5 home-improvement projects to help sell your Plainview, Old Bethpage, New York house this summer

5 home-improvement projects to help sell your home (BPT) - The real estate market has improved across much of the country, but homeowners thinking about listing their homes this summer need to stay competitive to attract buyers. Buyers are looking for long-term homes, ones they want to stay in for years while raising their children, or settling down and retiring. To prepare your home for listing – or simply to enjoy it a few years longer – check out these top five home improvement projects you can do yourself to make your home more attractive to buyers: 1. Give the front door a new look – The front door sets the tone for your home's curb appeal and security, and it signals how well you maintain everything else. Buyers will be walking into your home via the front door, so be sure to give them a good first impression. If your door is in good shape, you might just need to give it a refreshing new coat of paint or new hardware. But if it's seen some wear and tear over the years, consider replacing it with a steel door – one that will show buyers your home is safe. 2. Update the most-used entryway – While the front door needs curb appeal, the garage door is traditionally the most-used door in the home. Old wooden garage doors will start to sag and the paint will peel, giving your home a run-down look. Replacing this door with an insulated steel door will not only improve the exterior look of your home, but also keep the garage space warmer. Finishing off the garage can also be a big draw for buyers, but you probably won't be able to recoup as much of the expense as you would by replacing only the garage door. 3. Add additional living space – You might not think about adding a deck as the same thing as adding an extra room to the house, but if you're selling your home during the warmer months, that's how buyers will see it. They'll be able to picture themselves enjoying breakfast and picnic dinners outside, or curling up on a lounge chair with a good book on a summer afternoon. To make your deck a good selling feature, consider using ProWood Dura Color, a color-treated wood that retains its color for years. This means your buyers can easily move into your house and can enjoy the space without the annual chore of staining. Realtor.com estimates that homeowners can recoup 87 percent of the investment of adding a deck when they sell. 4. Create a bathroom retreat – As the smallest room in the house, the bathroom tends to cost the least to remodel. If you have a guest or master bath that can use a little help to transform into a relaxing oasis, take the opportunity to replace the flooring, add cushy rugs, paint the walls and replace the accessories with more modern styles. Faucets, showerheads, the mirror and even the toilet can all be upgraded with water-saving and stylish designs. Buyers will take note of a maintenance-free bath, making your home one they'll remember as move-in ready. 5. Turn the backyard into a private paradise – Buyers will be visualizing themselves in your backyard when touring your home. They're looking to see how quiet and secure the space is. Consider adding a beautiful wooden fence to enhance the privacy. It will make the home attractive to families with children and pets, and for couples who aren't interested in having a conversation with the neighbors every time they go outside. To make your fence an attractive selling feature of the home, consider using ProWood Dura Color fence pickets or pre-built panels. The cedar-tone or redwood-tone colorant driven deep into the wood fibers will stand up to the sun's harsh rays and won’t gray out over time, unlike cedar fencing. You can match it to the deck coloring for a beautiful accent look that connects the colors in your backyard.

Fresh Organic Produce in Old Bethpage, NY

The Restoration Farm is now open for the season.  Great place to buy organic veggis in our hometown.   The farm has many other outdoor activities as well.  Check out their Facebook page for details.

Plainview Old-Bethpage House Sales May 2015 Mark Schreier LSA, Century 21 American Homes

Below is a list of all the closings for the towns of

 Plainview and Old-Bethpage, New York 

for the month of May 15, 2015

St #	Dir	Street Name	Sfx	Unit #	Town	Zip	Selling Price	Style
3		Midwood	Dr		Plainview	11803	1050000	Colonial
77		Main	Pky		Plainview	11803	500000	Colonial
14		Mahan	Rd		Old Bethpage	11804	687000	Farm Ranch
1		Wayland	Rd		Plainview	11803	465000	Split
16		Coronet	Ln		Plainview	11803	505000	Split
6		Malton	Rd		Plainview	11803	448000	Split
15		Voorhis	Dr		Old Bethpage	11804	660000	Hi Ranch
18		Elaine	Pl		Plainview	11803	465000	Split
4		Nora	Ln		Plainview	11803	710000	Split
10		Sydney	St		Plainview	11803	925000	Colonial
17		Audley	Ct		Plainview	11803	600000	Split
40		Main	Pkwy		Plainview	11803	625000	Colonial
4		Winthrop	Rd		Plainview	11803	665000	Split
102		Palo Alto	Dr		Plainview	11803	368000	Condo
6		Sydney	St		Plainview	11803	855000	Colonial
9		Sarah	Dr		Old Bethpage	11804	435500	Exp Ranch
6		Lillian	Ln		Plainview	11803	860000	Colonial
124		Northern	Pky		Plainview	11803	600000	Split
56		Autumn	Dr		Plainview	11803	435000	Condo
20		Helen	Ave		Plainview	11803	395000	Ranch
17		Spector	Ln		Plainview	11803	517000	Split
84		Sagamore	Dr		Plainview	11803	900000	Homeowner Assoc