Home Tips

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to revisit ways you can save money and be more eco-friendly. Alvarado Real Estate Group and TAG Family Enterprises to work together to provide resources, products and information to help achieve this goal. Shaklee’s Get Clean products are nontoxic, biodegradable and free of harmful fumes like nitrates, phosphates and chlorine bleach. products are super-concentrated, which means less weight to ship, less product needed to get the job done, and less packaging to throw away. When you use the Get Clean Starter Kit, you help keep 108 pounds...

With the heavy rainfall we've had this summer, you may have noticed water in places it shouldn't be in your home. Basement cracks, damaged shingles, even improperly sealed vents can provide an entry point for water, causing small spots, stains, or (at the very worst) rot, mold, and possible structural damage to your home.

There are other ways water can wreak havoc in the house, though, that have nothing to do with mother nature. Think about all of the appliances you have in your home that use water- the dishwasher, the refrigerator, the washing machine, the hot water heater- and all of the pipes and fixtures that control the flow of water in your home, like your sinks, showers/baths, exterior faucets, and more!

To make sure you're protecting your biggest asset, we thought we would share some great tips from Ryan Waite of Neckerman Insurance, on checking your home for leaks and drips that happen without the help of mother nature.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance...

As homeowners we must be ready and willing to take on home-improvement projects to keep our homes well maintained and in the best condition possible for our own benefit and for re-sale value when we go to sell. In today's Madison WI real estate market you may not be getting your money back on home improvements that you've done in the past couple of years but those updates will help your home sell faster in a market that is best described as a "Price War and Beauty Contest." I have access to many great home-improvement resources. Here are some of my favorite tips from HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse...

For those that are buying Wisconsin real estate now - there are IMPORTANT insider Buyers tips that you need to know about. It isn't as simple as shopping around for the best house, writing an offer, and then moving in. You need to know what neighborhood you want to live in, maybe research schools and understand Madison's short sale and foreclosure market. You need to learn about how market conditions locally will affect

While we're all aware of the health risks posed by lead, you might not realize that even common renovation projects can be hazardous in terms of lead. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), activities like sanding, cutting and demolition can create dangerous...

You've  picked your favorite Realtor, you've figured out a pricing strategy, you've worked for days getting your home in showing condition and now your home is officially on the market, full blown marketing has begun and your beautiful home is exposed to all the world. A big sigh of relief and then the phone rings...a showing...tomorrow? Okay...