All Blog Entries by Alexander Chandler 
There are currently 118 blog entries published by Alexander Chandler.
Fence Etiquette: Tips to Avoid Neighbor Disputes
Friday, October 19th, 2012 at 9:57am. 109 Views, 0 Comments.
Fence Etiquette: Tips to Avoid Neighbor Disputes
Published: March 23, 2011
If you practice fence etiquette and bone up on local zoning regs, you can avoid neighbor disputes.
Must-dos
Observe boundaries: Don’t risk having to tear down that fence by going even one inch over your property line. Study your house line drawing or plat or order a new survey ($500 to $1,000) from a land surveyor to be sure of boundaries. Fence companies usually install a foot inside the line, to be on the safe side.
Respect limits: Fencing companies obtain permits and must know local zoning regulations for height, setbacks, and other restrictions. Height limits typically are 6 feet for side and back yards; 4 feet for front yards. More…
Evaluate Your House for a Home Office
Monday, October 15th, 2012 at 10:39am. 111 Views, 0 Comments.
Evaluate Your House for a Home Office
Published: February 5, 2010
When planning a home office remodel, consider the specific needs of your profession for space, light, storage, technology, and security.
That said, while an office may make your home more attractive to potential buyers, it won't add significantly to value. According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, converting a 12-by-12-foot bedroom into an office costs a national average of around $28,000 and recoups less than half the investment. But if you're among the more than 20% of Americans who do some or all of their job at home, a comfortable, functional work space is a must-have.
Where to put a home office
A spare bedroom is the most…
7 Smart Strategies for Bathroom Remodeling
Monday, October 1st, 2012 at 10:53am. 257 Views, 0 Comments.
7 Smart Strategies for Bathroom Remodeling
Published: March 4, 2011
Here’s how to get the bathroom of your dreams without making your budget a nightmare.
A mid-range bathroom remodel is a solid investment, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report. An average bath remodel of $16,500 will recoup about 62% of those costs when it’s time to sell your home, and a more extensive $52,200 job returns about 55.5%. In addition, you can maximize the value of your investment by using these smart strategies, which will create a stylish yet budget-friendly bathroom.
1. Stick to a plan
A bathroom remodel is no place for improvisation. Before ripping out the first tile, think hard about how you…
Budget Kitchen Remodeling: 5 Money-Saving Steps
Monday, September 24th, 2012 at 9:29am. 258 Views, 0 Comments.
Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®." www.HouseLogic.com.
Budget Kitchen Remodeling: 5 Money-Saving Steps
Published: January 19, 2012
Can't afford an entire kitchen remodel in one fell swoop? You can complete the work in 5 budget-saving stages (and still cook dinner during the down time).
Stage one: Start with a complete design plan
Your plan should be comprehensive and detailed — everything from the location of the refrigerator to which direction the cabinet doors will open to whether you need a spice drawer.
To save time (and money) during tear-out and construction, plan on using your existing…
Allergies at Home
Friday, September 21st, 2012 at 9:23am. 179 Views, 0 Comments.
Allergies at Home
Published: June 22, 2012
If you have allergies at home, you’re hosting allergens with specific needs. If those pollutants could write classified ads, here’s what they’d want.
DUST MITES in need of a cozy mattress. Please, no dust mite-proof covers (we can’t hack latex mattresses or silk bedding, either). Bedding and comforters must be rarely washed. Absolutely NO water heaters set above 130 degrees -- we’d be goners. Prefer natural materials for hanging out -- no synthetics or air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, please, as we find them inhospitable.
POLLEN wants airy home with windows and doors frequently left open. Prefer windows where mold and…
How to Remodel and Keep Your Marriage Together
Friday, September 21st, 2012 at 9:16am. 118 Views, 0 Comments.
How to Remodel and Keep Your Marriage Together
Published: August 13, 2012
Remodeling can be chaotic, cluttered, sawdusty, noisy, costly, and stressful. So can marriage. Here’s how to keep your marriage from ending up in the Dumpster.
“Building or remodeling a home can be about the most stressful activity a married couple can engage in,” says Dr. Don Gilbert, a marriage counselor in West Des Moines, Iowa.
“It has all the components that couples stress over -- money, multiple decisions, and different preferences. In fact, there are so many opportunities for relationship stress during remodeling that it brings out in each person the weaknesses they may have in communication and conflict management.”
So…
Should You as a Soon-To-Be-Seller Have an Inspection Prior to Listing Your Property?
Monday, September 10th, 2012 at 10:53am. 131 Views, 0 Comments.
Pre-listing Inspections
Eventually your buyers are going to conduct an inspection. You may as well know what they are going to find by getting there first. The author points out that having an inspection performed ahead of time helps in many other ways:
- It allows you to see your home through the eyes of a critical third-party. It helps you to price your home realistically.
- It permits you to make repairs ahead of time so that ... Defects won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later.
- There is no delay in obtaining the Use and Occupancy permit.
- You have the time to get reasonably priced contractors or make the repairs yourself, if qualified.
- It may encourage the buyer to waive the inspection…
Find the Home Loan that Fits Your Needs
Monday, September 10th, 2012 at 10:23am. 123 Views, 0 Comments.
Find the Home Loan that Fits Your Needs
Published: February 10, 2010
Understand which mortgage loan is best for you so your budget is not stretched too thin.
The basics of mortgage financing
The most important features of your mortgage loan are its term and interest rate. Mortgages typically come in 15-, 20-, 30- or 40-year lengths. The longer the term, the lower your monthly payment. However, the tradeoff for a lower payment is that the longer the life of your loan, the more interest you’ll pay.
Mortgage interest rates generally come in two flavors: fixed and adjustable. A fixed rate allows you to lock in your interest rate for the entire mortgage term. That’s attractive if you’re risk-averse, on a fixed…
4 Tips to Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford
Tuesday, September 4th, 2012 at 2:03pm. 134 Views, 0 Comments.
4 Tips to Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford
Published: March 11, 2010
By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that home ownership will fit in your budget.
1. The general rule of mortgage affordability
As a rule of thumb, you can typically afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. If you earn $100,000, you can typically afford a home between $200,000 and $300,000.
To understand how that rule applies to your particular financial situation, prepare a family budget and list all the costs of homeownership, like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and community association fees, if applicable, as well as costs specific to your family, such as day…
Sellers - Ten Tips to Speed Up Your Home Inspection
Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 12:18pm. 169 Views, 0 Comments.
Ten Tips
Sellers can speed their home inspection by following these suggestions. The inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing.
- Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning.
- Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home.
- Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a "Light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.
- Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely.
- Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as "conducive conditions" for…