Archive for September, 2008

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, fire sprinklers will be required in new one- and two-family homes and townhouses under a rule approved recently by the International Code Council that will be published in the 2009 International Residential Code.

The mandate’s supporters say it will give residents more time to exit during a fire, but the National Association of Home Builders is concerned about the higher home prices and maintenance costs that will result.

Though costs vary by community, the Fire Protection Research Foundation says sprinkler systems run an average of $1.61 per square foot of space covered.

Wall Street Journal, Anjali Athavaley (09/23/08)

Good landscaping can increase a home’s value by 5 percent to 11 percent, according to a Michigan State University study.

Don’t give the lawn a buzz cut, urges John Stier, professor of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin. Cutting a lawn short makes it grow faster and weakens its roots. Stier says keep the grass no shorter than 2 ½ inches.

Stier thinks hiring a lawn service to cut, water and fertilize isn’t necessary for right approach most homeowners. He says they can do just as good a job themselves and save more than $1,000 a year.

Source: Money Magazine, Josh Garskof (09/04/2008)

Simple fixes and staging practices can focus buyers’ attention in the right places and keep them from getting sidetracked by personal items in the home.

Here are some staging suggestions from Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Staging Plus in Tampa, Fla., Handyman Matters, and HGTV’s The Stagers.

• Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious.
• Pack up the too-personal. Don’t leave toiletries on the counter. Stash family photos.
• Be prepared for snoops. Prospective buyers pull open drawers, look in closets and peek behind the shower curtain.
• Make sure things work. Dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs, and squeaking hinges detract from the home’s appeal.
• Think “white-glove clean.” Mop, dust, vacuum, clean baseboards, wash windows. Make sure the house looks fresh and smells neutral.
• Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways.
• Store furniture that makes rooms feel crowded.
• Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you’ve turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs.

Source: The Dallas Morning News (09/05/2008)