Christine Gerbehy

Vinyl Siding and Property Value: Not All It's Cracked Up To Be...

Maybe you've just bought a home. Or, you might be getting ready to sell your home. The house, either way, looks like it's seen better days. The original wood siding isn't in BAD shape, but a bit of "cosmetics" would make a WORLD of difference. You're looking for a cost effective solution. Hmmmmm, let's see...

You've seen an ad recently saying that vinyl siding is an AWESOME choice; It's cost effective. No maintenance. It will increase the value of your home. And, it's not only cost effective, it's downright cheap! Well, there's a bit of fallacy there. Actually, alot of it... It may be a quick fix, and cheap to do right now, but it's not necessarily cost effective.

If you plan to put up vinyl siding on an historic home, don't plan on getting more money at resale... That would be destroying the value of the home. Destroying the history. Repairing the existing wood and repainting will not only give you greater value, it may cost less, too. The other problem with putting up vinyl siding over existing wood siding is that when you install the vinyl OVER the existing wood, they create a "vapor pocket." The styro insulation board makes a barrier to moisture, thus locking it in AGAINST THE ORIGINAL WOOD SIDING. Wood is organic, so the wood will not only rot, it can start to mold. AND, rotting wood has been shown to attract termites and other wood destroying insects. Then don't forget that you have to keep re-caulking. If you don't keep the vinyl sealed properly, that means water gets in, and thus, more maintenance.

If anyone tells you vinyl siding doesn't wear, well, try asking anybody that got it in a dark color. Vinyl siding will start to fade within just a couple of years, the darker the color, the quicker the fade. And, it can't be painted. (Some paint companies will tell you that you can, but the paint WILL peel after a short time.) Like many plastics, with the temperature fluctuations it becomes brittle. So when you see the commercial showing you that vinyl is "indestructable," hitting it with a rock or hammer, that may be true when it's new. But after a couple years, those blows will crack the siding, almost shatter it. Don't get me wrong, but we're talking about this being able to occur within 10 years!

Finally, they will tell you that vinyl siding will save your costs on heating your home. Done right, that is possible. But if the job isn't done PROPERLY, it can end up costing you MORE to heat your home. Also, don't forget that if or when you decide to replace any existing vinyl siding, you will also get charged for the removal of the old siding!

All of that being said, vinyl siding DOES have its place. With new construction type homes, where it is the ONLY siding and insulation, it can be a cost effective solution. No wood rot to worry about, no breaks in the insulation, etc.. But if you're going for keeping property value on an older home, you might want to look into restoration of your existing wood siding first, then make your choice. With such an array of choices, colors, woodwork and the like, for the same price, you might be better served going with the paint and restoration.

CG

Want to own a piece of the Monopoly board?

Then you HAVE to take a look at 320 and 322 N. Habrvard Ave. in Ventnor, NJ 08406. These 2 lots are 2 of only 4 buildable waterfront lots available in Ventnor, and THESE two are located right on the bay channel, with gorgeous views!

Owner will build this MAGNIFICIENT 5700 sq. ft. waterfront home to suit. Plans are shown here, disk available on request. 6 br, 4.5 ba, 2 car garage and boathouse on 1st level, 4 stories, 3 living space. Gorgeous view, right now it's a vacant lot with all CAFRA approvals in hand. Tour of already built identical home on the adjoining lot is available for serious buyers only. $559,000 for the lot, $975,000 for the lot with the completed home. Need more room? Buy lot next door and build wide! Bring your offers. First are pics of the beautiful view, then you'll see the full set of plans for the homes to be built. A walk through of the already-built and sold 324 N. Harvard can be arranged by appointment for SERIOUS buyers only...

Fall is here... Even if the weather has been a bit off, the leaves are already falling, and colors are changing, as is the temperature. That can only mean one thing: Oktoberfest at Smithville Village Greene!

There's all kinds of fun at Oktoberfest... Music, airbrush tattoos, activities for the kids, and even an international food court! Feel like eating INSIDE? There's Fred and Ethel's Lantern Light Tavern, which serves everything from traditional meatloaf to surf and turf. Pizza and Italian food lover? Costello's NEVER disappoints, awesome pizza, entrees, and even has buffalo wings and poppers! Then there's AJ's on the Lake, which serves breakfast all day, and makes an AWESOME crabcake!

There's a merry go round, and a train ride, fun for kids AND adults. There's also TONS of shops to check out! There's the Christmas Shop, where it's Christmas 365 days a year. Gorgeous glass ornaments, porcelain Christmas scene figures by Dept. 56, even ornaments for the fisherman and beach goer (what'd you expect? This IS the Jersey Shore!) There's Bumble Beads if you're into beading/crafting, and Celebrity Collectibles, which sells everything from "I Love Lucy" clothing to the infamous "Leg Lamp" from "A Christmas Story."

(Remember? Ralphie called it "the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window...")

Oktoberfest will be Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd, both days from 10am-5pm. Historic Smithville is locatedon Moss Mill Rd. and Route 9 in Galloway. Planning to spend the weekend? There's lodging at The Colonial Inn at Smithville and The Barn at Smithville. Call and check ahead, they sometimes offer coupons and discounts for stays more than one night. So come out to Oktoberfest at Smithville's Village Greene!

Directions here:

http://www.mapquest.com

Love Ice cream? ME TOO!!! Trying to behave and bypass the sugar and fat? Ugh, me too! The good news? You can find it at YOGO FACTORY!

The really great thing about YOGO is that it's sold by weight, .49 per ounce to be exact. So, if you only want a little, that's all you'll pay for. And you like toppings and mix-ins? Well, they have everything from mini peanut butter cups to oreo cookie crunch to nuts to whip cream. Flavors? PICK ONE, lol! Regular, fat free and sugar free flavors, all of which taste FABULOUS! Irish cream, Hershey's Chocolate, cake batter, white chocolate, cookies and cream, mango madness, and so much more! I believe there are ten flavors, all help yourself, machine soft serve. And, they're all good for you, too! Pro biotic, live cultures, and again, fat free, sugar free and regular style. Now that we're coming into the holidays, I'm told that they have seasonal flavors coming. All my husband had to hear was that pumpkin pie flavor is coming, lol! Then there will be egg nog, apple pie, peppermint stick and Christmas mint.

Here's just the fat free flavors:

Toppings?

They have seating and booths available, and if you'd like to book a party, you can do so online at http://www.yogofactory.com. With over 50 toppings and over 50 flavors, how can you NOT go?!?!?!?

YOGO FACTORY! is located at 319 E. Jimmie Leeds Rd. Suite 804 in Galloway, NJ 08205. It's across from the Galloway Municipal Building in the Risley Square Plaza, next to Dunkin Donuts.

I had time before I had to go to the office, and I was STARVING. I decided to take a ride to the GREATEST find I've found for lunch. Formica Bros. Bakery, located in Kensington Square at 200 Tilton Rd. in Northfield, NJ 08225.

Formica Bros. Bakery isn't just a bakery. They serve breakfast sandwiches, fresh coffee, juices and sodas too. And their deli sandwiches are amazing! Why? Because they use their own fresh baked ciabatta breads to make them! They also have fresh Italian olive salads, stuffed cherry peppers, fresh mozzarella, all of the wonderful flavors that I haven't had since I lived in North Jersey. At Easter, they even had the braided Italian bread with the easter eggs baked right into them! Then there's their French bread, cranberry walnut bread, the flavors are just amazing!

Then there's their homemade soups... Absolutely, bar none, the BEST creamy lobster bisque EVER. And their cream of tomato basil with gouda's no slouch, either! Their sandwiches are HUGE! All sliced fresh deli meats, no pre sliced here. Fresh prosciutto, provolone, capicollo and salami, on top of all the regulars. Sandwiches can be panini style, and they also have grilled chicken sandwich specials all week long... And, don't foget the fresh pepperoni bread!

Dessert you ask? Well, how about fresh italian cookies sold by weight? Or their cheesecakes, different flavors available (I've had the chocolate, the raspberry and the ricotta!)? Their almost butter soaked crumbcake wedges are fantastic! Feeling hungry? Give Formica Bros. a try!