Latest Articles by Matt Barker

The Dark Room Solution

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Light! More light! Usually, people who want to paint their rooms get the advice to paint them in a light, neutral color. This can work if you like neutral colors, but if your passion is for saturated dark color, you can do a lot with it on the walls of your home.

Black is the ultimate neutral. Surprisingly enough, black walls can be a great alternative to the usual whites or beiges that most people think of when they ponder a neutral wall scheme. With the right lighting and furniture accents, black walls can be dramatic and sophisticated. Care must be taken, however, to brighten the room with light furniture and decorations. Consider pairing black walls with colorful accents like red, teal, purple as well as lighter shades such as pink, baby blue and lilac for interest.

Brown is an underrated color that can bring saturated warmth into a room and serve as a backdrop to just about any color accent. A chocolate brown wall is great for showing off brighter colors while lending some color to the room scheme itself. Chocolate brown and blue combinations have recently been popular, but chocolate brown goes great with reds, yellows and greens.

Red is a color that has long been used sparingly in the wall palette, except for red brick fireplace areas.. However, a rich, dark red can lend a room sophistication and elegance that's hard to beat. Burgundy is a great color to put on walls and goes well with many colors and textures. A good dark red is matched well with black (but not too much!), white, antique browns and accents of the cooler colors.

Blues have long been a part of the wall palette in their lighter shades. However, a deep royal blue can make a wonderful wall color when paired with white, yellow and other light accents, furniture and decorations. Blue panels can also lend a significant amount of color without being garish or blinding.

Greens also are a common wall color in their brighter varieties. A forest green, though, can be understated and soothing to the eye. Paired with browns, yellows and creams, the darker greens can provide an elegant solution to your walls.

Purple is somewhat hard to use for a room, as the color walks the line between warm and cool. Some of the darker purples, such as aubergine (eggplant), can work well with a variety of colors. The richer purples, such as royal, can pose more of a challenge to match so that the purple doesn't overwhelm the room. Light greens, creams, rich red browns and yellows can provide great contrast to a purple room.

The ceiling and the floors can offer some contrast, especially if you're worried about your dark room being too dark. Light colored ceilings and floors can give the illusion of height that dark walls accentuate. Another method of contrasting is painting the walls different colors. One wall can be used as an accent wall and painted a dark/light color, depending on how dark/light you want the room to be. Two-tone walls also provide a way to use dark colors without darkening a room too much.

Don't shy away from dark colors! They may require some more thought as to accents and dark/light combinations than your average light wall color, but they can make a room striking and unusual. Coming to the dark side, in this instance, isn't all bad!

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For the tools and information needed to succeed in the Saint Paul real estate market, look no further. Saint-Paul-Real-Estate.com offers valuable information on St.Paul neighborhoods and surrounding communities including Downtown Saint Paul real estate.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Is That Home Overpriced? Don't Pass It By

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

There are houses that you might be overlooking because they are priced significantly out of your range. However, don't discount these properties immediately. With the help of your Realtor®, you might be able to find an overpriced home and make an offer that will be accepted.

Why do sellers overprice homes? Well, it starts out with wanting the most bang for their equity. It's nicer to believe that one's home can sell for $450,000 instead of $350,000. Also, many sellers are ignorant of what makes homes sell for lower or higher. Maybe the house down the street sold for $50,000 more than what one's house is worth, but maybe it has an extra bedroom, remodeled kitchen or finished basement that bumps up the price.

Another reason is unscrupulous behavior on the part of the agent. If the agent can hang a sign outside a property, they are getting extra exposure. They might pull in more deals through people who call about the original house but end up getting shown another. Or, the agent might think that they can get the seller to drop the price to something more reasonable as the weeks go by. (This is an excellent time to note that one should go with the agent who has the knowledge and the honesty to tell you what your house is worth, not the agent who quotes you the highest selling price!)

Back to the overpriced home. Look above your upper price range and see if there are any properties that fit the definition of "overpriced, not-going-anywhere". If your Realtor® knows the neighborhood, they should have a good idea of what homes should go for and whether it's worth putting in a lowball offer. Ask about the DOM (days on market) for the area and see which homes exceed this timeline. If you find a property that appeals to you, it's time to look at an offer.

The seller has to be ready to sell if they are going to accept an offer significantly lower than their listing price. There are sellers who, for whatever reason, put their house up for sale but aren't really ready to sell. They are not about to accept the fact that their house just isn't worth what they think it should be. Don't waste your time trying to convince this seller; they will either sell or they won't and, right now, it's on the 'won't' side.

Some sellers get offended by lowball offers. This is not your problem, but there are some things you can do to smooth the way for your offer and avoid rubbing a seller the wrong way. You can tell your agent to go in person to lay the first offer on the table. Information about the recent sales of comparable homes may also help the sellers see that your offer is not an insult but rather a reasonable figure. Be willing to negotiate with people who are open to lowering the price. Sometimes it takes a fair amount of communication to achieve a great end result.

With a little time spent with your Realtor®, searching and evaluating homes, you might luck out on an overpriced one. It doesn't hurt to at least see if the sellers are open to negotiation.

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For the tools and information needed to succeed in the Saint Paul real estate market, look no further. Saint-Paul-Real-Estate.com offers valuable information on St.Paul neighborhoods and surrounding communities including info on Highland Park MN homes.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Prefabricated Homes: Green and Growing

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Prefabricated homes are on the rise and home buyers are taking notice. A prefabricated home is built in a factory, disassembled and shipped to the property where it is erected. More "prefabs" are being purchased as people see that this type of home is a far cry from some of the shoddily constructed buildings of the past. Advantages of the prefabs are their quick construction and installation, the option for "green" materials and construction and the customizability of many models on the market today. Now that they are coming into vogue, prefabs are definitely an option for the property buyer, as more and more lenders are starting to include the purchase and placement of a prefab homes in their mortgage options.

The prefab has gotten a bad rap from shoddy building practices in the past, due to mass-produced, low-quality buildings of the past. Also, prefabs have been erroneously associated with mobile homes, which have their own stigma. It has taken interest in economical, customizable and "green" buildings to overcome the perception that homes manufactured in a factory are inherently ugly and poorly constructed.

A prefabricated home is, as the name indicates, built before it is placed on the property where it is to stand. Some of the advantages that people cite are that the factory process results in less waste, less chance of environmental damage, less overhead from stolen tools and equipment (that might be left during the building process of a traditional home), and less chance that structural faults will be overlooked. Once built, most prefabs don't look different from "stick-built" or traditionally constructed houses. High quality prefabs also age and appreciate in value similarly to stick-built houses, making them a viable choice for the property owner who wants to have a home constructed according to their specifications.

Recently, a number of award-winning environmentally sound designs and structures have awakened the public's interest in manufactured homes. There are now a number of reputable companies producing these buildings for a market increasingly aware of their "footprint" in the world. Many prefab homes are being sold as "green" due to their efficient method of construction, their adherence to "green" codes and their space saving design. Some prefabs use a large amount of recycled material for the structure and interior features, like recycled glass tiles for bathrooms and countertops made from recycled plastic resin. Solar power and other alternative forms of "green" energy have also been utilized in some prefabs for exceptional savings on heat, light and power.

Most manufacturers can customize standard designs or build custom homes to meet clients' needs. This can mean extra costs, but it results in a home designed to your needs. It also means that you can solve some problems, for instance, building a home for a property that is on a slope. You can add or take away rooms and features, leaving you with the space you need, designed for what you need it for.

Prefabs need property to stand on that is zoned for the type of building you are planning to put on it. Also, most companies do not provide foundation laying; you will have to organize that yourself. However, once the foundation is laid to the specifications of the building and the prefab is completed, the prefab can be set up in a matter of days instead of months. This helps prevent weather damage that can be sealed up inside the building and end up causing further damage that is only found years later.

These structures are not for everybody, of course. There are some situations where a home built on the property is best. Also, today's prefabricated homes are not all to everyone's taste in their design and function. In many cases, the prefabricated home can cost just as much or more as a home built onsite. Also, you need to take into consideration that plumbing and electricity setup may require an extra outlay of cash.

Prefabs are worth checking out if you are considering a likely property that needs a home on it. Consult with your real estate professional for more information about your area's zoning requirements and the permits you may need for the erection of such a structure.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Space Saving Beds: Efficient Use of Bedroom Space

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Sometimes you have a bedroom without a lot of space and it's usually the bed that takes up most of it. Especially for rooms that are designed to be more than just sleeping areas (kids' rooms, for example), this can mean that there's not a lot of room for the rest of the things - desk, chair and other paraphernalia - that the room needs to contain. Here are some ideas on beds that maximize your space and allow the room's space to be used to its full potential.

The Shelf Headboard:

Possibly the simplest thing you can do to combine sleeping arrangements with space-saving, the headboard that doubles as a shelf can hold books, tissues, lights and anything else imperative for bedtime. Most beds can handle an appropriately sized shelf-headboard, making it an economical option for people who already have a good bed.

Bunk beds:

The original space-saving solution, the bunk bed! These beds are generally geared towards children who have to share a room or a child who has a lot of sleepovers. Bunk beds are also an option for guest bedrooms and for storage of toys and equipment on the top bunk. For children, they can also function as an economical canopy bed with the addition of curtain rods. Take note that it is strongly recommended that children under the age of 6 not be given the top bunk.

Mezzanine/Loft beds:

At first, these appear to be bunk beds, but they generally lack a second sleeping arrangement on the bottom, leaving space for a chair, desk, or anything else that a person might desire underneath. Some come with elaborate setups that include shelves, steps and matching furniture. Others are just the bed and a ladder. These are ideal for college dorm rooms and smaller rooms that need to house an active child. The same caveat that applies to the top of bunk beds applies to lofts - no kids under 6.

Murphy beds:

A Murphy bed will flip up against a wall when it is not in use. This enables the floorspace that it would otherwise occupy to serve for other purposes. Murphy beds have come a long way from the cartoon cliches that folded up on hapless characters. Many of them today have exceptionally comfortable mattresses and are easy to take down and put away. Modifications to the Murphy style allow for a desk or other useful feature to "pop out" when the bed is put away.

Hanging beds:

Some of these beds just hang from the ceiling and don't offer any more storage space than a regular bed with room underneath the frame. However, a few enterprising businesses and individuals have created hanging beds on a pulley system, allowing the bed to be swung to the ceiling and out of the way. This requires a fairly high ceiling relative to the room's occupant to be truly useful and care must be taken that the pulley bed, equipment and structure it is affixed to are able to take the weight of both bed and occupant(s).

Bedup:

This French concoction puts the bed on tracks and gives it some fold-down legs so that you can raise and lower it like a hanging bed on pulleys, only it's anchored to the wall. This makes the bed less moveable and gives it some solid support from the legs as well as the tracks it runs on

Futons:

What we think of as a futon and what the Japanese, the creators of this style of bed, think of as a futon are two completely different animals. The Japanese futon refers only to a mattress that is often folded up and put away during the day, allowing for use of the bedspace. The Western "futon" tends to refer to the mattress and the frame it is placed upon, which can be laid out like a bed or folded up like a couch. Either way, these are very good beds to use for a small space. However, one should take care in the type of futon they choose; many futon mattresses are cheap copies of traditional mattresses and are not supportive of the back.

Sofa beds:

The first cousin of the futon, the sofa bed mimics an ordinary sofa, but turns into a different creature entirely when night falls. A mattress appears out of hiding and folds out to create an ample bed, the width of the original sofa seating space. If it's space saving you're after, this is definitely one to consider.

Trundle beds:

Another time honored tradition, the trundle bed is a bed-within-a-bed. One bed is put together the normal way, but its frame is just a giant drawer, holding another bed. Perfect for small spaces and frequent sleepovers. Most trundle beds have the mattresses at different heights, but some have pop-out mechanisms that put the trundle mattress at the same height as the main bed.

You can do a lot with a smaller living space if you find the right furniture. Check out some of these options if saving space is important to you.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Improve The Value of Your Older Home for Less

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Older homes that have not been consistently taken care of or upgraded are apt to show more wear and tear. But, with an eye for detail and some good old fashioned elbow grease an older home can be vastly improved upon- in terms of appearance and efficiency. There are some key points to focus on with your homes' exterior, interior and of course with the utilities.

In terms of enhancing an older home's curb appeal you can begin with the philosophy of "out with the old". Go on a weed eating binge and remove all nasty weeds, prune back over growing plants and trees and be rid of anything that is dead or on its last legs. This goes for hardscape elements as well. Rusty swing sets, ragged looking fences and old awnings need to be turfed. Once you have arrived at a blank slate, you can then add some newness, and lushness back into your home's landscape.

You don't want empty garden plots- so plot out the easiest and most cost efficient way to fill these. Self-propagating ground cover, like ivy is a good option, so long as you avoid the invasive climbing ivy. Another easy option is to just go with grass or sod. If you're feeling ambitious experiment with a few well placed plants and rock combined with mulch ground cover.

Next you'll want to focus on cleaning the exterior of your home. If the siding on your home is dirty then opt for a good power washing. You can rent a power washer from a local home improvement store. And, while you have this useful tool, go ahead and wash down those patios, porches, and decks. You'll also want to clean out gutters, repair downspouts and ensure that storm windows and screens are clean and in good nick.

Cleaning, maintenance and some updating are necessary to keep your older home in good livable condition. What can really drag down the appearance and general condition of a home is old, un-washed carpets. The good news is that a carpet cleaning company can do wonders to bring an old, musty, stained carpet up to snuff. The other thing to always look for beneath the carpet in older homes is the hidden gem of a hardwood floor. If there is hardwood and it looks in decent condition this may be a better option than trying to salvage the carpeting. There is also the possibility of re-surfacing the wood floor yourself, if you're up for a little project.

In many older homes the window frames, baseboards and doorframes are painted- and the paint is in less than desirable condition. You can add value to your home and improve its appearance greatly by stripping these down to reveal their original glowing, golden wood. This is certainly a DIY job that'll improve your home's aesthetic immensely. This is not a costly project and all that is required is your manpower and dedication alongside some stripping agent, and appropriate safety wear.

Replacing old windows in older homes is sometimes necessary, and is always a smart upgrade. But if this cost is too high, remember it's still important for the well-being of your home to keep them clean and properly sealed. Strip old paint and sand down windows so that they glide smoothly in their frames. You'll also want to caulk around windows to minimize drafts and help keep your home as air tight as possible. All latches and locks should be repaired so that they are in good working order.

The initial expense of an alternate heat/cooling system such as a heat pump, may seem great, but in the long-run you'll save so much in monthly utilities and be doing good for the environment as well.

But, there are other ways to improve the overall efficiency of your home. Have your plumbing snaked yearly to clear debris from pipes. Make sure to clean out dryer vents and replace furnace filters.

Another consideration if you live with hard water is to use a water softener. The buildup from hard water can ruin pipes, washing machines, faucets, dishwashers and sinks in the long run.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Top Home Improvements That'll Boost Your Home's Equity

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

So you're looking to build your home's equity and you're wondering what'll be the best way to go about recouping renovation investments and maximizing your home's sale price. Look no further, here are the top ten upgrades that can promote your house to a top dollar sale.

1. Paint: A fresh coat of paint and ideally in the neutral color palate, can do wonders to enliven a space. Think about how color can tie in your entire home design. Think about using one one color of paint, or painting within the same family of neutral colors.

2. Flooring: Hard wood flooring has garnered a very general popularity that doesn't seem to be going away and it is a great way to go, especially in dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms and even bathrooms. A less expensive alternative is laminate. There are many laminate products on the market to choose from that offer a great look and for a small price.

3. Lighting: Go ahead and replace dated fixtures with new ones - maybe even consider making a statement with a fixture. The dining room fixture is one that you can be creative with. Find a beautiful chandelier or something funky and modern. These touches go a long way to light up your home. Also, upgrade switch plates and electrical outlet covers with the latest versions and install dimmer switches in the main rooms. Energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs are all the rage.

4. Entrance: Make your entrance bright, clean and sleek. Clear away all excesses and hang a nice light fixture. For accents you might consider a long bench, or demi-lune table.

5. Updated Hardware: If you can't go for the gusto and re-do an entire kitchen or bathroom, replacing old, dated hardware is a good start. Stainless steel is a very popular choice, and goes well with many styles and colors of cupboards.

6. Curb Appeal: Don't leave this important aspect of your property unattended to. This is what will draw folks into your home. At the very least have your lawn as green as can be, clipped and tidy. Your garden should be free of dead or decaying growth and should ideally have some annuals planted for a burst of eye-popping color.

7. Screening: This means privacy. Installing a fence that creates a screen and some privacy from neighboring properties definitely adds value to your home. Likewise adding a deck can be a great use of yard space by extending living space into the outdoors.

8. Main Bathroom: Although many older homes have a bathroom on the second floor, a current day essential is a small bathroom on the main floor.( toilet, sink and mirror) See what you can do about converting a main floor closet into a small washroom.

9. The Ensuite: More and more, a full-service spa like bathroom off the master bedroom is a real draw for buyers. Think jet tubs, heated tile flooring, granite, marble, plush white towels, and great storage features.

10. New Kitchen: Last but certainly not least is the renovated kitchen. The most preferred features include stone counter tops, stainless-steel appliances, ceramic sinks, and an over-all neutral to earth toned color scheme.

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For the tools and information needed to succeed in the Saint Paul real estate market, look no further. Saint-Paul-Real-Estate.com offers valuable information on St.Paul neighborhoods and surrounding communities including Merriam Park real estate.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Being A Landlord and Discrimination

Mon, 07 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Discrimination is always a hot-button issue in America and worldwide. However it is also a big issue in the real estate market. In fact, in years past it was such an issue that The Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 specifically preventing race, religion, status or numerous other forms of discrimination in the housing market. Supplemental to this is the Americans with Disabilities Act which like the FHA, makes it illegal to discriminate against those with disabilities; metal or physical in the housing market. These acts come into consideration quite often for landlords who find themselves having to secure good tenants for their properties.

A good landlord should be careful in every aspect of securing tenants, this includes both the advertising for the property and for the screening process as well. In the United States the FHA is applicable to the advertising of the property, so be careful about how the adverts are worded. It is unfortunate but there are those that will spend hours looking through the ads for rentals trying to find a landlord whom they can exploit. Take the time to find out what the laws are in your community aside from the FHA and Disabilities Act. There may be other statutes that ban other types of discrimination that you were unaware of.

None of this is implying that you would ever discriminate against anyone, it is to help protect you from unscrupulous renters and others who would use the laws that are in place to gain advantage and leverage over you as a renter. The courts in this country have seen no end of lawsuits against landlords who made one small mistake in their advertising or screening. There is no shortage of people out there that want to make a quick buck at someone else's expense. Make sure that you are protected against those who would attack your assets. Make sure that if you are renting properties that you set up a company or some sort of business entity that owns the properties. This will ensure that any business judgments will not affect your personal holdings.

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Matt Barker is a real estate professional specializing in Saint Paul real estate. Matt's dedication to excellence in the world of real estate is what makes Barker & Hedges the premier real estate team in Saint Paul. Contact Matt for more information today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Protecting Your Assets: Rentals

Mon, 07 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Playing the real estate game has made more people more money than almost any other industry in America. However, those that have been successful have learned how to protect their personal assets and property while maintaining a strong investment portfolio. Keeping investment properties in your own name can lead to legal problems if there are any issues concerning them. These kind of issues arise when renting properties and can be disheartening as well as financially straining. For this reason it is a good idea to organize a company or business to deal with your investment properties exclusively.

The best way to set about this is to start a land trust. A land trust protects not only your financial assets but the actual properties as well. If you are only renting a single property or a part of your actual home then this step may be a little drastic for a single property, but if you are planning on owning several properties then it is something that you may want to investigate. The process of forming a land trust essentially conceals your ownership from public record, with the added bonus of protecting your land assets from any judgments and or asset claims.

Another thing that is essential for successful renting of properties is a detailed contract that clearly states all the terms and conditions of the rental and what happens in any situation where the terms and conditions of the contract are violated. Make sure that the contract clearly and concisely defines these terms, ambiguous language can be a real downfall if the contract ever comes into question. Taking the time to ensure the protection of your assets and interests is perhaps the best investment you can ever make when establishing a presence in the world of real estate.

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Matt Barker is a real estate professional specializing in Saint Paul real estate. Matt's dedication to excellence in the world of real estate is what makes Barker & Hedges the premier real estate team in Saint Paul. Contact Matt for more information today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Finding Your Perfect Home

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Finding the home that is right for you and your family can be a complicated undertaking. Add to this the fact that you will likely need to find a home that will perfect for many years to come and the process becomes even harder. So how can you best be sure that you will find the right home? Preparation and patience. There's no two ways about it, when looking for a home you need to do your homework (pun intended) and be patient and not jump on the first "acceptable" home that comes up.

You have the right to be choosy when buying a home, after all you are spending a rather large amount of money. Set some time aside with your realtor and compile a definitive list of requirements for your perfect home. This is the list that you should not deviate from no matter what. The things on this list should be absolute necessities. Keep all the things that would be nice to have in a home for another list. This necessity list should contain things like room requirements, location, access to schools and transit if needed.

Now is the time to work closely with your realtor finding a group of homes that fit your criteria and having a look at each. Keep in mind that if you find a house that suits all your needs, you don't have to jump to make an offer. You never know, there may be other homes that will suit you even better so take the time to consider all the options. It's a good idea to make sure that you have your mortgage pre-approved and ready to go at this time so when you choose to make an offer, there will not be any hold ups in the financing.

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Matt Barker is a real estate professional specializing in Saint Paul real estate. Matt's dedication to excellence in the world of real estate is what makes Barker & Hedges the premier real estate team in Saint Paul. Contact Matt for more information today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Exterior Selling Points

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

When selling a home its vitally important to showcase the home's exterior features. While it is usually a home's interior features that sell a person, it is definitely the exterior features that create the original interest and draw their attention. Typically, internet listings start with a picture of the home's front. Additionally, the exterior is the first thing seen when driving by. Upon first sight of a home, and impression is formed by a prospective buyer. It is extremely important that this impression be a positive one; one that stirs interest and piques the buyer's curiosity.

Take some time to consider what your home's strongest exterior selling points are. Usually these will be things like distinct landscaping, a nice porch, well tended gardens and the general condition of the home. At the first glance, your home must leave a lasting visual impression that will set the property apart from the others that it is competing with. Now, set about showcasing them by making sure that they are in top-notch condition. If you wish, you can add some value and attraction by improving on these or by adding new aspects to enchant buyers.

Adding new features to the home's exterior is time well spent as the image that your home presents to the viewer can never be too strong. Great features for yards include touches like new fencing. If they yard's fences are old and decrepit, falling over, or in a general state of disarray it can impact negatively on a home's image. New strong and most of all, fencing that improves privacy is a great asset for any home. Another great selling asset is creatively designed gardens. Bright flowers are a scenic touch that will always improve the appearance of a home. Make sure that gardens are weed free and clean to get the most bang for your gardening buck. Now, how is the home itself looking? In preparing your home for sale, one of the best ideas is a new coat of paint. This will bring new life to the exterior and make the home much cleaner looking as years of wear and environmental wear will be eliminated. Be mindful of the damage potential of environmental factors such as sun and snow, they can cause a lot of wear and tear to a home.

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Matt Barker is a real estate professional specializing in Saint Paul real estate. Matt's dedication to excellence in the world of real estate is what makes Barker & Hedges the premier real estate team in Saint Paul. Contact Matt for more information today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com