April Newsletter

April 2010 Newsletter Here’s What’s Happening in Patriots Ridge

ACTIVE: 3927 Captain Molly - 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, finished bsmt. Was $218,500. Reduced to $212,000. Reduced to $209,000 for 215 days.
3926 Captain Molly - 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, fin bsmt $219,900. Reduced to $214,000. Reduced again to $209,900 for 100 days.
3921 Captain Molly - 2bdms, 1 /1/2 bath, finished loft, finished basement. Listed for $214,900 for 46 days.
3965 Captain Molly - 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, fin bsmt $225,000, then $219,900. Reduced to 214,900. On the market for 162 days.
3631 Nancy Ward - a Reed, 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, loft, hrdwds, fin bsmt. Was $237,500, now $225,000 for 270 days.
5484 Rinker Cir - 2 bdms 1 1/2 baths Hardwoods, finished basement. Listed at $229,900. Reduced to $218,00 for 49 days.
3758 Swetland - 3 bdrm, 2 1/2 bath, end unit w/garage. $283,900. Reduced to $267,000 for 287 days.
3756 Swetland Dr. - 3 bdms, 2 1/2 baths, extra room in basement. Listed at $274,900. Reduced to $264,000 for 61 days.
5489 Rinker Cir. - 2 bdrms, 1 1/2 baths, tile floor entry, hardwood in kit. and dining rm., upgraded cabinet package. Listed at $218,900 for 30 days.
5021 Rebecca Fell Dr. - 2 bdrms, 1 1/2 bath, end unit, finished basement. Listing for $219,500 for 28 days.
5443 Rinker Cir. - 2 bdrms, 1 1/2 baths, pergo flooring thru-out 1st floor, finished basement. Back on market for $225,000.
3764 Swetland Dr. - 3 bdrms, 2 1/2 bath, new carpets, semi private rear yard backs to woods. Listed for $259,500 for 20 days.
3726 Swetland Dr. - 3 bdrms, 2 1/2 bath, end unit, backyard backs up to woods. Listing for $263,900 for 16 days.
3781 Swetland Dr. - 3 bdrms, 2 1/2 bath, remodeled eat-in kit. w/lots of cabinet space. Lower level with fam. Rm. opening to patio and back. Listing for $267,000 for 12 days.
PENDING: 5040 Rebecca Fell - end unit, 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, new carpet. Listed $219,900 for 118 days.
4506 Lousie Saint Claire - 3 bdm, 2 1/2 bath, end unit, wood floors, deck, fin. bsmt., 1 car garage. $263,500 for 56 days.
5402 Simpson - 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, $226,000. Reduced to $219,500. 102 days on the market.
5536 Rinker Cir - 2 bdms. 1 1/2 bath, finished basement, remodeled bath. Listed at $216,000 for 18 days.
5473 Rinker - a Mifflin, end unit, 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, mstr w/sitting area. Was $222,500. Reduced $214,000, 235 days.
3817 Swetland - 3 bdrm, 2 1/2 bath, fin. bsmt. $229,000. 46 days on the market.
5443 Rinker Cir. - 2 bdms, 1 1/2 bath, wet bar in finished basement. Listed at $224,900 for 25 days.
SOLD: 5532 Rinker - 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, loft, fin. bsmt. Just listed $196,000 for 33 days.
4125 Captain Molly - end unit, 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, loft, patio. Was $225,900. Reduced to $209,000 for 135 days,
5492 Rinker - 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bathm loft. Was $234,000. Reduced to $218,000 for 288 days.
5001 Rebecca Fell - end unit, 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, fin bsmt. Listed for 17 days, $219,800.

Keller Williams Agents have huge Hearts! Helping people in our community is a huge part of our company. This year, our RED DAY will benefit Seniors. Feel free to join us on May 13th at the Senior Center located at 700 North Shady Retreat Road to help paint the outside and 3 offices on the inside. We’ll be there from 8:00 to 5:00—join us for an hour or so, if you can. We are doing this in conjunction with THE TWILIGHT WISH FOUNDATION, a national organization founded by Cass Forkin of Buckingham. TWF is an incredible foundation granting wishes to Seniors. From a new mattress or air conditioner to re-uniting families they haven’t seen in years, riding on a motorcycle, and going to a prom, each wish is different. See them on the web at www.twilightwish.org. The stories are compelling, like Margaret, 81, a nursing home resident who lost her son suddenly and because of financial circumstances he had to be buried in an unmarked grave. TWF arranged for a headstone and a service to place it. They are Fantastic!




BUILDER Magazine’s Top 10 Elements of Style for 2010
Let’s not call them “trends” because trends come and go. Builders try to design homes that will last for generations. Builders are paying attention to Consumers who now desire less maintenance and more free time. Here’s the top ten design areas that builders agree on this year.

1. Standard height of 9 feet on first floor and a shift away from the two story great room to more effective use of second-floor space.
2. Low-maintenance/no-maintenance materials, especially on exteriors. Ceramic tile and stone floors, brick exteriors, and metal trim instead of wood on the outside are just a few examples.
3. Larger laundry rooms and mud rooms.
4. Natural materials are important on the interior—hardwoods, granite. Classic is here to stay.
5. “Me” spaces. Quiet corners and cubby holes to escape everyone, a computer niche, a junk room, a chair with a bookshelf.
6. Decline of the living room and increase in “special” rooms, such as home offices and media rooms. As houses get smaller there just isn’t room for a place you only visit to dust. It will still exist in many builders homes but it will not be a “formal” room.
7. Technology advances. Builders agree that they need to offer pre-wiring for an abundance of amenities, like Ethernet, surround sound, stereo equipment. Keyless entries, computerized security systems, advanced lighting controls, etc.
8. Outdoors for entertaining. Builders are paying attention to the back yards. Covered areas with full kitchens, home theaters, sleeping porches and dining rooms are popular. Decks and patios are still strong, but a screened porch is more popular.
9. Mixed products on the same street. Smart-growth initiatives are promoting design plans for master neighborhoods that mix singles, townhouses and condo’s.
10. Rear-loaded homes. As lots get smaller, garages are going out back or across an alley, saving the front of the home for porches. Remember your parents home, drive up the driveway and the garage is hidden back there. It’s back!



Need Help With “Stuff” around the House?
People I can’t live without:
My Painter, HVAC guy,
My Second Husband (our handyman)
My Decorator
My Tree Guy
My Plumber and My Roofer
Need a referral? Call Us!
If you are planning to put your home on the market in the next 6 to 8 months,
it’s not too early to start talking to us!
Attic Ventilation

Attic areas can hold substantial amounts of moist air. In the summer it is very hot and humid in the attic, however, in the winter it can be more humid causing a fair amount of problems.
1. The roof is roughly 1/2” away from blistering shingles.
2. As heat in the house rises, it gets trapped in the attic acting as a hat for the entire home.
By having good ventilation the hot air would be removed drawing in relatively cooler air. Insufficient air movement in the attic doesn’t allow the heat from the second floor to go anywhere. Hi temps and humidity will delaminate the roof sheathing, excessively dry out the roof framing and cause an earlier need to replace.

There are many ways to vent an attic; fans, ridge vents, gable end vents. The important thing is that it IS ventilated which will save you repairs and heating/cooling bills.

How to Save on Homeowners Insurance

1. Don’t shop on the internet. It is impossible to compare apples to apples.
2. Raise your deductible. A $1,000 deductible can save you as much as 25%.
3. Ask whomever is quoting how they figure the cost of the land into house coverage. Land doesn’t burn or blow away.
4. Buy your home and auto policies from the same company.
5. Ask what you can do to lower your costs by reducing risk.
6. Improve your home security w/alarms w/monitoring station.
7. If you’re at least 55 years old and retired or work from home, insurance companies love homebodies. They maintain their homes and are quick to spot problems.
8. Maintain good credit. It’s the first thing they look at.
9. Stay with the same insurer and if you ASK your loyalty will be rewarded with a discount.
10. Review your coverage and policy and coverage every year.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY -
BE SURE YOU HAVE SUMP PUMP COVERAGE!!!
Remember!!! We work with ALL national Relocation Companies and while they may tell you that you have to work with their selections, that is NOT the case!