Author: karendossey

The different stages of life are many – young adult, newly marrieds, growing families, middle age…and it’s astonishing how quickly the years fly by. Author Gretchen Rubin said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” So true! Before we know it, we find ourselves at the phase of life where we are contributing … Continued

Often buyers specifically look for houses that are part of a Homeowners’ Association so that their investment is protected, and their property values aren’t negatively impacted by the choices of their neighbors.   But sometimes an HOA isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, or their budget just doesn’t allow for everything that needs to … Continued

Unfortunately, water damage is a common problem among homeowners. Many times, you might not even notice it until it’s too late. Then you might even have to deal with mold, structural damage, and other long-term problems. And any house inspection is going to easily find that water damage. So what should you do? Here are … Continued

Obviously, you want to make as much money as possible. No seller wants their potential profit to drown in repairs, upgrades, staging, closing costs, and agent commissions. Unfortunately, it happens quickly. Before you know it, everyone and their dog is making money off the sale of your home. So how much is it REALLY to … Continued

Well, curb appeal might be the ingredient you’re missing. Curb appeal is just what it sounds like… it’s the perspective that prospective buyers get when driving by your house or viewing it from the curb. And just like first impressions, curb appeal is critical for garnering buyer attention and selling quickly for top dollar. So… … Continued

Well, you’re not the only one! According to HomeAdvisor, homeowners spend about $20,703 – $71,423 in order to build an addition to their home. But… how much would a room addition cost YOU? At Hotrod Houses, we’ve been managing real estate in Naples for years now, and we’ve learned a thing or two about adding … Continued

As you already know, making good home-design decisions is important not just so that YOU can enjoy a beautiful home… but so that your home is easy to sell when the time comes. Unfortunately, the expectations of home buyers are changing all the time. So what are the current trends? And more importantly, what interior … Continued

Here are some of the most common pests that homeowners deal with… – Termites – Mice – Cockroaches – Wasps – Mosquitoes – Rats – Flies – Bedbugs – Ants – Spiders Unfortunately, each of those pests can cause damage to your property over time and even create health risks for anyone living there. But … Continued

Well, a home is only as strong as its foundation. So, it’s important to fix these problems as quickly as possible. Typically, cracks in a slab foundation are the result of freezing water that has expanded in pipes beneath the cement. This can cause leaks and, in worst cases, damage to internal materials like doors, … Continued

Nobody likes a dark, dimly lit space, especially when it could be hiding issues in your home. Sometimes we just don’t want to know. But let’s face it, often many of the major mechanical systems in a home are in these areas, and we just don’t like to go down there where the cobwebs, spiders … Continued

Maybe it’s the home you live in, maybe it’s a home you own but haven’t seen in a while, or maybe it’s a property that you recently inherited… Whatever the case, homes get condemned when a government entity determines that the property is no longer fit to live in. (Consistently receiving code violations is usually … Continued

It can be difficult to let go of a home with sentimental value — maybe you remember your parents sitting at the dinner table, or your kids playing in the backyard, or your family sitting around the fireplace during the holidays. Now you’re thinking of selling… and in some ways, it feels like a betrayal … Continued

This happens wayyy too often. Some contractors think that they can do poor quality work and get away with it. Unfortunately, they usually do get away with it… And sometimes the best thing you can do is fire them before they do more damage to your home. Here are some recommendations for navigating this difficult … Continued

We get it… For better or worse, the first thing that buyers see — before they even walk in your house — is the lawn. And if that yard leaves a bad first impression, it can make potential buyers walk away without a second glance. Fortunately, that’s not how the story has to end. If … Continued

We get it… The average amount of time that a house stays on the market is between 65 and 93 days… but for a home that’s not in the ideal price range, in an undesirable location, or not totally updated, that timespan can drag on even past 100 days. Naturally, you don’t want to wait … Continued