Section: HOM

Real Estate: Firing your agent is a serious matter

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00

When you sell your house with an agent, you'll enter into a written agreement with the agent and their brokerage firm to list your property for sale.

Depending on which company you select, these agreements may differ somewhat, but they all contain a lot of the same basic information. For example, the agreement will specify a term of the listing (many last for a period of six months); it will obviously contain the agreed-upon list pr...

Avoid remodeling headaches

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00

While home remodeling activity is down, it's not out - especially in the kitchen and bathroom.

Over the next 12 months, 54 percent of homeowners said they are planning a remodeling project and nearly two-thirds, or 65 percent, plan to do at least some of the work themselves, according to Consumer Reports' latest poll on home remodeling.

The most popular types of work include painting, 56 percent; designing, 39 percent, and...

Home of the Week: Maureen McCunn

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

The appeal of downtown Annapolis living is not difficult to fathom, nor is a fondness for living in a historical home. To have both, well, that's a dream come true.

"It's a lifetime dream," admitted Maureen McCunn, who purchased her Georgian row home three years ago.

"I looked for a year and a half," she said. "I couldn't find anything in the Historic District that I could afford - I wanted to be in t...

On the Level: More pros than cons for timer on water heater

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

We have some interest in a timer for the water heater. We would like to have some info on the timer and its economic possibilities. Please explain the pros and cons of the timer.

There are certainly more pros than cons. Basically, the timer is a switch that you control to turn itself on or off at whatever time of day you desire. Traditional electric water heaters are little more than big metal tanks that have heating elements in them wh...

Real Estate: The science of showings

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00

When you put your house up for sale, people will obviously need to come take a look at it. In real estate lingo, we call the process of having total strangers nose around your house a showing. This week, we thought we'd talk about how showings work, how to prepare for them and what you can expect as part of the process.

Let's say we have a client who wants to see some houses and yours is one of them. Here's the drill. First,...

Home of the Week: Terry Buchanan

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Take an end-unit townhome, a serene, wooded view and an interior designer as the homeowner, and you'll end up with a winning combination of great ambiance in a picture-perfect setting.

Such is case of Terry Buchanan's home in the community of Riva Trace in Annapolis.

With light olive green siding and stepped landscaping flowing into a wooded backyard, the exterior is at one with its natural surroundings.

"I've been...

On the Level: Advice concerning ridge, gable ventilation systems

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00

I've read your articles about attic ridge vent ventilation and have some questions. Is wind blown moisture infiltration a problem? Do existing gable vents need to be closed off? How close to the ends of the ridges should the vent go?

Ridge venting is designed to resist wind blown moisture. But note, I said resist. If the wind is strong enough you might ship a little water but it normally doesn't amount to much. I've seen win...

Real Estate: For agents experience matters

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00

In last week's column, we wrote about the requirements necessary to become a real estate agent. As we pointed out, the state doesn't demand much in terms of training or education. As we said in the previous column, getting your driver's license doesn't make you a NASCAR superstar. Consequently, in this column, we will further explore the differences between a newly licensed agent and what additional skills an agent with years o...

Lower-cost grills beat big-budget models

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00

This summer, more families likely will be trading restaurant meals for home-cooked suppers.

And for those who like to grill, there's good news: Consumer Reports' latest report on gas grills found five CR Best Buys for $500 or less.

CR found that while some manufacturers are using vibrant colors in their designs, others are adding features, like the top-rated large Fiesta Blue Ember iQue FGQ65079-U403 ($900), which has a to...

Home of the Week: Joanne Woodward Tew

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

For many who live in Eastport, proximity to the water is certainly part of the allure of this peninsula community, being but a hop, skiff or dinghy away from Severn, Back or Spa creeks.

But there's another draw, too.

"I've never lived in an area where I knew so many people around me - it's just a great community," summarized Joanne Woodward Tew, an artist and resident of Eastport.

Joanne found her home ...

On the Level: Trust your instincts on issue of tipping

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

I have been enjoying your column in The Capital for as long as I knew about it; maybe 15 years. I find it to be interesting and informative. My question: Do workers who perform work at a person's home expect extra money in the form of a tip?

It has come to my attention that some certainly seem to think of it as a necessity. For me, tips have been common for hotels, restaurants and taxis, but little else. I ask this because I had work done...

Real Estate: What it takes to become a real estate agent

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00

We are often asked what's required to become a real estate agent. The number of times that question comes up recently has fallen off somewhat, perhaps because these days, going into real estate is a bit like trying to open up a new GM dealership. But if you're into high stress, a seven-day work week, and hourly pay that is a few dollars shy of what Wal-Mart greeters get, real estate might be just the ticket for you.

All kidding ...

Home of the Week: Annabelle and Brian Sailer

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Living in Eastport is the quintessential picture of Annapolis - there's water, a great community, friendly neighbors and dogs.

It doesn't take long after arrival at the Sailer home to find all this out.

Beau comes first - he's a big black Lab who likes to hug. Shortly after receiving warnings by the next-door neighbor to watch out for the two black dogs, here comes Beau, charging full speed ahead.

Up Beau goes on his hi...