Carol Freyer

Halve Your Energy Bills By Doubling Up! Part 2.

It is not an accident that the list compiled by The National Association of Home Builders on how to save energy in your home has windows included in it. In fact, right near to the top is 'double-pane windows that have high performance glass that helps red... Read >

Halve Your Energy Bills By Doubling Up! Part 1

When we think of windows in a home we don't think in terms of energy efficiency - we think in terms of style. Windows can add elegance to a home, or if you prefer they can add a cozy-cabin feeling or more recently, that wide open feeling of there being n... Read >

The Dirt on Dahlias

A well stocked garden really can make a difference to the amount of buyers who find your house appealing. A cared-for garden can indicate a cared-for house, and it also adds to the curb appeal of your home. For a really eye-stopping front yard, you cannot... Read >

Rent or Sell?

It was a question that once never entered our consciousness - if we wanted to move, of course we would sell up! Now suddenly there are too many variables involved and many of us are asking the question: shall we sell now or shall we rent our house. Wel... Read >

Small Is Beautiful

While the size of the average home gets bigger and bigger, it's refreshing to see the conscious shift to smaller homes that some people are making. Because along with that decreased space comes a decreased environmental footprint, and a decreased energy b... Read >

Realty Remodeling Rules

Thinking of remodeling or renovating? Make sure you do not 'improve' your home out of the neighborhood. It is okay to do this if you want to stay living in it, but if you are making improvements to sell your home at a higher value - beware! Realtor... Read >

Get Your Heating Bill Down

As the weather cools down, it's time to start thinking about energy efficient heating options. Fireplaces have long been a favorite among homeowners, as they create a wonderfully cozy ambience in any room, but they also cause a lot of cold air to circula... Read >

Astrology, Feng Shui, Magic Spells... and Selling Homes

As someone in the real estate industry, I'm always eager to find out more about buying and selling strategies. However, I'm not sure what to think about using astrology to sell a home. Or Feng Shui. Or magic spells. There are a lot of people more ... Read >

Americans Want Green Homes!

It seems that the recent inflationary setbacks of the past months have caused many of us to rethink our life-styles. Home buyers are now placing energy efficiency high on their list of wants. This means that small improvements to your home that... Read >

An Exciting Way To Cook Outdoors

'Tis the season for outdoor cooking, and this year there are more options than ever for backyard barbecuing, and even baking, as we will see. In addition to the usual line of gas-fired and briquette grills, wood-fired ovens are gaining popularity amongst ... Read >

Tiny Home For a Tiny Planet

It has been recently suggested in a national newspaper that we must all start to think 'tiny home for a tiny planet' - an interesting concept. However, it seems a very un-North American concept, given that we are all used to houses twice the size of, say,... Read >

Capital Gains Tax Loopholes Shrinking.

Seems the new 2008 housing bill was not a savior for all of us - like a scorpion there is a little kick in the tail! However, struggling home owners can breathe easy, the kick is not directed at them, in fact, it is aimed at real estate investors. Whoev... Read >

Your Bedroom: Schmooze or Snooze

Could your own bedroom have the same relaxing atmosphere as a hotel bedroom? It is an interesting thought, as it has always been a special treat for married couples to 'get away' from the children for a romantic weekend. This is supposing they can save e... Read >

"Green" Housing Takes an Unlikely Turn

The pursuit of 'green' buildings that will preserve the environment may possibly veer off in an unpredictable direction that will change the face of America's housing. Contradictory though it may sound, concrete is raising its ugly head as an attractive a... Read >

The Green Home - AND Yard.

while we read much information about how to create green housing, less is written about the yards. Some yards are green, but some are not. Many of us still add to the pollution by spraying pesticides on our fruit trees and vegetable patches. Apart ... Read >