The Real Results Team

It can be hard to relax on vacation if you're worried about what's going on back home. But a few simple measures can help properly secure your house and give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your time away. Hold mail and deliveries. -- The U.S. Postal Service makes it easy to put a temporary hold on your mail… [ 258 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/06/22/safeguard-your-home-while-traveling

Safeguard Your Home While Traveling It can be hard to relax on vacation if you’re worried about what’s going on back home. But a few simple measures can help properly secure your house and give you the peace of mind you n…

Pending home sales rose for the third consecutive month in April and reached their highest level in over a decade, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All major regions saw gains in contract activity last month except for the Midwest, which saw a meager decline. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, hiked up 5.1 percent to 116.3 in April from an upwardly revised 110.7 in March and is now 4.6 percent above April 2015 (111.2). [ 168 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/pending-home-sales-rocket-to-10-year-high

Pending Home Sales Rocket to 10 year High! Pending home sales rose for the third consecutive month in April and reached their highest level in over a decade, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All major regions saw gains in…

Appliance manufacturers have been riding the stainless appliance trend for over a decade, and recent attempts at other finishes have never taken off. That may be changing with the GE Slate Appliance finish. In the kitchen, gray topped the list of the fastest growing color schemes last year. Slate-hued products complement that design trend. The charcoal-hued finish was originally developed to reflect nature’s influence on design, and it provides a perfect understated look that suits today’s contemporary and transitional kitchens. [ 163 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/is-slate-the-new-stainless

Is Slate the New Stainless? Appliance manufacturers have been riding the stainless appliance trend for over a decade, and recent attempts at other finishes have never taken off. That may be changing with the GE Slate Applianc…

1. Tax benefits: The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, and some of the costs involved in buying a home. 2. Appreciation: Historically, real estate has had a long-term, stable growth in value. In fact, median single-family existing-home sale prices have increased on average 5.2 percent each year from 1972 through 2014, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. [ 222 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/7-reasons-to-own-a-home

7 Reasons to Own a Home 1. Tax benefits: The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, and some of the costs involved in buying a home. 2. Appreciation: Historically, real e…

Leave us a comment anywhere on our blog for a chance to win an Outback Steakhouse $50.00 Gift Card! We will randomly choose one lucky comment on June 1st and announce the winner here on June 2nd. If you subscribe to our blog before June 1st, you will receive an extra entry and the announcement will go right into your inbox! Good luck!

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/comment-contest

Comment Contest!   Leave us a comment anywhere on our blog for a chance to win an Outback Steakhouse $50.00 Gift Card! We will randomly choose one lucky comment on June 1st and announce the winner here on June…

Certain neighborhood features near a home – like cemeteries and power plants -- could drag down a home’s price. Realtor.com® recently identified which of those features could have the biggest impact. To calculate, Realtor.com® analyzed home prices and appreciation rates in ZIP codes of the 100 largest metro areas across the country where a specific so-called “drag-me-down facility” – such as power plants or homeless shelter – was present. [ 113 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/9-neighborhood-features-that-could-hamper-home-value

9 Neighborhood Features That Could Hamper Home Value Certain neighborhood features near a home – like cemeteries and power plants — could drag down a home’s price. Realtor.com® recently identified which of those features could have the biggest …

For most people, moving to a new home is a hectic time. It usually involves a decent amount of planning, money, packing and depending on whether or not you hired movers, heavy lifting. When I moved out of state a few years ago, one of the things that helped me avoid feeling overwhelmed ahead of the actual move day was making a checklist. [ 518 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/05/04/who-to-notify-when-you-move

Who to Notify When You Move For most people, moving to a new home is a hectic time. It usually involves a decent amount of planning, money, packing and depending on whether or not you hired movers, heavy lifting. When I moved…

Photo Credit: Giulio Gostoli Feel like your current home just isn't big enough? How about buying a village? Poggio Santa Cecilia was abandoned in the 1960s, with many inhabitants leaving furniture, curtains, kitchenware, and more behind when they fled. It's currently under private ownership, but has recently hit the market for $44.6 million, which includes a 75,000 square foot villa from the 18th century that would even make Michelangelo jealous! [ 163 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/for-sale-tuscan-village/

For Sale: Tuscan Village Photo Credit: Giulio Gostoli Feel like your current home just isn’t big enough? How about buying a village? Poggio Santa Cecilia was abandoned in the 1960s, with many inhabitants leaving furn…

Siding Repair: Winter weather can really do a number on your siding. Hail stones can dent or damage anything from aluminum to vinyl, while painted wood siding frequently needs to have sections replaced that have been subjected to moisture over the cold wet months. In most cases, repairing a section of siding can help your home maintain its curb appeal, while also helping to ensure that problems like rotting wood don’t spread, necessitating further repair. [ 934 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/04/20/spring-home-repairs-for-under-1000/

Spring Home Repairs for Under $1,000 Siding Repair: Winter weather can really do a number on your siding. Hail stones can dent or damage anything from aluminum to vinyl, while painted wood siding frequently needs to have sections repl…

Look at What We Just Sold in 4 Days:

Just because your moving doesn’t mean you can’t present a beautiful and clean home to buyers – it just takes some clever planning! Capture the Moment: One of the cheapest and simplest ways to show off a home at its best is by using media. If you know your are moving soon, take some pictures of the home in its lived-in state. [ 338 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/04/13/how-to-stage-a-home-while-moving/

How to Stage a Home While Moving Just because your moving doesn’t mean you can’t present a beautiful and clean home to buyers  – it just takes some clever planning!   Capture the Moment: One of the cheapest and simplest ways …

Warming temperatures, rainy days, sunny skies – these are just some of the signs that spring is here. While your lawn probably maintains its dingy brown winter look, soon, it will be blossoming with the rest of the flowers, shrubs and trees – but only if you provide the right care for it now. Set aside a few hours to maintain your lawn and you’ll be assured to have a bright green, thriving lawn that lasts through fall. [ 434 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/spring-lawn-care-tips/

Spring Lawn Care Tips Warming temperatures, rainy days, sunny skies – these are just some of the signs that spring is here. While your lawn probably maintains its dingy brown winter look, soon, it will be blossoming wit…

Easy Plumbing Repairs for Homeowners
https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/easy-plumbing-repairs-for-homeowners

Easy Plumbing Repairs for Homeowners Visit the post for more.

If you're planning to list your house, you'll want to make a good first impression on potential homebuyers. Here are a few steps to get your home show ready. Clean and Purge -- Start by ridding your space of excess clutter. Shoe piles in the mudroom and stacks of mail on the table have to go. Give your home a good cleaning and be sure to make extra room in closets, garages and other spaces so potential buyers will feel like there's plenty of storage in your home. [ 163 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/4-easy-steps-to-prepare-your-home-to-sell/

4 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Home to Sell If you’re planning to list your house, you’ll want to make a good first impression on potential homebuyers. Here are a few steps to get your home show ready. Clean and Purge — Sta…

One of the first and most important steps when listing your home for sale is to make it appealing to all potential buyers. Staging will help to downplay the house’s weaknesses, highlight its strengths, and catch the eye (and memory) of house hunters. Are you ready to list? Let’s set the stage for a successful sale! Rid the Home of Clutter… [ 543 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/secrets-to-successful-home-staging

Secrets to Successful Home Staging One of the first and most important steps when listing your home for sale is to make it appealing to all potential buyers. Staging will help to downplay the house’s weaknesses, highlight its streng…

Whether the flowers are in bloom or the snow is in flurry fury, it may be on your mind to put your house on the market. Perhaps the sell is necessary for a job relocation, or you need to upgrade size. The main thing to note is that there are pros and cons to selling in each season. Here’s a look at both sides of the coin when it comes to selling throughout the seasons. [ 465 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/selling-throughout-the-seasons

Selling Throughout the Seasons Whether the flowers are in bloom or the snow is in flurry fury, it may be on your mind to put your house on the market. Perhaps the sell is necessary for a job relocation, or you need to upgrade si…

Another great article from home inspector John Koch of Home Quest in Shelton, CT.

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/home-prices-remain-strong/

Home Prices Remain Strong Another great article from home inspector John Koch of Home Quest in Shelton, CT.

Power to the People
https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/power-to-the-people

Power to the People Visit the post for more.

It's easy to put off basic home maintenance. Sometimes it feels like there's so much of it, and it doesn't help that some tasks are done only once in a while so they're easy to overlook. Simplify your life by taking the time to compile a list of the most important jobs, and use it to keep your home maintained. You'll find that the effort will serve you, and your home, for years to come. [ 207 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/creating-a-home-maintenance-checklist

Creating a Home Maintenance Checklist It’s easy to put off basic home maintenance. Sometimes it feels like there’s so much of it, and it doesn’t help that some tasks are done only once in a while so they’re easy…

Have you noticed some pastels making their way back into home design stores, retail shops and boutiques? No, you haven’t time warped onto the set of a 1980’s John Hughes film. You’re just witnessing the influence of Pantone’s 2016 Color of the Year combo selection — Rose Quartz pink and Serenity blue. Opting to buck its one-color tradition, The Pantone Color Institute recently unveiled soft hues of both pink and blue that are meant to evoke tranquility and inner peace. [ 107 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/pantone-color-of-the-year

Pantone Color of the Year Have you noticed some pastels making their way back into home design stores, retail shops and boutiques? No, you haven’t time warped onto the set of a 1980’s John Hughes film. You’re just witnessin…

What would happen if you lost everything in a fire, tornado or another disaster? Homeowners insurance would likely cover your house, but without a comprehensive list of your belongings, you'd have to rely on memory to determine what else was damaged or destroyed. That's where an inventory of your home can help. Not only will it prevent you from forgetting important valuables, but it can also streamline the claim filing process. [ 227 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/02/26/creating-a-home-inventory

Creating a Home Inventory What would happen if you lost everything in a fire, tornado or another disaster? Homeowners insurance would likely cover your house, but without a comprehensive list of your belongings, you’d…

Throughout our everyday lives, we often find ourselves with a fairly organized home. The kitchen is in order. The beds stay made most of the time. Our living room remains inviting for drop-by visits. However, the family/playroom somehow stays the “Bermuda Triangle” of the house, confusing and messy enough to get lost in. Here are some ideas to keeping everyone happy! [ 465 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/an-organized-familyplayroom

An Organized Family/Playroom Throughout our everyday lives, we often find ourselves with a fairly organized home. The kitchen is in order. The beds stay made most of the time. Our living room remains inviting for drop-by visit...

Tax season is upon us and if you have a pending or recent home sale, you'll surely want to know: what income taxes will you have to pay on the profit you made on the sale of the home? The amount of taxes you'll be responsible for depends on the length of time you've spent in the home. If your family resided in the home for two of the last five years, single homeowners can earn $250,000 tax-free! [ 169 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/tax-season-what-to-expect-when-you-see-your-home

Tax Season: What to Expect When You See Your Home Tax season is upon us and if you have a pending or recent home sale, you'll surely want to know: what income taxes will you have to pay on the profit you made on the sale of the home? The amount of...

Snow-capped trees and ice-tipped shrubs may be pretty to look at it, but both can cause some not-so-pretty damage to plantings on your property. Here are some valuable insights from an expert that shouldn’t be overlooked. “Snow will cause the branches to separate,” explains Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). Such action can lead to bent, split or broken branches, or worse, fallen or uprooted trees. [ 289 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/02/13/how-does-snow-affect-my-landscaping

How Does Snow Affect My Landscaping? Snow-capped trees and ice-tipped shrubs may be pretty to look at it, but both can cause some not-so-pretty damage to plantings on your property. Here are some valuable insights from an expert that ...

The home of the future doesn't just live in science fiction anymore. You can own it today. Better yet, it doesn't require thousands of dollars or long construction times. Home automation is available and affordable thanks to wireless Internet and smartphones. If you want to make your home smarter and work for you, look at these easy fixes to some of the house's longest-standing issues. [ 510 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/smarter-living-how-to-automate-your-home

Smarter Living: How to Automate Your Home The home of the future doesn't just live in science fiction anymore. You can own it today. Better yet, it doesn't require thousands of dollars or long construction times. Home automation is availab...

Coldwell Banker is pleased to welcome 2016 as we look forward to an exciting year for the real estate industry. While there is no crystal ball to predict what the coming year holds, many factors that impact the real estate industry have been positive. Most agree that growth in the housing market is largely bolstered by the stability of the job market. [ 322 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/new-year-brings-new-enthusiasm/

New Year Brings New Enthusiasm! Coldwell Banker is pleased to welcome 2016 as we look forward to an exciting year for the real estate industry. While there is no crystal ball to predict what the coming year holds, many factors th...

The kitchen is the hub of the home. It’s where we gather to swap stories over a stove-top meal or gab near the gravy. What goes into a good kitchen, though? Which features, layouts, and touches make a kitchen more than just a room to cook in, but a place that is identifiable with our family as the gathering place? Here are some ways to make your kitchen loved by all its family. [ 466 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/five-kitchen-ideas-to-love

Five Kitchen Ideas to LOVE! The kitchen is the hub of the home. It’s where we gather to swap stories over a stove-top meal or gab near the gravy. What goes into a good kitchen, though? Which features, layouts, and touches mak...

Why do Radon Levels in the Home Tend to Fluctuate Seasonally? This was the question our clients asked us the other day; they had done some research after getting their radon test results and questioned the range of the results over the test period. If you do your own research you’ll discover there isn’t one answer to that question because a variety of factors must be considered. [ 299 more words. ]

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/january-is/

January is…   Why do Radon Levels in the Home Tend to Fluctuate Seasonally? This was the question our clients asked us the other day; they had done some research after getting their radon test results and...

This was an interesting post from John on wireless lights. If the thought of hiring an electrician to put in new lights was a set back, new wireless lights may be a great option for you! -Susie and Augie

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/motion-sensor-lights-go-wireless/

Motion Sensor Lights Go Wireless This was an interesting post from John on wireless lights. If the thought of hiring an electrician to put in new lights was a set back, new wireless lights may be a great option for you!  -Susie an...

Yes, there is a panda hidden in the picture! This charming little illustration by Gergely Dudás is sweeping social media as millions of people share the Hungarian artist's original Facebook post. So now it's your turn. Can you spot the adorable panda in this crowd of cheerful snowmen? And no, we will not give you a hint! (That would be cheating.) Have fun!

https://augieandsusie.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/did-you-find-the-panda/

Did You Find the Panda? Yes, there is a panda hidden in the picture! This charming little illustration by Gergely Dudás is sweeping social media as millions of people share the Hungarian artist's original Facebook post. S...