Every family maintains an identity that filters into the home. If making your home impressive while retaining the unique flavor of your family is important, implement the following decorating tips.
Surround Yourself with What You Love - Only you know what you love and what brings you a sense of tranquility or excitement. Use the things you love to decorate your home. If you love the quilt your grandmother made, but you live in a glass and steel high-rise, use the quilt as a geometric piece of art on a large wall.
If you take the things you love and make a passionate decorating statement with them, coming home will always be a pleasure.
Know Your Colors - Mixed shades of violet may be all the rage this year, but if you abhor violet and purples in any hue you'll hate being in style. Know your emotional colors and use them to color your home. The colors that make you smile, make you feel calm, happy, excited, or dreamy, create the look. Personal colors make people feel a certain way and using them in your home inspires you and sets a mood unique to you.
Think Textures - Textures in a room add interest. Combining the rough, knobby look and feel of a woolen throw against the smooth canvas fabric on a sofa adds appeal. Use textures as a focal point or accent such as bamboo shades combined with satiny fabric covered cornices. Just think rough and smooth to come up with texture combinations for feel appeal.
Know Your Style - You could hire a top interior designer, but if your home doesn't reflect your personal style then you're not going to like it for long. Knowing your style means understanding that you prefer casual to formal, natural rather than contrived, or French Country over minimalist. Before starting an interior-decorating project, define your personal style.
Use a Quality Primer - Since paneled walls usually have a very smooth, slick surface, you will need to apply primer to cover the paneling and create a surface that the paint can readily adhere to. An application of primer also adds a layer of color so that less paint is necessary.
Begin by painting the deep-set, beveled lines of the wall paneling before you paint the entire wall surface. Use a good quality, thin paintbrush (one half to one inch wide) and paint in all the lines of the paneling.
Next, cut in two to three inches along all edges and corners. Cutting in refers to painting the edges and corners of the walls with a paintbrush, filling in the areas where a paint roller cannot reach or would scrape adjacent walls and ceilings.
With edges and grooves prepared, paint the wall surface with a paint roller. Start at the top of the wall and work in patches three or four feet square. Roll paint in a "W" shape to avoid roller marks, drips, and streaks. With the first area filled, paint the adjacent area below, working from the top of the wall down. Repeat the process throughout the room, continuing to work in "W" formation, until the entire room is covered with paint.
Other Creative Ways to Disguise Paneling - Another decorative way to work with paneling is to achieve a wainscoting effect. Paint the paneling as described above, then hang a trim board along the walls midline. This works especially well if paneling exists only on the bottom third or half of the wall, but can be done as well by choosing an upper wall and lower wall paint color to cover the paneling. Another option is to have the top half of a paneled wall skim-coated with plaster and painted or wallpapered, then create the wainscot look by painting and trimming the bottom half of the panel.
Living with paneling is not a must simply because you don't have the time or money to invest in ripping out and remodeling the walls entirely. A weekend paint project can breathe new life into a paneled interior.
While today's market plays to their advantage, buyers, who should be swooping in to make the most of reduced housing costs and favorable interest rates, are sitting by, waiting.
It is up to you, as a competent and informed real estate agent, to mobilize your potential buyers to invest in home ownership now. When the market turns, today's bargains will be yesterday's missed opportunities.
While it is conceivable that home prices may drop further, it is likely that these decreased prices will be accompanied by increased financing costs due to rate cuts by the Fed. This means that any money saved on paying less for a house in a few months time will be offset by your client having to pay off their mortgage at a higher interest rate making "playing the waiting game" a waste of time (and very little fun).
This rate increase isn't just speculation. Just a couple of weeks ago, in early February, the fixed mortgage rate jumped a full half-percent, making it the fastest rate increase in 20 years.
The table below demonstrates how even as home prices may drop, monthly mortgage payments basically stay the same; due to increased interest rates:
Scenario 1: Prices decrease by 5% and interest rates increase by 0.5%
Scenario 2: Prices decrease by 10% and interest rates increase by 1.0%
Today
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Home Price
$218, 900
Home Price: -5%
$207,955
Home Price: -10%
$197,010
Interest Rates
6.04%
Interest Rates: +0.5%
6.54%
Interest Rates: +1.0%
7.04%
Monthly Payment
$1,054
Monthly Payment
$1,056
Monthly Payment
$1,053
Table: Kadlec, Dan. "Ignore the Headlines!" Time 25 February 2008
Why should your clients spend months in a situation that they want out of when they can begin their new lives in their new home today, with less interest?
Go for Happy, Not for Broke - A quick poll of your friends will probably yield the same result. Their best memories of Christmas rarely revolve around gifts. Generally our fondest Christmas memories are of people and places, not of things.
This year think of giving fewer gifts (less shopping means less stress). Maybe draw names from a hat or decide that only the youngest members of the family get gifts, and instead give a donation to a charity that everyone in the family agrees on. Even better, donate an afternoon of your families time to a charity. Something that will make you grateful for what you have and give you the gift of feeling good about helping others.
Let Someone Else do the Work - It's time to delegate. Let other people help you get ready for the holidays. They don't even have to be family members. Shop online and take advantage of free gift-wrapping. Order a big batch of Christmas baking from the bakery and then only make a single recipe of your very favorite shortbread to round out the trays.
In most cities you can even have your Christmas dinner made and delivered to you. Some hotels have a Christmas dinner in their dining room. If you are stressed about the meal, why not take everyone out for dinner this year. Just be sure to make your reservations early.
It's All in Your Point of View - Christmas brings out the perfectionist in all of us. We bring a lot of stress on ourselves by wanting the perfect tree with the perfect decorations set in the perfect spot. This year try and keep in mind that the tree will not make or, more importantly, break your holiday.
Even if the centerpiece is not quite what you wanted, or you forgot to get the wreath for the door this year, relax. Chances are you are the only one who knows, unless you tell - so don't!
The equity of a home is calculated by taking the current market value of a home and subtracting the debt owed on the property. For example, the current market value of the home is $250,000 and the current amount of money the homeowner still owes to his lender is $115,000. If you subtract the debt of $115,000 from the market value of $250,000, the home's equity is $135,000.
Since the initial down payment builds up equity in the property, the larger the down payment on the home, the larger the amount of equity in the home. In many cases, a larger down payment will equate to a better positioning stance for acquiring a loan as well. Most often, the home and its accompanying land and structures are used as collateral to secure the mortgage. The value of the property is used to ensure the lender that he will not lose his investment.
Once a homeowner has lived on the property for several years and paid into the home loan or mortgage, the equity of the property increases according to the amount of each monthly payment that went toward the principal portion of the loan. If more than one loan has been taken out using the home as security for the loan, the balance of each loan must be subtracted from the current market value of the property to obtain the current equity.
By ARAcontent With the trend focusing on being more eco-friendly, these tips will not only make a difference for the environment and add some green in your wallet, but also make you feel good about yourself for keeping your resolution throughout the New Year.
Light Years Ahead - Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) not only last ten times longer than incandescents, but also use 75 percent less energy. Their cost of approximately $7 each may seem steep at first, but you will save up to $60 in electricity per light over their lifetime.
Control the Flow - According to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense program, Americans consume an average of 100 gallons of water each day. This would fill 1,600 drinking glasses! By installing a water saving aerator in your bath faucet, such as Moen's Water Saving Aerator, you can reduce water flow from the standard 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) to 1.5 gpm-reducing overall consumption by 30 percent.
Take It Down a Degree - According to the Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org), you can subtract 5 percent from your utility bill for every degree you lower your home's temperature.
Here Comes the Sun - During cooler months, keep your blinds or drapes open throughout the day to let in natural solar heat. This simple trick can reduce your heating bills by 10 percent.
Blocking out sunlight with exterior blinds or shutters during the summer can also cut your utilities by up to 33 percent.
Indulge in a Shower - By switching from a bath to a shower, you not only save time, but also money. A typical ten-minute bath requires 30 to 70 gallons of water versus 25 gallons under a 2.5 gpm showerhead.
To conserve even more resources, install Moen's new Water Saving Showerhead. With a flow of 1.75 gpm (industry-standard is 2.5 gpm), it uses 30 percent less water and helps reduce energy costs, as less hot water is used without sacrificing the shower's performance.
Feel the Heat - Have your furnace checked yearly to make sure it's running properly and efficiently; and tuned every two years. Not only will you save 10 percent on your heating bills, but you'll also save approximately 2,500 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Dish Duty - Although bottled water and disposable plates and cups may be enticing for easy use and clean up, they aren't so earth-friendly-heading straight from your trash into landfills. In fact, one billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills every year. Instead, enjoy your food and beverages on washable serving wear. Running a full load in an Energy Star-rated dishwasher only uses 4 gallons of water.
Follow these tips and you'll be on the right track for a "green" New Year! For more information on the new Water Saving Showerheads and Aerators, visit moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).
The assessment process should go room by room. While no room or feature is likely to be completely ideal in every instance, the goal is to play down any negatives and play up all the positives. If the master bedroom is on the small side, then it will be necessary to convey its cozy appeal. Perhaps it has a great view that can be emphasized with new window treatments. Maybe excess furniture could be removed so the room appears larger.
Consider the special features each room offers that make it unique from other rooms.
For example, a kitchen with a built-in hutch might display an elegant collection of china as opposed to various boxes of dry cereal.
Or, a breakfast nook could be set with matching place settings to give potential buyers an idea of its daily use. Play up high ceilings with dramatic light fixtures in keeping with the home's architectural style. Instead of covering them up, keep new windows visible to buyers and highlight them with simple and spare accents.
Sometimes the key to a sale is simply highlighting the home's extraordinary feature(s). This might be a loft in the garage or a covered patio. These extraordinary assets must be kept neat and orderly in order to show them off in their best light. Rather than fill a spacious wrap-around porch with loads of bushy plant containers, place several well-chosen healthy plants in a few spots to highlight all of the room.
The idea for sellers is to make the home stand out by focusing on its best attractions. So, do not keep new carpeting covered up and be sure to draw buyers' eyes to hidden features in some way.
The very first thing you should do when trying to improve the look of a kitchen or bathroom is to replace the faucets. This simple job will brighten up the overall look of your entire room.
Poor lighting or unattractive ceiling fixtures can make a room feel drab and dull. You will definitely want to make sure a new light fixture has been installed in the bathroom and kitchen.
When you are shopping for light fixtures, look for lights on a track that can be pointed in different directions. Not only are these attractive, but also they are very functional. After you have replaced your lighting fixtures, scout for any other dark corners or overlooked areas of the room. Add appropriate light fixtures to these spots, as well.
Windows are another key spot for making sure your kitchen and bath have adequate lighting. Even if your windows look new and clean, some types of curtains may actually darken the room, or cause it to feel small and dark. Consider removing curtains and replacing them with simple blinds to allow as much light as possible. If you prefer or need curtains, choose light, sheer fabrics.
Unused corners can be fantastic to convert into shelf space. Even building a small shelf in a hidden corner of the bathroom or kitchen adds storage space and visual appeal. Also, look for any unused wall space to hang mirrors. Mirrors help bring a sense of openness to a room, and they can even create the illusion of more space. This works especially well with large mirrors, or medium sized mirrors hung in sequence.
Homeowners often find themselves in a position to refinance an existing home loan. The reasons to do so are varied. In many cases, the interest rates on the currently available mortgages have dropped and the homeowner can realize monthly savings if their home is refinanced.
If your income has increased dramatically and you can now afford a home loan with a shorter term, you may want to refinance. Remember that on shorter term loans the monthly payments will be larger, but the loan will also be paid off much more quickly.
Some homeowners find themselves in the uncomfortable position of dealing with rising interest rates as their adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) switch up to the next level.
Higher mortgage payments can place homeowners in a financial bind that screams for the relief of a home refinance.
If you are a homeowner who originally purchased a home as a starter home but have decided to live there long term, the original home loan might not be amenable to this new circumstance. In this case, refinancing the home can be a wise option.
If you are a homeowner with an interest only mortgage, you may prefer to build up equity in your home now, rather than waiting for the interest only portion of your home loan to switch over. Refinancing an existing interest only mortgage can bring savings over an extended period of time and help build up equity faster.
Refinancing a home is also a good way to get additional cash for remodeling purposes. Depending on the terms of the refinance loan, you might be able to borrow more than you need to pay off the existing loan. This will give you additional funds for remodeling projects.
Whatever the reason for refinancing a loan, the end result is usually a positive one. The homeowner typically saves money, builds up equity faster, or both.
Are you about to make an offer on your dream home? This article examines three things that potential homebuyers should take into consideration before they make an offer on a home.
Choose The Right Realtor - Your first consideration is to hire a licensed realtor. Your realtor can advise you during each step in the home buying process, from getting pre-approved for a mortgage to closing the deal. This can be the most confusing and stressful time for a buyer, and having an expert to help you through the whole process will make it much easier.
A Home Inspection is Important - Your second consideration is to ask that your realtor insert a contingency clause into the offer that the house passes a home inspection. Construct an offer that you agree upon together. If you have already visited the home, you may have noticed some features of the house that need to be inspected. Perhaps you noticed obvious problems like faulty insulation or wood rot. Insisting on a home inspection is crucial to protecting your financial interest in the transaction.
Make The Right Offer - The third consideration is to talk with your realtor about the right offer. You need to look beyond the obvious points like the home's square footage, upgrades, list price, market value, and previous selling price. After touring the home with your realtor, reflect upon the need for repairs that you have already observed. For example, if you are looking at a 12-year-old house that still has its original roof, consider lowering your offer based upon the known problem of investing soon in a new roof.
Making an offer is a final step toward buying a home. Use your realtor to protect yourself during each stage of this process. Buying a home is not a small endeavor, and while some people are able to do it alone, most will find the experience to be overwhelming. Your real estate agent can make the process go smoothly by applying professional knowledge and skill to your particular situation. Some things to consider are, good schools, proximity to shopping, parks and recreation.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Many homes built or remodeled in the nineteen-seventies and eighties have extensive, dark wood paneling throughout the home. What was once considered vogue has become something of a decorating nightmare for homeowners. Although updating and replacing wall paneling with sheet rock is the best permanent solution, it is also an expensive, messy, and time-consuming process. If replacing paneling is not an option for you, then painting over dark paneled walls is one fast economical solution to improve upon the look of your home. 
Although we all have dreams of the perfect Christmas, very few of us can manage to pull off Christmas like a Martha Stewart event without nearly losing our minds in the process. Here are three suggestions to help you keep your sanity and perhaps adjust your expectations so you can enjoy the holidays instead of enduring them.
With the trend focusing on being more eco-friendly, these tips will not only make a difference for the environment and add some green in your wallet, but also make you feel good about yourself for keeping your resolution throughout the New Year. 
When preparing to sell a home, it is necessary to assess the house's main selling points. A house's best features don't always speak for themselves to buyers and they might require some highlighting on the part of the sellers. This article discusses ways to make the most of your homes best features.
If you are looking for inexpensive and easy do-it-yourself projects that will help you increase the selling potential of your home, look no further. With a little creativity and an eye for detail, your kitchen and bathroom can become the best selling point of your entire house.
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