Connie Dukes Homes

11/16/2013

"It takes a lot of living to know how to live."

11/08/2013

Did you know that in parts of Germany and Poland, when a couple marries, guests break a whole lot of porcelain. And leave it to the couple to clean up. They do this right in front of the bride's home, usually the night before the wedding. It's called "Polterabend" and it's meant to symbolize the struggles the new couple will face as they build a home together, with an emphasis on working together through those struggles. If you're invited to participate, make sure you break only porcelain (old toilets welcome) and not glass, which stands for happiness, and therefore should never be broken.

11/06/2013

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

- Plato

08/08/2013

There's a common belief that rooms will feel larger and be easier to use if all the furniture is pushed against the walls, but that isn't the case. Instead, furnish your space by floating furniture away from walls. Reposition sofas and chairs into cozy conversational groups, and place pieces so that the traffic flow in a room is obvious.

08/06/2013

FACT: According to the California Energy Commission, a load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37% less water than washing them by hand.

08/03/2013

The kitchen is one of the most critical areas of a home to potential buyers. Keep yours looking fresh and modern by updating old, dilapidated and mismatched appliances. You don't have to buy brand-new items; a used or refurbished appliance that fits the look and feel of the kitchen will work just as well.

07/24/2013

What does your garden say about you?

07/13/2013

Give your yard a little s***k by adding weather-resistant artwork. Choose pieces that complement your home's natural palette and exterior elements. Birdbaths, metal cutouts,sculptures, and wind chimes are good choices for outdoor art. Water sculptures not only function as yard art, but the burbling sounds soothe and make hot days feel cooler. Place fountains on level ground in optimum hearing and sight vantage points. Avoid spots in leaf-dropping range.

07/04/2013

07/03/2013

This fun 4th of July centerpiece takes just minutes to pull together. Fill a clear mason jar with fresh red, white, or blue flowers and add a miniature American flag to finish. Have ideas you'd like to share? Comment Below.

06/28/2013

4th of July is right around the corner, what dishes will you make this Independance Day?

06/13/2013

Sure, real estate lingo can be confusing. That's why I'm here to help.

Conditional Offer
-In general, an agreement between a buyer and a seller that an offer will be made if a certain condition is met. In real estate transactions, conditions can include a home inspection or a mortgage application.Once the conditions are satisfied, the buyer or seller will then be obligated to purchase or sell the property. If the conditions are not met then the buyer or seller is not obligated to purchase or sell the property.

The time frame of a conditional offer is often short, since the seller will not want to tie up the property for an extended period of time. Some real estate agents will still show the property to other buyers in order to put pressure on the conditional offer buyer to hurry up, or will suggest that the seller insert an escape clause into the conditional offer in case a better offer comes along.