Giving your siding a facelift

If you are looking to add some value and glamour to your home there is nothing quite like redoing the paint or siding. Now the question is presented, which type of exterior should you choose for your home? The largest deciding factor in this choice is likely going to be what type of exterior is already on the home. If you have vinyl siding, or stucco, or simply painted wood it will usually be more cost effective to stick with what you already have. However here are a few more things to consider when this choice presents itself.

There are four basic types of siding on the market today. Vinyl siding, stucco, aluminum siding and wood. Stucco is a great exterior to deal with and is very easy to keep in pristine condition. A good power washing can bring life back to the most distraught looking stucco quite easily. What to look for to decide if your stucco needs to be redone is crumbling around the bases and edges. Stucco is also easy to paint. When dealing with vinyl siding it is not a good idea to paint this surface as vinyl can bend easily and cause the paint to crack and peel. Usually in this situation vinyl siding will need to be replaced if it cannot be cleaned. Aluminum and steel siding is another long-lasting surface that is easy to paint and easy to maintain. Usually a fresh coat of paint will bring this metal surface back to life. Finally we come to wood siding. Paining or staining is an absolute necessity for wood as it needs to be protected from the elements, if not it will rot and decay quickly. Is the wood soft and splintered? Can you see the grain on the back side of peeling areas? If so, then replacement might be necessary. The same is true if your siding appears to be warped or buckled.

The exterior of your home is the first thing that people see so it is quite important to have it in the best condition possible. No mater what type of exterior your home has, a little time & effort can make it shine like new! Don't be afraid to put a few dollars into it either, during the sales process it will come back in abundance.

Wisconsin real estate making the dairy land look good

Wisconsin Real Estate – Making The Dairy Land Look Good

It might surprise you, but Wisconsin is home to one of the highest rated and most in demand towns in the United States. More and more people are starting to realize the Dairy Land is a good place to live.

Wisconsin Real Estate – Making The Dairy Land Look Good

Wisconsin likes to promote itself as America's Dairy Land and it isn't far off. The state has a strong rural, farming influence. This leads to friendly people and communities living at a pace of life you will not find in more stressful states such as New York and California. Wisconsin, however, does hold a gem of a small city within its borders.

Madison is the capital of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin. A sleepy college town for years, Madison has long offered a great way of life. National publications started noticing it a few years back and it is regularly listed in top 10 rankings for desirable places to live in the United States. The reputation is well earned as Madison manages to have all the amenities of a large city while maintaining a small college town field. Madison gets a big thumbs up from us.

If you prefer living in larger cities, Milwaukee is as big as it gets in Wisconsin. It is located on the shores of Lake Michigan and is roughly 90 miles from Chicago, a city with which it maintain a natural rivalry and love-hate relationship. Over the last few years, the city has undergone major redevelopment and upgrades which is making it an attractive place to live after long periods of stagnation and decline.

The Wisconsin real estate market is vibrant and compares with any in the country. A single-family home in Madison will set you back roughly $160,000 while the same home in Milwaukee will run you roughly $110,000. Appreciation rates are a steady six to seven percent across the state.

All and all, Wisconsin offers a both a good place to raise a family and real estate market you can afford. The Dairy Land has never looked so good!

Wyoming real estate - wide open spaces

If you're tired of living in close quarters, Wyoming may be the answer for you. Wyoming real estate is also appreciating at a nice pace.

Wyoming

Wyoming is the least populated state in the United States, but also one of the most beautiful if getting back to nature is your thing. While the cattle industry dominates the state, you also find bears, moose and a variety of large beasts roaming freely in the state. This is particularly true in the two major national parks located in Wyoming, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Jackson Hole

Located in the foothills of Grand Teton lies the valley of Jackson Hole and the town of Jackson. The town has a suedo Wild West feel to it, but is heavily populated with the nuevo rich. Historic facades front trendy boutiques, but the area somehow manages to maintain a local feel.

If you're an avid skier, Jackson just may be the place for you. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is not for the faint of heart. There aren't really any bunny slopes at this place. Instead, you have to have a passion for more or less throwing yourself off a cliff with no parachute!

Laramie

At first, Laramie appears to be a typical cowboy town, but first appearances are deceiving. Home to the University of Wyoming, Laramie has a definite college feel with the stereotypical college lifestyle. The town is located in a prairie setting.

Wyoming Real Estate

Wyoming real estate prices vary wildly depending on the specific location. Homes in Jackson Hole are going to be pricey with average prices in the $600,000 range. In contrast, the average home price in Laramie is roughly $150,000. For the last 12 months, Wyoming real estate has appreciated at a rate of a little over 11 percent.

If elbow room is critical to your lifestyle, Wyoming definitely offers plenty of it.

Things to look for when purchasing a home

There are many things to watch for when buying a new home. Often, home buyers find themselves overwhelmed by the process of buying a home and overlook many of the telltale signs that a home might not be all they think it is. It will always be good practice to go over the negative aspects of any given home, in detail, before making an offer. Many of the following things should be found during a proper home inspection, however it is a good idea as the buyer to familiarize yourself with certain things and to discuss them with your Realtor and the inspector.

1. Damp Basements

A damp feeling in a basement can suggest water seepage, either from improperly graded soil, or a bad foundation. This can lead to many problems further down the road when considering renovations or remodeling. This can also lead to problems with mold and the deterioration of the standing foundations. Moisture can also weaken the foundations leading to expensive repairs in the future. This is also a health concern as the presence of mold has been linked to several respiratory conditions and ailments.

2. Cracks in the Foundation

Always inspect the interior and exterior of the foundation for cracks and stress marks. Visible cracks can mean several things; excessive settling of the house, the fact that the house may have been built on an improperly graded site, or in an area that is prone to earth movement. Cracks can also allow small insects access to the interior of the home. Ants and termites can cause no end of costly problems in a home. There are many different types of foundation imperfection and the causes of these are quite varied. If there is any evidence of an imperfection in the foundation, have the entire foundation checked by a professional.

3. Odor

The presence of unappealing odors can mean many things in a home, the most common of these is mold. Biological problems like mold can be difficult to repair as it usually means an extensive amount of work to correct them. Ripping out walls is the most common "fix" for mold as it can be trying to find the source. Visible mold can be killed with bleach, but usually the problem runs far deeper than the surface. A professional inspector should identify any mold problems upon the necessary inspection and relate these to the realtor or home buyer.

4. Poorly Ventilated or Damp Attic

This is another factor that can cause large amounts of mold and dry-rot to develop in a home. Check the interior of the roof if it is accessible. Is it wet? If so, there is a problem. This means there is insufficient ventilation and/or a leak in the roof itself. The interior of a roof should be bone-dry, year-round. This could also be a result of fans from the kitchen or bathroom that vent into the attic and the attic is not properly set up to accommodate the moisture that this generates.

5. Discoloration

The discoloration of portions of the walls or ceiling is a good indicator of leaks and seepage. This could indicate a problem with leaking roofs or plumbing pipes. This can be an extremely expensive problem to fix as it usually involves cutting into the walls and/or ceilings. Leaks such as this can also cause a fire hazard as they may interfere with the existing wiring. Be mindful of fresh paint as this is a common way to cover up spots that show water damage.

6. Electrical Work

One of the largest causes of electrical fires in homes is D. I.Y. Electrical work. Check the connections on fixtures and anything that appears to be added post-construction. Electrical work should never be done by an unqualified individual. For instance, check the main electrical panel, does it look unorganized and sloppy? This is one indication that the home's electrical work may have been done by a non-certified individual. Haphazard wiring can lead to costly repairs and is a definite danger to the homes and residents.

7. The Property Itself

The Property itself can contain many oft-overlooked problems. In particular the landscaping of the property can affect the home itself and particularly the foundations. Is the property sloped away from the house? The high point of the property should always be the house itself. This assists in drainage and presents water problems. If the land slopes downward towards the home, chances are there will be issues with water and seepage.