Stephen Begab-Real Estate Agent

What do you need to know about foundations? Take a few minutes to study up before you build.

What Type of Foundation is Best for Your New Home? The foundation of your home is arguably its most important structural component, since every part of the home depends on it remaining firm and level. Different foundations are available and each is made for certain types of soil and other environmental conditions. Let’s look at the four categories...

In 1882, labor unions organized a parade to promote workers rights, which led to the beginning of the Labor Day holiday. Today, which profession has the largest number of unionized members?

Labor Day: Celebrating the American Worker The National Education Association, the union for teachers and school administrators, is the largest union with more than three million members. In 1894 President Grover Cleveland signed the law making the first Monday of September the federally recognized holiday known as Labor Day.

Changing your air filters is easy -- once you know the best filters to buy. Save yourself some time and trouble with this cheat sheet of types and prices.

The 411 on Home Heating and Air Conditioning Filters Homeowners expect their houses to be warm in winter and cool in summer, but don’t take those comfortable temperatures for granted. Regularly changing the air filters is an essential task. HVAC systems move air in a continuous loop through the house. An intake vent uses a fan to pull air from the r...

From deck to screen-in porch, here’s what it takes to make your outdoor living dreams come true.

Should You Screen In Your Deck? A deck can be a little slice of paradise…except for the scorching sun by day and the insects by night. So why not turn that deck into a screened-in porch? Here’s an outline of what it takes. Get proposals. Using online and personal referrals, ask three contractors for proposals and quotes. Make ...

8 factors to consider when choosing between new construction and an existing home.

Buying New or Used: What’s Your Home Preference? The hunt for a new home most often begins with the answer to one simple question. Do I want to purchase an existing home or new construction? Retro and quirky versus a blank slate? Consider these eight trade-offs before making your decision. Purchase price. Statistics show that buying a new house ma...

Sellers may take for granted the important role that key lockboxes play in marketing their homes. Here’s how they benefit and work for you.

Lockboxes: A Key to Selling Your House You’ve seen them as you pass houses for sale: lockboxes hanging from the front door handle or porch railing. A key inside the box enables real estate agents to get into the house to show it. You might be surprised how important a role lockboxes can play in selling your house. Here’s how.

You regularly pay for homeowners insurance and wonder if you’ll ever even need it. Find out how to lower your rates while still maintaining good coverage.

Homeowners Insurance: Risks Versus Costs You never want to skimp on homeowners insurance, but there are ways to save money on those premiums without putting you or your home at risk. Here’s a handy guide to getting excellent coverage at a reasonable price. Your credit score. In most states insurance companies use customer credit scores a...

Is a slipcover a design slip-up or a style save? Find out more in this comprehensive guide.

Slipcovers 101: The Great Coverup Whether you crave washability, desire a new look for every season, or just want to make the best of a flea market find -- slipcovers have got you covered. With a little research and effort, you’ll find a slipcover to fit your furniture piece, along with your style and budget. When to use a slipcov...

Neighborhood tennis courts and swimming pools: a benefit or a drawback?

Pros and Cons of Swim and Tennis Communities When you’re shopping for a new home, many planned developments offer tempting neighborhood amenities such as swimming pools and tennis courts. But before you dive in, read about the pros and cons. Pros. Living in a neighborhood with tennis courts and a swimming pool provides easy access to leisure...

Does the outside of your home say “Look at me” or does it say “Look Elsewhere?”

First Impressions Matter You never get a second chance to make a good first impression, and that holds true for your house as well. So, when prepping your home to sell, don’t forget to spruce up the exterior and the surrounding yard.

You pay your utility bills every month, but do you understand what they say?

Check the Fine Print on Utility Bills The next time the monthly utility bills arrive, resist the urge to blindly write a check or schedule a payment. Take the time for a more in-depth examination. You just might find a way to trim the bill. Understanding your electric bill. Using a fixed rate, the power company charges a set rate of x [...

Wall coverings and flooring are key to remodeling success. How to choose the right materials, colors and designs.

‘Wall-to-Wall’ Coverage of a Bathroom Makeover In a bathroom remodel, selecting the right material for the walls is essential. It has to be tough enough to handle the moisture but handsome enough to please the eye. Painted walls. Use a less-porous paint such as a semi-gloss or gloss. Be sure to ask for paint with anti-fungal additives to deter m...

Looking for a quick and easy fix to your credit report? Sorry, but there is none. Try these 10 tips to repair bad credit.

10 Ways to Help Repair Your Credit History Do you have bad credit? While legitimate credit repair services can help improve your credit scores, you can do the work yourself and save money. Here’s how. Pull your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. It’s free. Each credit reporting agency, Experian, Equifax and Transunion, will hav...

How do you best prep your home for a looming open house? Take advantage of these 10 tips.

Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Scheduling an Open House Take the guesswork out of getting your home ready with this checklist of the top 10 questions to ask before scheduling an open house.

Don’t be caught off guard when the “taxman cometh.” Here are the facts on how your property taxes are determined.

What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Property Tax Assessments If you own your own home, your property tax assessment is responsible for one of the biggest ticket items in your annual budget -- your property tax bill, which pays for local services such as new schools, parks, police and fire protection. Here’s what you need to know. What is a property tax asse...

Want to transform your yard into a shady oasis of beauty? Seven things to consider before you turn the first shovel of dirt.

Choosing the Right Trees for Your Landscape Selecting trees to landscape your home can be a difficult task. Buy them too small and your yard looks skimpy. Buy them too large and you may end up living in a jungle of overgrowth. Here’s an overview of what to consider when selecting and planting trees. Choose for your soil and climate. Consult...

Does your new home need just a little something extra? Check out these ideas for tricking out your house with trim.

Add Some Zip to Your Home With Custom Trims Giving your home a welcoming custom feel is all in the architectural details. If your house is a bit blah, the solution may be as simple as adding trim. Moldings and trims on your ceilings, walls, doors, and windows add character and value to your home. Check out these five trim options to upgrade a...

The real estate marketing wave of the future is already here. Check out these tips on promoting your eco-friendly home.

Green Homes Growing in Popularity Eco-friendly homes are a growing segment of today’s real estate market. Tap into that environmentally conscious mindset with these tips for both buyers and sellers. Green agents. In most markets across the country, agents are earning a “green” designation from the National Association of REALT...

Looking for the perfect place to retire? If you don’t plan well for taxes, your hard earned money may not go too far. Watch out for these tax “gotchas.”

Avoiding Tax Traps in Retirement When preparing for retirement — especially if contemplating a move to another state — it’s crucial to research the tax implications. Make sure your search is comprehensive, including state and local taxes on income, property, and consumer sales purchases, because different states take differen...

If your collection of photos is threatening to take over your home or your hard drive, here are four easy ways to start enjoying your memories.

4 Ways to Organize Your Photos Photographs are an amazing way to save and display our memories, and with digital technology it’s easier and less expensive than ever to capture every moment. The trouble is, more often than not, we end up with thousands of files instead of a collection. How do you manage your images so you can ac...

There’s no rush when buying a home near water. Family safety, potential flooding and maintenance are key issues to explore.

A Pond on the Property? Be Prepared With Questions If you’re in the market for a house with a pond, you’ve got a lot of homework to do before making an offer to purchase. Government regulations, potential flooding, safety issues and added costs are among the concerns that need to be addressed by a prospective buyer. Safety first. Living near a p...

Paint is not one-size-fits-all. Here’s a primer on how to choose the best paint for staging your home.

Brush Up on How to Pick the Best Paint For Your Project How do you go about picking the best paint for your home project? Choosing the right color is a good first step but the type of paint you use and the sheen are also crucial to a successful project. Let’s get started. Latex paints are a water-based, consumer-friendly option. They are easy to apply ...

Don’t invite criminals into your home with an unsecured wifi network. Here’s what every homeowner needs to know to stay cyber safe.

Five Steps to Secure Your Home Wifi Network Protecting your home wifi network is a must for every homeowner. Guard your personal and financial information with these five easy steps.

From wire hangers on a rod to a lighted and mirrored space reminiscent of a dressing room, check out these closet upgrades for the budget-minded.

The Key to Closet Design and Organization Regardless of space or budget, you can turn your closet into something special. All it takes is organization and a little attention to detail. Closet systems. Custom closet organizers are trained to make closets look luxurious, but their talent comes at a price. The good news is you can achieve simi...

When shopping for a house, hire a pro. Here’s 7 reasons why you’ll be glad you did.

7 Reasons Why Using a Real Estate Agent Makes Shopping Easier Whether buying a new house or an existing one, buyers typically feel more at ease having a real estate agent working on their behalf. It’s their job to make things go smoothly. Here’s how. Knowledge of builders. Real estate agents don’t just work with resale homes. Agents know the builders in ...

Getting down to business. Whether you’re staying put or putting your house on the market, a great home office is a good investment.

Your Best Home: Home Office Edition Offices have become a staple in many homes and top many prospective buyers’ wish lists, too. But with all the paper, the equipment, and the office supplies, it can feel like mission impossible to keep it all looking great. Regardless of whether you’re staging for sale or just trying to maintain ...

Don’t let your home be burglarized while you’re on vacation. Here are eight essential ways to keep your house safe and secure.

Eight Ways to Protect Your Home While on Vacation Nothing could sour your vacation memories like arriving home to find your house burglarized. Here are eight easy steps to ward off the bad guys. Make neighbors aware and vigilant. This is where it pays to have established relationships with your neighbors. Knowing that you will be away helps neighbo...

Have ceiling fans become a design fossil? Not so fast! These models will make your head spin with possibilities.

Let’s Go Shopping for a Ceiling Fan If you watch any of the TV design shows, the ceiling fans seem to be ignored in makeovers. By omission, you could easily get the impression they have become a design faux pas. The fan industry sees things otherwise and has some sleek designs hitting the market. Fan makeover. Forget the brass trim an...

Here's everything you need to know about buying a house with a septic tank system.

What Prospective Home Buyers Need to Know About Septic Systems Don’t let a home’s septic system talk you out of making an offer. But it is important to proceed with caution and make certain all your questions are answered before signing a contract to purchase. Septic systems are commonplace. On average, nearly a quarter of the population relies on a septic ...

Moving Day doesn’t have to be panic day. Take the tension out of your move with these handy tips.

Five Tips for a Stress-Free Move Whether you’re moving across the country or across the neighborhood, the process can be stressful. Make things easier on yourself by employing these tips. Organization is key. Create a moving kit containing everything needed to make your move easier. Markers for labeling boxes, packing tape, movin...