Replacement projects perform better in resale value than other types of remodeling projects

According to Remodeling magazine’s 2011-2012 “Cost vs.Value Report,” replacement projects perform better in resale value than other types of remodeling projects. In fact, seven out of the top 10 projects were siding-, window- and door replacement projects.

The good news for cost-conscious homeowners is that investing in your home in a way that pays off at resale doesn’t have to cost a lot. The high value of most replacements can be contributed to the relatively low cost of these projects. What’s more, the majority of replacement projects immediately improve curb appeal, making the home more attractive to buyers.

Based on interviews with real estate professionals throughout the country, the Remodeling report found that the top project is fiber-cement siding, which typically recoups 78 percent of costs. Fiber-cement siding has been in the No.1 spot for six of the seven years since it was added to the report.

Moving up two spots in the rankings is the minor kitchen remodel, now coming in at fourth place at 72 percent. Considered an “interior replacement” project, this is the least expensive way to give an existing kitchen a complete facelift. It is typically done by adding new cabinet door and drawer fronts and hardware, new countertops and new appliances.

The right remodeling project, when done well, also has the potential to make for a quicker sale and reduce negotiations with buyers over perceived shortcomings.

Click here to access the “Cost vs. Value” website, where you can download data for all regions of the country.

Source: Weichert Insights

One-stop shopping for your complete home buying process

Here's why you should be glad that Weichert offers one-stop shopping.

Even with a signed contract in hand, there's still a lot to deal with before the house you found can become the home you live in. Through Weichert Gold Services*, we can take most of the details out of your hands and into ours, smoothly streamlining the delivery of mortgage financing, home insurance, title insurance, and even vital home connections services to save you time and make the transition easier.

Unless you have a mortgage credit approval, obtaining financing in time to meet the date specified in your sales contract is a top priority. Weichert Financial Services offers approximately 300 different types of mortgages, so you're sure to find the one that's best for you. Ask all the questions you like so that you clearly understand what your financing options are. In addition to mortgage financing, the homeowner's insurance and title insurance necessary to complete your home purchase are also part of our Gold Services.

Weichert Home Connections In addition to the essential purchase-related services, Weichert Gold Services can simplify the moving-in process, relieving you of many phone calls you'd otherwise have to make to arrange services. With some variation depending on area, the growing array of Weichert Home Connections services can cover everything from moving services to the set-up of cable TV and phone service. Best of all, there's no extra cost to you for arranging these services for you.

Home Protection Plan If the home you're purchasing doesn't come with a Home Protection Plan, you may want to consider one. After all, breakdowns happen even with the best-name appliances. And they're not normally covered under homeowners' insurance. Instead of worrying that a dishwasher, for instance, will go on the blink, a Weichert Home Protection Plan offers replacement or repair protection for covered major appliances and systems, with qualified contractors only a phone call away, 24 hours a day.

5 Reasons Why 
Leisure World of Maryland Is 
a Great Place to Live

 Many happy residents confirm that Leisure World of Maryland is so much more than the embodiment of the active senior lifestyle. A safe and secure community with security gates.  Its rich diversity may just make it the ideal retirement choice for active seniors.

Here are the five reasons why:

1) Leisure World Transportation Service.

You will enjoy the convenience of a transportation system that travels throughout the community on a frequent schedule. You can travel from building to building, or to the local shopping centers.  A WDC Metro bus is also available at the main gate entrance.

2) Recreational and educational activities for everyone.

Enjoy golfing, swimming, theater, the performing arts, tennis, walking paths, clubhouses, fitness center and a myriad of other stimulating recreational opportunities.

3) A vast selection of building styles and pricing.

Whatever your life-style preference, it’s probably available in this diverse community.  Choose from patio homes with attached garage, garden style, townhomes, or hi-rise style buildings.

4) Excellent health care.

Combine the convenience of the Leisure World Medical Center facility and major medical facilities such as Montgomery Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, and Shady Grove Hospital, quality healthcare is available. The Medical Center located within Leisure World offers a wide selection of physicians, dentists and other specialists and medical practitioners and a pharmacy.

5) All inclusive facilities available.

Many people when they retire want to downsize from a large home where they have raised their families to a smaller place that is more manageable and yet allows them the freedom to live an active lifestyle.  

55+ Leisure World Condo 3 BR, 2 BA with 1,512 square feet of living space

located at 2900 Leisure World Blvd,  unit #510, Silver Spring, MD 20906

Don't miss this spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom luxury condo located in Turnberry Courts in the Leisure World community.

Entry foyer with ceramic flooring. Spacious living room with fireplace and formal dining room. Private master bedroom and master bath with soaking tub and step-in shower.  Master bedroom also has walk-in closet. Table-space kitchen with lots of cabinets, slider to large glass-enclosed sunroom overlooking garden gazebo. Great exposure with plenty of natural light inside condo.

Leisure World of Maryland

A Private, Gated, Age-Restricted Community

Leisure World of Maryland is an active adult, age-restricted community. One resident must be at least 55 years of age and the other resident of the unit at least 50 years of age.

The best 55+ housing opportunity in Montgomery County, Maryland! Living at Leisure World is a great lifestyle choice – its also a smart financial decision.  This community is for anyone aged 55 or older. The 650-acre campus located in Montgomery County, Maryland offers a variety of housing options and offers many attractive community amenities.  The Leisure World community can be entered through one of three secure entry gates, staffed with Leisure World security personnel. Leisure World is convenient to shopping, entertainment and offers its own shuttle bus transportation service.

Amenities at Leisure World

• 18-hole golf course
• Two club houses
• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools
• Tennis courts
• Fitness facility
• Library
• Travel office
• Gardening areas
• Three restaurants
• MedicalCenter
• DentalCenter
• Medicare-certified rehab facility
• Metro Bus stop to Glenmont Metro Station and points north
• Pharmacy
• Shuttle bus service in the community and to nearby shopping centers
• A wide range of repair, maintenance, and emergency service to meet residents’ needs
• Comcast basic cable service
• 24 hour security
• Theatre

Come discover this warm and friendly Leisure World community located in the heart of Montgomery County,Maryland.

Contact Barbara Michaluk, Realtor and Authorized Leisure World Specialist for a private tour of this community.

55+ Leisure World New Condos coming in 2012 in Silver Spring, MD

VILLA CORTESE V

These NEW Garden Style Condos will offer a choice of 9 models ranging from 1,115 – 1,790 square feet.  They range in price from $255,000 - $629,000.   Indoor garage spaces are available for 17 units at an additional cost.

Floor plans available upon request.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own a new condo in this 55+ Senior Community located off Georgia Avenue in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Contact Barbara Michaluk, Authorized Leisure World Specialist for more information or to reserve your new condo.

Strathmore Tea Room in North Bethesda, MD

Strathmore Afternoon Tea ~ The Perfect Interlude in the Hustle and Bustle of Life

The soothing sounds of local musicians fill the room, as you enjoy Afternoon Tea in the cozy atmosphere of The Shapiro Music Room at Strathmore.

Strathmore Blend Tea is specially made for us by Master Tea Blender John Harney ofConnecticut, and is served with a light lunch of delectable tea savories by Restaurant Associates. We are sorry, vegetarian meals are not available

Tea begins at 1PM

$23 per person (Stars Price $20.70).

Pre-paid, non-refundable reservations required. Call (301) 581-5108.

See below for availability and featured artist.

We are sorry, vegetarian meals are not available.

Performers are Susan Bour, flute and Phil Bour, guitar.

Reservations are currently OPEN. Call (301) 581-5108.

STRATHMORE MUSEUM

The Mansion at Strathmore

10701 Rockville Pike

North Bethesda,MD20852-3224

Coming in February inRockville,Maryland

MID ATLANTIC JAZZ FESTIVAL: STANDING UP FOR REAL JAZZ

February 17-20, 2012 Hilton Hotel in Rockville, MD

Three amazing drumnmers headline at this year’s jazz festival organized by the nonprofit Jazz Academy of Music.  With Roy Haynes, Winard Harper and Lewis Nash, the jazz beat goes on.

There’ll certainly be a joyful noise and some roof raising at the 2012 Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival. In what has become a MAJF tradition, our Sunday matinee will be devoted to the intersection where jazz meets gospel; in this case a jazz festival welcomes a sister music into its big tent. Gospel music will be richly represented Sunday afternoon, from classic to contemporary.

Rockville, Maryland

For more information or tickets: 

www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org

Reliable Service Providers are the backbone for any successful realtor

Of the many contractors and service providers that I recommend to clients who are getting their home ready to sell, Father and Son Carpet Cleaning is at the top of my resource list.

Message from Richard Zdanis, Owner Father and Son Carpet Cleaning located in Montgomery County, Maryland

Just as the name implies, we started out as a Father and Son Carpet Cleaning team with a mission. We knew that for all of the nationally franchised and colorful carpet cleaning vans you see on the road, not many were driven by technicians who actually put their family name on the line with every job, but we sure did!

It was the little things that made the difference at first. Sure, our prices are always just as good as the big boys, that’s just smart business, but there was always something more, and it’s that something that has made us one of the most successful carpet cleaning and repair companies in theWashingtonDCarea.

It was quite simple then, and it still is today. To begin, we arrive at your home knowing that if we impress you enough you’ll invite us back again and again in the years to come. In fact, we’re so good at this we rely on it! More than half of our business is past clients calling for a fresh clean to start their year.

We know that nothing aggravates us more than the infamous hidden charges of carpet cleaning companies, and that’s why you’ll never see any from us. You’ll always get the best price without any extra or hidden fees, period.

Last but not least, and we know this sounds like a cliché, but we treat your home just like it’s ours, and in a way, it is. As longtime residents and parents here in the area, we know just about every street, school, and if we have our way, carpet, here in town. To us, you’re family, and that means we always go the extra mile.

To find out more on their website www.fatherandsoncompanies.com,

or just give them a call at 301.537.1337,

or simply request a carpet cleaning here directly through their website. 

Olney Maryland detached home for sale -
4 Bedroom Colonial situated on quiet cul-de-sac in Lake Hallowell community

LIST PRICE $539,900

Located at 17703 Eaglesham Place, Olney, Maryland 20832, this lovely Colonial has 4 bedrooms up, an inviting entry foyer with hardwood flooring, open family room with large brick fireplace hearth, updated kitchen and large table space overlooking rear treed view.  Kitchen has breakfast bar, granite counters, Jenn-aire cooktop, built in wall overn and microwave (1 year old).  Entertain in the spacious living room and dining room with bay window.  Rear yard has oversized deck, pergola, outdoor security lighting and private view.
Exterior siding and shutters were replaced within 2 years. 

The Lake Hallowell community offers community recreation center, outdoor swimming pool, tennis and tot lots. Located close to shopping, restaurants, bus transportation, Montgomery General Hospital,
and many Olney community convienances.

Contact Barbara Michaluk, Olney Realtor for a private showing of this lovely home.

New Bag Law in Effect in Montgomery County Maryland

As everyone knows by now, January 1 brought the new carryout bag law to Montgomery County, Maryland. Under the law, a five-cent charge is placed on each paper or plastic carryout bag provided by retail establishments in the County to customers at the point of sale, pickup or delivery. However, shoppers can avoid the charge by bringing their own reusable bags.

The revenues that are collected -- above administrative costs -- will go to the County’s Water Quality Protection Fund that pays for things such as storm water management, watershed restoration and litter clean-up. Plastic bags are one of the top four items found in County streams and storm water controls. And, taxpayers bear the financial burden of cleaning up or removing this litter -- more than $3 million a year in Montgomery County for code enforcement, street sweeping and litter clean-up. That’s why the more people who use reusable bags and the less revenue the County receives the better it is for taxpayers who save money on cleanup and for our waterways that can then remain clean and healthy. It’s not about the money, it’s about doing the right thing for the environment.

On January 3, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett handed out hundreds of reusable bags to shoppers at the Safeway in Hillandale, while Council President Roger Berliner and volunteers distributed hundreds more around the County. Throughout that one day, nearly 1,000 bags were given out among sites at: downtown Bethesda, Little Bitts cake and candy supply store in Wheaton, Walmart in Germantown and the Safeway at King Farm. All told, more than 40,000 bags have been distributed so far, with another 30,000 to come.

Various local businesses have stepped up to donate bags which have gone, primarily, to low-income families/individuals and seniors through local non-profits and other organizations serving these populations. Thanks to the retailers who have helped as many residents as possible receive bags and to the volunteers who gave out bags at each site.

SOURCE: Montgomery County MD, The Paperless Airplane