Archwood Properties

 It’s nearly prime season to sit out on your back patio and enjoy the awesome spring weather.  What?  You don’t have a patio?!?!  It’s definitely a good time to evaluate your yard for what potential patio space you have.  Plus, having a nicely done outdoor living space is a major plus for resale.  On average, deck/patio additions create a 45% return on investment, but that other 55% spent can be accounted for in terms of enjoying your outdoor space and the money you save by hosting an event rather than going out on the town. 

Outdoor living projects are becoming more and more popular and is a great way to expand your living space at a much lower cost than remodeling or adding on to your interior space.  With home construction costs averaging about $95 per foot, decks and patios range from $15-33 a foot.  Make sure to but your ambitions, spontaneity and impulsiveness to the side and really study your space.  In choosing the perfect placement for your patio, you want to consider these factors:

•   Sun exposure.  Are you going for a sunny space to catch some rays or are you looking more for a relaxing, shady spot.

• Neighbor exposure.  Do you really want all your ‘dirty laundry’ to be convenient for snoopy neighbors?  You know that kid that always kicks the ball over the fence and into your yard?  Would your guests’ heads be possible target for that ball?  Patios are often meant for a relaxing alternative to indoor living, but if the location is poorly planned, it may not be all that relaxing. 

• Crowd. On average, how many people would you typically entertain using this space?  This will definitely help you plan out the amount of space you want to use. 

• Convenience.  Is the location suited for your ideal patio in terms of not only sun exposure and size, but in terms of convenience to the kitchen or main living area for entertaining?

• Stuff.  What kind of furniture, patio accessories will you have out there?  Table, chairs, grill, outdoor bar?  Make sure there is enough room for all the amenities and for people to move freely. 

• Regulations.  Very important!!!  It’s necessary to check with your local neighborhood and HOA bylaws about zoning and and any regulations that will affect the construction of your patio. 

Remember, a large portion of cost for such a project is the labor and there are plenty of do-it-yourself methods that might be a cheaper option for you.  It’s definitely worth saving hundreds of dollars to put in a few hours of your own hard work!

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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In terms of do-it-yourself projects, sprucing up your curb appeal by planting a pretty garden is one of the easiest and usually cost-effective things to do, however there are key mistakes you want to avoid when doing so. 

When the fresh Spring breeze gets you excited to work outdoors, don’t go changing the entire landscape just yet.  That ‘weed’ you think will need to be pulled might actually turn into something nice in the Fall.  Give your garden time to run it’s seasonal cycle and only make small changes in the beginning until you know what really needs to be done.

 If you have just planted new flowers, plants and shrubbery and if they look perfectly spaced in the beginning, they are actually way too close together.  If you’re like me, with a slight case of OCD, you want it to look perfect from the word go, and don’t give the plants time to grow into the bare space.  These plants will end up crowding each other out as they grow over time, putting them in jeopardy of insufficient nutrients, water and sunlight. 

The word ‘plan’ is the beginning of the word ‘planting!’  It’s wise to draw a bird’s eye view of your garden and plan out any future remodeling, patio additions, pool, fencing, etc before planting more than just a simple flower bed.  Planting deep-rooted shrubbery may be a whole chore to un-do if you’ll eventually plan on moving it.  Another part of the big plan is to make sure you aren’t neglecting the amount of sunlight each part of your garden receives each day.  Is it morning or afternoon sun, is it only partially sunny or is it a completely shaded area?  While in your head, you can picture this particular flower looking great in that corner, is that really the best place for it to grow?   For reference, if a plant thrives in full sun, plant it in an area that receives 6+ hours of sun a day.  If it only requires partial sun, 3-5 hours of direct sunglight should be sufficient.  Any part of your yard that gets under 3 hours of sunlight a day is only suitable for shady plants.

Don’t rely on your sprinkler systems alone for watering newly planted roots.  You’ll have to assist your new shrubs as they adapt to their new home, and a simple water sprinkle on the foliage isn’t going to cut it for long-lasting, healthy plants.  A few times a week, place a hose at the base of the plant and let the water trickle down through the soil to the root ball for 20-30 minutes.  During the hotter parts of the summer, do it more frequently.  This routine during the first 12 weeks should definitely help the shrub develop strong roots.  Also, misusing the settings on your irrigation system can cause disease, root rot, etc.  While most people water for 20 minutes every morning, it gives the surface level a nice soak but it often doesn’t penetrate deep to the roots.  Longer watering periods, for about 40 minutes, but only a few times a week is your better option. 

Finally, have you included a landscaping budget into your overall construction cost?  When building a new house, adding additional living space or even installing a pool, construction equipment will tear up your yard and garden.  Having a nice new sun room overlooking a pile of dirt isn’t all that pleasant.  Be sure to set aside some of your total budget to completing your project with making your yard look nice as well. 

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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You don’t always have to use toxic chemicals to get  rid of wood-destroying insects and other pests.  You can instead consider an alternative approach—”integrated pest management”—which combines common sense with prevention techniques, conventional pesticides, and green alternatives, such as natural plant extracts and minerals. 

Spraying or pumping poisons became the very popular method to rid your garden and home from unwanted guests, but today,  homeowners and pest-control professionals are looking for ways to reduce the amount of pesticides used by incorporating a range of treatments that are often less toxic but still effective. 

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 With the warm, sunny days peaking through and about to make their grand entrance, take advantage of such beautiful weather and perform a few maintenance tasks.  While you can enjoy the fresh air from outside and before you will die if you don’t have a properly-functioning AC unit, schedule HVAC check-ups.  You should also head outside to inspect your home for any winter damages on your chimney and roofing.  Check your gutters for debris from winter storms and make sure they’re securely attached to your home.  It’s too nice outside to make excuses to not perform such easy, routine check-ups and it’s well worth the time and effort if you don’t have to pay more expenses to fix/replace at a later date!

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 Tax returns should be on their way back to your bank account and while last week we gave some $500 home investments, this week we’ll suggest a few $1000 projects that you could put your tax refund towards. 

• Swap out your old top-loading washing machine for a front-loading high-efficiency Energy Star model.  This will save on both your water and heating bills.

• If you can put a nice chunk of pocket change towards the principal on your mortgage loan, you can not only pay off your mortgage in less than the loan term, but will save tens of thousands of dollars in interest.

• Is your home lacking the ambiance of a nice fireplace?  You can invest in an electric ventless fireplace that requires no professional installation.  These units exhaust small amounts of combustion gases inside the home and can run on natural gas, propane, electricity, or flammable gel.

• Enhance your curb appeal and save money on energy by replacing your old front door with a new energy-efficient one and you are eligible for a tax credit worth 30% of the door. 

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 For those who are fortunate enough to get a chunk of change back from the IRS each year, they often want to blow the wad of cash frivolously.  A wiser expense would be to invest it in improving certain aspects of your home.  Doing this instead of laying on a beach sipping out of coconuts will yield even more money in terms of savings!  There are a few easy things you can do to your home that cost under $500. 

1. Look into purchasing a low-flow shower-head.  Older models are pumping out close to 5 gallons of water a minute, while new ones are conserving water and only releasing 2.5 gallons of water/minute.  Even though you’re showering in 50% less water, the technology behind the latest low-flow shower-heads makes it feel like there is no change.

2.  Purchase an additional umbrella policy with your homeowners insurance removes restrictions of the standard homeowner policy and can also cover your cars as well.  Another wise investment is adding flood insurance to your standard policy, as many insurance companies don’t include flood insurance in their standard premiums. 

3. Perform an energy audit to see where you’re losing conditioned air to and from where the hot or cold air from outdoors is seeping in.  You can do it yourself or hire a professional energy inspector and also seal those leaky spaces for minimal dollars compared to what you’re just throwing away. 

4. Save your electronics and appliances and invest in a whole-house surge protector.  It only takes one lightning strike to wipe out tons of dollars spend on such items.  A few of your electronics and appliances may be plugged into a single surge protector strip, but what about the items you don’t think about protecting.  A whole-house protector can be added to your breaker box and you can remove that weight off your shoulder.

5. Why are you purchasing water to maintain your outdoor living spaces and gardens when the earth will give it to you for free?  A rain barrel will collect and store water outdoors until it can be later used to nourish plants or wash off your deck.  There are some fancy rain barrels with all kinds of spouts, making them function just like a water faucet. 

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 Remember, the home buyers tax credit is extended until April 30th, meaning you must have a contract on a property by this time. If you don’t and you are ready to buy, get out there and start looking!  Home prices are still at record-lows and in some areas may fall even a bit further before rebounding, and interest rates on mortgage loans are still low!  If you are ready to buy but just not active in your search, you may not only miss out on the tax credit but may also be subject to higher selling prices and mortgage rates. 

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 For borrowers whose home values have plummeted with the recent housing market, the government has set in place a program to assist them with refinancing their loans.  Originally, the Making Home Affordable program was scheduled to end on June 10th of this year, however with recent changes, it will extend until June 30, 2011.  If you owe up to 25% more than what your current home’s value is, you may be eligible for this program and will be able to refinance at a lower interest rate.   

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 Many homeowners are oblivious to the fact that lighting in homes can account for 10-20% of the total monthly energy bill and even more-so to how easy it is to change such lighting and save mega bucks!   The government will soon regulate the energy-efficiency of light bulbs, making all products on the market more-efficient, but you don’t have to wait for the new regulations — start saving on your own now!  You can save 75% per bulb by switching standard incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent (CFL) ones.  CFL’s last longer and consume less energy and can save $30 in its operating lifetime.  If you choose not to switch to CFLs, make your current incandescent bulbs cheaper for you by lowering the wattage percentage by 15%.  Typically, you won’t notice a difference in the the brightness of a lower-watt bulb but you will notice the pennies adding up in your wallet.   Also, changing your bulbs isn’t the only option to save energy with your lighting.  Look into a motion-sensor to put on lights where sometimes they aren’t always turned off, or door-jam switches that will flick on a light when the door is opened.  This is great for pantries and closets, since once we close the door, we rarely remember we’ve left the light on.  Remember, natural light is often under rated and by simply cleaning your windows, you can function using the earth’s natural sunlight rather than having to pay large sumps of money to create such energy. 

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

www.archwoodproperties.com