Pointers for Painters Who Want No Do-Overs - 06/30/11 07:16 AM
An expectant colleague sent word to me that she and her husband had visited a chain paint store in recent weeks, searching for the right color for the baby’s room.
The salesperson told her that many homeowners, unable to come up with the money to hire a painting contractor, were resorting to doing the job themselves —often with unfortunate results.
Many were returning to the paint store, virtual hat in hand, seeking ways to extricate themselves from the mess they had made.
Experienced do-it-yourselfers must be asking, “How could they mess up something as easy as painting a room?” Think back … (3 comments)

Down the Drain: Garbage Disposal Dos & Don'ts - 06/22/11 05:11 PM
If your kitchen has a garbage disposal, you know how easy it makes mealtime clean up. But what you may not realize is that your disposal comes with some pretty important rules. Here are some of the most vital: Do:• Insert food slowly. Stuffing it all into your disposal at once can cause clogs and shorten the life of your system. • Grind hard materials. Many people think food like chicken bones or small fruit pits are a no-no, but they can actually help clean the walls of the disposal. • Use cold water for at least 20 seconds. This will … (1 comments)

Soffritto All Over Again - 06/21/11 10:25 AM

We’ve always enjoyed Soffritto Italian Grill, but every place needs to shake it up now and again. Hence a revamped menu of authentic Italian fare—with 55 selections of chicken, seafood, veal, steak and, of course, pasta.Check starters such as the Insalata Soffritto of baby spinach, tomatoes, fresh homemade mozzarella, artichoke hearts and kalamata olives served with homemade cider dressing. Move on to homemade sacchetti pasta stuffed with four cheeses and finished with a sherry-Chablis demi-glaze, or try tender chicken layered with imported prosciutto di Parma and mozzarella served in a light white wine sauce with wild mushrooms and spinach. And … (4 comments)

Car Experts Offer Tips for Better Gas Mileage - 06/20/11 02:03 PM
With apologies to any and all excellent drivers under the age of 20, auto shop teacher Eric Varrelmann has this straightforward advice for motorists who want to save money on gasoline: “Stop driving like a teenager.”
Translation: Avoid sudden stops and starts. Don’t drive aggressively. Slow down.
The return of $4-a-gallon gas has renewed interest in fuel-efficient cars and also called attention to money-saving driving techniques—things that didn’t seem to matter so much when gas had tumbled to more-affordable levels during the recession and its aftermath.
It’s a given that buying a fuel-efficient car makes greater financial sense when gas costs … (0 comments)

Evaluate Your Yard for a Patio - 06/15/11 08:10 AM

If you love the great outdoors, you’re not alone. Outdoor living is one of the fastest-growing segments of the remodeling market. In fact, the entire “outdoor leisure lifestyle” industry is now a $6.2 billion business—up 5.4% since 2002, according to statistics from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.One reason that outdoor living is so popular is that it expands living area at minimal cost. Leading the way to this low-cost pursuit of leisure is the patio. With new home construction costs averaging $95 per square foot, and decks coming in around $33 per square foot, an all-brick patio averages only … (0 comments)

3 Tips for the First-Time Home Seller - 06/14/11 09:58 AM
Today’s buyer-take-all bonanza is a boon for fence-sitters and buyers with great credit and deep pockets. But sellers are steeling themselves to new realities that include paying (rather than making) money at the closing table, providing extras to sweeten the deal, and spending more time and cash making the home camera-ready.
For first-time sellers who have never been through the process before, it’s a different world. One where the value of the house isn’t measured in the profit made on the sale, but by the enjoyment the owners had from living in the home.
Here are three things experienced sellers would … (0 comments)

Your Place: The Steps in Cleaning and Staining a Deck - 06/11/11 05:10 PM
It’s deck sprucing-up time, and I thought I would share some tips on staining from Debbie Zimmer at the Paint Quality Institute. Assuming that your deck doesn’t need repairs, the first step is to remove any loose paint or stain that may be present. This is done in one of two ways: by scraping and sanding, or by treating the surface with a commercial deck conditioner, followed by careful power washing with plain water.
The prep work can be even easier if the deck has no loose paint or stain. Clean the surface with a commercial product, or, to save money, … (0 comments)

Wonderful Ranch in Wilmington - 06/10/11 11:05 AM
Ranch in Willow Run … (0 comments)

Do Your Part: Eco-friendly Ideas to Keep Kids Busy This Summer - 06/10/11 09:57 AM
It’s summer and there’s one thing parents hate to hear from the kids, “I’m bored!” While you’re looking for easy ways to entertain the kiddies, you can also do your part to pass along important lessons on being eco-friendly. Here are my top 5 green ways to keep kids busy all summer long.
1) Have an Eco-Adventure Eco-adventures don’t have to be a daunting task. They can be anything you want them to be! A simple walk or hike is the perfect opportunity to learn about the trees, flowers, and insects you might see. Or, think bigger. America’s national parks are … (1 comments)

Secrets for Growing Tempting Tomatoes - 06/04/11 09:39 AM
The summer season may bring such images to mind as children running through sprinklers, and ice cream cones. But in the minds of gardeners, different images may come to mind.
Tomatoes are the belles of the ball when it comes to summer gardening. Not only are they easy to grow, but they also come in several varieties that beat supermarket tomatoes hands down.
Whether you grow hearty Beefmasters or petite Sweet Cherry tomatoes, summer just isn't the same without them. To grow plump, yummy tomatoes, give the following tips a try:
Harvest seeds. Don't let a great tomato crop fade away … (4 comments)

Great Buy in Christiana - 06/02/11 11:37 AM
Great Buy - End Unit Townhome … (0 comments)

Stay Safe in the Sun - 06/02/11 09:00 AM
Summer means warm weather and sunshine. As enjoyable as that may be, sunshine means increased risk of skin damage due to overexposure. Protect yourself from harmful rays this summer with this advice:
Choose your times. When possible, limit your exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest. Dress appropriately. Wear loose, light clothing covering your body as much as possible, along with a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and neck. Check your medications. Antibiotics and other medications can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Talk to your doctor about how best to take … (1 comments)

 
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Christopher Pataki Hockessin Delaware Real Estate

Hockessin, DE

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RE/MAX Associates

Address: 1302 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE, 19707

Office Phone: (302) 234-3800

Cell Phone: (302) 562-0628

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