Time Magazine and AOL Real Estate each have lists of the most significant news in real estate in 2011:

AOL’s #1: “Foreclosure Crisis”

The “emotional and economic distress.” The “drag on a recovery.” The “tighter lending practices.” The robo-signing scandal. The prospect of a settlement that will only result in more foreclosures.

Time’s #1: “Robo-Signing Reverberations”

The record average foreclosure processing time of 2011 (631 days) can be directly linked to the speedy foreclosure processing scandal in 2010 — without proper or complete documentation. Many homes are still stalled somewhere mid-process, but when a settlement with the banks is reached, experts expect to see a distinct increase in foreclosure volume in 2012.

Time’s #2: “The Debt Ceiling and the Budget Deficit”

“One idea that both Republicans and Democrats didn’t totally disagree about was reducing the mortgage interest and other tax deductions. If and when that happens, high-income homeowners with mortgages would pay a lot more in taxes.”

AOL’s #3: “Bankrupt Policy”

The very definition of too little, too late — the administration’s multiple attempts to support homeowners in distress (HAMP, HARP, EHLP, or 2MP) all fell flat, failing to reach a substantial percentage of their intended beneficiaries and/or failing to provide substantial assistance.

Time’s #4: “Natural Disasters Cause Insurance Disaster?”

The federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NIFP) is still reeling from Katrina, a problem for the housing market that felt the spotlight when Irene struck this year. In a catch-22 of nearly epic proportions, if NFIP goes under, flood insurance goes away, bringing the housing market in flood-prone areas to a dead stop— as you cannot get a mortgage without flood insurance.

Check out this charming cape home located on the east side of Bennington. This home has many features to offer such as hardwood floors, natural woodwork throughout, wooden french doors, livingroom with fireplace and bay window, formal dining room with bay window, kitchen with maple cabinets, master suite with 3/4 bath and walk-in closet, two bedrooms upstairs with bonus attic space with potential to finish more living space.

This home has many updates with a new 50 year roof in 2010, furnace and hot water heater were put in aprox 4 years ago, and a dishwasher aprox 1 year ago.

There is a two car garage with a carport on the side. The yard has flower beds throughout, a medtation area in the back as well. Click on this link to get a virtual tour of this home.

Call Donna Poulen at RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty for a showing at 802-447-3210.

Should you replace that door yourself?

Will that couch fit there?

Which green is the perfect color for your living room?

Technology makes it easier than ever to plan, visualize and research your choices for making changes to your home before you ever move a chair, paint a wall or change a fixture.

ColorJive — painting a room a different color is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact in your home. With ColorJive’s online tool, you can upload an evenly lit photo of the room in question and try different colors on the wall – and even find the exact paint color from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams.

ShowOff.com — whether you want to change the couch in your family room or add a deck to the back of your house, getting a preview of the final results can help you figure out what will (and won’t) work for your space. ShowOff.com is a free online tool that uses photos of your actual home and then lets you go through a variety of projects and products to visualize the end result. The tool can even help you request bids from local contractors.

DIYorNot — turns out, doing something yourself is not always the better, or even cheaper, option. Available online and also via a mobile web app (m.diyornot.com) for smartphones, DIYorNot helps you figure out how much a project will cost if you do it yourself or if you hire someone to do it for you (the site allows you to enter your zip code to improve accuracy of cost estimates). In addition to project DIY tips and advice if hiring a pro for the job, most projects also include a thumbs up or down to indicate whether the site’s readers would do it themselves or not.

Wherever you live, storms of some kind most likely pose a threat to your landscaping at some time during the year. Hurricanes, rain storms, ice storms, snow storms — they can all cause damage from minor to major.

The University of Minnesota|Extension lists three things to remember when it comes to storm damage to your landscape:

Prediction — Predicting tree damage has less to do with listening to the weather reports and more to do with issues that may exist in your landscaping that make it more vulnerable during a storm. Look for decay and existing site problems; problems in a single branch are less worrisome than issues in the trunk. A common test recommends that “for every 3 inches of branch or stem diameter, solid wood should comprise at least 1 to 1.5 inches. Anything less than that often indicates a branch or stem that is more likely to fail during a storm.”

Find more detail on Predicting Tree Failure here.

Prevention — Monitor, prune, protect. Keeping your eye out for potential problems early gives you the opportunity to nip a small problem in the bud, before it becomes a big problem. Although pruning is necessary, improper pruning can do more harm than good. Protect your landscaping from new wounds and potential weaknesses from machines such as mulchers and trimmers; consider mulching and staking your trees to safeguard against accidental injury.

Find more detail on Preventing Tree Damage here.

Treatment — for all but the most minor damage, experts recommend consulting with an expert — if chainsaws or ladders are required, if power lines are down, if you’re not sure the tree is worth saving — those are all signs that a qualified arborist should be called in. Treating storm damaged landscaping can range from corrective pruning to cabling and bracing (see more detail on these and more treatments here).

More resources for preventing and recovering landscape damage from storms:

• Can Your Storm-Damaged Tree be Saved? (HouseLogic)
• Transforming a Storm-Damaged Landscape (Eco Landscaping)
• Storm damage prevention and treatment (University of Florida)

Solar tube or Skylight? Consider the following:

1. Solar Tubes Cost less — according to DIYorNot.com, the national average to install a solar tube yourself is $250 (by a pro the average cost is $483), while the cost to install a regular skylight yourself averages $375, and to have it done by a pro, $597. (To see the average project costs specific to your zip code, click here.)
2. Solar Tubes Are Easier to Install —unlike skylights, solar tube installations do not require new drywall, paint or major structural changes to your roof or framing. Solar tubes are designed to fit between rafters and other structural elements in your home. (See HGTV.com’s Installation guide for more details.)
3. Solar Tubes Can Move the Light —while skylights function as “window” on your roof, solar tubes can be installed to bring the sunlight to spaces without direct rooftop exposure to the sun (even through the second floor to a room on the first floor). Available in a variety of sizes, solar tubes are a particularly good solution for hallways, closets and small spaces.
4. Solar Tubes Are More Energy Efficient —because they are smaller than traditional “window” skylights, solar tubes are responsible for losing less heat in the winter and letting in less heat in the summer.
5. Solar Tubes Are Gentler —by diffusing the sunlight through reflecting it down the tube, solar tubes filter the impact of UV light on furniture, draperies and carpets.

Some popular manufacturers of tubular skylights include:

• Solatube
• Velux
• ODL
• Natural Light
• Sun-Tek

Home owners using licensed contractors for remodeling work typically don’t have to get involved with permitting. Most licensed contractors will handle the cumbersome process for them—filling out the paperwork with the municipality, collecting fees, and being present for the required inspections, says Michael Hydeck, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. But when home owners tackle do-it-yourself projects or use unlicensed contractors, they risk problems later.

The permit process varies widely from city to city and state to state). But the purpose of the document is the same everywhere: It offers ­assurance by a municipal building department that the work being done meets all safety codes.

Ask Sellers Before You List

Home owners may be asked about permits in the process of selling a home. At closing, they may have to disclose any remodeling work they did and verify permits. A home inspector evaluating a property for a buyer may want to know whether a permit was obtained. Furthermore, the buyer’s appraiser may want to see permit records to check the legality of any home renovations.

“If no permits are found and it’s obvious the home has been renovated, the bank will likely refuse to make the loan,” according to the American Bar Association’s book Legal Guide to Home Renovation (Random House Reference, 2006). If the permitless work isn’t discovered until after closing, the home’s value could even be subject to a lawsuit, such as in cases when an addition added extra square footage to the home’s value but the construction wasn’t done legally with a permit.

That’s why contractors and legal experts say real estate practitioners are well advised to ask sellers before they take on a listing for a renovated home: “Did you get a permit for that?”

Remodeling contractor John Price in Merced, Calif., has been called in to help home owners after permit problems have been uncovered. He once worked with a home owner who installed siding by himself, but added it too far down along the wall of the house, so it rubbed up against dirt and picked up moisture. Eventually the poor installation led to mold growing in the drywall throughout the inside of the house.

Some home owners, however, are tempted to sidestep the permit process not wanting to pay the fees (municipalities generally charge a minimum issuing fee—such as $25—as well as an additional fee—sometimes 1 percent—of total construction costs), or they might not want to risk delaying a project or a sale by waiting for city inspections (obtaining permits can take anywhere from a day to six weeks or more).

“People have strong incentives to cheat, and some of that lays squarely on the feet of policymakers who have sometimes created a system that is time-consuming and frustrating,” Price says.

But caught without a permit during resale, home owners may face big consequences. They may have to pay fines (possibly up to quadruple the original permit cost) or may have to tear the project down and redo it.

Virtually No Job Is Too Small

Home owners making any changes to the structures of a home will likely need a permit—and you may need more than one, Price says.

While kitchen and bathroom remodels and housing additions are obvious permit candidates, people may not realize they might also need one for such projects as installing a window, adding a new light switch, or replacing a shower. “There are not too many jobs you don’t need a permit for,” Hydeck adds. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Those blue, green and orange sprays and aerosols so commonly used to clean windows, counters, stove tops and ovens can add up on your grocery bill, not to mention what they might be doing to your health. Vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice are effective natural alternatives that are healthier and less expensive than their chemical counterparts.

To wash your windows: mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray on your windows, mirrors and glass surfaces. For a streak and lint free clean, use old newspapers instead of paper towels.

To clean your oven: make a paste of vinegar, baking soda and water and spread inside your oven. Leave for an hour or overnight and then wipe away with a damp towel (use a spatula to scrape up any stubborn patches).

To remove wallpaper: a mixture of equal parts hot water and vinegar applied with a sponge too old wall paper will loosen the adhesive.

To remove lime scale: squeeze fresh lemon juice onto target area and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe away with a damp cloth. (For lime deposits in your kettle, put a few tablespoons into a few cups of water and boil in the kettle. Swirl and pour out.)

For more natural cleaning recipes, check out these resources:

• EarthEasy’s Non-Toxic Home Cleaning
• EcoCycle’s Alternative Cleaners and Recipes
• eHow’s How to Use Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean
• VinegarTips: 1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar
• Ecology Center’s Alternative Cleaning Recipes

For information on the health hazards of chemicals commonly found in household cleaners, visit Gaiam’s 8 Household Cleaning Agents to Avoid.

Did your grandmother always keep a clean home? Ever wonder how on earth she did it? Here are a few of her simple tips from days gone by that she may have forgotten to tell you that will surely help you keep your house tidy and neat all year round.

1) Got moths in the closet? Well these nasty pests have been around long before moth balls. Try hanging an old nylon stocking filled with cedar chips to keep these pests out of your sweaters.

2) Want a simple air freshener in your bathroom? Try spraying some perfume on the light bulb, when it is turned off. When your guest turns on the light, the heat from the bulb will evaporate the perfume and release its fragrance.

3) Last month’s leftovers leave a funny smell in your refrigerator? Clean it with a mixture of three tablespoons baking soda dissolved in250ml warm water to get rid of the smell.

4) Is your home starting to feel like a cave? Try cleaning your light bulbs. Dust can vastly decrease light intensity. Clean them with a slightly damp cloth or sponge after you’ve turned them off.

5) White toothpaste doesn’t only keep your mouth white and sparkling, it is an all-around cleaning preparation. Use it to successfully remove stains on wooden furniture, painted walls, and clean your silver jewelry too!

6) Did you hang the holiday decorations with double sided tape? Olive oil can help clean glue, removing residue from stickers and decals. Apply some oil, and when it is saturated rub them off with a wet rag.

7) Want to add a little more light around the home? Choose LEDs accent lighting; they won’t produce heat like conventional bulbs, and they will save you on your next energy bill.

Is your home feeling a little drafty? Perhaps it’s time to change your weather stripping. An easy way to check is close a dollar bill in the door. If it comes out easily, it’s probably time to replace.

9) To prevent soot from coming out of the fireplace first, dust the logs with salt before firing. Salted like this, the fireplace will also burn longer.

10) Need to clean your candleholders? An easy way to take off the wax is put them in the microwave oven on low power. After a minute or two the wax will melt off. DON’T PUT METAL CANDLEHOLDERS IN THE MICROWAVE. You can also use the opposite method-place the candleholder in the fridge for an hour, afterwards the wax will detach very easily.

It turns out that protecting your home from and preparing your family for a zombie attack can be quite useful. As the Director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) puts it,  “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack.”

Here are some tips from This Old House and the CDC on the best zombie defense.

1. Prepare for a siege —create a Zombie All-Hazards Emergency Kit that includes water, non-perishable food, wooden stakes, a flashlight, basic tools, a battery or hand-crankable radio and a gun loaded with silver bullets if you can get your hands on some.

2. Dismantle your staircase — retreat to your upper floors and eliminate all access from downstairs. In the panic of attack, you might be reduced to smashing your stairs to bits, but a little advanced planning will enable you to take it apart for re-assembly post apocalypse.

3. Power tools are not your friend —there is plenty of precedent for zombies finding nearby power tools and wielding them with deadly effect. Drain the power, bury the tools or break them, but do what you can so they can’t be used against you.

4. Strengthen your siding — fiber-cement siding is the most likely to withstand zombies scratching and kicking the outside of your home to get to you. Not to mention, replacing your current exteriors with fiber-cement siding ranks number one in Hanley Wood’s Cost vs. Value report for projects costing more than $1,200, returning an average of 83% of your investment when you sell your home.

5. Don’t let them know you’re home —keep your curtains closed and your shades down. Cellular shades and wood blinds both offer adjustable light as well as helping to control the temperature of your home, keeping the heat out in warm months and keeping it in during cooler times, which might come in handy if your fuel supply is threatened during a zombie invasion.

For more tips on defending your home, see this step-by-step guide from This Old House.

Prevention, not procrastination, is a homeowner’s best friend. Luckily, there are websites, magazines, tv shows and news items aplenty to help homeowners recognize, prioritize and address common home maintenance issues.

 “Mr. Fix-It” himself, Lou Manfredini, who hosts House Smarts TV and is the home improvement contributor for NBC's Today Show, recently released his list of common mistakes and solutions. “Very often, homeowners miss the warning signs that there is a problem or look for short-cuts to save money around the home. However, emergency repairs can end up costing more in the long run, so it's important to be aware of common home maintenance mistakes."

1. Change is a good thing — change heating and cooling system filters regularly

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that homeowners change the filters in their heating and cooling systems at least every three months. Clogged, older and over-used filters may cause the system to work harder and run longer, costing more in energy costs and repairs over time. 

2. Mind the gap — keep an eye out for loose tiles and gaps in the grout

Check the grout in between bathroom tiles annually, especially around wet areas. Gaps in grout can result in water seeping behind the tiles, causing damp patches, risk of water leaking into other rooms and loose tiles.

3. Water can do more than make your hair curl — check your roof regularly

Once or twice a year, take a good step back (about 50 feet) and check your roof for curled shingles, which generally mean there’s a leak in your roof. If you think some shingles look suspect, call a licensed roofing contractor for a more thorough inspection and assessment.

(for more tips from Mr. Fix-It, see his “Home Maintenance Mistakes Will Cost You”)

HouseLogic, an online homeownership resource from the National Association of Realtors®, also offers a wealth of information on keeping your home in tip-top shape, including Home Maintenance 101.

4. Less water, less noise, less money — fix running toilets to save water and money

Running toilets can not only be annoying with their constant noise, they waste water and cost money. The EPA estimates that constantly running toilet can waste 200 gallons of water or more a day.

5. Preparation prevents panic — become familiar with controlling your utilities

If water starts rushing into your home, do you know how to shut off the main water line?  What about the gas and electricity? The best time to find out how to shut off your utilities is when there is no urgent reason to. Everyone in your household should feel comfortable turning off the water or electricity if needed.

For home maintenance videos, tips, instructions and more, visit these sites:

Home Inspector Locator’s Home Maintenance Guide

House Logic’s Maintenance & Repair

The EPA’s Fix a Leak reviews finding a fixing a multitude of common household leaks

FEMA’s Utility Shut-off and Safety