Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Author: admin

  • How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

    Thoroughly checking your home indoors and out, from pipes and eaves to heaters and trees, is a must-do when preparing for winter.

    Your house is an investment and a place to be comfortable and safe. To get the most out of where you live through all seasons, make sure to plan.

    Fall is the perfect time to start thinking about winterization. While the weather is relatively pleasant and stable, tend to maintenance tasks and consider how you can avoid emergencies and damage by being proactive.

    To get ready for cold weather, take a look at these ways to winterize your home.

    Give your HVAC system a checkup

    Heating and air conditioning systems don’t last forever. They’re good for about 15 years, but some have a shorter lifespan of about 10. If your system is going on 10 years (or older), fall is an important time for a yearly checkup.

    At the very least, you should change the filters monthly. However, it is recommended to get a comprehensive inspection annually from a licensed HVAC contractor. This professional should check the entire system to ensure you’ll have heat and avoid hazards like fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

    Seal your walkways, driveways and patios

    All cracks in masonry surfaces, like concrete walkways, driveways and patios, should be sealed to avoid expanding. Find a reputable mason who will take time to strategically insert control joints where needed so further cracking doesn’t occur.

    After control joints are placed, the mason will seal any cracks so that water doesn’t get in and freeze. Don’t overlook this necessary step in the winterization process. If you check it off the list, your masonry will last a long time.

  • Top 10 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Home in Working Order: A Checklist

    Your home is likely one of your biggest investments. Taking care of it properly is essential. The chores and tasks necessary to maintain a home throughout the year can seem daunting, but they’re easier if broken down into seasonal duties.

    Even if you don’t have the time or physical ability to tackle these must-dos yourself, refer to our home maintenance checklist below when you hire handymen.

    Spring

    At the start of spring, many homeowners are eager to do a little cleaning. This season is the perfect time to empty closets, wax floors, give carpets a deep shampoo and more.

     

     

     

     

    Here are some good spring cleaning actions you can take to care for your home:

    1. Give the grounds an overhaul. Start cleaning by
    • raking up leaves
    • turning outside faucets on if you’ve turned them off for winter
    • inspecting trees for illness or dead branches
    • re-seeding your lawn
    • planting perennials
    1. Tend to your home’s exterior by
    • looking for and filling cracks in concrete
    • fixing broken rain gutters
    • giving your home a power wash
    • touching up paint
    • cleaning windows
    • repairing patios and decks
    • treating pool water
    1. Look after the inside of your home by
    • inspecting HVAC systems
    • draining your boiler
    • giving plumbing a once-over
    • checking your chimney
    • replacing batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

  • Three Classic Dining Arrangements

    Explore how to make every meal a pleasant experience with these three dining arrangements. No matter the placement, a dining table and its accessories must function to make meals enjoyable and allow for loved ones to move around freely. As such, chairs should be placed around 18 inches apart for ample elbow room. Additionally, rugs should extend 18 inches beyond the back legs of the chairs with the dining table in the center.

    Use windows as the focal point

    For sunshine-filled breakfasts and a view to set the ambiance, move the dining room table next to windows. Casters will make this rearrangement doable if this only works for weekends or special occasions. While Mother Nature may be the best accessory, the right type of window treatments will make your décor shine. Roman shades offer a casual style with minimal fabric. Corniced and woven blinds enhance the color and pattern of a dining set when the sun hits it. These blinds also give off a sense of continuity and provide architectural interest. Swags generate a luxurious feel for traditional dining rooms. If you are seeking an unexpected treatment, consider going asymmetrical or creating depth and a dramatic mood with black curtains. Dashes of pink create a whimsical glamour, while traditional draperies in any color provide privacy and light control.

    Invite every loved one

    Thanksgiving and other holidays are the perfect reason to invite a large number of guests to celebrate at your home. Don’t worry about having enough space for everyone; placing your dining table in the traditional position at the center of the room is ideal for a formal atmosphere or large groups. To make any shared meal extra memorable, focus on crafting the perfect tablescape. Gorgeous linens will ground your feast and express creativity. If serving a meal with sauces as part of the piece de résistance, consider darker colors and laundering tablecloths as soon as possible. Try patterns such as paisley in seasonal colors for an inviting look on a large or small scale. While florals for spring may not be groundbreaking, you can select unexpected hues, such as gray or Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultra Violet. Fabrics can include burlap or velvet for any occasion. Think about layering or using a runner to set the right tone for your gathering.

    Serve the perfect meal on a grander scale

    For a buffet service, push the table right up to the wall. This will leave ample room for traffic in the center of the room. As the host, consider the following etiquette tips to put guests at ease. Serving a bounty of food offers the opportunity to sample a wide variety of dishes. Give guests a tour of the food stations beforehand or while placing dishes on the table. Ensure that there are plenty of tongs, spoons and serving forks to fend off the use of fingers. Encourage guests to place all serving utensils in their original dishes to avoid cross-contamination and allergic reactions. Keep in mind that spills happen. Provide plenty of napkins or paper towels to keep guests from feeling embarrassed. Handle any mess graciously and discretely if it requires more than a few wipes. Announce whether guests can start eating as soon as they are seated or if you would like for everyone to wait until a prayer is said, speech given or guest of honor is seated.

     

    Serve meals in any of these three arrangements to create a memorable feast that were inspired by the September 1958 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

  • A Few Helpful Gutter Cleaning Tips for Your Home

    Autumn is one of the most seasons. The crisp air and changing leaves make even a walk through the neighborhood feel like an event. Those leaves, however, have to go somewhere and many of them end up in the gutter. We have a few helpful gutter cleaning tips to keep you safe and prevent property damage.

    Let someone know what you’re doing

    Of all the gutter cleaning tips, letting a friend, family or neighbor know what you’re doing is the most important. It is helpful to have someone check up on you. Also, make sure to have your cellphone somewhere near you in the unlikely event of an accident to easily call for help.

    Use a safe and sturdy ladder

    Using a sturdy ladder will keep you safe. Before stepping onto the first rung, check to see that the hinges are completely open and that the ladder is in good shape. A four-legged ladder is easy to transport and use for a single story home, while a two-legged extension ladder is the best choice for homes with multiple floors. A ladder can get heavy, so if you have a heart condition or other health issues, know your limits and ask for help moving it around your home.

     

     

    Use a sand shovel

    Don’t try to use metal gardening tools, as they’ll only scrape and potentially damage gutters. Instead, pick up a small plastic scoop or a kids’ sand shovel.The trick isn’t to try to remove all of the leaves and other debris at once, but remove a little bit at a time. This will lighten the load of each sco and save your back.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Cozy and Inviting Dining Room Interior Design Ideas

    Transform a bare or outdated dining room into an inviting, modern space with just a bit of design inspiration. Explore a collection of dining room interior design ideas to ignite a spark when it’s time to plan a perfect place for eating and gathering.

    Lanterns

    Instead of a traditional chandelier, consider hanging lanterns over a dining table. Lanterns feel much less formal and add a unique lighting touch that will start conversations.

     

     

     

     

    Floral drapes

    Create a relaxed dining room with floral drapes in bold patterns. Go big on color, too. Think turquoise, emerald green, bright yellow and even hot pink.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Coastal dining room

    Use rattan accents in a coastal-inspired dining room, such as on chairs and for table settings. You might even drop a rattan light fixture over the table or hang rattan artwork.

     

  • Don’t Let Chores Pile Up: Maintain your house in half the time

    Preventive cleaning was once as popular as the hula hoop and Audrey Hepburn, proving a clean house is the most timeless accessory to a happy home.

     

    A house that needs cleaning is an unwelcomed distraction from living life to its fullest. Piles of dirty laundry or chaos in the living room can dull the day’s accomplishments. Clean homes make it easier to find lost items and allow the mind to relax. Below is a list of preventive tasks that can be accomplished daily or weekly to make sure your home always shines.

     

    Preparation

    Keep microfiber cloths, your favorite cleaners and whatever else you need in buckets or decorative baskets in high traffic areas. With these kits readily available, 10 minutes of spot cleaning can make a difference. Select optimal times for you and family members to dedicate to cleaning. It can be once a day, week or month. To make chores a bit more fun, create a playlist or use this time as an opportunity to completely disconnect.

     

    Kitchen

    The kitchen is the heart of the home and one of the most used spaces. Keeping it clean is not impossible when care is given to maintenance. To pass the white glove test, take care of spills and messes as you cook. Rinse pots and pans after use if they cannot be washed right away. Line the stove and oven with tinfoil for quick cleanups. Dust cookbooks and countertop appliances every day just as you do the counters. Additionally, line cabinets with paper to toss out weekly or monthly.

     

    Bedroom

    Your bedroom is a haven for sleep and relaxation. Always make the bed upon waking or shortly afterward. Doing so makes the room look pulled together and starts the day with a sense of accomplishment. Place a hamper where needed and do laundry at least once a week. If cleaning the ceiling fan has gotten away from you, place an old towel directly beneath the fan to keep away dust bunnies. Keep framed art clean by misting a paper towel and wiping the glass rather than directly spraying it to prevent seepage around the edges. Use a lint roller to dust lampshades.

     

    Living room

    Clutter clogs the flow of any room, but it is quite noticeable in the living room. If you have yet to toss out items that do not bring you joy, make it a priority to chuck or donate non-essentials and have a place for everything. Place baskets strategically throughout the room for toys, remotes and whatever else tends to collect. Vacuuming and dusting the living room at least once a week puts an emphasis on picking up stray items. Get into the habit of neatening up at the end of the evening as part of a winding down routine to banish clutter.

     

    Bathroom

    Keeping the bathroom clean requires organization. Having dedicated spots for makeup and grooming tools reduces clutter. Wet wipes under the sink will clean toothpaste and soap splatters on faucets, mirrors and countertops. It is best to leave bar soap in the shower rather than placing it on the sink to avoid messes. Keep a shower cleaner in a caddy nearby for a quick spray of the tile and liner when done bathing. Wipe down the sink after every use. Deep clean the tub and toilet at least once a month to prevent smells and stains.

    Stay on schedule when cleaning your home to always be ready for company and much more. Inspired by the September 1957 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

  • Step 10. Building Wealth through Homeownership

    step 10Buying a home is viewed as a symbol of the “American Dream” for many and provides a sense of security in an often-unstable economy. Many desire this, but are not sure if it is a tangible financial investment that can turn into a profitable venture long-term. Understanding the meaning of wealth can help you make the entire process more reassuring in the long run.

    What is Equity?

    Equity is the amount of home that a person actually owns. This total is not the mortgage amount, but loan balance subtracted from the value of the home. If this number is positive number, congratulations, there is equity in the home and therefore wealth. If the number is a negative number, then the buyer will likely owe if the home is sold and be indebted at the sale.

    Example:

    Home market value    $322,000

    Mortgage Owed          $100,000

    Your Home Equity      $222,000

    If you sold the home at the market value, you would have $222,000.

    This value can fluctuate dependent on the market, but statistically stays within a 10% average, making homeownership a smart choice. Equity is valuable to the consumer because a homeowner can use these untouchable funds later in life to pay for burdens or unforeseen costs such as home improvements, a new home, college or emergencies. This of the home as a savings fund that will not be touched until the transfer of ownership.

    Overall, this is a popular way to increase wealth because the net worth of the family increases over the years. According to the Federal Reserve, the median net worth of a homeowners in 2016 was between $225,000-$230,000. For families that rent, the average net worth was $5,000.

    How Does Equity Grow

    Equity grows with the value of the home, not just the amount paid down by the homeowner. If a home is in the right market, values can increase as the area becomes more desirable, increasing the property value and the equity margin. For example, if a home is appreciating at a rate of 4% per $10,000, this can be leveraged from a $10,000 investment to a $100,000 investment.

    Benefits to Homeowners

    • Forced savings: This is a way to create a steady savings without having the cash in hand to put into a savings account. For buyers who may have a hard time putting money aside for the future, this is a great way to save funds without manually putting the money aside.
    • Value Versus Renting: People who rent have nothing to show for their payments towards a property when they depart a home. This is the downside to renting. Renting is great in the short-term, but provides zero benefits to most Americans when trying to save for wealth.

    When weighing the pros and cons to a home purchase, consider long-term goals. If a goal for the family is to save for future needs, purchasing a home in the right market can make profits that outpace even the stock market. Weigh the options and choose what is best for the family by discussing the decision with lenders, agents and family.

    Build Wealth
    Build Wealth

  • Go Bold with Color in the Kitchen

    Unexpected and bold hues in the kitchen express personality and creativity. The hub of conversation and entertaining is the ideal space to do experiments, both culinary and stylistic. Kitchens can be style standalones, even though white has been traditionally used for cabinets, appliances and walls. If going a bit more daring leaves you hesitant, stick to accents like tiles, seating or counter décor, or simply start over by repainting. Enhance your new hues with multiple sources of light such as recessed ambient lights, pendants and under cabinet lighting. Read on to see which of the following four bold hues will make a statement in your kitchen.

     

    Get tickled pink

    Don’t blush while thinking pink. In the 1950s, pink kitchens were quite popular. The vintage-inspired look can update any modern kitchen with blocks or pops of the versatile color. Pink works by itself or when paired with other hues as a base. When matched with blue or green, the effect is cool and restful. With cherry red, pink transforms into a vibrant shade.  Brave souls can go bold with fuchsia or you can go softer with trendy millennial pink. A pink island in any shade can be delightful, as can backsplashes or retro-style refrigerators. This bold kitchen color may be the blast from the past you need to look toward the future of style.

    Cozy up to turquoise

    Blues in the kitchen can create a welcoming atmosphere by softening stainless steel appliances or lending a splash of ultramodern sophistication. Turquoise goes well with any color. Yellow, black and white are also “go with” colors for turquoise. The centering hue matches well with any wood tone for flooring and cabinets. Team up with red, orange, purple, pink, magenta, deep blue, dark green or beige for an unexpected yet cozy look. To start the transition to this cool hue, consider rugs, tiles, towels, or painting the ceiling.

    Burst with yellow

    Bring the sunshine indoors no matter the season with bursts or blocks of yellow. Forget black and white – pink and yellow might be the perfect color combination. A yellow sink with a pink backsplash can be fun and bold. When pairing yellow with other colors, only emphasize one hue to give the color scheme a base. Sandy yellow can create a rustic atmosphere with darker wood. Mustard or canary can balance out an industrial-styled kitchen. Citrus hues can accent windows and pale yellows can subtly bring life to the most used room in the house.

    Add sophistication with charcoal

    Charcoal is a trendy neutral that announces refinement. With the gray hue, coppery surroundings and accessories gain warmth. The high-style combination of Dresden blue, charcoal and white is ultra-sophisticated. Charcoal does absorb quite a bit of light, so make sure there is plenty of lighting. Natural light is best. However, for north-facing windows or rainy climates, large chandeliers or Edison pendant lights will open up the space. Given its versatile nature, this hue highlights accents such as seasonal flowers, vibrant window treatments and rustic exposed beams.

     

    Make a color statement that lasts the test of time with these bold kitchen hues that inspired by the September 1957 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

  • Welcome to the Neighborhood: Five Great Gifts for Neighbors

    Welcome to the Neighborhood: Five Great Gifts for Neighbors

    Moving to a new neighborhood is never easy. Why not show a warm welcome by giving a welcome basket to your new neighbors? As an established ambassador of your block, now’s your opportunity to bring over a few little gifts for neighbors to make them more comfortable in their new home.

    Fruits, vegetables and flowers

    If you’re a gardener, consider sharing the bounty. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a big hit. They may even inspire some fun, future garden rivalry. Feeling inspired? Pack your treasures into a box with a few seed packets that easily grow outdoors, a tool for weeding and a nice pair of gardening gloves. Don’t forget to add a

     

     

    Snacks and a drink

    Who doesn’t love treats? Although it used to be the tradition to bring by a bottle of wine for new neighbors, be cognizant of the fact that some may prefer not to drink alcoholic beverages. Instead, bring over a bottle of sparkling water and fruit juice to make a spritzer. To accompany the refreshers, pack a small fruit basket and chocolates.

    If you really want to impress your new neighbors, bring them baked goods straight out of the oven. Make sure to provide a full list of ingredients in case your neighbors have allergies. You may want to make options that are free of nut, dairy and eggs.

    A gift card to a great local restaurant

    Your new neighbors may not feel up to preparing a meal. After all, their kitchen may still be filled with boxes! Offering a gift card to your favorite local restaurant is a nice gesture that will also prevent your neighbors’ stomachs from rumbling. Fortunately, gift cards can be purchased in a wide range of amounts to avoid worrying about overspending. A typical amount for new neighbors is anywhere between $20 to $50. Try to choose a restaurant with a lovely view and a wide variety of menu items to suit all dietary needs.

  • Top 10 tips to get your home ready for baby

    10 Tips for Babyproofing Your House and Getting Ready for Baby

    Whether your due date is right around the corner or your baby has just been born, you’re likely thinking about how to babyproof your home. From the moment a little one enters your house and becomes part of the family, safety is a concern.

    We’ve put together some tips that new parents can take to make their home a place where infants can safely thrive.

    Here are 10 ways to babyproof your home and prepare for baby.

    1. Give your house the safety test

    Babies who simply lie around in bassinets quickly turn into toddlers crawling all over the place. In the kitchen and living room, as well as the bathrooms and bedrooms, there are many things that little ones shouldn’t get into at all.

    Parents might not think that a baby can open a cabinet or drawer.  Kids surprise adults all the time. You never know when the little one will start crawling. Well, before your baby is mobile (which ideally means before birth or during those first few days at home), give your house a safety check.

    According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, cleaning products and medication should be out of sight and locked away. Magnetic locks are popular and easy to install, without pinching fingers as other locks do.

    Lock firearms ammunition separately from guns. Check smoke detectors and install carbon monoxide detectors.

    2. Target high-germ zones

    Even though the baby won’t be able to crawl or walk for a while, you’ll be moving about your house and don’t want to transfer germs to your little one. You might think that doorknobs and light switches are the germiest places that need to be cleaned. However, the real target zones are dish rags, stove knobs, countertops and refrigerator handles.

    The National Sanitation Foundation International notes that these places, along with the kitchen sink, cutting boards and toothbrush holders, are the most germ-infested spaces in a home. This is likely because they’re high-use areas that we don’t think to clean as much.