Spring Home & Garden

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Suffolk News-Herald • Thursday, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

spring Home & Garden Best ways to add value to your home

How does your Garden Grow?

Make buying (or selling) your home a snap

Our pros offer the top do-it-yourself tips to increase the value of your house today.

We hit the streets to report what you have to say about nurturing your green thumb.

Whether you're buying or selling a home, you'll find great advice here.

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Spring Home & Garden, Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, February 28, 2013 – Page 3

Best ways to add value to your home

By Matthew A. Ward Staff Writer

U

pdating or improving aspects of your home are among the easiest ways to protect and add value to your investment — apart from keeping up with regular maintenance.

Mark Edwards, senior vice president with East West Communities, developers of The Riverfront and other award-winning subdivisions in Suffolk and elsewhere in Hampton Roads, said the kitchen is a good place to start.

“You can upgrade your home by changing the countertops to granite,” he said.

According to www.realtor.org, “A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home.”

About 69 percent of the initial project cost, for instance, can be recouped on kitchen remodels costing $50,000 to $60,000 when a home is sold, the website says, citing Remodeling Magazine.

The rate of return looks even better for a kitchen spruce-up costing $18,000, three-fourths of which will

be returned when the home is sold.

Ways of keeping costs down include maintaining the same kitchen footprint, not getting carried away with expensive appliances and communicating regularly with contractors.

“It’s a good idea to look into popular trends and colors,” Edwards said. “It’s always better to stay on top of it. You do it over time, (and) you are protecting your investment and it’s not as overwhelming.”

Bathroom remodels are also sound investments, with nearly two thirds recouped on a $15,000 investment, according to the magazine.

Once again, a major piece of advice is to keep the same footprint as the old bathroom. Other tips include focusing on lighting, which is cost-effective, compared to things like multiple showerheads and radiant-heat floors, and ensuring adequate bathroom ventilation.

Other popular home improvement projects are remodeling or finishing an attic or basement; additions, which will also partially pay for themselves, despite being

Matthew A. Ward/suffolk news-herald

See HOME Page 4

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Page 4 – Thursday, February 28, 2013, Suffolk News-Herald, Spring Home & Garden HOME continued from page 3

more technical in nature and often trickier than other projects in terms of abiding by building codes.

You can often easily add heating and cooling to these spaces by connecting a few vents to existing HVAC main trunks, although upgrading entire systems can also be necessary, Realtor.org says.

One possible challenge specific to upgrading an attic is support structures under the roof, which may not leave enough room for even a cozy bedroom.

Outdoor entertaining/living areas can often add a lot of value to a home.

“One of the most popular fea-

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tures that we are seeing people really respond to are outside living spaces,” Edwards said.

He recommended things like seating areas, built-in grills and fireplaces — all coveted features.

“More and more people are wanting to entertain in their homes,” he said.

Additionally, Edwards said that regular reviews of your home, even by a qualified home inspector, can pinpoint areas of concern and potential.

“It’s the biggest investment most people make in their lives, so it makes sense to take a look at it every year,” he said.

“Home inspections are a great idea. Some wait until they’re buying, but you learn so much about your home from getting one.”

Matthew A. Ward/ suffolk news-herald

East West Communities Vice President Mark Edwards says that outdoor fireplaces, such as the one shown, are becoming increasingly popular, as are more elaborate outdoor living spaces.

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Spring Home & Garden, Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, February 28, 2013 – Page 5

How does your garden grow?

By Matthew A. Ward Staff Writer

W

ith spring only days away, Suffolk citizens are turning their attention to the garden.

Some are more focused on preparing the ground for getting in some tomato and eggplant vines.

Others are planning their assault on a weed-strewn lawn. More than a few are plotting which annuals to plant in their flowerbeds.

Whatever the objective, they all agree that some quality gardening time, after a cold, rainy winter, is long overdue.

Seeking some homegrown advice, we spoke to a selection of Suffolk gardeners recently at the North Main Street Lowe’s, where a good few were stocking up on seeds, fertilizer and implements.

Zada Norfleet, 86

I put tomatoes, squash and cucumbers, just in my yard. I used to have a big garden, but I put

it just in the yard; enough for me to use — six tomato plants, three squash and three cucumbers.

I don’t usually put mine down until Norfleet the last of March, anyhow, because the frost will get them. That’s all I need, just a little bit of garden.

Catherine Lopez, 53

They’re buying seeds right now, and starting them inside the home.

We’ve got some beautiful things to go in before spring.

Daffodils are popping up right now, because it’s a mild Lopez, Lowe's employee winter. Because it had been a more mild winter, a lot of weeds are more aggressive this year. It’s been mild for the past few years. It’s also been droughty in the summer, and that’s contributed. We are

laying some herbicides down and some weed controls, to get ready for when the weeds start waking up a little bit more, to stop that aggressiveness when the weeds start to take over.

Mary Parker, 72

I planted collards three times. It rained so much it kept killing them, flooding them out. So I planted them again and they didn’t do too bad; I got some to eat out of them. About two weeks ago, we Parker had a day pretty good, so I went out there and pulled up the rest of the collards, which weren’t any good, really. I pulled the tiller out and tilled it up, and now I’m going to wait until about April, and I usually, instead of buying fertilizer, get chicken manure.

You don’t have to put but a little bit in there. I till it up again and let it stay for about three or four

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Page 6 – Thursday, February 28, 2013, Suffolk News-Herald, Spring Home & Garden GARDEN continued from page 5

weeks. By then it’s time to get my tomatoes, cucumbers and whatever’s there. In the garden, the only thing I put in is marigolds; they’re called French marigolds. Any other kinds of marigolds are still OK.

Dan Schriener, 68

Throw the seeds out and if it grows, good; if it doesn’t, I’ll do it again next year. (I like to grow) grass. Usually early, early spring I’ll throw the seeds out so they can germinate. Don’t cut the grass too low, because then you Schriener allow the weeds to overtake.

I rough it up so it’ll have something to adhere to when it sprouts. It takes a lot of work (weed control). I use the weed control pellets, put it on a spreader, pull behind the lawn mower and let it rip.

Claudia Copeland, 62

We’ve got to get ready for the vegetable garden. My flower garden, all them got to be prepared. The weeds got to be gotten out, and mulch and all that. It’s just been so cold I haven’t gotten out to deal with that, to get the weeds out. But it’s kind of

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too early to start planting, because everything’s too wet.

And you have to wait until the last frost until you plant.

I like broccoli and potatoes and squash and tomatoes and eggplant. All kinds of beans Copeland — butterbeans and green beans. He (my husband) helps me plant, and I do most of the picking and the shelling. But as far as fertilizing, he does all that. We use bag fertilizer.

Bill Brown, 66

I have a very large garden … approximately 60 feet by 125 foot. I normally grow three or four types of watermelon. I normally end up with between 150 and 250 watermelons.

I grow hybrid corn … lots of string beans, all kinds of squash. I do three kinds of Brown potatoes … and I do lots of cucumbers and tomatoes. My number-one gardening tip is to till your soil in the spring early, when your grass starts to grow, and then maybe two or three weeks later till it again. Repeating those tillings will kill weeds that come up from seeds, and then you kill the sprouts.

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Spring Home & Garden, Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, February 28, 2013 – Page 7

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Buying a home in today’s market I

From Staff Reports Suffolk News-Herald

f you’re considering buying a home, some experts think you should get a move on it. Interest rates are at 65-year record lows, and

national home prices have finally hit bottom and are on the rise. Despite what you may be hearing, loans are available for those with good credit histories, stable income and sufficient savings.

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Page 8 – Thursday, February 28, 2013, Suffolk News-Herald, Spring Home & Garden BUYING continued from page 7

But don’t jump right in unprepared.

Whether you’re a seasoned buyer or a newbie, there are strategies that can help you throughout the home-buying process:

Stick to your budget

Determining how much “home you can afford” depends on several factors, including your annual gross income, credit history, current mortgage rates and the amount of your down payment.

In today’s market, you can expect a down payment to generally be between 5 and 20 percent of the purchase price for a conventional mortgage. Lenders recommend that your mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and mortgage insurance) be less than 28 percent of your monthly gross income.

Before looking for a home, consider calling a Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor for free and confidential financial assistance.

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Unscrupulous lenders can damage your credit and cause you financial hardship. Here are some ways to avoid becoming a victim: 4Say “no” to easy money. Beware if someone claims that your “credit problems won’t affect the interest rate.” If a solicitation is really appealing, get it in writing and seek a second opinion.

4Talk to several lenders to find the best loan.

4Know if the loan offered to you charges a fee if you pay it off early. If it’s a requirement of the loan, ask about

other products that don’t contain this type of penalty.

4Ensure documents are correct and complete. Beware of anyone offering to falsify your income information to qualify you for a loan. Never sign documents that have incorrect dates or blank fields.

4Ask for written estimates that include all points and fees. When you get to the closing table, if any fees or charges differ from what was previously disclosed, delay closing until all terms are understood.

4If you’re taking equity out of your property, only take the minimum.

Equity typically builds slowly over time, so it’s important to try to preserve it.

4If you’re not sure, don’t sign. Get advice first from a reputable consumer credit counseling agency or housing counselor.

By R.E. Spears III Editor

Let’s face it: One of the most popular reasons people have for making improvements to their homes is to make those homes more attractive on the real estate market.

Whether it’s a simple matter of repainting or replacing carpets, making a few long-postponed repairs or undertaking an elaborate update or expansion, a home renovation project is often the necessary first step toward selling your old house.

The good news in Suffolk is that the market for folks selling their homes is better than it has been in years, real estate professionals say.

“We have less listings,” said Harry Lee Cross III of Cross Realty on North Main Street.

“If you think of things in terms of supply and demand, we had a gracious plenty of supply (in recent years).”

Now, the supply of homes for sale is coming down, and prices for most homes — at least for those in the sub-$250,000 price range — are going up.

See SELL Page 11

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The prospect of making such a big investment can be intimidating, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer.

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Spring Home & Garden, Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, February 28, 2013 – Page 11 SELL continued from page 8

20 percent today, he added, but the banks and mortgage companies that Cross divided the local real own those properties now are doing estate market into four segments their own home improvements to try — $125,000 and below, $125,000to spruce them up and move them off $250,000, $250,000-$450,000 and their inventory. $450,000 and up.

With a couple of coats of paint, some Home sales in the first two categonew carpet and a price 8 or 10 percent ries have been more robust lately, he below similar properties nearby that said, and prices might be offered by have been stable private homeown'You’ve just got to or slowly rising. ers, these distressed Problems conunderstand what’s going properties have tinue in the higher become hot tickets on in your market. What to homeownership range, though, where there for folks are the 10 houses like especially remains a lot of looking to buy in competition for a mine nearby, and what the $250,000 price few buyers. range, Cross said. are they selling for?'

Repossessed Such considerhomes have put ations have made pressure on all the real estate marHarry Lee Cross III levels of the real ketplace extremely Cross Realty estate market complicated, he locally, Cross said, added. noting that they had accounted at one “You’ve just got to understand time since the beginning of the Great what’s going on in your market,” he Recession for as much as 40 percent said. “What are the 10 houses like of the market. mine nearby, and what are they sellThat number has fallen to about ing for?”

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