Home sellers can improve bottom line by reducing costs

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 August 2009 13:43

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Sellers need to think of their bottom line when selecting service companies in order to maximize profits on their home, and consider pitching in to keep costs down.

The proposition of selling a home is getting better with each passing day, according to a recently released report from the National Association of Realtors. If you need to sell your home, a few smart strategies can help you increase your profits.

A number of real estate pundits are pointing to the recent decline in home inventory and the fact that interest rates have increased on the 30-year fixed mortgage as a positive endorsement of a healthier housing market.

Joanne Sebby, a licensed real estate broker in Chicago, and...

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Insulated garage doors can reduce energy loss and save you money

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 August 2009 13:38

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Depending on the specifics of your home and attached garage construction, a well-insulated door can help keep your unheated garage 10 to 20 degrees warmer on a cold winter day.

A leaky, un-insulated garage door may not be an obvious culprit in rising monthly utility bills, but it’s worth a second look if you have an attached garage.

Replacing an older garage door with a new, energy-efficient model can reduce energy loss through the garage door by up to 71 percent, according to a comparison study conducted by Clopay engineers.

“Since attached garages typically share one or two common walls with the house, any hot or cold that travels through a door will ultimately affect the...

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Creative touches can bring bland wall to life

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 August 2009 13:35

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“Fall is a great time to redecorate because as the weather cools people start heading indoors again,“ said Jonathon Fong, a Los Angeles-based interior decorator and author.

When the weather cools and the bright sun of summer fades into autumn’s grayer skies, bare bland walls can feel like an ugly mark on your home’s decor.

Suddenly, those undecorated walls that you were too busy to notice this past summer cry out for color and pizzazz—especially if you’re dealing with economy-induced stress.

“Fall is a great time to redecorate because as the weather cools people start heading indoors again,“ said Jonathon Fong, a Los Angeles-based interior decorator and author...

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House on Kennedy transformed into bed & breakfast

Written by Aleen Ratzlaff Tuesday, 21 July 2009 13:53

KennedyLodge406.jpg The Kennedy Lodge at 315 S. Kennedy has received a face lift both inside and out, including a new cedar shake-shingle roof.

Breakfasts are served in the dining room, which opens off the kitchen. The door from the dining room leads to the deck and Jacuzzi and landscaped backyard.

A brother-sister duo are combining their talents and experience to provide visitors with another option for overnight stays in Hillsboro.

Owner Steve Jost and manager/cook Pat Nuss have opened the Kennedy Lodge, a four-bedroom three-bath bed and breakfast at the corner of Kennedy and C streets.

“We’re within walking distance of Tabor College and several churches—even downtown,” said Steve...

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