PAGE 14 PRESS & DAKOTAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FALL...
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PAGE 14 PRESS & DAKOTAN ■ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter Changing seasons can be tough on a lawn. Always exposed to the ele- ments, lawns can fare especially poorly upon the arrival of winter, a season known for its harsh and unforgiving weather. Even the most perfectly mani- cured lawn can suffer at the hands of winter weath- er, causing homeowners to sit idly by and hope spring arrives that much sooner. But as punishing as winter weather can be on a lawn, homeowners are not without recourse. Much like homeowners can take steps to help their lawns survive siz- zling summer heat waves during the warmer months of the year, they also can take steps to help their lawns make it through the often stormy weather syn- onymous with winter. * Don't procrastinate. Putting off the process of winterizing a lawn can put that lawn in jeopardy. Lawns will turn dormant the closer you get to win- ter, and they may reject the nutrients found in fer- tilizer as a result. Those nutrients will prove valu- able once spring weather returns, so start the win- terization process in early fall so the lawn has suffi- cient time to absorb nutri- ents and strengthen itself for the seasons to come. * Treat trouble spots. Summer can be even hard- er on a lawn than winter, especially for those lawns located in regions where heat waves and drought are common. In such instances, certain spots on the lawn seem to be hit harder than others, and those spots should get special attention when winterizing the lawn. Check the soil's pH levels before fertilizing or apply- ing any treatments. Such a test will reveal which spots need the most atten- tion, and treating trouble spots now will make spring lawn care that much easier. * Aerate the property. Aerating can help a lawn recover after a long sum- mer and help it survive the potentially harsh months that lie ahead. Aerating, which involves puncturing the soil or removing cores of soil from the ground, can restore a lawn to health by improving its drainage and allowing more water and air to reach the roots of the grass. Aerating also makes it easier for nutrients to penetrate the soil, which encourages a healthier lawn over the long haul. Aerators can be pur- chased or rented, but homeowners uncomfort- able with the process may want to enlist a profession- al to tackle the job. Parents of small children who spend lots of time in the yard may need to aer- ate their lawn more than most, as heavy lawn traffic compresses the soil, a potentially harmful process that can be reversed via aeration. * Take steps to strengthen the roots. Aerating pro- motes stronger roots, but homeowners might also want to find a winterizing product with potassium and phosphorous, both of which can strengthen roots. Different types of lawns will respond differ- ently to certain winteriz- ers, so discuss your options with a lawn care professional who can help you find the right fit for your property. * Remove debris from the lawn. Debris left on a lawn over the winter can prove very harmful. Piles of debris left scattered around a lawn can suffo- cate the blades of grass, leading to long-term dam- age and a potentially unsightly lawn come the spring. In addition, piles of debris might make good homes for organisms that can damage the lawn. As fall moves into winter, periodically remove all debris, including leaves and branches fallen from trees. * Make the lawn off-limits once the temperatures dip below freezing. A lawn should be off-limits once the ground freezes. Stepping on grass that has frozen will leave notice- able footprints, and walk- ing on frozen grass can kill the turf. When winter arrives, people should avoid using the lawn as a shortcut into and out of your home and stick to driveways and sidewalks instead. ■ Metro Creative Connection Removing debris, including dead leaves, from a lawn before the arrival of winter weather can help prevent suffocation. Home Improvement Projects You Might Want to Skip While there are many ways a person can turn a home into their own unique oasis, some home improvement projects may not be worth the effort, especially when homeowners decide to sell. Some projects may prove a little too personal, making them less attractive to prospective buyers down the road. Though it's within every homeowner's right to make adjust- ments to their homes (as long as those adjustments are in adherence to local laws), the following projects might come back to haunt home- owners down the road. Sports Complex Sports fans often dream of erecting a backyard basketball court or adding a ten- nis court to their property. But such projects are among the more expensive additions a homeown- er can make to his or her property, costing more than popular projects like kitchen remodels or room additions. What's more, real estate pro- fessionals note that homeowners can expect to recoup little, if any, of the cost of adding a basketball or tennis court to their properties at resale, while more popular projects tend to recoup a substantial amount of a homeown- er's initial investment. Luxury Shower Installing a luxury shower, such as a multi-headed steam shower, can add a splash of resort-style luxury to your home, but it likely won't add much to your sale price. Though costs for such additions can vary significantly depending on how grand you choose to go, real estate profes- sionals warn that a luxury shower is unlikely to recoup much of its initial cost at resale. If you simply must give your bathroom a more luxurious look but still want to be a responsible homeown- er, look for a low-cost addition. That can take some of the sting out of not recouping much of your invest- ment at resale. Fully Furnished Home Office More and more men and women are working from home, and some homeown- ers might feel that transforming a room in their home into a fully functional home office is a great invest- ment. But some buy- ers might be turned off by a room that can no longer function as an extra bedroom. The cost of converting a home office into a more traditional bed- room may compel prospective buyers to keep looking or make a lower offer on your home. While a home office might be a good idea, avoid making an exclusive home office room during your ren- ovation. Home Theater Few homeowners would scoff at installing a home the- ater in their homes, but the impression of home theaters as a luxury only the super wealthy can afford might turn prospec- tive buyers away from your home. Potential buyers may be impressed by a fully functioning home theater complete with surround sound, light- ing, a big screen, and all the other fixings synonymous with home theaters, but when they go home to discuss their options, they may feel the home theater is a luxu- ry they can live with- out and opt for a more affordable home with- out a theater instead. A dream home means different things to different people, so homeowners should keep in mind the reac- tions of potential buy- ers before adding too many personal accents and additions to their homes if they plan to sell down the line. ■ Metro Creative Connection Just in time for Holiday Baking Bosch Dishwashers Designed for flexibility & quietness. With intuitive flexibility for easy loading and exterior designs to match every kitchen, Bosch dishwashers are beautiful inside & out. Hurry to save up to $200 on select models - Valid thru 9/28/13 *Up to $105.97 IMS-SPP. Offer good with purchase of an MS180 C- BE, MS211 C-BE, MS251 or MS251 C-BE chain saw through 9/30/13 at participating dealers while supplies last. BUILT IN AMERICA | SOLD LOCALLY Kaiser Appliance Center 2000 Broadway Yankton • 605-665-2082 Includes hearing and eye protection With purchase of select Stihl chainsaws* Carrying Case, Extra Chain and Protective Combo Pack just $39.99 just $39.99 Save $65! ROBERT’S CARPENTRY Yankton, SD 57078 • In Business Since 1985! FREE Estimates! Custom Homes & Remodeling •Siding •Shingling •Concrete •Finishing Work •Tape & Texture •Tile Laying Norma J. Hlavac, Owner 260-0199 661-2529 Robert J. Hlavac 260-2061 660-5627 James F. Byrkeland 665-3059 661-0670 ELECTRIC ELECTRIC ELECTRIC L&S L&S L&S 1600 E. 39th St., Yankton Harry Lane, Electrical Contractor 665-6612 • 661-1040 •New Construction •Remodel •Commercial For fast and reliable quality home electrical work, call the licensed professionals with over 19 years of experience. Same Day and 24-Hour Emergency Service Available License Bonded & Insured Read & Recycle!
Transcript of PAGE 14 PRESS & DAKOTAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FALL...
PAGE 14 PRESS & DAKOTAN ■ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENTHow to Prepare Your Yard for Winter
Changing seasons canbe tough on a lawn.Always exposed to the ele-ments, lawns can fareespecially poorly upon thearrival of winter, a seasonknown for its harsh andunforgiving weather. Eventhe most perfectly mani-cured lawn can suffer atthe hands of winter weath-er, causing homeowners tosit idly by and hope springarrives that much sooner.
But as punishing aswinter weather can be ona lawn, homeowners arenot without recourse.Much like homeownerscan take steps to helptheir lawns survive siz-zling summer heat wavesduring the warmer monthsof the year, they also cantake steps to help theirlawns make it through theoften stormy weather syn-onymous with winter.* Don't procrastinate.Putting off the process ofwinterizing a lawn can putthat lawn in jeopardy.Lawns will turn dormantthe closer you get to win-ter, and they may rejectthe nutrients found in fer-tilizer as a result. Thosenutrients will prove valu-able once spring weatherreturns, so start the win-terization process in earlyfall so the lawn has suffi-cient time to absorb nutri-ents and strengthen itselffor the seasons to come.* Treat trouble spots.Summer can be even hard-er on a lawn than winter,especially for those lawnslocated in regions whereheat waves and droughtare common. In suchinstances, certain spots onthe lawn seem to be hitharder than others, andthose spots should getspecial attention whenwinterizing the lawn.Check the soil's pH levelsbefore fertilizing or apply-ing any treatments. Such atest will reveal whichspots need the most atten-tion, and treating troublespots now will makespring lawn care thatmuch easier.* Aerate the property.Aerating can help a lawnrecover after a long sum-mer and help it survive thepotentially harsh monthsthat lie ahead. Aerating,which involves puncturingthe soil or removing coresof soil from the ground,can restore a lawn tohealth by improving its
drainage and allowingmore water and air toreach the roots of thegrass. Aerating also makesit easier for nutrients topenetrate the soil, whichencourages a healthierlawn over the long haul.Aerators can be pur-chased or rented, buthomeowners uncomfort-able with the process maywant to enlist a profession-al to tackle the job.Parents of small childrenwho spend lots of time inthe yard may need to aer-ate their lawn more thanmost, as heavy lawn trafficcompresses the soil, apotentially harmfulprocess that can bereversed via aeration. * Take steps to strengthenthe roots. Aerating pro-motes stronger roots, buthomeowners might alsowant to find a winterizingproduct with potassiumand phosphorous, both ofwhich can strengthenroots. Different types oflawns will respond differ-ently to certain winteriz-ers, so discuss youroptions with a lawn careprofessional who can helpyou find the right fit foryour property.* Remove debris from thelawn. Debris left on a lawnover the winter can provevery harmful. Piles ofdebris left scatteredaround a lawn can suffo-cate the blades of grass,leading to long-term dam-
age and a potentiallyunsightly lawn come thespring. In addition, piles ofdebris might make goodhomes for organisms thatcan damage the lawn. Asfall moves into winter,periodically remove alldebris, including leavesand branches fallen fromtrees. * Make the lawn off-limitsonce the temperatures dipbelow freezing. A lawnshould be off-limits oncethe ground freezes.Stepping on grass that hasfrozen will leave notice-able footprints, and walk-ing on frozen grass can killthe turf. When winterarrives, people shouldavoid using the lawn as ashortcut into and out ofyour home and stick todriveways and sidewalksinstead.
■ Metro Creative Connection
Removing debris, including dead leaves, from a lawn beforethe arrival of winter weather can help prevent suffocation.
Home Improvement ProjectsYou Might Want to Skip
While there aremany ways a personcan turn a home intotheir own uniqueoasis, some homeimprovement projectsmay not be worth theeffort, especially whenhomeowners decide tosell. Some projectsmay prove a little toopersonal, making themless attractive toprospective buyersdown the road.Though it's withinevery homeowner'sright to make adjust-ments to their homes(as long as thoseadjustments are inadherence to locallaws), the followingprojects might comeback to haunt home-owners down the road.
Sports ComplexSports fans often
dream of erecting abackyard basketballcourt or adding a ten-nis court to theirproperty. But suchprojects are amongthe more expensiveadditions a homeown-er can make to his orher property, costingmore than popularprojects like kitchenremodels or roomadditions. What'smore, real estate pro-fessionals note thathomeowners canexpect to recoup little,if any, of the cost ofadding a basketball ortennis court to theirproperties at resale,while more popularprojects tend torecoup a substantialamount of a homeown-er's initial investment.
Luxury ShowerInstalling a luxury
shower, such as amulti-headed steamshower, can add a
splash of resort-styleluxury to your home,but it likely won't addmuch to your saleprice. Though costsfor such additions canvary significantlydepending on howgrand you choose togo, real estate profes-sionals warn that aluxury shower isunlikely to recoupmuch of its initial costat resale. If you simply mustgive your bathroom amore luxurious lookbut still want to be aresponsible homeown-er, look for a low-costaddition. That cantake some of the stingout of not recoupingmuch of your invest-ment at resale.
Fully Furnished Home Office
More and moremen and women areworking from home,and some homeown-ers might feel thattransforming a roomin their home into afully functional homeoffice is a great invest-ment. But some buy-ers might be turnedoff by a room that canno longer function asan extra bedroom. Thecost of converting ahome office into amore traditional bed-room may compelprospective buyers tokeep looking or makea lower offer on yourhome. While a home
office might be a goodidea, avoid making anexclusive home officeroom during your ren-ovation.
Home TheaterFew homeowners
would scoff atinstalling a home the-ater in their homes,but the impression ofhome theaters as aluxury only the superwealthy can affordmight turn prospec-tive buyers away fromyour home. Potential buyers maybe impressed by afully functioning hometheater complete withsurround sound, light-ing, a big screen, andall the other fixingssynonymous withhome theaters, butwhen they go home todiscuss their options,they may feel thehome theater is a luxu-ry they can live with-out and opt for a moreaffordable home with-out a theater instead.
A dream homemeans different thingsto different people, sohomeowners shouldkeep in mind the reac-tions of potential buy-ers before adding toomany personalaccents and additionsto their homes if theyplan to sell down theline.
■ Metro Creative Connection
Just in time for Holiday Baking
Bosch Dishwashers Designed for flexibility & quietness.
With intuitive flexibility for easy loading
and exterior designs to match every kitchen, Bosch dishwashers are beautiful inside & out.
Hurry to save up to $200 on select
models - Valid thru 9/28/13
*Up to $105.97 IMS-SPP. Offer good with purchase of an MS180 C- BE, MS211 C-BE, MS251 or MS251 C-BE chain saw through 9/30/13 at participating dealers while supplies last.
BUILT IN AMERICA | SOLD LOCALLY
Kaiser Appliance Cente r 2000 Broadway Yankton • 605-665-2082
Includes hearing and eye protection With purchase of select Stihl chainsaws*
Carrying Case, Extra Chain and Protective Combo Pack
just $39.99 just $39.99
Save $65!
ROBERT’S CARPENTRY Yankton, SD 57078 • In Business Since 1985!
FREE Estimates!
Custom Homes & Remodeling •Siding •Shingling
•Concrete •Finishing Work
•Tape & Texture •Tile Laying
Norma J. Hlavac, Owner 260-0199 661-2529
Robert J. Hlavac 260-2061 660-5627
James F. Byrkeland 665-3059 661-0670
ELECTRIC ELECTRIC ELECTRIC L&S L&S L&S
1600 E. 39th St., Yankton Harry Lane, Electrical Contractor
665-6612 • 661-1040
•New Construction •Remodel
•Commercial
For fast and reliable quality home
electrical work, call the licensed
professionals with over 19 years of experience.
Same Day and 24-Hour Emergency Service Available
License Bonded & Insured
Read & Recycle!
