Posts with tag 'Home Improvement'

Are you preparing to sell in 2014? If so, there are several ideas and tips that are useful for staging a home. What exactly is staging a home?  Staging a home is a way to promote a home in the real estate market through using professionals who come in and arrange a home in such a way that it gives a savvy first impression to potential home buyers.

Staging experts are different from real estate experts. While a real estate agent knows the ins and outs of selling and closing, design may not be an area of expertise they are familiar with so this is when experienced assistance is best.  So, with that said, what would a staging expert do? They work with the layout and flow of a home to eliminate clutter, change around furniture and doing an overall assistance with the appeal of the home. 

With that being said, not everyone selling a home has the advantage of using the services of a staging professional. Here are some tips on how to do it yourself that can help with mak...

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Winterizing Your Home on a Budget

It's starting to get darker earlier, cooler temperatures are in the air and the holiday season is just around the corner. This also means winter is approaching and as a homeowner, it is important to take some steps to winterize your home. Now, with that said, here are some ideas that can help protect your home and your wallet – by not costing you a fortune.

1. Clean out those gutters! Water needs to be able to flow through the gutters freely and leaves and sticks can cause major problems. The best part? The only cost to you will be time and effort.
2. Flush out the water heater. Sediment can build up in the bottom part of a water heater which can cause a unit not to work properly. Take some time to flush water through the drain valve to clear it out.
3. Did you know that changing the direction of your ceiling fan can help? If the ceiling fan is spinning in a clockwise direction, the hot air will be pushed down tow...

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Holiday light displays add so much beauty and excitement to this time of year. Holiday lights can also pose a danger and be a hazard if not handled properly. Here are some practices to follow to ensure a safe but brilliantly lit holiday season.

• Check light strands for any imperfections such as cords that have cracked or the ends have frayed.
• If using a real tree, make sure it is well watered. A dry tree combined with a short in a strand of Christmas lights can be deadly.
• New types of lights have fused plugs which help prevent sparking in the event of a light short circuiting. Take the time to dispense of older lights and invest in newer lights that are safer.
• Replace burnt out bulbs but ensure they are the right wattage. It's smart to keep a list of what wattage go with which bulbs.
• Outdoor lights have to deal with precipitation and debris that can get into the sockets so make sure that outdoor lights are plugged into...

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An inexpensive and quick way to refresh your home is through a new paint job. The overall concept of painting your home can be exciting – but can also cause major anxiety because of the number of colors, textures and combinations that paint and home improvements stores offer. With so many choices how do you know? Here is some information from Realtor.com on the different types of paints and which one is best for the area you want to paint:

In terms of paint types there are two basic types – water based which is latex and oil based which is alkyd. What is the difference? Oil based has been around for a while but they can take much longer to dry and contain strong odors that can bother those with sensitivity to smells. It's great for outdoor paint jobs because it stands up well to harsh weather. In some states, the sale of oil based paint has been restricted due the fumes and solvents in the paint.  As for latex, it is becoming more popular. It dries quick with little odo...

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Swimming pools can be a draw for some who are house hunting. According to experts in real estate, buyers of middle age with children in their teens are the biggest group of buyers. However, there are those who view having a pool as a liability and a safety issues. In areas where there are a large number of pools, in warmer climates, experts say that a pool can increase the attractiveness of a property and in many cases the trend now points toward focusing on landscaping, decks and other amenities.

Regarding adding value to the home, pools in some cases can add value but not in every instance. In terms of cost, the Wall Street Journal reports that these can be more than what is advertised. Why is this? Because the cost may not just be the pool. It may be additional costs such as landscaping and service year round that could add to the initial cost. It is important to make sure to keep service records to make sure that the pool is in working order.

Location is another...

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