guide: Renovation Tips For A Classic, Not Trendy, Home
- 06/23/21 04:34 AM
Here's the dilemma. You're getting ready to redo your kitchen and you want it to be stylish and modern but not trendy. After all, this is the only kitchen renovation you ever plan to do and you don't want it to be outdated before you are even finished with the final touches.
If you're paralyzed because you're afraid of making the wrong decision, we get it. We're facing a similar dilemma here, FYI, with floors that need to be done and so many options from which to choose and no winner (yet) because it's not yet clear if what is currently hot … (2 comments)
|
guide: Tips To Building Wealth
- 06/22/21 05:37 AM
It's never too late to secure your financial future. At BuildingWealth.org, a public service offered by the Dallas Federal Reserve, you can learn how to reach your life goals by budgeting, saving and investing, building credit and controlling debt.
When you understand the difference between assets and liabilities, you know that owning a home, contributing to a retirement plan, and creating savings are all assets in the making because they increase in value or provide a return. Automobiles, clothing, smartphones and furniture are not assets because they depreciate in value. Liabilities are debts that you owe to credit card companies, mortgage lenders, … (1 comments)
|
guide: Landscape Tips to find Home Buyers
- 06/17/21 05:40 AM
A functional and beautiful kitchen, flowing floor plan, plenty of storage, and spacious master bathroom will help win buyers' hearts.
However, often before they see those areas, they see your landscape. It's the curb appeal theory that I'm talking about. Some buyers will decide based on the look of the outside of your home whether they'll even bother to come inside.
If your front yard is cluttered, your exterior paint is chipped, driveway cracked, you'll find that the for sale sign in your yard won't attract as many buyers as it could if you spent some time to clean up and create curb … (2 comments)
|
guide: Tips: Get The Most Out Of Small Kitchens
- 06/14/21 05:45 AM
Many people complain about small kitchens but tiny spaces aren't always to be dreaded. If you're selling your home and your kitchen is, well, compact, know that you can find ways to achieve big appeal with a little creativity.
Bring in the light. Sometimes small kitchens can be dark, making them feel even smaller. But if you remove the curtains from any windows in your small kitchen, it'll let light in and open up the area. Instead of curtains, you can use small blinds that are recessed inside the frame of the window. These are easy to clean and still provide some … (2 comments)
|
guide: Landscaping to Improve Resale: Tips w/i Your Desired Price Point
- 06/04/21 04:26 AM
As the weather starts to heat up each Spring, so too does the housing market. Spring is an optimal time to get your house ready to sell. The first thing that potential buyers will see of your home is the landscaping, so make a great first impression with beautiful outdoor spaces. An investment in landscaping can help sell your home faster and for more money. There are simple projects at every price point that can help you achieve great curb-appeal.
Inexpensive $
1. Keep the Lawn Well-Manicured
The easiest and most obvious landscape project when hoping to sell your home is to get your … (4 comments)
|
guide: Tips To Saving Money On Your Next Move
- 05/27/21 05:55 AM
Buying a house and moving in is gonna cost you. There's no way around it. Right? Well, actually, there may just be a way to make it not quite so painful. A willingness to negotiate and put in a little work plus a little inside info on special deals you can take advantage of can help you cut some costs. Here are eight ways to save money on your move and move in.
1. Don't take it all with you
Furniture you're no longer in love with or appliances like washers and dryers or the fridge you have in the garage can be … (1 comments)
|
guide: A Regional Guide to Staging Your Outdoor Space
- 05/03/21 04:56 AM
Indoor-outdoor living is a concept that's becoming ever more important to homebuyers. And no matter where in the US you live or when you want to sell, you can stage your outdoor space to show buyers how they can make the most of it year-round.
Southwest
With so many gorgeous days on the calendar, a great outdoor space is a must on most homebuyers' wish lists in this part of the country. But the region - which ranges from Arizona to parts of Louisiana - is challenged by extreme heat. To help buyers imagine how to beat that heat, be sure your outdoor … (3 comments)
|
guide: How To Simplify Your Next Move
- 06/01/19 05:33 PM
When you're selling your home, getting your belongings organized can seem like a low priority. You're dealing with finding the right real estate agent, the best time to list your home on the market, and maybe even house-hunting for a new place to live.
All of that can keep you quite busy considering many of us have to do those things while we work a full-time job. Organizing your home so that you can simplify your move just doesn't seem practical.
However, there is one main reason why getting organized can not only simplify your next move but also help improve your chances … (1 comments)
|
guide: Smart Homes: Backed-Up Your Fridge Lately?
- 06/01/19 05:24 PM
Computers may make life easier, but they don't necessarily make things simpler or automatically safer.
This is very true for smart home technology or intelligent home automation which aims to combine internet-connected computers with every aspect of home life. According to Digital Journal, "the smart or automated home applies new technology to control and automate heating, ventilation, air conditioning and security, but can involve appliances as well such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers and many other items."
As Fall Home Shows start to roll out, expect to see familiar and new smart home technology showcased as the latest "must-haves."
According to Statista.com, smart home … (2 comments)
|
guide: Crunching The HOA Budget
- 05/29/19 06:53 PM
Fall is the time when most homeowner associations count last year's costs and crunch next year's numbers hoping to squeeze blood out of the HOA's turnip. Often it's so dry, there isn't even any turnip juice left much less any O positive. But crunch you must. Here are some of the ways to make the cash flow more freely.
Adjust by Inflation. This is a no brainer. Check the area Consumer Price Index - CPI (governmentese for "tax increase") and raise all budget items by at least that amount. An exception is utilities which often enjoy a larger rate increase based on … (1 comments)
|
guide: There are Different Kinds of Community Associations
- 05/29/19 06:47 PM
A large number of American homeowners now live in a community association. But do you know that there are several different kinds of community organizations, and each has a different set of laws, and different legal structures.
Oversimplified, the three main types of community associations are condominiums, cooperatives and homeowner associations. Although all three types may appear to be the same, in reality they are quite different. Before you buy into any association, you must read the operational documents carefully and ask your financial and legal advisors for guidance if you do not completely understand what you are buying.
Condominiums: most states have … (0 comments)
|
guide: 6 Surefire Ways To Get Your House Sold
- 05/23/19 02:20 AM
We're coming to the end of summer, and that means that families seeking to buy a new home before school starts have likely already done their thing. But that doesn't mean you're out of luck if you're looking to sell. Whether you're just getting ready to list your home or haven't had any bites on your existing home for sale, these tips will get it - and you - moving.
Price it right
This is the most obvious, but also the most contentious, tip when it comes to selling a home. Everyone wants top dollar. But rule No. 1 about a house that … (1 comments)
|
guide: The First Offer May Be The Best Offer
- 04/17/17 05:32 AM
Versions of this column have appeared before. It is still true. And for many, still relevant.
Sometimes when everything goes right we have trouble accepting that fact. Perhaps nowhere is this phenomenon more clearly illustrated than in the case where a seller receives a good offer right away.
The annals of real estate are well stocked with stories of sellers who refused to take a good, but not perfect, first offer, and who then waited a long, long time before finally accepting something else at a considerably lower price. And most agents who have been around for a while know to shudder when … (5 comments)
|
guide: Is This Home A Good Deal?
- 04/17/17 05:29 AM
There's no perfect home, but some homes are more ideal for your household than others. When you look for your next home, carefully consider these four criteria - price, features, location and condition. The closer you get to meeting all four criteria, the better your chances are of making a good buy.
Price
In any market, price has to come first. To determine what you can comfortably afford, talk to your real estate professional. He or she can recommend a lender who will prequalify you for a purchase loan. When you know how much you can spend, it will be easier to shop … (1 comments)
|
guide: Appraisals Can Be Challenged
- 04/13/17 10:05 AM
Question: We are refinancing our home to replace an adjustable rate mortgage with a good fixed rate loan. Unfortunately, the appraisal came in low and when I received the copy from the mortgage company I noticed many errors, some of which are significant.
For example, the appraisal statet my home is stone and frame instead of stone and brick. It also omits a finished bedroom in the basement and a porch. The appraiser is reluctant to make the adjustment and the loan officer just does not seem to care. They claim they are very busy, and have to rely on the appraiser.
Discussing … (1 comments)
|
guide: Tips For Moving Into Your New Home
- 04/13/17 10:01 AM
Congratulations, you've bought your home and it's move-in time. Wait! Before you move in, read on to get some practical and important tips.
Change the locks. You've closed escrow and the keys to your new home are yours.
The first thing you should do is change the locks. It's hard to say who may have access to your home. Anyone from real estate agents to the sellers or maintenance people: all could still have a set of keys to your home. Be safe and change the locks first thing.
If the home doesn't have deadbolts on the doors, install them. If the door has … (0 comments)
|
guide: Home Renovations On A Budget
- 03/06/17 05:15 AM
If you’re looking to get the best return on your investment or just improve your property to attract high quality tenants, a kitchen remodel is one of the highest value projects. The most recent cost vs. value report, released in January 2014, shows that property owners will recoup 82.7 percent of the cost on a minor kitchen remodel, an increase of more than five percent over 2013.
The good news is that high value renovations like these don’t have to break the bank. There are a number of options for making improvements to your property that can significantly better its appearance without … (0 comments)
|
guide: Taking Care of Routine Services Before They Become Costly Issues
- 12/14/16 05:43 PM
Your home is your castle. You want to make sure that it looks great on the inside and out. Just like an automobile, a home requires a great deal of maintenance. However, most people think that if it's not broken, then they don't need to fix it. You can save a great deal of money by doing preventative maintenance on the home. Here are some items you need to fix or maintain before they break.
HVAC System
Your home's heating and cooling systems are of the utmost importance. You rely on this unit to keep you cool in the summer and warm in … (1 comments)
|
guide: 7 Tips For A Clean And Organized Holiday Season
- 12/14/16 05:40 PM
The holidays are a magical time of year meant for enjoying the company of your closest friends and family. But playing host to your holiday celebrations can sometimes get a little stressful. Here are a handful of tips to keep your home clean and organized during holiday season.
#1 Prioritize Activities in Advance
It's tempting to overindulge in all things holiday themed. One of the biggest problems some homeowners face is a lack of organization. Start by prioritizing activities and events during the holiday period so you don't bite off more than you can chew. For example, plan:
*Shopping (food, gifts, etc.)
*Decoration
*Time … (2 comments)
|
guide: How to Make a Small Space Feel Larger
- 12/13/16 03:59 PM
Pages of glossy magazines are often filled with immense rooms and oversized spaces full of grandeur and twelve-foot ceilings. But the truth is that most of us live in houses, apartments or townhomes built on a much smaller scale. When faced with the size of some of these tiny rooms, it's easy to get frustrated when you're trying to decorate.
But what if those rooms could feel even bigger? What if you could visually add space with a few small changes? What if there were tips and tricks and ideas to make a small room appear larger?
Good news! There are.
If you're tired … (7 comments)
|
|
|
|
Here's the dilemma. You're getting ready to redo your kitchen and you want it to be stylish and modern but not trendy. After all, this is the only kitchen renovation you ever plan to do and you don't want it to be outdated before you are even finished with the final touches.
;)
;)
;)
