Have smelly or slow-draining sinks in your house? There are a few simple things you can do to clear out your drains, and you might not even have to resort to nasty chemicals. Try to run hot water through drains frequently to kill nasty odors and keep it clear. If you get the start of a clog, treat it quickly with one of these methods before it gets out of hand. For kitchen drains, pouring a strong brine (salt water) solution down the drain every so often will help kill odors and keep it free of grease. Naturally clear sinks by pouring baking soda down the drain, followed by a quarter cup of vinegar... [more...]

How did Americans fare at becoming greener last year? Here’s some stats. Percentage of Americans who: Installed more energy-efficient light bulbs: 63 percent Purchased energy-efficient appliances: 36 percent Started paying bills online: 46 percent Switched to paperless financial statements: 40 percent Donated an electronic device for recycling: 41 percent Switched from bottle to tap water: 29 percent Installed a low-flow showerhead: 17 percent Installed a low-flow toilet: 16 percent Made home improvements (e.g., windows, solar panels or insulation) that provided government tax credits: 14... [more...]

Home remodeling is still worth the investment, according to the 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report. According to the data in the report, various types of siding and window replacements and expansions of living spaces round out the list of the top ten ways to get the greatest return on investment for a remodel. And many of the projects that are receiving top returns are mid range and modest cost projects. So don’t let a slow economy prevent you from making an upgrade to your home. Keep it mid-range to see the best return. The best thing to do? Do the upgrades as you can and as you want to. It’s... [more...]

So, you’ve made your home purchase — now what? In talking with my CPA Mark Conrad, I asked about how exactly first-time buyers file for their 8,000 tax credit. He explained it in very simple detail: “Federal Form #5405 is the only form that needs to be filed with the tax return. It is a half page long. It is very simple to fill out. The information needed to fill out form is as follows: 1) Address of home 2) Date Acquired 3) Purchase price of home 4) What your adjusted gross income is (on the 2008 return it was line 38 on form 1040)” After calculating the credit –... [more...]

What gives me the most bang for my buck? An update to our information about the Energy Tax Credit and how you can put it to work for you. I asked my CPA, Mark Conrad of Knoll and Associates what you need to file the Energy Tax Credit. He shared this list of tips: There is a credit available of 30% of the cost of qualified purchases up to $1,500 for the years 2009 and 2010. $1,500 is the maximum amount that can be claimed for all products place in service in 2009 and 2010. To claim the credit, FORM 5695 is filed with your tax return. The manufacturer supplies the purchaser with a SIGNED CERTIFICATION... [more...]

Today the Home Builders Association released the list of winners of this year’s Homearama. Drees took home the most honors, with 11 awards. These awards are voted on by an independent panel of judges from around the region. Visit our Homearama page for details about the show. There’s still time to check out the show! Event ends Sunday. Favorite Home 1st Place: Drees Homes 2nd Place: High Pointe Custom Homes/Summit Custom Homebuilders Favorite Landscaping 1st Place: Grand Estates by Fischer Homes Gayle A. Frazer and Associates & Bob Meyer Landscape Service 2nd Place: Drees Homes Landscaping... [more...]

Whether you have your home on the market, or just want to keep it looking great all through the fall, you may need some expert advice. REALTOR Magazine recently interviewed lawn expert Trey Rogers, and here are six tips for lawn upkeep. For northern states (like Ohio), fall is the best time to fertilize a lawn. (Late fall fertilization should occur for our area in October or November.) Rogers recommends a complete nitrogen and potassium combination fertilizer, but you can ask your fertilizer vendor what they recommend for your type of lawn. Fall is also the best time to reseed grass. If you have... [more...]

Watch the Virtual Tour This home is built by both High Pointe Custom Homes and Summit Custom Homebuilders. It’s hard to hold back on my description of this home because, incase you can’t tell from my review, it’s my favorite! #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } I... [more...]

Watch the Virtual Tour Built by John Henry Homes, Inc., this home is the most contemporary inside and out. Clean lines and sharp detail make this home stand out from the others. The contemporary flair is noticeable as soon as you walk through the front door, and the clean, contemporary style is continued throughout. This is one of the few homes with site-finished hardwood flooring, which makes a big impact on the overall feel of the home. The kitchen is a great workspace, spacious, with a huge island in the center and plenty of natural light. This house has the most fun kids rooms of the tour,... [more...]

Watch the Virtual Tour The Broadmore, built by Drees Homes, is designed to bring back that English Tudor feel with its exterior: stone work, lattice windows, stucco and trim. It’s a lot to take in! The mums outside are spectacular, with their vibrant colors. This home has a wonderful office/guest bedroom on the first floor that includes it’s own “almost” kitchen/mini bar. This home is the only one to feature a fully equipped laundry room on the second floor, conveniently located near bedrooms. It also features fancy faucets in the bathrooms as another detail. The... [more...]

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