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Suffolk NewS-Herald • THurSday, feBruary 28, 2013

springHome & Garden

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Best ways to add value to your home

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make Buying (or selling) your home a snaP

Whether you're buying or selling a home, you'll find great advice here.

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how does your garden grow?

We hit the streets to report what you have to say about nurturing your green thumb.

Page 5

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Page 2 – Thursday, February 28, 2013, Suffolk News-Herald, Spring Home & garden

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Spring Home & garden, Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, February 28, 2013 – Page 3

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Best ways to add value to your homeBy Matthew a. ward

Staff Writer

Updating or improving aspects of your home are among the easiest ways

to protect and add value to your investment — apart from keeping up with regular maintenance.

Mark Edwards, senior vice presi-dent with East West Communities, developers of The Riverfront and other award-winning subdivi-sions in Suffolk and elsewhere in Hampton Roads, said the kitchen is a good place to start.

“You can upgrade your home by changing the countertops to gran-ite,” he said.

According to www.realtor.org, “A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home.”

About 69 percent of the initial project cost, for instance, can be recouped on kitchen remodels cost-ing $50,000 to $60,000 when a home is sold, the website says, cit-ing Remodeling Magazine.

The rate of return looks even bet-ter for a kitchen spruce-up costing $18,000, three-fourths of which will

be returned when the home is sold.Ways of keeping costs down

include maintaining the same kitchen footprint, not getting carried away with expensive appliances and communicating regularly with contractors.

“It’s a good idea to look into pop-ular trends and colors,” Edwards said. “It’s always better to stay on top of it. You do it over time, (and) you are protecting your investment and it’s not as overwhelming.”

Bathroom remodels are also sound investments, with nearly two thirds recouped on a $15,000 investment, according to the maga-zine.

Once again, a major piece of advice is to keep the same footprint as the old bathroom. Other tips include focusing on lighting, which is cost-effective, compared to things like multiple showerheads and radiant-heat floors, and ensuring adequate bathroom ventilation.

Other popular home improve-ment projects are remodeling or finishing an attic or basement; additions, which will also partially pay for themselves, despite being

See HOME Page 4

Matthew a. ward/suffolk news-herald

for a home in founder’s Point, Carrollton, outdoor living space incorporates a fire pit, landscaped gardens with water feature, dining area and even a television for those big football games.

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more technical in nature and often trickier than other projects in terms of abiding by building codes.

You can often easily add heat-ing and cooling to these spaces by connecting a few vents to existing HVAC main trunks, although upgrading entire sys-tems can also be necessary, Realtor.org says.

One possible challenge spe-cific to upgrading an attic is support structures under the roof, which may not leave enough room for even a cozy bedroom.

Outdoor entertaining/living areas can often add a lot of value to a home.

“One of the most popular fea-

tures that we are seeing people really respond to are outside liv-ing spaces,” Edwards said.

He recommended things like seating areas, built-in grills and fireplaces — all coveted features.

“More and more people are wanting to entertain in their homes,” he said.

Additionally, Edwards said that regular reviews of your home, even by a qualified home inspector, can pinpoint areas of concern and potential.

“It’s the biggest investment most people make in their lives, so it makes sense to take a look at it every year,” he said. “Home inspections are a great idea. Some wait until they’re buying, but you learn so much about your home from getting one.”

HOME continued from page 3

Matthew a. ward/ suffolk news-herald

east west Communities Vice President Mark edwards says that outdoor fireplaces, such as the one shown, are becom-ing increasingly pop-ular, as are more elaborate outdoor living spaces.

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How does your garden grow?

See GARDEN Page 6

By Matthew a. wardStaff Writer

with spring only days away, Suffolk citizens are turning their atten-

tion to the garden.Some are more focused on pre-

paring the ground for getting in some tomato and eggplant vines. Others are planning their assault on a weed-strewn lawn. More than a few are plotting which annuals to plant in their flowerbeds.

Whatever the objective, they all agree that some quality gardening time, after a cold, rainy winter, is long overdue.

Seeking some homegrown advice, we spoke to a selection of Suffolk gardeners recently at the North Main Street Lowe’s, where a good few were stocking up on seeds, fertilizer and implements.

Zada Norfleet, 86I put tomatoes, squash and

cucumbers, just in my yard. I used to have a big garden, but I put

it just in the yard; enough for me to use — six tomato plants, three squash and three cucumbers. I don’t usually put mine down until the last of March, anyhow, because

the frost will get them. That’s all I need, just a little bit of garden.

Catherine Lopez, 53They’re buying seeds right now,

and starting them inside the home. We’ve got some beautiful things to go in before spring. Daffodils are pop-ping up right now, because it’s a mild winter. Because it had been a more

mild winter, a lot of weeds are more aggressive this year. It’s been mild for the past few years. It’s also been droughty in the sum-mer, and that’s contributed. We are

laying some herbicides down and some weed controls, to get ready for when the weeds start waking up a little bit more, to stop that aggres-siveness when the weeds start to take over.

Mary Parker, 72 I planted collards three times. It

rained so much it kept killing them, flooding them out. So I planted them again and they didn’t do too bad; I got some to eat out of them. About two weeks ago, we had a day pretty

good, so I went out there and pulled up the rest of the collards, which weren’t any good, really. I pulled the tiller out and tilled it up, and now I’m going to wait until about April, and I usually, instead of buy-ing fertilizer, get chicken manure. You don’t have to put but a little bit in there. I till it up again and let it stay for about three or four

norfleet

lopez, lowe's employee

Parker

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GARDEN continued from page 5

weeks. By then it’s time to get my toma-toes, cucumbers and whatever’s there. In the garden, the only thing I put in is mari-golds; they’re called French marigolds. Any other kinds of marigolds are still OK.

Dan Schriener, 68Throw the seeds out and if it grows,

good; if it doesn’t, I’ll do it again next year. (I like to grow) grass. Usually early, early spring I’ll throw the seeds out so they can ger-minate. Don’t cut the grass too low, because then you allow the weeds to overtake. I rough it up so it’ll have

something to adhere to when it sprouts. It takes a lot of work (weed control). I use the weed control pellets, put it on a spreader, pull behind the lawn mower and let it rip.

Claudia Copeland, 62 We’ve got to get ready for the vegetable

garden. My flower garden, all them got to be prepared. The weeds got to be gotten out, and mulch and all that. It’s just been so cold I haven’t gotten out to deal with that, to get the weeds out. But it’s kind of

too early to start planting, because everything’s too wet. And you have to wait until the last frost until you plant. I like broccoli and potatoes and squash and tomatoes and eggplant. All kinds of beans — butterbeans and green beans. He (my husband)

helps me plant, and I do most of the picking and the shelling. But as far as fertilizing, he does all that. We use bag fertilizer.

Bill Brown, 66I have a very large garden … approxi-

mately 60 feet by 125 foot. I normally grow three or four types of watermelon. I nor-mally end up with between 150 and 250 watermelons. I grow hybrid corn … lots of string beans, all kinds of squash. I do three kinds of potatoes … and I do lots of

cucumbers and tomatoes. My number-one gardening tip is to till your soil in the spring early, when your grass starts to grow, and then maybe two or three weeks later till it again. Repeating those tillings will kill weeds that come up from seeds, and then you kill the sprouts.

Copeland

Brown

schriener

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national home prices have finally hit bottom and are on the rise. Despite what you may be hearing, loans are available for those with good credit histories, stable income and sufficient savings.

Buying a home in today’s market

See BUYING Page 8

file

interest rates are at 65-year record lows, and national home prices have finally hit bottom and are on the rise. loans are available for those with good credit histories, stable income and sufficient savings.

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But don’t jump right in unprepared. Whether you’re a seasoned buyer or a newbie, there are strategies that can help you throughout the home-buying process:

Stick to your budgetDetermining how much “home you

can afford” depends on several factors, including your annual gross income, credit history, current mortgage rates and the amount of your down payment.

In today’s market, you can expect a down payment to generally be between 5 and 20 percent of the purchase price for a conventional mortgage. Lenders recommend that your mortgage pay-ment (principal, interest, taxes and mortgage insurance) be less than 28 percent of your monthly gross income.

Before looking for a home, consider calling a Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved hous-ing counselor for free and confidential financial assistance.

Avoid borrowing pitfallsUnscrupulous lenders can damage

your credit and cause you financial hardship. Here are some ways to avoid becoming a victim:4Say “no” to easy money. Beware if

someone claims that your “credit prob-lems won’t affect the interest rate.” If a solicitation is really appealing, get it in writing and seek a second opinion.4Talk to several lenders to find the

best loan.4Know if the loan offered to you

charges a fee if you pay it off early. If it’s a requirement of the loan, ask about

other products that don’t contain this type of penalty.4Ensure documents are correct and

complete. Beware of anyone offering to falsify your income information to qualify you for a loan. Never sign docu-ments that have incorrect dates or blank fields.4Ask for written estimates that

include all points and fees. When you get to the closing table, if any fees or charges differ from what was previ-ously disclosed, delay closing until all terms are understood.4If you’re taking equity out of

your property, only take the minimum. Equity typically builds slowly over time, so it’s important to try to preserve it.4If you’re not sure, don’t sign. Get

advice first from a reputable consumer credit counseling agency or housing counselor.

Know the mortgage processMortgages are serious long-term

financial commitments. Selecting the right mortgage may make a big differ-ence in your monthly payments and overall cost of your loan.

To determine the best term for your personal situation and one that aligns with your financial goals, talk with your lender or financial professional for guidance.

The prospect of making such a big investment can be intimidating, espe-cially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. Do your research, reach out to the professionals, stick to your budget and be sure you’re ready to take on the financial responsibilities of being a homeowner.

BUYING continued from page 7

It’s a good time to sell, tooBy r.e. SpearS III

editor

Let’s face it: One of the most popular reasons people have for making improvements to their homes is to make those homes more attractive on the real estate market.

Whether it’s a simple matter of repainting or replacing carpets, making a few long-postponed repairs or undertaking an elaborate update or expansion, a home reno-vation project is often the neces-sary first step toward selling your old house.

The good news in Suffolk is that the market for folks selling their homes is better than it has been in years, real estate professionals say.

“We have less listings,” said Harry Lee Cross III of Cross Realty on North Main Street.

“If you think of things in terms of supply and demand, we had a gracious plenty of supply (in recent years).”

Now, the supply of homes for sale is coming down, and prices for most homes — at least for those in the sub-$250,000 price range — are going up.

See SELL Page 11

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Cross divided the local real estate market into four segments — $125,000 and below, $125,000-$250,000, $250,000-$450,000 and $450,000 and up.

Home sales in the first two catego-ries have been more robust lately, he said, and prices have been stable or slowly rising. Problems con-tinue in the higher range, though, where there remains a lot of competition for a few buyers.

Repossessed homes have put pressure on all levels of the real estate market locally, Cross said, noting that they had accounted at one time since the beginning of the Great Recession for as much as 40 percent of the market.

That number has fallen to about

20 percent today, he added, but the banks and mortgage companies that own those properties now are doing their own home improvements to try to spruce them up and move them off their inventory.

With a couple of coats of paint, some new carpet and a price 8 or 10 percent below similar properties nearby that

might be offered by private homeown-ers, these distressed properties have become hot tickets to homeownership especially for folks looking to buy in the $250,000 price range, Cross said.

Such consider-ations have made the real estate mar-ketplace extremely complicated, he added.

“You’ve just got to understand what’s going on in your market,” he said. “What are the 10 houses like mine nearby, and what are they sell-ing for?”

SELL continued from page 8

'You’ve just got to understand what’s going on in your market. What are the 10 houses like mine nearby, and what are they selling for?'

Harry Lee Cross IIICross realty

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