The Hallmarks of a Well-Built Home

There are houses and there are houses. Just like anything that is produced in our world from cars to clothing, there is a high quality manufacturing and there is poor to medium workmanship.
In her book "The Fearless Home Buyer" Elizabeth Razzi gives those telltale signs of a well built home.
Windows are an easily-spotted signal of quality. They're one of the most expensive components of a home. You can determine the brand used by looking for the name un the corner of the glass. Look for neatly mitered and whether the window is double panned which offers good insulation in both summer and winter. Look at the windowsill and the wall below to see if there are any water stains or softness in the wall-a sign that there could be a codensation or leakage problem with the windows.
Bathrooms are another area where the quality of the workmanship is important. Pay special attention to the floors and walls around (and downstairs from) a shower stall Look for signs of recent painting, a spongy feel or mold. Water that leaks from a tub or shower over time can rot sub flooring, a common problem in homes built with inferior materials and workmanship.
When you expect the exterior of the home, note the kind of siding that is used. Wood siding is beautiful but requires routine re-painting. Vinyl or aluminum siding is economical and long-lasting, but check it for dings, tears and fading.
As always, if you are uncomfortable about the quality of a home you are interested in purchasing, it's a good idea to hire a professional inspector to confirm or allay your fears.
As Real Estate professionals, we look forward to working for you and answering any questions you might have about quality and workmanship of any home you may be interested in. Call us anytime.

NO More Slaving Over a Hot Stove

A new generation of cooktops that use induction heating technology puts an end to slaving over a hot stove.
Induction heats faster, is easier to control, simpler to clean and safer to use. It also consumes 30 - 40 percent less energy than other cooking methods. Induction is done with magnets, It converts electricity into an intense electromagnet field that "excites" the iron atoms in cooking vessels, causing them to vibrate and heat up. The pan itself, not the cooktop becomes the heating element as it absorbs the waves of magnetic energy and transfers that heat to the food.
The fast heat-up shortens cooking time. 85 to 95 per cent efficiency means lower energy bills. Clean-up is easy because food can't burn on it's surface and it's safer for kids and seniors.
An induction cooktop costs $1700.00 to $2800.00 for a 30 inch cooktop and up to $4,000.00 for a 66 inch top/ Installation may require you to upgrade your wiring and you'll need special pots and pans.

Sales of Home Elevators up, up, up!

Home elevators are fast becoming the newest in status symbols. In a recent National association of Home Builders, 7 percent of homeowners rated elevators as an "essential" or "must have" feature. The reason home elevators are becoming indispensable has to do with the direction of today's home building. While residential square footages have increased 21% over the past 15 years, lot sizes have dropped 10%. Sending construction vertical.
Baby boomers anticipating old age has contributed to the increased sale of home elevators. But 68 percent of those who rated elevators as essential were under 55. This age group admitted that the status of owning an elevator was important to them and they planned to add accoutrements such as plasma screened televisions and custom sound systems to their elevators.
For more information visit http://www.residentialelevators.com/

Home Owners Are Saying

Parade magazine conducted a poll among 1,000 individuals representing a cross section of U.S. home owners. This is what homeowners are saying about:
Their Neighborhood: An overwhelming majority (80%) believe their own community is a great place to raise a family. Yet almost 50% of those worry about overdeveloped.
Home Improvement: 11% spent about $1,500 per year in repairs and upgrades, while a third invested more than $5,000.
Commuting: 63% said they would gladly trade square footage for less time spent on the road.
Their dream home: The #1 factor in their next home purchase will be a spacious kitchen.

Our Newest Team Members

Meet Max and Ricco. Born Oct 11, 2006 Max (black) adopted by Frank and Laurie on Dec 19, 2006. Ricco (brown) adopted by Steve's family on Dec. 19, 2006. They are brothers and very active. Their Mother is a AKC registered show poodle and Dad is an AKC register pekingese. Current weight is 1.5 to 2 pounds and should grow to about 6-8 pounds. They are fabulous with the grandkids and love playing ball. They will be introduced on our new pictures later this year.

When Mom & Dad Move In

The number of senior citizens that will rely on family members for their care is expected to rise from 25 million in 200 to 71 million in 2030. If your parents will be spending their twilight years at your home, there are some improvements that can be made that will make life easier for them, and for you.
* Remodel a bath;
Instead of a tub, opt for a wheel-in or walk-in shower with a height adjustable shower head and chrome grab bars. Add a taller toilet, a new vanity and safe flooring. The cost will be about $25,000 but 90 percent of the cost will return to you when you sell the house.
*Add a deck;
incorporate a wheel chair ramp with it and it can work as a design element. A typical deck costs about $12,000 to build but you'll get back 90 percent of your investment at sale time.
*Build an addition;
A first-floor bedroom that costs $73,000 will recoup 80 percent of its cost. Doorways must be 36 inches or wider to be wheelchair accessible

Look Maw No Hands on Faucets

What used to be a novelty in public restrooms - touchless faucets - are moving into home kitchens. These new hands-free faucets feature high-arc swiveling necks for pot-filling and pull down spigots for rinsing dishes or produce.
These new faucets which turn on and off using combination motion and light sensors help prevent the spread of germs because you never have to touch the controls with dirty hands.
They also conserve water by doling it out only on demand because for every minute a faucet is running, 2 gallons of water are lost down the drain.
Hands free kitchen faucets are available in price ranges of $150.00 to $1,000.00 and are sold by various manufacturers.

http://www.kohler.com/

Free Hugs

Hugs are great to give and receive. If you need a hug give us a call today. Merry Christmas.
The Helderle Team
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=d6a6e5a577af0b83c1380d45ce7be57b.1213531&cache=1

Getting It Sold In A Buyers Market

List with a full service Realtor that provides plenty of service. The Helderle Team provides full service on every listing. Included in our service program is 3 full time realtors, marketing your property by, installing signs, handling all inquires, showing the house, writing the offer, processing the accepted sales contract and attending the closing. Of course not all transactions are this simple but we o our best to keep your transaction stress and worry free. Contact Frank Helderle today to arrange a look at our presentation.

St. Louis Real Estate

St. Louis Real Estate

Selling? Start the showings!

After your house has been listed for sale by a professional start showing. Getting your home ready for showings at a moments notice is sometimes required. This can be stressful on everyone especially for families with small children. But having your home available for showings allows your real estate pro the ability to say "yes" to any and all requests to show the property. Normally the more showings there are, the better the odds become that you will receive an offer quickly. As the seller you can have some flexibility too. With today's programmable lock boxes, your real estate professional can actually program the times you wish to allow showings. Maybe a night worker wants to restrict entry until early afternoon or a family with small children may want showings to cease after bedtime. No matter what the hours you agree to show your home are, never turn down a special request or one from a prospective buyer returning to see your home for a second or third time. When you're ready to list your home for sale give us a call and we'll answer any questions you may have with no obligation. Posted by: Frank J. Helderle