CREATING OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES INEXPENSVIELY

The following link to "This Old House" online magazine provides some interesting ideas for making the outdoor part of your living environment just a little more comfortable and attractive.  Great ideas for your summer time enjoyment and for showing off your home if you are getting ready to sell.

0595797,00.html?xid=hinewsletter-130723-outdoor-rooms&TOH

Ideas for Sprucing up Outside your Home

The current issue of online "This Old House Magazine" has a fine list of things you can do outside your home--75 ideas under $75 is the title.  Check it out!
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20361592,00.html

5 Emotional Mistakes Sellers Make

The following article on the Trulia web site is a great one for home sellers.  As I am about to become one myself, I am paying special attention.  Real estate moves can make us crazy, whether we are buying or selling!

http://www.trulia.com/blog/taranelson/2013/04/5_emotional_mistakes_sellers_make?ecampaign=cnews201304B&eurl=www.trulia.com%2Fblog%2Ftaranelson%2F2013%2F04%2F5_emotional_mistakes_sellers_make

The value of regular home maintenance!

Spring time is a good time to take care of things in and around the house.  The out-of-doors is more welcoming and you just feel like getting things done again after hibernating for the winter.  I ran across the following article on houselogic.com.  These are good reminders that pay dividends in the long run!

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/maintenance-repair/value-home-maintenance/?nicmp=hlemail&nichn=newsletter&niseg=20130405_homemaintenance

Now that the Rainy Season is here . . .

It's great to have spring finally here--and along with it, April showers!  Rain is wonderful and necessary, but it can wreak havoc on a home.  The attached article from "This Old House" provides some useful and timely information on how to get rain water away from your foundation--reducing the risk of damp basements and mold.  Check it out:   http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20190189,00.html?xid=hinewsletter-130409-extend-downspout&TOH

Great Economic News for Greater Kalamazoo

Western Michigan University has just announced the addition of another tenant for its Business Research and Technology Park on Kalamazoo's west side.  Newell Rubbermaid will be building a design (non-manufacturing) facility on the last remaining parcel in the park and will be adding 100 new jobs with an average income of $80,000.  Newell Rubbermaid is consolidating its 15 global design units and bringing them all to Kalamazoo.  This is great news for the area in general and for real estate in particular!  Click on the following links for more details.  http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/03/btr_park_at_western_michigan_u.html

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/03/newell_rubbermaid_consolidatin.html

Staging Tips

Spring time is here and, in the world of real estate, that means moving.  The link provided here offers simple, proven tips for getting your home ready for market.  Check it out and give me a call.  I'd be happy to stop by some time and offer low cost/no cost suggestions for getting the most out your sale.http://members.houselogic.com/articles/7-tips-staging-your-home/preview/?nicmp=rcrnl&nichn=link5&niseg=32013