I Want to Own, Not Mow

If you want to own your own place, but not have to deal with all the maintenance of homeownership, a condominium may be right for you.

What is a condo? A condo is a form of home ownership where individual units are owned, not rented. You will own everything from your walls inward. Each unit owner has a shared right to all the common areas, such as pools, clubhouses, gazebos, and grounds. The maintenance of each common area is the responsibility of the condo association, so no more shoveling snow or mowing lawns for you.

Buying a condo is an excellent choice for those who have busy lifestyles, those looking for more affordable home ownership, those who cannot perform home maintenance duties on their own, or those who do not wish to perform home maintenance duties on their own.

A condo may be the right choice for you if:

1. You hate weeding, painting, and mowing the lawn.
2. You are looking to invest in homeownership and enjoy the company of neighbors.
3. You travel frequently.
4. You want amenities with your home purchase, but cannot afford them.
5. You want to live in a convenient location close to employment and shopping.
6. You are seeking an affordable home ownership option.
7. You enjoy the safety of a close community.
8. Your physical condition limits your ability to perform snow shoveling and other yard work.

Although condo ownership may not be right for everyone, it is an affordable choice with many benefits to compliment your lifestyle. Check out my Greendale, Wisconsin Condo Listing.

When do you need help with home repairs?

When your home is in need of repairs, it may be time to call for help. How do you know when you need help?

First, you need to honestly access your skills. You may not be able to remodel your own kitchen if you cannot complete a basic chair assembly. When it comes to your home, you need have to the completed, but you also need to have the job completed correctly. It would be a terrible waste of your time and money to get in over your head and end up having to call someone to fix what you have started than to just have it done correctly and professionally the first time around.

Also consider whether you will have the time to complete the entire project. You do not want to end up stuck without a bathroom for a month because you do not have the time to complete the project in an efficient time frame. Your neighbors like you, but not that much.

How do you find the right professional? It's not as easy as it seems. It will require some digging to find someone you can trust.

If you have a large remodeling project at hand, you will need to contact a general contractor. If you have a smaller task at hand, such as painting, repair work, etc., you will need to call a handyman.

A general contractor will complete your large scale project by hiring all skilled tradesman necessary to complete the job, obtaining all required permits, purchasing all the materials your job requires, and covering all details from start to finish. The homeowner will usually sign a contract with a general contractor and he or she will be your main point of contact throughout your project's process..

A handyman is for small jobs you have requiring maintenance around the house. A handyman will fix your broken fence, fix a broken door, replace a broken window, etc.

Some good ways to find a trusted contractor are to ask for recommendations from friends and family. You can also make phone calls and hold personal interviews with prospected contractors and be sure to ask for references. Another great way to feel at ease is to know that your contractor is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Make sure your contractor is also licensed to do business and insured. This should relieve you of any future stress in case of an accident and help with your decision process.

The second step is to make sure you hire someone easy-going and who you can work with. The cheapest bid is not always the best person for the job. They may not have the qualifications to perform the necessary work you need accurately.

Before you dive into that next big project on your own, access your skill level and time constraints. If you feel you need to hire a contractor, do your homework and make sure you hire the right person for the right job.

Ted Polczynski, Vice-President of Ideal Homes, provides custom new home builds, remodels, and handyman services to Southeastern Wisconsin.

Preparing Your Home to Sell

Home Exterior

The outside of your home is the first thing a buyer will notice. Curb appeal is essential.

• Keep the lawn mowed and shrubs trimmed.
• Removing dead tree limbs and other yard debris.
• Plant fresh shrubs or flowers.
• Hide lawn equipment from the outdoors and arrange patio furniture, etc. neatly.
• Wash and touch up and siding, trim, or doors that are dirty or have paint peeling. It is especially important that your front door looks fantastic.
• Repair and/or paint your fence, if needed.
• Repair and/or replace any loose shingles or flashing on your roof.
• Clean your windows and screens. Repair any broken windows or screens.
• Clean out your downspouts and gutters.
• Keep your driveway and sidewalks clean and free of dirt.
• Make sure your shed and garage are neatly organized.
• Making sure all light fixtures, doorbell, garage door opener and other electrics work.
• Stain your deck, if needed.
• Pull any weeds in flowerbeds, sidewalk cracks, and driveway.

Home Interior

Make every room look as open and sunlit as possible.

• Wash walls, ceiling and trim.
• Repair any loose trim around doorways and floors.
• Make sure all doorknobs are tight as well as cabinet pulls.
• Paint anywhere needed, keeping colors light and warm.
• Repair any cracks or holes in walls and paint.
• Fix any doors and windows that do not work properly.
• Clean caulk around tubs and sinks. Make any repairs that are needed.
• Fix any leaky faucets and clean off any rust stains or calcium deposits.
• Neatly organize your attic and basement.
• Neatly organize closets so they seem spacious.
• Remove clutter from your kitchen countertops enhancing counter space.
• Clean your blinds and curtains so they are clean and bright.
• Shampoo any carpets that are dirty and have stains.
• Make sure all lights work and replace any light bulbs that are needed.
• Clean laundry vent traps.
• Keep the home at a comfortable temperature during any season.

Apply these cost effective solutions and you will receive a better return on your investment.

Contact me for help buying or selling your home in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.

Preparing Your Home to Sell

Home Exterior

The outside of your home is the first thing a buyer will notice. Curb appeal is essential.

• Keep the lawn mowed and shrubs trimmed.
• Removing dead tree limbs and other yard debris.
• Plant fresh shrubs or flowers.
• Hide lawn equipment from the outdoors and arrange patio furniture, etc. neatly.
• Wash and touch up and siding, trim, or doors that are dirty or have paint peeling. It is especially important that your front door looks fantastic.
• Repair and/or paint your fence, if needed.
• Repair and/or replace any loose shingles or flashing on your roof.
• Clean your windows and screens. Repair any broken windows or screens.
• Clean out your downspouts and gutters.
• Keep your driveway and sidewalks clean and free of dirt.
• Make sure your shed and garage are neatly organized.
• Making sure all light fixtures, doorbell, garage door opener and other electrics work.
• Stain your deck, if needed.
• Pull any weeds in flowerbeds, sidewalk cracks, and driveway.

Home Interior

• Make every room look as open and sunlit as possible.
• Wash walls, ceiling and trim.
• Repair any loose trim around doorways and floors.
• Make sure all doorknobs are tight as well as cabinet pulls.
• Paint anywhere needed, keeping colors light and warm.
• Repair any cracks or holes in walls and paint.
• Fix any doors and windows that do not work properly.
• Clean caulk around tubs and sinks. Make any repairs that are needed.
• Fix any leaky faucets and clean off any rust stains or calcium deposits.
• Neatly organize your attic and basement.
• Neatly organize closets so they seem spacious.
• Remove clutter from your kitchen countertops enhancing counter space.
• Clean your blinds and curtains so they are clean and bright.
• Shampoo any carpets that are dirty and have stains.
• Make sure all lights work and replace any light bulbs that are needed.
• Clean laundry vent traps.
• Keep the home at a comfortable temperature during any season.

Apply these cost effective solutions and you will receive a better return on your investment.

Be Sure to Enter the Cabinet Vac Father's Day Contest!

Cabinet Vac Father's Day Contest

Cabinet Vac Father's Day is just around the corner. Enter to win our Father's Day contest! Please post on our wall why your dad is the best and you could win a Cabinet Vac especially for dad on Father's Day! Deadline to enter is June 11th. Winner announced June 18th. If you live in Southeastern Wisconsin area, we can install.... If not, we will ship the Cabinet Vac to you. Good Luck!

Enter here.

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Cabinet Vac Father's Day is just around the corner. Enter to win our Father's Day contest! Please post on our wall why your dad is the best and you could win a Cabinet Vac especially for dad on Father's Day! Deadline to enter is June 11th. Winner announced June 18th. If you live in Southeastern Wisconsin area, we can install.... If not, we will ship the Cabinet Vac to you. Good Luck!

via Ping.fm

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