Category: How to be a Homeowner

Great Moving Tips to Make Moving Your Home Easier 

Who can’t use some moving tips when they’re packing up their whole life for a new home? If you’re among thousands of people who have picked up and moved their family to a new home or a new community, you have fresh memories of some of the ups and downs or thrills or frustrations of moving.

Drawing from personal experience, I know there are lots of ways to help make your household move easier and more smooth. Read here for help to get your life, and your possessions, organized for a peaceful and exciting move.

The secrets to selling your home in today’s market

You know the house – the nice brick one you drive past every day. The Smith family lives there, and it’s been on the market for months without a buyer.

Yet, there’s the Jones’ house, same model, just around the corner. That yard sign hasn’t been up for more than a few weeks and it’s already “under contract.” What do they know that the Smiths don’t?

Real estate is never an exact science, especially in today’s market. But the reality is that sellers who are prepared and ready to sell their home are more likely to accomplish their goals than sellers who don’t make the same commitment to the process.

Brick is a popular building material in the Carolinas. While it’s very attractive, durable and low-maintenance, even brick requires some occasional TLC.

Lightly soiled bricks can be cleaned with water and a wire brush. Each section should be wet down and then scrubbed.

More heavily stained bricks – algae, mold, mildew or rust – require a specific cleaning solution. A good all-purpose solution is a bucket of hot water, 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda.

If your nest is empty, it might be time for a new nest. And today’s empty nesters have more options than ever. But even if retirement is years away, it’s never too early to think about where you might spend your golden years.

Many empty nesters struggle between maintaining the family homestead and moving to a smaller, more manageable home with the features they’ve always wanted. Like any home purchase, the decision to downsize – or not – is highly personal and dependent upon a number of factors, including health, distance from family, lifestyle and cost.

Two options that are becoming increasingly popular with individuals preparing for the future are active adult and continuing care retirement communities.

There’s nothing like the dog days of summer to remind you how your four-legged friends can impact your home environment. While many of us consider our dogs and cats as members of the family, their presence requires a little extra effort to ensure their comfort and safety – and ours.

Consider these tips to pet-proof your home while protecting Fido and Fluffy:

Pest Control

• The best way to avoid fleas and other pests in your home is to keep them from living on your pets. Your veterinarian can offer the best solution to keep your pet pest-free. Natural products such as garlic may also help.
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Something that often surprises new homeowners is the cost of home maintenance and repairs. But the investment (both time and dollars) of routine home maintenance is minimal, compared to the cost of replacing a heating system, gutters or roof.

Professional home appraisers estimate that a neglected home can lose 10 percent of its appraised value. Appraisers determine depreciation (the rate at which a house is losing value) based on the home’s economic age (the number of years the home is expected to survive).

According to the U.S. Census, the annual cost of home maintenance costs average more than $3,300. Lending institutions estimate 1 to 3 percent of the price of the home, which means $2,000 to $6,000 annually for a $200,000 property. Your budget should increase as your home ages.

Looking for a new color palate for your home? Take a lesson from interior design experts and consider these color trends that are fresh, yet not so bold that you’ll grow tired of them soon.

• Gray – This “new neutral” is a great choice to balance bolder accent colors. Some grays have hints of blue or green. Bonus: These shades appeal to potential buyers if you are looking to list your home in the near future.

• Purple – Rich purples have evolved as classic shades, but lighter shades of violet, mauve, raisin and blue-purple are also becoming common.

• Blue – Along with the popular shades of turquoise and ice blue, look for a selection of true blues to remain decorating staples for the future.
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