Homes Guide
Brown County April - May 2012
FREE
real estate • appraisals • insurance • financial • Services • area maps published by the
Brown County Democrat
Homes Guide
Brown County April - May 2012 Real Estate
Chief Realty........................................... 4 Jane Gore Realty.................................. 5 Prudential.............................................. 6 Hills O Brown Commercial.................. 7 Remax.................................................... 8 Mike Nickels Log Homes..................... 9 Century 21 Breeden ............................ 9 Remax.................................................. 10 Logos Real Estate.............................. 11 Hills O Brown................................. 12-13 Century 21 Breeden........................... 17 Forest Hills of Brown Co.... Back Cover
2 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
Other Services
Area Appraisal Services...................... 6 Farmers Insurance Group................... 6 Austin Insurance................................ 16 South Central Appraisal..................... 17 Indiana Farm Bureau.......................... 17 Centra Credit Union............................ 23 Area Maps...................................... 20-21
Features
How to improve your landscape before selling................................. 14-15 Tips when creating an outdoor living space.................................... 18-19
ImportantAreaPhone Numbers Code 812
Assessor...........................................988-5466 Auditor...............................................988-5485 Career Resource Center..................988-5880 Circuit Court Judge..........................988-7557 Clerk..................................................988-5510 Extension Service............................988-5495 Dept. of Child Services....................988-2239 Div. of Family Resources.................988-0160 Health Department...........................988-2255 Highway Department........................988-4545 Jail.....................................................988-5605 License Branch.................................988-2404 Nashville Police Dept.......................988-0341 Parks & Recreation..........................988-5522 Post Office - Nashville.....................988-2262 Post Office - Helmsburg...................988-6302 Public Library...................................988-2850
Prosecutor........................................988-5470 Recorder............................................988-5462 School - BCHS..................................988-6606 School - BCJHS................................988-6605 School - Helmsburg..........................988-6651 School - Nashville............................988-6607 School - Sprunica.............................988-6625 School - Van Buren..........................988-6658 Sheriff’s Department........................988-6655 Soil and Water Conservation...........988-2211 Solid Waste Mgt. District.................988-0140 Town of Nashville.............................988-5526 TRIAD.................................................988-5606 Treasurer...........................................988-5458 Veterans Affairs................................988-5600
Highlighting, or up lighting, is a landscaping technique in which light from below is used to accent certain focal points in a landscape. In many instances, the light is used to illuminate a particularly impressive or unique plant. When highlighting, two or more spot light fixtures are placed at the base of a landscape component and pointed upward. While highlighting is most commonly used to illuminate plants, it can be used to draw attention to other focal points of a landscape as well, including sculptures or other garden structures. Light fixtures are aimed away from observers as a means to preventing glare, and oftentimes the fixtures themselves are camouflaged to maintain the natural beauty of the landscape. -Metro Creative Services
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 3
Chief Realty
130 Pine Hills Dr. • Nashville
New construction log home 4BR, office, 3.5BA, 2 levels plus walk-out basement, stainless steel appl., granite counter tops on custom kit cab., screened porch, lrg. covered front porch. Wonderful location, near Nashville.
$369,500
501 W Pearl St. Trafalgar
Three (3) bedrooms, 1 bath. some hardwood floors, large rooms, garage, corner lot, walking distance to Trafalgar Elementary School.
$66,900
79 Park St., Morgantown
$69,000
Updated and well maintained 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, brick ranch home of 1.20 acres (2 lots), hrdwd flrs., all appliances, 2 car garage, within one mile of Waverly Elem. School and great location for commuters.
SOLD Stately older home on 3 town lots. With some updating could be a showplace. 3 or 4 bdrms, (2 have no closets), newer furnace & AC. Wrap-around porch. Formal dinrm with bay windows. Some hrdwd flrs., detached gar.
8160 Elm St., Martinsville
60 W. Mulberry St., Morgantown
Charm of the wrap-around porch welcomes you to this 3 bdrm. home. Updated HVAC, ele. panel, water heater, and a new family room. Some repairs still needed and reflected in price. Good location. Indian Creek Schools.
$59,000
$145,900
NEW PRICE
370 E. Washington St. • Morgantown
Brick exterior home with a new 3bdrm, 2ba interior, including new kit cabinets and appliances. New furnace, carpeting and more. 1,880 sq. ft. w/attached gar. and fenced rear yd. Great location. Contract or Leased-To-Buy
$119,000
PENDING 260 County Line Rd., Morgantown
Spacious, well maintained home, with lots of storage. 2 1/2 baths, 2 bedrooms, 2 car attached garage, lrg. storage barn and gazebo in rear yard. Indian Creek Schools.
$110,000
603 W Pearl St., Trafalgar
Updated KT and bath. New furnace, newer roof. 2 bedrooms with space for 2 more in the unfinished attic and the stairway is in place, 1 bath, walking distance to Indian Creek Elem. School, Large covered front porch.
2508 Country Club Rd., Nashville Bank-owned rustic barn-style home on 1 acre. 3 bdrms, 2 baths, pre-approved buyers and cash offers only.
$32,000
$71,900
Land for Sale • 5.39 ac., Johnson Co., Franklin Schools, corner of 100 S and St. Rd. 135, north of Trafalgar, $44,000 • 1.01 Ac. Building Lot, all utilites available Indiana Cree Schools $29,900
4 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
• St. John Commons, Morgan Co., I.C. Schs., near Johnson Co. Line, Building tracts from 0.9 ac. to 2.4 acs., some lakefront, wooded, municipal water available. - $29,000 - $59,000 • 1.3 ac. wooded, lakefront, building lot, gas & water available, Indiana Creek Schools - $52,900
Jane Gore Realty “Personalized Not Franchised”
812-988-6512
91 West Gould St. P.O. Box 9, Nashville, IN 47448 • Fax: 988-8812 jane.gore@sbcglobal.net www.janegorerealty.com
Serving Brown County Since 1982 Jane Gore, Principal Broker 812-325-5419 Karen Smith, Sales Associate 812-369-0486 Wayne Flesher , Broker Associate 812-327-2735
ACREAGE NICE LOCATION
2 BR, 2 BA home on 20 +/- acres, easy commute to Columbus, one car garage, horse barn, hilly & rolling mostly fenced pasture. $167,900. #21164892
GREAT HOME
Beautiful 2 BR, 2 BA cedar home on 5+/- acres, fully furnished, covered front porch, open back deck, 2 car garage/workshop, creek. $259,900. #21144217
14+/- acres of gently slopping ground & a lake site, build w/a view of distant ridges. $70,000 #2960433
11+/wooded acreage, walking distance to Lake Monroe & adjoins Hoosier Nat’l Forest. $43,900 #21014219
GREAT STARTER
FAMILY STARTER
Very nice 3 BR, 2 BA, mobile home, all redone inside on 5.53+/- acres, large horse barn, long road frontage on SR 135 N. $89,000. #21147237
Large 2 story home on 3+/- acres, home features 4 BR, 3 BA, lots of remodeling, still some to do, big yard, some woods. $149,900. #21135986
GREAT HOME
UNIQUE HOME
Gigantic 4 BR, 3 BA lodge style home w/long range views, 3400+ sq. ft., stone FP, creek, 2 ponds, multiple building sites, 162+/- acres. $980,000. #21113764
Find Your New Home With Us!
Unique 3 BR, 3 BA home w/2 stone FP, H/W floors, 2 levels of living space, massive rooms, 2nd kitchen in lower level, potential view. $249,000. #21027357
1+/- acre building lot on Hoover Road, ground is flat and has approved soil analysis. $20,000 #21025669
18+/- acres on Plum Creek Rd, ground is rolling, flat & wooded w/a choice of building sites. $90,000 #2960502
15 acres +/- in Southern BC, undeveloped land, it is divided in 5 acre tracts, has been in classified forest since 1964. $99,900. #21165191
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 5
McGinley AREA APPRAISAL Insurance Agency SERVICES Linda S. Bauer, SRA
Designated & Certified Residential Appraiser Serving Brown, Monroe & Morgan Counties Appraisals for mortgage lending, tax assessment, divorce, estates, marketing & independent
812.988.6424 812 988 6424 | FAX FAX: 812 812.988.4924 988 4924 P.O. Box 472 Nashville, IN 47448 Email: bauerls@wildblue.net
146 E. Main St., Suite 6 Nashville, IN 47448 Office: (812) 988-6399 Fax: (812) 988-6300 Toll Free: (866) 373-6399 cmcginley@farmersagent.com www.farmersagent.com/cmcginley Located in the Red Bud Terrace Just East of the Court House
Auto • Home • Life Health • Business 6 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
PROPERTY SALES & MANAGEMENT
Commercial Buildings
PENDING 125 S Van Buren St. Artist Colony Unit 21155844 $79,000
4514, 16, 4520 Old State Rd. 46 Residential / Industrial 2837490 $349,900
4865 Helmsburg Rd. Figtree Gallery/Coffee House 21014565 $399,000
SOLD 4865 Helmsburg Rd. Antique Barn Next to Figtree 21040467 $175,000
The Pine Room Tavern $200,000
RedBud Terrace 8-Unit on Main Street 21166782 $489,900
165 Van Buren St. North End of Town 21158326 $575,000
Lots in Nashville Town Limits 0 Chestnut St Next to Salt Creek Plaza 21161474 $640,000
0 Chestnut St/State Rd 46 E Between IGA/Law Enforcement Center 21161493 $485,000
0 Hawthorne/Willow St Next to YMCA 21161483 $154,000
CALL ABOUT AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL RENTALS
158 N. Jefferson St. P.O. Box 206 Nashville, IN 47448 Office: (812) 988-2227 Fax: (812) 988-6664
The
SUZANNAH LEVETT ZODY PRINCIPAL BROKER 812-369-1171 Cell
RUTH JARRETT Broker Associate 988-7046 Home
DEBBIE FLEETWOOD Sales Associate 988-4402 Home
BOB KIRLIN Sales Associate 812-720-0222 Cell
KATHRYN RICHARDSON Sales Associate 812-327-7462 Cell
DEMETRIA KELLY Rentals Manager
PHIL SHIVELY Managing Broker 988-1816 Home
Phil Shively Team
www.browncountyhomes.com
DELORES PERCIFIELD Broker Assoc./Team Marketing 988-2227
KIM BRADY Broker Associate 988-2227
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 7
NEW LISTING NEW LISTING (21164961) $299,900 (21157935) $108,000
PRICE REDUCTION RUSTIC GET-A-WAY RUSTIC LOG (21142081) $299,900 (21142076) $169,900 (21156007) $92,900
PENDING 2BR, 2BA W/POOL MONROE LAKE FRONT (21137140) $97,000 (21136355) $139,900 (21138906) $119,900
SUNRISE COTTAGE PENDING 3BR LOG HOME (21043852) $188,900 (21102944) $275,000 (21134958) $168,900
COZY COTTAGE TOURIST HOME TURNING TREE (21108518) $429,500 (21020786) $229,900 (21106728) $139,900
COMMERCIAL
4BR - HORSE PROPERTY COMMERCIAL - CHURCH ANTIQUE LOG HOME (21113684) $389,900 (2668925) $199,900 (2858434) $259,900
PRICE REDUCED!! BIG RIVER COMPLEX IN GNAW BONE, IN. ONE OF BROWN COUNTY’S ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES OFFERS A GOOD LOCATION ON SR 46E WITH LARGE PARKING LOT. BUILDINGS ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. BOTH SHOPS HAVE FIREPLACES, CARPET, FULL BATHS, KITCHENS, COVERED PORCHES, FENCED BACK YARD, GAS FURNACES A/C, GAS W/H’S, 3+C GARAGE W/ STORAGE FOR MERCHANDISE OR 3RD SHOP. IMMEDIATE AREA SHOWING GROWTH. SELLER WILL CONSIDER SHORT TERM CONTRACT OR LEASE W/OPTION. INVENTORY SOLD SEPARATELY.
(21164682) $322,900
8 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
BROWN COUNTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WE HAVE POTENTIAL TENANTS LOOKING FOR RENTALS AND ALL OUR PROPERTIES ARE LEASED!!! IF YOU NEED A TENANT FOR YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY PLEASE CONTACT US, WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU!
BROWN COUNTY ACREAGE
SOLD – WALLOW HOLLOW RD (21156266) 19.80AC $98,900 (21156262) 25.81AC $122,900
NEW- 2666 LANAM RIDGE RD. (21164958) 5.00AC $30,600
SOLD – LAWSON RIDGE RD (21156267) 6.01AC $39,900
LEE TURNER RD (2904057) 80AC $360,000
8726 WINSLOW CT (21138359) 5AC $49,900
8906 GREYSON CT (2819301) 2.50AC $31,900
STATE RD 135 N (2530138) 1.80AC $24,900
SOLD- PETRO RD (2952283) 10.06AC $22,000
2596 AMY LN (21116521) 7.11AC $44,900
DUSTY LN (21040164) 5.94AC $57,500
STINSON RD (2806123) LOT #9 - 5.00AC $26,900 (2806160) LOT #13 - 7.00AC $42,000
RASPBERRY (21040168) 2.54AC $35,000
PUMPKIN RIDGE RD (21045729) 20.00AC $85,900 (21045759) 12.60AC $68,900 (21045810) 10.00AC $54,500 CHRISTIANSBURG RD (2840642) 85.84AC $488,900 (2840636) 74.17AC $434,900 (2840620) 11.67AC $89,900
232 C W MAIN STREET (21019929) .19AC $9,000 232 D W MAIN STREET (21019932) .19AC $9,000 232 CD W MAIN STREET (21156116) .38 AC $18,000 GLENN OAK COURT (2668934) 2.02AC $24,900
DEVELOPMENT LOCATED ON OWL CREEK RD. THESE BUILDING SITES ARE A RARE FIND OFFERING SECLUSION FOR PRESTIGE HOMES, YEAR ROUND VIEWS AND MORE.
advertise in the
Brown County ntey Guide uHomes n Ceo s Guid Brow Hom February - March 2012
FREE
FREE
2012 uary
1 - Jan
ber 201
Decem
Homes Guide
nsider s to co g Thing e movin befor
igner e a des get Creat bud on a look a es • are • Servic
real
June-July Brown county
maps
ial • financ ocrat urance s • ins nty Dem raisal estate • appraisals wn Cou• insurance • financial • Services • area maps • appreal the Bro estate ed by publish
published by the
Brown County Democrat
Homes • Acreage • Lots • Financial Commercial • Appraisals • Rentals Show it all right here for Brown County and the surrounding area to see!
Brown County Democrat ads@bcdemocrat.com • 812.988.2221 147 E. Main • P.O. Box 277 • Nashville, IN
15 Pine Brook Trail 6940 Jordan Lane $499,000
$176,500
• Spacious Custom Home
• 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths
• 4 Bedrooms
• 1.75 AC Well Landscaped Lot
• Maintenance Free Living
8663 Autumn Lake Drive • $221,900 • Spacious Home on 1.53 Acres • Shared Lake • Move-in Condition
• Large Storage Barn
SR 135 N, turn right at Pine Tree Hills entrance
SR 46 W, Left at Entrance to Henderson Meadows, Watch for Signs.
Jan Brinkman
Exceeding Expectations in Real Estate Exce
812-371-3215 8 81
JJanBrink@C21Breeden.com an www.JanBrinkman.com w w
Nora Noblitt
700 Washington Street Columbus, IN 47201
812-343-3843 NoraN@C21BR.com
Team Wischmeier John & Kimberly Wischmeier Sarah Sanders 812-344-3480 john@C21BR.com
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 9
Diane Brown-Hawes & Nancy Ann Brown
(Diane) Cell 812-371-8343, (Nancy) Cell 812-350-2855 Office: 812-372-2200, Ext. 119 hawesbrownteam@yahoo.com www.dhawes.remax-indiana.com
E IC PR
417 12th St
Income Potential, 2 Apts Each with 1 Bedroom, East of Washington Street
$75,000 MLS#21101989
1217 Washington St
Multifamily w/2 Apartments Each with 2 BR, Also Zoned for Commerical Use $135,000 MLS#21101993 $130,000 MLS#21101992
PEN
2555 California Street
208 S Poplar St
Immed. Possess., 3 BR, 2 BA, Freshly Painted, Fenced Yard, Home Warr. Included $134,900 MLS#21101435
610 E Grant Street
On 4 Lots w/3 Bedrooms, Full Basement, Hrdwd floors 2 Car Det. Gar, In Waldron $121,450 MLS#21101004
PEN
PEN
DIN
G
$79,900 MLS#21101562
2815 Bittersweet Blvd
G
Upper Level End Unit Condo 2 BR, 2 BA, Fireplace New Roof, Immediate Possession!
DIN
109 Lookout Ridge
Great Income Producing Property with 4 Apartments and Off Street Parking $90,000 MLS#21101991
Walking Distance to Schools, 4 BR, 2.5 BA, Basement, Liv Rm, Fam Rm w/FP, Sunroom
N
EW 3 Unit Apartment House w/Off Street Parking, Don’t Miss this Opportunity!
DIN
EW N 1224 Franklin St
1227 Washington St
G
1204 Franklin St
Good Investment Opportunity with 3 Apartment Units, Convenient to Downtown $95,000 MLS#21101990
N
EW N
N
EW
“Each office independently owned & operated.”
EW
3 BR Log Home on 1+ AC 2 BA, All Appliances, Hot Tub, Deck, Priced to Sell! $113,000 MLS#21101823
EW
2401 Beam Rd, Columbus, IN 47203 • 812-372-2200 866 57REMAX
1269 SR 135 S
N
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
Outstanding Agents Outstanding Results
5170 E 550 N
2342 Indiana Ave
Stone/Vinyl Ranch, Double Country Setting, 3 Bdrm, 2 BA, Lots of Charm, 2 BR, Sun Lot, 2 Bedroom plus Bonus Large eat-in kit. w/new S.S. appl., Room, 2 Car Det. Gar, BSMT, Room, 1 Car Att. Gar, +2 Hrdwd flrs, Det 2 C Gar, Workshop Home Warranty Included Car Detached Garage $118,900 MLS#21100738 $80,000 MLS#21101802 $224,900 MLS#21200271 $94,900 MLS#21001467
10 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
Tom Vornholt 317-989-3323 Broker
Kedren Leedy 812-340-3430 Agent
www.logosrealestatellc.com
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
3409 Lanam Ridge
7790 Lakewood-Lemon
4564 Bear Wallow
4195 Turtle Trace-Lamb
2370 Greasy Creek
3435 Grandma Barnes
2375 Fairway
2840 Smith Road
2532 S.R. 135 N.
5217 Bellsville Pike
2115 Fair Oaks
2560 Greasy Creek
514 Whipporwill
3403 Plum Creek
4817 Helmsburg
00 Buffalo Pike
00 Kelly Hill Lane
4823 Watson-Lemon
1637 Fruitdale
Business For Sale
The TOY CHEST
Jeepers Miniatures
Excellent Business Opportunity
Excellent Established Business Opportunity
Fruitdale Market & Gas
B.C. Tire & Auto
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 11
12 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 13
How to improve your
LANDSCAPE before selling 14 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
Selling a house is seldom easy, and homeowners are often willing to do whatever it takes to make their home more attractive to prospective buyers. One of the areas sellers typically focus on is the home’s landscaping. A well-maintained lawn and garden increases a property’s curb appeal considerably, increasing the chances a buyer will have a strong first impression of the home. But homeowners don’t need to have a green thumb to ensure their lawn improves curb appeal. The following are a few tricks of the trade savvy sellers can employ to make their home an instant hit when buyers pull up to the curb. • Color the landscape. The plants outside a home shouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb, but a few splashes of color can make a home more appealing. For the cost of some annuals, which are typically inexpensive, homeowners can turn a drab flower bed into a colorful spot bound to catch a buyer’s eye. • Lay down new layers of mulch. Mulch is not only good for plants, helping them to retain moisture while inhibiting weed germination and growth, but a fresh layer of mulch also adds to a yard’s aesthetic appeal. Mulch made of wood or bark chips is also slow to decay, so apply a new batch right before the “For Sale” sign is erected and you might not have to apply another batch before selling the home. • Prune trees and shrubs. Pruning trees and shrubs is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve a landscape. Dead branches in shrubs and trees might suggest to buyers that the homeowners weren’t terribly preoccupied with maintenance, and this might cause them to think twice about making an offer. Stay on top of pruning regardless of what season it is, and be sure to remove any fallen branches from the yard on a regular basis. • Clean bird baths and other water features. Water features create a peaceful atmosphere around a property if they’re well maintained. If not, buyers won’t see the yard as a sanctuary but rather a place where mosquitoes congregate and odors emanate from algae-filled water. Remove any debris from water features, including leaves and algae, and clean the filters so water is always clear.
• Invest in a power washer. Buying a power washer might be a tad over the top, but homeowners whose yards are filled with grimy surfaces might find a power washer can work wonders at restoring a home’s external appeal. If plants are in pots that are covered in years-old dirt and grime, a power washer can restore the pot’s luster in a matter of minutes. Spray down walkways and even home siding that has fallen victim to dirt and grime over the years. • If planting trees, don’t go too big. Especially large trees are not always attractive to prospective buyers, who likely won’t want sight lines obstructed or won’t want to worry about a tree falling and destroying their home during a storm. • Address issues with weeds. A prevalent problem with weeds around the property is another situation that some buyers might feel is indicative of neglect. Weeds are a pretty simple problem to remedy, so buyers might be correct to assume weeds around the property are there because the homeowner was not concerned with maintenance. Lay mulch around flower beds and gardens to reduce weed growth, and pull any weeds from sidewalks and the driveway. Once weeds are pulled, spray areas that were infested with a weed-treatment product to ensure weeds don’t grow back. A well-maintained landscape is a great way for men and women hoping to sell their homes to make a strong first impression. -Metro Creative Services
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 15
16 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
South Central APPRAISAL ASSOCIATES
Buddy Greller
Certified Residential Appraiser Serving the following Counties: Brown • Morgan • Monroe • Johnson • Bartholomew
scappraisers@sbcglobal.net
153 E. Gould St. • P.O. Box 122 • Nashville, IN 812.988.6216 • 800.659.6737 • Fax 812.988.7643
551 Town Hill Road $339,900 • 2.26 Beautiful Acres • Large Kitchen w/Abundant Cabinets • Open Concept w/Cathedral Ceilings
3020 Green Valley Road $299,900
We work with both buyers and sellers in the Brown County area.
637 Highland Drive $239,900
• Custom Built 4 BR Home on 8.5 Acres
• Spectacular, Spacious Home
• Finished Basement w/Family Room
• Over 1 Acre Wooded Setting
• 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths
Give us a call!
• Additional 63 Acres Available
ACREAGE & BUILDING LOT 6961 Jordan Lane - Building Lot/2.5 AC
2533 STATE RD 135 N $159,900
N. Ike Shipley Rd. - Wooded Lot/63.40 AC
• Charming Home on 10 Acres
• Very Unique Rustic 3BR Cottage
$295,000
• Many Recent Updates
• Walk-out Basement
• Additional 20 Acres Available
• Hardwood & Ceramic Floors Throughout
6046 S. Hamilton Creek Road $189,000
Roberts Team
Office: 812-378-1715 Cell: 812-343-9486 BevandDave@C21Breeden.com
$31,000
Visit our website:
www.RobertsTeamHomes.com
Our Experience Is Your Advantage!
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 17
Tips when creating an
outdoor living space -Metro Creative Services
18 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular over the last several years. The home improvement boom has shown many homeowners just how easy it can be to transform a home into a private sanctuary that caters to the personalities of the home’s residents. Outdoor living areas have become an extension of the home’s interior, with many homeowners creating outdoor living rooms and dining areas so they can relax and eat meals outside just as they do indoors. But homeowners thinking of creating outdoor living spaces should consider a few tricks of the trade before beginning their projects. • Strategically place the space. Property often dictates where the outdoor living space will go, but it helps to keep in mind that the outdoor space is more likely to be used if it’s easily accessible from the inside of the home. For instance, if residents need to walk out the front door to access an outdoor living space in the backyard, then residents might find the area is too inconveniently located and they won’t make the most of the space. Whenever possible, plan the outdoor living space so it’s easily accessible from the home’s interior, preferably from the kitchen so it will be easier to carry meals outdoors when dining outside. • Emphasize comfort. Many homeowners look at their outdoor living areas as places to kick their feet up and relax, so comfort should take precedence when planning the space. Forgo the plastic patio chairs of yesteryear for furniture that’s more sturdy and roomy so you won’t feel cramped or sweaty on warm summer evenings and afternoons. In addition, don’t forget to shade the area. Some homeowners choose to build pergolas, but oftentimes an umbrella or two can do the trick at a fraction of the cost. If the outdoor living area is near trees, they might provide sufficient shade from the often blistering summer sun. But keep a few umbrellas in the garage just in case. • Illuminate the area. Summer nights spent relaxing in the outdoor living area make for great memories. But such nights are nearly impossible if the area doesn’t have some lighting. Tiki torches might do the trick for some, while others who want to avoid giving their outdoor area a luau feel might prefer solar-powered accent lights, which won’t require any wiring. If your backyard attracts its fair share of insects, look for insect-repelling lights or lamps. Whatever your preference, don’t forget to have some lighting so those summer evenings spent under the sky don’t have to end when the sun goes down. • Keep the design consistent with your home. In addition to providing an outdoor respite from the daily grind, an outdoor living space can also increase a home’s resale value. However, homeowners who have one eye on R&R and the other on resale value should keep the design of their outdoor living space consistent with their home. One of the goals when designing an outdoor living space should be to create a seamless transition from the home’s interior to its exterior. The best way to do that is to keep the designs of both living spaces consistent. • Don’t forget the fire pit. A fire pit provides a great focal point for an outdoor living area. Instead of sitting at the dinner table, families and friends can gather around the fire pit and relax with some s’mores and share stories. But even when guests aren’t coming over, a fire pit makes for a great place to relax and let the time go by. With more and more homeowners transforming their homes into their own private sanctuaries, outdoor living spaces continue to grow in popularity. By employing a few simple tricks of the trade, homeowners can create the outdoor areas of their dreams. Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 19
20 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 21
Brown County Democrat
Your
News at your door and online Whether in print or online, we bring you the latest headlines from across town and throughout our county: community events, school updates and closings, local sports, touching stories, money-saving offers and so much more.
subscribe today In-county delivered, $39/year! A 25% savings off the newsstand price.
www.bcdemocrat.com To Advertise, email Ads@bcdemocrat.com To submit comments, letters to the editor student news and photos or story ideas, email newsroom@bcdemocrat.com 812.988.2221 147 E. Main • P.O. Box 277 • Nashville 22 Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012
DREAM Start making memories today with a Mortgage Loan.
Kevin Johnson 812-314-0424
kjohnson@centra.org
Julie Schlehuser 812-314-0228
jschlehuser@centra.org
Can you bank with Centra? YES, YOU CAN! Open an account today. Federally Insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Lender.
Brown County Homes Guide - April - May 2012 23