Home Repair and Improvement

Designer Drapes for Less

Give ready-made curtains a custom look by simply adding ribbon and trim.

A one-of-a-kind window treatment doesn't always involve an expensive trip to the seamstress. Take a ready-made curtain, and spice it up using ribbon and trim without any sewing. Choose trims that work with your room's color palette and the look you want... elegant, casual, or fun.

Step 1: Place panel on a flat surface, such as a dining room table; use a layer of paper or cardboard underneath to protect the table.

Step 2: Measure the length of the leading edge (edge that will hang at center of window), and cut trim to fit.

Step 3: Using fabric or adhesive glue, attach trim along the edges. Take your time to make sure the trim is straight. Keep a towel handy to wipe up any excess adhesive.

Daisy trim runs along the panels' edges. Individual flowers, (cut off trim) are adhered to the curtain. These have grommets at the top, but other styles will work.

Step 4: Cut individual daisies or other shape off of trim to place on the panels. For the first row, daisies were glued at vertical intervals of 12 inches and placed 6 inches from the leading edge all the way to the bottom. For the second vertical row, the daisies were glued between those in the first row, and placed 6 inches to the side. Alternate this arrangement along the whole panel. Place them closer together or farther apart, if desired. Try pinning the pieces on first to see if you like the placement.

Step 5: (optional) If your curtains have grommets, hang the panels by simply cutting ribbon and slipping it through the holes. Tie ribbon to a rod using either a knot or bow.

Consider alternating kinds of ribbon; here, purple satin is paired with wired organza.

MATERIALS

Ready-made panels

Paper or cardboard

Ruler

Scissors

Trim with a repeating motif

Fabric

Adhesive glue

Tape

Towel

Ribbon (optional)

(Source: Designer Drapes for Less, Page 130: Curtains from Pottery Barn (R). By Alice Welsh Doyle / Photography by: Laurey W. Glenn / Styling and Project Design by: Mary Leigh Fitts 02/2007)

Evaluate Your Home for Aging-In-Place

The aging population will significantly influence the remodeling industry over the next five years, according to a recent survey of remodelers by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) However, most older Americans have not prepared their homes for life's inevitable changes. As part of National Home Remodeling Month, NAHB Remodelors� Council offers a basic checklist for homeowners to plan ahead to help make their house a home for a lifetime.

Though the vast majority of older Americans want to "age-in-place," many homeowners will require special home modifications in order to live safely and independently. "Most who remodel for accessibility only do so after their home becomes too difficult to navigate," said Remodelors Council Chairman Vince Butler, CGR, CAPS, GMB, a remodeler from Clifton, Va. "With a little foresight, homeowners can enjoy an independent lifestyle without undergoing a difficult and unexpected transition."

When evaluating your home, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) recommend checking to see if it contains the following:

A master bedroom and bath on the first floor.

A low or no-threshold entrance to the home with an overhang.

Lever-style door handles.

No change in levels on the main floor.

Bright lighting in all areas.

A low-maintenance exterior.

Non-slip flooring at the main entryway.

An open floor plan, especially in the kitchen/dining area.

Handrails at all steps.

"People often believe that aging-in-place modifications make your home look like an institution, but it's the exact opposite," said Butler. "CAPS trained professionals seamlessly implement these changes into the existing look of the house so that most visitors will not even know their ultimate purpose. Plus, it is simply good design."

The CAPS designation is the only national program that trains remodelers how to design and implement aging-in-place modifications. To find a certified professional who specializes in aging-in-place remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/caps. To learn more about remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.

(Source: Washington - May 15, 2006, National Association of Home Builders).

First Time Homebuyers

First-time homebuyers fall into many categories� high school or college graduate and a buyer that has not purchased a home in the last three years! At Heart Of Florida Realty, we fully understand what it means to be a First-Time Homebuyer. You are embarking on a path that will bring you to the point of making one of the most important decisions in your life, which is to purchase your first home.

Our Sales Professionals understand that for many First-Time Homebuyers, this is a time that can be filled with feelings of anxiety and pressure. Their goal is to make this time the most positive experience that it can be and alleviate those feelings. Our Sales Professionals are able to achieve this goal due to the fact that they will be with you during every step of the home buying process.

As a first-time homebuyer your first step to home ownership is to schedule an Initial Buyer Consultation at our office. This is an invaluable tool that will help us to quickly establish your exact real estate needs and buying power.

At Heart Of Florida Realty, we believe that everyone should own a home and it is our goal to make that dream come true. In today�s Real Estate Market, with such a wide variety of financing, downpayment assistance and grant programs available it is an absolute possibility.

If you are currently renting you�ve probably been doing so for quite a long time. It is important to realize that all you�re doing is helping your landlord to build equity in that home.

Today�s mortgage rates are low enough so that your house payment can be lower that your actual rent and in turn you could be building equity in your own home. There are so many other advantages to owning your own home. Listed below are a few!

Your home is your castle and you are free to do what you desire in your own home. There is such a feeling of security and comfort that comes with that.
Owning your own home helps to make life more enjoyable. For example: backyard barbeques, holiday gatherings, easier to have your own pet, designing a home office or workshop and so much more.
With every mortgage payment you make you own more and more of that home. Furthermore, the improvements that you make can not only add to the overall value of the home but also enhance your way of living.
With every mortgage payment you are building more and more equity in the home. It is the best savings account you can have.

The interest on your mortgage and your real estate taxes are deductible from your income.

The road to home ownership begins at Heart Of Florida Realty. We have $20,000 down payment assistance and rent to own (WAC) programs. How does that sound?

Plant that Tree $$$

Money spent sprucing up the yard with trees, shrubs, lighting, and patios is well spent... especially when it comes time to sell the home, a new study says. The report, by Arbor National Mortgage, found that 84 percent of real estate professionals believe a house on a treed lot would fetch at least 20 percent more than one on a lot without trees. Another of the company�s surveys suggested that while shelling out for top-of-the line landscaping may only bring in an additional 4 percent to 5 percent, spending minimal amounts has a penalty. Home with average landscaping sell for 20 percent more than homes with just fair landscaping.

(Source: Orlando Sentinel, Lew Sichelman 6/11/06)

Tax Benefits for Homeowners

We all know the old adage about nothing being certain except death and taxes. However, on a more positive note, you can also be certain of tax benefits if, that is, you are a homeowner.

Purchasing a home can provide valuable tax savings to homebuyers. Mortgage interest, property tax, and other payments associated with financing a home can apply to your tax deductions. They may decrease the amount of income tax you must pay to the federal government.

Another financial advantage to owning a home is that as you begin to pay off your mortgage loan, you build equity in your property. In other words, the value of your home can increase as your total mortgage amount decreases over time.

For those who rent, the tax savings of ownership go to the landlord, not to the tenants. Wouldn't you rather build equity for yourself every month instead of paying someone else and giving away "your" tax savings?

Additional Advantages of Homeownership

Scheduled Savings - When you are a homeowner, your monthly mortgage payments serve as a type of savings plan. Over time you will accumulate what lenders call "equity," an ownership interest in your house that you may be able to borrow against or convert to cash by selling the house.
Stable Housing Costs - While rents typically increase year after year, the principal and interest portion of most mortgage payments remains unchanged for the entire repayment period. Because of the effect of inflation, you pay the same amount with ever "cheaper" dollars.

Increased Value - Houses typically increase in value over time. It's not unusual for a house that sold fifteen years ago to be valued at much more than its selling price today. This increased value is as good as money in the bank to the homeowner.

Go to State Government Tax Information

Termites

We want to pass along the newest buzz in pest control efforts to potential homebuyers! A new termite control product, called Termidor, which was researched at the University of Florida has been introduced to the market by Aventis Environmental Science. Company officials say studies show the product demonstrates 100 percent effectiveness in key US markets� including Florida.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)

The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 225,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. Known as "the voice of the housing industry," NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB's builder members will construct about 80 percent of the more than 1.93 million new housing units projected for 2006, making housing one of the largest engines of economic growth in the country.

The Remodelors� Council

The NAHB Remodelors� Council is America's home for professional Remodelors, representing the 14,000 remodeling industry members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Founded in 1982, the Council provides information, education and designation programs to improve the business and construction expertise of its members and to enhance the professional image of the industry. "Remodelor" is the trademarked identifier of NAHB members active in the remodeling industry. The Council's membership incorporates 160 local councils in 43 states. Learn more about remodeling at www.nahb.org/remodel.

The Trivia Block

Q: What are the financial benefits of having a home near a body of water?

A: The mere presence of water within 300 feet can increase a home's value by 22%.

Q: What is the deepest freshwater lake in the world?

Lake Baikal
Lake Huron
Lake Michigan
Lake Victoria
Loch Ness

A: 1. - Lake Baikal. Sometimes called "the Galapagos of Russia" because of the unique diversity of its fauna, Lake Baikal contains 20 percent of the world's unfrozen fresh water.

If the heads on Mt. Rushmore had bodies, they would be nearly 500 feet tall!

Up on the Roof

When selecting a new roof, white is right but with gray you'll pay� according to a study conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center. In 2003, the company built six identical homes, benefiting Habitat for Humanity, and gave each a different type of roof to study the color's effect on energy costs.

White galvanized roofing saved homeowners the maximum amount on their energy bills at 23 percent ($128 per year for a 1,770-square foot home).
S-shaped cement tiles saved 20 percent ($110); flat white cement saved 17 percent ($96); white shingled roofs saved 4 percent ($24).
S-shaped terra cotta cement tiles saved 3 percent ($15).

Still, critics say that white-roofed homes need replacement faster than gray-tiled roofs, negating any savings in energy. Rather than change a roof's color, builders suggest more insulation in attics, perhaps as high as R30 compared to the standard R19, as well as ample ventilation.

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