn't up to par with what we wish it would be," says Julie Berchtold of the California-based design firm, Berchtold Harris.

Whether it's a leaky faucet, outdated countertop, or a much-needed facelift, remodeling a bathroom can be one of the most gratifying projects for improving your entire home. That's right - a bathroom remodel goes far beyond just improving your bathroom.

"Maximizing the space you have and creating an environment where you actually want to spend your time can completely change your outlook on the rest of your home," adds Berchtold's design partner, Samantha Harris.

But when you decide to get down to the nitty-gritty, where do you start?

Read on for five projects that will have you ready to ring up the contractor and get started on your own bathroom remodel today.

Get a Shiny New Floor
You should approach your bathroom remodel from the bottom up, if you want a stunning end product. And "from the bottom up," we're talking about the floor.

The floor is the most important and permanent part of any bathroom upgrade, says Matt Wien of Marshall Carpet One in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

"Because everything will go on top of it, your floor sets the stage for the entire bathroom and is the one element that's the most difficult to change," he says.

So what are some good flooring options? A natural stone or a porcelain tile with a radiant heat system is a great choice if you're looking for durability.

"Because you can't hurt natural stone or porcelain tile, it will last for as long as you want it there," says Wien. "And the radiant heat is nice because it will keep your feet warm and help the floor to dry faster, reducing the likelihood of slipping."

However, natural stone and porcelain are also some of the pricier options, with Wien noting that a heated porcelain or natural stone floor will run you anywhere from $15 to $20 per square foot. An unheated floor? Between $8 and $12 per square foot.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider going with vinyl.

"Luxury vinyl allows people to put new flooring over their existing floors with minimal prep, saving you a lot of money," says Wien. The downfall is that vinyl floors will need to be replaced in eight to 10 years, unlike the permanency of natural stone or porcelain.

"Vinyl's a great option if you're remodeling to sell. And at $4 to $7 per square foot, you can't beat the price," he adds.

Replace Your Countertops
What's another small change that can make a big difference in your bathroom? Countertops. Because bathrooms are generally smaller than what people want, choosing a light color or a great stone piece is an easy way to make your bathroom feel larger.

"We're big fans of a statuary marble in light white with a thin grey veining," says Berchtold. "It adds a level of luxury while still keeping everything light and fresh."

If you're watching your wallet, Wien says you should pay a visit to a granite or stone scrapyard and pick through the smaller cuts. "For smaller bathrooms, you can often pick up a scrap piece of a gorgeous stone for a whole lot less."

If marble or granite still isn't in your budget, Wien recommends laminates or Formica. "They're great alternatives to stone because they give you a similar look at a lower price point." They may also be easier to maintain because unlike a porous natural stone, a laminate doesn't need to be sealed against stains and water.

Reface or Replace Your Cabinets
Cabinets can be one of the most expensive remodel elements of a bathroom, but don't lose all hope: Berchtold says re-purposing what you already have can do wonders.

"Taking your existing cabinets and giving them a layer of a bright white lacquer is a great way to make a statement and barely makes a dent in the budget," she says.

Another option that won't break the bank? Cabinet refacing, which is the process of replacing or upgrading cabinet doors and drawer fronts while retaining the main cabinet structure. Essentially, you'll be giving your bathroom cabinets a facelift. And it costs anywhere from $150 to $300 per cabinet door, according to "Improve Your Cabinet's Style," by Consumer Reports.

If your old cabinets need more than just a facelift, consider splurging on a serious upgrade, says Jillian Gage of JL Powers Design, who offers this design advice: "Custom-made reclaimed wood cabinets aren't cheap, but they're a great eco-friendly way to add a unique and rustic vibe to the room."

For more modern styles or a beach vibe, Gage suggests that you "Ask for cerused oak panels, which are washed with a preparation of white paint, for a clean and chic look. More contemporary homeowners can opt for metal cabinet drawers with frosted glass panels or mirror-on-mirror treatments."

Add a Window or Skylight
Because bathrooms are often in the middle of the house, you might not immediately think that adding a window is a viable option, but Gage begs to differ.

"Skylights are the perfect solution for flooding the bathroom with natural light," she says.
However, she does note that there is one big hurdle for adding a skylight to a bathroom: finding a licensed contractor who is up to par.

"Any time you're making structural changes, be sure to ask for recommendations from previous clients to ensure that you're getting someone reliable. A good design firm should also have at least a handful of contractors they can suggest," Gage adds.

If you're not looking to use a contractor and already have windows in your bathroom, window treatments can be an inexpensive way to kick things up a notch. Gage advises going outside the realm of traditional shades and looking into a bamboo or natural fiber shade.

"It's a nice way of keeping the room private but still letting light come in," she says.

Upgrade Your Hardware
When it comes to renovating your bathroom, it's all in the details. And that's why upgrading the hardware in your bathroom is key.
W
hat's more, the type of hardware you choose makes an important statement on the style of your bathroom.

For example, "We like to focus on the knobs," says Berchtold. "They're the biggest trick we have to upgrading a bathroom on a budget."

She recommends finding the best hardware, whether it's old and vintage or big and oversized. "Rustic, repurposed hardware is a great juxtaposition in a bright modern bathroom. Or you can opt to go all modern and utilize big, oversized knobs," adds Berchtold.

via yahoo homes

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Great Kitchens Sell Homes

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The kitchen is the most important room to stage in your home. Potential home buyers will want to view it void of unnecessary countertop appliances and clutter. By showcasing your kitchen in the best possible light, you can potentially sell your home faster and increase the closing price.  Even in a slow real estate market, making your kitchen attractive to a buyer could make the difference.

Clean up the kitchen
Studies have shown that one of the dirtiest places in the home is the kitchen. Before you list, pull out those rubber gloves and give everything a good scrub so that the kitchen sparkles. Replace unsightly floor tiles, or in a worst-case scenario, consider a complete floor makeover. Pay special attention to the cabinetry; in older homes, it is common to see cracks in the beaded caulking between the ceiling and the trim above the cupboards. For less than $10, you can buy a pre-mixed tube of crack filler and make it look like new. Also, to give the kitchen an inexpensive facelift, consider replacing the fixturing – an affordable way to give doors and drawers a second wind.

Clutter is a kitchen killer
Kitchens are the focal point of almost every home. A great rule of thumb for the staging of a kitchen is to leave no more than two appliances on your counter. After you have uncluttered the kitchen counter, brighten and soften the space by adding some fresh fruit, new dishtowels, a cookbook, and plants or flowers.

Modernizing today will help you sell tomorrow
Modernizing your kitchen can help you sell your home for years to come. Renovating your kitchen now will let you enjoy new appliances while boosting the value of your home for the future. While you may want to take specific appliances with you, stainless steel can make almost any kitchen sing. Another way to add value to your kitchen is to install concealed appliances – hiding the dishwasher and fridge, for example, can really spice up your kitchen for buyers. Also popular are dual microwave/convection oven (prices can vary between $200 - $900 for higher-end stainless built-ins) – another appliance quickly becoming a staple in most modern kitchens.

If you can’t replace appliances, be sure to have them repaired and cleaned. It’s also a good idea to clean your fridge and stove, as buyers will almost always open oven and fridge doors.

Lighting
Take the time to make sure all the existing light fixtures have working light bulbs. Make sure the blinds are open on all the windows and, if required, add a small table lamp or two to accent a dark corner.

… And the kitchen sink
Another kitchen remodeling idea is to upgrade your “sinkware.” New faucets, soap dispensers and sinks (whether you are reglazing or replacing altogether) are affordable ways to give the kitchen an immediate facelift. Don’t forget, buyers love to turn on the kitchen faucet when touring a home.

The kitchen is the most important room and biggest selling feature in your house. Staging it properly can make every potential buyer say, “this could be my kitchen.

via bhgrealestate

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Top 10 Home Improvement Myths

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Not all home improvements are created equal. Even in a seller’s market, it’s important that homeowners make the right investments that will yield higher returns.

Top 10 Home Improvement Myths
1. Any remodeling project will add value to your home.
While many remodeling projects will add value to a home, some can be seen as a negative by future buyers. For instance, combining two smaller bedrooms to create one larger bedroom may better fit one homeowner’s lifestyle today, but it may cause the home to lose value in the eyes of a future buyer who needs the two separate rooms.

2. Buying the highest-quality materials attracts more buyers.
Installing high-end materials may seem like a wise decision, but it can backfire. For instance, using the most expensive tile in a bathroom may create an impressive appearance, but value-conscious buyers may opt for a more affordable home if the seller has over-improved compared to others in the neighborhood.

3. Adding square footage always adds value.
A better way to think about this statement is to insert the word useable into the sentence. Finished attics and basements – even if considered liveable by local standards – may not be attractive to a buyer if they are not finished to the same standards as the rest of the home.

4. Colors and textures – safe and simple is better.
Keeping a home “vanilla” so buyers can choose their own style and décor might be a safe bet, but it ignores the fact that most buyers just don’t have the ability to visualize the home differently. Without splashes of color and mixtures of texture, sellers can lose value to others that have taken the time to consult with an interior designer.

5. Inside improvements are better than outside improvements.
Not necessarily. If a home’s exterior has been neglected or doesn't offer a good curb appeal, a buyer might stop there – and then the seller’s efforts on on the inside may not net them any more dollars. To get the biggest bang for their remodeling buck, sellers should start from the outside and work their way in.

6. Adding a bedroom is better than adding a bathroom.
It depends on the starting point. If a seller only has one or two bedrooms to start with, adding a bedroom before adding a second bath is probably a wise choice since most buyers are more attracted to three-bedroom homes. On the other hand, if the home already has three bedrooms and only one bath, the sellers’s next investment should probably be in a new bathroom.

7. Paint hides a multitude of sins.
Dry rot? Fungus damage? Mold problems? Carpenter ants? Termite issues? Nothing a can of paint can’t fix, right? Wrong! Not only does this practice violate disclosure laws in most states, it can set sellers up for liability after the sale, as most buyers will want the sellers to foot the bill for these hidden issues.

8. Converting a garage to living space is a great trade-off.
Nope. A garage conversion is almost always viewed negatively by future home buyers unless the sellers replace the lost garage with another parking and storage space of equal size.

9. Sellers can save money by doing improvements themselves.
For some homeowners, wiring a new lighting fixture or plumbing a new dishwasher is a no-brainer, but for others it may end up costing more later if they have to have the work redone by a professional. Another consideration is local and state laws regarding remodeling work: In many states if a buyer has purchased a home to remodel and resell, they must either hold a contractor’s license or hire a contractor to do the work for them.

10. Pools add value to your home.
This is only true in areas where pools are must-have amenities. In most areas of the country, pools have more limited appeal – and the idea of maintaining a pool for ten months out of the year when it can’t be enjoyed won’t appeal to most buyers.

Knowing these top home-improvement myths will allow you to help your seller clients choose the right remodeling projects. But don’t stop there. To keep your pulse on the amenities that are coveted most in your market, talk to local remodeling professionals, contractors, and home-improvement specialists on a regular basis.

via trulia

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Swimming Pools – Added Value Or Limited Appeal?

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Many Americans look back fondly at the years they spent in their youth lounging in their parent`s backyard pool, but does having a pool on your property help or hinder when it comes time to sell your home? The answer is neither simple nor straightforward. Truthfully, investing in a pool can benefit one homeowner while not adding an ounce of value to the next.

Pool Market
Experts say the biggest market for pools consists of buyers who skew toward middle age with teenage children. However, there are some homeowners, specifically those with younger children, who might view a home with a pool as an accident waiting to happen. Experts say pools increase a property’s desirability if the home is in an area that has a large number of pools.

However, in recent years, pools have become part of a trend that places more emphasis on backyard landscaping, including fencing, walkways, decks, and other options.

Pool Myths
There is a longstanding belief held by many that pools don’t add value to one’s property when you are selling your home. That may be the case in some instances, experts say, however, there are plenty of examples of pools adding value to your property, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR). NAR statistics show that pools add approximately 7.7 percent to the average property value, and more than 11 percent to homes in the Southwest U.S.

Costs
The Wall Street Journal reports that while some companies in the United States advertise in-ground pools at prices around $16,000, the real price is likely double that. But costs don’t stop with the pool. Landscaping a backyard through a landscaping service can add anywhere from $3,000 to more than $100,000. While in-ground pools return approximately 50 percent of their initial investment, be sure to keep service records that show it’s in good working order.

Location, Location, Location
Before installing a pool, consider where you live. If your neighborhood has a community pool that can be easily accessed, you’ll likely struggle to attract buyers for your home with a backyard pool.

Above-Ground Alternatives
If you are concerned about the cost of a pool versus the amount it adds to your property’s value, then consider an above-ground pool. These pools have become increasingly easy to install and maintain, and cost only a fraction of the tens of thousands of dollars that a homeowner must pour into an in-ground pool. Most pool companies now say they install significantly more above-ground pools versus their in-ground models.

via bhgrealestate

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Choosing a Quality Carpet

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Choosing quality carpet for an existing or new home is challenging due to the wide variety of carpeting choices available today.

You want the most value for your money, so how do you choose which carpet will wear the best for your home and lifestyle?

High or low traffic?
The key to carpet durability comes from selecting the right style and fiber, suggests the Carpet and Rug Institute.

Buyers can choose carpets appropriate for particular rooms, based on whether the room is formal or casual, and how much traffic it will endure. This will tell you whether you want a smooth or textured pile.

Pile is comprised of the fibers. A thick pile is more durable, and provides more cushion under the feet. Thicker pile is also more costly, as there are more fibers per inch to create a denser product.

Types of carpet
There are several types of carpet available, including:

Textured  - carpet in which the fibers are cut at various lengths.  Textured carpets bear high traffic areas well. Textured carpets include Frieze (knobby appearance),l Looped (Berber), Cable (dense, soft, looped)  and Cut and Loop (varied textures.)

The trendy Cut and Loop can be put in any room.  The variation of surface textures in a cut and loop style creates a variety of pattern effects and design options in contemporary, casual, and traditional decors.

Saxony or Plush – dense, plush carpet with an even pile height, Saxony carpet is ideal for formal living and dining areas and master bedrooms.

Fiber quality
The next key to carpet selection is fiber.  Quality can be enhanced by the twist and heat set of the fibers, as well as the density of the tufts.

Generally, “the shorter, the tighter the twist, the denser, the better the carpet”, goes an old saying in the carpet business, as quoted by Carpet Guru.  

Synthetic fibers make up over 90% of today’s carpets, according to the World Floor Covering Association.

Nylon is the leader for appearance, fade and heat resistance and soil and stain resistance, with the most variety in color and styling options. Other synthetic options include those made of olefin or polypropylene (most often used in loop pile construction), and polyester (luxurious, soft texture).

The most expensive fiber is wool.  Also soft and high in density, the WFCA states that wool cleans well, but doesn’t stand up to abrasion and moisture as well as synthetics.

Which carpet is better?
Major carpet manufacturers such as Mohawk, Karastan, and Shaw take the guesswork out of carpet comparisons by offering performance ratings on their products.

Once you’ve determined the purpose, traffic patterns and performance expectations of the carpet, your selection can easily be narrowed by consulting the rating found on the manufacturing label. A lower rating, however, may not mean a lesser quality carpet, but one that is not expected to compete with the top end carpet sold by the brand.

Manufacturers today also have carpet pad guidelines, advises the Carpet Guru, and if not followed, will void the carpet warranty.  Again, consult the manufacturer’s label on guidelines.

Shop for value
Before you buy, make sure you are paying for density. Dig your fingers into the pile. If they reach the backing quickly, the carpet isn’t packed densely enough with fibers.

Look for tight tuft twists. Lower-priced carpets will have loose tuft twists in the fibers.

Comparison shop for the best price. One store may charge much more for the same carpet, more for the pad, or more for the installation.

Buying better quality pays in the long run. A good carpet can last you 10 to 20 years, while a cheap carpet can wear out quickly.

via bhgrealestate

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Backsplash Magic

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Installing a custom ceramic tile backsplash in your kitchen is a wonderful way to add color and character to the room as a whole. It also protects the walls behind your stove, sink, and other high-activity areas while making routine clean up a snap. With some planning and preparation and plenty of elbow grease, it’s even a project you can tackle yourself – saving some money in the process.

Select Your Tiles and Plan Your Design
The first and perhaps most fun step in backsplash installation involves mapping out your design and selecting your tiles. You’ll want to measure the length of the wall you intend to tile and the distance from countertop to cabinet. Calculate the total area you plan to cover, and use graph paper to scale and draw your pattern. Then visit a tile supplier or home improvement store to consider your options for tile choices. You may be surprised by how much of a selection you find. A huge range of tiles in varying colors, designs, sizes, and materials awaits you. In general, you’ll want to stick with glazed tiles, because unglazed tiles are more susceptible to stains from moisture and grease. But otherwise, just let your budget and personal taste be your guide. As you calculate how many tiles you will need, it’s a good idea to add about 10 percent, which will provide for any cutting mistakes or breakage.

Prepare the Wall
With your design mapped out and your tiles selected, the next step is to prepare the wall. Remove the stove, range hood, outlet plates or anything else that will be in your way and shut off power to all outlets and switches along your workspace. Sand the entire area to rough it up, which will help the mastic – the adhesive you will use to attach your tiles – to bind. Find and mark the exact center of the backsplash with a straight vertical line. Lay out your tiles following your design on the floor or another flat surface so that you can follow the pattern.

Apply Mastic and Set Field Tiles
Next, beginning at the center line, apply a thin layer of mastic for the bottom row of tiles using a grooved trowel. One by one, place the tiles that will form the bottom row of your backsplash, beginning from the center and working out to each side. Leave an 1/8”-gap along the bottom and between each of the tiles using temporary spacers, which you’ll remove later before applying grout or caulk. Continue in this fashion until the field tiles along the bottom of the backsplash wall are all installed.

Cut and Set Decorative Tiles
Depending on your design and any outlets or other wall features you need to incorporate, you will need to cut tiles to fit as you move up the wall toward the underside of the cabinets. The easiest means of cutting tile is to use a scoring cutter, which you can rent for between $15 and $20 a day or buy for around $50. First, you’ll mark the tile where you want to cut it. Then you’ll place the tile in the scoring cutter and score a mark on its surface. Finally, using the scoring cutter’s handle, you’ll break the tile along the scored line. Be sure to cut tiles as you reach the places where you need them rather than leaving a hole and going back.

Grout, Clean, and Caulk
Once you’ve installed all of your tiles, removed your temporary spacers, and allowed the mastic to set up overnight, it’s time to grout. Select a sandless grout, which will prevent any scratches on the tiles you’ve just worked so hard to place. Mix the grout according to the manufacturer’s instructions and apply it using a rubber float. Push the grout well down into the spaces between the tiles and scrape any excess off of the tile surfaces. After the grout has had a chance to set up for about an hour, use a sponge and clean water to wipe away any film from the surface of your tiles. Finally, add a line of caulk in the same color as your grout along the bottom row of tiles where they meet the countertop.

via bhgrealestate.com

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Easy Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Upgrades

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Considered to be the heart of the home, the kitchen is where your family likely spends the most time, and, it's one of the most important rooms to potential homebuyers. Therefor, it's worth investing in some upgrades in this space. Experts say even a minor kitchen facelift can earn you back more than 80% of the cost. Leslie Grete, the star of TLC's While You Were Out and Trading Spaces, offered the following easy kitchen upgrades that, together, cost less than $1,000! 

Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

"This is probably the easiest and most affordable project you can take on as a homeowner to deliver the biggest bang for the buck," says Segrete. "For $40 a gallon you can buy a really good quality paint, and all you need is a couple of hours or a weekend and you can really transform your space."

Refinish Your Cabinets

"If you're unhappy with your cabinets, you're going to be unhappy with your kitchen," says Segrete, who upgraded her own cabinets when she bought her home eight years ago. "The cabinets were looking a little worse for the wear so we cleaned them, lightly sanded them, re-stained them and they still look good today." Do this yourself and save over $500.

If your cabinets are still structurally sound, spruce them up with paint, or by resurfacing, which typically saves you 50% over what replacing the cabinets would cost.

Another quick fix is to update your faucet fixtures and door handles. "For a couple of hundred dollars cosmetic changes are super easy do-it-yourself projects that can completely change the look of your kitchen. Head over to your home center, grab a simple guide, which slides right on the cabinet's door-front. You'll know exactly where to drill and never make a mistake," says Segrete.

Glam Up Your Lighting

New ceiling lights and chandeliers can go a long way and add that "wow" factor to an otherwise dull room. Segrete suggests installing a pendant light, which doesn't require the help of an electrician and can cost less than $50. "It screws right into the socket where the light bulb would go, then a canopy slides up and covers the high hat fixture. For a little money and no electrician you can change the look of your space." For an even more dramatic look, a chandelier sometimes does the trick. Ikea has trendy pieces for less than $50.

Beautify Your Backsplash

Retiling your backsplash on your own can cost as little as $140 and "it doesn't have to be difficult," says Segrete. One of her favorite products for DIYers is the Bondera Tile Mat Set. "It's basically a super sticky contact adhesive that you put right on your existing backsplash. Tile directly to the Bondera, grout the same day, and you are done with that project." A whole roll of Bondera costs about $40.

Opt for Laminate Countertops

Changing your countertops can seem like a daunting process, but Segrete says, not so. "If you're looking for something affordable that you can do yourself, think about laminate. It costs $10 to $40 per square foot about four times less than quartz or granite," she says. Your local home improvement store may be able to cut the laminate to the exact size you need for even added convenience.

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5 Simple, Affordable Ways to Green Your Home

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Adding solar panels or upgrading to eco-friendly appliances can result in long-term savings, but often with a high upfront investment that not everyone can afford.

In honor of Earth Day (April 22), U.S. News talked to several eco-experts to uncover more affordable ways to go green. These habits take minimal time while benefiting the environment—and your wallet.

Skip conventional cleaning products. Commercially available cleaning products are convenient but they aren't always your safest—or cheapest—option. "If you look at the label on most conventional cleaners, you'll see a warning: 'hazardous to pets and humans,'" says Beth Greer, healthy homes expert for Veria.com and author of Super Natural Home: Improve Your Health, Home and Planet ... One Room at a Time. That's why Greer suggests alternately spraying countertops with white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, each in a metal spray bottle. "Using this method kills 99 percent of E. coli, the same way that your conventional cleaner does but it costs pennies and it's totally safe and nontoxic," she says.

Other household substances can serve as inexpensive cleaners as well. For instance, Greer uses half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda to remove water stains from the shower or to clean chrome and bathroom mirrors. Baking soda on a damp sponge can also be used as a scouring tool.

Avoid air leaks. Improving your home's insulation means fewer drafts and lower heating bills. But if you're a renter or have a limited budget for insulation, you have a few inexpensive options for reducing drafts and air leaks. Shel Horowitz, author of Painless Green and founder of the Hadley, Mass.-based consulting firm Green and Profitable, suggests using outlet protectors (the kind you'd use to baby-proof a home) and foam insulating pads to plug air leaks in outlets on exterior walls.

For windows, Horowitz recommends using rope caulk to weatherproof the perimeter. "It's much more aesthetic than covering your windows with plastic, and you can keep it in a plastic bag to reuse it the next year," he says. "Particularly in old houses, this is a very easy, cheap way to prevent drafts."

Make the most of your appliances. Running a refrigerator can account for as much as 15 percent or more of a household's electric bill. As Danny Seo, green lifestyle expert and author of the syndicated column "Do Just One Thing" points out, "you can't just unplug it" like you could with a TV or computer when they aren't in use. However, Seo suggests defrosting frozen foods in the fridge rather on the counter. "One, the refrigerator keeps a constant temperature, which is safer [than leaving frozen meat on the counter]," he says. "Also, because it's a block of frozen whatever it is, it keeps the interior of your refrigerator cooler."

Then, when you transfer food to the oven, don't line the racks with aluminum foil, as this reduces airflow and uses unnecessary foil, Seo adds. While you're heating up the oven, why not add other items you need to bake later in the week? Horowitz suggests consolidating your baking to save time and energy. For instance, bake five or six potatoes instead of just one, and eat them over the next week.

Use light strategically. According to Seo, you can boost the light output and efficiency of bulbs by unscrewing and dusting them. "The dust that builds up on the top of light bulbs can be an economic hazard, since built-up dust covering the bulbs limits the amount of light it emits," he says. "It also causes the bulb to burn up faster than a clean one."

Earn rewards for your eco-friendly efforts. As you develop greener habits, you could earn rewards by signing up for websites like Recyclebank.com or Greenopolis.com. Actions like signing up for paper billing, recycling at home, or using less energy earn Recyclebank users points that are redeemable for coupons, gift cards, and free offers from major retailers. Greenopolis offers points for using Greenopolis recycling kiosks. Once you've deposited enough glass, plastic, or aluminum containers into the kiosk, you can use the points you've earned for discounts or coupons for dining, travel, or other services.

"If you're gonna be doing all these green actions, you might as well get rewarded for it," says Seo. "You would never get on a plane without joining the airline's frequent flyer program. Why go green and not get points for doing it?"

via yahoo real estate

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Does Your Entrance Say Welcome or Walk Away?

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From the moment a potential buyer steps through the threshold of your home, they’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s inside. From the grass lawn care, to the paint on the door, to the smell of fresh cut flowers in the foyer – everything adds up. With a little effort, you can create a home viewing experience buyers won’t soon forget.

It’s all about the entrance
To a buyer, little things go a long way. Adding a dash of color to the front door, replacing the hall mat, baking before an open house and making sure the floor, walls and mirrors are spotless will all ensure your home gets off on the right foot with potential buyers.

Every room counts
When you walk into your home, you can probably see more than just the entranceway. If you have an airy and open space, consider adding common elements that will draw the viewer’s attention from one room to the next – a great way to give your home added continuity.

Clear the clutter
Coat racks are a staple in most homes. Doesn’t mean you want to show yours off during an open house. To add size to the front area, lose the hats, shoes, coats and jackets. For furniture, make sure it fits in the space and is more than a great aid for tying hard-to-reach shoelaces.

Make flooring your forte
Is the laminate in your 70-year-old bungalow a turn-off? Sellers should strive to make the entrance as welcoming as possible–that includes getting rid of any flooring or materials that dramatically dates your décor. Before listing a property, you should consider making some minor remodel upgrades. Because the front hall is normally a smaller space, it may be a good place to invest some extra effort and give it a more modern appeal.

Get a handle on it
What's the first thing people touch when walking into your home? If your door handle is in need of a polish or needs to be changed, it may be worth hiring a handyman to install a quality piece of hardware. If the door jams or squeaks, give it some TLC before you throw the welcome sign on the front lawn. There is nothing more embarrassing than a home in disrepair.

Mirrors and artwork
If the entrance is small, a mirror can create a trick of the eye and expand the space. A powerful piece of contemporary art can also create a memorable entrance for a purchaser. Whichever you choose, remember the first impression is the one that lasts. Take the time to ensure that every potential homebuyer feels welcomed when walking in.

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Garage Re-haul

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In so many homes, the garage is a cluttered dumping ground where you stick things that don’t otherwise seem to have a place to live. Sometimes, this is so much the case that there’s not even room to park your car. Sound familiar? If so, now might be the perfect time to transform your garage into a useful work and storage space. Doing so can add significant value to your home in the eyes of potential buyers. Best of all, a garage re-haul project doesn’t have to involve a huge investment of either time or money.

Out with the Old
It may sound tedious and labor intensive, but the best way to tackle a cluttered garage is by hauling everything out to the driveway where you can sort and organize it. In the bright light of day, it will be easy to see what holds value and what needs to get chucked. Fortunately, once it’s in the driveway, it’s that much easier to send unneeded items on their way to the trash or the Salvation Army.

Once you’ve cleared away what you don’t need, sort what remains by function. Tools with tools, sports equipment with sports equipment – you get the idea. Doing so will help you get a handle on what you have and help you think through how best to store it in an orderly fashion.

In with the Organization
Now that you can clearly see what really belongs in the garage, you can start to think about how best to make it all fit. The next order of the day is to consider what type of storage system or systems will keep things organized and accessible. You can choose from cabinets, shelves or wall-mounted racks – and you can go with a pre-fabricated mix-and-match modular system or you can build your own from scratch.

Cabinets and drawers, among the more expensive solutions you might consider, offer protection from dust and moisture and hide clutter from sight. Shelves, a cheaper option, are efficient uses of space that keep items visible, making them easy to locate and access. Wall-mounted racks are among the most affordable systems you might install, great for hanging tools and other equipment. The right solution for your garage will depend on your individual needs and budget – and it may be that a combination of storage types works best. Also keep in mind that plastic storage bins or containers can provide protection from dust and moisture for items that require it if you don’t include cabinets or drawers as part of your overall mix.

Remember to Look Up
In the garage especially, don’t forget the ceiling as you are taking inventory of your available storage space. Hooks can be a great way to store bikes and other unwieldy items, off the floor and out of the way but easy to get down when you need them. Standard wire shelving installed overhead between ceiling joists can also provide a valuable place to stash items that you need less frequently – such as seasonal sports equipment or holiday decorations. Ladders, too, can be kept out of sight and out of the way on hooks suspended from the ceiling. Obviously, if you have an automatic garage door that opens into the garage overhead, make sure to avoid installing any ceiling storage that might impede it.

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6 Worst Home Fixes for the Money

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It's the magic phrase uttered by almost anyone who's ever considered the cost of home remodeling: "We'll get it back when we sell."

Unless you keep those projects practical, though, you might just be kidding yourself.

For example:
Steel front door: Good.
Master suite addition costing more than the average American home: Bad.
Every year, Remodeling magazine looks at the hottest home upgrades and renovations and calculates just how much owners get back with they sell.

Upkeep is more popular than upgrades these days, says Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling. These are the projects that often recoup the biggest slice of expenses at resale. But prices and returns do vary regionally, he says.

Ever wonder what brings the lowest return when you plant that "for sale" sign? Think high-dollar, high-end and highly personalized add-ons that make you drool. Like a totally tricked-out garage built from the ground up. Or a super luxe master suite addition. Or the home office redo designed just for you.

Here are the six improvements that, in their 2010 report, ranked dead last nationally when it comes to getting those renovation dollars back at resale.

Home office remodel
Want to get an idea what today's office-away-from-the-office looks like? Walk into Starbucks.

These days, a home office consists of a multiple-choice combination of wireless laptops, smartphones, PDAs and touch-screen tablets. And that worker bee might be toiling anywhere from a home patio or a favorite restaurant to a park bench.

The standard home office renovation, meanwhile -- complete with plenty of built-in storage and high-tech wiring -- is this year's biggest loser in the resale value sweepstakes. Nationally, homeowners spent an average of $28,888 and can expect to recoup about 45.8 percent at resale, according to the report.

Return on investment doesn't reflect your enjoyment of the space, Alfano says.

He offers two tips for home-office remodelers when they sell. First, opt for something that can be easily converted back into a bedroom or den for (or by) the next buyer.

Second, when you're selling, call it a study, den or hobby room. "There's lots of call for multipurpose space. Don't lock yourself into that one use," Alfano says. Don't use words that invoke images of actual work. Or the office.

Backup power generator
You see a backup generator and imagine all of the comforts no matter what the weather.

But potential buyers hailing from outside your local area may not share that vision. (And a handful of those who do might have watched too many zombie movies.)

On average, when homeowners have a heavy-duty backup power generator installed, they spend about $14,718, according to the report. Going with a slightly less expensive model or having a less complicated installation could cut the costs significantly, Alfano says.

Average amount of the price recovered at resale time: 48.5 percent.

Sunroom addition
Real estate agents will tell you that potential buyers want square footage, pristine condition and lots of light. So a brand-new room that has the word "sun" in it, it has to be great for resale value, right?

Not necessarily.

Your first clue: The word "addition" -- which means expanding the footprint of your home -- indicates that this is not a renovation for the faint of heart (or wallet). "It's one of the more expensive projects," Alfano says.

While it seems simple enough, the national average for a sunroom addition is $75,224, according to the report. Homeowners can expect to recoup about 48.6 percent when they sell.

That doesn't mean that adding a sunroom is always a bad move.

If your home needs another common area, a sunroom could be the answer, says Katie Severance, co-author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Selling Your Home." An addition is best considered in the context of the whole home, she says. "The doctor has to treat the whole patient. You have to look at the house and say 'What's out of balance?'"

Upscale master suite addition
Who doesn't want to wake up in a five-star-hotel-quality suite with an attached spa bathroom and a kitchenette that affords you coffee and pastries before facing the world?

Once you see the price tag, it won't just be the coffee keeping you up at night.

For a super-deluxe master suite addition -- which adds square footage and uses only top-dollar materials -- the average cost is about $232,062, according to the report.

That's 460 nights at a posh resort with enough left over to raid the minibar.

In years past, this project was "sort of a trend in vacation homes" that migrated to primary dwellings, Alfano says. Sellers can expect to recover about 52.7 percent at resale.

Your buyer can purchase a newer house with the same features as part of the original floor plan that "probably lays out better anyway," says Loren Keim, author of "How to Sell Your Home in Any Market."

So while the next buyer may appreciate your luxury accommodations (which could even tip their decision in your home's favor), chances are they won't want to pay the full tab for your remodel.

Bathroom addition
Unless you're a hermit who never entertains, you've probably wished for an extra bathroom now and then.

But bathroom additions require serious coin. For a moderately outfitted addition with synthetic stone or plastic laminate surfaces, figure parting with about $21,695, according to the Remodeling report. Go upscale, with finishes like premium marble or fine tile, and you can easily spend in the neighborhood of $40,710.

Either way, you get about the same return: 53 cents on the dollar. "In the buyer's mind, the additional bathroom isn't worth that additional $20,000 to $40,000," Keim says.

Investigate a less-expensive way to get the same result without flushing quite as much cash. While additions usually cost more, pros might be able to reconfigure your existing space to add a bathroom for less, Alfano says.

Upscale garage addition
Instead of cleaning out the garage, how much would you pay to have a new one built from scratch?

This time, it would have all the organizational built-ins, and a durable, easy-to-clean floor to ensure it would never be messy again. And windows for natural light.

Oh yeah, and you could store a couple of cars in there, too.

The price tag for a top-of-the-line detached two-car with all the trimmings is about $90,053, according to the report. You can expect to recover about 53.6 percent of that when you sell.

"This one is completely decked out on the inside," says Alfano. "It's a dream garage."

And that's likely some of the problem with recovering the value at resale. Says Keim, "You've got a very small target audience out there that wants an upscale garage."

via bankrate

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