Dearborn Michigan Area Real Estate Blog

(ARA) - Did you ever watch a home improvement show team transform a drab room into something spectacular using a shoestring budget and less time than it takes you to clean out your closet? Ever wonder how they did it? Here’s the secret: they cheat. And you can too.

You would probably never consider taking shortcuts in other aspects of your life, from car maintenance to paying your taxes. But when it comes to do-it-yourself home improvement and decorating projects, there’s no shame in “cheating” – and a lot to be gained by doing it. Decorator touches like crown moulding that requires no mitering and no-sew window treatments can give your home an instant visual upgrade for a fraction of the cost of having those jobs done professionally.

Here are four DIY “cheats” that will save you time and money – and yield professional results that look like you spent a bundle:

Beautiful Dearborn Home

1. Crown moulding

Few design touches do more to dress up a room than adding crown moulding. But traditionally, crown moulding has been a job best left to professionals or DIYers with a lot more time and ambition than most. Adding crown molding the old-fashioned way requires expertise – like knowing how to properly cut and finish each piece – and tools that most homeowners simply don’t have.

Fortunately, there’s an easy alternative: Moulding Mates is a crown moulding installation system that requires no specialized tools or skills. You don’t even need to miter cut corners. Simply pre-finish the polyurethane moulding (which is available in a wide range of styles), attach the patented Quick Clips to the wall where you want to place the moulding, and pop the moulding lengths into place on the clips. Corner pieces and connector blocks cover ends and seams, eliminating the need to miter ends and patch or touch up the long pieces. You can easily install the entire system using a screw drill and a saw. You can learn more and browse products at www.focalpointproducts.com.

2. Carpet tiles

New carpeting is a much-desired upgrade. As anyone who’s ever bought carpet can tell you, the cost of installation can be prohibitive,

yet properly installing wall-to-wall carpet requires specialized skills and tools that most DIYers don’t have. Carpet tiles can be a great alternative.

Installing carpet tiles is well within the abilities of most homeowners. Because they’re a smaller, more manageable size, carpet tiles are easier to install than a large piece of carpet. They require fewer cuts and no stretching. They also deliver enhanced design capabilities; it’s easy to create a unique pattern using different colored tiles. Read more…

(ARA) - Say goodbye to the McMansion. According to a leading real estate website, Trulia.com, 2010 was officially the year that homes over 3,200 square feet ended their dominance and appeal. But don’t think that downsizing means downgrading. In fact, homeowners are looking to upsize their amenities to help them enjoy every inch of their homes.

And, while many different generations are following this trend, Boomers are a unique group, looking to enjoy their smaller nest now that the kids have flown the coop – yet ensure that their homes are filled with the many amenities they’ll require for their golden years.

Anything but basic baths
While they may purchase a smaller floor plan, mature adults are looking for ways to turn ordinary rooms into extraordinarily indulgent experiences. In the bath, that means the ultimate spa experience – from elaborate showers to heated floors and towel warmers. But when it comes to the bathroom, it’s just as important to keep it safe. Luckily, safe can also equate to stylish. Try installing comfortable seating for the shower with a beautiful fold-down shower seat made of teak and aluminum; or updating common bath accessories such as a paper holder, towel bar or shelf with a new integrated version that combines each accessory with a grab bar  for added safety.

“Our goal is to make every bath a safe bath. And, for savvy homeowners looking to incorporate safety at any age, it’s essential we provide products to meet their safety and style requirements,” says Laurie Birko, Moen Home Care brand manager. “Our newest products, such as our Fold-Down Shower Seat and Grab Bars with Accessories look like decorative pieces rather than safety devices, so homeowners no longer have to choose between safety or style … they can have both.” Read more…

(ARA) - Welcoming friends and family into your home is one of the best ways to celebrate the season. One of the keys to making visitors feel right at home is to be a happy host. So, do yourself – and your guests – a favor and put a little effort into getting your home holiday house guest perfect.

Since your house will be full with visitors over the holidays, go beyond cleaning and organizing.  Adding touches of festive decor will create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, and if there are do-it-yourself projects still on the to-do list, now is the best time to finish them. Not only will your home look fresh and revived to you, but your guests will certainly notice your home’s updated appearance.

To get your home ready for hosting holiday guests, follow this room-by-room checklist.

Whether you want to tackle one room at a time or do it all at once, breaking down your tasks can make the process much easier.

The kitchen

Sitting at the kitchen table

As the central hub of the home, guests will naturally congregate in the kitchen, so spend time making small, budget-friendly updates to make the space more comfortable, for both chef and audience.

* A fresh palette:  Make an update that will in

stantly refresh your space with a new paint color. Be empowered to experiment with a bold, food-inspired hue such as  coffee date by allen + roth at Lowe’s. With its limited wall space, the kitchen makes an ideal place to use a bolder hue for just the right pop of color.

* Details matter: Clear the clutter and make room for all the chef’s necessities in your kitchen, making the chef’s job easier. Add updated cabinet and drawer pulls as well as a touch-faucet that offers style and ease of use. Read more…

(ARA) The lilac print wallpaper in your Dearborn area home bedroom may not be your style anymore.  And if your house is for sale and on the market, that lilac print wallpaper is probably not your prospective buyer’s style either. Removing wallpaper is easier than you may think and it has a big impact on a home’s appearance. In fact, removing aging, sagging wallpaper is one of the least expensive ways to improve a home’s resale value and shorten its time on the market, according to a survey of real estate agents and appraisers.

“While many people dread removing wallpaper, it’s one of the simplest ways to give a room a fresh, updated look,” says Rust-Oleum brand director Andrea Topper. “And, with a little know-how and the right tools, it’s easier than most people think.”

Topper offers this advice for “painless” wallpaper removal in three easy steps:

• Step 1 – Score the wallpaper: Most wallpaper has a waterproof surface, so it’s necessary to score it so the wallpaper stripper can penetrate and loosen the glue underneath. Use a wallpaper scoring tool like Zinsser PaperTiger, a palm-held tool that perforates the wallpaper without damaging the wall. Move PaperTiger in a circular motion to make as many holes as possible, using light pressure. The more holes you make, the faster and easier it will be to remove the wallpaper.
• Step 2 – Apply a wallpaper stripping solution: Next, apply a wallpaper stripper like Zinsser DIF Quick Wallpaper Stripper, an environmentally friendly wallpaper stripper that removes wallpaper in just two minutes. DIF Quick loosens the glue underneath the wallpaper to make wallpaper removal quick and easy. Simply spray the ready-to-use solution on the scored paper starting at the top and working your way down, making sure the wallpaper is thoroughly wet.
• Step 3 – Remove wallpaper: Use a tool like the Paper Scraper to remove the loose wallpaper without surface damage or hard work. If any glue remains after the paper has been removed, spray the area with more stripping solution, wait a few minutes and remove the glue with the scraping tool or a sponge and rinse with clean water. Before you know it, you will have removed all the wallpaper, and your room will be ready for redecorating.

For more project ideas and product information, visit: www.zinsser.com

If you are planing to sell your Dearborn area home or if you are in the market to Buy a home or real estate in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Westland, Redford, Livonia, Plymouth, Canton, Northville, Novi, Farmington, Allen Park, Taylor or any other Detroit Michigan west side suburb, Contact Steve Hatfield today.

Barbecued ribs have long been a back yard cookout favorite.

Here are a couple of ways to prepare succulent hickory smoked barbecue ribs that your whole family will enjoy.

Use 3/4 to 1 pound of pork or beef ribs per person (I prefer baby back pork ribs). Cut ribs into serving pieces – 3 to 5 ribs per piece; remove any excess fat. Place ribs in a large roasting pan or Dutch oven; add enough water to cover ribs; pour in 1 (3 1/2 oz.) bottle of liquid smoke. Cover and simmer over moderate heat 20 – 25 minutes. Drain well.

To Grill:

Grill (well drained and unbasted) ribs 3 to 4 inches from moderate coals for 20 to 30 minutes per side. Start basting with barbecue sauce (both sides). Continue to cook ribs (re-basting often) until done, about 1 hour.

Note: I prefer the indirect method of cooking on a grill. Stack your hot charcoal along two sides of the grill with the ribs in the middle. If you are using a gas grill to barbecue your ribs place your ribs on one side of the grill with the flame turned off. Turn on the flame on the other side of the grill. This will prevent your ribs from cooking to fast and possibly drying out.

NOTE: If you use the indirect method to barbecue, it is important that you keep the grill covered and well vented.

To Cook Ribs Rotisserie Style:

Lace or weave well drained ribs onto rotisserie rod, balancing ribs for even cooking and turning; secure ends with holding forks. Arrange medium hot coals at back of firebox; place drip pan under ribs. Cook ribs until done, about 1 hour, basting frequently with barbecue sauce

Steve’s Homemade Barbecue Sauce

• 1 Bottle (28 oz.) Open Pit Barbecue Sauce (original flavor)
• 1 Bottle (20 oz.) Heinz Catsup
• 1 Bottle (6 oz.) Heinz 57 Steak Sauce
• 1 Bottle (6oz.) A 1 Steak Sauce
• 1 Cup Dry Red Wine
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Lee & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Liquid Smoke

Mix well and bring to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Refrigerate unused barbecue sauce. Makes 2 quarts. Great with ribs, chicken, or beef. Enjoy!

Try This Tip: When it’s time to put the barbecue sauce on your ribs, take the ribs off the grill and simmer them in a large pot on the stove in the hot barbecue sauce for 5 to 10 minutes. Return the ribs to the grill and continue to turn and baste until done.

It’s time to get your Dearborn Michigan area home and real estate ready for summer!

(ARA) -Spring not only ushers in a welcome relief from the cold temperatures, but a slew of winter clean-up projects, begging the question, “Are you ready to host all of those summer barbecues that are just around the corner?” And the bigger question, “Is your house ready?”

Whether it’s a broken bird bath, a loose stone on a walkway, or a broken patio chair, there are some things you need to take care of before the warm weather and, more importantly, before your guests arrive.

The best way to prepare for these upcoming household fixes is to assemble a first-aid repair kit for your house. Keeping some of the most common tools together makes it easier and more efficient. Below is a list of items that are invaluable for common household repairs:

Simple tools – Why is it that you can never find a hammer, screwdriver, utility knife, tape measure and pencil when you need one? Keep duplicates of these tools in your first aid repair kit, and you won’t have to run around your house or shop looking for them. Also, consider stocking a couple of tongue depressors or craft sticks. These are great for spreading glue and can be used to hold small nails instead of hammering your thumbs.

Gorilla Glue – This product is 100 percent waterproof and perfect for fixing anything from a broken chair leg to a broken flower pot. You could even use this strong glue to fix a loose stone on a walkway. If you’ve never used polyurethane glue before, be careful because it will expand as it cures – you will only need a very small amount for an indestructible bond. Visit www.gorillatough.com for more information.

Sandpaper and a two-part, epoxy-based wood filler – For outdoor wood repair needs, this is really the way to go. All exterior door and window trim work should be checked every spring because gaps and cracks not only reduce your home’s efficiency, but can also provide an entry location for unwanted insects and rodents. Most of these repairs can easily be taken care of and will prevent damage to the integrity of the wood.

Gorilla Tape – Gorilla Tape is the toughest duct tape that you’ll ever meet. It has a strong fabric backing and three times the adhesive of other duct tapes and will even stick to impossible surfaces like brick and stucco. (It also is a quick fix for a torn grill cover or split garden hose.) Visit www.gorillatough.com for more information.

Cordless drill and variety of high quality screws – Due to expansion and contraction during the winter, screws are likely to loosen. Tighten up exposed screws on things like your deck, wood railings, etc., before they become a safety hazard.

Touch-up paint and foam applicators – Avoid having to search the garage for a can of paint by putting a small amount of paint in a disposable airtight container and adding it to your kit.  As you make your outdoor repairs you will have the paint on hand for a quick fix. Foam applicators, which you can get inexpensively from any craft and hobby store, are great for quick touch-ups, and are disposable.

With your first-aid repair kit assembled, you are ready to tackle all of your winter repair projects.

If you are planing to sell your Dearborn Michigan area home or if you are in the market to Buy a home or real estate in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Westland, Redford, Livonia, Plymouth, Canton, Northville, Novi, Farmington, Allen Park, Taylor or any other Detroit Michigan west side suburb, Contact Steve Hatfield today.

Visit my web site at: www.DearbornHomes.com for in-depth information about Buying or Selling a home or Real Estate in the Dearborn area or the west side Detroit suburbs.