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Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Things to Look for when Buying a House
If you're thinking about buying a new (or old!) home, this list of the "Top Things to Look for When Buying a Home" can help to get your search off to the right start. While the number of rooms, condition of the kitchen, and size of the yard are important, there are other things to consider before you make an offer.
1) Location, Location, Location
They say that the 3 most important things to think about when buying are home are location, location, location. You can live with almost any imperfection in a home if you love the neighborhood and your neighbors. You can change almost everything else. But, once bought, you cannot change your home's location. When you go house hunting, consider any potential home's proximity to your work, the charm of the neighborhood, how the home is situated on the lot, ease of access, noise from neighbors, traffic, or pets, and access to parks, shopping, schools, and public transportation.
2) Situation Factors
Beyond location, look at the particular site of the home. If the home is on a hill does it have a view, a walkout basement, or lots of stairs to climb? Do neighbors' windows look directly into the home? Is the yard suitable for kids, pets, gardening, or other uses? Is access to the property safe regarding driveway elevation, stairs up to (or down to) the front door?
3) Check Out the Neighborhood
Be sure the neighborhood, and not just the house, meets your expectations. They say that you should own the smallest home in the nicest neighborhood that you can afford. You'll have a great view! Drive around on week days and weekends, during the day and in the evening. Are homes in the neighborhood consistent in size and features? Do the neighbors keep the yards clean and tidy or are there old cars and trash around? Is the neighborhood safe enough for people to walk, run, or bike and are there children playing in the yards?
4) Consider a Home's Curb Appeal
Your home should reflect your lifestyle. Do you live a laid-back life? Then you might not want a formal Victorian or Tudor style home. Something simpler and more contemporary might be in order. Look at the exterior features. A brick home is easier to maintain, unless you live in an earthquake-prone area! Is the roof in good condition? Is the landscaping attractive and are the sidewalks leading to the home safe?
5) Size and Floor Plan
You may be thinking about buying your dream home. But is your dream home impractical? Do you really need 4 bedrooms and 4 baths when you live alone? A large home can give you the extra space you've always wanted for a home office or crafts or art projects. But you'll pay higher heating bills and have higher taxes. It will take more furniture to furnish and money to decorate. Think about how the new home space will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future.
6) Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you really need, and only look at homes that meet your criteria. It would be a shame to fall in love with a cozy, charming cottage that just isn't big enough. An extra bedroom is always a plus, as it can be used for a home office, craft studio, or guest room. If you think you'll be adding more room later, be sure to consult an architect who can advise you on space planning, lot usage and city regulations.
7) The Kitchen
If the kitchen is the heart of your home, don't settle for a home with a kitchen that just won't work. You can always remodel, but it's very costly. Can you just replace cabinet faces and countertops? Will an inexpensive makeover be sufficient? Don't worry about appliances, as they can usually be easily replaced.
8) Closets and Storage
Older homes tend to have little closets and not a lot of storage space. If you have lots of sports equipment, craft supplies, out-of-season clothes, and holiday decorations, be sure you know where it will go in your new home. Newer homes tend to have big closets and lots of storage. You can always add storage space, but you might have to sacrifice living space in your rooms.
9) Windows and Lighting
Do you love a bright sunny room or do you love privacy? Look at a home with light and sunshine in mind. Look at the locations of electrical outlets and fixtures. Will they accommodate your lighting needs? Is there recessed lighting in the kitchen, cove lighting in the family room and a lovely chandelier in the dining room? If not, you can add them later, but it's nice to have it in place when you move in.
10) Finishing Touches
Sometimes the simplest home looks spectacular because of the installation of moldings, hardware and a fireplace. If these elements are important to you, look for them while house hunting or be ready to add them after you move in.
If you keep these specific elements of a home in mind, your house hunting will be more successful, and you'll likely end up with the home of your dreams -- for now, that is!
(Article from http://www.about.com/)
1) Location, Location, Location
They say that the 3 most important things to think about when buying are home are location, location, location. You can live with almost any imperfection in a home if you love the neighborhood and your neighbors. You can change almost everything else. But, once bought, you cannot change your home's location. When you go house hunting, consider any potential home's proximity to your work, the charm of the neighborhood, how the home is situated on the lot, ease of access, noise from neighbors, traffic, or pets, and access to parks, shopping, schools, and public transportation.
2) Situation Factors
Beyond location, look at the particular site of the home. If the home is on a hill does it have a view, a walkout basement, or lots of stairs to climb? Do neighbors' windows look directly into the home? Is the yard suitable for kids, pets, gardening, or other uses? Is access to the property safe regarding driveway elevation, stairs up to (or down to) the front door?
3) Check Out the Neighborhood
Be sure the neighborhood, and not just the house, meets your expectations. They say that you should own the smallest home in the nicest neighborhood that you can afford. You'll have a great view! Drive around on week days and weekends, during the day and in the evening. Are homes in the neighborhood consistent in size and features? Do the neighbors keep the yards clean and tidy or are there old cars and trash around? Is the neighborhood safe enough for people to walk, run, or bike and are there children playing in the yards?
4) Consider a Home's Curb Appeal
Your home should reflect your lifestyle. Do you live a laid-back life? Then you might not want a formal Victorian or Tudor style home. Something simpler and more contemporary might be in order. Look at the exterior features. A brick home is easier to maintain, unless you live in an earthquake-prone area! Is the roof in good condition? Is the landscaping attractive and are the sidewalks leading to the home safe?
5) Size and Floor Plan
You may be thinking about buying your dream home. But is your dream home impractical? Do you really need 4 bedrooms and 4 baths when you live alone? A large home can give you the extra space you've always wanted for a home office or crafts or art projects. But you'll pay higher heating bills and have higher taxes. It will take more furniture to furnish and money to decorate. Think about how the new home space will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future.
6) Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you really need, and only look at homes that meet your criteria. It would be a shame to fall in love with a cozy, charming cottage that just isn't big enough. An extra bedroom is always a plus, as it can be used for a home office, craft studio, or guest room. If you think you'll be adding more room later, be sure to consult an architect who can advise you on space planning, lot usage and city regulations.
7) The Kitchen
If the kitchen is the heart of your home, don't settle for a home with a kitchen that just won't work. You can always remodel, but it's very costly. Can you just replace cabinet faces and countertops? Will an inexpensive makeover be sufficient? Don't worry about appliances, as they can usually be easily replaced.
8) Closets and Storage
Older homes tend to have little closets and not a lot of storage space. If you have lots of sports equipment, craft supplies, out-of-season clothes, and holiday decorations, be sure you know where it will go in your new home. Newer homes tend to have big closets and lots of storage. You can always add storage space, but you might have to sacrifice living space in your rooms.
9) Windows and Lighting
Do you love a bright sunny room or do you love privacy? Look at a home with light and sunshine in mind. Look at the locations of electrical outlets and fixtures. Will they accommodate your lighting needs? Is there recessed lighting in the kitchen, cove lighting in the family room and a lovely chandelier in the dining room? If not, you can add them later, but it's nice to have it in place when you move in.
10) Finishing Touches
Sometimes the simplest home looks spectacular because of the installation of moldings, hardware and a fireplace. If these elements are important to you, look for them while house hunting or be ready to add them after you move in.
If you keep these specific elements of a home in mind, your house hunting will be more successful, and you'll likely end up with the home of your dreams -- for now, that is!
(Article from http://www.about.com/)
Bill Gates Buys Historic Wyoming Ranch
Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, has reportedly purchased Irma Lake Lodge, a famous Wyoming ranch once owned by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who may have been one of the earliest successful entrepreneurs. After serving in the U.S. Army, Cody was hired to hunt bison and scout Indians and then he started his famous “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” show where Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull performed among other notable characters of the Old West.Cody established Irma Lake Lodge as his own personal hunting retreat. It is a 492-acre property named after Cody’s youngest daughter, Irma, and is located about 20 miles outside of Cody, WY. The lodge is virtually secluded and surrounded by wilderness and forest lands since it sits next to Shoshone National Forest and nearby Washakie Wilderness. It is approximately 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park.
The final purchase price is unknown at this time, although it was originally listed at $12 million several years ago and has received several price cuts — coming all the way down to a listing price of $8.9 million before Gates bought the ranch.
Only two people have owned the ranch since Cody: the William R. Coe family, who purchased it from Cody in 1911 and owned it for 75 years, and then Minnesota’s Roger Hollander. And now, another famous Bill takes over.
(Article by Diane Tuman from www.zillow.com)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Best Mini Golf Holes in Madison
What are the best mini golf holes in Madison? Here's a hole-by-hole breakdown of the best 18 holes in the area, as played by Capital Times sportswriter Rob Schultz and prep golfers Tim McCormick and Brad O'Loughlin in a single, 90-plus-degrees day last week. Their scores are included.
1) Little Amerricka - 7th hole
1) Little Amerricka - 7th hole
It requires the initial putt to travel up a ramp into one of three holes. Balls that travel down the center or left-side holes come out of a chute toward the final hole. Balls that travel down the chute under the right-side hole come out in a maze on the opposite side of the final hole.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 3.
2) Little Amerricka - 11th hole
We had to hit our putts uphill to a house. Our balls popped out to the left of the house to one of two circular areas. A lane formed between the circles that led to the hole.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 3.
3) Bogey's - 2nd hole
It's a baseball stadium completed in the colors of the Milwaukee Brewers. The initial putt has to traverse through four baseball bats to the hole. I made the day's first hole-in-one here.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 1.
4) Bogey's - 6th hole
It's a hockey theme and we had to putt our balls between two hockey sticks to an elevated hole sandwiched between four pucks. I made another hole-in-one.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 1.
5) Bogey's - 7th hole
Bowling theme. The fairway traversed between simulated gutters and bowling pins were located in front of, and on each side of, the hole. McCormick sent his putt up one gutter, banked it off the bricks and off a pin to the hole for his first ace of the day.
TM 1, BO 2, RS 2.
6) Long Shot - 2nd hole
The initial shot requires the putt to travel past bumper pool bumpers. All of us hit a bumper and struggled.
TM 3, BO 4, RS 3.
7) Swissland - 2nd hole
There are three chutes you must send your ball through that go in different directions. The center one sends the ball closest to the hole.
TM 4, BO 4, RS 3.
8) Swissland - 6th hole
Dogleg left with four jagged boulders that get in the way of putts.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 4.
9) Swissland - 10th hole
Swiss cheese theme. We had to putt through one of the holes in the cheese, which has a chute that sends the ball toward the hole.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 4.
10) Swissland - 12th hole
Putts must traverse three hills with real sand traps guarding the right side. Very long hole.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
11) Vitense's "Wisconsin Course" - 5th hole
"Camp Bucky" is complete with a UW theme. It's a major complex where your initial shot must find a hole in a log that sends it down a long chute toward the hole.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 2.
12) Vitense's "Wisconsin Course" - 7th hole
"Vitense Park" includes a start at the highest point on the course. The initial putt must find a hole just four feet from the start. It feeds down a chute and comes out 15 feet below toward the finishing hole. Slides galore for kids on this hole.
TM 4, BO 4, RS 2.
13) Vitense's "Wisconsin Course" - 14th hole
"Golf Ball Fishing" has a windmill on it. A must for the top 18.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
14) Vitense's "California Course" - 2nd hole
"Wishing You Well" finishes behind where you start. A putt must fall into a wishing well that spirals the ball down a chute and sends it out toward the hole.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 3.
15) Vitense's "California Course" - 12th hole
"Misty Beach" has three fairways, logs and a whale in the water next to it. It also has a mister to cool off golfers on hot days.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 4.
16) Vitense's "Madison Course" - 4th hole
"Governor's Mansion" requires a putt to travel under and through one corner of the mansion and then around flower beds and water to reach the hole.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
17) Vitense's "Madison Course" - 8th hole
"Monona Terrace" is one of two glow-in-the-dark holes. This one is short and looks simple, but it's easy to mess up and make a big number. O'Loughlin made a 6 here and it cost him a chance to win the match.
TM 2, BO 6, RS 3.
18) Vitense's "Madison Course" - 16th hole
TM 3, BO 3, RS 3.
2) Little Amerricka - 11th hole
We had to hit our putts uphill to a house. Our balls popped out to the left of the house to one of two circular areas. A lane formed between the circles that led to the hole.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 3.
3) Bogey's - 2nd hole
It's a baseball stadium completed in the colors of the Milwaukee Brewers. The initial putt has to traverse through four baseball bats to the hole. I made the day's first hole-in-one here.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 1.
4) Bogey's - 6th hole
It's a hockey theme and we had to putt our balls between two hockey sticks to an elevated hole sandwiched between four pucks. I made another hole-in-one.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 1.
5) Bogey's - 7th hole
Bowling theme. The fairway traversed between simulated gutters and bowling pins were located in front of, and on each side of, the hole. McCormick sent his putt up one gutter, banked it off the bricks and off a pin to the hole for his first ace of the day.
TM 1, BO 2, RS 2.
6) Long Shot - 2nd hole
The initial shot requires the putt to travel past bumper pool bumpers. All of us hit a bumper and struggled.
TM 3, BO 4, RS 3.
7) Swissland - 2nd hole
There are three chutes you must send your ball through that go in different directions. The center one sends the ball closest to the hole.
TM 4, BO 4, RS 3.
8) Swissland - 6th hole
Dogleg left with four jagged boulders that get in the way of putts.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 4.
9) Swissland - 10th hole
Swiss cheese theme. We had to putt through one of the holes in the cheese, which has a chute that sends the ball toward the hole.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 4.
10) Swissland - 12th hole
Putts must traverse three hills with real sand traps guarding the right side. Very long hole.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
11) Vitense's "Wisconsin Course" - 5th hole
"Camp Bucky" is complete with a UW theme. It's a major complex where your initial shot must find a hole in a log that sends it down a long chute toward the hole.
TM 2, BO 3, RS 2.
12) Vitense's "Wisconsin Course" - 7th hole
"Vitense Park" includes a start at the highest point on the course. The initial putt must find a hole just four feet from the start. It feeds down a chute and comes out 15 feet below toward the finishing hole. Slides galore for kids on this hole.
TM 4, BO 4, RS 2.
13) Vitense's "Wisconsin Course" - 14th hole
"Golf Ball Fishing" has a windmill on it. A must for the top 18.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
14) Vitense's "California Course" - 2nd hole
"Wishing You Well" finishes behind where you start. A putt must fall into a wishing well that spirals the ball down a chute and sends it out toward the hole.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 3.
15) Vitense's "California Course" - 12th hole
"Misty Beach" has three fairways, logs and a whale in the water next to it. It also has a mister to cool off golfers on hot days.
TM 3, BO 3, RS 4.
16) Vitense's "Madison Course" - 4th hole
"Governor's Mansion" requires a putt to travel under and through one corner of the mansion and then around flower beds and water to reach the hole.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
17) Vitense's "Madison Course" - 8th hole
"Monona Terrace" is one of two glow-in-the-dark holes. This one is short and looks simple, but it's easy to mess up and make a big number. O'Loughlin made a 6 here and it cost him a chance to win the match.
TM 2, BO 6, RS 3.
18) Vitense's "Madison Course" - 16th hole
"Field House and Camp Randall" forces the player to either send a putt around a skinny ramp that ships the ball toward the hole or under the Field House and over Camp Randall's football field toward the hole.
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
Final scorecard--McCormick won with a 49, followed by Schultz (50) and O'Loughlin (54).
TM 3, BO 2, RS 3.
Final scorecard--McCormick won with a 49, followed by Schultz (50) and O'Loughlin (54).
(Information from http://www.77square.com/, photo by dcmarch, flickr)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Realtor Reality TV starring Sarah Bandy
Sweeeeeet! We love this book too!
Fedua "Sarah" Bandy, a Realtor in Colts Neck, N.J., has launched an online video series to promote her goal of $1 million in net revenue from sales commissions in one year.
Borrowing ideas from the pages of "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent," a book by Keller Williams founder Gary Keller, Bandy plans to send out 16,000 direct-mail pieces per month to a list of people selected from a particular geography and demography.
According to Keller's research, marketing to 50 people 12 times per year will result in at least one sale. Her Web site names a few sponsors for her mission, including HomeGain, a lead-generation company, and Real Estate Tomato, a technology and consulting company.
(Article from InMan.com)
Our Latest Design
A sneak peek at our Client Appreciation event Save the Date postcard. Go Mallards!
9406 Lost Meadow Rd. - FOR SALE!
Absolutely breathtaking, and better than new! This stunning four bedroom home in popular Sauk Heights is the one you’ve been waiting for! Walk into a soaring two story foyer with hickory hardwood floors, beautiful kitchen with solid surface counters, stainless appliances, and beautiful stone surround fireplace. The huge master suite is accented with tray ceilings and has a spa-like master bath with a jetted soaking tub and separate shower. Huge bedrooms, professional landscaping... too much to list!
Currently listed at $349,900.
For more information or to set up a showing, call Nicole at (608) 513-0021
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