Give your home a quick refresh with these budget-friendly tips

(BPT) - Whether you are buying, selling or simply remodeling, you are looking to invest in updates that will increase the value and appeal of your home. It's natural to want it all, but before you over-personalize or break the bank, there are many simple, budget-friendly changes that can increase the value of your home without the risk.

Cassandra LaValle, interior designer and editor of the acclaimed lifestyle and design site, Coco+Kelley, offers these tried and true tips for upping your home value without overdoing it.

* Refresh with paint: You may not be able to replace large appliances or countertops, but in the kitchen adding a fresh coat of neutral paint to outdated cabinets and swapping out hardware can go a long way in making the space feel refreshed.

* Little luxuries in the bathroom: Replace your current shower head with a rain shower, like the Waterpik RainFall+. Completely budget-friendly and easy to install - it takes less than five minutes - this showerhead can make a huge difference in an everyday routine - giving a spa-like experience with multiple high-performance spray settings.

The same goes for lighting - brightening up this space in particular can be a big selling point.

* Don't forget about the outside: Every home needs curb appeal. If you can't afford major landscaping, focus on the entrance to the home. Again, updating with paint and hardware on the front door will be a welcoming touch, while a couple of really great potted plants at the entryway add to that focal point.

* It's in the details: Consider adding small details to rooms that will elevate the style. Framing out windows, or adding baseboards, molding or wainscoting to a space will leave it feeling a bit more polished.

No matter how big or small your projects, remember it doesn't take a lot of money to make a big impact to any space.

5 upgrades for under $5,000 to put your home at the top of every buyer's list

(BPT) - It's a sobering truth of real estate that sellers often have to spend money to make money. Even if your home is relatively new, you still face costs associated with getting it ready to show, such as repainting interior rooms or hiring professional cleaners and stagers. If your home could use some TLC and updating, spending as little as $5,000 on key upgrades could improve its appeal for buyers - and ensure a speedier sale at a better price.

Here are five upgrades you can make for under $5,000 to help put your home at the top of every buyer's must-see list.

 1. Upgrade your entryway - Replacing an old, dated or worn entry door can be a cost-effective way to ensure buyers get a good first impression when they walk in your house. Whether you choose a fiberglass, wooden or steel model, installing a new entry door can cost a few thousand dollars, yet the return on investment at the time of resale can be significant. A fiberglass entry door returns about 72 percent of its investment, while a steel door recoups more than 100 percent of its value, according to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value report.

Enhance your new door with attractive plantings, fresh paint and clean windows around the entryway to create a memorable, attractive entry for just a few thousand dollars.

2. Increase natural light - More buyers are becoming aware of the mood- and productivity-enhancing benefits of natural light, and homes with big, bright windows have always been in demand. Adding windows to a room can be a costly, time-consuming affair. Not so with adding a skylight. For well under $5,000 and in just a day or two, a professional can install an Energy Star qualified, solar powered no-leak fresh-air skylight, like those from Velux America. Professional installation costs nationally ranges from around $900 to $2,325, with an average of $1,400, according to HomeAdvisor.com.

The low installation cost will leave you plenty of budget to enhance the skylight upgrade even further with energy efficiency-boosting solar-powered blinds. The skylight and blinds are operated by remote control and the blinds are available in designer colors and patterns to enhance your décor. The products, as well as installation costs, are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit to further reduce the cost of the improvement.

The most popular rooms in the home for fresh air skylights are baths, where they provide privacy in addition to natural light, and kitchens, where they vent cooking odors and humidity naturally while brightening this much-used workspace. Visit www.veluxusa.com to learn more.

3. Beautify a master bathroom - Bathrooms and kitchens sell homes. Making a few cosmetic upgrades to even a small master bath can help increase a home's appeal and value. For less than $5,000 you can easily repaint, upgrade faucets, replace old cabinet hardware and add decorative touches like designer towels.

If you've already done all that, take a look at the floor or countertops - two cost-effective upgrades that can wow buyers. Since counters don't make up that much square footage in most bathrooms, replacing them with granite can cost just a couple thousand dollars. Tile flooring is also a relatively inexpensive way to improve a bathroom's look and usability.

4. Heat things up in the kitchen - Kitchen remodels can offer high ROI for sellers, but a full remodel may be outside your budget. If you've already done the obvious - like repainting and decluttering - it's time to look for a few more cost-effective improvements that will appeal to buyers.

Just as in the bathroom, swapping old faucets and cabinet hardware with new designer options can enhance the appeal of a kitchen. Shabby, outdated appliances can hinder a speedy sale, so consider replacing them with new ones. You don't necessarily need to install top-of-the-line, high-priced appliances to make a good impression, either. Newer, Energy Star qualified appliances represent savings for buyers down the road.

5. Lavish landscaping - No single aspect of your home has a greater impact on a buyer's first impression than the landscaping. A great front yard sets the tone for the rest of the home, appealing to buyers on a number of levels, including beauty, practicality and savings.

With $5,000, you can accomplish a lot in terms of landscaping. You can sod a small front yard, add decorative planting beds to a lush lawn, or even install shade trees that will both beautify the yard and enhance the home's energy efficiency in summer. Decorative concrete stamping of walkways and driveways is another cost-effective way to improve a home's curb appeal.

Whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market, no one wants to see their home linger long before selling. A few simple upgrades can help ensure your home gets plenty of attention this season.
 

On the move? Use these packing tips and tricks

(BPT) - Let's face it - moving is hard. Along with the stress of leaving a familiar place and adapting to new surroundings, moving means packing, loading, transporting, unloading and unpacking everything you own - as well as everything you forgot you owned.

While relocation may never be completely carefree, there are ways to ease the anxiety. A well-thought-out approach to boxing up belongings can help simplify the moving process and bring you one step closer to making your new house a home.

* Box it up. To be prepared for packing, seek out a large quantity of clean, sturdy containers in a variety of shapes and sizes. When selecting boxes, you may choose to purchase new ones, helping to ensure they can withstand the rigors of moving. You can also purchase dividers, which come in handy for packing glasses and other small, fragile items. No matter what you are using, remember not to over-pack. As a general rule, heavier items should be placed into smaller boxes to avoid too much strain on the box (and your back).

* Leave it. The easiest packing is no packing at all. Moving is the perfect time to clear the clutter out of your life. Before boxing up your belongings, decide what to keep. Clothing and housewares in good shape can be donated, and broken or unused old items can be tossed or given to someone who can repurpose them.

* Mind the supplies. The right tools can go a long way toward easing the moving process. Pick up plenty of quality wrapping material, like Bubble Wrap Brand cushioning, as well as strong packaging tape to help make boxing up your belongings a painless process. Don't get caught up in common frustrations that cause stress and waste time, such as tape that constantly tear or splits or struggling to find the tape end. Choose a quality tape, like Duck brand EZ Start packaging tape (packagingtape.com), for your moving needs; the brand's Frustration Free special release technology ensures that you never lose the tape end. And EZ Start unrolls smoothly and easily, without splitting or tearing.

* Organize and prioritize. Pack from room to room and label boxes based on box contents, where boxes will be unpacked in the new location and priority. EZ Start packaging tape provides a solution here, too - with different prints to choose from, boxes can be organized and prioritized according to the particular design used.

* Get help. Be organized to help the entire moving day run smoothly, so that your volunteers aren't waiting around for a job to do. Providing tasty snacks and drinks is a thoughtful way to say thank you, as are gift cards for coffee, movie theaters or their favorite stores.

* Pack a survival kit. Moving can be exhausting, and an all-day move may not wrap up until late in the evening. Don't spend your first night in your new home unpacking. Instead, pack a survival kit or an "Open Me First" box with essentials to get you through that first night. Make sure to include some fun items, such as your favorite movie or a batch of brownies, to reward yourself for a hard day's work.

Moving day may never rival a beach vacation, but these simple tips can make it a lot less stressful and help you enjoy your new home faster and easier.

Tenant screening: Check those tenants out!

The usual landlord/tenant relationship goes something like this.  The tenant rents an apartment, pays the rent, the landlord maintains the property and all is well.  The times that the landlord/tenant relationship goes sour can often be traced back to the tenant screening process.


Bad tenants usually do not just develop overnight, they have been bad tenants for a while and they leave a trail.  Your job as a landlord is to sniff out this trail before you allow them in your property.  You can save yourself many headaches by rigorously screening your prospective tenants.  In fact, I might even go so far as to say that tenant screening is the key component to being a successful landlord. 


Bad tenants may present themselves very well.  They may dress and speak well.  They will say all the right things.  They may even have cash in hand and be ready to move in.  When someone is holding $500 in front of you to move in, it can be very tempting.  Do not do it!  Screen them!  Screen everyone thoroughly.  Check every reference and verify everything on their application.  Oh, you don't use a written application?!?  Well there is your first problem.


Here are some tips when screening tenant applications:


    Pull credit and criminal history on everyone.  This is your first line of defense against the bad tenant.  Compare the data in the reports you receive with what is stated on your application.   Does it match?  If it does not, dig deeper.  Why is the info different?  If we discover lies, that is immediate cause for disapproval.


    Verify their work history.  Do not do this by calling the number they have listed on the application if you can help it.  A friend may be waiting for your call on the other end.  Instead, call the main office and get transferred into the department where the person says they work.  In this way you can avoid the "friend" set up.


    The current landlord may want them out and will therefore lie to you.  It is best to talk with the previous landlord or to get an accurate view.


    People forge documents.  It has happened to us.  Do not believe the paycheck stubs, letterhead, whatever.  Verify everything with the issuer.


    The old adage is true; do not judge a book by its cover.  We had a well dressed, well spoken man fill out and application, say all the right things and pay the application fee in cash.  He must have assumed we would pocket the fee and not check.  He had never paid a bill in his life.  Even the phone company was after him!  There are professional scammers out there, be vigilant.  It would have taken us at least 4 months to get him out.  I know that time frame could be a year or more in some parts of the country.


    Ask their place of employment if there are any planned layoffs.  We had a tenant get laid off the day he was approved to move in.


Most people are good, tell the truth and try to do the right thing.  Your job is to weed out the bad ones by finding the lies.  And they will lie to cover up their past, and get into your property.  Evictions are neither fun nor cheap.  So save yourself some hassle, set up a rigorous tenant screening process.  Also, be sure to treat every applicant in the same manner by using the exact same screening process.  Don't set yourself up for a discrimination lawsuit because you treated one perspective tenant differently.


Author: Kevin Perk


Kevin's Website: http://www.smarterlandlording.com

Adding or replacing deck railings is a great DIY project

A good deck system
can offer many benefits to a homeowner. Decks provide a place for fall cookouts, neighborhood parties, family get-togethers and countless other outdoor activities. A deck will not only provide years of wonderful outdoor living, it also adds intrinsic value to a home.

Adding a good railing system to a deck can add a variety of positive aspects for homeowners. The style, color and placement of a railing system can make an outdoor living space look sophisticated and stylish. 

Whether a railing is designed for personal pleasure, to meet a building code before selling or renting, to increase the value of a home, or an old outdated railing needs to be replaced, the do-it-yourself method can be the best route for your stress level and your wallet. 

The first thing to consider before you purchase materials for a do-it-yourself railing project is the style and color. If the idea of staining and painting a railing is not appealing, a wooden railing may not be the best option. You may want to consider a composite railing. 

Composite railings are gaining popularity for all different styles of homes.  When installed according to the manufacturer's installation instructions, composite railing offers similar support and safety to a wooden railing and is low maintenance because of the exterior of the product. Like a wooden railing, the colors of a composite railing can be chosen to complement, balance or offset the deck and the styles can provide a rustic look or add polish for the outdoor living space.

Some composite railings systems are designed for do-it-yourself projects, and many railings are offered in a variety of colors so that color coordinating with a home's exterior is easy. Certain lengths of composite railings also offer support and strength without the requirement of metal reinforcements which makes them easier and less of a hassle to install. 

To ensure that the aesthetic beauty of a deck will be enhanced by a railing system, consider using a brand that comes complete with options like hidden fasteners, a variety of railing lengths, fixed-angle bracket adapters and stair kits. Using a brand with a variety of different options will help ensure that your deck is unified and appealing to the eye. 

 

The post mount is also a consideration when deciding on a brand of railing. Different brands will offer different post mounts. Some will offer products that contain post mounts that work with a variety of different surfaces, such as wood or concrete.

With different color options such as white, grey or taupe, TAM-RAIL is an attractive option of composite railing that has recently been formulated for even greater strength and durability. Colonial and square balusters make these railings distinguishable from other composite railings and post caps are available in New England Post Cap or Pyramid Cap styles. These systems also offer the option of hidden fasteners, a wide variety of railing lengths, fixed-angle bracket adapters, and stair kits.

10 tips to help you save home energy

Before you spend money on the latest energy-efficient gizmo that's supposed to save you money, let's look at some energy saving ideas that will really help you save home energy. The strategies that we will look at will maximize the effort you put in, and help reduce your home energy consumption.


First sit down and think about all the different ways your family uses energy around the house. Now put an approximate type and cost of energy used. You may have trouble breaking down the cost but try to do it. Now all you have to do is find ways to save on your resources at the same time cut your costs. You may have to think creatively but it can be done.


So here are some tips to get you started:


- Turn the lights off when you're not using them. This is really simple and easy to do. Do you really need your bedroom light on when you're in the living room? Do you leave lights on when you leave the house? Do you even need more than one light on in a room for what you are doing? Believe it or not it makes a big difference.


- Turn all electronics and other appliances off when you're not using them. No one can do everything at the same time. Can you really listen to a radio, watch television, and use your computer all at the same time?


- Set your thermostat down a couple of degrees in winter, or up in summer, to conserve energy. And dress appropriately indoors for the time of year it is. For instance in winter, put on a sweater or some extra clothing, or may snuggle under a blanket to stay warm. In the summer, wear less and stay cooler naturally.


- Only turn an appliance on when you have a full load. This is true especially for the washing machine, dryer and even the dishwasher. It is amazing how much extra energy is used doing multiple small loads in comparison to one full load.


- Do regular maintenance on your appliances. Keeping them clean means they don't have to work as hard. Changing filters reduces the energy needed to accomplish a task. Regular care will also mean any maintenance bills that you might come up against may well be cheaper.


- Be careful how you use your water. Like when brushing your teeth or washing your hands, use only the water you need. Don't let the water run the entire time. Also, try and use less water if you take a bath, or control your shower times.


- Simply let your hair air dry, instead of using a blow drier every day.


- Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees F.


Don't forget the bigger projects as well.


- Seal the cracks around your doors and windows. You are paying for your hot air that escapes through cracks all around your house. You need to make sure you are doing all you can to keep the warm air you're paying for inside your house.


- You also need to check your house's insulation. Though this has been done by many homeowners nevertheless you still need to do it before you pass it over. It is probably the biggest thing in reducing heating costs.


Now some of these things may seem trivial to you but let me assure you that even the small things add up over time. And really most of them you won't even notice the difference to your life except your bills.


These tips and suggestions will make your home more affordable, and take some strain off of our world's resources. Just think if all of us would make a few of these changes, it would make a huge difference.


by: Dave McIntosh 

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7258.shtml