diy: 14 Remodeling Projects That Increase the Value of Your Home
- 03/25/19 06:36 AM
Your home is likely your largest investment. Beyond repairs and regular maintenance to keep it clean, comfortable, and safe, there are a number of projects that can increase the resale value of your property. These renovations top the list of changes you can make that positively impact your home's value. Kitchen With the right strategy, your kitchen remodel could return up to 92.9% of your construction investment. The trick is to not overdo it. You don't need to gut and rebuild the entire room. Instead, make strategic upgrades that increase the comfort and usability of the room. Paint wooden cabinets or install new … (8 comments)
diy: 4 Top Sustainable Home Trends
- 08/17/18 09:40 AM
The emergence of sustainable energy and products have solidified the go-green movement. Solar energy and electric cars are just the tip of the iceberg. The impact of products on the environment has become a significant measure about their value. Those same principles are also being applied to homes. Smart homes and energy efficiency have a direct correlation to home values and listing prices. That's why homeowners and home builders alike have an eye toward sustainable trends. These are some of the top-ranked home trends. 1: Durability Matters After the catastrophic weather that damaged and destroyed homes in Florida and the Gulf states, "resiliency" … (3 comments)
diy: 4 Ways To Put Your Home's Equity To Work For You
- 07/09/18 10:36 AM
Homeowners who have equity built up in their homes can tap into that equity using a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. This financial tool can be a great way to accomplish a number of financial goals. Here are four excellent uses of a HELOC for homeowners to consider. Consolidating Costly Debts Credit card debt and other types of consumer loans are costly, unless a debtor is lucky enough to have a no-interest card. Borrowers can consolidate that debt into a HELOC, which is much more affordable because it is a secured debt. This advantage only works if the borrower stops adding to … (1 comments)
diy: Home Updates That Make Good Multi-Generational Sense
- 06/06/18 09:36 AM
Multi-generational households and the growing preference on the part of many retirees toward "aging in place"have altered home design in recent years. Interiors are more open, more functional and more adaptable that they were even a decade ago. Spaces tend to be less formal; living space is better integrated with work space like the kitchen, and rooms tend to serve more than once purpose, both for quiet pursuits and for family gatherings. Universal Design Home design has gained a new dimension -- planning for the future and for a changing lifestyle. Universal design features and amenities that were once off the radar are now very much … (2 comments)
diy: The Humble Vegetable Garden: A Fun, Health-conscious Home Project for the Entire Family
- 05/02/18 11:00 AM
Whether you are hunting for a project that will pry the kids away from their phones or you just want a head start on the spring, few home projects are as rewarding as a vegetable garden. Invest a few hours in planting today, some maintenance throughout the year and soon you'll be enjoying some delicious, home-grown veggies. Ready? Let's get started! Selecting The Right Spot For Your Garden The first decision you will need to make is where your garden will live. If you are new to gardening, you can start with a small patch of land in the corner of your backyard. … (3 comments)
diy: DIY Home Projects: Creating a Study Space That Will Help Your Kids Stay Focused
- 12/15/17 09:53 AM
If you're a parent of school-aged children, you've likely been concerned with their study habits at some point. Sitting down in front of the television or at the dinner table to crack open the books is going to be less efficient than doing so in a quieter, more productive work space. Let's explore how to create a study space that will help keep your children focused and on task. Ask The Kids What They Need To Be Productive Before you get to work on creating a new studying space, it's a good idea to have a chat with those will be using it … (7 comments)
diy: Winter Home Staging Tips That Appeal To The Senses
- 02/07/17 08:48 AM
The cold harsh reality of winter has settled in. And it can be hard to achieve a successful home sale at this time of the year too. But here are some staging tips that might engage potential buyers so you won't have to wait much longer for an offer. Add Accents To Your Neutrals It's often the case that a home with neutral colors will show better because potential buyers can envision themselves in it. But there are ways to dress up neutral tones that will add spark. Instead of leaving your place too ho-hum, try punching up the color palette with … (3 comments)
diy: Investing in a Fixer-Upper: What You Need to Know
- 02/06/17 01:00 PM
With all of the home renovation and fixer-upper shows on television, the idea of completely renovating and re-doing an old home can seem like an enticing premise. Unfortunately, investing in the wrong fixer-upper can mean an awful lot of expenditure without the added financial rewards. Whether you're considering investing down the road or you're ready to dive in, here are a few things to consider first. How Much Do You Want To Spend? It's easy to be swept away by possibility. But before making an offer you'll need to sit down and determine exactly what you're willing to invest into upgrades for … (5 comments)
diy: 4 Mistakes Made by First-time Home Sellers And How To Avoid Them
- 01/12/17 12:22 PM
Many factors go into selling a home for the first time. Some can make it a stressful process, and there are a few things you should avoid for a successful sale. If you're putting your home on the market and hoping for quick success, here are some common mistakes you'll want to be sure to bypass. Pricing Your Home Too High It's entirely likely that there's an amount you have in mind when it comes to selling your home. But it's important that your asking price is in line with the market conditions and what's being offered. Instead of winging it, check … (3 comments)
diy: 3 Things To Consider Before Buying A Fixer-Upper Home
- 09/29/16 03:09 AM
What Will It Cost? If you're going into a home expecting a few renovation costs, a minor detail here or there may not add up to much. However, if you're not interested in spending the big bucks on making changes, you'll want to estimate the cost of renovations you can't live without. By including all the necessary labor and materials, you'll be able to determine if the price-point of your offer will be worth it. If there are any serious issues with the house, it may not be worth your time to consider the purchase at all. Will Renovations Increase The Value? … (3 comments)
diy: Curb Appeal: How To Boost With Inexpensive Upgrades
- 09/23/16 02:57 AM
Curb appeal is the first impression that your home will have on potential buyers, so it's important to make it a good one. Try these simple budget upgrades to give your home the "WOW" factor that buyers are looking for! Crystal Clean As simple as it sounds, it is extremely important to make sure that your house is nice and clean on the outside. This is overlooked by sellers more than you'd think as they become so focused on perfecting the inside of their home that they forget about the exterior! Dirt streaks running down stucco or siding give the impression that … (0 comments)
diy: Don't Replace. Refurbish!
- 08/26/16 07:27 AM
Whether you're looking for ways to refresh your house before putting it on the market or just want to give worn-out elements a second life, look no further. Update the look of your home without enduring the inconvenience, time and expense of remodeling. Here are five areas to refurbish in your home from the ground up! Wood flooring: If your wood floors have endured years of abuse, give them new life with a light sand and stain. You can also paint the floor a solid color or try out a pattern. Cabinet doors and drawers: Instead of spending thousands on new cabinets, you can dramatically improve … (1 comments)
diy: 5 Essential Home Maintenance Skills Every Homeowner Should Know
- 08/24/16 11:03 AM
New homes can be scary. But when you take the time to think about it and plan ahead, maintaining a home is easier than you think. Here are five skills that will help maintain your new home for years to come. Fixing A Toilet It's not as daunting as it sounds. Just remember that toilets work with gravity. The water wants to flow freely. Don't be afraid to open that tank up and adjust the floater and valves as needed. Occasionally run the water (flush the toilet, turn on the sink) in unused rooms, like the guest bathroom, to keep the pipes clear … (4 comments)
diy: 6 Simple Tips For Better Travel Photos
- 04/14/16 04:54 AM
Travel photographs can conjure up so many memories. A well-done photo can even give others a little taste of being there, too. If you've ever wanted to become a better travel photographer, here are six tips for taking better pictures on your next adventure, even with just a smartphone. Hold still: Movement creates blurry pictures. If necessary, rest your hand on something stable or use both hands to hold the camera. Then set up your shot. Look for patterns: Humans love to look at patterns, which can turn an otherwise dull snapshot into an intriguing work of folk art. Patterns are everywhere: clouds, buildings, … (0 comments)
diy: Remodeling 101: How to Create a Proper Budget for Any Renovation
- 11/19/15 06:00 AM
Whether you're readying to put your home on the market or you haven't updated your space in a while and want to modernize, approaching renovations can be a struggle. With so many things to fix up, both large and small, it can seem overwhelming to prioritize, set the money aside and get to work. If you're having trouble figuring out where to begin with budget, here are some tips for how to properly prioritize so you can maximize your renovation expenditures.
Determine What Is Most Important Whether it's the tile floor in your bathroom or the outdated kitchen sink, if the need for … (1 comments)
diy: Painting Tricks: How To Make Your Home Look Amazing
- 01/17/15 04:05 AM
When it comes to painting the walls of a house, sometimes subtle is best. You want to add design, color, and texture to the walls, but you don't want it jarring to the eyes. Here are three subtle painting techniques you can try on your home walls.
Tissue Paper Texture One easy way to add texture to walls is to use tissue paper. You apply the tissue paper to the walls and it stays there until you want something new. Crumple up a piece of tissue paper into a tight ball and then open it up and smooth it out. … (2 comments)
diy: How to Upsize Your Next Home Without Upsizing Your Costs
- 12/31/14 05:42 AM
Size matters when you are buying a new home. Whether you plan to expand your family, need more room for your stuff, or are concerned with resale value, you want to get the most space for your money. Also, if you want to add a feel of luxury to your home, one of the best ways to do it is to create open spaces rather than cramming all your furniture in rooms so tiny you can barely walk around without knocking something over. Traditionally speaking, the larger a home is, the more it costs. If there are two newly built houses … (2 comments)
diy: Selling? Four Ways To Enhance The Value Of Your Home
- 10/29/14 03:41 AM
Whether you've decided it's time for an upgrade or you're moving on to a new city, if you're selling your home you may be wondering how you can boost its value before listing it for sale. Here are four ways that you can spend a bit of time and money upgrading your home before it hits the local real estate market.
Spruce Up Your Landscaping You'll want your home to make a great first impression, and a great place to start is by sprucing up your lawn, gardens and other landscape features. Your grass should be a healthy green, free … (1 comments)
diy: Transform Your Garage Into The Envy Of Your Neighborhood
- 09/12/14 02:12 AM
In some homes, garages are used only for car storage. They may appear to be bare and without real functional use for homeowners. However, other garages may be an envy of the neighborhood - they have floor to ceiling shelving systems, and be the picture-perfect image of organization. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can turn your garage into a much more functional space. Here's how you can make your garage the most useful space in the house.
Determine What You Need To Store One of the most important steps to take when improving the functionality of your … (4 comments)
diy: 5 End of Summer Tidy Home Tips
- 08/01/14 01:00 AM
Hard to believe it but it's already August and the leaves will soon be blowing. Here's a great article I found, courtesy of YOU Magazine, with a checklist of areas around your home that you may want to spend a little time on before the autumn breeze blows. Here's a handy checklist of 5 areas around the home—inside and out—that may require a little attention before the season ends. Spend a little time now for a more care- and clutter-free home later. The Garden. Gardening hasn't ended until your beds are cleared out and the bulbs are planted. Once that's done, set … (3 comments)
NMLS ID: 247026
Colorado Mortgage License: 100019059
Benchmark Mortgage, Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS ID 2143. Equal Housing Opportunity. This advertisement is for general information purposes only. Some products may not be available in all licensed locations. Information, rates, and pricing are subject to change without prior notice at the sole discretion of Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC. All loan programs subject to borrowers meeting appropriate underwriting conditions. This is not a commitment to lend. Other restrictions may apply. Colorado Mortgage Company Registrant – Regulated by The Division of Real Estate #2143
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