Condo Association Newsletter Helps Owners Feel More at Home.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc. Creating a newsletter with all the neighborhood news informs home owners and helps them become part of the family. Condo Association Newsletter Helps Owners Feel More at Home.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc. If your neighbors are willing to share their email addresses, circulating an electronic newsletter is cheaper than printing copies. Image: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images Peek behind the curtains at strong, connected condominium and homeowners associations, and you'll find leaders who believe in frequent and open communication. A longstan... 11/29/2010

Master Closet Organization and Layout.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez Clifton Park NY Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction, Custom Home Builder in Burnt Hills NY. Master Closet Organization and Layout.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez Clifton Park NY Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction, Custom Home Builder in Burnt Hills NY. A 10x10 closet should provide enough space for two people's needs, plus enough elbow room to reach everything comfortably. Image: ClosetMaid Remodeling a master bedroom, adding on a master suite, or building a new home all afford opportunities to create your ideal master closet. Use these organization and storage ideas to develop your personalized plan of... 11/09/2010

Meet the Families of Foreclosure. We all know why some people have found themselves facing foreclosure-but too often what we "know" is wrong. When her law firm closed and her marriage ended, Marcia Johnson was left with more debt than she could handle. Image: Cliff Jette for HouseLogic We read the statistics about the number of home owners facing foreclosure and listen to the conventional wisdom telling us what the causes are. But no list of numbers brings home the foreclosure crisis more clearly than profiles of the people who are actually fighting to stay in their homes. As we conducted these interviews with Americans around the country, we discovered that while there are patterns-lost jobs, failed business, illnesses, and broken marriages-each case represents a unique mix of causes. ... 10/14/2010

Home Business Insurance: Protect Office Equipment From a Pounding. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction. Home business insurance is a must-have to protect your home office equipment and profits from taking a beating. Do your homework before buying home business insurance so you'll be on the same page with the insurance company. Image: Fuse/Getty Images If you think your homeowners insurance policy also protects your home office equipment, think again. Only a business owners policy provides the home business insurance you need when your computer, fax, or printer get whacked by a natural or man-made disaster. Here's what you need to know about home business insurance that protects your home-based business from your worst nightmares. Learn the home business in... 10/08/2010

Storage Solutions: The Secret Life of Pocket Doors.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Gain storage space and usable square footage by installing pocket doors. Because a pocket door slides into the wall instead of swinging open and shut, you'll gain a lot of storage space next to the door. Image: Johnson Hardware Storage Solutions: The Secret Life of Pocket Doors.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Pocket doors maximize under-utilized areas around doorways and transform them into smart storage spots. The swing of a standard interior hinged door eats up as much as 10 ... 10/06/2010

Between-the-Studs Shelving and Storage: Find Your Niche in Life.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Recessed, between-the-studs shelving and storage niches help you de-clutter and stay organized without sacrificing valuable square footage. You can buy recessed medicine cabinets that are customized for your storage needs. Image: Handcrafted medicine cabinets by Wood Essentials  Between-the-Studs Shelving and Storage: Find Your Niche in Life.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Your home is hiding hundreds of square feet of potential storage space. Utilizing this organi... 10/04/2010

Window Seat Options for Storage Solutions.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. A window seat adds up to 13 cubic feet of valuable storage that doubles as attractive, usable seating. If you have an odd-shaped space that would be good for a window seat, have the seat custom made so it'll fit just right. Image: FreeportWoodworking.com Window Seat Options for Storage Solutions.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY.  A space-savvy window seat is an attractive, low-cost way to boost your home's storage potential.   Comfort and storage capacity go hand-in-hand when you add a wi... 10/02/2010

Wood Stoves Burn Wood, Not Money.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Adding a wood stove is an energy-efficient, money-saving way to bring a cozy feeling to your house, if you're willing to spend time stoking the fire. Heating your home with a wood stove instead of an electric, fuel oil, or gas furnace can slash 10% to 40% off your annual heating bill. Image: Lopi  Wood Stoves Burn Wood, Not Money.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Although wood stoves might conjure up images of a smoke-belching potbelly in a backwoods cabin, today's models are up to 80% efficient, ... 09/29/2010

Attic Insulation Saves You Money.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Add attic insulation to lower heating and cooling costs by as much as $600 per year. Blanket-type insulation comes in 15- or 23-inch widths. It's designed to fit with typical framing. Image: Owens Corning   Save about $600 per year by boosting the amount of attic insulation from R-11 to R-49. Depending on the type of materials you use, figure on paying an insulation contractor about $1,500 to insulate an 800-square-foot attic, which pays back your investment in three years. You'll spend about half that to do the job yourself.   Do you need more attic insulation? A good, quick way to check if you need insulati... 09/28/2010

Energy Efficient Fireplaces: Wood-Burning and Gas-Burning. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Energy-efficient fireplaces, both wood-burning and gas, let you enjoy the glow of a fire without letting your home heating energy go up in smoke. EPA-qualified wood-burning fireplaces regulate how much air is used for combustion, reducing energy use and emissions. Image: Industrial Chimney Company   A traditional wood-burning fireplace adds warmth and romantic ambience to a home's interior. But most are energy hogs, converting only 15% of wood's energy into useful heat. Fortunately, new energy-efficient fireplace designs are helping wood-burning fireplaces achieve efficiency ratings of... 09/27/2010

Costs of Adding a Fireplace.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Installing a wood-burning, gas-burning, gel-fuel, or electric fireplace to your house costs $400 to $10,000, depending on the type of fireplace you select. Direct-vent fireplaces, which don't require chimneys, are a cost-saving option with gas-burning fireplaces. Image: Heat and Glo  Costs of Adding a Fireplace.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Installing a fireplace with a brick-lined hearth and a custom mantel can easily cost $10,000 or more. It's also possible to get a similar look for thousands of ... 09/26/2010

Adding a Fireplace: Return on Investment.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Codlwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stweart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Installing a fireplace is a popular project, but don't expect a significant return on your investment. One way to make your fireplace investment pay off is to place it in a smaller room, such as a bedroom. Image: Heat & Glo  Adding a Fireplace: Return on Investment.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Codlwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stweart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. With costs ranging up to $10,000 for a traditional brick hearth and mantel, installing a fireplace is a serious investment. If you're wondering if you'll get a return on that investment, the ans... 09/26/2010

Pellet-Burning Fireplace Inserts Use Renewable Energy and Provide Convenience.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. A pellet-burning fireplace insert makes an open fireplace more efficient and convenient, and lets you burn renewable fuel. Here are the advantages, disadvantages, and costs. A pellet-burning fireplace insert can heat 1,000 to 2,500 square feet. Image: Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon Pellet-Burning Fireplace Inserts Use Renewable Energy and Provide Convenience.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY.  A pellet-burning fireplace insert is a prefabricated heater that slid... 09/26/2010

Wood-Burning Fireplace Inserts Save Energy.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Install a wood-burning fireplace insert if you want to keep the magic of a wood fire but make your open fireplace more energy efficient. Wood-burning inserts can heat from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet, depending on their size. Image: Lopi   If your house has a traditional fireplace, you might love the authentic crackle of the fire and the warm ambience that fills your rooms. But that romantic hearth is costing you money-90% of the heat generated by an open fire goes right up the chimney.The remedy? A wood-burning fireplace insert captures the good vibes and keeps your heat from going up in smoke.   A ... 09/26/2010

Gas Fireplace Inserts: Pros and Cons. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clfiton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Add a gas-burning fireplace insert if you want clean air and the ultimate in convenience. Gas is the easiest fireplace insert to use and requires very little maintenance beyond the annual check-up. Image: Harman Stove Company   Flip a switch; have fire. That's the key appeal of a gas fireplace insert. You still enjoy real flames, but without the hassles of solid fuel. There is no firewood to stack, bags of pellets to dump, and no ashes to clean out. The air inside your house and in your neighborhood stays clean, too. No wonder that about 70% of all hearth products-fireplaces, inserts, and artificial log se... 09/26/2010

Vinyl Flooring for the Bathroom: Stylin' It Up on the Cheap.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY, and Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Vinyl flooring is moisture proof, non-skid, easy to maintain, and relatively inexpensive-a wise choice for your bathroom floor. Thicker vinyl can feature a textured surface, mimicking the appearance of real stone. Image: Armstrong   Your bathroom floor works hard. That's why selecting bathroom flooring isn't quite like choosing flooring for any other room. Your bathroom floor has to be safe even when wet. On top of that, it has to look good without busting the budget. That's why low-cost vinyl flooring-also called resilient flooring-is the top choice for bathrooms.   Going low-maint... 09/26/2010

Linoleum for the Bathroom Floor: Earth-Friendly Beauty.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park  and Stewart Construction Inc in Burnt Hills NY. Linoleum is made of biodegradable materials and is available in many colors and patterns that make it a good choice for bathroom flooring. Linoleum is staging a comeback as a green flooring option. Image: Forbo Flooring Systems   This is your grandma's flooring! Once a flooring mainstay, linoleum is staging a comeback as a green option suitable for bathrooms. It's also affordable. Cost: $2 to $4 per sq. ft.; installation, $5 to $7 per sq. ft.   An earth-friendly option If you lean toward the green, you'll appreciate linoleum's natural, renewable ingredients: linseed oil jute wood flour cork Unlike vinyl fl... 09/26/2010

5 Tips for Saving Energy in the Family Room.  Courtesy of Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction and Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. Reduce your electricity bills by systematically purging your family room of wasteful energy practices. The three biggest energy hogs in the family room are the plasma television, DVR/Tivo box, and digital cable box. Image: Steven Errico/Digital Vision/Getty Images   The fun-a video game console, TV, DVR, DVD, and stereo system-that your family room provides comes with a price. By reducing standby power, using rechargeable batteries in remotes, and replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, you could save up to $130 a year in energy costs. And if you're in the market for a new TV, you can save even more energy by being flexible... 09/25/2010

New Construction Homes for Sale in Clifton Park NY, Burnt Hills NY and All of Saratoga County.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Stewart Construction Inc.  Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems Maintaining gutters is the most important thing you can do to prevent water damage to your home. Mesh covers keep debris from clogging gutters, but they can sometimes be more expensive than the gutters themselves. Image: dmr-gutters.com  New Construction Homes for Sale in Clifton Park NY, Burnt Hills NY and All of Saratoga County.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Stewart Construction Inc.  Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems Gutters are designed to do one thing-channel water away from the foundation-and they're critical to protecting the structural integrity of your house. But in order for gutters t... 09/08/2010

New Construction Homes For Sale in Burnt Hills NY, Clifton Park NY and Throughout all of Saratoga County.  5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage Routine maintenance will help your garage retain its value and keep it trouble-free for decades. Steel garage doors are low-maintenance, yet inexpensive and tough. Image: Amarr Garage Doors New Construction Homes For Sale in Burnt Hills NY, Clifton Park NY and Throughout all of Saratoga County.  5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage If you're like many homeowners, you cruise in and out of your garage without giving the space much thought. While your garage is low-maintenance, it's not a no-maintenance part of your home. Here are five tips for preserving your home's value by keeping your garage in top shape.   1. Keep you... 09/03/2010