Water Heater Issues: Repair or Replace? Traditional or Tankless? - 05/31/12 01:57 PM
Water heaters are non-issues UNTIL you get hit with that first icy shower or giant puddle in the basement. Then you have to think fast: Repair or replace?  Our friends at www.houselogic.com walks us through the options of replacing vs. repairing.
If it’s a conventional storage-tank water heater nearing the end of its 10-13-year life, replacement is obvious: New models are up to 20% more efficient and can save up to $700 in energy costs over the life of the unit. However, if your water heater is only a few years old, repair may be the way to go. Not sure whether to … (0 comments)

Low-Cost Kitchen Improvements for Any Home - 05/27/12 12:58 PM
In the most recent   National Association of Realtors Magazine, they highlighted a few low-cost options for sprucing up your kitchen.
Here are a few of my favorites:
-Paint: The least expensive way to change the feel of a room.  Use eggshell rather than flat paint since the kitchen is a heavily used room.
-Backsplash Tile:  Do it from the base of the cabinets down.  A full 18 inches.  Try laying them vertically rather than horizontally for a less-expected look.
-Countertops:  If granite is too expensive, choose a laminate.  A texture laminate is a better choice to hide scratching or burn … (2 comments)

Simple Solutions to Decluttering your Home - 05/22/12 12:42 PM
In a post I did last September I discussed the importance of eliminating clutter in your home before putting it on the market.  This topic is so relevant, especially if you are considering listing your home in the hot real estate market we have been experiencing this spring.   We all live with some level of clutter whether we’re a candidate for the show Hoarders or our otherwise neat house has a junk drawer.Go through every room, every cabinet, every closet and identify things you don’t need and get rid of them ASAP (sell, donate, trash). And, the stuff you want to keep but … (0 comments)

Flintstone Home on the Market - 05/19/12 11:17 AM
Legendary Hollywood personality Dick Clark put his Bedrock inspired home  on the market shortly before he passed away.  He built this home in Malibu, California atop a secluded 23-acre plateau.  The home boasts expansive 360-degree views that stretch as far as the Channel Islands, Boney Mountains, Serrano Valley and the bright city lights of Tinseltown.  On the market for 3.5 Million, it offers just 1 Bedroom and 2 Baths.
Would you want to live in cave?  Even if you are not a fan of the architecture the views would be pretty amazing!
Here is a video from www.realtor.com that showcases the entire … (3 comments)

West Des Moines Ranch - 05/18/12 08:18 AM
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Brand New Listing in Urbandale - 05/18/12 08:15 AM
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Common Weeds and Solutions - 05/18/12 07:27 AM
It's that time of the year again.  Spring is here!  Warm weather means flowers, green grass — and weeds that’ll turn your yard into a turf war. Your first line of defense? Maintain a healthy lawn with proper watering, feeding, and aeration. After that, know the bad guys that try to take over your territory. Here’s your guide from www.houselogic.com to identifying some of the most common lawn weeds in North America, and how best to get rid of them.
Here are the 4 of the most common weeds and how to get rid of them:
1:  False Dandelion-Similar to good-old … (0 comments)

Urbandale Former Show Home! - 05/14/12 01:50 PM
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Des Moines Home, Great Location! - 05/14/12 01:48 PM
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Johnston Home, Tons of Privacy! - 05/14/12 01:46 PM
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Modern Clive Home - 05/14/12 01:44 PM
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Des Moines Unique Townhome - 05/14/12 01:42 PM
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Complete Remodel in Adel - 05/14/12 01:37 PM
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5 Bedroom Ranch in Grimes - 05/14/12 01:35 PM
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West Des Moines 5 Bedroom - 05/14/12 01:32 PM
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New Construction in Waukee - 05/14/12 01:29 PM
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Split Foyer in Johnston School District, Move In Ready! - 05/14/12 01:26 PM
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4 Bedroom/2 Bathroom in Clive....Short Sale - 05/14/12 01:24 PM
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Large Ranch on the SE side of Des Moines - 05/14/12 01:20 PM
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4 Car Ranch with Walkout Basement - 05/14/12 01:18 PM
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New West Des Moines Listing - 05/14/12 01:14 PM
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Do Unique and Eclectic Homes Help or Hurt your Property Values? - 05/13/12 05:38 PM
Would it bother you to have an eclectic or unique home built next to yours?  Architect Tom Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio built a home that was truly unique and caused quite a stir over the years .  Dubbed by locals as the “Mushroom House,”  it took him over ten years to complete his home with the help of Design students from the University of Cincinnati College of Design.  It’s now on the market and listed for $349,000.   You tell me, would this house increase or decrease your property values? To view the video, pictures and the entire article, click on http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-05-04/house-of-the-week-mushroom-house-in-cincinnati/
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6 Painting Tips for Freshening Up Exteriors - 05/06/12 09:31 AM
Here are 6 tips for freshening up the exterior of your home from the National Association of Realtors . The outside of your home is very important as it is the first impression future buyers have of your property.  The most important tip is #6, Do NOT postpone painting!   Waiting can cause damage and potential clients may not want to  deal with that issue when deciding whether or not to put  an offer in on your home.
6 Painting Tips for Freshening Up Exteriors.
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Paying Taxes May Stink, but Owning a Home Helps! - 05/03/12 03:06 PM
Tax day is tomorrow!!  Have you filed your 2011 return yet?  For some, it's the most dreaded day of the year.  There is some good news though for all of you homeowners out there.   Here are some last-minute considerations as it relates to the deductions/tax credits for your home.
1-Have you replaced any major items in your home?  The 2011 federal energy tax credits offer a $500.00 tax credit for various upgrades.  Windows, roofs, water heaters, storm windows/doors, and insulation are just a few on the list that qualify.  The tax credit may seem small, however, credits are better than … (0 comments)

New Listing: Beautiful Executive Home for Sale in Urbandale's Hallbrook Development - 05/03/12 03:04 PM
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Baseball fans..Do you want to live like a New York Yankee? - 05/03/12 03:03 PM
Derek Jeter's Manhattan bachelor pad is the on the market.  Located in the World Trump Tower, It is listed for a cool $17.95 Million.   The home was previously owned by the Donald himself, as in Trump.  Your monthly mortgage payment would be a mere $ 66,252.00 a month, (that's if you put 20% down.) If you want to see what $17.95 million looks like, check out http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-04-26/derek-jeter-relists-new-york-bachelor-pad-for-17-95-million/
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Ready or Not....it's time to renovate, re-do, or just look for ideas. - 05/03/12 03:01 PM
Have you ever wanted to change the look of your home? Found a paint color sample at a hardware store and wanted to save it for when you decided to change the color of your living room? Have you ever been to a restaurant and commented that you loved the way the kitchen was set-up and wanted that in your next home? Enter Houzz.com. It's a hot new website that has lots of people talking. Houzz was developed by a husband and wife who wanted to renovate their home yet struggled to describe their vision. They were told to buy books, … (2 comments)

More Good News for Des Moines Buyers and Sellers!! - 05/03/12 12:39 PM
The market is looking fantastic for the Greater Des Moines area.  As reported by the Business Record home sales jumped 46 percent last month, with 713 homes sold compared with 490 in February, the Greater Des Moines Association of Realtors said. The median sale price in March was $140,000, up almost $20,000 from February. Last month, homes were on the market for an average of 123 days and there were 4,529 active listings.
How does that make the average consumer feel?  Is the market rebounding?  As discussed in my last blog, many consumers are feeling a sense of urgency to get their home … (2 comments)

Top 10 Best Places for a Second Home - 05/03/12 12:39 PM
Maybe you aren't in the market for a second home but it's always fun to look.  Here are the top ten best places for a second home.  If you hit the lottery which place would you pick??
1-Maui, Hawaii.  Median Home Price: 1.5 million.  Famous Neighbor: Oprah
2-Kiawah, South Carolina.  Median Home Price: 1.4 million.  Famous Neighbor:  Dan Marino
3-The Hamptons, New York.  Median Home Price: 1.5 million.  Famous Neighbor:  Billy Joel
4-Park City, Utah.  Median Home Price: 1 million.  Famous Neighbor:  Robert Redford
5-Aspen, Colorado.  Median Home Price:  5.6 million.  Famous Neighbor:  Jack Nicholson
6-Pebble Beach, California.  Median Home Price: … (1 comments)

New Ranch Listing in Waukee - 05/03/12 12:38 PM
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