South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping

Wet bars are becoming a standard part of modern housing and are no longer banished to the basement with the foosball table and pictures of dogs playing poker. They’re popping up in the kitchen and occasionally even the living room.

The main difference between a wet bar and a dry bar is that a wet bar has water hookup and a sink apparatus, so you can wash your glasses. It’s basically a mini kitchenette with a boatload of booze. There isn’t a red-blooded man on the planet who hasn’t at least thought about putting a bar in his home.

Bars were once thought of as the man’s haven, where he and the buddies would congregate and drink beer after beer. But with entertaining groups becoming more popular, they are leaving the basement and entering the main home.

When building a wet bar, you have to take two main issues into consideration: water and power. You will need a hookup to the water system for the sink, but if you plan on having any kind of appliance, such as a dishwasher or other electrical appliance, you’ll need to factor in the load on the fuses.

Many budding bar owners were full of pride when they first used their bar, but that changed to despair when the fuse blew because of the neon beer signs. It’s best to contact an electrician to help with this, because you need someone who understands how much electricity your fuses can handle. Also, you are mixing a new water supply with a new electrical system, and that spells disaster for a do-it-yourselfer.

The functionality for a wet bar has changed, as well. In many areas, it’s used as a secondary kitchenette. If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving party, then odds are that your main sink and the bar sink will be used for dish washing.

For those who are perhaps a little ashamed of having a wet bar or don’t want the general public to see it, they can be built into a recessed area of the kitchen or covered by false cabinets. I have seen many types of wet bars in people’s homes, from the grandiose to the Do I really want a drink from that? And it is definitely worth putting a little effort into planning and development.

A wet bar is far more than a sink and few bar stools… oh yeah… and the beer, too.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo/2528045485

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If you’re trying to sell your home in today’s market, you may be faced with a lowball appraisal that could threaten a loan. Even the nicest houses are being downgraded, and if your area has had a lot of foreclosures, getting a good appraisal may be next to impossible. However, there are some great techniques that you can employ that can affect your appraisal value by more than 15%.

First, it is important to know where to start in your home. If you have a basement that is not yet finished, you may think that adding some rooms and living space down there will help your appraisal. In actuality, it is the above ground living space that is worth more, so you will want to focus your efforts on the first floor.

While painting, cleaning and generally keeping the house tidy can affect an appraisal, it won’t do much good if you’re looking for a big jump in the amount. What you need to do on the inside of your home is work on bringing in appliances and fixtures that are valuable, both in perception and in use. For example, adding a marble countertop to your kitchen will add more value than covering an old one with contact paper (and yes, that is pretty common.)

Likewise, completely redoing and remodeling your kitchen to include brand new stainless steel appliances will also bump your appraisal up. When you’re looking at the interior of your home, the focus needs to be on items that matter, such as those mentioned above. However, the interior is secondary to the exterior when it comes to a high appraisal value.

By focusing on the exterior of your property you can see a huge improvement in the overall appraisal amount. Landscaping alone can be responsible for a low or a high appraisal, depending on how it is done. According to a Gallup poll, landscaping can increase the overall value of a home by 7 to 15%. Let’s say your home is worth $250,000. The right landscaping has the potential to change that to $287,500 or more.

One tree can be worth anywhere from $1000 to $10,000, once it is mature. If you think about how little it takes to plant one tree, that is very impressive. So, your first focus should be on the yard area and your overall landscaping. Hiring a professional company can help, but most of these tasks can be completed on your own.

How your house looks will also have a big impact on the appraisal value. If it has been a few years since you painted, or your yard is full of junk, this will result in a lower appraisal. Your goal is to make your house look like a million bucks from the street, and this will help you get a higher appraisal. In addition, by focusing on that curb appeal, you’ll be much more likely to sell the home for the full amount that you need.

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