OCTOBER 12, 2016 Volume 11 • Issue 41
RE WEEKLY STORY COUNTY
RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT 515-233-3299 • 317 5th Street, Ames All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
Online at www.AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
Page 10 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016 • Page 11
TIPS OF THE WEEK Seek out granite alternatives Homeowners looking to break from the standard granite countertops have a range of alternate materials from which to choose. Crisp marbles infuse a room with a clean, stately charm while having the benefit of being cool to the touch. On the warmer end of the spectrum, butcher block countertops bring in a more relaxed vibe and will withstand rigorous use by the serious home chef. For something a bit out of the norm, soapstone and concrete are dependable surfaces that will patina over time. — Brandpoint
• For whole-house fans add a shutter seal. Made from white textured flexible insulation, you install the seal over the ceiling shutter, secure it with Velcro, and trim it to fit. • To avoid cold drafts around a fireplace, add a plug to it. A fireplace plug is an inflatable pillow that seals the fireplace damper, eliminating drafts, odors, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after. • A clothes dryer vent seal will reduce unwanted drafts, and also keeps out pests, bees and rodents. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. — Brandpoint/ Battic Door
Seal up drafts to save money
Prep perennials for cold weather
Drafts from overlooked spaces like pull-down attic stairs, a whole-house fan, a fireplace or clothes dryer can waste energy and cost you big in the form of higher energy bills. Here are some tips and techniques that can seal and insulate these areas. • Add an insulated attic stair cover that seals the stairs and stops drafts and energy loss. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling. BRANDPOINT/BATTIC DOOR
Although perennials can provide a food source or make your garden eye-catching for years, once temperatures begin to fall and winter sets in, it is important to keep your plants safe while they are dormant. To keep your perennials healthy, be sure to cut back dry stems to the soil level after the first frost, compost disease-free dead plant debris to create an organic soil conditioner, cut off diseased foliage and mulch the beds with pine needles or chopped leaves to protect the roots and soil from extreme temperature changes. — More Content Now
Add vintage charm to newer home The current trends in home decor is what’s old is new again. Homeowners are gravitating to classic and timeworn elements to give their home a traditional feel. Here is a sampling of what can be done: • Install new flooring that’s inspired by the charm of vintage floors. Retailers like Lumber Liquidators sell an array of flooring styles that mimic the look and feel of vintage woodwork — wide planks that echo farmhouse floors, distressed finishes and much more. • Adding a wood accent wall can create the feel of a farmhouse or even an industrial loft. Wood can add an artistic element or focal point to backsplashes and ceilings. Whatever your goal, accent wood makes a statement. • Don’t forget the little details: a glass doorknob, an oil-rubbed light fixture or a stained glass panel in the window. These touches go a long way to convey the look of another era in a newer home. — Brandpoint BRANDPOINT
Page 12 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016
When you’re ready . . . and it’s time to look beyond Online photos . . .
Visit a Real Open House! See This Week’s Complete Open House Schedule with Ames Open Houses Mapped for your convenience!
RE WEEKLY We’re your Complete Open House Resource DIRECT MAILED & ONLINE!
AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016 • Page 13
Page 14 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016 • Page 15
Page 16 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, October 12, 2016