Realty Insights for Home Buying, Home Selling, and Indy Info

With Spring just around the corner, you may have started making a to-do list of home projects. If painting is on that list, check out these tips for choosing the right paint colors for your home. 1). Find your inspiration --look for colors in pieces of art, pillows, or fabrics that you love. You love those colors already, so incorporate them into your wall colors. Pittsburgh Paints ( http://www.voiceofcolor.com/ ) has the Color Sense Game to help you find your own color tastes. 2). It's never just about one color --look to blend colors that complement each other. In a kitchen with a black and white theme, try white on three walls with red on the fourth accent wall. 3). Choose a collection --use colors from the same color families. Some decorators suggest the 60-30-10 ratio of color--a dominant color to be used in 60 percent of the room (walls, floors, fabric, furniture), an intermediate color for 30 percent of the room (ceilings, cabinets, smaller furniture) and an accent color to...

Here are 8 reasons why replacement costs always soar above market value, from an insurance viewpoint : 1). Soaring Cost of Building Materials --The cost of building materials--particularly lumber, plywood, drywall and cement--have skyrocketed the past two years. They generally outstrip inflation. 2). Skewed Supply and Demand After Natural Disaster --After a widespread storm or disaster, there is often a shortage of contractors relative to demand, driving costs higher than normal. 3). Low Economies of Scale --After a property loss, the owner doesn't have the luxury of time to bid the project, allow schedule delays, etc. Also, often new houses are built as one of many and that economy of scale is lost. 4). Demolition and Debris Removal --These costs can be considerable and are not incurred during new construction. Nor are they considered in the market price of existing homes. 5). Changes in Building Ordinances --Building codes continue to get stricter. For total, or near total, losse...

My listing at 9699 Winter Way in Zionsville has just been reduced $10,000! It's now offered at $589,000! MLS #2774948

Here are some ideas from Mary Abella, Home Stager with A Little Bit of Red Interior: 1. Put laundry baskets in all the rooms where toys accumulate. When you get notice of a showing, go into each of those rooms, fill up the basket, and put the basket in the car. After all the baskets are in the car and the house is ready, either drive off or go for a walk. Buyers are looking at your house, not your car. 2. Place high chairs, bouncy seats, and other baby furnishings in a neat line-up in the garage for showings. 3. If there is a bedskirt under a child's bed or crib, scooting toys, clothes, school papers, and all other kid's stuff under the bed works. Nobody checks under the bed. They DO check closets, so don't shove things in there. 4. Keep a couple of rags and spray cleaner handy for daily mishaps. Treat them right away, before they dry up and are harder to remove. WD40 takes care of crayon "art" on walls and cupboards. 5. Don't forget all the playthings outside...