Archwood Properties

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 

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 Why does a vision of Full House’s Danny Tanner with his Spring Cleaning Clip-Board in hand come to mind whenever I think of this seasonal trend?  After months of stale air recirculating through the house, it’s time to open those windows and take in some fresh spring air.  With the variety of tools and products out there, it can be a more-stressful task than it has been in the past. 

A common least-favorite room to clean is the bathroom.  Scrubbing tile and toilets?  YUCK!  However, tackling such dirty areas doesn’t mean you have to partake in full-fledged chemical warfare.  Break out those lovely rubber gloves (you can even find cute ones to make the project less dreadful that much more exciting) and use a pumice stone to work out those mineral deposits and rust.  If you need something a bit stronger for stubborn marks, mix baking soda with acidic vinegar — it’s probably a cheaper solution and not to mention much better for your family and the environment.  When working on your tile floors, stay with your standard cleaner but instead of mopping over it, use a wet/dry vac to help remove contaminants from the grout (instead of creating an adverse effect of driving germs into the grout with mopping.)

 When cleaning your kitchen — there is much more involved than just removing germs from the area.  People often find this room of the house one of the hardest to clean because there is just too.much.stuff.  Before you bust out  those sprays and sponges, take a hard look through your cabinets and drawers and see if there are things you can either get rid of or store in a better-suited place.  We all know about that ‘junk drawer’ that is in nearly every home!  As for your counter-tops, if it’s not an appliance you use every day or at least very frequently, find a new home for it permanently and pull it out when you need it.  Don’t forget to clean out your fridge and pantry of expired items.  Now that those things are taken care of — it’s time to get down and dirty!  If you think using old socks and cut-up t-shirts are going to do the trick when cleaning, think again.  For a minimal price, invest in a all-purpose microfiber cloth that uses it’s own composition paired with a bit of warm water (or baking soda and vinegar)  to pick up grease and dirt, rather than having to use tough chemicals.  Remember, we prepare our food in our kitchen and while chemical cleaners get rid of bacteria, they can also leave behind a little special something in our food!

Attacking a bedroom cleaning project also involves plenty of organization and not just conventional cleaning.  Flip and rotate your mattress and consider a professional cleaning service to come thoroughly disinfect your bed.  Take some weight off those closet racks and store out-of-season clothing and sheets or even see if there are items you can donate.  Even if you opt for a professional service to clean your carpets, which is highly recommended, don’t overlook your own vacuum.  Be sure to use those hose attachments to pick up debris along the baseboards, under the bed and in the window sills/blinds and while you’re at it, give the curtains a nice run through the dryer on high heat to kill the dust mites. 

Almost done — right after you straighten up your living areas.  If you opt to hire a cleaning service for your carpets and/or mattress, go ahead and let them apply their magic to your upholstery in common, high-traffic areas.  Remember how you bought that microfiber cloth for your kitchen??  Go purchase another one (don’t cross-contaminate rooms by using the same cloth for different purposes.)  A damp microfiber cloth can be used to wipe down mirrors, fan blades, furniture surfaces, wood paneling, windows and even plastic electronic casings.  Once those to-dos are checked off your list of tasks, take a shower and a deep breathe then relax and enjoy your clean home! 

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

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Many taxpayers wait until right before the April 15th deadline to start sorting out their taxes, but if you can get a jump start on them several months in advance, you’re already off on a good foot! Mike DeSenne from HouseLogic gives us some tips on how to get ahead early in the game. 

Claim remaining energy tax credits
If you haven’t exhausted your full allotment of residential energy tax credits during 2009, start doing so this year so that you may claim it next April for the year 2010.   Although tax credits for big projects like residential wind turbines and solar energy systems have no upper limit and are good through 2016, energy tax credits capped at $1,500 expire at the end of 2010. Eligible capped projects include new windows and doors, insulation, roofing, water heaters, HVAC, and biomass stoves.

Here’s how it works with capped federal credits: You can earn energy tax credits worth 30% of the cost of qualifying improvements, but the total tax credits can’t exceed $1,500 combined for 2009 and 2010. So if you only took, say, $700 worth of capped energy credits on your 2009 tax return, you’re still due for another $800 in credits in 2010. Some projects include the cost of installation—a furnace, for example—while others, such as insulation, are limited to the cost of materials.

Max out tax benefits of a vacation home
Use a vacation home wisely, and it’ll provide a break from taxes as well as the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The rules on tax deductions for vacation homes can get a bit tricky, but understanding and adhering to them can yield many happy tax returns.

If your vacation home is truly a vacation home meant for your personal enjoyment, as opposed to a rental-only income property, you can usually deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes, just as you would on your main home. You can even rent out the home for up to 14 days during the year without getting taxed on the rental income. Not bad.

Now, let’s say you want to rent out your vacation home for more than 14 days in 2010, but also use it yourself from time to time. To maximize the tax benefits, you need to keep tabs on how many days you use your vacation home. By restricting your annual personal use to fewer than 15 days (or 10% of total rental days, whichever is greater), you can treat your vacation home as a rental-only income property for tax purposes.

Why is that a big deal? In addition to mortgage interest and real estate taxes, rental-only income properties are eligible for a slew of other tax deductions for everything from utilities and condo fees to housecleaning and repairs. Deductions are limited once personal use exceeds 14 days (or 10% of total rental days), so get out your calendar now to strategically plot your vacations.

Take advantage of tax breaks for the military
In salute to members of the armed forces serving overseas who want to purchase a home, the IRS is extending a lucrative tax perk for military personnel. If you spent at least 90 days abroad performing qualified duty between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010, you have an extra year to earn a homebuyer tax credit. In addition to uniformed service members, workers in the Foreign Service and in the intelligence community are eligible.

Thanks to this extension of the homebuyer tax credit, qualifying military personnel have until April 30, 2011, to sign a contract on a new home. The deal must close before July 1, 2011. Just like non-military buyers, first-time homebuyers can earn a tax credit worth up to $8,000, and longtime homeowners can earn a credit of up to $6,500. The same income restrictions and $800,000 cap on home prices apply.

Military personnel can also get a break if official duty calls and they’re forced to move for an extended period. Normally, the homebuyer tax credit needs to be repaid if you sell your home within three years, but this requirement is waived for uniformed service members, Foreign Service workers, and intelligence community personnel. The new extended duty posting doesn’t need to be overseas, but it must be at least 50 miles from your principal residence.

Challenge your real estate assessment
You can’t do much about the rate at which your home is taxed, but you can try to do something about how your home is valued for taxation purposes in 2010. The process varies depending where you live, but in general local governments conduct a periodic real estate assessment to determine how much your home is worth. That real estate assessment figure is used to calculate your property tax bill.

You can usually appeal your real estate assessment if you think it’s too high. Contact your local assessor’s office to find out the procedure, and be prepared to do some research. There’s often no charge to request a review of your assessment.

Look for errors. You probably received an assessment letter in the mail, and many local governments provide the information online as well. Make sure the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is accurate, and the lot size is correct. Also check the assessed value of comparable homes in your area. If they’re being assessed for less than your home, you might have a case for relief.

Even if your assessment is accurate and comparable homes are being taxed at the same rate, there might be another route to tax savings. Ask your assessor’s office about available property tax exemptions. Local governments often give breaks to seniors, veterans, and the disabled, among others.

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

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