Frederick Md Homes For Sale – The Historic District

The last time the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, made statistics available in 1996, it was estimated that 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste was generated. We can assume that these numbers have probably risen since that time.

Architectural salvage is gaining popularity today. The reclamation or reuse of architectural materials is advantageous for not only environmental reasons; the items salvaged are usually better quality, cost less, and have more character and beauty than newer products.

What used to be a designers secret is much more available to average homeowners in the last 2 decades. Here is Frederick Md, we have the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where salvaged supplies can be bought and donated. Located at 622 North Market Street, Frederick MD 21701 (301)-662-2988.

I did a Google search on Architectural Salvage in Maryland and came up with a dozen places within 2 hours of Frederick. The Washington Post has a great article about where to find architectural salvage.

You can purchase reconditioned appliances at Peace & Plenty, located at 601 East South Street in Frederick.

Frederick Md Architecture

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The Highland  Group
Chris & Karen Highland *        301-831-9947
Turning Point Real Estate “ 301-831-8232
email us: isell4u2@msn.com
Text Us: 301-401-5119

Whether you already own an historic home or are considering a purchase, whether in the Frederick Historic District or other location, research is your friend. Historic homes are a labor of love. The following are some resources you might find helpful:

Preservation Nation
National Register of Historic Places
Maryland Historic Places Tax Credits
Federal Tax Credits
This Old House

The C.Burr Artz Branch of the Frederick County Public Library has records and books in the Maryland Room on the second floor. The Frederick County Historical Society also has a wealth of resources. You can find out a lot of information about a historic home by doing a title search in the records room at City Hall. Happy Researching!

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Search the MLS for your home

The Highland Group
Chris & Karen Highland * 301-831-9947
Turning Point Real Estate “ 301-831-8232
email us: karen@allthingsfrederick.com
Text Us: 301-401-5119

The best Home improvement projects for homeowners to concentrate on are those that focus on   energy efficiency, low maintenance features, and well-used space.   The demand for McMansions has declined in the last few years and instead, many people are demanding smaller houses that make the best use of space and technology.

Maintenance-free Exteriors

According to Remodeling Magazine, fiber-cement siding is one of the fastest-growing products on the siding market. It™s a combination of cement, sand, and cellulosic fibers but looks like wood.   It won™t rot, combust, or become prey to termites and other wood-boring insects.

Fiber-cement siding is more expensive than paint-grade wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding, $5 to $9 per sq. ft., installed. It returns 80% of investment, the highest return of any upscale project on Remodeling magazine™s latest Cost vs. Value Report.

Maintenance is limited to a cleaning and some caulking each spring. Repaint every 7 to 15 years. Wood requires repainting every 4 to 7 years.

A Dedicated Laundry Room

Sometime in the last 2 decades, the laundry room arose from the basement to the second floor where clothes actually are. The next evolution is a laundry room upstairs.

If you’ve got the space, a dedicated laundry room is a great addition that will make a home much more livable.

Kitchens are the Heart of the Home

According to the American Institute of Architects™ Home Design Trends Survey houses are getting smaller but kitchens are getting bigger.

The best Kitchen remodels have open space, maybe incorporating the rarely used dining room, and feature recycling centers, large pantries, and recharging stations.   People are opting for family-sized, mid-range models in appliances instead of the super-sized pricey commercial products that were rarely used. Prep space is important as well as hard-working storage solutions like cabinet organizers.

Storage

People today are supposedly accumulating less stuff, but we still want our storage solutions to be smart.   Built-in storage solutions are popular, taking advantage of previously unused space, like under the stairs and overhead.

Home Offices

More people are working from home more often, as companies discover the cost-cutting advantages.   We are also seeing a surge in entreprenuerial ventures with a demand for dedicated space in the home.

Spare bedrooms and basements are becoming home offices and family room niches are doing double-duty as working spaces.

Energy Savings

We™re focused on energy savings for green (earth) reasons as well as green (cash) reasons. Energy monitors are appreciated by today’s buyers who want to know the dollars and cents of the home they might buy.

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The Highland Group
8923 Fingerboard Road
Frederick, Md   21704
301-831-9947 Direct
301-831-8232 Broker
email: isell4u2@msn.com

TEXT Us:   301-401-5119

Frederick home buyers and sellers have to contend with a lot of real estate jargon. As agents, we’re used to it and sometimes forget to explain terms.   I’ve run across a new term that I actually like and thought I’d spend some time on.

In a market where lots of homeowners are upside down in their home values, the decision to move has to be curtailed and they are forced to live in the space they have.   Some find their space too small and some find it too large.   There is a growing trend away from the “McMansions” we loved in the 90″s and early 10′s, toward smaller, more efficient homes.

The term “right-sizing” has lately entered the real estate vocabulary.

I recently scanned a great book called Right-Sizing Your Home:   How to Make Your House Fit Your Lifestyle, by Gale C. Steves. Gale Steves is more than a designer, but certainly that helps. She has step by step plans with checklists, clever tips and product recommendations.   She helps the homeowner decide what is important to their lifestyle, and how to get the most out of your home, to facilitate that lifestyle.

Check out her blog at Right-Sizing.com for great tips and advice.

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What™s My Home Worth?

The Highland Group – Real Estate Teams

50 Citizens Way, Ste. 400
Frederick, Md   21701

301-831-9947
TEXT US:   301-401-51119

Renovating an historic home takes careful consideration, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Historical and architectural accuracy can conflict with modern convenience, as well as local building code requirements and historic preservation.   Here are the top six renovations to be careful of in your reno planning:

1. Windows:   If at all possible, find ways to adress energy efficiency without compromising the home’s appearance.   The windows in an historic house often convey the charm and distinction of older homes.   Rebuilding the wooden sashes while using the original glass is often the best solution to the dual goal of energy efficiency and historic integrity.   You’ll probably need to hire a contractor who specializes in historic homes.

2.   Exterior Paint and Trim:   Most of the time the particular Historic District will have rules concerning outside features.   They may require period-accurate colors and appointments.   The details like lighting, trim and and hardware should be in keeping with the historic period architecture.

3.   Landscaping:   Doing research regarding plants and garden design of the historic period of your home is worth the trouble. If you are planning hardscape of any kind you’ll want to stick with what was common during the period.   Adding a modern Zen garden to a Federal home can be a negative.

4.   Decks, Patios and Porches:   Adding or renovating these outdoor rooms in styles other than your home’s historic period and architecture can have a negative effect on its value.   These things are permanent and harder to change for someone who might want historical integrity.

5.   Pools and water features:   Historic preservation guidelines can help in deciding what features are appropriate for your home’s architecture and historic period.   These additions can be permanent, so you want them to be accurate.

6. Roof Materials:   As with most outside issues, local historic districts usually have guidelines that must be followed regarding roofing.   There are modern fire resistant materials that resemble traditional materials that are often ok to use, but be sure to check.

Don’t forget the State and Federal Tax breaks for historic home renovations.   Sometimes they will dictate certain historic accuracy in order to receive the deduction. It’s best to research during the planning stage.

Renovating an historic home can be painstaking if you determine to do it correctly, but the work will be worth it when you have an end product that maintains the integrity and authenticity of the historic period.   The Frederick Historic District guidelines for renovation can be found on the City of Frederick website.

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Use our free MLS search to find your Frederick home:

The Highland Group – Real Estate Teams

Chris & Karen Highland *        301-831-9947
Real Estate Teams, LLC
email us: karen@allthingsfrederick.com
TEXT US:   301-401-5119

Frederick homeowners are renovatining their homes for several reasons in today™s real estate market. Many owners who purchased since 2002 have been forced to stay in their homes because they owe more than the house is presently worth. They realize that since they will be staying in their home for a while, they might as well make improvements that they will enjoy. Others are improving their homes to make them more market ready when they decide to sell. When upgrading a home, it is always wise to keep with the standard of the neighborhood.

ROI – Return on Investment

Whatever the reason, making careful and thoughtful decisions about home improvement is very important if you want to get the highest return on investment.   Generally, home improvements do not bring the full return of the cost at the sale of the home, but some improvements bring a better return than others.

Along with National Association of Realtors, (NAR) Remodeling Magazine conducts an annual survey that is one of the most comprehensive on the subject of return on investment when it comes to home remodeling. The 2010 survey has just been published at costvsvalue.com.

The average payback on home improvement projects in the Washington metropolitan area was 64%, with a low of 48% on a home office remodel, and a high of 147% on a steel entry door replacement. (The steel entry door was the only improvement that got the full return on investment.)

The 5 top ROI projects are:

¢ An attic bedroom at 90% ROI
¢ A basement remodel at 84% ROI
¢ Siding Replacement at 80.5% ROI
¢ A wood deck addition at 79.8% (A composite deck has a 71.2% ROI)
¢ Window Replacement (wood) at 78.4% ROI (Vinyl widows bring 76.4% ROI)

What gets the least ROI?

¢ Office Remodel at 48% ROI
¢ Sunroom Addition at 55% ROI
¢ Backup power generator at 60% ROI
¢ Bathroom addition at 62% ROI
¢ Garage addition at 66% ROI

While the cost vs. payback factor is important in planning renovation projects, it shouldn’t be the only consideration. For homeowners who are renovating to be able to œage in place or who need to care for an elderly family member, or remodel for a home office so they don™t have to commute, other issues may be more important than return on investment. For some projects, the satisfaction and quality of life while living in a house that you love is the main priority.

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The Highland Group – Real Estate Teams

Chris & Karen Highland *        301-831-9947
Real Estate Teams, LLC
email us: karen@allthingsfrederick.com
TEXT US:   301-401-5119