For Buyers, Real Estate Advice and Tips
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10 Top Investment Tips for Buying A Vacation Home

If you’ve decided you’d like to buy an investment property and are focusing on vacation homes, take careful consideration before you make the final commitment.  Buying a home, no matter what the circumstances might be, is a significant investment and enormous responsibility. While real estate has undoubtedly been a safe investment medium in the past, buying a vacation home as an investment is not necessarily a sound option for everyone. However, if your heart is set on making a vacation home investment, these tips can help you avoid some of the downsides associated with second home ownership. 1. Run the…

Home Features, Home Interiors & Decor
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Sleek Style: Top Kitchen Remodel Trends for 2023

From marble-clad backsplashes to mixed warm woods and streamlined cabinetry, the kitchen is an ever-evolving space. This essential heart-of-the-home fluxes with our changing lifestyles, functionality needs, and storage demands. Plus, a modern kitchen remodel is one of the top home improvement projects that can drastically increase the value of your lake home. So, what’s on trend for 2023? We went to kitchen expert Cristie Schlosser, RID, ASID, owner of Schlosser Design Group, LLC in Dallas, TX, for her top picks. Cristie is a seasoned design expert and the former president of the North Texas Plains Chapter of the National Kitchen &…

Gardening and Landscaping, Lifestyle, Product Reviews
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Best Indoor Gardening Kits/Systems

Previously on Lake Homes Lifestyles, we covered gardening tips for each regional zone in the United States. As all good plant enthusiasts know, the area’s weather and soil quality influence the type of plants that can be grown. However, with the rise of indoor gardening systems and kits, gardeners can grow a greater variety of plants, not subject to the climate or season. As Jen Stark—founder of Happy DIY Home and garden, interior design, and home improvement expert—says, indoor gardening kits “allow you to control the environment in which your plants grow, meaning you can optimize conditions for maximum growth…

Home Improvement, Lifestyle
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How to Make a Raised Garden Bed

A garden bed is an excellent way to add both aesthetic appeal and gardening ease to your backyard. In this style, soil is raised above ground and enclosed in some way, typically by a wooden frame. It’s a great way of working around less-than-ideal soil conditions in your backyard. Plus, you can choose the location of your plot, offering great flexibility. For the eager gardener, garden beds also warm up more quickly in spring so you can start your planting earlier. Overall, garden beds require less maintenance in the long-run — you can keep them mulched all year which reduces…

Industry News
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Facebook Advertising for Agents: Boosted Posts and Target Audiences

There’s no argument that Facebook advertising has become an essential marketing tool for businesses, real estate included — just ask the more than 1.45 million people who log on to the social media platform each day. Not only is advertising on social media an easy w ay to reach potential clients, it’s also relatively inexpensive. Ad content may vary in type and desired audience, but the basic principles of organizing a successful Facebook ad campaign are the same. The following is Part III of a three-part series designed to help real estate agents navigate Facebook’s advertising policies. These polices are constantly…

Home Improvement, Real Estate Advice and Tips
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Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Lake House

Anyone buying or remodeling a lake home has a myriad of decisions to make. Many times, flooring is one of the last things you want to think about. Even so, lake home flooring is a very important decision! If you are buying or remodeling a lake home, chances are you are already familiar with the effects of the elements. Lake homes withstand a huge amount of moisture, humidity and wear and tear. Here are the most common flooring types and how they stack up against those elements. Carpet Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, upstairs hallwaysWorst for: Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways Many people…

Real Estate Advice and Tips
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Tips for Hiring the Right Contractor

So you’ve decided that you are immune to the DIY madness sweeping the nation, and you’re ready to hire a contractor to finish your home improvement project or major renovation. What ever level of work you require, there are different contractors and professionals you need to consult with before hiring one. Here are a few ideas on what to look for as you get ready to pay the pro to get your project finished. Highly Recommended Do you know a friend, relative or coworker that has had a similar project done? Ask him or her who they used, if they’d recommend them,…

Real Estate Advice and Tips
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Stains Between Your Tile? How to Clean or Replace Grout

Grout is a mixture of cement, water, sand, and color. At times, it can include finely ground gravel. This ends up being a sticky substance that comes in the form of powder. It is used to fill in gaps in the bathroom. These gaps include those around walls, countertops, floors, and tiles. Although it has a function, it can also be decorative. If you find that your grout is discolored or is chipped in anyway, here’s how to clean dirty or stained grout in any room. Clean Up The Grout Dirty or discolored grout can be quite ugly. The wonderful news…