How To Decorate Your Home For The Holidays

If you’re trying to sell your home during the holiday season, it’s important to know how you can decorate your home for the holidays effectively.

 

With the right approach, you can stage your home during the holiday season in a way that attracts more buyers without breaking your budget. But, like always, it’s important to stage your home in a way that allows buyers to imagine themselves in your home, which is difficult to do if your house is packed with your personal holiday decorations.

 

By following a few tips, you can tastefully and effectively decorate your home for the holidays.

 

1. Don’t Go Overboard

 

Just like staging a house during any other time of the year, it’s important to avoid going overboard when decorating your home for the holidays.

 

While it might be tempting to put up all of your favorite decorations, it can make it very difficult for buyers to see your home’s potential. So, while it might put a damper on the festivities, avoid going overboard with your decorations if you’re trying to sell your home during the holidays.

 

2. Depersonalize

 

It’s also a good idea to avoid putting up holiday decorations that are personal to you and your family, including:

 

• Stockings with names
• Family pictures
• Religious items
• Personalized ornaments
• And similar items

 

Personal holiday decorations can be off-putting to potential buyers, which is something you want to avoid when trying to sell your home.

 

3. Match Your Neighbors

 

For your home’s exterior decorations, it’s a good idea to take a look at how your neighbors decorate their homes before decorating yours.

 

If your neighborhood tends to put up a lot of holiday lights, for example, feel free to follow suit as it will allow your home to fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.

 

Alternatively, if your neighbors tend to keep things toned down, you should probably avoid wrapping your house up in Christmas lights.

 

4. Skip the Tree

 

Even though you may want to put one up, it’s typically a good idea to skip the tree when staging your home for the holidays.

 

A big tree will take up too much space in your home and make it seem crowded. A small tree won’t add much to a room and can potentially turn away buyers who don’t celebrate Christmas.

 

However, if you do have a big room with a very high ceiling, a tree can work if you’re set on putting one up for the holidays.

 

5. Avoid Clutter Inside

 

Last but not least, it’s important to avoid clutter as much as possible. Clutter can make your home seem much smaller than it really is, which can be a major turn off for potential buyers.

 

If you do put up holiday decorations, consider compensating by stashing away some of your standard home decor. This can help save space without having to sacrifice your holiday decorations.

 

Ultimately, the most important thing to remember when decorating your home for the holidays is to keep things minimal and tasteful. By following these tips, you can take part in the holiday festivities while attracting more buyers to your home.

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How to Prevent Kitchen Fires on Thanksgiving

Each year more than 3 times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day in the year. In 2017 1,600 cooking fires occurred on Thanksgiving, according to a report from the National Fire Protection Association. To put that in perspective, that’s a 238% increase compared to the daily average of home cooking fires. The leading cause of these fires was unattended cooking.

 

Thanksgiving is a very social holiday and many people entertain lots of guests. It can be easy to get sidetracked when cooking, leading to accidental kitchen fires. To avoid burning your house down and spending the holiday season house shopping instead of gift shopping, here are some precautions to take when cooking this Thanksgiving. 

 

 

Tips to avoid fires

 

 

Avoid cooking while wearing long sleeves and hanging off fabrics. Tassels and ribbons can easily catch fire if you’re dealing with open flames. When cooking with a pan, you should always use a lid to contain the heat and prevent any flames from shooting out and starting a fire.

 

Never leave your kitchen while cooking. Especially for things cooking on the stove top, it’s incredibly important to be attentive at all times. It’s extra important to remain in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling any food. For food that is simmering, roasting, or baking, remember to check on them frequently or set timers to remind you. If you do need to leave the kitchen for any reason, turn the stove to ensure that nothing boils over. Make certain that the smoke detectors in your house are all functioning. Use the kitchen hood vent to help prevent any fires from breaking out. Also make sure that the hood vent is clean before you begin cooking.

 

When cooking, be sure to keep flammable things like towels, wooden utensils, and over mitts at least three feet away from the cooking area to avoid any rogue flames catching. In their 2015 report, the NFPA found that cooking equipment was involved in 48% of all Thanksgiving kitchen fires. If you are using an aluminum pan to cook your turkey in the oven, considering doubling up. If the pan is punctured, any turkey juice drippings could start a fire.

 

Make sure to keep children away from the stove for their safety. Keep children away from hot foods, hot serving dishes, and hot liquids as they can easily cause burn injuries.

 

 

What to do if you have a fire

 

In the event you do end up with a small fire, such as a grease fire on the stove top, quickly turn the burner off and slide a lid over the pan. If you have an oven fire, immediately turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Once you are confident that the fire is completely out, slowly open the door, while standing to side for safety. If you are unsure if the fire is out, contact the fire department for assistance. 

 

 

Deep Frying a Turkey

 

We’ve all seen them. ‘Deep frying turkey’ gone wrong videos have hundreds of thousands of views on Youtube. One of the quickest ways to start a fire is to attempt to deep fry your turkey. There a number of ways this method of preparation can lead to a fire. Turkey pots can easily tip over, spilling hot oil all over. If your turkey pot is overfilled, dropping the bird can lead to oil spilling over onto counter tops and flammable objects.

 

Many people who deep fry their turkey do so on their home deck which are made out of wood. If your bird is not thawed completely, the drop into the grease will cause the oil to splatter all over. Additionally, turkey fryers have been known to overheat and cause fires. Even without a fire, overheating can cause the lid, handle, and the pot itself to get dangerously hot which can lead to burn injuries if not careful.

 

Because of the great risks associated with deep frying turkeys the NFPA recommends people use grocery stores, retailers, or restaurants rather than attempting it themselves.

 

Follow these safety tips and ensure that your kitchen is safe and that your thanksgiving doesn’t become a fire statistic.

 

 

 

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How Adding a Fireplace Increases Your Home Value

Buying a home is an investment. When purchasing a home, it’s important to always think about your return on investment (ROI). There are a number of things you can do to add value to home, many of which in the long, pay for themselves. One such thing is adding a fireplace. Installing a fireplace can immediately boost the value of your home. 

 

People want fireplaces

 

According to a 2013 survey from the National Association of Realtors, 40% of new homebuyers are willing to pay more for a home with a fireplace and are willing to pony up an addition $1,400 for a home with a fireplace. The demand for fireplaces is trending upward and many speculate that homes with fireplaces will become more and more popular as people nowadays are spending more time on phones and tablets instead of watching tv. In that event, a room with a fireplace is a perfect place to post up and veg.

 

Similarly, a survey from the National Association of Home Builders found that over three-quarters of homebuyers are looking for homes with a fireplace in the family room. The second most desired place to a fireplace is the living room according to the survey, as homeowners want their guest to enjoy it as well.

 

Home type and locations

 

It goes without saying that the value added by a fireplace varies by home. Depending on what kind of home you have, your fireplace may prove to be more valuable. For more high-end homes, people will expect fireplaces and will certainly be willing to pay more. However, for more modest homes, a fireplace may not end up adding much value. Take where you live and what kind of home you have into consideration when installing a fireplace. Know that your value added will vary. 

 

 

 

How much does it cost to install a fireplace?

 

As with most things, the cost of adding a fireplace to your home varies. The cost of installation can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. This depends on the style of the fireplace and where you put it in. According to Homeguide, A natural gas or propane unit typically costs between $2,300 and $4,000 while a traditional wood burning fireplace usually runs around $1,900 to $3,300. Electric fireplace can cost significantly less with prices ranging from as little as $100 to $2,200. Another thing to keep in mind is placement. Where you install your fireplace can affect your final cost. In some cases, an in-wall installation can cost an additional $5,000.

 

Where to install?

 

If you want to get the best bang for your buck, the rule of thumb is to put your fireplace in the most used room in the house. The living room or great room tend to be the standard spots. Sometimes you may want to enhance the look or feel to a room such as an office or den. Having a fireplace in either of those may prove to be a rewarding investment when you sell your house. All things considered, homeowners can easily recover 100% of the cost to install their fireplace. The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, adding a fireplace to your home can increase its value by 6-12%.

 

Investing in your home is important. When you buy real estate, in most cases you will eventually end up reselling it. As such, it’s crucial to take steps to increase the value of your home to get the best return on investment. Adding a fireplace may seem like a small feat, but everything adds up. Installing a fireplace is relatively easy to do and can immediately value to your home.

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Technology Trends that are Changing Homebuying

The advancement of technology has affected nearly every aspect of our lives, and home buying is no exception. In recent years, new technology has made the process much easier for buyers and sellers and continues to do so. Everything from the way we tour homes to the way we make transactions has been simplified by technology. Here are a few examples of how technology has made buying and selling houses easier for all parties involved.

 

Touring a home

 

The process of touring homes is being completely revolutionized by new trends in technology. With the use of 3D 4K virtual reality, prospective homebuyers can walk through an entire house without leaving their own. Many apartment complexes and condominiums have already taken advantage of this, and now more and more people are listing their homes with virtual reality tours online. Now, instead of having to drive out of your way to tour a home, you can walk all over a property from the foyer to the bathroom and determine whether you’re interested or not.

 

Additionally, the use of drones and satellite technology with sites like Google Maps, people can explore the exterior of the house and get perspectives beyond street views in a brochure. Home shoppers can explore the entire surrounding neighborhood of a home right from their couch. On the selling side, this makes it easier to list your home and gives potential buyers the ability to tour your house fully before making contact. 

 

 

Visualizing your new home

 

 

In the past it has always been tricky to try and envision what your new home will look like. You have an idea of what color you want the walls to be, but holding up swatches and trying to fill in the blanks never seems to do it justice. Now, like with everything else, there’s an app for that. Many apps to be exact. There are apps like Color Capture from Benjamin Moore and Co. that allow you to snap a picture of any color you see and match it through its database of over 3,000 paint colors. 

 

Other apps such as Home Depot Project Color let you pick from a massive selection of colors and see right on your screen how that color looks applied to an entire wall or the whole room. No more guessing about what something might look like. This makes the process a lot easier when buying a home as you can start to instantly visualize what certain changes to your home would look like. Another app called Amikasa lets you do 3D room designing. With Amikasa users can build, style, and decorate whole rooms online using furniture from real brands.

 

Shopping for Homes

 

Gone are the days when you had to get into your car and drive around endlessly in potential neighborhoods and window shop from the street. Now you don’t have to look like your casing a house to get an idea of what’s out there. With websites like Zillow and Trulia, you can simply type in a few details about what you want in a house and let it filter out homes for you. Look in specific towns, zip codes, and neighborhoods and let the online filters pull homes for you. With aerial views, useful maps of the area, and full neighborhood reports, these websites have made searching for homes much easier.

 

Applying for a loan

 

 

 

One new trend that emerged in the technological age is online banking and online mortgages. Rather than getting dressed up to go to a bank and apply for a loan, simply go online and apply on your own time without getting out of bed. Services such as Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans has quickly become a dominant trend in the home buying industry. According to Nerdwallet, Quicken Loans has become one of the leading lenders online or otherwise. 

 

With online mortgage lenders like Quicken Loans or Lending Tree, people buying homes get pre-authorization, compare loans, and take advantage of eClosing tools all with the convenience of doing it all online. These services also help speed up the process and allow buyers to immediately compare rates by entering numbers in on their own.

 

Digital transaction services

 

On top of being able to get a mortgage loan completely online, now people also have the option of taking the entire buying process online from the offer to the closing. With apps like DocuSign, buyers and sellers can make, review, make counter offers, and close all online. Using eSignature technology, both parties can sign documents online too. Other online tools like Noratize.com allow both buyers and sellers to have legal documents notarized online. 

 

Following trends of bringing the buying and selling process online, the Dotloop app goes beyond just eSignatures. Similar to DocuSign, Dotloop gives buyers and sellers the ability to modify contracts and other various documents on the go without holding the process up.

 

The advancement in technology from phone apps to video tech has changed the way we buy and sell homes. The entire process has been brought online, making it go much faster and smoother. Now people can walk through an entire house, look at the backyard and see the neighborhood from the comfort of their own homed. Trends in technology continue to make things easier for us and now is even taking some of the stress out of home buying.

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10 Ways to Conserve Water at Home

As the climate continues to change, we could all afford to take more care of how much water we consume. At home, our water usage not only contributes to environmental problems, but it also increases our monthly utility bills.

 

If you want to save money on your utilities and do good, why not take some steps to conserve water? It’s easier than you think to make an impact. With the average American using 80-100 gallons of water a day, it’s time for a change. Here are 10 ways to conserve water at home.

 

 

1. Turn Off Your Faucets

Do you ever leave your water running when you’re not using it? It’s easy to forget about your impact when you’re brushing your teeth, washing your face, or cleaning dishes. Making a commitment to turning off your faucets whenever you don’t need water can save you hundreds of gallons per month.

 

2. Wash Dishes Carefully

One of the most water-consuming activities is doing dishes. This dreaded chore can be a drain on your budget. Instead, double-dip your dishes. If you have a dual sink, fill one side with soapy water for washing and the other with cool, clean water for rinsing. This is also a fast way to wash your dishes!

 

3. Use an Efficient Dishwasher

How energy-efficient are your appliances? If you’re not careful, your dishwater could be a bigger drain than letting your water run. Using an energy-efficient dishwasher is a great way to save water. In addition, make sure you’re only running your appliance when it’s full.

 

4. Reuse Your Water

Have you ever felt bad pouring extra water down the drain? Sometimes you can reuse this water in a new way. For instance, if you’re rinsing vegetables, you can easily save this water in a bowl for later. Use this “recycled” water in your garden, to clean, or anything else you need.

 

5. Take a Quick Shower

The typical American takes lengthy showers. With the average shower at over 8 minutes, consider cutting back on how long you spend bathing. You only need a few minutes to clean thoroughly, so make sure you’re using your shower efficiently. Again, consider turning off the faucet when soaping up to save even more water.

 

6. Water by Hand

If you have a garden, don’t use a hose. These use significantly more water than if you watered by hand. If you only have a small garden area, using a hand watering tool might even be faster.

 

7. Capture Your Rainwater

There are some advantages to living in a rainy area. Using a rainwater container can help you catch roof water from gutters and downpours. You can use this to water your lawn or do other outdoor activities.

 

8. Use a Pool Cover

Do you have a backyard pool? These can be great fun, but they’re also a drain on your expenses. To cut down on how much replacement water you need for your pool, use a pool cover. This will retain the pool’s heated temperature so you won’t need to circulate as much over time.

 

9. Check Your Pipes

A hidden water leak could be catastrophic. Not only could these lead to extensive damage in your home, but it’s a waste of water. Get in the habit of checking your faucets, pipes, and so on for any leaks throughout the year.

 

10. Cut Back on Laundry

If you’re in the habit of running your washing machine with only half a load, it’s time for a change. Your laundry machine uses 30-50 gallons of water. Making sure you only run full loads will help cut back on how many gallons you’re using each month. Plus, you’ll be able to fold all of your clothes at once. Less water means fewer chores!

 

Make a Difference at Home

Change starts at home. If you’re trying to conserve water in your own life, why not look for ways to make a difference in your daily schedule? A lot of water goes to waste in our own homes. It’s time we all work to conserve water where we can.

 

These tips above will help you save money and water all at once. Take a closer look at your own water usage to see where you can cut back once and for all.

 

 

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The Most Important Things to Repair Before Selling a House

When it’s time to sell your home, you’ll be glad you took the time to make repairs and renovations before putting it on the market. Making the right repairs can greatly increase the value of your home as buyers are willing to pay more for homes in great condition.

 

But it’s important to know which renovations are worth making. You don’t want to eat into your potential profits by spending too much money on insignificant repairs.

 

So, before you start making any renovations, be sure to learn the most important things to repair before selling your home.

 

1. Flooring

 

Be it scratched hardwood, stained carpet, or cracked tiles, damaged flooring is a major eyesore and can make your entire house seem worn out. Moreover, flooring can be a major hassle to replace.

 

As such, one of the most important repairs to make before selling your home is replacing your worn-out flooring. Flooring can be costly, but you should be able to recoup your costs and then some as buyers value high-quality flooring.

 

2. Walls & Ceilings

 

Your walls and ceilings are likely to take on some damage over the years/ This can take the shape of chipped paint, water stains, nail holes, and more. This can make your home look beat up and poorly taken care of.

 

So, before selling your home, be sure to repair your walls and ceilings. Generally, this means repainting as it is typically the easiest and most cost-effective way to improve the appearance of your walls and ceilings. You should also consider removing wallpaper as buyers may not share the same taste.

 

3. Roof

 

Repairing your roof may or may not be a necessity, depending on how old your roof is and whether or not it has taken any damage over the years. But, at the least, you should be sure to have your roof inspected for issues as roof damage can present major structural and safety issues.

 

If there is any major damage to your roof, you should be sure to take care of it as many buyers won’t want to go through the hassle of doing it themselves.

 

4. Kitchen Appliances

 

Kitchen appliances can be very costly to repair and it can be very frustrating dealing with broken kitchen tools.

 

Before putting your home on the market, you should make sure that your kitchen appliances are all in good working order. This includes your fridge, stovetop, sink, and dishwasher. Be sure to fix any leaks and to replace your fridge’s freon or coolant if necessary.

 

5. Interior & Exterior Doors

 

Interior and exterior doors should both be repaired before selling your house. Exterior doors, in particular, play a major role in your home’s curbside appeal, so it’s important that they are kept in good shape.

 

Be sure to check for chipped paint, dings, holes, damaged hardware, and alignment issues. Door repairs aren’t too much of a hassle to take care of and your buyers will appreciate the effort.

 

Making repairs is a great way to improve your home’s appearance, increase its value, and attract more potential buyers, but not all repairs as equally important. Make sure to make these five important repairs before putting your home on the market.

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Finding the right multi-generational home for your family

Multi-generational living is becoming more and more prevalent these days. According to Pew Research, today 20% of the population lives in a multi-generational arrangement. The study defines this kind of living situation as, “two or more adult generations, or including grandparents and grandchildren under 25,” under the same roof. Finding the right multi-generational home for your family is tricky but with planning you can easily find the perfect house.

 

Typically, the reasons for multi-generational living situations involve finances and health. That can be a grandparent unable to live on their own moving in with a parent or a young adult moving back in with their parents after a job loss. In some cases both scenarios are at play. Having a multi-generational living arrangement isn’t for everyone and requires the right home. Having extended family members under one roof requires the capacity to accommodate a wide variety of lifestyles. Everyone’s needs must be taken into account. 

 

Assess everyone’s needs

 

 

 

When creating a multi-generational space for your family, keep in mind that more people means more people sharing that space. That requires more communication and negotiation. Different people will want different kinds of privacy.

 

In some cases, a young adult sharing the space may want their own private entrance while an elderly person may prefer an in-law suite. 

 

Consider what kind of other accommodations you will need to make in your home, or if you will need to buy a new home. Will you need to install a ramp for the elderly members living in the house? What will you do about parking if each party has their own car? Do you need to build a carport? 

 

What about cooking? Will each member of your family share all the food or will you have separate stashes? Consider scheduling meals, are you all going to eat together or will you eat on your own time? These are all factors to consider when living in a multi-generational situation. 

 

Figure out what kind of boundaries you will have to ensure that each person’s privacy is taken into consideration.

 

Financial responsibilities

 

Whether you’re simply adding more people into your current home or buying a brand new home, financial responsibilities will need to be negotiated. Decide who is going to be responsible for things like the mortgage and utilities and how that those various payments will be divided up among people living in the house. If you’re buying a new house for your family, keep in mind that the only people who should be on the application are those who can afford to help pay back the loan. Lenders will take into account everyone one the application and their financial situation. Figure into your budget how much each person can contribute before you make any decisions.  Make sure the people with the best credit and the best financials are on the application to get the best loan deal possible. 

 

Even things like who pays for utilities, how groceries are split up, and who will pay for any remodels need to be taken into account.

 

Finding the right multi-generational home

 

 

In some situations you will be easily able to remodel your home to suit the needs of your family. Sometimes however, you may need to buy a new home. You may look to buying a fixer-upper with the idea that you will remodel it to be a multi-generational house. 

 

In the event you look to buy a new home, consider that multiple people in your family may first need to sell their current home. Keep up with the state of the market to ensure you sell at the most optimal time. Depending on where they are selling and the state of their housing market it may take longer to sell. If you need to sell your house quickly, consider selling to a wholesaler to speed up the process. 

 

Depending on your budget, some major home builders now even offer multi-generational floor plans. Once you have come up with a good idea of the amenities you will need for your family home, find a good real estate agent and be sure to give them as much detail about your family’s needs as possible. One tip is to look for homes with multiple master suites. Think about making rooms in the house multi-purpose rooms. For example, a playroom for kids can double as an office for young adult to work from home. This allows you to maximize space and cater to different people’s need.

 

Sometimes you may end up purchasing a house and building a detached in-law  suite in the backyard. This can even be done on your current property if you don’t want to buy a new house. 

 

Final advice

 

Creating a multi-generational home space requires lots of accommodation and constant communication. When living with extended family members spanning across generations, everyone’s needs must be taken into account. Having your family all under one roof won’t be a breeze immediately but with through negotiation and carefully drawn boundaries, you’re family can be live in harmony in one house.

 

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