Search Results for: home improvement — 57 articles
For Homeowners, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle
Posted on

8 New Year’s Resolutions to Improve Your Home and Health

New Year’s resolutions typically begin with perfecting yourself, or at least bettering yourself by losing weight, quitting smoking, eating better, working more, etc., but we usually do not think about resolutions for our homes. We always have a project we would like to work on, or have things around the house we should keep up on. Here is a list of 8 New Year’s resolutions for better health and a happier home: Quit smoking indoors Or better yet, quit smoking altogether! Smoking indoors creates a musky, over-powering odor, one non-smokers hard time being around. Not only does smoking inside produce harsh…
Real Estate
Posted on

The Hidden Costs of Keeping A Lake Home: Tips for First-time Buyers

Before purchasing your dream house, you may have looked into the hidden costs of buying a lake home. Now that you’re moved in, you might be wondering what it’s going to cost to keep the place in tip-top shape. You will run into several smaller, and occasionally larger, costs when maintaining your lake home. These add up, and the bottom line can catch many first-time homebuyers by surprise. Here are some of the most common hidden costs of keeping a lake home. Home Repairs Lake homes are often located on gorgeous plots of land, with stunning views of the water and the natural surroundings.…
For Homeowners, For Sellers, Home Improvement, Lifestyle, Real Estate
Posted on

How Energy Efficient Upgrades can Increase Your Home’s Value

Energy efficiency upgrades can not only shrink your utility bill; they can also increase the value of your home. Homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of energy-efficient homes. In fact, they’re often willing to pay more for homes with “green” upgrades, says Sandra Adomatis, a specialist in green valuation with Adomatis Appraisal Service in Punta Gorda, Florida. Just how much your home will increase in value depends on a number of factors, Adomatis says, like where you live, which upgrades you’ve made and how your home is marketed at sale time. The length of time to recoup the…
Real Estate
Posted on

Home Not Selling? The Two Real Reasons Why (and How to Avoid Them)

Every real estate market, in any economy, has a number of homeowners dismayed about their home not selling. These houses just sit on the market. They become stale inventory, frustrating the home seller, real estate agents, and even buyers (yes, buyers). Over the last three years, I’ve had the very unique opportunity to travel to a number of states and have multi-hour, face-to-face conversations about local real estate markets with scores of real estate agents. Some work with our brokerage, many with other brokerages. These agents may work in urban, suburban, or rural markets. A lot of these agents work in my niche of real…
Home Improvement, Lifestyle, Outdoor Living
Posted on

Home Gutter Maintenance

Cleaning rain gutters is not normally at the top of a homeowner’s to do list, but it should be. Gutters clogged with leaves and other debris can overfill and crack. When damage like this is sustained, rain water spills in undesirable places causing unforeseen damage. A single leak in the gutters can result in foundation cracking, mold and mildew growth, flooding in basements and crawl spaces, soil erosion under a home’s foundation and more. Structural damage to homes can be costly to fix; while, mold and mildew can even increase the risk of respiratory illnesses and home deterioration. Properly maintained…
Real Estate
Posted on

Home Projects – DIY or Call a Pro

You’re sitting on the couch watching your favorite home improvement channel, or you’re browsing the Internet and come across a great home project you’d love to create. Maybe it’s a raised-bed garden, a beautiful built-in bookcase, or a wall tunnel for your cat. Whatever it is, you’re probably saying to yourself, “That looks easy. I can do that.” Hold up. Before you make yourself into Tim “The Toolman” Taylor with your epic flub in home renovations, ask yourself if you’re really capable of getting the job done. Here are a few questions to ask yourself: Do I have the time?…
Real Estate
Posted on

Breath Easy: 4 Tips For Fresher Air In Your Home

The best part about fall around the lake is the crisp, clean air that drifts in through the open doors and windows. Of course, it always feels better to be outside this time of year than inside, but how do you get the clean, fresh fall air to follow you indoors? Instead of spraying pumpkin spice air freshener inside, or piling on the potpourri, here are a few tips to help you get fresher air indoors: Windows Pretty obvious, right? Open your windows! Open your storm door if you have a screen door as well. Opening the windows allows fresh air…
For Homeowners, Real Estate
Posted on

Value of My Home Is Rising … Do I Need More Homeowners Insurance?

Home prices fluctuate considerably, often times leaving people to wonder whether or not they have adequate homeowners insurance coverage. That’s especially true whenever home prices are on the rise around the country. But just because the value of your home has risen recently doesn’t mean you need additional insurance coverage, as there are a number of things that play a role in determining the amount of coverage that you’ll really need.
For Homeowners, For Sellers, Real Estate
Posted on

Pros and Cons of Renting Out Your Lake Home

Buying a lake home can be an incredible investment. There’s nothing like having a second home that you can use for vacation – especially one that’s on the lake. What better place to take the family on summer vacation than a home right on the lake? You’ll be feet away from being able to go for a swim. You could even invest in a boat that you can take out onto the water whenever you want. However, if you are buying a lake home for use as a vacation home, you may want to consider renting it out during the…

1 2 3 4 5 … 7